Sunday, May 17, 2009

25 Things I Love About Crochet and more exciting stuffs

First, as started by the lovely Fearless Leader of the CLF, a list of twenty five things I love about the grand art of crochet:

1. First and foremost, stress relief. No matter what sort of insane stuff happens to me, I can crochet it all away.

2. Although I like knitting, it's limited in the directions it can go, and with crochet I can go up, down, sideways. I can stack single stitches onto each other, make so many different shapes, turn circles into squares and vice versa. (Not to mention when I'm done, I'm done. No tedious casting off business.)

3. Along the same lines as crochet compared to knitting, I like the fact that I can finish something twice as fast with half as many tools.

4. Crochet is something my mother and I can do together, and I love working on projects with her. I also love teaching her new things that I've learned.

5. I've made so many new friends since I took up the craft again, both here and online, and while most are knitters, we all share a passion for our craft.

6. I like calling myself a hooker without cracking a smile, then watching other people's reactions. ;)

7. I love that I can follow a pattern to make something, or that I can just make it up in my head as I go and still love what I come up with. (I can't do that with knitting at all.)

8. It's a bit superficial, but I love my pretty hook collection. So many colors!

9. I love that I can get really into a project, completely focus on it, and lose myself for hours.

10. I love how the hooks feel in my hand, so natural, almost like an extension of myself.

11. I love that even when I'm using my pointy sticks, my darling Haytham still calls it crocheting.

12. And yes, I love the tacky and wonderful things people associate with crochet, like gaudily colored granny squares and hippy clothes.

13. I love that I'm carrying on a family tradition of needlework of some kind. (Although Mom and I are the only hookers, her mother embroidered and quilted, while my Grannie Georgia made things with plastic canvas and yarn, and my dad's youngest sister cross stitches.0

14. If we ever have a baby, I'll be able to clothe it and give it toys that I've made with my own hands.

15. I like writing patterns, even if I'm not very good at it yet.

16. I love the look on the faces of my family when I give them whatever I've made for them.

17. If it hadn't been for crochet, no one in my family would've gotten a Christmas gift last year (I was flat broke, but luckily Mom had a bunch of RHSS and some hooks stashed away in a closet, so I was able to craft Christmas after all).

18. I love playing with yarn.

19. Every time I get out my hooks, I'm stealing a little time for myself, and I love being that self-indulgent.

20. I love crocheting at my LYS, mostly because I think it still dumbfounds them that while I've learned to knit, I still love my hooks best. ;) (You know it's true, Deborah.)

21. I love making myself beautiful things to wear and have, and know that no one else has something exactly like them.

22. I love having fun being silly and making freeform nonsense. I mean crocheted big chain bling? that's just awesome.

23. All the different kinds of crochet fascinate me. Crochet, broomstick lace, hairpin lace, thread... So many possibilities!

24. I love when my friends who are learning crochet ask *my* opinion of how they're doing. (A tad ego-centric, but I can't help feeling proud of my own skills in those moments.)

25. An aluminum hook, a skein of yarn, and I'm entertained for hours.


And now, the exciting stuff!
First, I'm so totally psyched about how well the Booga Bag turned out. Mom is actually using it, and i'm in love with the idea of felting now. (Luckily, I have a lot of yarn left over from her bag, and I'm thinking about making myself one, too.) It took me nearly a month to knit, but it was seriously worth it in the end.
Second, I've been commissioned by local musician Holden Bare to make hats, scarves, and whatever else I can think of for him to wear onstage at the Chetola Resort Headwaters Pub. I am so severely stoked over that! I finished my first creation for him this past Thursday.

Custom made one of a kind beanie, cotton-silk blend in a natural taupe colorway. (I know it looks pink, but that's due to the cell cam's craptastic quality.) He bought the yarn for me, which is awesome because the stuff was nearly $15 for a 98 yard ball. I've got another ball of fingering weight superwash merino he bought, which is going to be a hat by next week's gig, and I'm also making covered buttons for his vests. This is teh awesome, I'm tellin' ya.
Third, and most important of all, yesterday was Haytham's 28th birthday! I wish we could have spent it together, but I'm going to make up for that when he gets home. (Thanks to Holden, I'm getting to take him to Chetola for dinner and a show for free. Schweet!) He's coming home soon, and I can't wait!

Okay, enough for today. I'm getting to the point of random babble.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Oooo, felty!

Mom's Booga Bag is FINALLY done.

More details, along with other awesome news, tomorrow night. ;)

Oh, and Michelle... Slytherin's got the early lead... ;)

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Another attempt to pay it forward, since the last one bombed...

The first 5 people to respond to this post will get something made by me.
This offer does have some restrictions and limitations so please read carefully:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. (No refunds... no exchanges!!!!)

2. What I create will be just for you, with love from me.

3. It'll be done this calendar year (2009).

4. I will not give you any clue what it's going to be. It will be something made in the real world and not something cyber. It may be weird or beautiful. I may even create something totally unbelievable and surprise you!! It will be handmade and may be any medium I choose. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!

5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange...or awesome...or lovely!

6. In return, all you need to do is post this text into a note/post of your own and make 5 things for the first 5 to respond to it.

7. Send your mailing address if you don't live close to me!

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Still got the hook skillz...


Finished these yesterday for my dad's wife for Mother's Day. Blue silk chenille yarn that was a swap gift, some Lion Brand Suede for the edging, and two buttons from my button box. Simple, quick, and not exactly my best work, but they'll do. :)

And yes, they were also a project for the HPKCHC Defense Against the Dark Arts class. One down, two to go. ;)