Busy, busy

I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts this morning and I decided that I just had to mention it in a blog post. If you don't already listen, you should check out YarnThing hosted by Marly. Marly seems like an awesome lady. She fun, quirky and has awesome tips and ideas asll well as gives you an introduction to some of the coolest designers out there. Listening to her show always bring a smile to my face and inspires me to keep on stitching. :D In fact, listening to her show has inspired me to start trying to get my own designs published. Anyway, enough gushing...on that anyway...

Wednesday night I just picked up a new book called The Crochet Bible by Sue Whiting. I LOVE it and just had to share it with you. It is a great beginner's book because it goes over all the basics. It is also a great book for more advanced crocheters like me to help give ideas for different stitches or to give a refresher on certain skills that you might not use on a daily basis. I've been reading it straight through and am coming up with a plethora of design ideas just by reading through it. I really enjoy it and think you should check it out now...like right now.


I've just finished a couple more of my personal little projects. One of them was a paperback tote from a pattern that you can find here. I really enjoyed working on it and will borrow from the experience for another design that I am working on myself and will probably discuss at a later date. One thing I learned from this project that most crocheters/knitters will say "Well, duh!" to is that checking and double-checking gauge is a must! I haven't done this much in the past because gauge hasn't been a problem for me in the past. This time, though, I was using a new yarn that the pattern did not call for and it works up a little larger than regular worsted. So I wound up having to rip out a lot of work because of my silliness. I'll know for next time though. If I am going to be a proper designer, I need to take careful steps so that I will be saved a lot of extra work and heartache. Oh, btw, like my paper clip stitch markers? haha I love to improvise and they were the only thing I had handy at my office. They work really well actually. They stay put and are easy to remove. I'm actually thinking on using them again. I really liked the yarn I used. It's Lion Brand Chenille Prints in the color Paris. It's lots prettier than the picture really shows and is really soft. It would make a really nice, warm sweater.

Oh, I finished the scarf design I was working on. I think it turned out nicely and the Lion Brand Color Waves in Sunset Red was an awesome choice for it(haha I sound like I am doing a commercial for Lion Brand. That's twice I've mentioned their yarn. I really do like other yarns...honest). It's really pretty. Now I just need some testers for the pattern before I try to sell it anywhere. I will probably get on the forums at Ravelry and see if anyone is interested.

Anyway, that's all I have for now. I'm so psyched about finding Ravelry and getting connected with all these nifty designers and other crafters. I've got a TON of ideas floating around. I think my head will explode soon if I don't get some of these out onto paper and into yarn. Until next time, back to the hooks!

On the Hook: Going to try to figure out how to convert a knit pattern into a crochet pattern for a pair of socks for my mother-in-law...but shhh....it's a secret.