New Mittens In Progress!

This is the same pattern I tried to make mittens from several months ago, when I decided I needed to focus on my tunisian afghans, because counting stitches and following a pattern was a horrible undertaking.
However, I am almost done with my All Shawl, and I did finish Horse Girl's All Shawl. And I finished the ski hat with the yummy multi colored Jojoland Rhythm wool.

So, Yesterday, I decided to try the mittens again. This time- I chose Patons SWS, in a funky pink colorway called Natural Geranium. Remembering that I've used SWS in the orange, red, purple tunisian afghan I started last winter (where I thought the yarn was a bit splity) I was a bit hesitant.

You see, SWS is a single ply yarn, 70% wool, 30% soy. Oh yes, Soy Wool Stripes. But there is another Patons SWS, Soy Wool Solids. Same look, same fiber content. Just one SWS is multi colored & one is a solid. You will be able to tell the difference in the store, don't worry!

I did the starting chain with my 6.5mm hook, 'cause I chain too tight & that was the only alternative hook available (read: the one I keep at the office!) Then I switched to my 4mm Clover soft-touch hook.

Now, I don't know if the combination of the clover hook and SWS made the difference, or if it is the increased attention I was able to pay to the project, or if it is just tangible proof that my crochet skills are improving, but I got one side of the mitten finished-- The SAME DAY I started it!

And as an added bonus, I only ended up one stitch off in my counts! Well, One stitch on each side, but I was able to keep track & get my increases and stitch changes in the right spot each pass, so I'm okay with that.
On the down side, I made the Large size, which was listed as (8-9) while the Small size was listed as (6-7). But the photo shows a young girl- teenager maybe? and the mittens looked tight. Now, I'm a fan of mittens, and I like to be able to ball my fingers up together inside my mittens, I figured I should make the Large size. So, I don't think the numbers show well here, (scanner + metal ruler= not a good idea!) but these are 10 inches top to bottom.
But another bonus, SWS FELTS. I just hope the thump space is going to be wide enough after felting, because it looks like it's gonna be a tight fit at the size it is now. Plenty of room in the length for felting, but kinda skinny. So if anyone has any experience felting mittens (crochet felting experience is extra appreciated) please let me know if I should add to the thumb width before I felt.

All Shawl is almost done!

Last night, while watching a movie with my brother, I realized that my count was exactly perfect & I could start on the Strawberry Lace edging. I thought I was only half way done! I got half through the first row of the lace, but I had to put it away to take the kids home & get them to bed. I'm excited & now in the process of figuring out where I will be able to block it.

So, here is a photo, although this is not very recent.

Works in Progress: Crochet

Okay- here are a few things that I'm working on in my "spare-time."

Almost done!

This sweet little baby blanket is for Amanda's bundle that is on the way. (Remember I made her wedding cake back in December?) I'm very proud of myself for getting it done early. However, it is still in my WIP pile because I have to weave in the thread tails. I HATE doing that. I'm SO good at procrastinating that it may be a 1st birthday instead of a new baby gift!

A close up of the thread structure of the Tunisian Stitch and this
GREAT card I bought from anemoneletterpress.etsy.com

Another baby blanket in progress. This is some destash yarn I was given & it is super soft. But when I worked the two strands together, whoa, too pink for my taste. The middle section is the baby ombre (blue & yellow too!) and a strand of ivory. The blue isn't quite that neon looking- but I think the color is off a bit in all of these photos.

And MY favorite (because it's for ME!!!)

This one is cotton chenille, usually 2 strands together, plus worsted cotton, and either one or two strands of this wonderful CinCin yarn I bought from http://mysmalldestash.etsy.com. She bought all of the yarn from a store that was closing! (OH MY!) She also makes handpainted/dyed yarns in her main shop called http://mysmallwonders.etsy.com.

I think the greens look great with my olive green (MC says it's brown) chair & sofa!

I have several other smaller projects that I'm in the middle of as well. I'll save those & maybe by my next update they will be finished instead of in progress!

Happy Birthday Mom!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!

Since you got me the new Tunisian Crochet hook, I figured you should get the first project!

I followed the instructions of casting on 84 stitches for an afghan. I’m almost half through the yarn I bought for this project.

But now I’m thinking that the 84 stitches might be the length, NOT the width as I was planning…

So, It’s up to you to decide if I need to finish off the final row, or if I need to finish the other half.


Right now, This thing is about 56 x 40 ish.

You know the size of my couch, this covers 2 cushions plus a little more-- what do you think?




I love you-- thanks for being my mom!
z