While moving, I found a few hats that I made that I seldom (if ever) wear. I decided to give them to a homeless ministry, and started to look around for one...unfortunately, I was unable to find one in my area, but I did contact Clark County, Washington's Council for the Homeless for information. I was kindly referred to the Friends of the Carpenter, a homeless ministry that is, in short, amazing. They have a large wood shop, and teach the local homeless how to use the equipment to make beautiful, mostly religious themed items. If you're interested, their Product Catalog is here.
Now, in addition to the hats that I found, I decided to make a special hat, specifically to give away to the homeless. Here's the hat:
Feel free to flatter the beautiful model with compliments. :D
I decided that every time I do an "experiment" or practice another crochet skill, that I make a large swatch of it, and make it into a hat. This one was done in rounds, though, with no seam. Here, I was practicing crochet ribbing, and it turned out so well that I was just a little bit sad that I had to give it away.
I hope it will make someone very happy - and very warm - this holiday season.
I know it's been a while, but here is my latest project:
This purse is piratastic! I'm artistic, so I can just make up words. I'm cool like that. I've done tapestry crochet previously, but never this intense, and never on anything that I would willingly carry around in public. But this...is just all kinds of awesome. The pattern for the handbag is at futuregirl's site: Starling Handbag The skull motif is here, at CraftyCrafty: Jolly Roger Skull and Crossbone I've put a picture of my handbag on the Starling Handbag Flickr Pool - it's great to see what other crocheters out there are creating with the same pattern!
I even have an order in...for one with a red skull, so stay tuned for that one! Also, I have a set of crochet dice to make, as well as a gift for a friend's daughter. I'm *this close* to finishing a hat that I'm going to be donating to a homeless shelter, along with three other hats I've made that never get worn. So - that's what I'm doing these days. Well, that, and managing to get all the REGULAR chores done while unpacking boxes in our NEW HOUSE! Woohoo!
I have quite a few things on my list this month, but that list might have to be postponed for this, and possibly next month. My husband and I are buying a house, and the deal is set to close on the 19th of November. So - understandably - posts on my blog will be mighty scarce while I pack, move, and unpack. I hope you all will understand.
Without further ado, here are my lists:
In the works:
1. Gift for Mika 2. Gift for Jeff (my brother-in-law) 3. Finish Granny square blanket 4. Skull and crossbones crochet purse 5. More "hand tools" drawings
My to-do list:
1. Crocheted Autumn leaves magnets 2. Crochet socks 3. Frog Amigurumi 4. Bags for my cousins for Christmas (If I get the color/applique info)
Random Ideas: (I'm taking from my last 'Glimpse' post - which was taken from the last 'Glimpse' post before that. I love some of these ideas, and fully intend on making good on them!) 1. Hammer cozy 2. Small BBQ cozy (our apartment thinks that Charcoal BBQ's are the devil, so I'd like to crochet a cozy to make it more covert) 3. Random street art, to get my 'Crochet Valkyrie' blog up and running again 4. Cross-stitch Buddhism stuff - 4 Noble truths, 5 precepts, 8 fold path 5. Havamal samplers 6. More sushi sets, to sell on Etsy, or wherever I feel like it. 7. Do a felting project!
Again, if there is anything that you'd like to see here, feel free to leave a comment.
I've been working on a special hat for my husband lately - something that's warm for the predicted cold winter, and something that covers his ears. Which led me to choose the popular ear flap hat style. Here is is, finished:
This took quite a while, because my husband has a head that's larger than average. It was definitely worth the wait, however...it fit perfectly, and he was thrilled with the results. He did ask me to make it longer in the back, and I offered a solution: I could make a back panel that attaches with buttons or velcro. That way, it could act as a neck gaiter, and be removable when he finds it annoying (like when he's wearing a hooded sweatshirt with it - all that fabric back there will definitely make your neck warm, but would probably bunch up in the back, creating more of a hassle than a benefit. He hasn't worn it outside yet, but after a couple minutes inside, his head was starting to sweat. My work here is done. Kinda.
I've always wanted to carve a howling wolf into my pumpkin. This year, I decided to finally do it, after I considered and rejected several other pumpkin designs (Among the contenders: Jack Rackham's jolly roger with crossed cutlasses, and a simple, elegant grim reaper). Next year, when we get our own house, I can carve to my heart's content, but living in an apartment has special challenges, namely the lack of space. The wild, roving packs of rabid kids that are native to this area are also an annoyance. They love to steal things, smash things, make noise, etc. I could only imagine what horrible fate will befall my pumpkin when I leave it out on Halloween night while I go to my awesome friend's Halloween party. Oh, well - I guess that's one way to learn impermanence.
Without further ado, here is my fabulous carved pumpkin:
I hope everyone enjoys a safe and Happy Halloween!
My neighbor liked the two pumpkin bags so much...she had to "order" a couple. With me, "order" consists of her knocking on my door and asking, "How much would you charge to make a pumpkin candy bag?"
Here are my two newest creations:
I tried to make the faces different - just so that each child that gets one has a unique gift.
Hello, blog readers! For this terrific installment, I present to you, my newest creation: PUMPKIN CANDY BAGS!!!
I wanted to make something special for the little boys who live across the hall at my apartment complex. They are well-behaved little munchkins ( 2 and 4 years old, respectively), and I wanted to make something just for them.
To make these bags, I had to alter the Lion Brand pattern, Amigurumi Happy Pumpkin. I think you might have to create an account on the Lion Brand web site to see the pattern, although, looking at the finished results, it's worth it. I stopped doing the pattern after row 14, and continued as follows: 15 - sc in ea sc around 16 - add in Brown, sc in ea sc around. 17 - ch 2, sc in 2nd st from hk. *ch2, sk1, sc in next st* continue working from * to * around. 18 - sc in next st. *1 sc in ch2 sp, sc in next 2sc* (continue from * to *around). sl st in beg sc. Fasten off.
Cord: Sc 90. Weave through loops on pumpkin stem. Tie ends together securely. Make a tassel out of A and B. Attach to cover cord join knot.
There are different ways for making tassels. How do I do it? I start by wrapping the yarn 5 times around the palm of my hand. Hold hand horizontally, with thumb sticking out. start with the yarn end at the bottom of your hand. Wind yarn around your hand 5 times, ending again at the bottom of your hand. Cut end of yarn. Then, cut yarn in half - by cutting through the strands at the bottom of your hand. Do this again with your other color. Fold your yarn strands in half. Lay your cord on top of the yarn strands, below the folded side. Take the cut ends of the yarn, and pass it through the loop made by the folded side, over the top of the cord. Pull the cut ends tight. Voila! There's your tassel! I found that the way I make tassels is called a 'fringe tassel.' Here is a video tutorial at YouTube to show you how:
