Tag: yarn

New Tricks

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting

I’ve been crocheting for about 40 years.  I love crocheting but sometimes I get tired of the same old same old.  It’s always a pleasant experience for me when I learn something new.

The other night I was working on a project (gift for daughter) when I ran out of yarn.  Now normally I tie a knot with the new skein and work over the knot.  I tried this but the material is silk so the knot wouldn’t stay.  Recently I read about a new way to join.  I read a description of it and had no idea what they were talking about but I did a google search on it and found a YouTube video on how to do it.

I’ve been crocheting for a long time and sometimes I get in the mode of I know best and new stuff is not the “right” way of doing things.  Reluctantly I tried this new join technique.  I was thrilled with the result.  The material around the join was slightly thicker but overall it was a better join than the way I’ve been joining material for the last 40 years.  There were no tails to tuck in, the joins was smoother, firmer, and held better.

Now before I say I will use this join on all materials, I want to try it out more.  It was definitely a wonderful way to join silk and have a smooth invisible join.

Here are a few links to how to do this:

Lion Brand 

YouTube

Another YouTube

The nice thing is you can use this for any yarn craft – crochet, knitting, or others.  I’m looking forward to trying it with different materials.

Chilling on the Weekend!

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life

Yesterday I met Vicki in Dubuque and we went to a craft store and shoe store before having lunch together.  We spent a bit of time chatting over lunch and in my car after lunch.  On the drive home, I talked to Virginia (when my phone wasn’t cutting out) for over an hour.  It was a good afternoon.

Last night, Ken had supper nearly ready when I got home.  We watched the last episode of Newsroom while we ate.  He went to bed and I watched How to Train Your Dragon while crocheting.  I got the first part of a holiday gift done!

One of the things I did yesterday was to pick out yarn for gifts.  I did this before I went craft shopping with Vicki so I wouldn’t buy things I didn’t need.  In picking the yarns, I got excited to work with the yarns.  The one I worked with last night was a strand of fleece – it literally looks like someone bought fleece material and cut it into thin strips.  It was a dream to work with and I finished the project late evening.

Today while Ken is watching football, I’ll be finishing up How to Train Your Dragon (it’s a series) and working on the next aspect of a holiday gift.  This means I get to pull out another exciting yarn and work with it.  Not only do I get to enjoy working with the yarn, I get to enjoy creating a pattern from scratch.  I love taking a strand of material (whatever kind) and creating something useful and pretty.

In case people don’t know, I’m a yarn geek.  I picked up yarn for a throw for another holiday gift.  I can’t wait to get my hands on it.  I’m already envisioning how it will work up and how it will feel.  Yup – yarn geek.

It was nice to be home for this weekend.  Yes I went to Dubuque but there was no pressure in that – it was go and enjoy my daughter.  It made me wish my other daughters were close enough we could meet up and do similar things.  Unfortunately, the best I can hope for there is a long weekend somewhere between Wisconsin and Georgia.

This morning, Ken helped me get breakfast and lunch for the week made up and in the fridge.  I’m going to work hard to remember in the mornings to pack my meals rather than buying them.  I’ve got fruits and veggies for snacks.  I’ve got soup for lunch two days and he’s making a pasta dish for the other days.  I’ve got a hashbrown combo for breakfast each day.  Now I need to follow through in order to not spend the money on fast food.

I’m off to put my feet up and crochet.  I am looking forward to the down time alone in my living room.  No moving stress, no must be somewhere, nothing be me, yarn, crochet hooks, and whatever I decide to watch on tv or listen to for an audio book.  Sounds like the perfect Sunday!!!

An Opportunity … but Not This Year

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting

Locally there is a vendor sale which I’ve been invited to participate in – one of the organizers has seen my crocheting and thinks I should sell my stuff.  I agree but I have nothing made up.

I’ve been struggling since I had to use a manual wheelchair because my arms bothered me when I crocheted.  They are starting to feel better but now I have several project to get done before the beginning of December.  My sister has several for me to work on and I have the gifts I give to get done.

I knew about this a year ago so I can’t complain about not having enough time.  However, I’ve been working on writing, editing, publishing, and crocheting for my own purposes.  I have a list on my phone of things I could make for the sale.  I have yarn stockpiled in my craft room.

Somehow I never got around to making the things.  There was always a project for someone to work on or writing or family stuff.  However, I’ve had one article published in a crochet magazine and will have another by the end of the year (hopefully) as well as a crochet pattern (hopefully).  So it would be nice to play with the yarn I have and create what I want.  It would be fun to play with the yarn and crocheting to see how I like the different techniques.

I’d love to see how my stuff sells but this year – I’m too crazy with things to do right now to consider having enough time to do it.  I’ll keep the list on my phone.  I will make an effort to make ahead for next year but you never know where my time will go and what I’ll get involved with.

Day Off

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting

I should be productive right?  Well my day off has been not overly productive.  I saw Stephanie off this morning and dozed until Vicki called me.  After talking to her while she drove to work, I dozed until 9.  Finally dragging my bum out of bed / sleep mode, I hit the computer to do some bookwork like updating my expense report for my writing, working on the budget and so on.

I had a plan – when don’t I – but it has fallen through the cracks and I’m just winging it now.  As soon as I’m done on the computer I’m going to go pick out some of my “stash” yarn.  Then I’m going to work on a pattern I’m seeing in my head to see if I can actually make it.  If it turns out decently, I’ll work on publishing the pattern.

I was going to put in Downton Abbey and watch the last season while I crocheted.  I don’t think that is happening at this point.  Ken will be home soonish and he won’t want to watch it.

Stephanie and I went to Hobby Lobby and Joann’s last night.  I walked out having used a 50% off coupon on one item and the other items I bought were already marked down.  I spent a little over $20 and saved a little over $30.  I love it when that happens.

Next is for Ken to wash these for me so I can get the projects done.  Two of them are experiments to test out an idea I have.  I have so many crochet projects bouncing around in my head right now.  I can’t get them done fast enough.  At the same time I have a lot of projects on the go so I really need to finish some of them.
I need to remember – one thing at a time.  It’s all I can do – one thing at a time.  I just need to pick a project and work on it.  The one bouncing around in my head wins!  I’m off to pick out some pretty yarn for a small project and hopefully I will finish it quickly in order to move on to the next crazy thing in my head.

Offline

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting

I’ve been deliberately offline for nearly two weeks.  In this time I’ve only looked at email for urgent stuff and to dump the junk mail.  I focused on time with my family and crocheting.

I lost track of the number of items (see the pictures) I finished while Vicki was home.  I did finish off one complete bag of yarn for her, as well as a few projects which weren’t in any bags.  I know I finished at least nine things on her list but I also added in a few more things as she bought more yarn for me to work with.

It was quiet and calming to not be online or at work.  For the most part, she and I hung out at home though there were a few days we ran errands.  I loved making the items.  It’s wonderful to pick up yarn and with a few strokes create something useful and beautiful.  I’m pleased with most of what came out.

Since she returned home, I’ve been working on projects for my girls in Georgia.  I should finish them tonight – I hope.  Once those are done, I’m going to clear out my project basket and work on the other projects I set aside to work on stuff for all my girls.  I think there are three or four projects in there I would like to finish.

However, at the same time, I’d like to get back to writing.  I have a novel to edit and two to finish writing.  I’ll be switching off between the two I guess.  I’m currently watching a tv show while I crochet so I may have to finish the last ten episodes before I go back to writing.  This will mean crocheting while I watch.

Yesterday I watched two craftsy classes while I did prep for dishtowels.  It was nice to switch things up and listen to other things than television shows.  When I get back to editing, I’ll probably put music on again.  I’ve not listened to much for music lately as I’ve been busy crocheting.  I’ve either been watching tv shows or movies.  I’m back to working out a balance of tasks – writing, crocheting, and family time.

Back at Work

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life, Writing

I didn’t dread coming back to work.  For the most part, I enjoy my job.  Yesterday was WORK though.  I had a ton of emails and it seemed like the ones interspersed with the junk mail I got took a lot of time to work through and address.  I eventually got caught up but still a tiring day.

When I left work I was still in a fairly good mood but by the time I was driving my energy had fallen away.  By the time I got home, I was wiped out.  Sitting at my desk all day, my pain level was up.

I am back at work.  It means I’m back to picking and choosing what gets done in the evening.  I’ve been watching Midsomer Murders (no that isn’t misspelled).  Tonight I’m going to attempt to crochet while I watch.  My arm was bugging me again.  I worked on a scarf for my daughter out of the Paton Metallic yarn.  This yarn is very slippery so the tension when you crochet has to be fairly taut, I think this is what causes my arm to hurt when I use this yarn.  I have a small project I want to finish with this yarn and then it is going to be put away.

This week I’m going to settle back into routine and work.  My sleep has been sporadic at best so I’m taking some down time.  However, this weekend I’m hoping to publish several short stories and update two of my novels.  Once these writing tasks are done, I’ll be looking at the third Defenders novel again.  I’ve been reading what I have and hope to start writing on it again next week.  I may have to give up and decide it will be a four books but I am still hopeful I can finish it in three.

Wayfarer 10 is starting to nudge at me.  At the same time Wayfarer 8 is in need of editing.  All of these tasks mean I’ll be busy for a while on writing.  At some point, I need to work on crocheting.  The next big project is the skirt for my friend.  I’m going to pull it out and redo the waistband.  I have two separate ideas and I have to see what my friend would prefer.

After the skirt, I have an afghan for my niece, which she just told me the pattern she likes so I’m going to make it my next project.  Plus I have all my holiday gifts to get started.  It’s already July.  I better get busy.

Crochet Arm

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting

In an effort to have an afghan done before we go visit our daughters, I’ve been putting in a lot of hours crocheting.  Probably more than I normally do.  Yesterday, I noticed that when I tried to straighten my right arm, it hurt. 

I have aches and pains all the time, so I didn’t think much of it.  But this is a muscle twinge rather than the ache of arthritis.  Every time I reached to the right with my right arm, I’d get this twinge in my arm. 

It finally dawned on me, I have crochet arm.  I’ve been spending my time crocheting.  This means my arms are folded in to my body and not stretched out.  Apparently I’ve been doing this so much, I’m now getting issues when I do straighten my arm.  My muscles are saying what are you doing?  We don’t move that way anymore.

When I told my daughter this, her response was “but it doesn’t hurt when you crochet so you’ll be able to finish my blanket right?”  I laughed.  I will finish the blanket and listen to another JD Robb book but really where was the concern? 

With luck, I’ll have the afghan done this weekend.  I’m on the third repeat of rows and think it will only take five repeats to be long enough.  Then I will turn my attention to the border – which has 13 rows in it.  Now I’m going to check yarn because I have gone through enough I’m concerned about having enough to finish the project.  I think I have six skeins left but need to check my basket to see if  have more.  I am hoping I have more because I think six is enough to finish the afghan but not do much work on the border.  I’ve already spent about $200 on this afghan so I don’t want to purchase more if I can avoid it.

Meanwhile, I’ve been massaging my arm, stretching it as I work, and trying to avoid moving it in such a manner that makes it hurt.  I know in the end, the afghan will be gorgeous.  I’ve already had several offers for others to take it.  I don’t think my daughter will allow it to be borrowed or taken by anyone else though.   

Mother’s Day

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life, Writing

It’s mother’s day and all my kids are out of state.  I’m okay with that.  For one thing, they were home last weekend.

Yesterday Ken and I went to a yarn shop Vicki discovered.  It was an interesting experience in that I was lucky to be able to get in the store.  There was a ramp leading up to the second floor and a locked door.  The ramp itself was damn scary as I could hear the boards moving as I rolled over each of them.  Ken ended up going in to ask if there was a way in.  Of course there was – up the ramp and through the locked door.  When we got there (finally) the ramp was about 4 inches below the door.  I couldn’t just roll into the building.  I had to get off my scooter and lift it up.  It’s a good thing I’m still mobile and not completely wheelchair bound.

The yarn shop was small but had a large selection as well as an interesting selection of gadgets.  However, the cost of the yarn was over the top.  I didn’t see anything under $5.75 and these were tiny skeins (probably about an ounce).  Some of the yarn was amazing but the cost ranged from the $5.75 to $40 (or more).  Most of it seemed to be specialized yarn but to me this is just too costly to spend money on.  I mean an afghan can sometimes take up to ten or more skeins.  That is a crazy amount of money to spend to make an afghan.

I did get a crochet hook with stuff on the handle.  It is supposed to help ergonomically with hand issues.  I bought one and I’ll try it.  If I like them and it helps with the cramping I can get I’ll think about getting a set.

Another thing I noticed was a ball holder.  Basically, the piece was two wooden plaques separated with a turntable.  In the center of the top one, a dowel was placed.  You place your skein on the dowel and then can pull from the outside.  It should (hopefully) prevent tangling of skeins.  They were asking $30 for one.

I like the idea a lot but not the cost.  Ken was with me so I asked – Can you make something like this?  His answer was sure.  He is making one this morning for me and I can’t wait to see how it turns out.  He got the materials from Menards for $20 and will be able to make two for that cost.  If they work out nicely, I’ll be asking for some more.  Vicki will probably as well as she has been doing a lot of knitting.

There was one other gadget there which was essentially the same thing except without the turntable.  They had several skeins of yarn on a dowel which was in the center of a wooden plaque.  I could see how that would be useful when I’m working with multiple colors, I could put them all on the dowel and just pull the ends to crochet with.  I’m hoping I can talk Ken into making me one like that as well (though it being on a turntable would be nicer I think).

When I’m done with this blog I’ll be going back to crocheting.  Last night I listened to Promises in Death while I worked on Virginia’s afghan.  I got about twenty rows done on her afghan.  I sent her a picture and told her if she didn’t like it I could keep it.  I think if she had been closer, I would have gotten a smack.  It is turning out BEAUTIFULLY.

This morning I published one more crochet pattern.  I’ve had it done for a while but had to wait until after my niece’s wedding as it was her gift.  Soft Sunshine Afghan is now available on Smashwords and Amazon.
 http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/541758
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XGOA50W

It’s been a busy Mother’s day and next is going to be more crocheting on Virginia’s afghan!

Pleasant Surprise

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life

One of my faculty goes to Sweden with students.  I told her to bring me back some Swedish yarn, just a skein, nothing big.  I love yarn and it’s nice to touch what is available in other parts of the world. 

She is back and brought me a bag of yarn.  There is probably thirty skeins of yarn in this bag.  All of the writing on the yarn is in Swedish which is interesting.  Yet there are things I can still figure out.  On one skein there is a notation that it is 50 G which equals so many meters.  If I want to equate that with something I understand all I have to do is convert it to yards or feet from meters. 

Apparently one of her contacts over there just gave her the yarn.  She also gave her patterns which again I can’t read but there are some parts of it I can.  A couple of the patterns have graphs which I can read, the rest there is no way.  I thought with it being crochet shorthand essentially, it would be similar but it isn’t.  I’ve learned something new because of it.

To Sharon – thank you for the yarn.  It was a bright spot in my day.  To the Swedish person who gave her the yarn – wow how generous and kind!  Thank you. 

This proves my point that crafters everywhere are good people!

Second Day for Crocheting

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting

Vicki went to work this morning leaving me at her apartment.  I worked on a trivet for her.  The concept of the pattern was pretty and nice.  The execution of the pattern – miserable.  I liked the technique was good but the pattern was poorly written.  I had to read sections multiple times.

She came home for lunch and we ran errands in the afternoon.  Joann’s, eye doctor, grocery store, Walgreens and home for supper.  Joann’s was wonderful (of course) and her grocery store has a wonderful craft section where we found some amazing yarn.  We also got these great new bags which will be great for carrying craft projects around in.

This evening I worked on a scarf for her.  We were both tired though and she crashed early.  I dozed, being too tired to work long on the scarf.

Tomorrow, she has a few errands she wants to run.  While she’s gone, I’m going to work on the scarf and whatever else I feel like.  I’m looking forward to a full day of crocheting.  I’ll share pictures when I get home and can download them.  She’s definitely spoiled.