Beer Cozy

I have been cranking out these beer cozies. The design was super simple to make. I just crocheted in the round until it reached the desired size,  then crocheted out a tube from there. When the idea hit me, it was the middle of the night and the only wool yarn I had in the house was a Merino/Cashmere blend. So as silly as it is, the first few are cashmere beer cozies. Hilarious.

So I finished  a few of the luxe ones up and headed to Miss Maddie’s house. A case of Lonestar cans awaited me. We needed to test out the effectiveness of the wool to truly keep our beer cold. And what better way then an all night summer drinking session on a hot Texas porch? They were perfect…ice cold till the end. I am okay with Lonestar. It’s decent enough for a super cheap beer, but I think it completely unpalatable once it has warmed up at all.

Maddie was totally in love with the color of the ones I brought over and requested a hummingbird on hers

I have been making them non-stop ever since I finished hanging my current show. I am hoping to have quite a few for sale at the opening on the 22nd.

I like this “I love Math” one a ton!

The Flightpath show has been a success for me so far. I’ve sold a few pieces. I did have one piece stolen out of its frame. I am pretty upset about it.  It was the pink and blue skull handkerchief from my last post. I had it framed without glass and mounted with spray mount and dress pins on a white fabric so that the details of the embroidery and the loveliness of the hankie edges are on display. Someone just stole it right off of the frame. It makes me a bit nervous because I almost never use glass for the framing of my needlework pieces, as I don’t want all my stitching effort squished all flat. The Flightpath was dismayed, in 17 years of art shows they have never had a piece damaged or stolen. Several people have tried to cheer me up by saying that I should be flattered. I appreciate their efforts, but I am not flattered. I would be less upset if someone stole $150 out of my wallet. Boo.

I need to start working on pieces for my next show at the end of October with Don Jolly and friends. I don’t have all the details quite yet. There will be info up soon at The Incredible Art Show.

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Crochet Skulls

I’ve been working on some valances for my windows made of connected rows of these adorable cotton crocheted skulls

For some reason these are easily the most annoying pieces I’ve ever blocked. You really had to work on pinning them correctly to get the look you want on the skull’s face, its quite simple to mess up and get something too goofy.

I’ve crocheted and blocked about thirty of these skulls in varying shades of off white. I’m still working out the pattern that allows them lay correctly when they are attached. My first attempt was no good, I underestimated how much the weight of the yarn would pull down and distort the skulls. I need to create a solid top with hooks. It shouldn’t be long now

I’m very excited…I’ve decided to open an etsy shop. So, start saving your pennies to purchase my prettys. I’ll let you know when I’m ready.

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Crochet Circle Scarves

I’ve picked up crocheting in the last month. I figured that I needed yet another fiber based hobby to spend all my time and money on. My mother has been crocheting for my entire life and I waited until she moved half-way across the country to pick up the craft myself. I spend a ton of time calling her and trying to explain stitches and snags I am running across to her over the phone. She does her best to help but it is something easier done in person.

My first three projects were scarves. After completing a very basic long double-crochet scarf with fringe, I made these two loop scarves with a very basic V-stitch.  I didn’t find any instructions on making a loop (or circle) scarf, so I just made a very  long straight scarf  and sewed the two ends together. I flipped it over on one end before attaching so that it would lay nicely in the back.

This bulky brown tweedy one was actually the second I made. They are both wool and  I had absolutely no business spending as much as I need on these yarns with my skill level. I bought two skeins of each, but the scarves only used one apiece.

This white one ended up being a bit too long to keep my neck very warm but it is pretty none the less and so very soft. It’s merino with a touch of cashmere.

I have found several yarn stores here in Austin that are amazing:
Gauge
Hill Country Weavers
and The Knitting Nest

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Yarn Stuff

My mother has been crocheting most of her life, she learned knit as a child. She stole her first pair of knitting needles so she could take lessons. She then taught herself to crochet as a teenager, the book she learned out of didn’t explain how to hold a crocheting hook, so she holds hers like she’s knitting. All my life I remember her always having some project she was working on, usually an afghan. Every couple of years I got to pick out colors for a new one. I mark the years in some of my childhood memories by which blanket was on the family room couch at the time. She also made a tiny coat, bonnet and booties for everyone she knows who has ever had a baby. Sometimes even people she didn’t know.

Since my mother started her chemo and radiation treatments last year she hasn’t been able to crochet. It broke my heart that at a time when she so badly needed comfort the two activities she adores so much (reading being the other) were robbed of her by the treatments.

Last week she started crocheting again. My cousin just had a baby and my sister-in-law just found out she’s pregnant, and my mom just had to make sure those babies had some beautiful little homemade layettes. She’s much slower than she used to be because the neuropathy in her hands prevents her from being able to feel the thread. I know that is really frustrating for her, but I’m sure she’ll find a new rhythm eventually. It just makes me so happy to see her doing something she loves again.

I’ve never learned to crochet past the first line. I’m thinking about trying to give it a shot again. I haven’t tried since elementary school, but I have a better understanding of tension now so it might not be as frustrating as I remember.

I consider myself lucky when I get a stack of these little kitchen towels she makes from the left over yarn from her projects. She usually uses them as dish towels. I can’t stand the feel of wet yarn, so I always use mine as trivets. Well, the thicker ones end up as pot holders too. They are awesome. The photos are of some of the ones I found hanging out around the house.