The magazine photo show Lucille LaFlamme's cropped vest from Family Circle's Easy Crochet spring/summer 2007. 

I closed the front with buttons. Then I decreased & lengthened the sleeves, and put the same edging on the sleeves as on the body, leaving off all the picots. I also left off all the flowers.

Rebecca's Latest

Rebecca finished up this cute toddler vest on Saturday. The construction was unique: only has one seam across the back that is barely visible. She's always doing something new and fun, like dying sock blanks! See pix at Handknits by Susan.

Summer Frock

I brought in the first half of this baby dress to the meeting. It is now finished and on its way.

I started it 2 weeks ago. It is from the latest issue of Crochet Today for  J/A 2008. It called for a baby yarn from SRK,  Angel Baby. It was very soft but actually rather fluffy acrylic. The more I crocheted the less I liked it. It just didn't seem right for summer. So I switched to Paton's Grace, same weight but cotton. It worked out well. 

This is an example of the item not matching the look of the pic  in the mag. My substituted yarn looks very much like the pic. 

Roxanne Shows off Shawl

Roxanne  is modeling an original design I developed several years ago. It's based on a doily pattern section that is actually fairly common. Then Doris Chan came out with Amazing Crocheted Lace. Who was channeling who?

Theresa's Finished Projects

                                                                                                                                                                                                              At the beginning of the year Theresa made a resolution to finish her UFO's. The afghans don't really fall in that category but the sweater does. The sweater probably qualifies  as having been knitted several times for the sections that have been frogged and reworked. Now we just have to wait for cold weather so Theresa can wear her cashmere turtleneck.

Cheep! Having nothing to do with crochet

                                                                             As usual in the past 30 years in this very hot weather I went out to water two hanging baskets on the front porch. After I watered the 1st, having to stretch way up, barely able to see what I'm doing, I stepped back.

Suddenly the basket came alive with movement and two baby robins were hanging out of their nest. They looked very disgruntled and damper than they liked. I ran to get the camera. Took pix.

I came inside to download the pix  AND  my husband's head pops in the front door and says, "One of the birds fell from the nest. What do I do?" "Hurry and put him back!" 

Before I could get to the door, he had scooped him back in. We watched from inside and mom & dad robin showed up. We took more pix but they were very wary and skittish. The babies just said"Feed me!"

We cannot imagine when this nest was built and the babies hatched without our knowing. We use the front door constantly. 

All this has nothing to do with crochet.

Pat's Sweater &Karen's Pillow

                                                                                   It's not that Pat hasn't been working on her sweater. She has. But she didn't want a picture taken until she finished the front side. She started the back last Saturday. All the great knitters who are Pat's friends have been giving her support. Just wait until I start knitting something!

Karen has crocheted 2 great pillows to be raffled off for Rwanda Knits. We don't know yet if it will be at the  Yarn Ball or the Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Festival "Three Yarntini Luncheon". (By the way we got cards in our Stitch and Pitch bags for $2 off the festival.) The pillows  are made with Vanna's Choice in antique rose. Don't these look like tapestry? They're crocheted. Fantastic job, Karen.

Stitch N Pitch: the Event

Rebecca at Stitch N Pitch

                                                                             This is Rebecca who got her ticket for the Stitch N Pitch from Lisa who couldn't make it. As you can see it looks like a lot of  space. But that was early on and it really filled in. Otherwise Rebecca would  have been sitting near Theresa and me.  Theresa said to look out, that  those stray balls like to come right at her. But I think that Rebecca may be more attractive to baseballs.

Rebecca and Theresa were smiling after they picked up their "goody" bags. But that was before the game.

This post doesn't make much sense unless you went to Susan's post I sent in the email. 

Stitch N Pitch: How Dumb?

How dumb can I be?

I wore my new top to the Stitch N Pitch. Doris Chan design Sera Top from Interweave Crochet.

This dumb!

Lost Hooks

If you noticed we didn't meet last week. Although we don't cancel often.

I do spend some time reading other blogs. Eventually the blogger mentions or screams about furniture that eats hooks. It is so nice to know it's not just me! Then they will go on to to mention wonderful husbands who upend and shake out the offending stuffed culprits. (ditto)

This is my nemesis: a loveseat recliner. You'd think that something that opened up would be easy to deal with; but no. Just twice as big to turn over. By the way, these voracious upholstered entities have been known to cough up needles, too. 

Latest Inspirations

We all from time to time bring in books and mags to share.

I brought in Woman's Day Crochet Showcase from 1980 that I found at Half Price Books. I troll casually for vintage books and this is a good place to check out. I have more vintage books that weren't vintage when I bought them. There are good designs in this one and some for Stitchy McYarnpants. Note that old designs are usually only for about 3 sizes, while modern designers take the trouble to size for the rest of us. Crochet comes of age.

Becky brought in Teva Durham's Loop-d-Loop. There are funky designs and basic designs; but there are beautiful designs for dreaming about. A great book for sitting and browsing through: crochet for the eyes.

Belle Armoire is for altered clothes enthusiasts. The cover shows a design in knit and crochet (and flair). Always inspirational.

Too Cute

Just another of Rebecca's toddler designs. A little boy's cool weather vest. She's going to put in a zipper. Her first. Will she be frustrated or make it work on the first try as usual? She'll let us know.