Monday, August 5, 2013
Better Late Than Never!
I didn't realize it's been over 5 months since I updated my crochet blog! So without further adieu, let's start with the Barbie I completed in May. This is Miss July 1993 from the Annie's Attic Victorian series.
My next project was the elegant 1876 Debutante Ball Gown from Paradise Publications. I decided to make her gown in two shades of sage with a cream underskirt rather than the lavender and white called for in the pattern. As usual, I used my beloved discontinued Opera #10 thread for this gown and the one above.
Then I felt like going back to making a few baby items. I had a large amount on hand of Herrschner's 2-ply Afghan Yarn in pale sage, so I decided to make a baby ghan. This pattern had a 7-inch border of large hearts done in popcorn stitches, which was beautiful, but I decided it would be too tedious and take too long. So I just did the last few rounds of the border, and still ended up with a pretty blankie suitable for a small baby.
I was working on the above afghan at my friend Dianne's house when I realized I had not brought the pattern with me and had gotten to a point where I needed it. So I looked through her many crochet magazines for something I could work on that evening with the same yarn and found a cute little shell stitch baby jacket. It was cute and easy to make. I borrowed the magazine from her so that I could copy the pattern and use it again.
I still had some of the pale sage yarn left after completing the above two projects, so I made a post stitch baby bonnet and booties.
Though I am winding down on making the fancy Barbie gowns due to lack of display space (and a desire to concentrate more on baby items for charity or possible sale), I still had a few dolls I plan to create outfits for, including two Stacies (Barbie's little sister). I knew the "Teatime Party Dress" would work up quickly compared to the more elaborate gowns, so I made it for one of my Stacies.
In my Sept. 2011 entry on this blog, I posted a picture of a "Sweet Pea" ripple dress I made with the #5 pearl cotton the pattern called for, and mentioned that though the dress was fun to make and pretty, I wanted to try making it in yarn in the future. I decided to do just that using the "Cloudsoft" yarn from Herrschners that I'd used for the bonnet and booties pictured at the end of my last entry in March. I love the way this little dress turned out with the "Cloudsoft" yarn. I love this yarn and plan to stock up next time I order from Herrschners, and will also make more of the "Sweet Pea" dresses in the future.
My latest project was the shell and ripple stitch baby jacket and bonnet pictured below. The DK weight yarn is from an eBay seller in China and is an interesting hand washable blend of 40% cashmere, 30% milk fiber and 30% cotton. Though the yarn is soft and nice to work with, and I like this pattern, I feel the shell and ripple stitches don't show up as well as I'd like with the bright variegated yarn. So I'll try this pattern in a solid pastel next time.
The projects I'm working on now will be possible Christmas presents, so that's all I'll say about those for now. I'll post pictures and descriptions of those in December. Thanks for looking!
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Fall 2012/Winter 2013 Projects
Here's my first crochet blog update of 2013! First is a portion of my completed "Amaryllis Tablecloth", which I had posted a photo of one of the squares last time. I have it stored away for future use (one day when I have smaller and less inquisitive dogs -- and when, hopefully, my husband will have cut back on his immense amount of clutter...). I completed it last December.
After completing such a large project, and with it being the holiday season, I made 5 angel doilies for 5 friends and/or coworkers in various colors (though I only got around to photographing this one before giving them away). They worked up fairly quickly and can double as a window or wall hanging or a large tree ornament.
Next, I returned to adding to my collection of fancy Barbies. This one is "Miss July 1992" from Annie's Cotillion Collection. I used Cebelia #745 yellow for the main color of the dress instead of the white she was pictured in. The ruffles were quite a ordeal to individually make and attach -- but worth it.
Next, I created "Miss August" from Annie's Edwardian Lady Collection. I fell in love with this Barbie when I found her on eBay and had been looking forward to creating a special gown for her. I added some brightness with the jade green and purple, as opposed to the neutral colors this gown was pictured in.
Having just completed two Barbie gowns, and having just sorted through my many crochet patterns and finding several small items I want to try, I am taking a short break from the Barbies and currently trying several baby bootie and hat patterns to see which I like best. I finished the set below yesterday (the yarn is "Cloudsoft" from Herrschner's, a soft fingering weight yarn). Though they came out nice, they will likely be one of a kind, since the pattern (from an old "Workbasket" magazine) was poorly written and I had to improvise. So the search continues for great bootie and hat patterns that can actually be created the way they are written!
Thanks for looking! I'll have more baby items to post next time -- and maybe one or two more Barbies.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Summer/Fall 2012 Projects
I didn't realize it had been quite this long since I updated my crochet blog! My intention was to update it once a quarter. But better late than never! Following are a few major projects I created since last time. First is the "Irish lass" I referred to last time, in a Paradise Publications gown, 1896 Motoring Outfit. Instead of the two shades of aqua she was pictured in, I used two shades of vivid green #10 Opera thread, complete with matching lace.
Next came another addition to my personal Barbie/Ken collection which is quite a bit different than the others I have made in fancy gowns. I saw the Barbie, Ken and Skipper western outfits (complete with Skipper's pony) on eBay and decided it would be fun to make this family. It was a different experience from the other doll outfits I've crocheted in recent years, since these consisted mostly of basic single crochet rather than the more advanced shell and lace stitches, etc. I'm pleased with how they turned out (including the pony, which -- believe it or not -- was the first stuffed animal I have crocheted and may be the last!) The first pic is Skipper and her pony, then Barbie and Ken, followed by the whole family. (To achieve the specific color combo I wanted, I used #10 Opera, Cebelia and Aunt Lydia's threads.) For the horsie, I used Vanna's Choice yarn in gray marble and chocolate brown.
Then I decided to take a little break from the dolls. I found a pretty layette pattern, Cloud Soft Layette, which I was anxious to try. I used Sensations Little Treat yarn, a pretty self-striping worsted weight yarn, in yellow, green and white. I love both this yarn and the pattern. Here is the matching jacket, bonnet and booties.
And here is the matching Cloud Soft blankie, which is about 36 inches square. It worked up rather slowly but I really enjoyed making it. I have this same yarn on hand in pink, lavender and white stripes, and may use it for this same layette in the near future.
As I've mentioned before, one of my favorite brands of crochet threads is Coats & Clark's Opera, which was discontinued a few years ago. So I have an ongoing saved search for it on eBay. Earlier this year, I was excited to find a lot of ten balls of #10 baby pink in the same dye lot at a good price and snapped them up. I wanted to use them for a special project. I looked through my files of thread projects and decided on "Amaryllis Tablecloth" by the Japanese designer Mayumi Sato. I will have just the right amount of thread to complete it and it should be about 55" square when completed. It consists of nine 18" squares which need to be blocked so that they retain their shape and size, whipstitched together, then the edging is added. I'm presently working on the fourth square and will post a completed pic next time. For now, here is one of the squares in the process of being blocked.
Thanks for looking! I'll try to update this blog again by the end of the year.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Adventures in Crocheting (Cardigans)...
I'm again late in updating my crochet blog -- it's been 4 months instead of the usual 3. There is a reason for that! This update will include what I am calling the first and last adult-size cardigan sweaters I will ever make. They did both eventually turn out well, but after a few false starts for both due to faulty patterns! More on that in a moment. First, here is the latest Barbie I completed, back in February. As described last time, she is "Miss January" from Annie's Attic "Turn of the Century Bridal Trousseau" collection. I used my beautiful discontinued Opera #10 thread in red with black trim, and light peach for her blouse. I think she is very elegant!
The next (quickie) project I crocheted was the bib below, for the new baby boy of a gal at my church. I'd gotten the baby a specific hat the mom requested and a cute stuffed blue bear, but wanted to add a little something I made and felt a bib would be perfect. This one is so cute and easy; I will be using this pattern again. I used Knit Picks' "Shine" yarn (one of my favorites) in River and Green Apple. I felt it needed a little applique to finish it off and when I saw the little froggy at JoAnn Fabrics, I knew he would be perfect!
After I finished the bib, I decided to use a discontinued light pink baby yarn called "Universal Bella DK" that I'd bought from Herrschners. I had enough for a post stitch baby jacket with matching bonnet, and a cute little pullover sweater with shell stitches down the sides and sleeves. (The sleeve instructions for the little pullover was poorly written -- I've been running into that a lot! But I improvised and it worked out...)
Next, I decided to implement the brilliant idea I've had for some time of crocheting myself a cardigan sweater -- a decision I soon came to regret. I'd seen a very pretty variegated yarn called "James C. Brett Marble yarn" I'd been longing to try, and lo and behold, Herrschners had a pretty (and free) cable cardigan pattern using that very yarn! I then ordered 8 skeins of the yarn from eBay in a combo called "Heathers" (gray, cream, burgundy and two shades of pink). I went a couple of sizes up on the hook size since I tend to crochet tightly (which is why I don't often make adult clothes). I was maybe 80% done making it when I realized it was going to be small on me -- and again, the sleeve instructions were poorly written. DANG!
I then looked through my many sweater patterns and picked one I loved in a popcorn and post stitch design. I not only went up on the hook size but the alleged completed size of the sweater. I was most of the way done with it when I again realized it was going to be small. I couldn't believe it! At that point, I made a decision that if I was going to have a sweater I crocheted that was going to fit, I was not going to use a pattern. I was going to revert to a stitch pattern I love and use a lot, "Mayfair", and basically make rectangles with shaping for the neck, then add the ribbing. So AGAIN, I made like a frog ('rip it, rip it") and started my sweater for the third time!
I wasn't far into my third try for my sweater when my dear sister-in-law in Arizona asked if I would please crochet her a little lightweight short-sleeved cardigan. You've got to be kidding! But I didn't let on how I was struggling with my own cardigan. I said, send me the pattern and yarn and I'll be glad to do it (feeling in need of divine intervention).....
Believe it or not, the pattern she sent me -- well, I tried to figure it out but it was absolutely screwy. It made NO sense. But thankfully, it was a simple enough design (half-double crochet in vertical rows) that I knew I could create it without a pattern, and so I did! Thankfully, she E-mailed me that she loved it (and I don't think she even realized that I didn't use a pattern...well, she will if she reads this)! The yarn she sent me was Herrschners' "Village Yarn Bahama Cotton" in a now-discontinued color' "Deep Blue Sea". It was very nice to work with, but there are only 85 yards in a skein so I was afraid I would run out. But I just made it! The detail doesn't show well in the pic, but here it is.
Yesterday, I finished MY sweater and even had enough of the yarn left to make a scarf in the same stitch. Here they are! (I'm not posting a pic of myself wearing it till I lose weight -- if I ever do...)
I think I'm starting another Barbie next. Her gown and matching jacket will be in two beautiful shades of green with matching lace, and the Barbie I chose has red hair, so she will be an Irish lass. It will be a relief to start a pretty thread project after the fiasco with the sweaters!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Blankie, Barbie, and More Babies
I'm a bit later than usual in my goal to update this crochet blog with my newest creations once per quarter. But, January 2012 has been a weird month. I plan to write more about that shortly on my narrative blog, "The Evergreen Refuge Blog". But for now, back to the crochet projects!
The afghan below, "Floral Bouquet", is one of my favorite afghans I've made. But the problem is, I like it SO much that I've had it put away in a plastic bag, afraid that with our three large dogs, it would get dirty or, worse yet, scratched by their nails. I'll have to figure out what to do about this, since I do want to display it. I used Caron "Simply Soft" (so it is cuddly in addition to being pretty) in bone with accents of grape, burgundy, rose and what they are calling sage, though it's more of an apple green to me. The closeup pic gives a bit more detail of the colors and stitches.
I've gotten a skein of lilac Omega Sinfonia yarn in an eBay assortment a couple years ago and had been trying to decide what to make with it. I decided to order one more lilac and some dark magenta, and make a little girl's sweater (for a future craft fair or possible gift) I'd been wanting to try for some time. It was fun to make and afterwards, I had a lot of the yarn left, especially the dark magenta. So I then decided to make the same sweater in the next size up with the colors reversed. When it looked like I may run low on the magenta, I alternated the two colors on the sleeves, and the quantity turned out just right! Here are the two results:
The afghan below, "Floral Bouquet", is one of my favorite afghans I've made. But the problem is, I like it SO much that I've had it put away in a plastic bag, afraid that with our three large dogs, it would get dirty or, worse yet, scratched by their nails. I'll have to figure out what to do about this, since I do want to display it. I used Caron "Simply Soft" (so it is cuddly in addition to being pretty) in bone with accents of grape, burgundy, rose and what they are calling sage, though it's more of an apple green to me. The closeup pic gives a bit more detail of the colors and stitches.
I've gotten a skein of lilac Omega Sinfonia yarn in an eBay assortment a couple years ago and had been trying to decide what to make with it. I decided to order one more lilac and some dark magenta, and make a little girl's sweater (for a future craft fair or possible gift) I'd been wanting to try for some time. It was fun to make and afterwards, I had a lot of the yarn left, especially the dark magenta. So I then decided to make the same sweater in the next size up with the colors reversed. When it looked like I may run low on the magenta, I alternated the two colors on the sleeves, and the quantity turned out just right! Here are the two results:
My next project was another Barbie. I decided to make another of the same beaded dress pattern, "Dotted Delight", which was one of the first Barbie gowns I made a few years ago. I'd ordered some beautiful orange variegated beads from eBay and decided they would look beautiful combined with #10 Opera medium peach thread, and I was right! See page 4 of my 2000-08 crochet projects here for the first "Dotted Delight" I made -- and the new one below.
Next, I decided to make another of the pretty baby dresses I'd made previously in lavender and in red from a pattern in an 80's magazine. I just love the way these turn out and I understand the first two were a hit at my best friend's daughter-in-law craft/consignment store. I'd ordered some pink #10 "Department 71" thread from Herrschner's so I decided that would be a great color for this little dress. (The thread was nice to work with, but I think I still prefer Opera or Cebelia.)
Next, I had a small amount of the Opera #10 peach thread left. So I decided to make another of the six pineapple doily below which is one of my favorite doilies to make. They are so pretty and it's such a great way to use small amounts of thread, since you have the option of making each pineapple a different color or using 2 or 3 different pineapple colors, or all the same color. Also, I designed the star motif in the middle, since the original pattern just had a big hole in the middle and I didn't like the way that looked. (The yellow and sage thread are #10 Cebelia.)
Finally, here's the last project I finished. My coworker is having a baby boy and will be getting this at her shower at work tomorrow. I don't have many patterns for baby boys, but found this one and LOVE the way it turned out. I used "Satin Sport" yarn by Bernat -- the variegated is "Seashore" and the blue and tan trims are "Clear Sky" and "Taupe". Though this was time-consuming to make, I'm tempted to pick up some more of the "Seashore" and make another of these little sets to sell on consignment.
I've started another Barbie -- "Miss January" from the Annie's Attic "Turn of the Century Bridal Trousseau" collection, but I changed the colors. Her dress and parasol are bright red with black braid trim and her blouse is light peach. I also have definite plans for the next two Barbies after that. Hope to have pics of all three posted here on my next update!
Sunday, September 4, 2011
More Babies and Barbies, Oh My!
This weekend definitely felt like time to post my last several crochet projects. I realized I've been doing this about once a quarter since starting this blog late last year, though I didn't plan it that way. I also see I last updated this blog on a three-day weekend (Memorial Day, and it's now Labor Day weekend). That works out well, since it takes time to get pics of my projects, upload them, crop them and write the descriptions. This time, I'll be posting 3 baby items or ensembles that I'll put on consignment at Craft City (my friend Dianne's daughter-in-law's shop), followed by two more Barbies in gowns for my own collection.
The first pics below are one of my favorite baby ensembles I've made, consisting of a jacket, hat and panties. I used Caron Simply Soft yarn in pale rose.
The first pics below are one of my favorite baby ensembles I've made, consisting of a jacket, hat and panties. I used Caron Simply Soft yarn in pale rose.
This next baby jacket and dress are from an Annie's Attic booklet called "Baby's Sunday Best". It was pictured in off white with rose trim, which was nice, but I decided to make it more colorful, using Knit Picks "Shine" yarn in ocean with cherry trim.
I saw some #5 pearl cotton on eBay and decided I wanted to try using it for a baby dress. This dress is called "Sweet Pea" and was from a 2008 "Crochet World" magazine. It was fun to make and turned out cute, but I will try making it in the future with baby yarn. The #5 cotton had only 50 yards per ball, so this little dress took 12 balls! The color is "watermelon".
I mentioned planning on starting the Barbie below when I last posted in May. I worked on part of her skirt during my train trip to Portland in June, since it was a lot of repetitive but relaxing basic single crochet. I used #10 Cebelia in garnet and cream, with accents of #10 Opera in parasol pink. I think she is very elegant, prim and proper!
Hey, it's "Sweet Little Alice Blue Gown" (and if you remember that song, you must be older than me or into music trivia!). I just finished this girl a few days ago and she is one of my favorite Barbies I've made. I think she is just SO pretty. It's hard to tell in the pictures, but there are close to 800 of the light blue cat's eye beads in the bottom part of her skirt, over 200 in her jacket, and more in her hat and parasol. I used #10 Opera thread in atlantis. It was hard to find the right color beads (at a price I could afford) but finally found them at artbeads.com
The project I'm presently working on is an afghan called Floral Bouquet, which consists of squares with alternating colors of flowers with popcorn stitch petals, in neutral squares with more popcorn stitches. More on that next time!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Oh, You Beautiful Dolls!
On this rare 3-day weekend, I'm glad to have a moment to update my blog with my most recent projects which (with the exception of a shawl I crocheted for a graduating senior at my church; I forgot to photograph it but maybe I can get a picture soon with the young lady who will be receiving it), I've continued to concentrate on the fancy Barbies I love creatiing -- three for my own collection and one will be winging her way to a special friend (pardon the pun; it's an angel doll!).
I had mentioned at the end of my last entry that I was about to start at least one and maybe more dolls in the profusely ruffled "Miss Holly" collection of gowns, depending on how it went. It turned out I made just one gown from that pattern, due to the sizing being off. Because I crochet tightly, I go up several sizes on the hook I use for Barbie gowns, and that almost always works fine. But this time, the "Miss Holly" gown was still too small for the Barbie I intended it for. However -- I discovered it fit one of my 10-inch "Skipper" dolls (Barbie's little sister) just fine. So she ended up with this frothy concoction. I used #10 Opera thread in tapestry rose, with cream and black trim (also #10 Opera).
I had mentioned at the end of my last entry that I was about to start at least one and maybe more dolls in the profusely ruffled "Miss Holly" collection of gowns, depending on how it went. It turned out I made just one gown from that pattern, due to the sizing being off. Because I crochet tightly, I go up several sizes on the hook I use for Barbie gowns, and that almost always works fine. But this time, the "Miss Holly" gown was still too small for the Barbie I intended it for. However -- I discovered it fit one of my 10-inch "Skipper" dolls (Barbie's little sister) just fine. So she ended up with this frothy concoction. I used #10 Opera thread in tapestry rose, with cream and black trim (also #10 Opera).
Several months ago, I bought a beautiful African-American Barbie from eBay. This gal looks like she stepped right off a Caribbean island, and I've been looking forward to creating a bright jewel-toned outfit for her. I used #10 Opera thread in a bright royal blue (not sure of color name) together with the #10 Opera in tapestry rose, and am very pleased with how she turned out. I generally never name my Barbies, but this one reminds me so much of one of this year's "American Idol" contestants, whose first name was Naima (pronounced Nye-EE-ma) that this is what I ended up calling her!
The next gown I decided to create, using one of my very favorite colors of my beloved discontinued #10 Opera thread (official name is Wintergreen, but I call it seafoam), turned out to be one of my more ambitious efforts, due to the dozens of roses that it called for attaching to her full skirt. The pattern called for crocheting the tiny roses, but I didn't care for the way they looked. So I searched on eBay and found some tiny iridescent ribbon roses in the exact same shade! I attached each of the tiny roses with fabric glue and also tacked them in place with the thread. She turned out to be one of my favorites; I think she is absolutely gorgeous!
My most recent Barbie, which I just finished last week, will soon be on her way to a special friend, who I hope will enjoy and be comforted by her. As I shared a few months ago on my narrative blog at evergreenrefuge.blogspot.com, my joining Facebook several months ago has not only been fun but has reunited me with two special ladies I'd lost touch with many years ago. My cousin's daughter Janet in Chicago found me at the end of last year (after my favorite aunt/her grandma passed away last Nov. and no one bothered to tell us...) and it's been incredible catching up with her. Then a few days later, Ellayne in Massachusetts who was a special long letter pen pal for MANY years on and off since the early 70s (YIKES) but who I lost touch with in '95, found me. I was SO thrilled to find her again and learn she was happily remarried. Then, a mere four weeks later, her beloved husband passed away. As glad as I am to be back in touch with her, I was broken-hearted at what she was now going through. I wanted to do something for her other than pray (though that's important, of course). So I asked her to let me make her a Barbie angel and asked what color gown she would like.
Since my friend likes green, I decided to use the same seafoam I used for the last doll with the roses gown, since I find it a very soothing color. I decided to use a Barbie with beautiful long brown hair and a sweet face. I had trouble getting the lighting to accurately capture her coloring even though I tried several settings on my beloved Nikon Coolpix. She is actually not an African-American doll, but a brunette with a light tan. I still don't think the photo does her justice; she is prettier in person. I hope my friend will cherish her and that she will be comforted in her recent loss, and that we will remain in touch always.
Since my friend likes green, I decided to use the same seafoam I used for the last doll with the roses gown, since I find it a very soothing color. I decided to use a Barbie with beautiful long brown hair and a sweet face. I had trouble getting the lighting to accurately capture her coloring even though I tried several settings on my beloved Nikon Coolpix. She is actually not an African-American doll, but a brunette with a light tan. I still don't think the photo does her justice; she is prettier in person. I hope my friend will cherish her and that she will be comforted in her recent loss, and that we will remain in touch always.
I've started a new Barbie for my collection; a very Victorian-looking gown with a ruffled blouse and a full striped skirt. I'm using #10 Cebelia thread in cream and in #815 Garnet. Picture coming later this year!
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