Chrysanthemum Dishcloth #23

This is the 23rd Chrysanthemum hot pad (I don't uses them as a dishcloth) that I have made.  Here is the free pattern for it.  For the last round, you crochet down 4 rounds / rows.  That part stumped me the first time that I made it.

I'm working on matching coasters right now.  I also started knitting toilet paper.  Yes, toilet paper.  Its going to be a gag gift for my youngest son for Valentine's Day.

Spun Newspaper Plarn Bag

I started making this plarn last summer.  The plastic came from newspaper plastic bags that I collected from my library.  I then spun it and crochet this small tote.
Here is my pattern - using an H hook:
ch 2
8 sc in center
12 increase rounds (96 stitches)
2 sc in st, skip a stitch, repeat until desired length.

Handle:
ch 35
sc 24
ch 35
sc 24
sc around for 4 rounds.
end with a sl st after 12 sts after the last handle.

Here are the photos from last Summer.  The first ones was at the beach, and the 2nd one was at a cavern site in Pennsylvania.  You can see my son in the background having fun at their gem mining area.  

Here is one of the 2 skeins of spun plarn that I used to make the bag.  

Happy New Year!

Here are the number of projects that I made in 2012: 

Total Items Made: 715

January's total: 82

February's total: 80

March's total: 71

April's total: 111

May's total: 43

June's total: 31

July's total: 48

August's total: 53

September's total: 35

October's total: 47

November's total: 84

December's total: 30

Items not added individually, but lumped in as a group: 124

My goal for 2012 was 700.  I'm glad that I succeeded, but sometimes it was a little to stressful with that big of a number over my head.

So my goal for 2013 is to make 500 items.  I went with a lower number this year so as to not stress myself out.  I also want to make a few bigger items this year.  You can see my little tracker at the top of the page for my goal.

I joined a ravelry group called 113 in 2013.  Basically it is a group where you can keep track of how many things that you make during the year.  Here is my thread for it (everyone has their own thread in the group).

So for January:

Queue:

• mini hearts
• mini items for a swap
• amigurumi camera
• 2 angry birds for nephew2

WIPS

• Mystery Crochet Along #21
• camera
• dishcloth for my mom

I started the dishcloth for my mom just now (1 am).  I really should be in bed, lol.

The Harry Potter Knit and Crochet House Cup is starting today.  I am on the Quidditch staff for this term (Jan - March).  I'm looking forward to seeing what the class assignments will be.

I will also be posting photo collages from Nerd Wars T4 and T5 soon.  

Here is where I am add with the mystery crochet along.  The designer gave us the first 4 rounds.  I was so excited to make a kitchen item (which she says that it will be) that I started it already.

In other news, I am going to participate in another doll show.  I will be sharing photos soon of the past 2 doll shows that I participated in.  This next one is called "after dark." I'm also in an amigurumi sweetness event.  I'm also in a tiny treasures swap (making mini things).  

I'll be teaching an ikat dyeing class later this month, and I will be teaching another Sunday school workshop rotation.

Starburst Afghan and Snow

This is what I woke up to this morning.  We got a few inches.

I finished my starburst afghan on the 28th.  It is incredibly comfy.  Here is the free pattern for it.  Mine used 13 skeins of Bernat's mosaic strange magic yarn, and it is 75 inches from point to point.  It took 3 months to make.

Nerd Wars Tournament 6

Tournament 6 of Nerd Wars on ravelry ran from October - December.  Here are the projects that I made for it.  I also donated money to 2 different charities during it as well.  I'll start at the top left and work from left to right.

1. Blue Angry Bird: For one of my nephews for Christmas.  Here is the free pattern for it.
2. Purple Bat: For a friend on ravelry who hasn't been feeling well.  Here is the pattern for it.
3. A Blue Dragonfly: I pattern tested this, and then gave it to my 2nd cousin who is 5 for Christmas. Here is the pattern for it.
4. The Very Hungry Caterpillar: I pattern tested it, and gave it to ds2 for Christmas. Here is the pattern for it.
5. Two Headed Bear: I gave it to my husband for Christmas.  Here is the pattern for it.
6. A Monster High Witch hat and dress: Here are the patterns for the hat and the dress.  I modified the dress pattern for a better fit.
7. Tardis Ornament: I gave this to a friend for Christmas.  Here is the pattern for it.
8. Snowflake ornament: I made this for a swap.  Here is the pattern for it.
9. Mickey Mouse Pumpkin Dishcloth: Here is the pattern for it.
10. 3 Birds Dishcloth: Here is the pattern for it.  It is in German, but you can see my ravelry notes for translation help.
11.  Chevron Log Cabin dishcloth: I kind of made this one up, based on other log cabin block patterns.
12. Tarn Hobo Bag: Here is the pattern for it.
13. Ruffle Scarf: This was a Christmas present for my mom.  Here is the pattern for it, however it is better to watch the you tube video on how to make it.
14. Woven Scarf: I made this for my husband for Christmas.
15. Knitted Scarf: I made this for my mom for Christmas.  It is garter stitch on the ends and stockinette stitch in the center.
16. Ikat Weavings: I dyed and wove these wall hangings for my living room.
17. Crochet slouchy hat: I donated this hat to Hats Off For Cancer. Here is the pattern for it.

Web Site Updated

I just updated my website.  There are new photos and class schedules.  I will try to be better about keeping my class schedule current on there.

Changes to my blog

With Instagram's new policy taking place on January 16th (allowing advertisers to use people's photos without direct consent or payment) , I will be removing myself and my photos from there.  For the last year and a half I have been using the photos that I have uploaded through there for this blog.  That means that many photos will just disappear from my blog.  It totally sucks.

Lately I have not been blogging on here like I use to.  I do blog daily, but through my Nerd Wars Club 33 group.  I started this blog as a kind of craft journal for myself.  Now I'm debating if I even need to do that anymore.

I don't want to get rid of the blog, because there are a lot of helpful tutorials on it that pre-dates my use of Instagram.  However you might see a major clean up of my blog due to the lack of photos.  I don't want to go back and replace every single photo with one that I have to resize through photoshop and then go through this other program just to put on an invisible section of my husband's website, which has a limited amount of space.  That is a lot to have to do.  Maybe I'll just update my website with more recent photos instead.  I'm not sure.  Its a big debate.  What I am sure of is that I will be leaving Instagram in January, and that means many of my photos here will disappear.

So this is a little heads up.

As a result you probably will see even less blog posts from me than you have recently.  Maybe I'll just do more you tube videos... Ones that are just a series of photos of what I've been making recently.

I also want to apologize again for my lack of videos.  My 5 year old is very energetic, and he demands a lot of attention.  As a result I can not have 1 minute of quiet time where I can do voice overs for the videos.  I also have a lot of other responsibilities in my life which makes doing many things very difficult.  For instance I have not recorded anything for my local t.v. show in a year due to my lack of time.  I'm actually hoping to work in 1 day a month where I can go back into the studio and start recording new episodes again.

So then you are probably wondering how I can get so much crafting done.  The key is on-the-go projects.  If it can not go in my purse or a bag and go with me everywhere, then it is really hard to work on.  I can count on my fingers the number of times I have used my sewing machine this year.  In college I could weave something in 2 days, but now I'm lucky to fit in 2 hours a week on my loom.  But those two items are not portable.  People who know me know that I ALWAYS have a project with me.  In fact when I go over to a friend's house, her daughter will bring me a stuffed animal or hat to repair.  I almost always have the right tools on me to repair her things right then and there.

Since my youngest son is so active, I try to take him places where he can get out all of that energy with other kids his age.  That means that I can actually have time to just work on my current knitting or crochet project while still keeping an eye on him.  Thank goodness for my kindle and my iphone, because all of my patterns can easily travel with me.

Anyway......

Thoughts?  Comments?  Suggestions?


All comments need to be approved of before they are posted, because I get a ton of spam.  Its sad really.  So please don't let that discourage you from leaving a comment.

Thanks,
Kristy

P.S. Remember me saying that I can't even get a minute of uninterrupted time?  My son came in my room to talk to me about 50 times while I was typing this, lol.  I'm not even exaggerating.