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? ;) )

Charity Crochet Group a Huge Success!!!

On Tuesday the 18th, myself and four others held another Charity Crochet and Knitting Class at Street Reach in Thunder Bay. This time we held it in the evening. It was a huge success! We had around 6 crochet students and one knitting student. We ran out of hooks!! LOL

It was a lot of fun. Each student received a pattern, hook or needles and yarn. I was amazed at how well all of our students did. They were wonderful to teach. Each student worked at their own pace and they worked hard.

I was very surprised that we only got one knitting student. I expected more people that wanted to learn how to knit then crochet and we had more supplies for knitting. It was the exact opposite of what we all expected! Never less, we had enough to go around.

I 'm not sure if we will be holding this charity teaching class again. However all of the students were invited to our, open to the public, craft group on Wednesdays. Three of them showed up the next day!

Cheers to everyone who participated!!!

The Afghan Craze

Well I have officially gone crazy for Christmas this year. This is lapghan number one. I only have three more to go!! I have to finish joining this one this evening and border it tomorrow. They are a bit larger than what a lapghan is considered. I am dutch after all and most family members average at 6'2 (the really tall ones are 6'6 to 6'7.) So these are actually 3x4 feet in size in order to hopefully cover my family members legs.

It's pretty funny actually since I am the midget in the family. One of these covers me up to my chest as I'm only 5'4. And no, no one knows what happened to me to end up being so tiny. Even my boys are very large. The eldest was 6'4 last year and my youngest... well let's say he's almost at the six foot point!!

So I have only two weeks for each ghan in order to finish on time. *sighs* This is a killer with carpal tunnel, let me tell you!! Advil is my best freind right now. Someone please remind me to start X-mas gifts in July next year!!!

Crochet Novel Series by Betty Hechtman

Hooked on Murder is the very first novel starring our crochet heroine, Molly. It is a great read and so much of how we crocheters think, react and what we crochet is dead on. This author really knows her stuff! It's a very fun read and any one who crochets will relate to it.

Betty has her second book in the series coming out in December called Dead Men don't Crochet. I have already pre-ordered mine. Molly once again must solve the murder case. I'm really looking forward to it!

They are recommended to read! You will be missing out if you don't get ahold of these books! :)

Teaching Projects 2

This is the Ridge Scarf. It's not very long but covers your neck very nicely to keep you warm and snugly on those cold Canadian winter days.

Ridge Scarf
By Rebecca Van Drunen

5.5mm (1/9)
WW Yarn (one large skein)

Abbreviations:
ch= chain sc= single crochet
dc= double crochet st= stitch
r= row Fo= finish off

Ch 31.

R1: Sc 2nd ch from hook, sc each st across, ch 2, turn. (30 sts)
R2: Dc each st across, ch 1, turn. (30 sts)
R3: Sc each st across, ch 2, turn. (30 sts)
R4 to R99: Repeat rows 2 &3. (30 sts)
Fo. Weave in 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.

Teaching Projects

As I get ready to begin teaching I am slowly making patterns that are simple that I can give to my students and use as a teaching aid.

Okay I can't figure out how to add a pdf file to download so I'll just copy the pattern here:

Ridge Dish Cloth
By Rebecca Van Drunen

5mm Hook (H/8)
WW Cotton or WW Yarn (1/2 skein)

Abbreviations:

ch= chain R= row
sc= single crochet FO= finish off
dc= double crochet st= stitch

Ch 31.

R1: Sc 2nd ch from hook, sc each st across, ch 2, turn. (30 sts)
R2: Dc each st across, ch 1, turn. (30 sts)
R3: Sc each st across, ch 2, turn. (30 sts)
R4 to R28: Repeat rows 2 & 3 to last row. (30 sts)
On R 28: in the last stitch of the row put 3sc to turn corner, sc down side, 3 sc in corner st, sc along bottom, 3 sc in corner st, sc up side, 3 sc in corner, sc along top. FO.

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