it finally clicked...well, sort of

My unhealthy obsession with trying to knit a pair of socks has actually come to fruition.

With my undying gratitude to Andi for pushing/coaxing/cheering me on --- this is what I have been doing...

Knitting socks!

It has been slooooooooooooooooooooooooooow going.  And I do mean s.l.o.w.

I don't know if it is because I am so used to a hook in my hand and watching each crocheted stitch fall away neatly onto a row, but when I see all of those stitches that I have just knit or purled held captive on a needle w/o ever being let off ---- well, for some reason (yes, you can insert the word crazy here) the stitches feel trapped to me.

And then when I make a mistake in these socks (and there have been a lot of them) I can't for the life of me figure out how to fix the mistake.  A mistake in crochet is easily fixable --- but holey moley, a mistake in knitting is unintelligable for me.  Completely scratch-my-head-what-in-the-heck-do-I-do-now?! feeling.

But the yarn is gorgeous.  Not only in color but also the feeling of it in my fingers is yarn therapy.  Truly.

The directions are clear & concise.  Oh, so easy for the average Knitting Joe.  But for me?  I feel as if I am learning a new language.

And it doesn't help that perimenopause is knocking at my door.  And that is door I do.not.want.to.open.  "Wrong house!" I seriously want to yell. 

My very funny sister knows this unwelcome guest is darkening my doorway, so of course! -- she sends this supportive-cheer-me-up birthday card.....

So much for supportive sisters (ahem.) and I'll just get my therapy in the form of yarn, thank you.

puffy flowers

I love these.

Truly, truly can't stop looking at them or picking them up for that matter.

The pattern is from Eclectic Gipsyland & she has the most amazing tutorial for making these.

I just can't get over...

 the color

 the vividness  

& of course, the puffiness of each flower.

I think I have the makings for the perfect coffee cosy.

btw --- I am experiencing sort of glitch when trying to post comments on your blogs.  For some reason I am unable to do this & just short of tossing the computer out the window  I am getting some techie-support so I can once again comment on all of your loveliness.

sand

Writing in the sand.  Walking in the sand. 

And of course! the color of sand comes to my mind when I start another doily. 

The hook I am using is a size 7 and the thread is Aunt Lydia's Mushroom Bamboo Crochet Thread  and seriously! -- just about as soft as sand.

So while our kids and Bear romped on the sandy beach of Lake Michigan, my husband & I sat quietly and watched.

And enjoyed the sound of waves, laughter and just plain nothing-ness.

There aren't many times when we can simply enjoy the sound of nothing-ness so when those times do come, we embrace them.

And that truly sums up why enjoy the feel of crochet running through my fingers.  It is that same quietness that can see some amazing results!

The pattern is from an out-of-date Magic Crochet (Oct. 1999 - Number 122) and is called Jumbo Edelweiss.  And it will be a whopping 31 inches when completed!

Oooo.  And this?....

I can barely catch my breath!

I received this from one of the funniest, most thoughtful blogirl-friends I have ever had the pleasure of 'meeting'.  She is Andi from here and I love her for so many reasons....the biggest one?  She believes in my ability to make something out of this most delicious yarn. 

I can't say what.

Yet. 

Only because I would put a gigantic curse on myself  okay, I don't actually believe that! but every time I have attempted this ---> I.have.failed.miserably.

But thanks to the generosity & faith of one fine friend....who knows?  This might actually be do-able.

Even for me.

pretty petals redo

Falling in love with this pattern: Pretty Petals Potholder  my mind started swirling for ways to embrace a bit of a redo.

Redo #1:  pretty petals become a pretty petal ring.

Redo #2:  pretty petals become a pretty petals headband.

Redo #3:  a tiny hole in my favorite bedspread becomes non-existent with a pretty petals cover-up

And now? 

Well, I think I will crochet the actual potholder.



blue velvet & sunshine

Yes.  Another one.

From the same book as my last doily.  This one is called:  Blue Velvet.

Gorgeous pineapples (to which I seem quite enamoured with lately) but for some reason this has come out waaaaaaaaaaaay smaller than the finished 34 inches stated in the pattern. 

I never check gauge on a doily --- if it calls for size 10 thread and size 7 steel hook, I know the end result will not be that much off.  But sheesh! the first 3 rnds were suppose to be almost 4 inches in diameter.  Really?  Just how big was that hook?  Or am I just the tightest crocheter in the world?

Needless to say it is still quite beautiful & flow-ey & blue velvety & it's. a. doily. ( And as much as my family thinks I am completely nuts for being in love with these things --- well, I am.)

Now about the sunshine. 

The uber-talented & inspirational Melissa (who, btw -- is instrumental with me getting this completed) gave me a bit of sunshine with this lovely award. 

Thank you, Melissa.  (You have no idea how grateful I am to you for keeping me focused!)

Part of winning this award is telling a little bit of myself.

How about with pictures?

Here is everything (well....almost everything) I adore:

And now I get to nominate 10 recipients of this sunshine award. 

Ready? 

I will give this same award to the first 10 who comment on this post....

1. Aisyah (my dearest of blogirl-friends who inspires/motivates/ & inspires me some more!)

2. Jane S. (who left such a lovely comment)

3. Cherrie (who has been w/ me since the beginning -- I adore her!)

4. Tammy (oh, my goodness! she finds beauty in the remotest of places!)

5. Penelope ( I Love her talent and projects -- and that's with a capital L!)

6. Charlotte (yard sales & crochet --- ok. what more is there?)

7. Alessandra (beauty from Italy)

8. Anna (simply one of my favorites)

9. Ana Paula (gorgeous crochet that I covet admire deeply!) 

10. La Mañosa (if only, if only! I could have an ounce of her quilting skills!)

Okay, girls!  Grab your sunshine, tell us about yourselves and nominate 10 other gorgeously talented girls!

And thank you --- all of you!  Your blog-friendship is definite sunshine in my world.

such a rosey finish

A finish.

A rosey finish!  Complete with lacey pineapples and pearls.

It is from this book:

And even tho I ran into some major snafus....

...I have come away smitten by the simple beauty that can come from a mere size 7 hook and size 10 crochet thread. 

Yup. Just give me a crochet project, sleeping kitties, flowers, stacked dishes, etc...

...and chaos just seems to disappear.

Hello to a quiet world filled with sweet, simple things.

For awhile anyway.....

giving up--- not an option

Many moons ago, I started this doily.  In fact, I started it waaaaaaaaaaaaay back here.  

The reason why it never got finished? 

I kept getting stuck on Rnd 15.  To the point -- after frogging the silly thing 4 times ---- I gave up.

But giving up is not option when it involves lace & roses & pineapples. 

So cue soft, warm nights with the soothing sound of bugs calling out ---> equals the desire/need/want to hook this thing to completion.

Okay. 

Truth be told, it was more like swatting pesky mosquitoes in the humidity & heat while trying to keep track of split tr cl and tr-cl shells and beg tr-cl shells & what Rnd did I just complete!?

And then!?

I get to Rnd 18 & 19.....wait, there is no Rnd 18 or 19 printed in the book.  What!?  Seriously?  Now I am beginning to feel as if this doily is not meant to be.  There is where giving up truly started to become a reality.

Bu thank goodness -- after much searching for the missing rnds, I found the correction on Annie's Attic website.

Phew. 

So after all of that I am finally completing the last rnd that involves about a billion picots (not my favorite, btw) and I will finish this beautiful pineapple rose doily by affixing 8 more rosettes to the edge.

Ahh.  Feels good when I see this lacey garden taking shape. 

And 'escaping' death-by-Rnd-15-and-the-lack-of-printed-Rnd-18-and-19 feels even better.




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