Flashback: Working on Old Glory

In 2004, my husband and I had been on the road in our RV for two years.  Crochet was a great way to pass the time on rainy days so I decided to make a flag afghan for my daughter and her husband.  Every good Republican home needs a flag afghan!  I started with a Lion Brand pattern but quickly realized that I didn’t like the way it was made.  I opted instead to work the entire flag in single crochet and I changed the dimensions to make it look more like a real flag.  Then I found some star patterns on Crochet Pattern Central and made 100 (!)stars since I wanted the flag to be reversible.  Even after all that, I still had to sew each star on by hand.  What a job!  Here you see me in 2004 in our 5th wheel trailer, the Carri-Lite, slaving away at sewing on the stars.  The flag was a huge hit with my daughter when I finally finished it.

Here I am a few weeks later in Venice Beach, CA. holding hands with my favorite aliens!

 

In Memory of Bailey

I lost my little dog Bailey one year ago today.  He was almost 15 years old. The previous November he had surgery to remove a tumor from his throat.  Unfortunately the cancer spread.  His last days were difficult for him, trying to negotiate the ice and snow that inundated us in February 2010.  Finally, we had to carry him outside and hold him while he did his business.

I was working on the Gold Nugget Throw from a back issue of Crochet! Magazine last winter and Bailey snuggled under it as I crocheted.  He never minded having strands of yarn trail across his back and head as I worked.  After Bailey died, I stopped working on the throw and put it away.  I couldn’t bear to pick it up.

This week, in honor of the best dog in the world, I finished the throw.  It really turned out beautifully and goes well with the colors in my livingroom.  I imagine that there must be some small fibers of his fur left in the parts that I had completed last winter so I’ll probably never wash it.

 

9TH Sunday Giveaway

              

    

 

  GROUP I

There are 4 loose patterns in Group I.  They have all been collected from magazines.  The bear pattern has a knit and a crochet version.  The little dress is for sizes 12 mos to 4 yrs.  Two pretty afghan patterns round out this collection.

GROUP II     

Group II consists of two booklets.  The Mirabella jacket by Carolyn Christmas can be made in several versions.  Pattern Play Crochet includes 5 patterns for afghans, pillows, and a beautiful jacket.

Please let me know which group you would like.  Make a comment on my blog.  If you have previously received a free item, please give somebody else a chance.

Finally my stash of unwanted items is beginning to dwindle.  I think that I have enough for two more giveaways after today.  Then I will have to get busy and actually crochet something!  Spring and summer are not big crochet months for me.  I’ve already resolved to get away from making clothing and try my hand at other projects.  What to make…

 

2ND Sunday Giveaway

A lot of you have asked about afghans.  I don’t make many afghans and have only saved a few patterns from old magazines.  I have one vintage book that contains crocheted as well as knitted afghans.  So without further ado, here are my afghan choices for this week.

AFGHANS TRADITIONAL AND MODERN by Bonita Bray  36 afghans knitted and crocheted 1977

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

These three patterns are all offered together so if you want one, you must take them all.

In addition to these two, you will get Drew’s Asperity Afghan from the 2006 Crochet-A-Day Calendar.  All the pages are there.

 

Snowy Day WIPs

There’s nothing like a snow day to help you make some headway on those works in progress.  The Gold Nugget Tweed Throw is worked with Red Heart Fiesta.  This yarn has beautiful flecks of jewel-toned colors throughout.  The pattern calls for black Fiesta with additional skeins of solid black, off-white and honey in Red Heart Soft.  My living room colors are mainly browns and golds so I swapped out the black skeins for brown combinations.  The throw is already stunning.  It works up very easily but there are lots of ends to weave in so I’m doing that as I go along.

Melissa Leapman is a great crochet designer.  Her patterns never fail to be classy and classic at the same time.  Her instructions are easy to follow.  She avoids phrases like the dreaded ” work right side like left side, reversing shaping”.  Instead, she give detailed instruction for each side of a sweater.  Her Apres Ski Sweater pattern published in the most recent issue of Crochet Today is one example of her timeless style.  As I was reading over the pattern, however, I noticed that the shaping is a bit unusual.  She has the waist area larger than the hip area.  Knowing in advance that this will be a huge no-no for me, I altered the pattern to include a little decreasing in the waist.  I kept the bust and hip measurement  the same. 

Red Heart Eco Ways yarn is made with recycled polyester and acrylic.  I like to be able to machine wash my sweaters so I tend to favor synthetic yarns.  The Cinnabar color of Eco Ways contains little flecks of undyed fibers.  This appears a lot like lint in the sweater as you work the project.  It’s not enough to give a tweed look but just enough to make it look like you washed it with a terry cloth towel.  I don’t know if this is normal for this yarn or is just happening with the color I chose.  I don’t really like this effect.  Maybe some of you who have used this yarn will tell me if you have had the same problem.