Crochet Crochet and MORE Crochet--Maybe You'd Like to Join Me?

What have I been DOING for the past week? CROCHETING. We didn't have any house showings this week, so I didn't have to waste any of my time cleaning--ha ha ha! Ok, I am HOOKED on (ok, I couldn't resist the corny crochet joke!) these little amigurumi creatures!! I don't really LOVE the crocheting part, but I love the creatures! Is it the kid in me? I can't help myself!! I SAY it is because my kids like them... but truly... they just make me smile!!!



Here's what I've accomplished...

These are a few from the pattern I purchased on etsy--I sort of screwed up the pear, but I don't feel too badly as he was my first effort... She has a lot of cute little patterns in her shop.

Look at this cutie cupcake! Ok, a little lopsided, but in all fairness, my kids gave it a good squishing! This was a FREE pattern! It worked up really quickly! The instructions are INSANELY awesome--really a great one as a first try because the instructions are so detailed, and have pictures!

These red apples are for my kids' teachers for an end-of-year gift. I know one of them will really love it--not sure about the other one, as I don't know her as well--but I am giving them chocolate, too--so THAT part should be welcomed, at least! :-) These are a basic apple pattern from the Lion Brand Yarn website (free! but you might have to create a login and password to view this pattern), I just added the faces.

Finally, these panda bears (also from the Lion Brand Yarn website!) were for my son and daughter--JUST finished last night! I added a little yarn bow to Girlie's. As you can see, they aren't exactly the same--I know I messed up a little on one of them. But the truth is, it doesn't really matter because it still looks like a panda! :-) That's one thing I like about it! I can mess up and it's still ok!

I also wanted to share a website on Squidoo that has a great basic crochet tutorial--truly these creatures only use one or two different stitches. Over and over again! You can do it!!!!!!

I am slowing down after the initial excitement has worn off--but I DID happen to be at Michael's when they had a discount as-is yarn bin--all 99 cents! Nothing was wrong with them, just no label, and maybe a tad bit unwound. YAY! I got four skeins for the price of one regular one! I did feel charmed again!

If you are at all interested, give it a try--crochet needles are not expensive, you can just buy one. Get yourself a needle with a large eye to do the mouth. The eyes are doll eyes--washer type, easily found in a craft store. You could even just embroider them with yarn like the mouth. And some yarn. If you are totally new to crochet, check out the Squidoo tutorial, and start with the cupcake! Fun! :-)

Why I Should Never EVER Throw Anything Away

OK! I have been spending plenty of time teasing myself about being a pack rat over the past couple of months as we prepared the house to put on the market.

But a packrat isn't just made, it is learned. And here is a great example....

Back to my crafters' ADHD--I am part way through the adorable pear (see entry below!), and part way through the tomato (I had to go buy stuffing and eyes which I did this morning). I found a free pattern for a cupcake--partway through that. I had found where I packed my yarn, and went to town! This stuff is perfect for me because the projects are rather fast (well, maybe they are even FASTER for those who don't have speed disabilities in crochet as I apparently do!) so I don't have time to get sick of them.

Well, I looked through my bag of yarn with dismay. As I packed it up, I donated about half of it--thinking, I am done with crocheting. There is no way I will need this bright orange skein of yarn EVER again.

UNTIL NOW, when I am going to crochet an ORANGE with a cute face. Sigh. So today I had to go out and buy more orange yarn! I would have saved myself $2 (it was on sale--everything was that I bought today--ah, I feel like I lead a charmed life!!)...

Let's just say it was not the only yarn purchase I made today.

I didn't even WANT to look in the bead aisle! Well, I forced myself.

Anyway, it is a few points in favor of hoarding. And a big example of my crafters' ADHD.

Sidenote, I googled free crochet patterns, and found these GREAT ones on Lion Brand yarn's website. I want to make about 99% of them! I had to make up a login/password (they are all free patterns), so you might need to in order to view them--but it is well worth it. ADORABLE.

This little guy is on the Lion Brand website's list of free patterns--

he is totally on my list--is this so cute or WHAT?!?!?!?!?!

Final note: Only one couple came through for our open house this weekend. Big bummer. BUT, the house is clean, so I am going to go crochet for the next 45 minutes until I need to pick up girlie! So THAT is a silver lining!

New Old Craft

I think I have Crafters' ADHD.

I know some of you can relate.

Ok, anyone following my blog knows I have painfully put away the resin (FOR NOW!), that we are preparing for a move, so my beads are not readily accessable (as in all over the place).

So I visited my friend's house the other day and she had these ADORABLE crocheted toast and veggies in her kitchen. WITH FACES. Oh, how cute! She got them off of etsy, by the way. Just do a search for crocheted food and you will be in awe of the talented yarnsters out there!!!

So.... I have had this discussion, I believe on Twitter, about this. WHY BUY WHEN I CAN MAKE? (the unspoken part is when, how and "add it to the list.")

I used to crochet! That is my excuse.

I taught myself to crochet in high school, when crocheted sweaters were all the rage. They were kind of expensive to afford with babysitting money, so--to the library I went for a book on how to crochet (see, I had the illness even then....). Well, I never made the sweater (and did eventually save up and buy one which I wore far too long for it to be in style!), but I did learn how to crochet. I actually made a baby sweater.

But here is the problem. I am really SLOW at it. I learned many stitches, but could never pick up the pace. I mean SLOW. I started said baby sweater when a friend was pregnant... and gave it to her two years later for her second baby. And gauge (which is the stitches per inch) was never my thing (much like drawing straight lines)... so her newborn sweater fit her baby at six months. Well, she did love it.

Here is a picture of what I can make with my pattern. It was created during the salmonella scare, why the tomato is so frightened--HILARIOUS!!

So, here I am back again. I purchased a cute fruit pattern on sale for $1 (come ON, how can she live on that price?!) and I will give it a try. Maybe move on to other food patterns (I was drooling at the adorableness!) if this goes well. And the fruit is small--I mean, how long can it take to crochet a tomato (famous last words!)????

But, ahem, I'll have to figure out where I packed my yarn.