Yarn Haven

Big News - The Ups and Downs of Life

2008-11-29T20:00:00.004-06:00

I cannot believe I've left my poor little blog unattended for almost a year! I attribute it to extraordinary circumstances. My sweetie crashed his motorcycle and broke his neck. That was scary! Thankfully, he is fully recovered and has only minimal loss of movement in his neck. The man is a walking miracle. He wrecked the bike on a Thursday, had surgery on Friday, and came home on Saturday, walking under his own power, mind you. As he said, God still has a purpose for him here.

The other circumstance is actually a very positive one. At the grand age of 55, I have enrolled in college. Drum roll, please. It is something I've wanted to do for a long time, and I finally got my courage up and did it. I am majoring in Web Design and Multimedia, which is such a lovely combination. I love technology, but even more, I love art. I always have. So I'm enrolled at Westwood College Online, which is one of the best online colleges. They also have ground campuses, but I felt more comfortable with the online venue. The downside is that it is very intense. We cover a semester's worth of work in ten weeks. But I am loving it. I have learned so much already, and I am convinced this is the best school ever. The amount of support I've received is staggering. They really WANT their students to succeed.

Anyway, the long and short of it is that I haven't had much time to devote to crochet. I am hoping that I will find little pockets of time here and there, because I really love it, and it is a great relaxation technique for me. So please don't abandon me. I'm going to be making more of an effort to post from now on, so check in periodically and see what I am up to.

Christmas Spa Set

2008-01-28T16:23:00.001-06:00

I thought I would share with you the spa set I made for my niece for Christmas. I used Priscilla Hewitt's pattern for the Bath Puff and Back Scrubber. For the washcloth I used the split single crochet stitch (I think...I had a bad allergy reaction, and feel like I have the mother of all sinus infections) :(

It's A Brand New Year!!

2008-01-02T15:59:00.000-06:00

Okay, so it's almost brand new. It's only 2 days old. I have some exciting plans for this year, but you'll have to wait until I have them a little more organized.

I'll give you a little hint, though. I want to do something to make a positive difference this year.

Christmas Past

2007-12-28T21:30:00.000-06:00

Well, Christmas is over until next year. It was really nice this year. No family squabbles, no unrealistic expectations. I enjoyed giving the presents that I made, and seeing the faces light up. I didn't get as much done as I had planned, but I also wasn't nearly as stressed out as I have been in years past.

I made my niece a spa basket, except I put it in a bag instead of a basket. I'll get the pictures up sometime in the next few days. I also whipped up a purse for another niece, but I forgot to get a picture before I gave it to her. :(

From my Sweetie and my daughter, I received several books, which I am over the moon about, especially the Amigurumi.

Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts, Amigurumi, by Tomoko Takamori
Bag Style, by Pam Allen & Ann Budd
Vogue Knitting, Shawls on the Go

Guess what I am going to be playing with soon?

Busy! Busy! Busy!

2007-12-07T20:42:00.000-06:00

I absolutely have got to get busy on my pressies. I think I've got plenty of time still. But that kind of thinking has gotten me in trouble before..."2 days before Christmas, and what?? Oh, I can whip out the kids' ornaments really quick"...uh-huh, sure I can. And I do get them done, but I'm frazzled by the time I get done.
I'm working on a spa basket for my niece with handmade face cloths, and some other things to go in it, and those darn ornaments, and oh, yes, bracelets for the kids. Yeah, [sigh] I better get busy. Actually, I enjoy making things, but not when I'm in a time crunch.
I'll have to post pictures after Christmas.

Holiday Traditions

2007-12-07T19:02:00.000-06:00

There is a wonderful meme going on at Sew,Mama,Sew! It's called Handcrafters' Holidays. It started me thinking about some of our traditions in my family. I think my favorite is our cookie baking. It's not the baking, it's what we do with the cookies after they are baked.

If any of you have ever worked in retail, you know what it's like during holiday season. It's hectic, and customers quite often are downright rude to employees. My daughter worked in a particular store for 5 years. So up until this year I have baked cookies to give out to them on Christmas Eve. It's my way of saying thank you for all that they do, not to mention to brighten their day. This year we did it on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. I think I got more joy out of it than they did, just to see the looks on their faces. I may do it again for Christmas Eve, I haven't decided yet. It depends on how much time I have. I have got to get to work on my Christmas pressies!

Candy Cane Pattern

2007-12-02T21:54:00.000-06:00

Arrgh!! I can't believe I haven't posted since Thanksgiving. My excuse is that between my food allergies, and my asthma, I really haven't felt like posting.

BUT, here is the Candy Cane pattern as promised. It's really an easy pattern, and a good way to use up some of those leftover bits of yarn that everybody has. I prefer mine in red and white, but you could use whatever colors you like.

Candy Cane

Here's what you need:

Scraps of yarn, in white (Color A)and red (Color B) or colors of your choice
chenille stems - in a color to match Color A
Size H crochet hook

Note: Please read these notes before you start your project.

The sequence in the first and last ch taper the ends for a more finished look.
Don't be alarmed if the chains seem to 'gap' from the multiple st in each ch. You won't be able to see them when you're finished, and they make it easy to weave the chenille stem through.
When you work the 3 dcs in each chain, your work will automatically begin to spiral. Don't be alarmed if it seems to take on a life of its own. :) You can easily manipulate it to spiral the way you want it to go.

Foundation row: With Color A, ch 36

Row 1: In 2nd ch from hook, work 1 sc, 1 hdc, and 1 dc (all in same ch), * (3 dc in each ch across)* ending at next to last ch. In last ch, work 1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc. End off and weave in ends.

Row 2: Do not turn. Starting at the beginning of Row 1, with Color B, ch 1, sc in 1st sc, sc in each st across. End off and weave in ends.

Finishing: Take a chenille stem, and measure the length of your candy cane, after you have it spiraled in the direction you want it to go. Add a little to the length so that you can turn the ends under, so that they don't 'poke' you. Do not turn them under until after you have woven them through the candy cane. This is where those 'gaps' (see Notes) come in handy. Thread the chenille stem through those gaps, and turn the ends under to hold it all together. You can either thread a piece of yarn through and tie it to make a hanger, or hook one of the regular ornament hooks through and hang it on your tree. You could also use it as an embellishment on your presents.

Happy Thanksgiving Day!!!

2007-11-21T16:25:00.000-06:00

I probably won't be on the computer tomorrow, so I'm posting this now.

We have so much in this country to be thankful for. I've been thinking a lot lately about things that I am thankful for. I have my own little private blog, where I write my thoughts that are just for me. One of things I am doing is my 100 things I am thankful for. It's amazing when you start thinking about it. I am finding that, rather than having to work hard to think of something as the list gets longer, I actually have to narrow it down to just 1 per day.

I hope you will take a few minutes tomorrow to think what it is all about, and count your blessings. :)

Homemade Soup

2007-11-20T17:43:00.000-06:00

Mmmm! I'm making my famous vegetable soup tonight. Okay, it's only famous at my house, but it always get a major thumbs up from my husband and daughter. It's really easy to make.

If I have veggies left over from other meals, I put them in a container in the freezer. When it gets full I use it to make soup. If I don't have any frozen, I throw in a few cans of green beans, corn, peas, carrots...whatever I feel like. Sometimes I add ground beef, but most times I don't. For starches, I either cut up a few potatoes, or throw in a few handfuls of rice. I add a big can of tomato sauce, add water if I need to thin things down. I season it with good old salt & pepper, and a lot of basil. Then I just let it simmer until the rice/potatoes are done and the flavors have had a chance to do their thing.
Tonight, it's rice and meat, along with the veggies. My husband was just diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, so I'm learning to balance carbs and such. My family like their soup hearty - leaning more toward stew consistency, so I add a lot of veggies and rice. If you prefer a thinner soup, use less. You really can't go wrong with this. Grab some crackers, a big bowl of soup, and enjoy.

Chulamama

2007-11-20T16:47:00.000-06:00

I posted a while back about a site called Chulamama and the mobiles they offer. Chulamama is actually a maternity/baby store, and no, you can't buy a baby there...sorry, I just couldn't resist. ;) They contacted me recently and if you type "vivian" as a promo code, you will get 10% off your purchase there. Did I mention they have really nice things?
You can check it out for yourself. Just click on this link.

Chulamama

Candy Cane

2007-11-18T13:40:00.001-06:00

Candy Cane
Originally uploaded by crochet_jo

I made this candy cane ornament a few years ago. It's really easy to make. I'll have to look at it and write down the pattern. I will try to get it posted today or tomorrow.

Baby Ripple Afghan_flat

2007-11-14T14:33:00.001-06:00

Baby Ripple Afghan_flat
Originally uploaded by crochet_jo

This is the afghan that I have mixed feelings about. I was going to frog it, but when I laid it out to take a picture of it, I decided that I might just save it for a while, and come back to it at a later date.

Tiny Purse

2007-11-13T23:05:00.001-06:00

Tiny Purse
Originally uploaded by crochet_jo

I was figuring out the pattern for the cream and pitcher potholders by looking at a vintage one that a friend loaned to me. By the time I got to the top, I decided I didn't want to make a potholder...so I decided to make it into a purse instead. Basically, I left off the handles, then made long chains for the ties, added a neat button, and a loop to act as a buttonhole.
I may do a new one in a larger size, as you can't put very much into a tiny purse.

Vintage Potholder

2007-11-12T20:15:00.001-06:00

Vintage Potholder
Originally uploaded by crochet_jo

I made this a while back, from an old potholder. I was able to figure out the pattern by looking at it. I'll have to dig through my crochet stuff to see if I wrote the pattern down.

Afghan Stitch Scarf

2007-11-11T14:44:00.001-06:00

Afghan Stitch Scarf
Originally uploaded by crochet_jo

I thought I'd post the scarf I am working on. The color is not right in the picture...it's actually a sage green. It looks really plain right now, but I plan to embellish it after it's done. I haven't decided how yet, but by the time it's done, I'll have it figured out.

Dress Potholders_2

2007-11-09T22:50:00.001-06:00

Dress Potholders_2
Originally uploaded by crochet_jo

I think this is a better photo than the first one. I really like these. They are cute just to hang on the wall, but they can be used also. I used Sugar & Cream...it's 100% cotton, so it won't "melt" the way acrylic would.

Potholders - Dress

2007-11-07T19:49:00.001-06:00

Potholders - Dress
Originally uploaded by crochet_jo

Finally! I dug out the camera and used it! I will be posting more in the next few days, as I get a chance. I think that I may be coming down with my annual November "crud". :(

I haven't really done anything for the last 2 days. Maybe tomorrow will be better.

You Win Some, You Lose Some

2007-10-30T15:51:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it's been a whole month since I posted! I had decided I would try to post every day...well, obviously that hasn't happened. Life has a way of sneaking in and broadsiding you sometimes.

So, I decided today that I am scrapping the Ripple Afghan. I'm not happy with it, I don't enjoy working on it, and every time I look at it, I feel like it's accusing me...'when are you going to pick me up again?'

I've made good progress on the afghan stitch scarf. I'm probably 1/3 of the way through with it. I will try to get my camera out and take some pictures tomorrow.

Anyway, I need to work on Christmas pressies. I know what I want to do; I just need to get jump started and get after it.

Ham or Hat?

2007-09-22T17:00:00.000-05:00

Do they have treatment for yarn addiction? Last night I was scurrying around the kitchen, preparing dinner. I had bought a small ham, and as I placed it cut side down, as the directions say, I looked down at it, and thought to myself, "The pattern on that rind looks just like a hat." I promise you it did! It looked just like a knit hat, with rows radiating down from the crown of the hat. I can hear it now, "Ma'am, put the yarn down, and step away." Hmm, was it a ham or a hat? Let's just say that there was no fiber in it. (Ouch! I can hear my daughter's voice, "Mom, that was really lame.")
I used to love to make my own cards (Christmas, get well, etc.). My family got used to me saying, as I spotted a advertising sign, "I know what font that is." Now I'm mixing hams and hats. Oh, the places we find our inspiration.

2007-09-19T17:59:00.000-05:00

Someone on one of the crochet groups I belong to posted this site: Chulamama
It's a maternity site, and no, at the age of 54, I have no desire to be pregnant. rofl But I was really inspired by the mobiles there. I'm thinking about making some to hang in my office here at home, for the inspiration, yes, but also just for the sheer fun of it.
I think that we sometimes get bogged in the technical aspect of things, and while that is an important part of it, if we take away the fun of it, it becomes a chore instead of a joy. I hope we never lose that sense of wonder and joy that the eyes of a child sees.
So here's to the child in all of us. May it never leave.

Threads of Compassion

2007-09-01T18:12:00.000-05:00

Something that I have come to realize over the last few years is that crocheters and knitters are generous and compassionate people. I have been trying to decide how I could best use my talents to make a difference in this world. I followed a link to this site a few days ago, and I have found the answer to my questions. I urge you to stop by Threads of Compassion and decide for yourself. It saddens my heart to know that so many women (and men...it happens to them too) have their lives shattered in this way. It happens far more often than you think.
I hope that you will prove once again what a loving and sharing community we are. Give of your talent, and more importantly, your heart. If you don't feel that this is your avenue for giving back, find another charity. This important thing is to use your talent in this world to make a difference.

Finished Ripple

2007-08-25T16:21:00.000-05:00

Well, I finished my little ripple. I was going to add bows at each of the points, but the ribbon I had didn't work the way I thought it would, and I was really pressed for time.

The important thing is that the new mommy loves it. Yes, last Friday, little Esther made her debut into her new world. And of course she is a little darling!

Now my fingers are itching to start another one, this time with more colors.

2007-07-14T13:05:00.000-05:00

Wow! This afternoon is perfect "crochet weather". Rain and thunderstorms. It's also good to bring the temperature down here in Florida. I'm hoping to get a lot done on my Baby's Ripple afghan. Besides, I love thunderstorms, in moderation. And only if I'm inside!

I used to do child care in my home, from babies (6 weeks old) to 3 year olds. Whenever it stormed, I would tell them that the clouds were bumping heads, and that God was washing the trees, flowers, etc. It always worked. ;P Anyway, I'm off to do some crocheting.

Happy crocheting to one and all!

Jo

2007-07-04T22:32:00.000-05:00

I was recently invited to join the The-No-End-In-Sight Ripple-Along. It's really impressive to see all the beautiful ripples people have been working on. It's worth taking a peek at.
I had already been working on the Baby's Round Ripple Afghan for my niece-to-be, Esther. I found the pattern at Angel Crafts.
I'm probably about 2/3 way to being finished with it. I did change it just a little bit...I changed the skip 2 sts to skip 1 st, just my personal preference. And I'm adding a few random rows of pink, wherever I think they will look best. When it is all done, I will edge it with a row or two of the off white, and then add little ribbons to the points.

I still have 3 more babies in our extended families who will need new blankies. So I think I will be rippling along for a while. :D

Jo Watts

Peace Through Crochet

2007-07-01T20:07:00.000-05:00

Crochet brings a kind of peacefulness to me. When life gets hectic, I can retreat to my ‘yarn haven,’ and find peace there. I have a hard time just sitting, without something to keep my hands occupied. As I feel the yarn slipping through my fingers, and watch the hook transforming and manipulating it into something entirely new, I am reminded that there is still good in this world, and beauty to be discovered in the simple rituals of life and seemingly meaningless repetitiveness of life. Put a hook in my hand, sit me down in a rocking chair, and watch me go. The faster I rock, the faster I crochet, and I find a kind of rhythm. It makes a great stress reliever.