Will I Make It?

Well here it is 8 days before the big party and the picture above shows how much I've done on the not so black, "little black dress". Do you think I can crochet another 20 inches before next Saturday? Do you think I'll have enough yarn?

I made the mistake I have told myself never to do. Start a big project without having enough yarn to complete the project. The search continues. Hopefully the dress will look as good on me as it does laying flat so far.

So I apologize for not getting the new patterns designed and on the website. There's just not enough time in the day to do it all, when working on a deadline to complete a project. I think I'll have a few sleepless nights getting this dress done. Me and my great ideas to crochet my wardrobe for the evening. Oh well. It will or it won't get done. Heaven knows I have enough dresses in my closet to wear if I don't get this one finished.

And with that, I'm off to crochet away....

Crochet Do Dads

Live on GettingLoopy.com

Well what an exciting week this has been. After sending out my monthly newsletter last week, I received an email from Mary Beth Temple of www.gettingloopy.com asking if I would like to be on her radio show Monday night. I was thrilled. I wasn't sure if I could talk for 45 minutes about crocheting, but it turns out it was pretty easy. Coupled with the people chatting on-line during the broadcast, I found it quite fascinating. The broadcast, I hope is posted in the sidebar of this blog. If not it is available on my website.

Barring that, it's also been a frustrating week. How many times have you been without a crochet project, started one with yarn you had on hand figuring you'll pick more up the next time your out - only to find out, you can't find the yarn anywhere? Well I normally make it a rule not to do this. Guess what? I did it. Now, I've got the bottom 12 inches of "my little black dress" crocheted and can't find more black yarn. I need that dress for the 24th of this month for a big event I'm attending. I have searched store after store. I can find the same yarn in every colour but black. My little black dress might just end up a little black and red dress. What do you think?

Above is one of my latest projects. A centrepiece that holds a plant. What can I say? I was between projects and just started crocheting with scrap yarn. The centrepiece is what it ended up. I had no idea what it would be when I started. I was just crocheting in circles and ruffles. It is unique, if I do say so myself.

In the meantime, while I'm searching for the black yarn. I've started yet another saddle blanket to be felted. It's done in shells and should be quite interesting once complete. Hopefully I find that black yarn soon. Time is running out until the 24th. I crochet fast, but not that fast, especially given all my other responsibilities here on the farm.

And with that, I'm off for another week to see what I can finish before next week's blog.

Happy New Year!

Well here it is 2009 already. I've had a busy month crocheting and still a few more projects on the go as well. This month I completed a pommel pad, christmas tree, felted purse, a scarf, a saddle blanket and a decorative planter for a table top. I think the two I'm most proud of are the felted purse and the felted saddle blanket. Felting is new to me. However these projects turned out better than I expected. The purse was designated as a Christmas present, however, I liked it so much, I kept it for myself. The saddle blanket, turned out well. I must remember when working with colours to pull the underlying cord tighter and also work a cord under each stitch regardless of whether the colour is needed for a change or not. This allows the shrinkage process to shrink more evenly. Well - nothing ventured, nothing gained. The saddle blanket was a gift for my son for Christmas - he loved it.

I've also just completed a helmet bag or carry-all depending on what you want to use it for. All done in shells. It's quite nice as well. I seem to be into crocheting shells at the moment. My current project is a dress. This is also new for me. I seldom crochet clothes. This project will really test my creativity, I tell you! The reason for the dress - I have a big event coming up this month and wanted a new dress. Seeing as I absolutely detest shopping for clothes, I thought I'd crochet it. If it turns out - great. I'll have my dress. If it doesn't - I guess I'll be shopping. Again, done in shells, so far so good on this project. My biggest dilemna is strapless, spaghetti straps, tanks style or capped or long sleeves. So many choices. I guess you'll find out my choice when you see the finished project.

This is an exciting year for me and Crochet Do Dads. I hope to brake 50 patterns this year. Currently I'm at 34. Plus two of my patterns are being published in a book due to be released this spring or summer. And, my patterns are now being sold in a few yarn stores. I hope to make it more soon. So tell your friends and send them to www.crochetdodads.com. And please, let me know if you're looking for a specific pattern. I like designing patterns that people have specifically requested. Although there are a ton of patterns out there, there is always something that hasn't been done yet.

Over the holidays I picked up my boxes of patterns I've collected over the years - they were in storage. I had quite a bit of fun going through the patterns - recalling the one's I've made, laughing at how ridiculous some of the patterns are - and how ugly too! It's amazing how ugly crocheting can be sometimes. People pick the weirdest colour combinations. But, yet most patterns are quite beautiful. I have patterns that were my grandmother's and great-grandmothers. I found it quite interesting to see some of the antique patterns and realized they're back in style again. Or how people have adapted some of the traditional patterns for other uses in today's world.

I even found a pattern that was sent to my great-grandmother's cousin in Michigan from the original pattern company. The pattern was still in the original envelope. Can you believe the postage on the envelope was only 1 cent. The paper is so brittle, handling it is a delicate matter. One day, I'll catalogue all my patterns. And one day, I'll attempt the tatting patterns too! They intrigue me. I jusn't haven't got the nerve to try them yet.

Well I think I've run on for long enough now. So crochet away and keep in touch. Don't forget you can find our fan page or group page on facebook under Crochet Do Dads or you can find me personally by searching Saturn Stables.

Projects that Drag

I always think it's a good idea to tackle a large project until I get into it. I've been working on a new saddle blanket design to be felted. While I think it will turn out quite nice, it sure seems to be dragging on. Because it's all single crochet and multi-colours, it takes a while and then there's always the battle with the intertwined yarn from working with multiple colours.

The saddle blanket is almost done. It would probably be finished today except, I am one ball short of the dark brown. And guess what - we're in the middle of a snow storm, so I can't even get off the farm to go get that last ball. How depressing. I guess, I'll just have to start another project until the snow storm clears. As you can see above, the saddle blanket is quite colourful. I can't wait to see what happens once it's felted. I only hope I calculated the shrinkage properly -- or I could end up with a small rug instead of a saddle blanket. I'll have to wait and see.

So my next projects will be made with scrap yarn. I have a room full. I can barely get into the room, there's so many balls of yarn lying around. Plus, I have people waiting for special request designs. I hope to get to them soon. So many things to do. Sometimes I wish I had 4 hands, then I could be working on two projects at once. I usually like to finish something I've started before I move on to something else. Otherwise, the project never seems to get finished. I have several like that now - a life-size horse head pillow, shipping boots, a bathing suit cover up and a halter top. Mind you the halter top is actually complete. All I really have to do is attach the clasps and find someone to model it. You really don't want to see me in it. But you never know, I might braven up or take the photo on a manikin or something. I guess I should get a manikin first.

And now, I'm off to the barn to do the stalls in the snow storm, then in to build a fire and cuddle up to crochet for the day. What a life!

It Worked - I'm Amazed

Well, here it is. My first attempt at felting. I'm amazed, it actually worked. I couldn't believe how ugly this purse was before felting it - and the size difference - Wow!

As you can tell, I've never felted anything before. And given that all the felting instructions I read, said not to use a front loading washing machine as the agitation process is not the same as in a top loading one. Plus, the front loading machines don't let you stop to check the progress of the piece. Even with all that, it worked. Mind you, I did have to wash the piece twice to get the desired effect. But I was quite pleased.

So now I'm on a felting kick. My next project already in the works is a saddle blanket for the horses. I've been trying to figure out how to make a saddle pad that was sturdy and didn't loose it's shape. Now I've got it. So I'm busily working on that project.

There are so many projects I want to do, but yet having the farm, I feel guilty sitting and crocheting all day. In the evening it's easy - it's dark and cold out, nothing much to do outside with the horses at that time of day. During the day is a different story however. Right now, I don't feel so guilty however. I've had an extremely bad cold for the past week and a half - so crocheting is easier than doing nothing and giving in to the cold. I still feel like I'm accomplishing something. The toughest part is turning the finished pieces into saleable patterns for you to make. What I think is simple, doesn't always translate out that way when I try to write the pattern out. Even though I keep detailed notes while designing. It's not always the easiest to figure out what I've done. So let me know if you don't understand something I've written - I'll try and answer your questions for you.

So off I go for another day to clean the house and crochet that saddle blanket - I'm aiming to get it done this week to use it in the Christmas Parade I'm riding in on Saturday. We'll see.

Crochet Away!
Debi K.

Another Holiday Pattern

In my last blog I mentioned never having been able to get to this Christmas Tree design I've been thinking about for years. Well finally, I got off my duff and did it. It took a little over a week to make and it's beautiful - if I do say so myself. It is currently on display at the yarn store I work for. It crochets up quick and is made by buildng layers. I've even added lights to it in the store. Watch for the pattern on my website. It will be available this week sometime I hope. The pattern comes complete with the skirt, tree, star and tinsel instructions. You'll have fun making it and even more fun decorating it after.

I have so many patterns on the go right now, it's not funny. I just did a list of patterns this morning and realized I have 8 unfinished projects on the go and I just started another pattern yesterday. I think I better finish some of those unfinished ones - what do you think?

This week I've added the "Winter White Hand Muff", the "Doggy Tummy Tube" and a "Pummel Pad" pattern to the site. Still to come are the "Rib on Rib" scarf patterns and of course this Christmas Tree Pattern. I better get to work. The first week of the month is hectic as I have 3 newsletters to get out. One for crochetdodads, one for our stables and of course for my graphic design business as well. Plus adding the new patterns and updating all the websites, facebook groups, discussion group, etc. etc. There's never a dull moment around here.

So watch for your newsletter arriving maybe even yet today. And, if you're not receiving our newsletter, fill out the form on the website to subscribe.

So crochet away!

Debi K.