A is for....Acetaminophen!

I know, it's an odd one. But as I looked through my ami patterns, and attempted to start on some of them, I came to realize I really didn't want a knitted toy airplane, or to figure out if this pattern for an anemone would actually work out (the notes within the pattern say it may not be accurate, so...?)

And then, there it was, the perfect thing. Something I'd thought of making before, but hadn't, and something I could see me displaying on a shelf somewhere - giant versions of a little pill that is mostly harmless, but can make your day so much better if/when you need it.

the knit version can be found here
the crochet version here
or, for a comically large version in crochet, I give you the Pill-O

Happy yarn-play!

photo of finished objects added after-the-fact

wanna do it again?

I've been ogling some of the ami patterns I've got stashed away in binders, laying loose in various places, and tucked away in project bags with the half-started remnants of projects long abandoned, and I've been thinking that I really want to make some of them.
I was just going to pick up a few, knit/crochet a couple that escaped me when I did my epic Year of Ami.

But then, I thought, maybe it's time to do that again.

Do it as a series on the blog.

Next thing you know, I was pulling things out of binders, thinking alphabetically, and starting to choose my next ami project.

I'm thinking, this year, I'll be smart about it, do the knit ami one week, and the crochet the next (or flip that) instead of doing both in one week, and having to do the alphabet twice, which, frankly, wore me out a bit by the end. (Okay, maybe not. Maybe it was still loads of fun by years-end. But it was a lot of work, and now that I'm more advanced in my knitting skills, and I knit things like socks and sweaters and such, I may not want to spend quite as much time with the toys. Maybe.)

Ground rules:
Patterns will all be free, found on the internet. (Sometimes, I will make up my own. When I do, I'll write them up and post them.)
We'll work through in alphabetical order, but I may, at times, apply artistic license; renaming things when I need to.
I will do one of each, knit and crochet. Each letter of the alphabet will have two weeks.
If I'm not able to finish, I will still start the next item on the appointed day.
This year starts and ends with a Wednesday, so I'm going to go with Wednesday for the launch day each week.
Because I've done this before, I'm going to restrict myself to patterns I haven't yet tried.

I'm open to suggestions! If you're following along, and you have seen a pattern you want to try, or need some help with, let me know, and I'll see if I can work it in.

pin this!

Sometimes, you wake up in the morning, and you think, 'Today, I want to make that huge crochet push-pin.' So you do.

Made using this free pattern.

Modifications: I used magic ring to start, and my staggered increase (and decrease) rounds. Naturally, I couldn't have stood myself if I'd had to make up separate parts and sew them together, so this was made all in one piece, from the top of the head, to the tip of the pin.
Wasn't even fiddly to do it that way.
(For decreases that are practically invisible, I use this technique.) I end off, at that pin-point, with my nice finish.

Yarns: Vanna Baby in Little Boy Blue, Vanna in Silver Blue

this and that

I may not have been sewing much lately, but I have been knitting:

Awesome mitts for Jupiter, my roller-derby friend

Socks for my boy

Socks for me

And also crocheting:

Play foods

Random little bits of this and that.

Sometimes I wish sewing was as portable as knitting/crocheting. Maybe if it was, I'd get more of it done?

Fightin' Words mitts pattern here.
Socks: Paul Atwell socks in Gentry Grey, Cabled Ribbon socks in Black, Emily socks in Lipstick.
Play Foods: Slider (mini cheeseburger) and Peanut from Tasty Crochet, Fortune Cookie (modified) from Lion Brand, Raspberry from here.

makin'

I've been makin' stuff, but most of it has to get to where it's going before I can show it off.
(shh, don't tell!)

Here's one piece I can show you:

an Ice Cream Sammich!

It's from the book Tasty Crochet, and it's been on my "make" list for ages. I finally busted out the hook, rounded up the yarn and stuffing, and put one together.

I'm thinkin' two things: what brand of ice cream sandwich has these dimensions? and, I should have made it square, so it could be a Fat Boy!

Pretty cute, eh?

Modifications: I never do a ch1 join when crocheting in the round - I just keep going. Also, instead of sewing the second cookie to the ice cream and then adding the edging, I used the edging round to attach the two parts, using just one loop (the outer one) from each part. I then put the edging on the other cookie (which was used as a starting point for the ice cream) as per instructions.

Thinking about it now, I could have done the edging while making one cookie, crochet only in the front loops that round, and then used those back loops to start the ice cream. Less stop/start. Hmmm. Might have to try that wrinkle on the next one. Which I might make more square.

Also considering figuring out my own pattern for one, with some different construction. I'm wondering if the ice cream would look better crocheted side-to-side, for instance. Like the outer edge on the "X". And of course, I should try to knit one. Because not everyone can do both, and we all want more fiber-foods, right?
Seems like all I have to do is start making toys, and my creative juices get flowing, and the next think you know, I'm making up my own stuff again. For instance, has anyone knitted pancakes? I see lots of crochet versions out there, but I can't recall seeing knitted ones. (I'll stop now. Sorry. Got carried away. Must be the lactose.)

Yarns: Vanna in Espresso and White

All My Chickens, Week 48, Chickens for Tea

After a long hiatus, I think it's time to bring the chickens back.

That, and I finally figured out how this particular crochet pattern works, so I was able to start the project.

Using the pattern Scalloped Tea Cozy, from Crochetroo, I'm making a chicken, as suggested by Rav user CrochetCupcake's version.

Should be pretty cute. And the yarn I'm using, Sublime, is actually, well, sublime. Incredibly soft and sort of silky. Lovely stuff. But it looks as though Jo-Ann has discontinued it, as it's not on their website. Shame.

Autumn Drinks Doily

Finally finished off this project, which I owed my lil sis.

Just another drinks doily - the sort of thing you put over a pitcher of water (or other beverage) when you're out in the open, and you have reason to fear flying insects will invade your beverage.

Made it up as I went along, and, sadly, didn't write it down. Size 9 steel crochet hook and size 10 thread, worked on a circle of plain muslin.

Eggy looks a little different

I don't know what, exactly, I did different, but my version of Eggy looks a little more mature.

Or something.

Still cute, though, so there's that.
Stitched the eyes using black pearl cotton. Didn't have any black felt with me when I finished with the rest.
Wish I knew what she did to attach the wings - mine do not look anything like the pictures.

Yarns: Vanna in White, Mustard, and Scarlet

Hip to be Square

M-kay, this little square chick started out grey (not entirely sure where I was going with that anyway), and somewhat larger. Then I ran out of yarn, and, as it was an ancient leftover from the stash, there was no getting more to match. So I switched yarns, switched sizes, and made this cheerful cutie, just for you!

Pattern is great, easy to make up. Only thing is, I wondered why you'd want the top to be the part where you have to sew it together. If I make another, that's going on the bottom.

Except...

Except, if I did one in green, and over-stitched it in black, and somehow created a Franken-chicken.
Because then it would make sense. Totally.

Yarns: Red Heart Soft in Tangerine, Caron Simply Soft in Sunshine & Raspberry

It's the Momma

Hey, so, I finally managed to get the rest of this little one finished and put together.

I think the beak is dumb. Too big.
And it totally doesn't stand up on it's own.
I slip stitched the wings together directly after finishing the crochet on each. Same with the beak. The body was sewn up after, and stuffed when it was almost all sewed up. On the legs/feet, after the foot portion, I slip-stitched the rest of the way back up the leg so I wouldn't have any weird yarn ends. I elected to stitch the eyes on using yarn instead of adding a bead or whatever. Three stitches with worsted weight, over the same area.

Yarns: Vanna in White, Mustard, and Scarlet. And a little scrap of Black.

too many projects?

Just how many (active) projects is too many, I wonder?

Currently, I'm hard at work on the Time Socks, and making pretty good, um, time, too.

A whole 2 1/2" now. I just might have a chance of finishing before next Friday.

Still working on the Amethyst Ribbon Socks, though they've been set aside until the Time Socks are done (or relegated to a slower pace). I'm just about done with the gusset.

why do I think of Tigger every time I look at these?

Actually, I'm wishing I'd finished these before picking up the Time Socks, because after working with the Felici yarn, this stuff feels positively course.

Taking up the bulk of my project bag at this moment are some All My Chickens projects. Though there are some that aren't getting hauled about with me (like I'm expecting to work on them at any given moment?), I have no less than 6 vying for my attention every time I reach into that bag:

Chicken Scratch Heart 

bet you thought I forgot about this one

 Momma Chicken

barely begun, but at least it's a start

Eggy & Barnyard Birds

neither of which have actually been started

Square Chicks

I've done the base, and started up the sides!

and, the Chicken Strip Mini Quilt

I'm quilting already, so that's not bad, right?

Then, just in case I get tired of working with yarn (or fabrics) I've got this needlepoint kit

nor very far into it, but hey, sorting the floss took ages!

So, what I'm wondering is, where is the tipping point? If I added just one more project to the list, would it start to feel like too many to think about, thus leading me to work on none of them? Or would that take another half dozen or so?

(Do I really want to find out? Do you?)

towels are not fulling-friendly

I had the pieces of this red and brown tote all crocheted and ready to assemble ages ago (can't even think how long - but years, not months, I'm pretty sure), and I was stalled a bit by (you guessed it) the assembly process. 

The way I hate having to sew together parts that I just created, so please explain to me why I couldn't have just created them already assembled? Please?

Except that, sometimes, that's not possible/practical. I think the little flap might have been the sort of thing you could have worked right onto the body of the bag, but the straps really had to be made up separate and sewn on. (Unless someone knows how you would manage the little circle thing as a surface chain/embroidery sort of thing? Thought not.)

I ran across this un-finished-object while looking for another that I hadn't seen in a while, and decided it was time to just sit myself down and sew the dang thing. Ugh.

It was hard. Really hard. All that business of cutting the yarn, threading the needle, placing the pieces just exactly so. Trying not to have my stitches show up.* Working with the same color yarn just in case. Geez.

Once it was sewn together, it was time to throw the thing into a hot water wash and shrink it.

Now, I'd gone and used this lovely red wool, and therefore I was concerned that it might just bleed a little color.** Washing it with the sheets sounded like trouble. Besides, the current sheets on my bed are denim, rather new, still quite dark, and likely to bleed some color themselves in hot water. I pondered this for a day or so. I considered throwing in some (faded) jeans, but couldn't think of a pair that I was willing to sacrifice to possible shrinkage and/or pinkness. I finally decided I'd use an old pink towel to add that little extra abrasion to help it shrink nicely.

This started out pretty well. Although, on second thought, I might have used a bit too much detergent. It was a hot sudsy mess in there.

The tote shrank up just right, I think. But now, we see why a towel is not the best fulling companion.

I spent the next 1 1/2 hrs hand picking the towel bits off.
That was fun. (NOT)

In the end, I'm pretty pleased with this. But next time, I'll know to leave the towels behind. In fact, I'm considering sewing up a little fulling bag out of some old, very faded, jeans - contain those wool fuzzies, and speed up the process all in one go. Sounds like a plan.

*which really won't show at all after it's shrunk, but I worried about it anyway

**in point of fact, it did not

All My Chickens, Week 29, Eggy!

More yarn this week. This is a quick, cute little crochet project.

Eggy, the Cute Chick, by Ami Amour. (Rav link)

*pic of my own creation added after-the-fact*

All My Chickens, Week 23, Momma Chicken

From Lion Brand, a cute little Momma Chicken to crochet.

I might alter the assembly a little to cut down on sewing. But you probably guessed that.

*pic of my own creation added after-the-fact*

All My Chickens, Week 20, Piggyback!

In honor of Father's Day, I decided to make something that represents something all dads should know how to do, and do well.

Piggyback , by Michele Wilcox. This is a crochet pattern for a cute little piggy with a chicken on it's back. Adorable.

*you may have to register on the site to download the pattern, but it's free

All My Chickens, Week 19, Square Chicks

Time to get back to the yarn, if you don't mind.

From Roman Sock, Spring Chicks

I've had this pattern on my to-do list for way too long.

*pic of my own creation added after-the-fact*

Tater Tots - a free pattern!

This little fella may look pretty simple, but I actually did spend some time figuring him out, so I thought I'd just write it up and share it with you. (see below for link to pdf)

Tater Tots

Size E crochet hook

Worsted yarn (I used Vanna in Mustard)

Stuffing (or yarn scraps)

6sc in magic ring

Inc X 6 (12)

Work 5-6 rnds plain sc (make a variety of sizes)

Stuff your tot

Dec X 6 (6), sl st and cut yarn

Stuff a little more if it needs it

It won’t look much like a Tot yet – it needs some shaping.

Do a nice finish on the end, then poke your needle all the way from the center of one end to the center of the other end.

Pull tight to help flatten the end, take one stitch, and run needle back out other end.

Take a stitch, and run needle back to other end again. Each time you run it through to the other end, pull it up just enough to give it shape.

Once you’re satisfied with the shaping, finish off and cut your yarn.

Enjoy your Tots!

available as a pdf download, too! (click link, then select Print from the File menu)

Cheeseburger & Tots

Aren't they cute? Don't you just want to eat 'em up? I know I do!

I modified the bottom bun on the Cheeseburger. It felt to me like it was a bit too skinny, so I added 2 rounds of plain sc. Back up at the top, I sorta thought I might like to take out a round or two, because it looked kinda big, but I left it as written. If I make another, though, I think I will take out a couple rounds up top. I also skipped the round of slip stitch up top. I just didn't like how it looked after trying it out. Also felt like perhaps some of the rounds where she says to work in the outermost loop should have said to work in the front loop. Like, when you do the lettuce. Because when you do the tomato, you need to work that round in the back loops that are left from working the lettuce in the front loops. At least, that's how I interpreted that part.
Wishing I could figure out how to add pickles, onions, maybe some avocado. Not sure I'm up to that level of designing right this minute, though.
All-in-all, this was a great little pattern, and a fun break from sock yarn for me.

I made a few tots following the pattern I'd linked to (you can see one in the front, second from left), but then decided that, as mine weren't going to get faces (my fiber-foods rarely do), I might want the shape to be a little more traditional. So I made up my own! I tested different methods for various parts, and different sizes/row counts, and finally settled on how I liked them best. I'll be sharing the pattern with you later this week!

Yarns for Cheeseburger: Vanna in Beige, Angel White, Scarlet, Chocolate; Impeccable in Grass; Wool-Ease in Buttercup.
Yarn for Tots: Vanna in Mustard

scratch that itch

I've got a million things going, crafty and otherwise, and yet, I still get an itch to do something....

something new, something different, something....

something that isn't what I'm doing, whatever that is.

This morning, it was an itch to make a toy. In yarn. Because, I guess, I just don't have enough of those things in my small-child-deprived household.

And maybe because toys are quicker to finish than say, socks.

(Especially socks that one had to start over after knitting 4 1/2" of both socks before realizing said socks were going to be too big for the intended recipient.)

Today, I'm crocheting a cheeseburger. And tater tots. Because I can.

New Favorite Cardi

I am seriously loving this sweater!

I mean, how cute are those bows? and the shell pattern? I am besotted.

I think this'll be best over a simple dress, or with a longish skirt. I tried it with pants, and something about a front fly zipper just doesn't flatter the sweater at all.

I'm already on the lookout for more ribbon so I can change the look of this, match it up with more stuff in the wardrobe. As-is, it looks pretty fabulous with a lot of things, but a change in the ribbon will make it go with even more.

I really have no excuse for how long this waited to be finished, except for my avowed distaste for sewing up seams in knitwear. Only my insistence on a no-repeat MMMar'11 could have gotten this one out from behind the knitting chair and into the wardrobe so quickly.