Mad Crochet

2010-05-19T20:02:00.000-07:00

I just passed 8th Grade Home Economics

I believe we have an almost unlimited capacity for learning. Our only bounds are our desire to learn and our fear of the subject.

I've taught myself or sought to learn many a thing over the years. To crochet, to cook, to draw, paint, decorate cakes, even the ever elusive knitting. (Which I discovered after all this time that I really didn't enjoy doing it) I've taught myself how to use a computer and even in some instances how to fix my computer (and when I should get someone else to.)

I always want to know more and share more of what I know. So when Chloe was born and felt the urge to make her clothes, the feeling of "I can't sew! How'm I supposed to make her beautiful things?" was alien. Sure there are things I can't do, mostly because I don't really want to. (See MMA sports) Usually if I want to do something I just stubborn my way along until I fifgure it out.

And I did that...sorta. I'd try any tutorial on the internet that sounded interesting and run with it. Make up my own ideas? Absolutely. Buy a pattern and cut it out? Never...

Tonight I realised my major phobia with sewing started with a teacher. An awful teacher who always told me what I did wrong but never how to fix it. Who couldn't see past her prejudices to fairly and honestly do her job and left me to flounder. A teacher who failed me for being unable to complete a pair of elastic waist shorts.

I followed a pattern tonight. I cut it out, traced it, snipped and sewed and Chloe has a pair of pale pink shorts made from a maternity top that I never liked. And I have renewed faith that because I want to learn I can and will.

Thanks to Julie Bird for the shorts pattern.

2010-05-18T21:42:00.000-07:00

A Twirl Skirt

and a shirred peasant blouse

2010-05-11T08:28:00.000-07:00

Covet

Since I started sewing in semi earnest I have discovered loads of gadgets, gizmos and doohickeys that make a sewing girls life easier.

A few that I desperately desire are...

A ruffler foot:

This automatically makes ruffles and gathers as you sew.
I definitely do not have patience for that baste, baste pull thing.

Heck I don't even really understand that.

A Binder Foot

For attaching bias tape to an edge. I could become addicted especially since I hate hemming but do like to make reversible stuff. I could see needing a 12 step program if I had

Bias Tape Makers

Make your own bias tape! Never have to search for a "match" again!

And if you're going to make your own bias tape you'll probably want

A Rotary Cutter and Mat

and a Guide Arm

A roller foot would be nice as well as a felling foot. A double needle clamp too.

Oh and I'd really like to figure out how to make a pair of shorts.

2010-05-10T19:13:00.000-07:00

Tie Top Made from a Fat Quarter
or an appropriate sized rectangle

Start with a fat quarter of fabric that you like (Or a rectangle large enough to form a slightly poofy top plus some extra for straps)

On the long side, measure in six inches

Fold over and iron flat

Cut along the line to form a 6 inch wide strip

Like this.

Fold larger piece of fabric in half and cut along the fold

You will end up with two rectangles, set aside for now

Fold the smaller strip of fabric in half lengthwise and iron flat

Cut into 2, three inch wide strips

Fold in 1/2 inch and press down

Fold over other side to meet and press down

Fold over one last time and press

Straight stitch through the center

Like this

Set aside

Using the larger pieces of fabric, place right sides together, straight stitch a 1/4 inch seam along either short side.

Finish with zigzags.

Finish the top and bottom edge as you see fit. I zigzagged the top edge

and satin stitched the bottom. Fold the top over about an inch (or the appropriate size for your elastic)

Fold into fourths and mark for strap placement (Sorry Bad picture)

Tuck strap under and pin in place

Repeat with second strap and straight stitch around base. Leave a space unstitched for elastic

Like this

Fold straps up towards the top and pin in place. Straight stitch around top.

Measure chest and add a wee bit of give and cut a piece of elastic to that measurement. Thread on to a safety pin and feed into open hole on shirt

Use the safety pin to work elastic through the casing, remembering to leave a tail hanging out.

Pull through on the other side

Sew elastic together to form continuous loop

Place finished top on adorable child, tie straps and voila! Easy summer shirt.

2010-04-28T20:20:00.000-07:00

Reversible Skirts (and a smock but we hate that)

Sure, Chloe needs more clothes. Of course she does...
JoAnn's had fat quarters on sale for 99c and you can't beat a skirt for less than $3.00.

Because I have to make things hard on myself, the first skirt had a flip flop hem and waistband. (The fabric on one side folded over to form the hem or the waistband on the other side) It mostly went okay excepting I was very careful when making the felled seam to leave a space to feed the the elastic throgh. Well all but the very first bit of the seam when I sewed completely through. This made running the elastic through impossible. I made a small slit a nd will hide it with a bow.

The smock I just hate so I'm not explaining it. It is fully reversible though.

The second skirt is a straight reversible skirt. I trimmed a bit of fabric from the side with the initial plan of making matching hair ribbons. I remembered Chloe had ruined a white t'shirt with chocolate and thought "What the hay." I painted a branch up and across to hide the stain then appliqued a bird and flowers. I did have to sew the flowers on by hand. (Never buy cheap thread folks I was miserable with how often this broke in the machine.)

What's not shown are the music notes I painted on to hide the dry erase marker spots Chloe got on the shirt less than an hour after it was finished.

The last is a flip flop again. This time I didn't screw up the waistband so there's no bit of elastic sticking out.

2009-11-10T20:58:00.000-08:00

Atlantis Wedding Cake

2009-11-02T12:12:00.000-08:00

Wonderful Haunted Wedding Cake

Plus a rat, a brain, a redneck wedding and the cake for Central Library's 5th Birthday

2009-10-07T19:20:00.000-07:00

Cake for Central Library's 5th birthday party

2009-04-29T19:44:00.000-07:00

If you just believe...

2008-11-23T23:16:00.000-08:00

Elf Hat

Chloe has always worn hats. I made her a monster hat a few days before she was born and that kinda set the tone. Where ever we went Chloe had a hat on her head. Until...fateful fish taco Friday. The kind lady told me how beautiful Chloe was and asked how I managed to keep a hat on her. You could see the light go on in Chloe's head as she reached up and snatched the hat off her head. sigh This was taken after 15 or so attempts and one nanosecond before it was snatched off. sigh

2008-09-14T06:46:00.000-07:00

Chloe Madness!!!

2008-09-11T20:32:00.000-07:00

Bass Cake

We got an airbrush at the bakery and I am in love.

2008-09-11T20:31:00.001-07:00

Hippo Cake

2008-09-11T20:31:00.000-07:00

Hippo Cake

2008-08-12T18:09:00.000-07:00

The power of love...

I've often said I hate to sew. It makes me tense and crabby and it never turns out the way I want to. I'm terrible at it. I failed Home Ec. because I couldn't make a pair of elastic waist shorts. (Sad) But I was drooling at the beautiful things on Etsy when I came across an incredible dress. What made it incredible wasn't it's construction, it's a fairly simple shirred dress with halter straps, but the choice of fabrics. It made me want to make (not buy) one for Chloe. Now all I have is a $10, straight stitch machine that Alicia (Hi Alicia!) bought me for my birthday 2 years ago. (Still in box.) Also I have no idea how to shir but I decided to Google it and voila! a tutorial. One that I semi understood no less. This is my practice run for the real thing. I'm still not ready, not too bad mind you, but defo not ready. Gonna try this out in different lengths add a band like the original, see if I can actually sew straight etc. and hopefully soon I can make that dress...but no shorts, yeah, no shorts.

2008-02-25T18:03:00.001-08:00

Monster hat for the little monster...

2007-06-19T12:47:00.000-07:00

Soooooooo, we're having a baby...

2007-05-23T19:44:00.001-07:00

b is is for...

2007-05-23T19:44:00.000-07:00

BEACH!!!

2007-03-21T18:42:00.000-07:00

The basket shelf we built, needs sanding and paint...

2007-03-21T18:38:00.000-07:00

Two free cabinets during the bolting process

"Don't be takin' my picture!"

Tile and trim and a wee bit o' caulk

2007-03-21T18:37:00.000-07:00

chandelier

2007-03-12T19:27:00.000-07:00

More "Kool" Stuff

Sometimes life is surprising. I'd just put my crocheted cell phone bag in the washer to felt when I heard a familiar voice behind me. I screamed so loud Karl heard me all the way upstairs. He came down to find me kissing and hugging another man. It was my little (if 6'5" is little) brother so all is well in the White household.

By the way this was made with the Kool Aid wool which I've named "tangy" and I crocheted it because I wanted instant gratification.

2007-03-11T16:43:00.000-07:00

Totally Kool (aid)

This is my first attempt at dyeing wool with Kool Aid. I started by winding Lion Wool around my long green Knifty Knitter loom to make a nice hank of yarn. (It wouldn't all fit so I made two) Then I protected my kitchen table with a large plastic trash bag and set up to go. There are good directions for dyeing yarn with Kool Aid all over the web but I used the ones from Knitty because they also showed variegated.

After mixing my Kool Aid (I also used a generic "fake" Kool Aid in Lemonade for my yellow) I spooned it on and pressed it into the yarn. I blotted it a little before setting it on a plate to be microwaved. It kinda looks like a citrus rainbow. And no, I could not get the stains out of the dishtowel later.

This photo shows the yarn being microwaved for two minutes and the fact that my microwave needs wiping down.

Rinsing the yarn out to remove the excess Kool Aid.

(Im)Patiently waiting for the yarn to dry.

Yarn of a different color...

This was made with the same principals just a slightly different method. Gel food color (I am a cake decorator.) was mixed with lemon juice and spooned on. This was my sub for Kool Aid) So far it seems fine. There was very little dye in the rinse water and the colors are very vibrant. I think I'm going to knit a hat with it once it's dry.

Shameful secret- I did have to break my vow of not buying more yarn to do this project. I can't even justify it by saying it's the first time. I had a moment of weakness in Chicago and bought some ribbon yarn I've been coveting. It was on sale for two dollars though...

2007-02-11T20:05:00.000-08:00

Three New Hats

2007-02-11T19:08:00.001-08:00

Doo duh...

doo duh...

doo duh...

Eeeh eeh eeeh Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!!

BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRP!!!

2007-02-05T18:12:00.000-08:00

Indianapolis Colts Super Bowl XLI Champs
Go Peyton it's yer' birthday!
Oh, and that ain't sunshine that bear is sittin' in.

2007-02-05T17:59:00.000-08:00

A hat for Siamese twins?

Graci and George model their crazy Aunt Kristi's latest creation...

Is it really?

   Nah...as Graci shows us it's just a funny, extra long hat.

   And George shows us it's reversible!!!

The pompons that seem like mere decoration are actually cleverly disguising drawstrings to close the end opposite of the one you wish to wear.

Directions, after a fashion...
First, I'm just assuming you know how to color work already, also how to follow a chart. I'm not the best person for explaining this sort of thing and instructions are readily available at sites such as Purling Sprite and Decor Accents. Knowing how to make a pompon is useful but tassels or cute buttons would work as well.

Materials
1 skein color A (I used Caron's Simply Soft Berry Blue)
1 skein color B (I used Caron's Simply Soft Chocolate)
Knifty Kniitter Loom of your choice (Example was made on the red one)
Crochet Hook
Yarn Needle

Instructions
With 2 strands of color A held together as one, cast on the loom and knit for 14 rows. Pull up bottom row to make a brim. Continue knitting with color A for 9 rows.

Begin Chart
  Fairly straight forward, the chart is designed to fade from Color A to Color B. You don't really have to make your hat this ridiculously long. You can choose any pattern that gets heavy on the secondary color as you go. (Progressively wider stripes of Color B or Half Color A, Half Color B. Maybe Using Color A as one brim, Color B as the second brim and using a strand of each as the middle...anyway you get the idea)

Once you've worked The Chart Continue knitting with Color B for nine rows.

The Tricky Bit
You need to mark this next row to make it easier to find. I took a long piece of Color A yarn And held it in the front between the wraps on each peg, then knit over it to trap it in place. It was secure but still easy to pull out when I didn't need it anymore. This is marked row is row 1. You'll need to knit 13 more rows.

Following down from any peg, reach inside the tube and pull up one loop from the marked row. Place the loop on the corresponding peg. (If you accidentally pick up the marker yarn, slip it off the peg.) Continue picking up loops from the inside and placing them on the pegs until every peg has a loop. Knit the loops. Bind off hat in the manner you prefer most. (I used the crochet method because I wanted to see if I could do it.) Remove the marker yarn.

Finishing
Make 4 small pompons (I used 2 strands of A and one strand of B for the A side and switched it for the B side)

or tassels or buttons or whatever.

Chain stitch a length of (A for A, B for B) yarn that is equal to the length of the hat at it's most stretched. Attach a pompon to one end and thread the other end through the stitches right above the brim. Tie the other end to the other pompon.

Repeat for the other side.

2007-01-24T20:17:00.000-08:00

Hello my name is Kristi...

It may be entirely possible that I am addicted to yarn. We recently bought one of those long, double sided, under bed storage totes to hold all of my yarn. Karl had doubts that I could fill it but I knew the score. One stuffed yarn bin later and still not enough room for all I have...sigh.

I made a promise to use up one third of the stash before I would purchase anymore yarn. The only exception would be if I needed more yarn to finish a project.

Or if I was buying yarn for someone else.

Or...

No, I must be strong...no new yarn until I've used a good portion of the stuff I already have.

I wonder if there is therapy for this sort of thing...possibly massage therapy?

2007-01-21T20:22:00.000-08:00

It was an exciting game to say the least...

Okay, so I went to my sister's to watch the playoffs, Colts versus the Patriots. A match up that usually end with the Colts blowing their chance at the Super Bowl, but why not, besides she was making meatballs.

The game hasn't started yet and I'm sitting on the sofa and I decide I'd like a drink of my punch. I pick up my glass and in the humorous way that's been happening to me quite frequently lately, the glass slides up through my hands, into the air, turns itself upside down and dumps punch all over me and the sofa.

Fine, I didn't really want to watch the playoffs anyway. I don't really like football and the Colts are gonna blow it anyway. Since I happen to know that my only other clean jeans are still in the washing machine I tell Karl I'm just gonna go home. He decides to walk with me. (We live less than a block from Lora.) We get home and he looks so sad that I decide I'll just wear my fleecey PJ bottoms (it's only family at Lora's anyway) and go back with him.

Go back to Lora's. Start watching the game, decide I need another sandwich from the kitchen and that Mel (Lora's dog) needs to come out of the front room because she's getting over excited. Tempt her into the dining room with a piece of summer sausage and she bites me, hard, when she jumps up to take it out of my hand.

So I go off to cry a liitle and pull myself together. Come back, sit down watch the game, it's very exciting the Colts are getting their asses kicked, and everything's fine for about 20 minutes...

Then Mel comes bounding into the living room, throws herself into my legs as hard as she can, flops on the floor and proceeds to rabbit kick me in the shins three or four times. I would have left but I was afraid if I went outside I'd get plowed down by a bus...Besides Baylee chose the next moment to come over and sit on my lap.

I'm trying not to be miserable but...Baylee trips over my foot getting off my lap and kinda twists my ankle around. Whee!!!

However the game is getting better. The Colts may not be completely humiliated after all. So I spill another glass of punch. At least it's on the floor and not me...

Now the game is getting really exciting. The score is tied. Tied! Wait! the Patriots score a field goal, shit...Come on Payton (or however you spell his name) come on...get the ball, get the ball...OH MY GOD!!! Oh my God!!! The Colts have scored a touchdown!!! Okay just gotta run out the clock...Shi,t the Pats have the ball stop him STOP HIM!!! Interception!!! INTERCEPTION!!! The Colts are going to the Super Bowl!!!

Everyone is jumping up and screaming and clapping and hugging and cheering. My husband looks at me and jokingly says "Ready to go home?" I laugh and say "Just let me gather my stuff." So he flops back onto the sofa next to me and elbows me in the eye...

hard.

But hey, the Colts are going to the Super Bowl, so I guess it was all worth it.

2007-01-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

I FELT the need...

This lovely little flip to black bag is about to get the beating of it's life.

After 15 minutes in extremely hot water with an angry towel...

It hadn't quite learned it's lesson so I tossed it back in for another 10.

A little more time and then we whipped it into shape and gave it the brush off...

Lessons learned: 1)Yarn was too dark to show the colour work very well. 2)If the bag absolutely refuses to go back into a rectangle, your husband can make you feel better by saying "I think it gives it character."

2007-01-18T22:08:00.000-08:00

My very first piece of colour work!!!

Baylee is the most likely recipient unless her head is too big. Her father had a HUGE head when he was a baby...If not Baylee then Graci.

2007-01-12T20:41:00.000-08:00

Thank You Gift

Trisha let us use her house while she was in Latvia. I crocheted this as a thank you gift. It's a simple granny rectangle (gotta love grannies!) crocheted with Yarn Bee Soft Delights Burgandy. I decided it wasn't quite big enough after two skeins so I edged in three rows of triple crochet using two strands of Pound Store Fun Fur yarn one dark brown and one tan.

2007-01-12T19:39:00.000-08:00

A Cardi for Baylee
The second to last day in Liverpool I jokingly asked Karl if he thought I could get one more crochet project done before we left. He said he doubted it and I felt like a gauntlet had been thrown down. I didn't quite get it done but I felt like I'd rose to the challenge quite nicely. In fact when we left the UK the cardi really could have served it's purpose as is. I added the pockets and puffy buttons after we got home.
It's an incredibly easy cardigan. I simply crocheted five rectangles using half double crochet, seamed them together and edged it with the contrasting yarn.

Patch pockets and puffball buttons with button loops, super cute!

Rough directions:

2 skeins Yarn Bee Soft Delight in color of your choice (Extremes Blue)
1 skein Yarn Bee Luxurious in color of your choice (Snow)
Scrap yarn for making button loops
4 largish plastic buttons or make your own (poly fill required)
Size J crochet hook
Size F crochet hook

With the Soft Delights and a J hook, make a chain as wide as you want the back of the cardigan to be (35 chains for Baylee who wears a 2T) add two chains. Turn. *Half double crochet in second chain from hook and each chain across. Chain two, turn* Repeat from * until you have the piece the size you want it to be. Finish off.

I wanted the front to be slightly open because of how I planned to edge it so I took the size of the back chain divided it by two and subtracted a few and randomlyish decided on 16 as my start chain. So...

Chain (16 or your number) plus two. Half double crochet in second crochet from hook blah, blah until this piece is same length as back piece. Make two!

By folding the side panels in half I decided they were too narrow to work as sleeves but only just so I used 18 as my starting chain for the sleeves.

Chain (18 or your number) plus two...you know the drill. I made my longer than the body of the cardi so I could fold them back into cuffs, but you do what you like. Make two!

Now seam all the bits together in a manner that makes sense (Don't sew the sleeves to the neck hole.) I did leave the front panels open a little at the neck line by not single crocheting (or sewing if you're of that mind) through the last three HDC's on each panel.

Using two strands of Luxurious together, single crochet around the outer edge of the cardi for three rows. Weave in your loose ends and decide if you really want...

Pockets

Using half double crochet and Soft Delights make 2 small rectangles(mine are 7 stitches by 4 rows) edge with 3 rows of single crochet in the two strands of Luxurious and sew these onto the front of the cardi.

and

Buttons

Using one strand of Luxurious and the F hook Chain 2. Seven single crochet in second chain from hook. Two single crochet in first single crochet and each sc around. One sc in each sc. One sc in each 2 sc (reducing) continue reducing when button is almost closed, stuff a small amount of poly fill into it. Continue reducing until button is closed. Leave a long tail to sew on with. Make 4 or how ever many you want. Sew them onto each side of the cardi in pairs. Stitch a short length of crocheted chain made from non fuzzy yarn to form a loop under buttons on one side of the cardi. Use this as button loops to form a froglike closure.

2007-01-09T16:46:00.000-08:00

Cornelia the Caterpillar

Materials:
Pink Knifty Knitter Long Loom*
1 Skein Bernat Softee Chunky Electric Lime
2 Skeins Lion Brand Fun Fur Prints Citrus
Yarn Needle
Fiber fill
Ruler
Scrap yarn or embroidery floss to embroider face

Skills
Casting on
Knitting a tube
Knitting I cord
Measuring
How not to poke yourself in the eye whilst sewing

Begin

Legs
With Electric Lime and three pegs on the pink loom, knit a piece of I cord that's 6 inches long. Remove from loom leaving a 15 inch tail for sewing onto the body later. Repeat 9 more times until you have 10 legs total. Set all 10 legs aside for now.

Body
With Electric Lime and Citrus held together as one, cast on completely around the pink loom. Knit. Continue knitting until you have a tube 22 inches long. Drop the Citrus (Fun Fur), leaving a tail which you will weave back in later. Continue knitting with the Electric Lime until the tube is 24 inches in total. (Two more inches after you drop the Fun Fur.) Cut the yarn leaving a tail about 18 inches.

Thread the tail onto a yarn needle and starting at peg one sew up through the loop on the peg, continue sewing up through each loop until you've gone all the way around. Sew up through the loop on peg one one more time. Remove loops from pegs and pull yarn to gather and close the end. Sew a few stitches to secure then weave in end. Face End.

Assembly
Using a ruler measure 6 inches down from the face end. Thread a yarn needle with about 18 inches of yarn and sew in and out of the stitches at the 6 inch mark until you've gone back to the start of your stitches. Pull to lightly gather but do not close. Using fiber fill stuff this section of the caterpillar until it is nicely rounded. (you can also add squeakers or rattly bits etc at this time) Pull the stitches tightly to gather and close bind off.

Measure down 6 inches and repeat the process sewing, stuffing and binding until you reach the tail end. Once all six sections are completed sew two legs, evenly spaced, onto each of the 5 body sections of the caterpillar. (I used a kniiting needle and cruelly ran Cornelia through to assure her legs weren't wonky.)

Weave in all loose ends

Embroider a face and add a flower or bow and Voila! a fun and fluffy caterpillar for you or someone you love.

*I'm fairly sure the round blue loom would work equally as well.

Special Note
I made this for my 3 month old niece Lara. Over the next few years she will be chewing, tugging, stomping, squeezing, biting and probably playing fairly roughly with this and any other toys she might come across. I sewed everything on extra tight to prevent little hands from ripping off and little mouths from swallowing. You should take the same precautions for any child under three.

Lara and her caterpillar.

2007-01-09T13:30:00.000-08:00

I'm back from holiday. Liverpool was amazing and brilliant and I almost wish it were next Christmas already. Except I understand American plumbing much better and I NEVER accidentally ingest artificial sweeteners here.

I managed to finish the shawl I was crocheting for Lainey, literally as she was walking up to the door. I also crocheted an off the shoulder capelet (needs a button), a granny square throw in gorgeous Yarn Bee Soft Delights Burgandy that I edged with two strands worked together tan and brown fun fur. This gave it a foxish fur type edge, very sumptious. Finally, mostly finished in the UK, a cardi for Baylee. It's done now just needed pockets and buttons which I finished up today.

Hobby Lobby has Soft Delights on sale for 99 cents again so we went and stocked up as it may be my new favorite yarn. Also bought a knitting machine. Made a scarf but I need to mess with it some to get it right.

I'll be posting pics and directions (at least for some) soon. Must rest a bit first.

2006-12-24T07:31:00.000-08:00

Cornelia the Caterpillar

I took this!!!

2006-12-24T07:30:00.000-08:00

A captivating caterpillar knit on the pink Knifty Knitter loom.

I took this!!!

2006-12-08T20:39:00.000-08:00

There are days when you know you are loved.

The wonderfulness that is my husband bought me the long set of Knifty Knitter looms for my birthday. (along with several other wonder gifts) What a good man to feed my obsessions so.

Big kisses for him.

2006-12-07T19:12:00.000-08:00

The sock from hell...
Makes one Tabi Style sock and a heck of a lot of frustration

On Blue Knifty Knitter Loom

Materials:
One Skein Caron Simply Soft Embroidery Print
One Skein Caron Simply soft Black
Yarn Needle
Someone to help you keep track of rows or stitch markers

Knowledge:
Casting on
e wrap
Flat stitch
Purl stitch

Worked with two strands throughout.

I number the pegs on my loom using a Sharpie (a silver one in this case) It really helps keep track of my stitches.

Cuff
With Embroidery Print

Wrap the yarn 1 1/2 times around loom.

This will give you an extra long tail to start with...

Make your half hitch leaving the tail hanging down while you e wrap the first row.

Undo the half hitch and pick up your working yarn and the extra long tail. Working right to left knit over both.

This will leave you with extra yarn loops from the tail on the loom (4 instead of 2) pretend that it's only two..

Knit, Purl around loom for 24 rows

Knit 4 rows* Do not cut Embroidery Print Yarn

Begin Heel

Starting at Peg 1 cast on the Black and knit from
1 to 12, 12 to 1, 1 to 12 and 12 to 1
2 to 11, 11 to 2, 2 to 11 and 11 to 2
3 to 10, 10 to 3, 3 to 10 and 10 to 3
4 to 9, 9 to 4, 4 to 9 and 9 to 4
3 to 8, 8 to 3, 3 to 8 and 8 to 3**
4 to 9, 9 to 4, 4 to 9 and 9 to 4
3 to 10, 10 to 3, 3 to 10 and 10 to 3
2 to 11, 11 to 2, 2 to 11 and 11 to 2
1 to 12, 12 to 1, 1 to 12 and 12 to 1
Cut yarn

This made a slightly holey heel so I left an extra long tail of yarn to sew the holes closed later on. I do know there is a way to prevent this from happening and when I have a bit of spare time I'm gonna sit down and figure it out. Until then I'll just sew the holes closed.

>

Sock Body
Pick up Embroidery Print and knit around all 24 pegs for 30 rows.
(You may have smaller or larger feet make more or less rows as you see fit. I have size 10 feet, 30 was good for me.)
Cut Embroidery Print leaving a tail for weaving back in.

Begin Toes

Woo hoo excitement!!!
Starting at Peg 20 (this is where numbering really comes in handy) Cast on Black yarn

Knit around for two rows. (Rows end at Peg 21)***

Forming the Four Toe Part
Left Foot
Starting at Peg 21 knit from 21 to 5 (sixteen pegs)and back again for 12 rows in total.****
Cut Black leaving a tail long enough to sew toe closed.

Right Foot
Directions coming soon...

Forming the Big Toe Part
Left Foot
Cast on Black at Peg 4. Knit from 4 to 20 (eight pegs) for 12 rows. Cut black leaving a long enough tail to sew toe closed.

Right Foot
Directions coming soon...

Now that you have the Four Toe and Big Toe parts knitted...

Thread a yarn needle with the end yarn on the Four Toe part of sock. Sew up through all the yarn loops on the Four Toe part then lift loops off of loom.

Pull yarn to gather...

Repeat on Big Toe Part. Carefully turn sock inside out sew each toe seam closed. Knot two tail yarns together and weave in ends.

Sew up holes in heel (Unless of course you've figured out how to NOT make holes in the heels. In that case this step will be unnecessary)

Voila! one Tabi Sock suitable for wearing with your favorite flipflops!

Did I mention I have to make a mate now?

*This is the first change I would make Knitting 6 or 8 rows before I start the heel.
**This is the second place I would make changes. I thought the heel was a bit too backwards pointing so I think next time I'll stop at the 4 to 9 etc. rows
***Another minor change for my next set of socks Knit 4 rows here instead of 2.
****Last thing I'd change I'd only knit this side for 10 rows instead of 12 next time.

2006-12-06T22:57:00.000-08:00

Yes, it did almost kill me.

I took this!!!

2006-12-06T19:02:00.000-08:00

Sam modeling the knit AND crochet scarf

I took this!!!

2006-12-06T18:54:00.001-08:00

The sock from HELL!!!

I took this!!!

2006-12-06T18:54:00.000-08:00

Knit and crochet together. Lion and lamb?

I took this!!!

2006-12-06T18:53:00.001-08:00

Baylee's Christmas Stocking

I took this!!!

2006-12-06T18:53:00.000-08:00

Cool and retro or stupid and homemade?

I took this!!!

2006-12-06T18:52:00.001-08:00

The very first thing I ever loomed!! Damn, it's long.

I took this!!!

2006-12-06T18:52:00.000-08:00

Looking all sexy wrapped in the Granny shawl.

I took this!!!

2006-12-06T18:51:00.000-08:00

She's not a distrusting Ukrainian emigre, she's my sister!

I took this!!!

2006-12-06T18:50:00.001-08:00

Baby hat and Polar Pop

I took this!!!

2006-12-06T18:50:00.000-08:00

Teeniest, tiniest baby hat...maybe for American girl doll?

I took this!!!

2006-12-06T18:49:00.000-08:00

It's a cowl AND a regular scarf!!!

I took this!!!

2006-12-06T18:47:00.000-08:00

Oh the magical magic of a magic scarf!

I took this!!!

2005-11-14T18:13:00.000-08:00

I tend to work on multiple projects. Right now I am making the Elisabeth sweater from Cool Crochet by Melissa Leapman. The best thing about this book is that it has changes for sizes small to up to 3x in some cases. Being a big woman, I appreciate that. I'm also working on a shawl using my favorite shawl pattern. It's very granny like. I'm using Bernat's Baby Coordinates in Prescious pink and some cheapo grey eyelash yarn I got at Target.

I'm trying to reteach myself broomstick lace. I've made a double ended hook out of a dowel but I haven't quite got the hook part deep enough to grab the yarn effectively. Plus I'm not sure if I like the two yarns I've selected. I'm going to make Baylee a poncho and a hat and trim it with eyelash yarn. I slept waaaaaaaaaaay too much yesterday so I'll probably start on those tonight.

2005-11-14T17:44:00.000-08:00

My mother taught me how to crochet when I was five. For years I was happy making incredibly long chains that I'd recrochet into jumpropes. When I was about eight I became bored with jumpropes and begged my mother to teach me something new. Her solution was a granny square.

I love granny squares. Over the years I've made countless 12 patch granny-ghans, pot holders, and lap robes. In fact it wasn't until I was 22 that I finally decided that although granny squares were lovely maybe it was time to learn something new.

I made my mother sit down with me and show me how to read a pattern. In fact I was an absolute brat about it and wouldn't let her leave my side until I understood every single abbreviation and instruction. I'm sure she wanted to murder me.

The first non granny item I made was an afghan crocheted on the diagonal with a complicated lace edging and crocheted grapes. That kind of cured me for a little while. Back to granny's for a few months. Then I discovered mittens. Whooooooooo hoooooooooo! Everyone got mittens for Christmas that year.

That same year I also figured out how to make a granny square into a granny rectangle which stopped me from having to piece things together. Since I hate to sew this was a godsend.

Crochet has always been an on and off thing for me. I can go months and occasionally years without picking up a hook. Once I'm back in it though, I'm a stitching fool.

2005-11-04T18:18:00.000-08:00

Baylee's Bling Bling Blankie. I was going to give her this for Christmas but then I saw her and had to give it immediately. I'm weak, I know.

2005-10-30T14:14:00.000-08:00

Pattern

Baylee's Bling Bling Blankie

You will need Bernat Baby Coordinates (Precious Pink or whatever color you like) Slightly more than one skein. Bernat Baby Lash (Precious Pink or whatever) Slightly more than 4 skeins

With Bernat Baby Coordinates and G crochet hook

Ch 6, join with sl st to first ch to form ring.

RND 1: Ch3, 1 dc in rg. Ch 1, *3 dc in rg, ch 1. Repeat from * 2 times more. Ch1, sl st in top of ch 3, ch 3 turn.

RND 2: dc in ch 1 sp, ch 1, work 3 dc in same sp. Work the following 3 times (Ch 1, work 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc in next ch 1 sp.) Ch1, join with sl st to top of ch 3, ch 3, turn. (This forms the four corners.)

RND 3: 2 dc in ch 1 sp, ch 1, work 3 dc, ch 1 3 dc in corner ch 1 sp, 3 dc in ch 1 sp, 3 dc in corner ch 1 sp. ch 3, turn. Work 3 dc in ch 1 sp work 3 dc in next ch 1 sp, ch 3 turn. Repeat for 2 rows do not ch 3 or turn at end of last row. Ch 1 3 dc in in sc sp to form new corner 3 dc in each sc sp to corner. 3 dc ch 3 dc in corner ch 1 sp, 3 dc in ech ch 1 to corner 3 dc , ch 1 3 dc in ch 1 sp 3 dc in corner sp ch 3 turn. Work 3 dc in ch 1 sp work 3 dc in next ch 1 sp, ch 3 turn. Repeat for 2 rows do not ch 3 or turn at end of last row. Ch 1, 3 dc in ch 1 sp to form new corner. Ch 1, 3dc ch 1 in each ch 1 sp to end of row. Join with a slip st to top of ch 3. Ch 3 turn. (This turns the square into a rectangle)

PATTERN ROUND: 2 dc ch 1 in ch 1 sp, 3 dc in each sc sp to corner. 3 dc ch1 3 dc in corner ch 1 sp. Repeat to end of round join with a slip st to top of ch 3. ch 3 turn.
Repeat Pattern round until you have nine rounds. Fasten off. Switch to Bernat Baby Lash Yarn for two rounds. Fasten off. Switch to Baby Coordinates for six roundss, Baby Lash two rounds, Baby Coordinates for six rounds and finish with two rounds of Baby Lash.

Although it didn't make me crazy that I needed to a whole new skein of Baby Coordinates to finish approximately one row of the round, I did find it slightly frustrating that I needed a fifth skein of Baby Lash to make 7 dc sets.

I plan on making this a "grow with me" blanket and eventually finish it off at twin size so the extra yarn will come in handy. I think I'll need about 10 more skeins of the Baby Lash to get it to that size.