Cowering & Cowl Making

I'm headed up to Maine this weekend. The forecast is grim. Thus the cowering. I don't know what I was expecting booking a trip to Maine in January. Duh it’s going to be cold. It’s just a bummer that is will likely be too cold to ski on Monday. But that means more time in the cabin to bake cookies and crochet.

I went back to Lion Studio this week to stock up for the trip. I picked a couple of new projects online, a cowl and a hat for Jason. I had a really hard time choosing colors, I wandered around that store for almost an hour stroking this and poking that until I finally said out load to myself "ok just pick something and get out of here!"

I started on the cowl Tuesday night.

I'm tired of making round things so I though a nice long rectangle would be a good change of pace. I know the cowl is technically round too but it only becomes round at the very end. I chose a yarn in a similar color to the pattern but in a much smaller gauge and cotton /acrylic. Cotton-Ease in Maize. The only problem I had was the pattern is pretty vague about finishing a row, the direction is to DC in the top of the turning row. So I have just picked a stitch and tried to be consistent. The edges are a little wobbly but I think I am getting into a groove now.

The only question left is what to drink on vacation. I am thinking red wine and whiskey. But that only narrows it down to like 2000 options....

Matzo Balls & Beer Coozies

It was an indoor weekend. 


I took a 7th and final go at the purple hat. My review of the project:

• I think a whole piece done in single crochet is just to tight for something you are going to wear. It feels more like a basket then a hat.
• One skein of yarn was not enough, next time I make a hat I'm buying an extra just for insurance.
• Hats are hard! Getting the shape right was much harder then I was expecting. There is a lot of counting and its easy to get off track and wind up with a elf sprout or a salad bowl.

Moving right along.... I made Matzo Ball Soup for the first time this weekend. I have helped my Mom make it before but have never been the captain of the Matzo Ball ship before. And look it worked! It was easy, cheap and Jason ate like 8 of them so I think he liked it. 

I also started a mini project on Sunday night. I wanted to experiment with switching colors. Whala!

lumpy mushroom head

Try #7.

Bahhhhh!!! It better but still lumpy and too wide at the bottom. I ran out of yarn. It's shorter then it should be and I don't have anything left for the pom pom (the part I was most excited about). I am going to keep it and just buy a second skein.

ok done. It has a major sprout. Wound up way tighter then I was expecting, had to finish the bottom with 3 rows of double crochet. Ran out of yarn for pom-pom....

I Like Crocheting Now

After an inspiring trip to Vermont I have decided two things. I want to cut the cord, disconnecting my expensive and time sucking cable. And I need a new hobby besides shopping. Luckily a friend offered to teach me how to crochet.

(Killington, VT 1/8/2011) 

I have been struggling though. So far I have made a bunch of practice pieces that I have unraveled and re knit over and over. I figure what is the point of keeping something if I will only look at it and see my mistakes.

 My only finished piece to date is an oatmeal colored headband. I chained about 50, measured it on my head chained one or two and measured again until it fit snugly. A happy accident produced the zig zagging patterns and ridges. The long rows made this an easy project to work on, no counting and minimal turning.

Last night I visited the adorable Lion Brand Yarn Studio where I picked out what I hope will be an achievable  project. I choose it from their Hometown USA line in a deep purple color named Portland Wine (how appropriate huh?). Its a soft chunky yarn in 100% acrylic. So far I have started and unraveled the project 4 times.

Here is the current state, but will be unraveled again this evening. I am having a hard time following the pattern and keeping count of my stitches. But I think the 5th time will be a charm :)

Peace,
Kate