Friday, December 31, 2010

Fair Isle Dress





Theresa has remade several sections of this dress. I always thought that if you followed the instructions you had it made in the shade. But it is not unusual that even having gauge an item just doesn't fit; or certain sections while beautifully photographed just don't appeal in reality. So you make changes. Now you are into designing. Perhaps just for yourself, but designing nonetheless. Theresa had a very difficult time getting that little band of pink near the neckline to line up properly.
Now she is a very experienced knitter and has made herself more than one dress. So if anyone reading this blog has had the same experience, you are not alone. Remaking and redoing is all part of the craft. Relax and enjoy the process.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

More Broomstick



Chris also took the broomstick crochet class with me. She selected a colorful yarn that did not have as much yardage and was thicker. Just the same, she also made a beautiful scarf, too. I really like that the stitches are so clear on this scarf, so that the uniqueness of the broomstick lace is very evident.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Shelli's Baby Sweater



Shelli had been working on this sweater for awhile. It's a gift, of course. I'm pretty sure this is an Elizabeth Zimmerman project. You keep knitting from different directions and just seam across the top. It's all garter stitch. This is one of those examples that shows simplicity can be quite beautiful. I really liked the yarn for this project.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Donating the Feel Good Project Items


On December 16th, Three Rivers Crochet members donated 3 afghans and 1 lap robe to VA Pittsburgh Healthcare Systems. These items were made from the yarn that Land's End donated to Warm Up America, which contacted CGOA (Crochet Guild of America). Penny Sitler contacted chapters who were interested in making finished afghans by mid-December. Karen Cinnamon, director of recreation and volunteers, graciously accepted the donation on behalf of the veterans. The three large afghans will go to the homeless services division and the lap robe will stay in the main hospital.

By far the most intricate patterns were in the lap robe. The sections are both knit and crocheted.

The next afghan is also knitted and crocheted. From left to right you can see me next to Karen Cinnamon and then Lyn, Denise, and Carol. In front is Evie, who came with her grandmother Lyn because she wanted to donate, too. Lyn brought additional lap robes and afghans that she made and others had donated over a period of time. I believe the total was 16.

The next 2 afghans were totally crocheted.

Probably 10 -13 people were involved in making strips and sewing them together. It was a great group effort that covered just a month's time.

Finally we all said goodby and packed up the afghans to send on their way.



Friday, December 10, 2010

Paulette Strikes Again




At the last meeting, Paulette wore a crocheted shawl. Very pretty. Her first attempt at beading. It's not new but now I wonder what other nice items are lingering in her closets???

She also surprised Amelia with a new hat. Doggies and bones. This hat is knitted and Paulette did not find the pattern difficult. I think it is both funny and cute!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

How Are Things Working Out?




When you have a group of people working on one project there are always kinks that need to be worked out.
The first afghan had three strips that were too short. On Saturday we will extend those strips and sew up the sides. A pretty easy fix.
The second afghan was in good shape lengthwise but came out short on the width. We know we have one more strip coming to sew on, which we plan to do also on Saturday. But there is still room for concern due to...
The original finished afghan was washed gently and dried on very low but still shrunk. Almost uniformly which was very good. But its size is now 64" by 40". So I am worried about the width on the afghan that isn't so wide yet. Only 34" right now. Will it make it? Stay tuned.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Assembling Strips Dec. 4, 2010 1-5


Previous blogspots showed strips that were being made, but what did they look like when they were all together? I think we were lucky to get rather compatible colors. Although we all learned quickly to keep the "grape" separate from the "blueberry".
A large crew arrived to attack the assembly and make some adjustments to the lengths, so we could get even edges. A rather intense group who would probably all avow they don't really like "sewing".
By the end of the afternoon, we had our first afghan done and two more almost there. The first completed afghan is in the last picture.








Thursday, December 2, 2010

Diane's Projects


I've been busy this last month making sweaters for a grandniece and grandnephew
who both have fall birthdays. Not that I ever get the projects done on time. But the family just accepts now that something might show up at any time.

The sweaters are both oversized size 4. They are both made of Homespun and the pattern was from a small seasonal book from several years ago. I knitted the edgings and really liked the final look. The pattern called for 3/4" buttons but I think 1" buttons would have worked better with this bulky yarn. Still learning after all these years. I found that the camera didn't give an accurate rendering of the colors, besides the colors in this yarn really come alive out in daylight.

I gave my grandniece an itty bitty when her baby brother was born. So I made another outfit for the doll to slip into the sweater's pocket. The patterns for the itty bitty that I got from Annie's Attic aren't very good. I got an extra doll so I could try on outfits before I sent them. The shirt top was too big and the overalls were too small to fit over the top. The hat turned out gigantic and was still too big with several row reductions. The booties were just right. The final outfit was pretty good.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Carole and Squares


Crochet has become Carol's passion since she retired. She wants to know everything and try everything.

Since Carol purchased a great find at a flea market, she has been into crochet in the square. The afghan that inspired her had a great pattern of blue and white squares and the squares were perfectly executed. Obviously, someone let that afghan go without knowing what they had.

Carol found the directions for the square that she wanted. Honestly, there are so many versions of the square it is amazing. But she came to the meeting one day and said, "Why are these squares so wonky on these baby afghans?" She was being meticulous in her stitch count.
So we sat down together while I watched her make a square and we found the problem. Because the corner increase covered the top of her 1st stitch, she was actually starting her count in the second stitch. It was a small, simple thing that hinged on where to look for the two loops at the top of the 1st stitch.

Carol went home and dismantled one of the baby ghans and redid it. Can you tell which one is which? I think this is a good example of how belonging to a crochet/knit group can increase your skills.

Carol also took the broomstick crochet class. She changed the pattern stitch a little to make the scarf more to her liking. Broomstick crochet is everywhere!




Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Karen's Projects


Karen has been very busy lately. She's been working for Highland Alpaca and taking care of her own business Chocolate River Alpacas.
But she found the time to finally work on projects. The basket weave sweater took a long time to finish. It is made from an alpaca blend that Karen requested and had made at a minimill. It's really soft. All hers.
She made the hat as a design sample for Highland. It's felted alpaca and she embroidered it. Karen is really good at felting. I know the sweater is knit but I think the hat was crocheted.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Paulette's Latest Projects


Paulette has been really busy lately.

The wraparound shrug is from Crochet!'s September issue. I especially like how the stitch pattern shows in the back. It fits nicely, too.

This fall I worked on a pattern from Lion Brand and everyone liked the design. Karen made one for Highland Alpaca in their yarn. Then Paulette made it in a different yarn. This knitted pattern can be found on Lion Brand's website.

Then Paulette took my broomstick crochet class. She made the scarf from the ball of alpaca yarn she got at the lesson along with the pattern. But she made it shorter than my design, so she knitted up some fingerless gloves. Whew!

Paulette is still rather new to 3RC, and is what I call a double threat yarn enthusiast: she both knits and crochets well. Oh well, this group will let anyone join.




Sunday, November 28, 2010

Feel Good Strips


The Feel Good strips are still coming in. There are two crocheted strips on the chair Then Phyllis knitted three strips with a definite pattern in mind. She laid them out in the direction they should go on a bench in Panera's. I know of 3 more knitted strips coming in on Dec. 4th; so I am hoping for a knitted afghan and 2 crocheted ones. The V stitch has been so popular, one afghan can just be that. If there isn't enough for a fourth afghan, maybe we put together a lap robe. I remain hopeful though.

Kitty brought in a teddy bear. I think he must be a Thanksgiving bear because he looks like he ate the entire feast! Cute stuff!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Feel Good Strips




So far we have 5 completed strips turned in for the Feel Good project. Measuring them across the width comes to 44 ". That would seem enough width to make an afghan. But we'll wait to see what other sizes people have made to put all the strips together. The patterns people have chosen seem to go together well.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

The Beethoven Burger












This past fall, Becky was hired to teach a lesson on composing to students in the Allegheny Clarion Valley School District. How do you do that? and hold their interest? FAST FOOD!

Becky, an accomplished pianist, got her mom and dad, Lyn and Joe, to knit and crochet a burger. Not your sink your teeth into size, but wrap your arms around size. All the parts are there: down to some sesame seeds on top.

They put it together in 2 weeks. Can you imagine the conversation at their house during that time? "Joe, what yarn do you think looks like hamburger?" "Lyn, is this a good color for cheese?" "How do you make lettuce?"

Finally Becky had a great teaching device for an innovative lesson plan. She explained that composing is a lot like building the perfect burger. Using Beethoven's "Fur Elise", she had students take and hold pieces of the burger associated with parts of the composition. The students then had to listen carefully and bring their part of the burger (composition) up and start stacking. Finally the Beethoven Burger was built and hopefully an interest in classical music sparked.

Even if we weren't at the lesson, everyone at 3RC recognizes the creativity that constructed the Beethoven Burger.