More about the Baby Afghan

As I mentioned before Lynn has the large white center for the baby afghan finished. These are the additional shapes that have been made to be used on the border. They've been arranged in color groups. Our problem was that all the pieces weren't available at one time. So the decision was made to wait and see what we thought when all the pieces were available to give the border a trial layout. Then we could see what was needed.

Stacy's projects

We did not get to see Stacy's projects because some of them were gifts and on their way. But she did send us pix from Picasa. If you didn't get the email, here are her projects (knitted and crocheted): a darling hand puppet, her first attempt at a layette, and dishcloths made for mother's day. Mom's deserve really fancy dishcloths!

KC's projects

Karen has been crocheting a pillow to raffle off at the Yarntini Lunch. She is using Vana's Choice and the square came out smaller than expected. (10") This yarn has a fluffy body to it that may account for the difference, since it was a worsted weight substitution for the pattern. But she also has enough yarn to do a bigger pillow (14").

She has also knitted up this darling baby kimono. It just needs its ties (in blue of course). I love this color combo which I wouldn't have thought to use.

String Bag Kick

I got distracted by string bags lately and made quite a few. Several that I would describe as typical out of a cream color that looks pale yellow from Peaches and Cream. Then I got hold of several spools of the Lion Brand Kitchen Cotton that is very rustic looking. I made another typical one but with a larger section of firm, close stitches; and then another one that was on the short side for a six pack of whatever. What then?

The two bags you see here. The round bag started off as Margaret Hubert's Hobo Bag from her bags book. But it had the one strap across the middle that I don't care for, so I changed it into two handles. 

The second bag is my own design somewhat based on the reusable grocery bags sold at the stores. I like bags without logos. I am an advertising exec's nightmare. Even if I like a certain brand I don't like displaying the logo. What I really like about this design is that starting at the bottom with a chain I crocheted around in a rectangle and then up the sides to the top. All in one piece of yarn!. Then I did the straps all in one piece that wraps under the bottom twice, chaining the entire way with slip stitches right to the bag. Then around and around until I finished. One piece again. I did have to whip stitch the second side of the strap to the bag.  Just one problem. This bag is really so big, I could only put tissues or paper towels, etc. in it, if I realistically wanted to lift it!

I've been using it as a crochet bag, but since the sides are double crochet, hooks have a tendency to poke out. Both bags have been given stability by placing plastic canvas in the bottoms.   

The Alpaca Babies

I can't believe I did this! I asked Karen for pix of her alpaca babies: looked at them and deleted them. So I asked for them again and put them on the desk top and promptly forgot about them. Karen, you just have to speak up and get my memory going occasionally. I need all the help I can get. Here they  are.

So cute!

Last Saturday

We had a rather quiet meeting last Saturday. 

Roxanne's community group is trying to raise some money for the home. We signed up for a table to sell craft items; maybe we can raise money for Rwanda knits. But they are not sure how much interest there will be in this kind of activity. If it happens it will be some time in the fall.

Joe thinks we need a flyer or more bookmarks to hand out so we can start drumming up interest in the fall Yarn Ball. So we aren't doing things at the last minute and people can plan.

Lynn has finished the white square for the baby blanket. Soon we will need to plan a sewing Saturday to work on this blanket. Perhaps as part of the meeting in Lynn's kitchen. I have more cotton yarn: none of the variegated yarns match the tank top I'm making a lacy cardigan for. That's ok, it's so open that lots of aqua shows through. So I'm not putting any variegated flowers on it now. But I'm looking for more shapes to use the yarn for the baby afghan border.

Joe finished the slip stitch afghan. He put a crocheted border on it and it looks smashing. Lynn says there is enough yarn to crochet another afghan! Thanks, Pat's friend.

Rebecca was finishing up another cute toddler coat. With looped stitches on the cuffs and collar. It wasn't quite finished. Soon we'll have pix. 

Yogi ran in and out. She wanted to make sure she knew how to decrease on the shell stitch or the baby afghan would just keep growing into a huge triangle.

So even for a quiet small meeting we still seem to have a lot going on.

Double Crochet Stitches

I picked up Harmony's Guide to Basic Crochet Stitches. I love stitch collections and am always on the lookout for something new. Most times there is something clever and different especially once the editor starts combining stitches but not something that strikes me as new. But I was struck by what seemed to be a lot of double crochet stitches. How many could there be? So I made some swatches because I also wanted to compare size wise what the stitches did, which a stitch collection doesn't do for you.So here are some pix of the swatches along with a drawing of the international symbols. 

The basic double is there for reference. I used woolease from Lion Brand which is worsted weight and an H hook for every swatch. There are 24 stitches across and 6 rows high.  Finished size was 7 3/8ths wide and 3 3/8ths high. Every other swatch has the same number of stitches and rows.

The wide doubles are worked be placing the stitch between stitches in the previous row. I think it results in a woven, softer look than the basic stitch. It really is wider. 8 3/8ths wide and 3 3/8ths high.

The herringbone stitch really strikes me as something I haven't seen before. The stitch is different at the very beginning. YO and place hook in stitch, Yo and pull through stitch and first loop (it has a wrap around feel), Yo and pull through that loop, YO and pull through 2 loops. I have difficulty seeing the herringbone effect on my actual swatch or the book's photo; but WOW it really shows up on my photo! 7 3/4ths wide and 3 1/4th high.

Then there is the stitch called alternative doubles. The symbols on the right are from the book and the symbols from the left are what I think the stitch really is. I don't think it's a double crochet stitch but an extended half double.  Yo and place hook in stitch, YO and pull loop through, Yo and pull loop through loop just made, YO and pull loop through 3 loops on hook.

& 3/4ths wide and 3 1/4th wide. What do you think?

Finally I made an extended double crochet which is not mentioned in the book. YO place hook in stitch, YO and pull through, YO and pull through 1 loop, YO and pull through 2 loops, YO and pull through 2 loops. 7 1/2 wide and 4 1/4 high. This is a taller, softer feeling double crochet.

The book shows linked half doubles but not linked doubles.