So I'm back....

And I've been crocheting a storm! I made the first piece of actual clothing(something other than an accessory). It's a... skirt. No, you read right. A skirt. You might be asking yourself "What was she thinking?" But I love it. I absolutely love it. No pattern, no sizes. Just me, yarn, hook, and some music. And I was amazed. I used Red Heart Super Saver in Cherry Red, Turqua, and White, an H hook, and of course, my trusty friends Scissors and Needle. It took three evenings. Just three! I worked on it whenever I could(a photo soon!) and I tried it on, not once, twice, heck, I can't even count how many times I tried it on. But not only did I make a skirt, but also a... petticoat. Yes, a petticoat. A skirt that goes under a skirt to make it poof out. I made one. And I'm pretty dang proud about it too. No, the petticoat was not crocheted. It was not knitted. It was not machine sewed, it was not store bought. I took ribbon long enough to tie snugly around my waist, then tied long strips of tulle on like I was making a tulle skirt. Then, I took a piece of tulle slightly longer than the ribbon and wide enough to fit over the skirt and cover both sides to keep the strip in check, then I took a very tiny crochet hook and thread, and hand crochet this long piece of tulle onto the ribbon/tulle skirt. It took a while. Especially since I gathered the long strip as I went. The I added a row of single crochet and small hook, wove in ends, and tried on with the skirt. I was in love, and frankly, I still am. After I finished the skirt, I decided to go through the stash. I have a lot of yarn, mostly acrylic, with three skeins of Norwegian wool. Little Girl asked for a little granny square blanket made with shades of pink, blue, white, and brown. Little Brother get's kimono shirt and pants, and that's all for right now. Did I mention I am knitting a lace shawl? It's called Hooks and Needle for a reason, people. I made tablet cases(cause I got a Nexus 7!), scarves, and hats. I've made gloves, mitts, and, and, I knit my very first pair of socks! I'm so happy! However, on the second sock, I kinda ran out of yarn on the toe(I worked from ankle to toe) and so, instead of choosing and obvious color that actually matched(I used a dark gray yarn that looked like tweed. I absolutely love it!) I chose... mint green. Mint green, when the other sock was all grey, and I could've chose white, or black, or something, but instead, I came up with mint green. And yet at some point I like it. I like the fact that the first sock is boring and plain. It's a representation of the orderliness in which my life runs. Neat, cleanly, smoothly, never changing. And then the second sock, it represents the speed bumps, the obstacles, the mountains that must be climbed, the challenges that I face, the little and the big, the easy and the hard, the fun and the miserable, these socks are a representation. So while some people may scorn my color choice, turn up there noses at the thought of hand knitted socks, acrylic yarn, or the boxy shape of the socks, I love them, they are mine, and like I said just a minute ago, they are a representation of me, my orderly, neat, stiff, formal side, and the left sock(the one with the mint green toe) expresses my creativity, the wild imagination, the music lover, the casual I'm-going-to-stay-in-my-pajamas-and-sleep-because-I-want-to side. So for all the crocheters, knitters, seamstresses, yarn snobs, free formers, and pattern followers, just because other people don't like it(I'm talking to you, yarn snobs and non-crafters) doesn't mean you have to throw it out, give up, or frog it. It's yours. My socks(when they were not finished and I was still working them) were there for me whenever I was mad, sad, happy, hurt, or a bundle of jumble. I love them to bits, even though the left sock bind off is screwed up, even though I had wanted them to match, even though that left sock yarn got waxy(which irritated me to no end) I love my socks. I love all my projects. So keep it. Even if you don't finish it. Even if it's super fancy expensive yarn that you love but suddenly had a terrific idea using that same yarn for a different project. Even if you suddenly decided yarn crafting or sewing isn't your thing anymore. Keep it. Because someday, you can look back on it. You can say "Yeah, I didn't finish. Yeah, it's expensive yarn. Yeah, I dropped the craft years ago. But you  know what? Each stitch contains a memory. And each of those memories are precious to me. Even though my gauge was too tight(or loose), even though the yarn split, even though the needles(or hook!) felt awkward in my hands, I still kept that. So that maybe one day, I'll finish." Or you could save the project for another time. Maybe that project, you decide, should be made in winter. Maybe you should knit that clover lace cardigan right before spring, and finish seeming and weaving on the first day of spring, so you can wear it. Maybe you should save all those red, white, and pink hearts for February. And maybe that long coat could be made in the fall, right before you'll need it most. It's okay not to finish. It's okay if you decide to frog  or throw away or give up. It's a part of life. It's another experience under your belt. And that, ladies, is what's important.

Adventuring In Updates

Hello! So, my plan to write for two whole weeks failed...eek! But I'm back, with a sort of update and no photos! But I have been crocheting and knitting, a lot! I've started my brother's baby blanket and I am slowly muscling my way through it. I'm half way through the fifty snowflakes, which it turns out we don't actually need... Anyway, my crocheting has been coming along. I was visiting Le monde de Sucrette and found the cutest little Christmas stocking ever! The tutorial was fun, and, though a little hard to understand in some bits, was over all well done and the graph really helped! Her pictures of the stockings were beautiful, and so were the ones in the tutorial, they definitely helped! Plus, they're not full size takes-you-a-month-to-actually-finish stockings! They are just right the right size to hang on my dresser knobs and so far I have done three, although I banished the first one as I skipped a round on the toe and a row on the heel, and then I whacked out the chain too, so yeah... BUT: trial and error, practice makes perfect! After all, I should know, right? I've also crocheted a small wreath, which a tutorial will be posted when I feel like it when I get my camera working, and I've crocheted a couple other things, too, but they're just small failures and I'll post about them later, when I have my camera and can show pictures of it! And....what else was I going to say??? Hm, oh yes! I might be hosting someone for an interview here, so stay tuned!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

Wednesday Night Knitting and Crochet Group

I'm so excited! Not this Wednesday but the next I'm going to The Twisted Stitch Yarn Shop to join their knitting and crochet group! I can't wait to meet some other knitters and crocheters! I hope I can get some tips and make some new friends! I'll be posting more patterns soon, I'm a little busy and I haven't been able to use my camera, and I'd like to post pictures of what I make, that way you guys have reassurance that the project is actually made/being made. In crochet news, I have started the "Fifty Snowflakes" project. This year we're putting up two trees, and my mom asked me to make some snowflake ornaments. I;m just using acrylic so it will hold shape better. I found the pattern HERE. You can find The Twisted Stitch yarn shop in Monterey, California near Cannery Row. More posts and patterns soon, until then, Happy Crocheting!

'Soundtrack'

I like music. A LOT. I listen to music every chance I get. In fact, I'm listening to music as I write this. I mentioned in my earlier post that I finished my sister's Christmas present. I listened to music while I made it. Here's some of what I listened to:
For Those Who Wait by Fireflight
Obvious by Hey Monday
She's Got a Boyfriend Now by Boys Like Girls
Seventeen Forever by Metro Station
Untitled by Simple Plan
Awake and Alive by Skillet
I Don't Wanna Be In Love by Good Charlotte
and What About Now by Daughtry

Quite a bit, and I love them all! More project posts later, hopefully!

Getting 'Hooked'

I go through these weird crafting phases. In addition to crocheting I also knit. And I sew a little too. And I like to draw anime/manga. And write. So I have a lot of hobbies. But normally these 'phases' go back and forth between knitting and crocheting. The latest one has been crochet. I've got my sister's Christmas present done(I'll be posting photos later) and started my dad's. I've already started my mom's(ruffle scarf, more on that later) so all I have to do is get the 'big' present for this year done. Last year I crocheted a giant afghan for my grandmother, this year I'm knitting a crib size baby blanket for my brother. I'm knitting rectangles, and then I'm going to sew them together and toss on an edging. I was looking over at http://theroyalsisters.blogspot.com/ The Royal Sisters. A lot of beautiful things over there, and I love the country style theme. Plus, I've made three whole blankets out of granny squares, one for my mom(a single size throw for the couch), the giant king/queen size for my grandmother, and a small baby size for my brother. Of course after that I laid off for a while, but after seeing all of her granny-related items I'm officially hooked, and can't wait to start again! Happy crocheting, and do check out The Royal Sisters!

The First Two Weeks

I was reading somewhere on how to run a 'successful' blog. One tip was that the first two weeks were the most important, mostly because it's the beginning(can I get a collective 'duh'?). Well, the first two weeks of the life of my blog have passed, without one post. Actually, it's been a lot of weeks. So, I'm going to try and keep up with it now. Because I really don't want this to fail, and also because I have no inspiration to crochet or write anything right now, and this may help. So, to kick of the "First Two Weeks(After a Long Period of Absence)" I'm going to post patterns, links, projects, and freebies. I can't wait!

Pattern Copyrights

Hello! I almost forgot to mention something very important! I have some rules as far as patterns and projects go.

1. Please don't take my patterns and claim them as yours, that's stealing.
2. You may use patterns and sell whatever you make, just please provide a link back here.
3. You can post links to any of the patterns you see here.
4. You can add on to any pattern, but, please don't take a pattern, modify it, and call it yours! You can create a pattern variation, but please provide a link back here!

I think that about wraps it up! As long as everyone follows the rules, I'm sure we'll all have a great time!