My First Sweater Ever!

The Caron Circle Jacket is finished and it was a success! I can hardly believe that I actually made a garment...let alone something that is more than a simple rectangle! I actually finished it Saturday, but I haven't had time to post until now. I was so proud of it I had to wear it to church Sunday! :o) I'm still thinking about blocking it, though. I think it might help show off some of the stitches better.

Anywho, as to the particulars...I did not do the double button "thingy" per the pattern. I just sewed on a button I happened to have that matches the yarn color. Speaking of the yarn, I use Caron Simply Soft in Autumn Red. I really like the color! I would make one in black, too, but I already have enough black sweaters. I'm so glad I decided to go with the small size. I wasn't sure if it would fit according to the measurements in the pattern...but if I'd made it any larger I'd be swimming in it! Thanks to everyone who did this pattern before me and found all the errors, I really thought was pretty simple! So maybe I am an intermediate crocheter now! Woohoo!

So, now what project can I think up next? Hmmmmm.....

Dreamin',

Cocoa

I Tackled It!

BEWARE! The following pictures are only for the stout of heart! Well, at least those who don't mind a little dust. I have decided to join all those doing "Tackle It Tuesdays" thanks to the successes I've seen on Jeanie's blog and my new resolve to be more disciplined and productive at home. I'm only two days into my new schedule, but I'm liking it already!

So, how about that dust? Boy, it's been so long since I dusted my house that I can't remember when I did it last! So I decided that this would be my first tackle. It was a small task compared to some, but I thought it would be best to start with something I new I could complete tonight to give myself confidence that I can do this. And I did! Actually, taking the before and after pictures was almost as much of a chore as the actual dusting. But it was fun to put them all together and show that I did indeed accomplish what I set out to do! Yay!

Whistlin' and Workin',

Cocoa

Working Hard, Playing Hard

Woohoo! I am over halfway finished with my first sleeve....ever! I can make sleeves! I can't believe it! How exciting! I don't have time to post pics tonight...but soon I will have a finished product to show off. I'm trying to get this finished by Friday night so I can block it on Saturday (it is not shaped quite right yet) and wear it to our church's Valentine's Banquet Saturday night! I think I will wear it with a black tank and black slacks. I can hardly wait to wear my first crocheted sweater!

Speaking of the Valentine's Banquet, I am on the Children's Committee that is hosting the banquet this year to raise money for the kids to go to camp, etc. Therefore, I am supposed to go early and set up and help in any other way I can, but I am having a hard time wanting to do this. I've been really bogged down at work lately, so much so that when I get home I don't want to do anything except sit and vegetate. But I am seeing that this is a horrible waste of time and that it is not helping me feel more energetic. So today I decided to make a schedule for myself to follow each day when I get home from work to help myself become more disciplined and productive at home. I am praying that the Lord will help me stick to this schedule and honor Him more with my time and energy. Hopefully then I will have more joy to serve at church as well.

Anywho....I feel like I am just babbling on for no apparent reason with nothing to say....so I think I'd better stop. My brain must be tired! At least I can crochet with only half a brain! So, it's back to work...or play! :o)

Sittin' and Stitchin',
Cocoa

Caron Circle Jacket

Well, I finally got started on the Caron Circle Jacket! It is going by so quickly! I'm so thankful for everyone who did this pattern already at Crochetville and found all the errors because now that it has been a few months since it's been out Caron has actually corrected most of the pattern errors! And it has been good to be able to read about the pattern and its potential problems before trying to tackle it myself. That has saved a bunch of headaches for me! I've just finished row 13, and I'm so excited to keep working on it! Too bad I have to stop to make dinner! I'll be back to work soon, though! :o)

UPDATE:

I've made quite a bit of progress on this in the last few days! Yippee! It really is a pretty simple pattern once you get past the first few rows! Of course, I have not yet started the sleeves...that will be a new adventure for me. I like the way it is shaping up so far. I just hope the ruffles aren't too much for me! :o) Well, back to the hook....

Stitchin' and Grinnin',

Cocoa

Oh, the Joys of Organization

I have been seeing lots of people making these little fabric cases for their hooks and things, and they looked so neat that I decided to make one myself. I was especially inspired by Erin's hook case, and even though I tried to follow the tutorial she linked to, I ended up really making it up as I went. It was so fun to dust off the sewing machine and use up a bit of my fabric stash...which is much bigger than my yarn stash right now! So, I now have a completely organized place to keep my hooks, tapestry needles, and other little odds and ends I may need. And in the process I found the small pair of scissors my mom gave me a year ago and couldn't find anywhere for months....they were hiding with my sewing machine! Go figure! :o) Anyway, here are the photos. Hope they inspire you as others have inspired me!

Here's the case when it's all rolled up:

Here it is unrolled with the flap down:






And here it is completely open. I used sticky-back velcro instead of sewing the flap down. I didn't want it too permanent. It works great!

Still Stitchin' and Grinnin',

Cocoa

My boring life...

Okay, it has officially been too long since I posted last. I don't know why, though. I guess I've just been busy with work and church and more work and more church...along with a little housekeeping on the side. Not really anything interesting to write about, but plenty to keep me too busy and too tired to write anyway!

I've been a little too busy to do much on the crocheting front, though I'm hoping that will change soon. I did get my pattern books last week, so I've had fun drooling over those! I'm lovin' the ideas in the 200 Crochet Blocks book....oh the blankets I could create! (My hubby isn't nearly as excited as I am, but I just don't know why! Hee, hee!) I was a little disappointed in the 2007 Pattern-a-Day Calendar, but I guess I just didn't totally understand what it would be. Many of the patterns are already available free online, and I didn't realize that or I certainly wouldn't have spent my money on it. Plus, most of the patterns don't really appeal to me much. Granted there are a few nice ideas that I could whip up as gifts for people, but I just wish I had researched that purchase a little better. Oh well...live and learn.

As I said, I'm hoping to get back to crocheting more soon. I was kinda depressed last week, and I finally admitted to hubby (and myself) that it was because I didn't have any crochet projects to work on. I had finished the seraphina shawl after deciding to leave it short, so then I had nothing to do! Finally on Thursday night he told me to sit down and choose two patterns that I wanted to make, and we'd go buy the yarn together! Isn't he a sweet guy?! Yup! So, now I have something to work on, and I'm a happy camper. One of the things I want to make is Caron's Circle Jacket , but I'm hoping to make some adjustments to the original pattern so it looks a little more like Karen Carter's version because it looks more fitted and flattering. I'm also hoping that I can decipher the pattern, as after reading some of the posts on Crochetville, I've seen that many people found errors and had trouble understanding the pattern. Oh well, I am determined to try it anyway. I decided to do it in Caron Simply Soft as the pattern calls for, but in Autumn Red instead of Soft Sage. I think it will look great over a black top and pants/skirt.

That's all for now. Hope I will have some project pics next time! :o)

Stitchin' and Grinnin',
Cocoa

Lazy Saturday

I'm supposed to be doing something productive today, but I'm afraid I haven't gotten very far yet! I've been spending too much time sitting in front of this computer! But it hasn't been a total waste of time, I guess. I just ordered my first crochet pattern books ever! It took me a long time to decide what to get, but the fact that I only had a $25 gift card helped me narrow it down! So, after much deliberation, I decided to get 2007 Crochet Pattern-A-Day Box Calendar and 200 Crochet Blocks for Blankets, Throws, and Afghans. I really wanted to get some others as well, but I just can't afford alot right now. I'm hoping that in the future I can purchase some books with more "wearables" in them, like the new Doris Chan book or the S'nB Happy Hooker (in spite of it's decidedly risque title!) I also saw an intriguing looking new book only available for pre-order on Amazon: In the Loop: 30 Fun and Sexy Designs for Crochet. It looks like it should have some trendy patterns, and I love the idea of being able to input your own body measurements and get a custom-fit pattern! Plus, the designer lives in Chicago and all the pics were taken there. Since I used to live in Chi-town, I'd get the book to just to reminisce about the city again!

Anywho, I have been doing a bit of crocheting, not just dreaming about patterns. My current project is a Seraphina shawl worked with Red Heart Symphony in Tundra. I found this yarn in a clearance basket at Wal-Mart, and I thought it would make a great sweater. But I still haven't found a pattern I like, so I decided to use a little for a shawl instead. I've seen this shawl all over the internet, and I kinda liked it. I really like it now that I have been making it. My current dilemma is just how long to make it before I stop. The length right now is rather flirty and elegant looking, but it's not super warm for wearing around the house. But it sure looks great over a little black dress! So, I might just have to cut this one short for wearing out and make one a little longer and with a heavier yarn for everyday use. Hmmmmm....


Here's "Seraphina" so far. She is about 22 inches long in the center (top to bottom).

And here is a detailed shot of the stitches. A dark background definitely helps to highlight the texture and lacy look of this shawl.

Well, now I really am going to get to work! No more silliness! (maybe.....)

Sittin' and Dreamin'

Cocoa

Yippee! I get to stay home today! A large portion of Texas has been hit by an ice storm, so no school for me today...I'm not going to complain! :o) I actually have been super excited the last few days, as it's been rainy and cold and actually feels like winter for once! The trees and shrubs around here are just beautiful, covered in ice as if they are frozen in time. I walked outside this morning, and the grass even crunched under my feet as the ice cracked. I love it! It's true that I would normally prefer snow, here in Texas I've decided that I'll take whatever wintery weather we get. It's just great to have to bundle up when I go outside, and it's also great to be able to stay inside and crochet, bake, clean, and play around on the computer. As far as I'm concerned, it's a gorgeous day!

Yippee! The blanket was finished, and my pastor and his wife LOVE it! I think they were just amazed and surprised that I had actually made it myself. Lots of people at church know I crochet, but so few people (young people, especially) make things to give as gifts these days. I just think it is so much more special and heartfelt to give handmade gifts, particularly in this age of "gift card mania." I know any of you reading this probably agree, because you are all crafty people who believe in preserving the traditions and simple things so many others have forgotten! Anyway, enough of my rambling...here are some photos of the blanket (clickable)!

Givin' and Grinnin',

Cocoa

Since the holidays ended I've been busy, busy, busy back at work, home and church... so not much time to blog or even get on the computer! But I had to take a break from my "to do" list and write something on the off chance that maybe somebody out there is actually reading my blog every now and then! I also took a total break from crocheting over Christmas.(I know this is hard for some "addicts" to understand, but it had to be done!) I was a little burned out after all the craft fair projects and Christmas gifts, and I needed some time away from the hook and yarn to replenish my creative juices. Now I am ready to crochet again, and not a moment too soon, either!

You see, my pastor and his wife, who have been trying to have a baby for 5 years, are finally adopting a baby girl! She was born during the holidays, and they are just waiting on the paper work to go through so she can come home with them. Our whole church was obviously very excited at this news, so some of the ladies have planned a shower for them this Sunday. This is great because they really don't have any "baby stuff" at all...but this also meant that I had exactly 6 days to complete a baby blanket! Since I haven't been a crochet-aholic for very long, I don't have any of stand-by patterns or any extra baby blankets just lying around...so I had to come up with something quick and easy! I finally decided to go with LB's Hooded Blanket (the pattern on the "Pound of Love" labels) because it doesn't have any major pieces to join and is just a simply pattern stitch. I am over 2/3 finished with the main blanket, so I should be able to get it all whipped together tonight! (But only if I get off the computer and get back to work!) I just hope that they like it and are able to get alot of use out of it. That's the most important thing to me! Well, back to work....

Stitchin' and Grinnin',
Cocoa

Home, sweet home again! DH and I had a wonderful vacation with family, and we enjoyed the cold weather so much! But we are glad to be back in our own house again, in spite of the Texas weather and the fact that we have to get back to work again soon. I don't feel like writing a whole lot tonight, so I will just share some pics instead!

These are the hats I crocheted for my grandma and her husband, as I wrote about in my last couple of posts. Hers is the crimson one with the brim down (to show the stitches better), and his is the aran fleck with brim rolled up.


Here is my beautiful kitty, Bright, who lives at home with my parents. We can't have any pets here, and she doesn't travel well...so she gets to stay with them instead! She is a queen, as you can probably tell, and rules the house, regardless of what the other pets may think!

This is my brother's cat, Whitetip, who is the baby of the family. He loves to cuddle, but he is full of mischief and likes to play rough. His tail never stops moving, even when he's asleep...so Dad nicknamed him "Thumper."
And this is Gunner, the family dog. He used to be quite a hunter, but he's retired now because of arthritis in his back hips and legs. Nowadays he just wants to be close to anyone who will scratch him behind the ears and give him a bite of "people food" every once in a while!

Well, that's all for now...I'm still recovering from our long trip, but I hope to write more in the next few days!

Happy New Year!

Cocoa

Vacation is here at last! Yippee! Hooray! Yahoo! (Can you tell I'm excited?) My hubby and I are traveling back north to visit my parents, grandparents, and any other random family members we may happen to see. I can't wait to be so cold that I actually have to wear a warm sweater, winter coat, scarf, hat and gloves! Some of you may think I'm crazy, but I'm really just a northerner at heart, longing for that familiar old wintery weather. It may not be a white Christmas, but at least it will be cold! :o)

I did finish those hats I was working on (see previous post), but I forgot to take pics of them before I wrapped them--oops! So, I will have to try to remember to do that after the packages get opened. I really enjoyed making these hats...so much so that I am thinking of making more for the rest of my family and myself! They were so easy once I learned the stitches...and they are super thick and warm.

Well, it is late, and we have an early start in the morning. So, in case I don't get to blog much again until after Christmas....

Merry Christmas to you all!

Remember, Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

~Cocoa~

Happy day! I am no longer depressed! Hooray!

Last night I decided to make matching hats for my Gran and her husband for Christmas. So, I went on a mad search for a hat pattern that seemed appropiate for an older adult, that was functional and warm (they live in the cold and windy North) and that had some pretty detail to make it unique. I finally discovered a wonderful pattern by Lisa at Crochet Garden that is just perfect. (It is the "Thick Warm Crocheted Winter Hat.") It is simple and practical in construction, and the cables and ridges give it just the right amount of detail. I was a bit nervous about making the hats at first, since I have only made one hat in my entire life...but I am so glad I decided to jump in and do it! Since I am still technically a relatively inexperienced crocheter, I had never tried front or back post stitches before; and this pattern in chalk full of them! I also had never attempted (or even considered attempting) cables before. But now that I have learned these stitches, I see how truly simple they are! And I am already imagining the possibilities for future projects involving these stitches!

Amazing! I have something to do and something to look forward to doing! That makes my day!

Stitchin' and Grinnin' Once Again,
Cocoa

Oh, by the way, I forgot to write an update on the brown and cream felted purse that I had so much trouble with. I did finally decide to felt it again, and that seemed to help a bit. I also made a closure for it, thanks to input from Lauren at http://littleriverfiberarts.blogspot.com/. Here's what it looks like now:

It's the last week of school before Christmas vacation, and I should be celebrating...but I feel kinda down. I think my body is already on vacation, and my brain wants to go with it. But I have so much left to do before the week is over! I also might be a little down because of all this crocheted stuff I now have sitting in the corner of the living room collecting dust. I have listed it all on etsy, but who knows if/when it will ever sell! I was so hoping to sell it at the craft fair, and now it is just sitting here...lonely and unloved. I worked so hard on all of it, creating my own designs and patterns, trying all kinds of new things...and what did it all accomplish? Depressing, just downright depressing...

Another downer right now is that I have this yarn I bought that I really, really want to make into a sweater for myself. But I don't like any of the patterns I've found, and I'm not feeling confident enough to just wing it. I've never made a anything that wasn't basically just a circle or rectangle, and I'm scared to make a garment without a pattern. However, one of these days, if I can't find a pattern I like, I may just get adventurous enough to try...we'll see.

Well, so much for cheering myself up by blogging! I think I'd better go do something productive before my brain turns to mush while staring at the computer. Hope you are having happier days than me!

Depressed and Depressing,
Cocoa

I did it...I now have my own Etsy shop, and I have just listed my first item! I am so excited! I signed up for my own PayPal account (separate from DH's) and everything! The craft fair at school ended today, so I'll be listing anything I didn't sell there in the next few days. It was disappointing not to do much business, but people just weren't interested in the same things they were last year. I did great last year, while another gal who makes jewelry didn't do much business. This time around, I didn't sell much at all...but she got a ton of orders for custom-made stuff! Go figure! Oh well...maybe it was all meant to be in the end. I may do really well selling stuff online instead. We shall see. Besides, I do have a couple of special orders to make. So, maybe it will all work out in the end.

Well, I have to go check on my turkey now...No, we're not having Thanksgiving late. Hubby and I just decided that while turkeys are in abundant supply we should buy a big one, roast it, and freeze it for quick meals later on. So, Mr. Turkey No. 2 is happily cooking away right now!

Cookin' and Hookin',
Cocoa

Woohoo! My post editor toolbar has returned! I don't know where it was, but I hope it had a nice trip! Anyway, now I can post my pics. And I learned how to do clickable pictures, so I am super excited! The first is my dad's afghan/lapghan, "Christmas Crosses." The second photo is my mom's snowman doorstop. He's so cute (and so big!). Enjoy!

Frustration! I really wanted to post some pictures of the Christmas projects I've finished, but blogger is being annoying and not letting me have my post editor toolbar! Grrrrr....grumble, grumble.

Oh well, suffice it to say that my Christmas gifts are complete, and I'm very pleased with the way they turned out. The craft fair at school is in full swing, though I have not done much business so far. We had a little setback on Thursday and Friday because bad weather kept alot of people home. So I'm hoping that Monday and Tuesday I'll be able to sell some more items. But if not, I've been busy setting up an Etsy store and considering all the ins and outs of online sales. Whatever I don't sell at the craft fair will go up for sale on Etsy, so keep your eyes peeled!

I've also been busy reworking the look of my blog (as you can see). I wanted something that was a little more professional looking without being boring. The Scribe template is just my style, too...a little bit romantic, but still very practical! It will be evolving more as I learn how to navigate Blogger beta. Funny how I just dove into this blogging thing, started to think I had things figured out, then decided to switch it all up! I guess I just can't resist a challenge!

Well, that's all for now. I think I'll head on over to Crochetville and try to post my pics there, at least. I just love being able to show off what I've made! :o)

Happy Sunday ya'll!
Cocoa

Okay, so I don't have much to write about today, but I'm in a writing mood...so I thought I'd better seize the opportunity! I crocheted a bunch over the weekend, but I can't talk much about that because Christmas is coming! (It's all hush-hush right now, just in case!)

My darling hubby and I have been gradually decorating the house over the past few weeks. Being from the north, we can't stand the warm Texas autumns, not to mention what they call "winter" down here...so we usually put the Christmas tree and decs up before Thanksgiving. It helps beat the warm winter blues. DH's sister is coming tomorrow, and we are so excited to see her! Maybe she can bring some cold north winds with her! She will be spending 5 days with us, and I'm looking forward to the time we'll have together.

Also, the craft fair is next week...I still have to put the finishing touches on a couple of things, and then I will be ready! I am really looking forward to it this year, and I hope that alot of my new creations will sell. I put alot more time, money and creative juices into things this year. Here's hoping it will all pay off!

Well, I suppose I should go do something productive now. (Ugh) Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Being home from work for a sick day can actually be more profitable than I thought! Not only did I get some much needed rest, but I crocheted up a storm! Here are some picks of the things I made yesterday! The first is a little pocketbook made out of a simple rectangle sewn together after felting with my first felted flowers attached as decorations. It's even cuter in real life! (I still have to attatch one of those little magnetic snaps, but then it will be ready for sale!)
Here's an accomplishment that made me really proud... I came up with the idea for this little evening bag completely on my own. I was curious about how a round bag would shrink up during the felting process, and it turned out just as I had hoped (with just one 14 minute cycle, too!) I also hadn't tried making designs in the felt before, so adding the baubles was a bit of an adventure. The drawstring also worked out rather well, especially since I was just making everything up as I went along. I may try to write down a basic pattern/schematics for this little cutie...but we'll see if I can remember what on earth I did!
Last of all are these cute little...umm...well, they were supposed to be flowers, but they look more like some sea creatures I saw on tv once! They were all based on patterns I found for felted flowers, though I changed a few little details. I don't think I'll be using those patterns again! Oh well...anybody interested in some goofy looking sea creatures? Anyone at all? :o)

Fooling with Felting,
Cocoa