W.I.P. Wednesday - Around the World Afghan - Restart

This is a VERY old work in progress.  I can't believe how long ago it was when I started this project.
I began it March 20, 2010 - WOW!  There are lots of reasons it sat dormant.

It is a BIG project - 1,073 tiny granny squares in 13 different colors. So, it is a big overwhelming when I think about it sometimes.

Also, because it is such a big project, I would set it aside to do other projects that had didn't take as long and I could see some results.

Sometimes I would get asked to make projects for others or for charity and I would stop and do that.

Then in 2014 my life changed for ever and I couldn't physically crochet for a while and even when I was healed and could....I lost the desire - I didn't do any crafting for almost 3 years - I just didn't have the desire - all I could focus on for a long time was just getting through the days.  This project was in the back of my SUV when I had my accident - my friend helped me clean out my SUV after the accident and I think in ways...this project sort of reminded me of that and perhaps that is another reason I kept it dormant.

When I finally did pick up my crochet hook and knitting needles again, I started out with small projects and even then, it was a slow process getting back into it.

After I started getting back into it full swing, I would look at the project bag and once and a while (the very big project bag) and think...oh boy...that is a huge project...how will I ever finish it? I wanted to finish it but I just didn't know when since it seemed I was always working on something else.

Well...I recently finished a small project and didn't have another one already started and I thought...it is time...before I start anything new, by golly I am going to finish that afghan.

I really hope I have enough yarn in each color because if I don't...I'm out of luck since these colors (except for black) are all discontinued now.

I started working on it Friday night and was getting a little frustrated because every time I reached for the next color, I had to root around in the big project bag and search and search and no matter how I tried to keep them organized in the bag, they kept getting jumbled around and difficult to find.  And with this project, I am changing colors A LOT !!

So...after making a few squares, I stopped, wound all my skeins it cakes, (because the skein were taking up more room...then luckily I had a big box that they perfectly fit in and I could organize them and keep them that way.

Isn't it pretty?  It looks kind of small in the photo but it is really a pretty large box...probably 24" x 18" and maybe 24" deep, so just the right amount of room to store the yarn cakes and store the afghan on to top when not working on it.

So...I worked on it some Saturday, while watching the final season of Orange is the New Black.  Then worked on it Sunday, while watching a Good Witch movie marathon. 

It is kind of hard to get a photo because it is very wide - about 5 feet so as I continue on...not sure how I am going to be able to take photos of it as it gets bigger. 

So far, so good and I am really want to finish this afghan.  It is quite a challenge due to the size, the number of colors, the time it will take but I really like it and it will be nice to have a very old WIP completed.

Funny Friday-Time to Move

W.I.P. Wednesday

This isn't a WIP any longer - I finished the project....it is a....Tea Cozy.

My sister had been re-watching Call the Midwife and decided she needed a cute tea cozy (which show up often on this British Series)

I had a little rough start with it because I never made pleats before and at first I was making them inside out but I got the hang of it and I'm very pleased with it.

W.I.P. Wednesday

I haven't had much time for crafting because of my work schedule but even at 10:00 pm at night, when I get home after a 15 hour day, it is nice to sit down, even for 30 minutes, just to relax and knit.  It really does help me unwind.

Another problem is this cute little cat, has decided she thinks she belongs to me and of course the moment I pick up the knitting, she wants to be held and loved on.  If I put the knitting down, then of course she wants to go off on her own.  Ah ya ya - it is frustrating trying to knit like that.

Anyway, between work and between kitty loving, I managed to get a good start on a this.
It is worked in 2 parts, which I didn't realize until I finished the first part and thought - boy, this is too small, then I realized I had only finished half of it.

I am not saying what it is yet - can you guess what it is going to be - hint: It isn't a hat.

Hopefully by this time time next week (or sooner), I'll be able to post the finish project and everything will be Tickety Boo.

A Man Called Marco

One of my all time favorite instrumentals, featuring the AMAZING Marco Pirroni !!

Replacing Pets?

I know someone (that used to go to my church) and I am still Facebook friends with her. 

She has a thing for Great Danes.  She had one that lived a pretty good long life (for a Great Dane), then about a week later, she had a new puppy (Maggie) to replace her.  Also a Great Dane.  She recently died and from what I can tell it was some kind of heart problem, she had surgery, while her owners were hiking through Europe (which they do about 2 or 3 times a year).  So it seems they were not even home when their dog died. 

She was only about 4 years old.  They got back from Europe and a couple of days later, they now have a new Great Dane pup (Molly). 

I am not saying that people shouldn't get a new pet after they lose one, in fact, I think it is great to give an animal a good home but I just don't understand how someone can move on so quickly.

I guess to people like that, a dog is a dog and not family.  I still tear up when I think about Thatcher and even after 14 years, I am STILL not ready for another dog.  I miss him so much and barely an hour passes when I don't think of him. 

How you you just replace a pet the next day after losing one?  It is something I just don't understand.

Pretty Pastels Dishcloth with Instructions

I saw this pattern and decided I wanted to make it for the annual dishcloth swap. I usually knit the dishcloths for the swap because I like knit cloths better but...in last year's swap, I received some crocheted cloths and I really liked them - they have a bit more scrubbing power and are strong and durable to I decided that I would do crochet cloths this year.

I saw this pattern called Pretty Pastels Dishcloth and decided to make it.  I bought the book on eBay for $2 and was almost ready to go except I know the pattern contained an error (as noted on Ravelry).
However, I searched all over to find it and even sent messages to a couple of others who had made it and no one had the errata (what they call errors in the knitting/crochet world) information.

So I just decided to follow the pattern as written and see if I could figure it out myself.  Well...I found the errors - there were more than one and thought I would share it in case others wanted to crochet it too.  I hope this will help.

I found out AFTER I bought the book, that the pattern is now free and can be found HERE.  The pattern in the book is slightly different than the free pattern but I think the free pattern is a little clearer and since it is free, I am referencing it here instead of the version in the book.

Section 1:  Work just as stated in the pattern

Ch 3. 
Row 1: (right side) Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in last ch, turn. 
Row 2: Ch 1, working in back loops only, sc in first sc, 2 sc in next sc, turn. (3 sc) 
Row 3: Ch 1, working through back loops only, 2 sc in first sc, sc in each sc to end, turn. 
Row 4: Ch 1, working through back loops only, sc in each sc to last sc, 2 sc in last sc, turn.
Rows 5-18: Repeat Rows 3 and 4 seven times
Row 19: Repeat Row 3. (20 sc), Do Not break yarn, turn.


My Notes: At the end of section 1 - it should look like this.  The book says turn 90 degrees and work on straight edge - well as you can see, there are 2 straight edges - it doesn't say to turn 90 degrees clockwise or counter clockwise so how do you know?  You don't but the using the photo below, I indicated the direction on how you should continue to Section 2.

Section 2:  Work just as stated in the pattern

Row 1: (right side) Ch 1, working along straight edge at right angles to last row, work 20 sc evenly across, turn. 
Row 2: Ch 1, sc2tog over first 2 sts, working through back loops only, sc in each sc to end, turn. 
Row 3: Ch 1, working through back loops only, sc in each sc to last 2 sc, sc2tog, turn. 
Rows 4-19: Repeat Rows 2 and 3 eight times
Row 20: Ch 1, sc2tog, Do Not break yarn, do not turn

My Notes: At the end of section 2 - it should look like the photo below.  The pattern says do not turn but you HAVE to turn to continue. Again, the books says turn 90 degrees but you don't know if you should work down the straight side or the slanted side, Logically it seems you should work down the straight side, as before.  I indicated the direction on how you should continue to Section 3.

Section 3:  Here is where the errors start - Row 1 is okay as written

Third Section:Work as given for Second Section. Don't do this! If you do, your decreases will be on the wrong side and your dishcloth will suddenly look all wonky.  Instead....

Row 1: (right side) Ch 1, working along straight edge at right angles to last row, work 20 sc evenly across, turn. 
Row 2: Ch 1,  working through back loops only, sc in each sc to last 2 stitches, then sc2tog over last 2 sts, ch 1 turn. 
Row 3: Working through back loops only, sc in each sc to last 2 sc, ch 1, turn. 
Rows 4-19: Repeat Rows 2 and 3 eight times.
Row 20: Ch 1, sc2tog, Do Not break yarn, 

My Notes: To ensure the decreases are in the properly place, you decrease at the end (not the beginning of row 2 - so don't just repeat Section 2 as the pattern states, it is wrong.  Your cloth should now look like the photo below. I indicated the direction on how you should continue to Section 4.

Section 4:  This section doesn't have an error per se, but it isn't clear as written. 

Third Section:Work as given for Second Section. Don't do this! If you do, your decreases will be on the wrong side and your dishcloth will suddenly look all wonky.  Instead....

Row 1: (right side) Ch 1, working along straight edge at right angles to last row, work 20 sc evenly across, sc in last sc of Row 19 of First Section, sc in next st of Row 19 
Row 2: Ch 1, working through back loops only, sc in each sc to last 2 sc, sc2tog, turn. 
Row 3: Ch 1, sc2tog over first 2 sc, working through back loops only, sc in each sc to end, sc in each of next 2 sc of Row 19 of First Section, turn. 
Rows 4-19: Repeat Rows 2 and 3 eight times, Do Not break yarn, Do not turn.

My Notes: The part that I think is confusing in the book is that it implies you continue to work in the first 2 stitches of row 19 of Section 1, The free pattern is a little clearer in that what you are doing is actually moving up the rows on section 1 and joining section 4 to section 1 as you go - you just keep moving up.  When you are done with Section 4, your dishcloth should look like the photo below.  Now continue to the border (if desired).  

Border:  This section doesn't have an error, work as written.

Rnd 1: Work 20 sc along each side of Dishcloth, having 3 sc in each corner, join with sl st in first sc. 
Rnd 2: Ch 1, *3 sc in next sc, sl st in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in first sc.
Fasten off.Weave in all ends.

My Notes:  I recommend the border is added since it gives it the completed and finished look.  It works up quickly.  When you are done, the dishcloth will look like this.