I think I got it...

I recentlyposted my struggles with trying to remember how to do the above crochet sample (darker blue). I'd be okay at first and then it would go off track. Last week I brought the sample and wonky trial to our weekly lunch-time knit and crochet gathering and one of the other participants said she had the exact same trouble with "star" stitch. Aha! a name! 

A brief Google and I found a two-part tutorial on star stitch (Part 1) by Crochet Geek. Written instructions are here.  So I watched the videos, took some notes, saw some places I was going wrong and went home and made the above sample.  By this time I'd stitched and ripped this end of the yarn many many times so I just cut it off when the two rows were done and straight.

And I began a star-stitch scarf.  So far it's almost straight. This is not a holiday gift so no rush.

WIPs and FOs!

I had a busy weekend. I completed my first afghan rectangle for the Legal Loopers project and began the second. I completed the entrelac section in my diamond tote and am back to working rows. The stripe pattern from the top repeats and then the base is knit. It seemed to balloon up in the entrelac section--I'm very happy to be bringing it back to manageable size with the knit rows.
I've shown two of these before but this photo is better. Here are the three Japanese pastries I made from kits sent to me by my niece. They're now hanging on my office file cabinet.
On our way back from the Midwest Fiber and Folk Art Fair on Friday, we stopped at Village Needleworks in Westmont. I picked up this painted canvas keyfob and stitched it Friday night and Saturday morning. Mostly it's floss but I found a sparkly blue mystery fiber to add to the floss for the water. It will be a Christmas gift.

Finished Objects

Sitting does have it's advantages; I'm getting some things done.I added a lacy edging tot he bottom of the pin doll's skirt. I took some perle 5 that I found nearby--sometimes it pays to not be neat and put things away. I had a crochet hook to hand, too, and made up a lacy edging. I am so much happier with it now.

The lace is a simple one. I crocheted a chain long enough to fit around the bottom of the doll's skirt. I added three more chain stitches for the first single crochet, chain one, of the next row. I skipped the fourth chain from the hook, sc in the next chain, chain 1, skip next chain of the first row, sc in next chain, keep up the sc, ch 1 across. At this point I joined it into a circle.

I could have joined the chain row but it's so easy to get that twisted. By joining after the second row, it was much easier to keep it from getting twisted. The last row was picots. ch 4, slip stitch into the 3d chain from the hook, ch 1, dc in first ch 1 space. Repeat *ch 4, ss into 3d ch from hook, ch 1, sc in next ch 1 space* across. Join at the end, stitch in the two ends, slip stitch the lace onto the doll (or handkerchief or purse or whatever) from underneath using matching sewing thread. Voila!I finished the cable hat. I've just barely begun the scarf. The yarn is really nice, but I did not see it in Knit Pick's newest catalog (the kit was several years old). The hat went quickly--I'd do it again.I also finished the first washcloth. Along the way I lost one of my knitting needles and substituted a double-pointed steel needle that looked about the right size. I put tape on one end to keep the stitches on. This was the easiest of the washcloths, but I really like the spiral pattern. I'm approaching the half-way point on the next washcloth, but the last time I tried knitting I ripped more than knit so I just gave it up. It's #2 in difficulty. I'm doing them in order. Next I'll cast on for #3, but first I think I need to get another pair of bamboo needles. I like them best with this yarn. (I think part of my problem with the second cloth is that I'm using harder to manage cable needles that are slippery.

I didn't do much embroidery this week, I'm really enjoying the knitting for now.

finally, a finished object!

I finally finished and felted my second crochet tote. This one has more texture than the first. The yarns are from my stash. Most, but not all, are wool--which makes for uneven felting. I'm happy with the way it came out.I'm still quite intrigued by our volunteer squash plant. I have no idea what it is--someone is eating off the blooms just as they begin to fruit.
The passion flowers are the other plant in our garden still blooming. They're kind of wilted here after several dried days (I took this last weekend). It's rained since and they should be perkier now. They are such odd things.

not really stitching

Work is nuts at the moment and taking all of my energy. What's left over is used up getting ready for classes--I teach the crewel chatelaine at the top of this page Tuesday, July 6 and I just submitted a flier and models (thanks to Jamee) for this fall's outreach classes at the YMCA. On the road trip last weekend, I began a second crochet tote. This one also uses leftover yarns. The bottom's done and I'm starting up the sides. It's for a friend.

Even my morning walks are getting to be more erratic. Most mornings I spread almond butter on toast and toss it in the car as I walk really fast and then jump in the car and head off to work (I wait 'till I get to work and am at my desk to eat). I'm trying to get in by 8 a.m. these days. If I need to be here much earlier, I tend to skip the walk, sad to say (although I often make up for it later in the day, having to walk across campus for something or other). I am soooo not a morning person!
A couple of weekends ago I managed couple of hours with this piece. I did the top pine needle spray. The plum blossoms have me a bit skittish. Several years ago I had major problems with them. (throw the piece away, there is no hope for this problems). I did make it to First Thursday--our monthly Japanese Embroidery stitch-in at the Hyde Park Art Center (come by and visit, we'd love to see you). It saved my sanity this week. I've been working on the clover leaves, which by now are somewhat bomb proof (which is good because we had a really enthusiastic children's yoga class in the room adjacent to ours this week). I've decided to remove the blue flower. I just don't like the way it's stitched and will be happier redoing it. My research assistant said I always look so calm and happy after these classes.

Busy, busy

This is my busy time at work (conferences driving me wacky!) and also at home (I teach the crewel chatelaine in my header in July and I have to have several projects done, designed or ready to teach in September and October. I'm feeling both overwhelmed and charged up! I was very busy this weekend.Done, finished this weekend. Before I photographed it, one flower felt "enough." Now that I've seen the pix, I'm thinkin' it may not be quite done. I have three more flower centers begun and if I ever get home tonight, hope to get them completed and on so this can get into the mail.I got this kit from Fiber on a Whim. It was one of Make-It University's projects but I wasn't there to take the class so I just got the kit. (Lelia took the class--you can see her finished needlebook here, much more artfully photographed than mine.)It is layers of fabric, ephemera, fiber, and paper and Mistyfuse. I did some machine and a little hand embroidery on mine. It was quick fun and for a while I felt creative rather than frantic!

What's been going on...

I didn't do much stitching last week. I've been doing more reading and crochet in the evenings. My large tote is coming along. I think the sides are getting about halfway. (that wide dark green band is the edge of the bottom) I did stitch a couple of things this weekend. I made an embroidered picture of myself for my photo here and on Facebook. I didn't like the front side too much--it looks like me but it doesn't--- and I can see where I got the shape of my glasses right on one side and not on the other and I have too much teeth... But I do like the backside so I'm going to use that until I redo it, if I decide to.

I also did part two of the turkey Valentine towels. Now Ms Turkey has the flowers and has given Mr Turkey a peck on the cheek.
More on my reading in my next post. I've been having fun with my stacks of books.

Hyperbolic crochet

I was so inspired by the show at the Cultural Center that I tried some hyperbolic crochet and coral reef designs last weekend. I made a hyperbolic coral and a attached two anemonies and some seaweed to a flat stone from the Lake Michigan dunes. The images are a little odd--my photographs were quite out of focus (obviously I need some practice) so last night I scanned the 3-dimensional objects and the images were much better, if a little squashed.

The website for the Hyperbolic Crochet Reef that visited Chicago is http://www.theiff.org/reef/index.html. There are increcible photos and some instructions there.

There are about three days left for the Chicago exhibition, which also includes a Chicago-made crochet coral reef. http://tinyurl.com/yqwyg