So here is the first baby bunting of the two I had to have done. This one needed to be done by July 19th so I am good there. I actually decided to make it into a baby robe instead.

This one is for my sister in laws sister who is having a baby girl.

For those who don’t know…I taught myself to crochet with books, some help from Stitch Guide and a little help from my snl and her. I have been doing it for a couple years now…I love doing it because I can buy yarn…and I love me yarn.

My lovely and thoughtful mother found a Learn-To-Knit kit geared towards children at a book fair for the grammar school where she works and bought it for me because I have mentioned wanting to learn to knit. My snl showed me a bit how to cast on and how to knit probably about 6 months ago…I knitted a gorgeous green scarf…that unraveled because I cast off wrong. Frustrated I had given up.

The kit my mom bought me has these lovely wood knitting needles that I love the feel of. They just feel good. So I sat down this afternoon bound and determined to once and for all conquer the knitting monster. First I tried to cast on with the two needle method which I couldn’t figure out for the life of me…so I did the one needle method- which I caught on to very quickly…but do not be impressed because that is the way my snl showed me- I am pretty sure.

Once casted on I began to make the recommended practice swatch of 10 knitted rows, 10 purled rows. So I started. I was proud because I was remembering everything my snl taught me about knitting. I did good. My little 10 row swatch was looking great. Then I went to purl. That is where it all went awry. I tried purling that first stitch of the first row of purl for about 30 minutes and gave up…walked around got some air played with the dog etc. Then I went back to it…and I tried and tried and tried. Then suddenly it worked and three rows of purl appeared and look just like they did in the book. Ahhh I was vindicated and proud again. No problem. I put some cookies in the over…and sat back down to purl away…and watch tv. And I did. Then I looked down at my knitting only to find that even though I am 99% sure I am doing the same thing that I was doing before…my purling has turned into the knit stitch and I have 10 knit rows, 3 purl rows, and 7 more knit rows. Urg….I consulted two books, the internet and my mother…none of which where able to figure out what I did wrong. I continued- following the directions step by step in the book…and still my swatch looks like one big knitted square. Frustrated I tired to figure out what I was doing wrong and in paying more attention to the book than the knitted ended up pulling my needle out of half of the knitting..and then unraveled a bunch of it to try to put the needle back in it. My purls STILL looked like the knit stitch and NOT like the purl stitch. Frustrated…I finally just took my needles out of the swatched. Unraveled it…and rolled my yarn back up onto my yarn ball…and then…being the good sportsman I am…THREW the ball across the room and down the hall. I think I might hate knitting.

Remember last month when I bragged that my two handmade greeting cards won first place at the fair?

Well I finally got around to scanning them for your viewing pleasure:

My thank you card that won first place among the handmade thank you cards.

My Christmas card that one first place among the handmade christmas cards.

Black Shawl- First Place
Wormy Scarf- Third Place
Holey Scarf- Did not place
Christmas Card- First Place
Thank You Card- First Place

I left my camera at home…so no pictures until Monday or Tuesday. Pictures of the crochet items can be seen here. I might wait until Tuesday because on Monday I pick up my ribbons!

I have this need to touch yarn when I am in a store vending it. I need to touch it, feel it…and then I can visualize what a blanket made from it will look like- or a scarf- or shawl or whatever. Does that make we weird? I love to touch the yarn.
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Also if you want to be interviewed…I am still willing to do that.

Yesterday…I received the Guidebook for the county fair in the mail. Now…every little craft project I had in the works is going to come to a complete screeching halt! I have decided to enter in four or five categories this year.

At the very least I am going to enter: Crochet Wearables, Crochet Accessories, and Two handmade cards! The wearable? A Black shawl - I have the yarn for it already…I am tempted to enter it in original design…but I am not sure if it would be legal for me to do that because I took a pattern I already had and changed it slightly…do you think that would account as original design??? I use different yarns than specified…a different size hook…I added additional rows…and I make a border around it where the orginal pattern doesn’t call for that?? Is that original? I will think on it. For the Accessories I am making a scarf…and I am going to make a christmas card and a Thank you card for the hand made cards…and then…if I have enough time…I might make a purse!!!

I just have to finish the hat I am working on and then I am off to making my fair entries.

When bfm was visiting during St. Patty’s day she was sitting there just browsing through one of my crafting catalogs…and saw a kit for a crocheted CARE BEAR. She showed it to me and begged me to make her one. I eventually told her I would try…but no guarantees. I had never made anything like that before…so…I tried…and I was surprised that it was fairly easy to do. I only ran into two small problems: I didn’t stuff the body enough so I had to undo some of it and restuff him (and his head is a little soft still…) and the felt eyes- I couldn’t get the eyes to stick…so I just bought sew on googly eyes. All-in-all I think he came out pretty good considering I have never made a critter like that before. Now he is not perfect… but if you are interested…there are pictures in the extended entry.

Extend to see pictures

Friendship Bear


Bear Head


Bear Hair


Flower Detail


Bear Butt

Ignore this entry this is a test…