Time with My Sister

My sister Jackie called me the day after Christmas and asked if I would like to come by to see the proofs from her new fabric line. And you know me…I’m always up for another distraction away from what I really need to be doing (like ironing, mending, and crocheting). I did stick my little orange pouch with my crochet essentials in my bag just in case. Ha! Ha! Jackie had mentioned that she was in the middle of repairing some of her jewelry. I could hardly wait to see what she was working on.

When I arrived, I was greeted by Jackie’s husband, Mark, who directed me downstairs to Jackie’s studio…

…where I found her restringing one of her turquoise necklaces. She also warned me not to take pictures of her because she didn’t have any lipstick on.

Jackie stopped restringing her necklace to show me the proofs of her new fabric line with Benartex and guess what she convinced Benartex to print in her line!!!! A faux crochet flannel made from one of my crochet pieces. I can’t wait to see the actual fabric. I know all you crocheters can’t imagine anyone not wanting to crochet, but there are people out there that don’t or can’t. This faux crochet flannel will give the quilters that don’t want to stop quilting a chance to add the look of crochet to their quilts or projects without actually crocheting. Which I think is cool, too.

Anyway, Jackie has a way of inspiring me and a few other people to join in on whatever she’s working on--especially if you’re in her studio. Who wouldn’t want to, with all her lovely beads and jewelry findings?

So here I am, fixing a bracelet for her. I ended up adding too many beads, and it was too big for her. Oh well, looks like I got a new bracelet. Did anyone notice the crochet hook on the beading tray? I needed to use it to make the opening a little bigger to get the bead to go on the elastic beading thread.

Check out my new bracelet!

It’s so much fun just hanging out with my sister--laughing, talking, and inspiring each other. She was so inspired by my crocheting that she decided to design a scarf for herself. I just love it, and I’m going to help her figure out a way to add a loop on it to thread one end over the other.

So Jackie, how did I do with not taking a picture of you without lipstick? Ha! Ha!

Free Pattern Friday: Checkerboard Charm Afghan

Here’s another Mary Englebreit crochet pattern which features a tapestry like stitch where you carry your nonworking yarn underneath the working yarn. This will make a really nice warm and cozy afghan.

Rather than using the traditional Mary Engelbreit colors, I chose a couple of my favorite colors for my version.

What colors are you going to use?

Christmas 2009

Christmas morning I got up at my usual time of 3:30 and then decided to lay back down for about an hour. Since Jennifer spent the night on my couch, she was awake with me. Santa had no more than delivered Megan’s presents, ate the cookies, and drank the milk, before Megan was awake and ready to stay awake.

I gave Megan a coloring book and colors, so that I could get a few rows of crocheting done. While I was mixing up “Oh Boy Waffles” for breakfast, she played a game of “Guess Who” and did a workbook page. She was so excited to open gifts and yet so patient waiting until I got all of my things done.

We ate breakfast, and Megan wanted to do the dishes, so I pulled up the footstool to the sink, and she went to town washing the dishes.

Then it was off to wake up Poppy and Uncle Joshua, then more waiting for them to eat.

Finally it was time to open our gifts and, of course, Megan was first. Before Christmas, Megan had written a letter to Santa asking for two things: one was a play dress up dress and the other one was play dress up high heels. Since Megan was such a good girl, she got both. Later on, Megan found the trim that had been sewn on the bottom of her play dress in Gran Gran’s sewing room, and we figured that Santa had came into our house and sewed the trim on her dress and used my sewing machine. Ha! Ha!

It was so much fun watching Joshua and Megan playing around, and it was especially nice that Joshua didn’t getting annoyed with Megan like he usually does.

In spite of the snow that we received on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, my mom and dad braved the weather to join us for lunch and a long visit. My daddy had a really good day and didn’t need to take a nap after all, but I did crochet a scarf for him that will keep his neck warm, and I got to cover my mom up with my colorful afghan.

There's my mom and Jennifer.

My sister-in-law, Andrea, and her family came by for their Christmas visit and got to spend some time with my mom and daddy, too. I even had time to talk to Andrea about crocheting and got her started on a crochet project of her very own. Everyone got what they wanted for Christmas this year, and most of all, we had a really good time just being together.

Tell me about what you did on Christmas day.

New Project

I’m so excited. Look at the new Amy Butler flannel that I just got. Her flannels just came out in December.

Can you find the hidden crocheted flower in the picture?

I can’t wait to get the fabric prepared to crochet around. I have all the colors of yarn picked out. Now, I just have to find the time to start on it. Maybe I can get started on it tomorrow.

Surprise from My Husband

I almost forgot to tell you about the surprise that was waiting on me when I returned from Houston. When my husband tells me to close my eyes, he always has a surprise for me. This is what I saw when I opened my eyes…..

I love it and was worried that he had paid way too much. I couldn’t believe my ears when he told me that he couldn’t remember and thought it was around $50. The lady that sold it to him says that she makes them all the time and sells them at craft shows.

Can you believe it? I think I would have to have a little more than that to make a tablecloth with triple trebles and size 10 thread. What do you think?

Another Tired Sweater Saved With Crochet

I like to add crochet trims and embellishments to sweaters that no one else wants. I call them “Tired Sweaters”. This is one of my favorite things to do. These are some of the reasons that I like to do this:

1. I don’t have to make a gauge.
2. I don’t have to make sure it fits anyone.
3. I can find some really cool colors in already manufactured sweaters.
4. I like the idea of recycling the sweaters.
5. I like adding different textures and adding lots of different colors.

I used the poke-a-hole-in-it method and used Aunt Lydia’s Cotton Crochet thread Size 10 that you can order from the Crochet Soiree store. I just added different colors to each row and some extra stitches each time to make it turn into a ruffle, then edged it all the way around with a shell stitch to tie it all together.

Of course, this particular sweater looks very good on my sister, so she wears it whenever she gets a chance.

Free Pattern Friday: Country Comfort Chair Pads Crochet Pattern

Happy New Year Everybody!

To kick off 2010, I wanted to share another really cute crochet pattern using fabric. I got these fabric strips while I was in Houston and didn’t know what I would make with them. Now I know and can you believe that I actually finished one of the chair pads? The funny thing about it is, after you get past the first chain row, it’s quite easy. Of course, I had to put my own twist to my chair back.

I decided to use some more of the felted wool sweater for the back of my chair back. I cut out the heart shape…

…and poked-a-hole-in-it and crocheted around it, so that I could join the two pieces together.

Then, I attached the two pieces together with some TLC Cotton Plus yarn that I had left over from the Cloud-Soft Cover-Up Afghan.

Then, I tied some ribbons on the sides so that I could tie it to the back of my blue chair or simply take off the ribbons and use it for a trivet for the table.

I’m so glad that I finally followed through with crocheting with fabric, and I only have three more chair pads to go. I think it looks pretty cute from the back, too. I think my husband liked that I added it to his chair.