Jewel tones

I like all colors, I really don't think there are any that I don't care for. Among my favorites are the warm tones of fall. The reds, golds, and yellows that are starting to show up here in Alaska. I also love the cool blues and greens of our oceans, lakes, rivers, and seas. The bright pinks and purples of little girl clothes make me smile. But my all time favorites have got to be jewel tones. 

I've been making things for other people for so long that I decided I wanted to make a new throw for me based off the larksfoot stitch. It's working up so fast and I'm loving the way the colors are coming together. I've received a lot of compliments and even have a potential order to make an afghan for someone else.

On a side note, I had another order for little girl maryjane slippers which have been finished and delivered. I love that she keeps ordering more, but the color combinations she chooses really hurt my eyes!

Trying new things

Over the past month I've finished a few projects that I haven't posted because they're gifts that I don't want the recipients to see until they've received them.

That isn't to say that I haven't been busy doing other things. I found this super cute patter for baby sandals on  Ravelry and just had to give them a try. They turned out so cute and they were relatively easy to make. They were made to go with the matching hats and diaper cover.

A few days ago I was at the library and picked up the book "100 Crochet Projects" by Jean Leinhauser & Rita Weiss. There's a pattern for an entrelac skull cap which I decided to try. I've never attempted to do entrelac before and I think it would have been easier had I tried it with a flat piece. As you can see from the following pic, it didn't turn out as a skull cap - more of a slouch hat.

I also finally finished the slippers for one of my daughters that she's been waiting for since I made the first set a few months ago. So I haven't had idle hands, just busy getting kids ready for school and not much time for posting.

Slippers

A few weeks back I made myself and one of my daughters some slippers found at Crochet Spot (click the link for the pattern). I did make some adjustments to the pattern to make them fit us each well as well as making a gusset in the back for the heel as I didn't like the way the heel stitched up with the original directions. Anyway, someone else saw them and asked if I'd make her 3 pair and a pair for her daughter. She picked the color combinations and gave me measurements, she also asked for contrasting edging and flowers so here's what I came up with. 

By the time I was done with these I was sick of working with black yarn...ugh. For the contrasting edging I added a round of sc and then a round of picots to make them a bit more 'girly'. The flower pattern was originally for a flower garland with the pattern found at Sarahndipities. 

I found a recipe for homemade puffy glue that I'll be using to draw some flowers or such on the soles to make them non-skid. She'll be back on Saturday, I hope she likes them!

Finally!!

So the shrug I made for my friend's daughter needs a slight alteration and I brought it home. I figured while I had it here I'd have my daughter model it so I could show the back! I need to close up the arms a little bit more so it doesn't slip off her shoulders but I'm so happy with how it turned out. I'll have to write up the pattern and then I'll post it for anyone who'd like to test it for me.

The shrug isn't blocked, but it still looks good. I really like this stitch pattern, I think I'll try to figure out how to work it to a point and make a summery shawl. Oh the possibilities are endless!

Finally a pic!

So I posted a while back that I had finished the shrug, but I didn't have any pics to post. I finally got a picture of the shrug on the little girl I made it for. I wish I had a back pic, but she's cute so a front will do :)

It was so cute, when she saw it she said "oooo, it's sooo beautiful"! I guess we have a winner here. One day I might finish typing up the pattern and put it up to be tested.

Toddler shrug

So my friend and I were having a conversation a few weeks ago about the difference between crochet and knitting. She's recently learned to knit but doesn't crochet and I have been crocheting for years, but couldn't knit to save my life.  Anyhow, she mentioned that she'd really like a shrug for her daughter but would like it crocheted because it seems easier to get a "lacy" look with crochet. I decided to take on the project. I haven't made a shrug in years. I looked around through all of my pattern books and tons of patterns online and just didn't find one I liked so I decided to try and design one myself.

This book has been invaluable in helping me figure out what I wanted to do. I really like the net stitch when I want to give something that light and lacy look, but since this was going to be for a toddler I wanted it to be just a bit more sturdy so on page 34 I found directions for the "Lily Net Stitch". The back panel turned out beautiful.

I'll also be adding some ribbed cuffs with a picot edge and I think once I get the arms sewn up I'll do a picot edge around the opening. Writing a pattern is a lot more work than I thought it would be. I have crossed out and frogged so many times I almost gave up on writing it. Once it's done I'll post it here and on Ravelry.com for people to test it for me.