True Life of a Couch Potato

So, as you can see I have had a very hard time keeping up with writing here. I have been meaning to but I just could not find anything to write about. Which is absurd of course as I am always trying to come up with new designs to sell, or patterns to write up. It's just that nothing has been particularly satisfying so I have not felt the confidence to get anything up here.

That needs to change.

I don't know about you, but in my house, we are always losing the remotes for the t.v. Usually, they end up hidden underneath something or falling into the cavernous depths of the couch. I have been saying for months that I would make a quick remote pocket to put on the back of the couch, so that I have a place to put the remotes, every time, where they aren't going to fall into the abyss, and I always have access to them.

The other day I finally just did it. I used some scrap yarn I harvested from a chewed-up lap blanket, just some cheap acrylic that I didn't mind giving up.

This is just one small step in the mountain of organizational needs around the house, but the help was twofold: I made use of some of the yarn I had lying around, AND I found a place for my remotes. Win-win!

Free Pattern - Crochet Lace Square

I've been playing around with my hook and yarn, and I've come up with a simple crochet square that can be worked up for afghans, pillows, or anything that uses squares. Worked in sport weight yarn with an E/4 (3.5mm) hook, it measures about 2.5" (64mm) across.

I have hand written a chart. I will note that I am left-handed, and the charts are drawn as if worked in a clockwise direction. I think it is simple enough to convert to right-handed, but if there is a demand I can create it in a right-hand friendly way. There are two chart drawings; one for the first four rounds, and another for the fifth and final round. Round 4 is shown in both charts so that it is clear where to work the stitches of the final round. Only work round 4 once. It is shown as blue in both charts.

Written Pattern

sl st: Slip

ch: chain

sc: Single crochet (UK double crochet)

hdc: Half double crochet (UK Half treble)

dc: Double crochet (UK treble crochet)

trc: Treble crochet (UK double treble)

1. Ch4; sl st to 1st ch to join in round

2. Ch3. *sc, ch3 rep from * twice more (three times total) sl st to 1st sc of round. sl st into 1st ch sp

3. Ch1. *sc, hdc, 3dc, hdc, sc, rep from * in each ch sp around (4 petals). Sl st to first sc of round. Sl st in each stitch to 2nd dc of first petal

4. Ch1. Sc in same stitch. ch 4, dc into sc at base of petal, ch4.  *sc into 2nd dc of petal, ch4, dc into sc at base of petal, ch4 rep from * around. Sl st into 1st sc of round. Sl st into 1st ch sp.

5. Ch1. *Sc, 2hdc, 2dc, 2trc in ch sp. Trc in next dc. 2trc, 2dc, 2hdc, sc in ch sp. Rep from * around. Sl st in 1st sc. Finish off.

For a downloadable PDF go to Craftsy

My First Published Pattern!

So, I've finally taken the plunge into pattern designing and published my own pattern on Ravelry. It's just a little something I worked out after some messing around with a couple of techniques I enjoy working with. And of course my favorite type of handknit accessory - a hat!

Right now, it's just in its beginning stages, but I'm hoping that with time and help from friends and fellow knitters, I can improve upon it.

Hello, World!

I guess the best place to start with a blog, is just to say "hello!" So, here I go:

Hello!

All right, now that that's done with, I guess I should tell you what I am doing here.

I love crafts. I love making things. I love learning new skills, and starting new projects. Getting into so many new things takes time. Any time spent learning a new skill or technique is time not spent perfecting any that I already know. There's an expression for this approach to life: Jack of all trades, master of none. Disregarding the fact that my name is not Jack, this expression is pretty much descriptive of my life.

All of that said, my main creative outlet for a few years now has been knitting, and to a somewhat lesser extent, crocheting and spinning. Most of my posts here will likely revolve around those three crafts, but as I venture through the internet and the non-digital world around me, it is more than likely that I'll pick up another craft or two along the way, and I want to share it all.