Gifted Gorgeousness, TUSAL - November Edition!

Ahoy there, crafty peoples~ :D  It's time for the wonderful Gifted Gorgeousness update!

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At least I have something to show this time!

before

after

...o_o. Well, it's something, right? I mentioned before that the colors were pending on the Missus, and that they still are! I took a picture after the second attempt but this too has been picked out. I think it will work best for her inner swirls instead of main body color, though.  I wonder if I can convince my husband that I need every single green DMC makes to get her colors right. It's his gift and he needs it to be perfect of course! ;)  Maybe I should fish out any and all olive-y sort of colors and see what I can come up with.

But this is not the only giftedness I've been working on.  Here is a test piece I worked up to see if a) I could understand the pattern, b) liked the pattern, and c) liked the color combination.

almost like a snowflake

It's not very large, 2" (5cm) square but as a motif in something a bit bigger, I'm very happy with how it turned out!  It was crocheted with a 1mm hook and ancient threads.  I cannot make the rest of them from this thread as there will be enough and I know from past experience trying to match old threads Does. Not. Work!  The motif is from the Star Book No. 78: Television and Radio Scarfs, published in 1950 (originally called for white/green)!  I had a remarkably hard time finding small individual motifs.  This is one of the smallest I've come across (and liked).

Since it's an older pattern, there were a couple of things that I found odd.  One was the "single double crochet" -- what on earth is that?  After studying the description and some Google-fuu the answer:  American half double crochet (half treble for you aliens across the oceans).  Another was the making of the inner "picots."  They're... weird.  Weird for picots even.  I might adjust the pattern.  Otherwise, this is a really quick and enjoyable little motif!  The whole doily calls for alternating the colors (i.e. switch the white and blue) to create a checkerboard effect but I'm not sure I want that... and I can't exactly ask the giftee what they think without spoiling the gift!  I'll make a bunch of this scheme and see if I like the look and decide after (going against all the doily-making rules of joining as you go cough).  I only need 112 by Christmas... if I can squeeze in five per day assuming no weekends or other pesky days off... well... at the very least I need 48 done LOL.

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A few days behind but here's my TUSAL ORTs, looking just lovely in the jar.  Filled with ripped out stitches (again, hah) and some random bits of floss I used for some mending.  I'm pondering starting a big jar for yarn ORTs next year.  I think that pixel square afghan would produce enough to fill it in one go...

November "strings"

Thank you for reading; I know I talk a lot without actually saying anything. :)

FotM SAL - October Edition

Aloha! I am happy you're still reading despite my continued silence. :) I am no longer ill and am capable of breathing through my nose, how exciting!  Are you prepared to be wowed by my spectacular progress on the next flower?

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before

after

Yaaaaaa-- wait, that's like, eleven stitches. I won't bore you with the struggle it was just to get those few stitches in.  I haven't touched cross-stitch since then; I'll get back to it eventually but argh.  I'm a bit sad I didn't get any Halloween stitching in.  I may be able to squeeze things in eventually but right now... I dunno.  Guess I'm in a funk.  Or maybe cross-stitch isn't as warm as yarny projects because...

various stash yarns

I did finish another square for the CAL! This is number four of at least nine (I haven't fully decided I want a small afghan haha). I really liked this square though I still hate that black yarn.  The yellow trim at the bottom of the sleigh was a different weight; I should've doubled up but didn't ah well.  Next up is the elf!  He looks like he'll have a couple of fiddly rows where I have skeins of yarn draped everywhere with all the color changes, bah.  I think I've finally learned my lesson about carrying yarn.  As long as it's touching the same color, it's okay to carry it.  If not, snip snip!

I'm still being bad with the ends.  I'll get them in eventually, with much complaining. :D

lemon and rosemary P&C yarn

I also managed to finish another dishcloth (using the same pattern). This time, I tried really hard to control my tension and it shows! However if I knit any tighter it will be a waterproof dishcloth hahaha. I crocheted around the edge out of curiosity. I was expecting to cover the edge but apparently that doesn't happen! At the knitting group, it was suggested that I knit around the edge to achieve what I was going for.

Next up is a simple scarf (yarn bought but not cast on yet)!  I am all gungho about socks and lace but it was strongly suggested that I increase my skills carefully hah. I see the logic but but but......  :)

I'm glad everyone else has been keeping busy with their stitchy goodness~  I'll return sometime.

Gifted Gorgeousness, TUSAL - October Edition

Aloha! A bit late this time.  I am still busy... and sick. I spent all of Wednesday and half of Thursday in bed. I feel a bit more human today, although I'm sure if you'd poke a hole in me, I'd explode like that cockroach scene at the end of Men in Black. I am appalled at how much snot a body can produce!

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colors pending

Gifted Gorgeousness - bit of a flop this month. I have Rathian kitted up but there has been zero work on her otherwise. Her colors are much more drab than Rathalos and are still pending approval.

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October "strings"

TUSAL - a smidgen of green in there from the next flower of the month, all frogged because I cannot count to three, several times. This is what I get when trying to relax with stitching after working myself to exhaustion apparently!

No new updates on the Christmas afghan CAL; haven't crocheted a thing. I've put in a few repeats on my next dishcloth for knitting and I'm trying to have better control of my tension. It's going okay, I guess. Sorry for the less-than-exciting post. It's hard to be excitable when all you want to do is curl up in a little ball and breathe through your nose!

FotM SAL - September Edition

Hi there! It has finally turned cool here (thank goodness). The cornfield has been harvested and looks so lonely now. The soybeans have turned a lovely shade of gold so they will be harvested next. I have started fall housecleaning which, if you're new to my blog, means an entire dismantling of the house and clean everything from the ceiling down to shampooing the carpet. I am allowing one week per room since this year I am also caulking around all the windows, doors, and floorboards. We'll see if that doesn't help with how drafty this place gets in winter!

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A little late in the year, but I was playing with the GIF maker before life got hectic and made this little button for the SAL. Feel free to use it if you want. :)

before

after

I have finished May's lily of the valley, finally! I do like it now that it is finished but it was a struggle to get it done. I am sorry that I do not have a "movie" of my stitches for this one.  I may go back and make one later when I have time to sit down.  I have yet to start June's flower, the wild rose, as I just picked up the huck towel this past weekend. I did manage to get it kitted up though!

I am still considering changing some of the colors. I am missing three, the hazelnut and the two lightest apricots. I'm fine with the unknown brown I fished out of my stash but not sure the lighter pinks fit in. Maybe I will start with the other colors and buy the missing ones whenever I can get down to the store.

Technical Details

• "May: Lily of the Valley" freebie pattern by Ellen Maurer-Stroh, found here
• 2 over 1 on 14-count ecru huck towel (called for 3 over but I thought 2 looked okay)
• Finished size: 4.50 x 4.50" (11,50 x 11,50 cm)
• Started: July 9, Finished: September 13. 12 hours.  

doily by my great-great aunt

Lookit, lookit! I am so excited at winning such a stunning batch of floss from Santa Nancy! I won Mother's flower garden!!  I have left them in the box because they look so pretty and I want to keep them looking pretty and not full of cat hair haha.  When I saw that I had won these lovelies from Nancy, the first chart that popped in my head was the "Welcome" chart (just visible in the thrifty stash picture) I picked up on a trip to visit friends.  I will have to consider it some more but I think they would look lovely with that design.

Frosty!

Update on the pixel square afghan CAL: I have finished the snowman! I despise that black yarn.  It says it's the same weight as all my others (mostly Red Heart Super Saver) but it was so not.  You can kind of see the distortion of the square in this picture caused by it.  It will block out, but still!  I liked the applique star idea from the Christmas tree so much that I decided to make a little holly and berries applique for his hat. Of course, I promptly misplaced them. :) They will turn up eventually. Or, if they do not, they are not difficult to make so I will make more. And then the others will turn up for sure.  I have not yet started the next square, the sleigh.

it's almost square

And knitting: I can knit a thing!  This is my first little (and very messy) dishcloth, #3 from this freebie pattern on Ravelry.  There is one very obvious mistake that I will need to ask the ladies about at the next knitting get-together.  I am guessing I slipped a stitch but didn't notice until I was several repeats away. Let me tell you, casting off was an adventure all on its own.  I apparently knit (and crochet) tight and that doesn't work well casting off!  I could barely squeeze my needles back under the stitches let alone slide the one up and over, yikes.  Maybe I should practice that more and my tension will improve for both yarny endeavors!

PS.  I have TEMPORARILY disabled comments.  I am so sorry.  Nothing is wrong! This time of year is very busy for me and I can't make comments like I normally do.  I would feel guilty receiving comments knowing that I couldn't reciprocate.  I have been reading but staying quiet.  Thank you for understanding.  >_<

September Edition: Gifted Gorgeousness, TUSAL, and More!

Whew, this post has a lot of tags! Prepare yourselves for all the excitement and exclamation marks!

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before

after

Tadaaaa~ Rathalos is finished and I am so happy with how he turned out! I showed him to my husband (stitched for him) and he got that goofy big kid grin ehehe. I asked him how he wanted it finished and he said Rathalos can't be alone. Good thing I have the Missus (Rathian) charted up already! He didn't answer my question on how to finish this so I may have made a mistake because I thoughtlessly said, "Wouldn't he be cute as a cube!?" Well, obviously a cube has more than one or two sides so I suppose we'll have to figure out four more Monster Hunter glyphs to chart up! I'm sure Brachydios will be one, as well as "The Pickle."  I hope GG is running for the next 100 years hah.

Technical Details

• "Rathalos" glyph from Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, pattern charted by me.
• 2 over 1 on 20-count light tan jobelan fabric.
• Finished size: 3.50 x 3.50" (9 x 9 cm).
• Started: June 9, Finished: September 7. 12.5 hours.  

bad photo, sorry!

I have been continuing on with the Christmas afghan CAL found on Repeat Crafter Me.  I finished up the next square, the Christmas tree, the weekend before last.  I have somewhat figured out how to carry my yarn within the stitches so, as you can see, there are MUUUUUUUUUUCH fewer tails to deal with.  Also, because this is turning into a major stash-busting project, I've been changing around the colors.  My yellow is a bit on the pale side so I was afraid the star wouldn't show up.  I made a small applique star using this freebie pattern.  After the ends are woven in (can you tell I'm avoiding these things like the plague hah) I will attach it to whichever side looks the prettiest!

about 50% complete

I have also started the next square!  Here you can see the C2C method growing since it's worked in the diagonal.  It's an interesting way to crochet!  I am trying something different with the yarn since there are so many color changes (one line changed color 12! times).  I set the skeins out in order of the line I'm working on, and then rearrange them as I go.  I don't wind up with a big blob of spaghetti yarn and it helps eliminate some of those ghastly tails.  I'm also using two skeins of the same color for the background as it's too far to carry from one side to the other.

knit stitch

knit & purl!

I can knit! (!!!!!!!) I practiced casting on for about a week, then moved on to the knit stitch which got practiced for another week. Then, the purl! Knit and purl combine in various ways to make all sorts of strange patterns but this is just knitting one row, purling the next row to create the basic stockinette stitch. I was so excited by my little practice blob I ran around the house brandishing my needles with it attached at my husband who was amused.  Yay!  I found a couple of dishcloth patterns that I will probably attempt, though I'm still not sure I'd use them as dishcloths!  I will probably make them into potholders.

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Last but not least, TUSAL as hosted by It's Daffycat! There's a healthy sprinkling of Rathalos in there as well as the Flower of the Month SAL finish (hallelujah).

I could keep going on and on but I think it would be safer if I stopped here!  Thank you for reading and I'll hopefully ramble again for IHSW!