When I found a bag of yarn – well not hard in my house – in cakes rather than skeins, I was thrilled. I loved the feel of the yarn. However, one skein of each color was in the bag. So what do you make with a single skein of yarn? Well I opted to make scarves. It was fun to design different combinations of stitches to create these scarves. In there you will find more than just the one type of yarn as I had other yarns that made the pile. I took pictures of the yarn and asked my nieces and nephews do you want. I got a variety of answers.
However, I want to thank my models Aimee Jahns, Lara and Brian Zielinski, and Rebecca Schreier for donning my creations and showing them off. Lara Zielinski and Victoria Troemel for taking the pictures. Victoria Troemel for making the covers. Without the support of these people, these patterns would be sitting in the bottom of a drawer.
Three booklets with nine patterns each of scarves. Twenty seven scarf patterns which take a night or two to make. Need to make donations or presents? Try out these new patterns.
There are six new crochet patterns available on Amazon and Smashwords. They will be available more places in a couple of days. These have been done patterns but I just haven’t had time to go through all the steps for publishing. I hope you like them.
Thread Bookmarks Need a small gift? Looking for items to make for a craft fair? Try these eight easy bookmarks. Made with crochet cotton, they work up quick allowing you to build inventory. Amazon Smashwords Braided Scarf For the beginner, this pattern is easy to assemble while offering a stunning end product. The chain group weaves into a braided look for this extra long scarf. Amazon Smashwords
Spiral Hat Round and round you go, working two colors in tandem. This styling hat is warm and fun. Amazon Smashwords Tree Hanging Made with single crochet, this wall hanging adds a seasonal touch to any room. Use the copper (as shown) for a fall flare, or green for a summer flare. Use white or silver for a winter look and spring, simply add some small light green French knots. Amazon Smashwords
Triangular Doily Light and different, this doily works up nicely to provide a beautiful decoration for any room. Worked in crochet cotton size 10, this is durable as well as decorative. Amazon Smashwords Triple Triangle Afghan Worked with triple crochets, this works up in under twelve hours. The pattern is easy for the beginner and makes a beautiful blanket for your home or as a gift. Amazon Smashwords
I’ve published three new crochet patterns. A Set of Squares is a hat, infinity scarf and wristers. Squares done three ways to create a love set including a hat, scarf and wristers. The large pattern provides warmth in the winter. Featuring a square repeat, this set provides style. Easy to make from the soft, large yarn, the pattern is simple but stylish. Infinitely Luxurious is an infinity scarf. Luxurious and warm, this scarf is easy to make and beautiful. Made with soft, luxurious yarn, this infinity scarf will keep you warm through the coldest of winters.
Jute & Cotton Baskets is a set of ten patterns. A unique technique using jute (or hemp) with crochet cotton to create baskets for any use or occasion. Ten patterns for different shaped baskets. Combining hemp rope and crochet cotton, these make sturdy and unique baskets for multiple uses from decoration to storage.
For my youngest daughter I’ve been working on a doily. It’s the first one I’ve designed and I like how it turned out. Next I’ll have to decide if I want to publish the pattern.
I’ve been busy working on things for the two girls in Georgia. I’ve got at least three more things to make for them but I think they will all be from a pattern. I’m also working on a blanket for my middle daughter which I’ll be publishing the pattern for as soon as I’m done. I’ve got it nearly half done at this point.
My day yesterday did not go as planned. This is not a surprise to me – rarely do my days go as planned. But last night I was kicking myself for taking a nap instead of getting things done. Vicki went to bed early and I opted to work on the computer.
This meant the publishing I was going to do in the morning got done last night instead. I have eight new crochet patterns out. There are links to them on my website. They are all on the Crochet Patterns page.
My niece asked me for headbands so I created new ones for her. In doing so, I took pictures and wrote the patterns. This means there’s a new Half Dozen Thread Headbands available. She also wanted a bandana which lead to me creating Bandana X.
I had two student workers graduating – one wanted an afghan and one wanted scarves. The blanket is called Framed Tipped Lattice and the scarves are Climbing Vine, Lattice, Shades of Blue, and Sparkling Squiggle. I finished an experiment for my daughter which is really a mini scarf – Puff Chain Scarf.
I’ve got a couple more in the works but they aren’t quite ready to be published. The patterns are done, I need to work on the components.
Today, I’m working on publishing stuff until my niece gets here, then I’ll be working on cleaning and organizing my office and hopefully tackling some of the dining room. It depends on how long stuff takes us. I’m hoping we can get a long list of things done but I know my plans never work out. I’m going to go with the flow. Anything finished is an improvement. If it reduces the chaos we’re living in right now, that’s all that matters. I have two more places to market my stuff. Then I’ll be getting off the computer and start on the other stuff – I hope.
This week I’ve finished the scarves and the afghan for my student workers’ graduation gifts. I’ve given one gift which is why I’m posting the two pictures. For the afghan, I need to take pictures. I plan to publish four of the scarf patterns and the afghan pattern. This adds to my list of crochet patterns to publish. I have a bandanna, log cabin afghan, and set of headbands to publish.
The collar or cowl scarf shown on the left turned out gorgeous. I’m really proud of it because it was outside my normal and preferred type of project. The smaller yarn and projects like this are hard on my hands but it was worth it to do and redo some of the stitching. The other scarves turned out excellent and I’m excited to publish the four new ones. The necklace type scarf I love making. It uses up small bits of yarn but is stunning and versatile.
Tonight I’ll be working on dish towels and dish cloths to make for someone who is helping me out this weekend. After I get those done, I’ll be back on my other projects. Currently I have bibs for a former co-worker of Vicki’s, a skirt, a couple of afghans, and a few smaller projects which aren’t designated for anyone yet.
This weekend Ken goes off to Atlanta for twelve days. I know he’s excited to visit the girls down there. It will give him a nice break from work and our messy house.
Vicki and I plan to play a bit on Saturday. Sunday we will have help with getting things organized and settled. Next weekend will be busy with working on the house as well.
However, I’m taking off work on the 11th and hoping to get some writing stuff done – like publishing patterns. I’ll have two days with no one in the house so I plan to get up and work on anything I have for writing – publishing, writing, marketing, editing. I have a number of projects in the works so I want to make progress on them.
Ken may be gone for twelve days but it will be a busy time for Vicki and I. Hopefully by the time he comes home, the house is better organized. I’m hoping this will lower everyone’s stress levels.
I’ve been busy crocheting and reading. Vicki asked me for new dishtowels. This is a great opportunity for me to try out different stitch sequences. In doing this, I created two new dishtowel patterns. Doubled Up Dishtowel and Drop Stitch Dishtowel both offer a different style. I like them both and think Vicki liked the towels she got out of them. The plaid scarf was part of gift for one of my student workers. She is graduating. She is crazy about plaid so I made her a plaid scarf. I love how it turned out. It is vibrant and fun.
I’ve still got other patterns I need to get typed up. I need a secretary! But for now, I’m off to explore a newly discovered yarn store. Ken will grumble but I think I’ll enjoy it.
Last weekend when I was down by Vicki, I worked on crocheting things for her. She has these pieces but I thought I’d show some of the pics I took of them. She got a couple of dish towels. One is pink, peach, yellow, and white. The other is green, purple and white. I love this pattern and it makes up in about an hour. She wants a million more of these. I told her I doubted I could make that many.
One of the stores we went to we picked up buttons as I wasn’t going to haul my little drawers of buttons down to add them to the towels. The yellow one popped better than the others on the pink/peach one. The purple stood out best on the other. I think they turned out nicely.
I had some bamboo thread in a lovely blue / turquoise color. We bought a new book and there was a lovely pattern in there. It was a trim book and I have enjoyed all the patterns I have done so far from it. We saw an ad for the book in a magazine and the shawl they showed was beautiful but of course the pattern wasn’t in the magazine so we had to go buy the book.
Vicki wanted some trivets. The blue/tan one is the pattern she had me make while I was down there. It was a complicated and annoying pattern. I told her if she wanted more of that specific pattern she was out of luck. However, if she was willing to let me make my own pattern, I would be willing to make her more. She was and I did which is the purple, blue, yellow and green picture. I’ve got the pattern for sale on my web site. I think it turned out nicely. I want to play with different designs on the part that stands up. Once I was back, a friend of mine said she was looking for light weight scarves for spring. I had one of these done and the second I made up for her quickly.
The pink one is a long chain of ribbon which is textured. She tried it as a scarf in a variety of styles and then tried it as a belt. I think it will be versatile for her.
This weekend I’ve managed to get a lot of my book work done at my computer in my office. I paid for the time at the desk yesterday with being in pain last night. I updated a website for a friend this morning and did more book work today. My legs don’t hurt as much today so perhaps I won’t have as hard of a time tonight.
It feels good to get a lot of things off my to do list. I feel like I was productive and accomplished things I needed to. I feel like I’ve finally caught up. It is a weight off my mind and now I can work on other things – like Virginia’s afghan.
It’s been a rough week. I’ve had higher pain levels and less motivation for a week. I’m still struggling with pain but I can’t let that stop me from moving forward with things that need to get done.
The good thing about a rough week – I listened to a number of audio books while I crocheted. It is about the only thing I can do that doesn’t hurt. I finished three gifts and two other small projects.
The purple shawl is supposed to have buttons on it but I want to have Vicki here so I can place the buttons in the right spots. This was a pattern I liked the looks of but had to rework it. The person who designed it gave only directions for a magic ring start and a non-chain double crochet. I’ve done them. I don’t like how they look. I rewrote the pattern and I think it turned out nicely. The blue scarf isn’t done yet though I’m close. It is baby yarn that will make a nice light weight scarf for spring / summer / fall. I still need to get some length on it but I’m pleased with how it is working up.
I finished my niece’s afghan, the throw for my student worker and a hood / wristers set for another student worker. I’m not posting pictures of them for obvious reasons but I do have to say I think the afghan turned out particularly nice.
I finalized the cover for Wayfarer Aegis and got preliminary covers for Wayfarer Trials and Murder Next Door. TJ Jahns did a wonderful drawing of what I needed for Murder Next Door.
I finished my preliminary edits on Wayfarer seven. This gives me four manuscripts to edit and I’m hoping to get them done soon. Wayfarer Aegis has the final paper edits done, I just need to get them on the computer and read them one more time before it hits production. I’ve posted a look at the cover and a description on my web site. http://eileentroemel.weebly.com/
Most of what I need to get done can be done on my netbook but production work – finishing edits on manuscripts and prep for publishing – has to be done on my computer in my office. When I’m in pain, this is difficult. Until the pain eases, I will work on whatever I can on my netbook. I certainly have a litany of tasks I can work on up until production becomes necessary.
This week I’ve struggled with attitude and self image. When all I can do is sit in the recliner and hope the pain will ease enough so I can think, it drags me down into a well of grumbliness. I hate not being able to get done the things I know need doing. I keep reminding myself it will pass, it will get better. All I can do is what I can do when the pain washes over me.
People genuinely care and are concerned about my welfare which is nice. It helps remind me to keep looking up. When they ask ‘are you feeling better’ I hate telling them no. It’s hard for people to understand that there are layers to the pain. There are the days where I start out feeling fine but go downhill. There are days I start out feeling awful but can force myself to get through the day. There are days when I can’t do anything more than sit in my chair and hope the pain goes away. The thing is…. the pain is always there, always tearing at my joints. I can’t remember the last time I went without pain. All I can do is manage and hope I can get through what needs to be done and not fall into that well of darkness where the pain wins.
Accomplishing things, like the crocheting or writing which take little movement, helps clear the grumbliness I feel. It helps me be able to say, at least I can do this. At least I can accomplish something for now. Even in my worst moments, I know it will get better and I’ll batter back the pain to a level I can tolerate so I can keep moving forward.
Ken went off to visit the girls and I’m just back from dropping him at the airport. I get to be home alone for the next week! I am very excited about this as I plan to WRITE until my fingers fall off.
I sent Ken with goodies for the girls. I’ve been crocheting for them for the last two weeks. They got two scarves and something like twenty six coasters. Virginia requested the purple and gray combo and then Stephanie sent me her color choices. I got baby yarn for the scarves so it would make a nice light scarf. They both turned out beautifully. I LOVE the yarn and will be purchasing it again.
Now their stuff is done, I have to turn to my other projects. I have a scarf I’m working on for Vicki which is almost done. When it’s done I’ll be working on the gifts for my student workers and my niece who is getting married. I have four gifts to get done by beginning of May and one by July.
While I’m alone this week though I’m going to focus on writing. My short story didn’t place for the contest I sent it to but I think it’s good enough to publish so I’m going to polish it up some more, add a couple more scenes and put it out there for purchase. For the rough draft, I have two or three more scenes to write and then it can go in the editing pile.
I just finished writing Murder Next Door. I know exactly what I want for a cover (I think) so I have to figure out if I can get a photo of it or if I will try to get a picture (drawn) for it.
This week I have three things I want to get done – Wayfarer Aegis (which is just the two or three scenes), the Defenders third book, and the Wayfarer sixth book. All three projects are started and in varying degrees of being written. I just need to finish them.
On the drive home, I tried to settle into one of the stories to see if I could plot out the first steps. I think the Aegis is going to be the first one. Part of that is because it is so close to being done. I need to write about so little to polish it off and then I think I can send it to my test readers. If they don’t have any problems with it, I can start the editing process and get it out for publication. The other two are going to be longer and more complicated to write, edit and publish.
Enough with sharing for now. I’m on to writing. Adara and the Aegis here I come.
At 2:30 Tuesday morning I woke up with pain in my foot. I knew it was gout pain. I figured I’ll get more sleep and feel better in the morning.
I didn’t sleep the rest of the night. I got up at 7:00 thinking I gotta go to work. Now if I’m going to work I need to be out of the shower and headed to the car by 7:15 so I knew at the very least I was going to be LATE.
It was a rough morning for me. Pain, lack of sleep, and just general growliness. I opted to not inflict my orneriness on my job and stayed home. I don’t watch a lot of TV. I’ve been weaning myself off it since we got rid of cable.
Instead of surfing unsuccessfully for something worthwhile, I listened to an audio book and crocheted. I leaned back in my recliner, kept my foot up and worked on a throw for my mother. When she was over, she told me her legs got cold when she sat in her recliner in the living room. I made her a small throw. It is with fleece yarn which is yummy and soft. My sister picked out the pink and multi colored purple / pink. Unfortunately there wasn’t enough for what I wanted to do. Of the fleece I had left, black was the only one that went well as there is a dark gray in the purple variegated. So I did a border in the blank. I did a lacy pattern which was quick and easy. Hopefully it will work for my mother and keep her legs warm.
Now I got a box of yarn. I resisted using anything in that box because I had four projects going. However, I finished a project and I wanted a small project so I pulled out this soft gorgeous yarn and made a cowl. I went to my book that has some ridiculous number of patterns and made a cowl. It didn’t take long, sewing the buttons on took longer as I had to find them, get a needle that would work and figure out what I was using to sew them on for thread (yarn was too thick).
In the middle of the day, I was tired so I took a nap. I took a two hour (maybe longer) nap. Curling up with the electric blanket on to keep me toasty warm, I just conked out. I had the heat from the blanket wrapped around my legs and it helped reduce the pain of the gout.
After I woke up, I went back to listening to Holiday in Death by JD Robb and worked on a shawl for Vicki. I finished that and still had an hour left on my book so started another scarf with more new yarn. I didn’t get far. I’m not happy with the pattern so I’m going to pull out my book with the different patterns and see what she’s tagged – my poor vandalized books. I finished the book but not this fourth item. I did go in and finish listening to the chapter in Cast in Peril by Michelle Sagara.
I hate taking a day off because of my gout. However, by the evening my foot had shape again, the red ring around my ankle was gone. The pain level had gone from nearly unbearable to tolerable. I got three crochet projects done. Considering I didn’t think it would be a good day – I’d say it wasn’t all bad. The nap was wonderful. I’m betting Vicki will LOVE the two items I got done for her. I’m hoping mom will enjoy her item as well.
