What I Did on My Summer Vacation, Part II: New Stitches

October 10, 2015January 30, 2017 | Annie

Hi folks,

I am having a really difficult time concentrating this week. I think I am suffering from vacation hangover. After Mike and I got back from our trip to Arkansas, I did some laundry then headed out again on a trip with a couple of girlfriends. We spent a few days in the Smoky Mountains and it was wonderful—the leaves were just beginning to change there, and the rainy weather made the waterfalls we saw really beautiful.

I have seen so much great artwork and crafts over the past couple of weeks and I feel very inspired. There is so much that I want to make and do and try that I am having a hard time focusing and saying, “I am doing this today.” I am also covered in mosquito bites and hives from spending time outside planting mums since I have been home, and all of the itching I am doing might be contributing to my distracted feelings, too.

One of the things I have managed to accomplish since returning home is labeling all of the stitch samples I made while I was in Arkansas. I’ve been skipping around in The Big Book of Crochet Stitches for a while now, but I’ve decided to try to conquer all of these stitches in a bit more organized fashion.

I took my book and a pound of Caron yarn with me and started at the end of the “Easy Stitches” section. After spending days wandering around in parks and shops, I spent the evenings trying out stitches. I skipped a couple that didn’t make sense to me right away (I’ll come back to those later).

I used all of my green Caron yarn on the trip. I did a few more between my two trips, but I switched to a white Caron Simply Soft yarn that I had at home for those.

I also did some of the stitches in the “Bobbles” section of the book.

So, there you have it. I have many, many, many more stitches to work on in this book, but I find the learning exciting, and I like having those physical samples to refer to when thinking about new projects—it works better for me than just seeing a picture in a book

Until next time,
Annie

On the Hook: Gray Chevron Scarf

October 2, 2015January 30, 2017 | Annie

Hi folks,

This scarf has been in my unfinished pile for a while.

I think it is pretty. I like the pattern and color, and yarn is a soft acrylic that feels really nice. It’s those color changes that make me pick this one last when I am grabbing pieces to work on. It isn’t so much that the colors change, it’s that all the ends of those colors need to be sewn into the piece.

You might notice that there are a lot of un-sewn-in ends on this one. It isn’t one of my favorite things to do. I would much rather create actual crochet stitches, so I usually get in a groove and keep making those stitches, and the ends to be sewn in just keep adding up.

I stopped adding new length to this one until I get the existing ends sewn in, thinking I could then adopt the practice of sewing them in as I go. Instead, this scarf just moves to the bottom of the pile as I find new yarns and stitch patterns I want to try. I’m hoping that by posting this piece here, it will serve as another form of motivation.

I really do like this one. If I didn’t, I would just rip it out and use the yarn for something else (This yarn was going to be used for a Fair Isle piece, but I found it to be a tedious process. I may give that another go someday). I need to refine my making process when it comes to pieces with a lot of color changes so it goes more smoothly for me.

Until next time,
Annie

On the Hook: Don’t Overthink It Scarf

Don't Overthink It Scarf | Webster Fiber Arts

September 25, 2015January 30, 2017 | Annie

Hi folks,

Oh my goodness, this yarn is fantastic.

Look at those colors! Sometimes you don’t need intricate stitches to make something really lovely. I felt that was the case with this piece that I am calling “Don’t Overthink It.” I’m using simple single crochet stitches for the whole thing, and I love the result!

Until next time,
Annie

On the Hook: A Bulky Colorful Scarf

Bulky Colorful Scarf | Webster Fiber Arts

September 23, 2015January 30, 2017 | Annie

Hi folks,

Another scarf I’ve started is the vividly colored one pictured below.

By now you may have figured out that I don’t believe in that whole “finish one project before starting another” thing. I do eventually finish things, or I wouldn’t have anything to put in the shop.

I’m about halfway through this scarf. The yarn is thick and a little shiny, so you can really see the details of those half double crochet stitches. This one will be cozy when it is finished!

Until next time,
Annie

10/13/15 UPDATE: This piece is complete! See the finished scarf in my Etsy shop.

On the Hook: A Holly Jolly Cowl

September 22, 2015January 30, 2017 | Annie

Hi folks,

I’ve started work on a Christmassy piece.

I didn’t head to Jo-Ann to get supplies for a holiday cowl, but that green yarn was on clearance. I thought it was a beautiful color that would be perfect for Christmas (the fact that Jo-Ann has those wonderful cinnamon-scented pinecones all over the place might have helped put me in the mood).

I seem to be in a bobble phase right now, as I am making a lot of them. This bulky yarn really makes those bobbles pop. Tee hee!

Until next time,
Annie

On the Hook: Cherry Cola Scarf

September 21, 2015January 30, 2017 | Annie

Hi folks,

This is some yarn that I dyed recently. I was aiming for a something a bit greener in those brown areas, but I am really happy with the way it turned out. As I was winding it into a ball, I thought, “Oh, this looks like a cherry Icee. And this part looks like the cola flavor,” so “Cherry Cola” became the name of the yarn.

At this point, I’m working this in a bubbly bobble pattern, because Cherry Cokes have fizz.

Until next time,
Annie

New Piece: Cup & Ball Infinity Scarf

Cup & Ball Infinity Scarf | Webster Fiber Arts

September 16, 2015January 30, 2017 | Annie

Hi folks,

I have a new infinity scarf for you today! This is the Cup & Ball Infinity Scarf.

I love this yarn. It is from Noro, a Japanese yarn maker. I also love this, from their brand concept:

“BE FREE FROM EXISTING CONCEPTS AND LIMITATIONS”
“PURSUE THE IMAGE IN OUR MINDS”

I tried several different stitch patterns with this yarn before I landed on this one. I’m calling it “Cup & Ball,” because those little bobbles resting on top of the triangles/cones remind me of the cup and ball game. I’m terrible at that game. I’m also terrible at paddle ball. Maybe I will try to crochet some tribute to paddle ball next.

See more photos and purchase in my Etsy shop.

Until next time,
Annie

New Piece: Electric Youth Wrap

Electric Youth Wrap | Webster Fiber Arts

September 15, 2015January 30, 2017 | Annie

Hi folks,

When I was a kid, life was all about neon colors. I loved them! I remember having a couple of sweatshirts—one in neon green, one in neon orange—that I wore with these white shorts that had different neon colored shapes kind of splattered all over them. Stylin’!

I still have a soft spot for those colors, which is probably why I like the yarn in Toucan Cowl and Parakeet Button Cowl so much. For this piece, the Electric, I dyed the yarn myself, and then crocheted it into the Electric Youth Wrap.

See more photos and purchase at Etsy.

Until next time,
Annie

New Piece: Parakeet Button Cowl

Parakeet Button Cowl | Webster Fiber Arts

September 14, 2015January 30, 2017 | Annie

Hi folks,

I have a new cowl to share with you today—the Parakeet Button Cowl.

This is the same style of yarn I used for the Toucan Cowl and I just love it. I have a few more colors of it in my stash left to make things. All of yarns in this collection have bird names, which I think is a lot of fun. This green one was named “Parakeet.” I stuck with that name for the cowl.

See more photos and purchase in my Etsy shop.

Until next time,
Annie