Sanctuary! A new crochet place...

I have finally made myself a little nook to go and hide in. Very important with teens in the house! Although I'm not completely satisfied with the end result, I'm still rather pleased. I need huge improvements to my storage system but it's very comfortable and I even have my laptop all set up so I can cruise the net for patterns! So here I sit! It is the season to get back to work and I will have many classes to teach so I'm all prepared now!

The Siren Song of End Weaving...

I can hear the sirens... I feel as if I am trapped in the middle of the street, with a broken leg and madly hobbling to get out of the way, as a firetruck is bearing down on me with sirens wailing. I swear I am going deaf.

Yes I have an end weaving problem on the go here. You see it all started with my brilliant idea of making my son a full afghan. At first I started out with these lovely dragon squares and my son was quite taken with that idea. Then I realized that the dragons were tacked on after the fact. Uh-uh. There is no way I'm making a super-sized afghan AND tacking on little dragons afterwards. So we went back to the drawing board. I found lovely Nordic Afghan squares (by Priscilla Hewitt) and with a little hook, colour and yarn change I had a winner. My son picked out the colours and away I went.

At first the afghan was to be a whopping 7x9 feet in size. Realizing I may be getting a bit silly here, I trimmed it down to a simple 6x7 foot one. If that doesn't last him a lifetime, size wise, I'm totally hooped on buying this kid clothes.. anywhere!

So I began hooking away. Normally when I'm working on squares I stop after making two or three and weave in all the ends. Well the first set I had over 14 to do at once. It took an entire evening and much cursing (it is the most annoying part of squares.) I promised myself I would not do that again.. And here I sit.. with squares waiting to be weaved. I can not attach rows until I weave.

Now I promised myself I would not touch anything else unless I was consistently working on this afghan. My hook has not moved in a week. Not once. I'm going through really BAD withdrawals here. But have I weaved in any ends? Noooooooooo.....

I swear these squares will be the death of me yet. There is just something about them. They are too soothing to make. I start and I don't want to stop to weave in. (Now I know normally that sounds like a good excuse.. but this is the worst I have ever been about weaving!!! I swear!!!!) Maybe they have some hypnotic technique written into the pattern? Darn you Priscilla! Your squares are so wonderful that I can't stop! HELP!!!!

And lets not get started on the whole.. I did not buy enough yarn to begin with and it took me two months of pure panic trying to get enough yarn to ensure I can finish the project!!

Someone, please smack me next time I take on some insane project like this again. (and you know I will as soon as I'm done this one!

*grumbles.. and mumbles.. and stares at all these squares that must be weaved in*

Looking at getting Certified

I am looking into the Instructor Courses through the Craft Yarn Council of America. I was quite pleased to find out that not only do they offer correspondence courses but they offer them to Canadians!

Considering that I teach every single week, I think it would be a huge asset to have some recognized certification to show that I know what I'm doing (other than my track record of course! LOL)

Other than the price, I really don't know much about it as of yet. I'm awaiting a return email and then hopefully I can get the ball rolling!

Now I have to go and teach this evening, so I'm off to prepare for my class and I have to finish up some designing for my teaching patterns!

Have a good weekend!

bec

Teaching Projects 4

Wrist Warmers.

This is a fun and simple project for beginners to learn about joining.









Wrist Warmers
By Rebecca Van Drunen

5.5mm Hook (I/9)
WW yarn

Abbreviations:
ch= chain R= row Hdc= Half double crochet
sc= single crochet FO= finish off
dc= double crochet st= stitch

Women’s (make 2)
Ch 22.
R1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook. Sc in each chain across, ch 2, turn. (20 sts)
R2: Dc in each stitch across, ch 1, turn. (20 sts)
R3: Sc in each stitch across, ch2, turn. (20 sts)
R4-R23: Repeat rows 2 and 3. (20 sts)
R24: Dc in next 10 stitches, hdc in next stitch, sc in remaining 9 stitches. (20 sts)

Use single crochet method to join sides together. (Sc through loops on both edges across) Slip stitch to Finish off (FO)
Weave in all ends.

Optional: Turn work inside out. On outside holes sc around. FO. Turn inside out and weave in ends. Repeat on the other end. Turn it inside out again and wear them!

Men’s (make 2)
Ch 27.
R1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook. Sc in each chain across, ch 2, turn. (25 sts)
R2: Dc in each stitch across, ch 1, turn. (25 sts)
R3: Sc in each stitch across, ch2, turn. (25 sts)
R4-R25: Repeat rows 2 and 3. (25 sts)
R26: Dc in next 12 stitches, hdc in next stitch, sc in remaining 12 stitches. (25 sts)

Use single crochet method to join sides together. (Sc through loops on both edges across) Slip stitch to Finish off (FO)
Weave in all ends.

Optional: Turn work inside out. On outside holes sc around. FO. Turn inside out and weave in ends. Repeat on the other end. Turn it inside out again and wear them!


All Rights reserved. This pattern is intended for personal, charity or teaching purposes only. For teaching purposes this pattern can be copied in multiples. 2009

Teaching Projects 3

Round-a-bout Toque

This is for the more advanced, beginner, crochet student. The teens just love it. I suggest the largest size for teens (it fits my 14 year old son.)



Round-a-bout Toque

by Rebecca Van Drunen


1 skein ww yarn
6.0 (J/10) hook

Abbreviations:
ch= chain R= row/round Hdc= Half double crochet
sc= single crochet FO= finish off sl st= slip stitch
dc= double crochet st= stitch

Sizes listed for children’s, women’s, and mens small. Women’s and mens sizes in ( w/m). Women’s and mens additional rows and row changes in ( ).

Ch 5. Join with sl st.

R1: Ch 3, dc 11 (17/23) in ring. Join with sl st. (12, 18/ 24 st)
R2: Ch 3,( dc next st/ dc next 2 st) 2 dc next st, *1 dc next st (dc next 2 st/dc next 3 st), 2 dc next st *, repeat * around. Join with sl st. (18, 24/30 st)
R3: Ch 3, dc next st (dc next 2/dc next 3), 2 dc next st, *1 dc next 2 st ( dc next 3 st/dc next 4 st), 2 dc next st*, repeat * around. Join with sl st. (24, 30/36 st)
R4: Ch 3, dc in same space, 2 dc in each st around. Join with sl st. (48, 60/72 st)
R5: Ch 3, 1 dc next 6 (dc next 8/ dc next 10), 2 dc next st, *1 dc next 7 ( dc next 9/ dc next 11), 2 dc next st*, repeat * around. Join with sl st. ( 54, 66/78 st)
R6: Ch 3, 1 dc next 7 (dc next 9/dc next 11), 2 dc next st, *1 dc next 8 ( dc next 10/dc next 12), 2 dc next st*, repeat * around. Join with sl st. (60, 72/84 st)
R7-R13 (R7-R14/R7-R16): Ch 3, 1 dc each st around. Join with sl st. (60, 72/84 st)
R14 (15/17):Ch 1, turn 1 sc in back loop only, each st around. Join with sl st.( 60,72/84 st)
R15 (16/18): Ch 3, 1 dc each st around. Join with sl st. (60, 72/84 st)
R16 (17/19) Ch 1, 1 sc each st around. Join with sl st. FO. (60, 72/84)

Weave in all ends.


All Rights reserved. This pattern is intended for personal, charity or teaching purposes only. For teaching purposes this pattern can be copied in multiples. 2009

Crocheting Goals of 2009

Boy did I pull a bit of a disappearing act on here! LOL It's been a busy season and I'm only getting back into the swing of things now.

So I decided that I should try to accomplish a few things with my crocheting in 2009. The first thing I want to do is get all my WIP's and UFO's finished up. There are three big ones taunting me. My afghan (which I'm almost finished now!) the Dr. Who Scarf and the Flander's Fields Afghan.

Secondly I would like to try my hand at making a few sweaters and coats this year. It's time to expand into clothing that does not involve winter outerwear!!!

Third I'm going to take an online class and learn how to crochet socks from the toe up. It's the turning the heel part that keeps stumping me!!

Fourth I'm going to learn how to do Tunisian crochet. :) I have an afghan pattern picked out already.

Fifth I'm going to work on getting a bit more charity items done.

Sixth I'm going to attempt to make everyone crocheted gifts this year, no matter the occasion!!

Yep that's a tall order. I figure if I work on multiple things (which I always do anyways) I should get most if not all of this list done.

Here's to a productive and educative year!! Cheers!

bec

Dead Men Don't Crochet is in the House!!!!

The second book about crochet and the mystery of a homicide is out! Mine has just arrived and I can't wait to dive into this book.

This time poor stressed-out Sheila is the one accused of murder. I relate closely to Sheila, as I have a stress disorder and I do crochet to help me relax. It works wonders.

I'm very behind on my crocheting though. I have one more lapghan to finish up before X-Mas and I'm only about a quarter of the way done. So I've decided to treat myself. For every four squares I get done in a day I get to read for half an hour. Although I doubt this will work (I know once I start to read I have a hard time stopping.. it's like Pringle chips.)

A toast to Betty Hechtman! For bringing us great books to read centered on crafts we love!!! Cheers Betty!!

(when is the next book coming out? ;) )