artsy-crafty babe

I made a rug

A week into 2013 and i've already completed a project, AND it's useful.  That's a win in my book.

I've had this on my to-do list forever, since the Eren posted her rag rug tutorial on her old blog (oh my goodness, that is from October 2006!).

I chose to make mine out of old t-shirts, as we have a plethora of those around here.  After Matt cleaned out his closet last week I set aside some of his donations and got to work.  It took me longer to cut out my strips of fabric than it did to make the rug.

    

the details:

finished size of the rug is about 23" x 34"

size Q crochet hook (big ole hook!)

about 10 t-shirts, bodies only (I cut a continuous strip from the hem up to the arm)

my strips averaged about 1" wide, though some parts were a little less, others a little more

no pattern followed, to make an oval I added stitches in the end curves, eyeballing it as I went along.  It's a bit wonky, but it does the job.

There wasn't much thought put into the colors used, I simply cut up the shirts I was given.  Next time I'll put a little more effort into that part.  It was fun project that I plan to do again. 

I'm currently using this one right outside the shower.  Those t-shirts are super absorbant, perfect for a bathroom rug.

As a bonus, my kids think I'm AMAZING for making it. They're so easily impressed :)

week 2

I'm still grannying along. 

New yarn arrived, which caused me to re-think a little.  Sort of.  I jumped in at the beginning, using what I had.  Once the new yarn arrived, which I didn't think anything about when ordering, it caused me to think a bit about what colors I was using.  Really, I liked the feel of the new yarn much better that what I already had.

Then I decided that I didn't want to go the pink/purple/blue route so much.  The yellow, orange, and gray were calling me more.

I looked around my living room and deiced that my favorite anthro pillows were going to be my inspiration.  Funny how I ordered those colors without even noticing. So I completed week 2, then made week 1 again.  I didn't mind.  I then decided that a little pink and purple mixed in was okay.  So far, my grand total is 15 colors, but there may be more on the way.

I can't wait to see what week 3 brings!

It's not too late to join in...you know you want to!

 

granny sampler

If you haven't noticed, the crafty side of this blog has been lacking lately.  To be honest, the crafty side has been lacking in my life, too!  And boy, do I miss it! 

After seeing all the talk on twitter, I decided to jump in on Blair's granny square sampler project.  I couldn't help myself!

Crochet is something that I learned when I was a little girl, but I don't do it often enough to feel like I "know" it.  I've never really done a crochet project either.  Well, I did make those flowers last fall, and I was stuck on little one colored grannies another time, but I never went beyond that.  In fact, making a granny square out of more than one color kind of scared me.  Silly me!

This weekend I pulled out the yarn left over from my first granny attempt and went to town with the first assignment. How fun!  I love using multiple colors!

When I finished my 3 squares I was a little sad because I wanted to do more. Right that very second!!  I guess this project will be a little lesson in patience :)

Join in if you'd like, it's great fun!

 

crochet flowers

I've been a little obsessed lately with making crochet flowers.  It all started when I got the idea to make a flower garland to drape across an old window that i was going to hang on the wall as part of my nursery corner decor.  I cleaned up the window then decided that I didn't like it because it was all wrong for the space.  Darn.

By that point I already had quite a few flowes made and had more crochet thread in new colors to add to the mix.  I'm still trying to come up with some ideas, but I'm pretty certain that the garland it out.

Perhaps they could be sewn onto a pillow?  A bag?  Some baby onesies?  A wreath? Headband adornment?

I need to figure something out because I'm still making them.  I don't think I can stop.  In just a few minutes I have a flower - how could I not be addicted?  I'm sure something will come to me, until then I'll keep on making!

trading needles for a hook

My crafty ADD strikes again!  I suppose my reacquaintance with the needles opened the door for all things yarn related, or maybe it was my desire to finish my many works-in-progress.  No matter the cause, I picked up my crochet hook this weekend. 

It’s not quite done, but I can wear it now if I choose.  Remember when I started this?  It was only 5 months ago, but at the time I was in a crochet frenzy, up to my eyeballs in granny squares and flowers.  I decided to take on the task of adding a simple crochet border to a plain navy cardigan.  I got about half way through it, then put it aside.

This sad thing has been sitting on my bedside table for months.  Only after looking for my navy cardigan half a dozen times did I remember that this was THE cardigan.

After completing the trim I thought that it still needed something, so I pulled out my copy of Crochet Adorned and saw a top with a similar detail – perfect!  More trim was started. 

I’m still not completely sure how I’ll do it, but I think I’ll figure it out.  Hmm, maybe some of those flowers might come in handy?

yarn-y endeavors

Hey there, guess what?  I still knit!  Oh, yes I do.  I must admit, my knitting habit has calmed considerably since my early days a few years ago, but I've always got something on the needles.  Since my last finished project I only cast on 2 warm weather projects, neither of which I finished.  And now with thoughts of fall (still not feeling it down here), I've been working on a cold weather project. 

Here's my current progress on the chic knits v-neck cardi using some Beaverslide yarn I purchased a few years ago.  I'm branching out a little on this one by knitting from the bottom up.  Er, I'm not so sure about it yet.  I definitely prefer the try-on ability of top down construction.  I'm just about done with the body, so I shall know soon enough if it fits or not.

Once the v-neck is done, I'd like to cast on another featherweight, but in a DK weight yarn.  I plan to make the sleeves and body longer than the pattern.  Wait, I never showed you my first featherweight completed, did I?  Ummmm, I *think* I ripped off the collar after the first wearing with plans to re-knit it in a ribbing because it was curling like crazy (even after blocking) which drove me nuts.  At least that's what I planned to do.  Now, where is that sweater???  (i'm a mess, i tell ya!)

 
Okay, switching gears to crochet now - I finally got my hands on Linda's book, Crochet Adorned. Oh my goodness!  The first time I looked through this book, I thought my head might explode.  I want to try everything in it.  I want to adorn EVERYTHING with crochet.

Before getting the book, I started sprucing up a plain navy blue cardigan with a simple ivory crochet trim.  It is far from being complete, but it's a start.  I think some of my ivory flowers will be making their way to this cardi as well.  With Linda's book as a source of inspiration, I'm sure I'll figure something out.

more crocheting

Okay, so I got the grannies down... then I learned how to make a flower (thanks, Eva!).  My goodness, why did I have to learn to make a flower?  Now all I want to do is make flowers with tiny crochet hooks and skinny crochet thread.

Please don't ask me for directions because I'm pretty sure I've made each one differently.  Plus, I'm a crochet novice and would probably tell you the wrong thing.

I *love* making flowers.  Thankfully, this crochet thread is relatively cheap, so this isn't an expensive new hobby (been there, done that!).  I don't know exactly what I'll do with them, but right now I'm thinking some of my boring cardigans could use some jazzing up. Anyone know of an easy crochet edging?

Sorry to be light on the posting lately, but I'm having a bit of withdrawal post-dottie angel.  Oh, and I spoke entirely too soon about those stupid hives - I spent the weekend doped up on benadryl and now I'm on steroids.   I guess they weren't caused by my nerves after all, *sigh*.  Please stay tuned this week because I have a few giveaways lined up...once I get my act together and come out of this itchy fog!!

grannying along

I hate to admit it, but when it comes to anything craft related, I get sucked in every time.  Addictive personality?  Maybe Probably. 

My addiction du jour is granny squares.  It started innocently enough.  I was reacquainting myself with crochet in preparation for the Dottie Angel weekend.  Crochet is on the agenda, you know.  I think we are to be working on squares to make a blanket, but plain old squares won't do for me, no.  I like to make things more complicated. 

 

Have I mentioned that I've never been able to crochet a square or make straight rows?  I always end up with trapezoids.  For some reason, I have issues keeping up with stitch counts in crochet.

Anyway, I decided to make a granny square because I've always wanted to make some of those.  All it took was a few youtube videos, then low and behold, I turned into a granny square making machine!  Gosh, so darned addictive!  I'm making small grannies, just 3 rounds.  I started with only a few colors, but on Saturday I had to make a run for more, and I may add more colors yet.  I think a gray or two added to the mix would be nice, no? (and the blues may have to go)

Boy oh boy, what have I gotten myself into?

ready for cute?

A couple of weeks ago I received this book, Tiny Yarn Animals.  Oh my goodness, the cuteness! 

These little crochet animals are too much!  I haven't crocheted in years, and I've never followed a pattern, but I couldn't resist.  There is a little how to section in the beginning that goes over basic stitches, so even if you're a beginner you can give this a shot.

I made this little guy first.  Mr. Hippo.  It was tough to get a picture of him because little hands wanted him as soon as he was finished. 

Of course I had to make something else.  Next up was this octopus.  I made her 8 legs, but for some reason when it was time to assemble her, only 7 fit.  Oops.  I'm sure no one will notice.

These are so adorable and easy, I want to make more!