Syrah Wrap

This was from a pattern that was supposed to be half knitted and half crocheted combined. My A.D.D got the better of me and just couldn't finish the knitted part and decided to crochet the whole thing instead. What can I say, I'm not a knitter, I'm a crocheter at heart and can do it much faster than knit. I'm out to prove that your projects don't have to look like your grandmother's.

Forever In Blue Jeans

I was making a purse out of this yarn and decided it was a big waste of this pretty yarn. I frogged it and decided to make the Feathers and Fans scarf my girlfriend was making. This was also my first attempt to wire block anything and so far it’s doing good. However, I wanted it blocked immediately and asked for tips from a GF. There was no way I was going to be able to get blocking wires in time and decided to scout the house for wire. Low and behold, I found jewlry/floral wire, 24 guage. It worked fine. I put it in the end of a big needle and wove it in and out of the edging of the scarf. I was able to spool out as much wire as I needed for the length and it stayed pretty good. Love how it came out.

Sweet Caroline Wrap

I fell in love with this yarn. My bff took me to the cutest little yarn shop up in the Big Bear Mountains and saw it there. The multi colored had some of the gray in it and thought it would make a lovely combination and it did. Amazingly enough, this pattern was only two different stitch patterns that anyone can do. The multi-colored (top) is the berry stitch and the gray (bottom) is only a 3 shell,1sc stitch pattern with a 5-shell pattern that makes up the edging on the bottom. I had it in my head and it actually worked out. I love it love it love it!!!

Hint: Get yourself a big book of shell patterns and you can put anything together.

Cracklin' Rose Scarf

My bff was knitting a shawl and I thought it was really pretty. Since I don’t have the patience to knit a whole project, my crochet wheels were turning and decided to copy her shawl called the Saroyan by Liz Abinante using Malabrigo worsted weight yarn. It’s not exact, the edging had to be a little different and found a really cool ruffly edging for it and decided to use wooden beads that fit the project perfectly. It was so in my head and came out exactly to the picture I pictured. I like when that happens.

The Bag Lady Strikes Again

Crazy Head

Purple Passion

Pink Pursuation

Jungle Fever

Isabella

Flower Garden

Evening Show

Denim Blues

Licia

Introducing Licia, named after the Goddess, Alicia, who was known for her yarn dying, knitting and sewing skills and was said to weave garments out of pure gold. It is written that Athena enslaved Alicia and used her to make Athena’s many battle outfits and evening gowns until one day Artemis, Zeus’ daughter, rescued Alicia from the clutches of Athena and set her free. She lived in the forest with Artemis and spun and dyed yarns out of all the natural resourses Mother nature gave to the earth. Because of her kind ways and generous heart and talents, Zeus named Alicia Goddess of Fiber.

Crocheted Helmet Liner

My girlfriend Michelle has been knitting helmet liners for her son who is in the army. When he recieved his first one and used it, he was so excited and asked her to make 40 more for the rest of his unit. A good mother as she is, said yes (I hope my son will be that lucky in time of need). Of course, this was not an easy task, and asked for assistance through our LYS. She had an overwhelming response, however, there were a few crocheters who were left out in the cold, so to speak, without a crocheted verson. Michelle asked if I would come up with one and I happily did so. I really didn't think it would take as long as it did. I was able to crochet it alright and store it in the filing cabinet in my head but to put it on paper was a whole different matter. I soon realized that writing a pattern is definitely a community project. Thank you Judy and Rita for helping with the fine tuning. These liners are intended to keep the soldiers warm in the subzero weather of Afghanistan and other areas that they will be protecting our fine country.

If you are interested in making liners for Michelle's son or if you have sons of your own that you would like to keep warm, please make sure you keep to the guidelines of the fiber. For example, the pattern calls for Cascade 220(found at your local yarn store) or Patons Classic Wool (found at Joann's), however, if you cannot find either of these (can also be found online), and would like to use a different brand, please feel free to do so, but please make sure you give it a burn test. The strict requirement is for safety reasons only. If it has any other fiber in it besides wool or it could be an inferior fiber, it could melt in extreme circumstances and we don't want that, neither will the soldier.

Burn test: Using a lighter, burn the end of the yarn and if it ashes, then it is a good wool to use. If the yarn melts, then you'll know that they put another fiber in the content and it is not 100% wool, or the sheep got lucky with an inflatable, not so lucky, sheep.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/26003343/Helmet-Liner