Crochet Robot

I asked my daughter for a painting for Christmas.  Something with her robots, because I love her robots. This is what I got.

I am so totally in love with it!  Not only is there a crocheting robot surrounded by yarn, but it's got hook storage in its head. LOL

It's hard to see the details in the dangling hearts, but she actually looked up the pattern to get the stitch details, as these are hearts I've worked up many a time.  Also, the hooks are all in shiny metallic paint.

I can hardly wait to hang it up in my office!!

Link: Use a Glue Gun to Create Window Snowflakes | U Create

Use a Glue Gun to Create Window Snowflakes | U Create

With  lots of photos. What a great idea!

Craft and Gift Idea links

For those who are looking for some craft ideas and how-to's for Christmas gifts or decorations, here are some of my related posts and articles.

Decorations:

Get Spicy: Here is a step-by-step of the fragrant decorations we made for our tree in 2011.

Quick and Easy Garland and Easy Crochet Garland: Two versions of a spiral crochet garland with contrasting edging.

Temari:  This is a link to a series of posts, which you will find in reverse order.  These step-by-step posts were done in 2011 using 3 inch cores, but they can be made in a variety of sizes - our Christmas tree has them in 1 1/2 inch and 2 inch cores.  They make great gifts as well as decorations.

Christmas Sachets: These step-by-step decorations go back to 2008 (posts are in reverse order).  We don't have many left, but their scent still lingers.

 Apple Cinnamon Cookie-cutter decorations:  These were our 2009 decorations.  You'll find the step-by-step to make them in Part One, then finish them in Part Two.

Eight Point Star ornaments: these yarn wrapped ornaments are fast, easy and addictive!

Plastic Canvas ornaments: A step-by-step for two different plastic canvas shapes.

Crochet Covered Christmas ornaments: A free pattern.

Christmas Light Luminaries: Step-by-step instructions to modify a string of Christmas lights, these can be used all year, by just wrapping them with seasonal garlands.

Hand Crafted Gift Ideas:

3 Hour Crochet Cowl: A free pattern for a simple cowl, with ideas for modifications.

Simple Lap Blanket: Another free crochet pattern.

Salt Jar Luminaries: A step-by-step for candle luminaries.

A Pot of Roses: These everlasting flowers will be sure to bring cheer to a loved one!

Gift Idea Product, Move and Book Reviews:

Over at Squidoo, writers have been given quest challenges to do reviews on various themes.  Here are some of mine that might inspire some gift-giving ideas.

Endhiran (Robot) Movie Review

Atlantis: The Lost Empire and Disney's Missing Princess

Star Wars Original Trilogy - Unaltered

For the Well Rounded Crocheter - Plus Size Crochet

The Philosopher's Kitchen, for the Historical Foodie

Wabash Familiy Farms Popcorn Maker

Recipes to Enjoy:

Making Chevre de Provence (you'll need to start these a week before you need them)

Tourtiere

Mulled Wine

Christmas Goose step-by-step, Part One, Part Two, Part Three

Free Pattern - a 3 Hour Cowl

Things have been pretty quiet on my blog lately, which means things have been really busy in real life!  Hoping to be able to post more often soon.

Meanwhile, here is a new free pattern with step-by-step photos for you to enjoy. 

It's a simple moebius cowl that can be made up in a single evening, making it a great, quick gift.  You can print out the instructions at this link, too.  It's just a two row repeat of basic stitches, so it's a great pattern to let your yarn selection steal the show.  I've made this using 2 skeins of Lion Brand Tweed, but feel free to experiment! 

Enabled

As of today, my phone is credit card enabled.

Gotta love technology.

Sent from Anna's phone

Metallic Braided Cables

Just finished a new hat while waiting for a parade.

Sent from Anna's phone

Portable paint set

Also in the mail today, my daughter got the Koi watercolours Pocket Field Sketch Box.  Gorgeous!  She picked up little papers that fit in the lid, too.  Fantastic design.

She got all this stuff from Jet Pens.  Definitely recommend them. jetpens.com

Sent from Anna's phone

Squeee

My daughter got a package in the mail today.

Such detail in these sets!

Sent from Anna's phone

Potholder pattern now available

I've now added a second pattern to my Everyday Things line - a little something for those who want to try their hand at double ended crochet!

Source: Everyday Things - Potholder via amkb on Craftsy

This pattern includes instructions for an optional edging.  The thick, reversable design is created by working front post stitches.  It's also easy to adjust the size.  Smaller versions make great coasters.  Like the can cozies, this is one of those items that I find myself using for all sorts of things!  I even keep one as a coaster next to my keyboard.

My first pattern for sale!

Well, I've finally uploaded my first ever pattern for sale!

Source: Everyday Things - Can Cozie via amkb on Craftsy

You should be able to click on the above to get to my new Get Crafting! Craftsy store.  Purchases can be made through Paypal.

This pattern is the first of a series of patterns I've been working on called Everyday Things; because useful things should be beautiful, too!  I had originally intended these for publication as an ebook but have not had the time to put it all together, so I'm releasing them one by one, instead.

With each of the patterns, I will put up two version  The first, lower cost, version will be the written instructions plus a photo.  The second, higher priced version will include step by step photos and modification ideas and suggestions.

Purchasers of my patterns have my permission to sell the items they make with them, so long as credit for the pattern is maintained; my name or the name and URL to this blog is sufficient.

I hope you enjoy this pattern!  If any problems are noticed, or if there are any questions, please feel free to pass them on to me.

Art in the Plaza

All set up and ready to go!  There's quite a variety of artists today, so come on over!  We are on Sherwood Dr. by the Education Station and the library.

Sent from Anna's phone

Battle Scars

This weekend, while helping my daughter at the Art Walk, I had a bit of a tumble while crossing Gateway Blvd on the Saturday, landing on both my knees.  It wasn't even on asphalt; it was on a strip of concrete bordering the crosswalk.  The bruises didn't show up until yesterday, and was far more extensive than I expected!

Then I got asked for photos. *L*

So here are a couple of photos of my hairy, scarred up legs to brighten your day. ;-)  The left knee has a lot more bruising just inside the kneecap (that's the one I landed on harder), but the bruising extends well down the front of my leg and around the side to where my hand is in the photo.  My right knee isn't as bad, but the bruising also bloomed well down the leg. 

My daughter feels so guilty.

Open for business

Come check out the annual Art Walk Iron Horse Park Regatta!

Sent from Anna's phone

Art Walk

My daughter tried out a new display today.  She is much happier with it.  :-)

Sent from Anna's phone

Iron Horse Park

Come on down to Art Walk and check out my daughter's stuff!

Sent from Anna's phone

Green Crocodile Hat

With all the stuff that's been going on, I have actually managed to crochet things every now and then!

For some time, I've wanted to make a hat with crocodile stitch, but I didn't like how a lot of the hats I saw looked at the top.  Worked from the bottom up, the number of stitches needs to be reduced at the top to close it up.  In the process, the evenly overlapping stitches around the body of the hat no longer line up nicely, and I wanted to keep that look.

I've made a couple of hats and this is a version I finished today, which ended up becoming a birthday gift for a neighbour who just turned 11. 



This just happens to be the front of the hat as my daughter put it on - there is no actual front or back to it.



I worked a couple of complete rounds of crocodile stitch, then slowly reduced the number of scales in each round.

As I started reducing stitches at the top, I did the last row of crocodile stitch scales with half double instead of double stitches.



I do like the all-over scales side.



You can sort of see how I reduced the number of stitches as I worked the crown, as well as the one section of crocodile stitches in half doubles.

I'm rather pleased with the look.  I will still likely tweak the design here and there as I make my next one.

The yarn I used is Loops & Threads Elegance, which is a new yarn available at Micheals only, and a 5.00mm hook.  At 160yds/147m, it took one and a bit balls of yarn to do this hat.  The yarn is 100% acrylic, yet has the feel of a cashmere blend yarn I have!  I just love it.

Summerfest Treat

A cookie from my neighbour's display.  It's called Girls Night In.  Chocolate, mini Rolo and raspberry desert wine, topped with course salt.

Sooo good!

Sent from Anna's phone

Summerfest

While I am normally at Art in the Plaza in Sherwood Park every Saturday this summer, there are a couple of weekends I won't be.  One of them is this Saturday, where I will be here in Edmonton for ...

My daughter will be there as well. 

After this, we will be back in Sherwood Park until the Art Walk weekend.  I won't be setting up at the Art Walk, but I will be there as my daughter's sherpa and assistant. :-D 

Come on out and enjoy some great events!

Art in the Plaza starting soon

This is for the folks in the Edmonton and surrounding areas.

Art in the Plaza is starting up again.  There are a few changes from last year.  It will still be held at the Community Centre at 2001 Sherwood Drive, Sherwood Park, but will be held in the East Plaza rather than the West Plaza.  This means we'll be visible from Sherwood Drive.

It'll be running on Saturdays instead of Sundays (which means the library will be open, too) from noon until 5pm.  June 15 is the first day and it will continue through to September 28.  More information is available at the Strathcona County website.

I don't know what is being done for advertising this year, as I don't live in Sherwood Park, but I did want to make sure that people know that this is an art market, not an art display.  Last year, we had people coming by expecting some sort of gallery type displays, which got rather confusing.

My daughter will be there with her paintings, I will have my own booth this year with my crochet, and I know of a couple of other artists from last year will be returning as well.  The only weekend we won't be there is during the Art Walk.  I won't be doing the Art Walk myself, but I'll be assisting my daughter again that weekend.

I hope to see some of you this summer! :-)

Free Crochet Pattern Book link

I just found a great looking pattern book available for free online.  It's 300 patterns, with photos of the patterns stitched, plus an International Stitch diagram.  There are no text descriptions at all. 

Enjoy! :-)

Saying Thanks

Things have been really busy lately, so posting is going to be a bit sparse.  Hopefully, I'll be able to do more mobile posting over the summer.  We shall see.

With two new additions to our household, we're all getting used to having younger children again!  Both my daughters have been great about helping their new "sisters" settle in.  My younger daughter has been really above and beyond, so today I got her a gift to say thanks.

While I was helping my older daughter with her first festival of the season - in pouring rain, no less - I had the opportunity to tuck into a local yarn shop I haven't been to in ages.  I found this.

I took this sad, inadequate little photo with my phone while we were still out, and it's now tucked away, so I'll have to look up the brand, etc. later on.  I do remember that it's 75% superfine merino wool, 25% silk.  It's 100g and 1,400m.



Yes, it's almost a kilometer and a half long and weights only 100 grams!!  The photo does not do the colour justice at all.  It's incredibly soft and luxurious, too. 
 

My daughter is thrilled with her gift!

Yogurt tub basket

Just finished sewing in the ends while waiting for my daughter's driving class to end.  Will update with a link to my source when I am on my desktop later on.


Made with a large yogurt tub and mason's line.


Sent from Anna's phone



Update: Oh, look!  A computer!


Here's the link where I got the idea for this container. 

My kids - especially my younger daughter - were sweet enough to use a Magic Eraser to take the print off the yogurt container.  Then I trimmed off the shaped bits at the top and used a hole punch to make the holes around the edge.  I really liked using mason's line for this project - it's really strong and not as slippery to work with as I was afraid it would be.  For the initial round of single crochet through the holes, I did [1sc, 2sc] around.  Thankfully, I had an even number of holes! *L*  After that, I worked sc in a spiral so there would be no seam.  After a few rounds, I did foundation single crochet for the handle, then sewed it to the opposite side.

At the last minute, I decided to hide the holes by doing a round of slip stitch, finishing off the last loop with a needle so that it looks seamless.  I like it much better than with the holes exposed.  It seems cleaner that way.

My first experiment with this was actually a 4L milk jug.  I thought the rounded corners would be okay.  It turned out all right, but I don't recommend using a milk jug.  Stick to round things. :-)

I'm not sure if I should call this a basket or a bucket or what.  *L*  It's just a handy little thing, though.  It even held my roll of mason's line for me while I worked, so it served as a yarn bowl as it was being made.

Definitely something I'll be making more of.

Is this awesome, or what?

My younger daughter recently completed a new shawl for her sister.  She bought herself a copy of Exquisite Crochet Shawls, and the pattern is the Galician Sea Shawl.

There were some minor modifications.  Instead of the recommended light worsted weight yarn in the book, she used, the medium weight Waverly for Bernat in Classic Navy.  She also used a larger 5.00mm hook. Because the yarn is a heavier weight and larger hook size, she made it several pattern repeats smaller than the pattern recommended.

Which, as you can see from the size of it, was a good idea!  Blocking it was a challange.  I don't have enough of those interlocking foam mats for something this size, so she had to make do.

The border rows alone took 1 1/2 balls of yarn, which means it took a total of 6 balls of yarn to make this shawl.

 Her sister loves it!

UPDATED: Class and $5 Yarn Night schedule

I've got my schedule for classes and $5 Yarn Nights at Michaels done up for the rest of the year.  I hear that Michaels will be having online registration for classes soon!  Should make things easier for everybody.

Class name and date	Times	Months
Single Crochet (Beginners 1)      First Friday of the month	3:00-5:30pm	May 3,  July 5, Sept. 6, Nov. 1
	5:30-8:00 pm	June 7, Aug. 2, no Oct, Dec. 6
Tall Stitches (Beginners 2)      Second Friday of the month	3:00-5:30pm	May 10, no July, Sept. 13, Nov. 8
	5:30-8:00pm	June 14, Aug. 9, Oct. 11, Dec. 13
Textured Stitches      Third Friday of the month	5:30-8:00pm	May 17, July 19, no Sept, Nov. 15
	3:00-5:30pm	June 21, Aug. 16, Oct. 18, Dec. 20
Granny Squares      Fourth Friday of the month	5:30-8:00pm	May 24, July 26, no Sept,  Nov. 22
	3:00-5:30pm	June 28, Aug. 23, Oct. 25, Dec, 27
Hooded blanket     Second Thursday of the month	3:00-5:30pm	June 13, Aug. 8, Oct. 10, Dec.12
	6:00-8:30pm	May 9, no July, Sept. 12, Nov. 14
Daisy Ring Rattle     Second Thursday of the month	6:00-8:30pm	June 13, Aug. 8, Oct. 10, Dec. 12
	3:00-5:30	May 9, no July, Sept. 12, Nov. 14
Lace Crochet Wrap      Third Thursday of the month	3:00-5:30pm	June 20, Aug. 15, Oct. 17, Dec. 19
	6:00-8:30pm	May 16, July 18, Sept. 19, Nov. 21
One Piece Granny Throw      Third Thursday of the month	6:00-8:30pm	June 20, Aug. 15, Oct. 17, Dec. 19
	3:00-5:30pm	May 16, July 18, Sept. 19, Nov. 21
Crochet gifts - Totes      Fourth Thursday of the month	3:00-5:30pm	May 23, July 25, no Sept, Nov. 28
	6:00-8:30pm	June 27, Aug. 22, Oct. 24, no Dec.
Time for Crochet - open      Fourth Thursday of the month	6:00-8:30pm	May 23, July 25, no Sept, Nov. 28
	3:00-5:30pm	June 27, Aug. 22, Oct. 24, no Dec.

$5 Yarn Nights: 

May 18, break for summer, Oct. 19, Nov. 16, Dec. 21

1:00 - 3:00pm

Simple Lap Blanket - free crochet pattern

I just finished writing up a pattern for a very simple seed stitch lap blanket, which is available here.

I made this using the new Luxury Wool yarn from Loops & Threads that Michaels has started to carry.  An excellent price for 100% wool!  Also, it took me quite a long time before my very mild wool allergy started to act up. 

I have three more balls of this yarn in blue and haven't decided what to do with it yet. 

Any suggestions?

Once again, here's the link for the free pattern.

Step-by-step: Making a Pot of Roses

I just published another step-by-step at my Squidoo site, showing how to make an everlasting pot of roses.  I hope you enjoy it!

More ruffles

Yup!  More ruffle scarves!

I did the two scarves last night (the Bernat Truffle in purples I posted yesterday, plus a red and burgundy version; I think it's Sashay, but the label disappeared, so I'm not sure), then my daughter gave it a go with the Bernat Truffle in reds.  She did about half before bed, then started again in the afternoon, almost finishing by the time I left to teach a class.  When I came back several hours later, she'd worked up the other two balls of Bernat Truffle I had (the black/grey and blues), too!

I came home with two more balls of yarn - another Bernat Truffle in green, yellow and blue, plus a peacock blue Starbella Flash, plus a second hook.  I had to lay claim to the Starbella, because she was ready to work up both right away!  She promptly worked up the Truffle yarn, and I just finished doing the Starbella.

Two days, seven scarves!

Yeah, we're hooked.  Pun intended.

When I picked up the extra yarn and hook, I had a chance to talk to my manager about doing this during $5 Yarn Night on Saturday, April 20.  For those in Edmonton, if you want to see how to make these, I will be at the Clareview Michaels from 1-3pm.  If all goes as planned, I'll be set up in the yarn section instead of the classroom.

Hope to see you there!