Current Projects

I am currently working up a new afghan. I am using the Granny Sunburst Square pattern by Priscilla Hewitt with some very nice cotton yarn by Sprightly Yarns.

The colors are Caribbean Blue, Magenta and Ecru.

After starting this project I realized I have more than one project using this pattern. I completed one blanket years ago that I gave to my sister. The other one, Rosie Posie afghan, is still in a project bin. I started this project back in 2014. Man time really flies!! All the squares are complete I just need to join them. I began joining them a few years back, but didn't like the pattern I was choosing with the join. I need to pull out the bin and undo the few I have joined and really figure out how I would like it to flow.

Another project I picked back up recently is the Ventura Swing Crochet Top pattern by Stacey Tallman. I started this one up back in the summer of 2016. I am currently at a stand still because the yarn I am using, Cascade Sateen,  is now discontinued and I have yet to find a comparable yarn in a color that I feel will match nicely. So the hunt is on to find a yarn that will complete this project. 

On a cute note, we have a new family member.

Her name is Dixie and Rango loves being with her. I was so surprised in him. He warmed up to her immediately!! We let them meet at the adoption center and took them on a nice long walk prior to bringing her home. We are currently just fostering but I cannot see giving her up after only 5 days of having her!! So I will make it official this weekend.

Evening Walks

The days are long and hot, but we still find time to go out and have some nice evening walks. The landowner cut the meadow so Rango and I can now take walks there. I sit and let Rango chase as many field mice as he possibly can before the sun begins to dip down and the real critters begin to adventure out. I am trying my best to keep him out of the tall grass along the river. I don't want him encountering another porcupine like he did a few weeks ago. He had around 50 quills in his muzzle and paws. I just could not bear for him to go through that much pain again. So I keep him close and make sure he doesn't stick his big nose in where he doesn't belong.

Completed Project - Couch Throw!!

I am happy to report that I finished the afghan I began in March of this year!! Yes, I finished a project in the same year of beginning it for a change, especially an afghan.

I used the pattern Henry's Blanket by Little Monkey's Crochet aka Yarn & Chai. I added an extra section compared to the pattern. The center accent color, I ended up adding an extra section to make the blanket a throw. The colors are very fall inspired and this throw will be perfect for that time of year.

I can also add that this is a very non-thinking pattern. Once you have the stitches memorized you really do not need to go back and forth to the pattern. I love patterns that are very memorable. I could walk away from this project and go back to it easily without needing to refer back to the pattern. Another big plus in my book. The only portion of the pattern that I really needed to read back over was the last portion of ribbing. This part I had to read over because you are chaining 9 stitches and crocheting back to the last row and slip stitching back into the row to connect the ribbing portion. Other than that, it is a very easy pattern to follow and I am tempted to make a pillow to go with the throw.

Completed Project - Walnut Shawl

I have had this project in the works since 2015. And it isn't that it is a difficult pattern, it is just that life sometimes gets in the way. I was at first going to go with the solid Hazel Walnut color way. I ended up having this great blue color way in the same yarn and just had to add it to this pattern.

The beginnings of this project back in 2015

Adding the pop of blue really began bringing this shawl to life. Then my cat got a hold of my project and messed it up a bit. I cleaned up the unraveling and snags that the cat so proudly worked into my project and then put it away for awhile because I was really mad at this point.

This poor project sat under my bed for a year before I came across it again. I had just enough blue left to add a few more rows.

I finished up the blue and decided to add about 10 more solid rows of the hazel walnut color way before I started cleaning up the edges. I added a couple of single crochet rows to the border. I really wish I had some of the blue left to add a row of stitches as well, but I think it turned out great.

Now on to the next WIP!! I have been working on the last section of my afghan.  Hope to have that one completed this week!!

Summer Time Bliss

Summer is definitely upon us now here in the Wasatch Mountains. We have a plethora of wildflowers blooming everywhere with lots of butterflies fluttering here and there. I finally was able to catch a picture of a Monarch butterfly this weekend. It isn't the best pic since I only had my phone to capture it. But it was nice to finally capture one. Plus the mountain thistle is beginning to bloom. This little guy found a cool spot next to the creek to have a midday snack.

Upon our walk we decided to cross through the meadow and man is that grass tall!! I believe the land owner will bail it soon. I can say that the walk through the meadow had my allergies killing me afterwards, but it was worth it with Rango romping through the tall grass. There were some points when I could not see him at all until he bounced up chasing after I am sure were some field mice.

My roses are blooming so vibrantly right now. I'm sure in another week they will all be gone, but I am enjoying them while they last for now. Top left is of my miniature snap dragon plant.

I was able to relax this weekend and work on a crochet project. I found this old project under my bed. Really?! So I pulled out my Walnut Shawl that I have been working on for years now. Yes, I have been working on this shawl for a couple of years now. I guess it doesn't help that I had misplaced it for so long.

I am done adding the blue since I am completely out of this color way. I have looked all through my stash and cannot believe I do not have another skein. But I do not and now it is time to finish up a few more rows of the walnut color way and begin a simple border. I do have a pretty good bit to weave in as well. I do love the way the blue just pops in this shawl. I hope to have completed project done by end of week and post a full collage of it for you.

Afternoon Walk and Sunset

Rango is a creature of habit and has to have a walk as soon as we get home from work. No matter how hot it is, he must stick to this routine or I have a very sulky husky on my hands. The afternoons are becoming hotter and hotter each day and will only become worst towards middle of summer so I must not complain just yet.

The area is so green and lush. The meadow is high with grass and wild flowers. Soon the land owner will bail it for hay and then Rango can go romping through the meadow unleashed. Right now there are too many rodents that are enjoying the camouflage right now and he goes crazy chasing them and digging. Plus there are irrigation ditches that you just cannot see right now with the grass so high. No need in twisting or breaking an ankle when walking on the road and nearby dirt road are good enough for me. But soon he will have to let us hold off on our walks until the late evening when the temps tend to cool down just a bit.

Caught the sunset the other night. It was so nice out and Rango enjoyed prancing and roaming in the backyard. The little guy in the corner was our neighbor but has now been corralled and shuttled up to higher pastures for the summer.

I am still hooking along on my afghan. I can only work on it late evening once the house has cooled down or in my bedroom with the A/C on full blast. I think I will also pull out one of my smaller projects to work on while lounging in the livingroom during the hotter time of day.

Cheers,
Winnie

Country Dirt Roads and Crochet Therapy

This week has been very long and stressful. So glad tomorrow is Friday!! Today after work I needed some soul centering. No better soul centering than long walks down country dirt roads. Rango and I took a long walk and I was able to decompress and release some of the stress of work.

While on our long walk my son called and I was able to connect with him for a little while as well. It was a very therapeutic walk.

After the walk I sat down in my favorite chair and with a cool breeze blowing into the opened window I enjoyed a couple of hours of crochet therapy.

The sun is beginning to set now and I think I will step outside and watch the day dwindle away while sipping on a nice frothy cup of chai tea.

Cheers,
Winnie

Life Update!! Half the year is almost gone!!

Since my last post in March I have been slowly working on my afghan. It is a little over half way complete. I am loving the texture and color of the project. I have been negligent lately though. It has sat in its project bin for the past month and half collecting dust. I plan on pulling it out this week and working on it, but it will have to be during cooler hours of the day. Our Summer has sprung and it is hitting me hard!!

We went back home to South Carolina the last 2 weeks of May and visited with lots of family. My sister and her family came up from Orlando and spent a few days with us at the lake house. It was great seeing everyone, but I am glad to be back home. I am still trying to get back into the swing of things. My desk is slowly seeing the light again.

A few pictures of Downtown Charleston for your viewing:

Love the cobblestone roads in downtown. I can say these cobblestone roads are not the best to drive on when you are pregnant. When I was pregnant with my daughter we went downtown for dinner one evening and I think every road my husband decided to take that evening was on the cobblestone ones. Nearly had an early delivery!! But these are the memories that come back to me when I visit this beautiful city.

One of the many iconic church steeples you come across in Charleston

I love the allies and courtyards you come across while strolling around downtown. This gated courtyard was right off one of the many cemeteries scattered throughout the city. And yes, I love to explore old graveyards and I have a ton of pictures of gravestones that I found to be so beautiful and unique. I will share another time.

The architectural designs and colors of the buildings all throughout downtown are just breathtaking and I could spend hours gazing at all the intricate details on all the buildings and homes. But when you are with a large group you really cannot spend too much time in one spot.

One of the many trees I do miss about living in the South, the Magnolia Tree!! The trees are massive with limbs nearly touching the ground. This particular tree was in a secluded courtyard open to the public. The tree was huge and loaded down with flowers. I was surrounded by so much beauty!!

While away my Peonies bloomed!! They are fuller this year than last year!!

This little guy missed us so much. He is still not back to his normal grumpy self. He is still meowing constantly wanting to be cuddled with which is so not his usual demeanor.

I hope to update my blog more often with nature photos and some actual completed projects soon.

Completed Project!

This project was not on my list of many WIPs. Instead I decided to hook up a quick beanie since the one I use everyday has become pretty loose and baggy.

This is a tried and true pattern. It is the Ginger Slouchy Hat by Kristina Olson. The only modifications I made were adding a pom pom and working up the brim differently. I did a ribbed brim compared to how she worked hers up. I did the brim separate and then joined it to the hat.

I used Cascade 220 Superwash sport yarn in colorways of natural, summer sky heather and doe skin heather. I love the pop of blue. I do need to purchase a true pom pom maker. I ended up using up almost a whole skein of the summer sky heather just in making the pom pom. It still isn't the best one I have ever made either. 

I was able to complete this project in one afternoon. It was nice to begin and finish a project in one day.

I have also started another project. I know I should have finished an old one, but this is an afghan throw using all those bright bold colored yarn my husband got me for Christmas.

I had written about finding a pattern that has some great textural stitches. Well I found it in the pattern by Rebecca Langford from Yarn + Chai called Henry's Baby Blanket.

This is pretty much the pattern throughout the blanket. I am loving the pattern and how easy it is, yet looks so intricate with great texture and detail.

The yarn I am using is Lion Brand Touch of Alpaca. It is a 3.5 ounce yarn weight that is 90% acrylic and 10% alpaca. So it is hooking up pretty thick and fluffy. I am planning on making my throw a lot longer than the pattern since I'm not making a baby blanket.

The Malia Shoulder Bag CAL has begun. First week is just hooking up the base and that to me is the most tedious part of any shoulder bag pattern. Lots of rows of single crochet. I am really looking forward to the second week set of instructions!! Once again Rebecca Langford of Yarn + Chai has curated a wonderful CAL. So glad I came across her post on Facebook.

I am going to finish sipping on my cup of coffee and then take my rambunctious little pup on a walk. We received a nice dusting of snow last night and they are calling for a total of 10 inches in the next 24 hours. Rango is biting at the bits to go and romp in the snow. I guess that is what I should expect from a Siberian Husky!!

Life Update!!

My poor blog has been so neglected!! Yet it isn't the only thing that has been neglected. I have not touched my crochet hooks in months!!! I have been in such a non-creative mood lately. But the other week I was cleaning out my spare bedroom in order to make it my office/yarn room. In the process of moving all my yarn stash into the bedroom I came across about 4 boxes from craftsy of yarn I had yet to spin into balls, plus some that were just regular skeins and I had forgotten I had ordered them.

No idea why I ordered these, but I'm sure they will work into something lovely. It could have been yarn brands I have never used and since they were at such a good sales price I decided to grab a couple to test them out.

This box of colorful joy was a Christmas gift from my husband. I plan on working up an afghan with these. I think it will be a gorgeous color accent to my living room!! I'm still researching what pattern I would like to use, but I am thinking something with some cool texture stitches.

So I have plenty of extra yarn added to my stash from just the two boxes I uncovered. Then I came across a few more boxes full of hanks that needed to be spun into workable skeins.

I found about 4 hanks of the pumpkin spice color needed to finish up a cowl plus just odd ones that I guess again were from me wanting to test if I like a certain brand that was at too good of a sales price to pass up.

It took almost 2 hours to make all those hanks into workable balls of yarn!!

I still have a lot of organizing and setting up my spare bedroom. I had to put it on hold because my sister and her husband are coming out next week and I needed to keep the bed up for them. After they are gone I will be rearranging everything and probably will need to buy some shelving units. 

On another note, I do have a CAL I will be doing beginning on the 13th! It is a CAL coordinated by Rebecca from Little Monkey's Crochet. I so do love her patterns. This CAL will be a cute beach bag called The Mailia Shoulder Bag. I have chosen tangerine and white as my colors and I am so excited to work this bag up!! The last bag CAL I did was with Rebecca a few years bag when I worked up the Wildflower Bag!! So I know her instructions are so easy to follow and she is so helpful. I will post the finish product once complete!!

courtesy of Rebecca of Little Monkey's Crochet