Showing posts with label Sunshine and Shadow Throw. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sunshine and Shadow Throw. Show all posts

Sunday, March 20, 2011

I Made Explore!

I made Explore!

I'm speechless...I can't believe it!

My Flickr sidebar shows one photo of mine in Explore this morning!  

For those of you who don't use Flickr...Explore is an special category in Flickr where certain photos are selected daily based upon criteria that make the photo extra interesting and unique.  I guess it's like getting a "gold star" from your teacher for your artwork or homework.  

To find out what photos of yours make Explore you have to go to HugeBigLabs.com and click on "Scout".  

This is my photo that made it...



My First Explore Photo

March 9, 2011

#397

WOW!

What a day!  

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

REDnesday - Sunshine & Shadow Throw Finished

Sunshine & Shadow Throw

Pattern by Melody Griffiths

I finished my Sunshine & Shadow Throw yesterday.  

Of course, it is total overcast, gray and dark out today so I tried my best to get some decent photos.

I first blogged about this throw (here) and (here).

Joining squares as I go but before all the squares are sewn down.

The aqua color in the third round was replaced with soft green (lime).

That was fun cutting out the aqua squares and crocheting the lime colored ones back in (HA - NOT!)

Stitch in border and edging is just double crochet.

Lime colored squares are in place now.


There is a huge RED square in each border corner!




I followed the pattern....for once I didn't "wing" any of it.





Each of the squares was "joined as you go" in each corner...when all the squares were done I had to sew all the squares together in order for it to lie completely flat.  And the pattern tells you to do this.




It has some weight to it...so it should be a warm throw.

I sew my ends in as I go because I can't stand to have a million ends to do at the end of a project.


Size:  48 inches by 48 inches

17 granny squares by 17 = 289 total squares in the diamond center.


I just love the diamond pattern and the bright colors! 

I used Loops & Threads Silky Soft Worsted acrylic yarn and an H hook.

Colors used each diamond round starting in middle:  
Black
Red
Soft Green (Lime)
Red
Black
Magenta (red-purple)
Lavender
Magenta (red-purple)
Black
Perfect Blue
Soft Blue
Perfect Blue
Black
Passion (Deep Purple)
Soft Green (Lime)
Passion (Deep Purple)
Black

Colors used in Border:
Black
Orchid (Dark Purple)
4 squares in Red

Edging:
Black


There are more REDs to enjoy with our host, Sue, at 

It's A Very Cherry World


for REDnesday!

And join me for:


Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

Cielo at The House in the Roses for Show of Your Cottage Monday




Tuesday, March 1, 2011

My Wooden Dowel & Me and Other Yarn Tails!

My yarn holder!

I'm currently sewing the squares on the wrong side of my Sunshine and Shadow Throw above so they will lie down flat.   

Are you like me...tired of having your yarn skein roll off your lap or chair as you crochet and onto the floor?
  
Tired of tugging at the yarn to unroll as you crochet?

Boy, I sure was!

I thought there has to be an easier way to access my yarn as I crochet.

I needed something like... a toilet paper roll holder....what could I use that I had on hand?  

Suddenly I had an idea and hunted up a long wooden dowel and quickly threaded two skeins of yarn onto it.  I stuck the wooden dowel with the yarn skeins into my yarn pile so it was upright and steady.

I sat the yarn container with my new yarn holder next to my chair and started crocheting.  

Guess what?  

It works!   

The yarn rolls smoothly off the wooden dowel as I crochet and no more yarn rolling off my chair/lap and onto the floor (and across the floor).  I could have my hubby make a more study base for the wooden dowel but as a make-shift solution this works for me for now.    

What do you think of my new invention?  

Do you have this same problem and have you solved it differently? 

Crochet Library


My little crochet library is growing.  

When I started crocheting again in 2008 (for the third time) I never thought I would stick to it like I have.  Nor did I think I would be crocheting, not one, but several throws.  I really enjoy crocheting...picking a pattern, selecting the colors and sometimes just winging it.  It's relaxing and fun.

Yesterday I watched another episode of "Hoarders"...every time I do I start to straighten up our rooms.  

  It's a great motivator...to de-clutter.  

Now I must warn you the next photo is pretty ugly!     


Yarn stash...BEFORE   

Another mini-hoarder like problem was "growing" in the corner of our family room.

My yarn stash was getting out of hand...AGAIN!

I have tried different storage methods for my yarn.  First, I bought several small to medium size plastic storage bins (one is in the photo above) to store the yarn.  But they didn't hold much and I got VERY lazy about putting the lids on and off.  Not working for me at all.

So, I mentioned to my hubby I needed to find a new solution as the messy look was starting to drive me crazy.  Hubby suggested I use some plastic bins we had previously purchased at Staples that are open on the sides, have no lids but stack neatly.  

I washed up three of them and started to put my unused, new yarn in them.  My yarn stash stores neatly upright in them and each bin holds quite an amount of skeins.  Currently, I have them stacked in the corner of our family room.  It looks neater plus they are still easy to get to and view.  

I also use some collapsible fabric bins to hold current projects, used yarn and other miscellaneous yarn.

Yarn stash...AFTER


Now I know probably many of you would not store your yarn stash in your family room.  But this is where I mainly crochet and I like having my yarn where I can get to it easily when I am inspired.  Anyways... it's my family room and I can do what I want here.   

Of course, hubby can not keep any of his hobbies here.  That's a no-no.   I make the RULES and I can change the RULES as often as I like because I'm the Queen.  LOL!

Keep on crocheting!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

REDnesday - Sunshine & Shadow Throw

Sunshine & Shadow Throw

My newest crochet project is my version of Melody Griffiths'

  Sunshine and Shadow Throw

shown here on the cover of her book Crocheted Afghans.   

I LOVE the COLORS in this afghan plus the pattern is soooo striking.   

I'm working the blue shade rows now.  I'm using an H hook and Loops & Threads Silky Soft acrylic yarn in similar shades - black, soft aqua, red, magenta, lavender, perfect blue, soft blue and orchid.   I didn't have the bright lime colored yarn so I used soft aqua.  If I don't care for the soft aqua squares I can alway cut out those squares and insert lime colored ones later.  

I use the "join as you go" method to combine the granny squares!

I had a hard time deciding on which afghan to crochet as Ms. Griffiths' book has such beautiful, stunning afghans to choose from...you can bet this won't be my last one to crochet.  

Take a look at her book (here) ...I highly recommend it. 

The colors are even more striking in person!

Black yarn is still a pain to crochet...I crochet those squares during the day when the light is better.  

What do you think of this afghan?   

I'm loving it! 



There are more REDs to enjoy with our host, Sue, at 

It's A Very Cherry World


for REDnesday!