Summer Fun

Summer will officially start at the end of this week.  Summer started unofficially in May with Memorial Day.  This past month has been hot, warm, cool, sunny, cloudy and rainy.  The weather might be confusing but my knitting and crochet projects aren't.

I'm working on the Tunisian crochet table cover, the knit phone cover, the jersey pillow (the yarn reminds me of my husband's old comfortable t shirts), and the crocodile stitch stole I designed for class.  So far, the table cover is good.  The phone cover is too big.  I need to reduce my needle size, probably by 2 sizes.  The jersey pillow is soft and smooth.  The stole is fuzzy.  I started this with Paton's Lace in Aran color.  The fuzzy yarn doesn't work well with black or navy colored clothes.  It sheds a bit.  It could be my dogs but I don't think so since they are short haired and this is long and lightly kinked.  I'm looking forward to this being done since I intended it for summer for those times when I go to dinner and am seating right in the blast zone of the AC or the store I go to is frigid (grocery store frozen foods aisle I'm looking at you).  

Make a note these are smaller projects.  I will also be starting work on the kids weaving class projects with the weaving sticks soon, also small projects.  What will I do when these are done?  I plan to work on other small projects.  I will also be working on my church's festival for 2 weeks in July.  I won't be teaching those weeks or really be in touch with things.  I won't even be knitting or crocheting.  I know it's hard to believe but I work shortened hours at my day job, long hours at the festival and by the time I get home and showered, I'm too tired.

I know I will be working on Warm Up America blocks.   I keep yarn and hooks/needles stashed in both vehicles for the down times as well as scratch paper for notes.  I will be working on new stitch patterns good for this effort.  I don't know about you all but I get bored with garter, seed, stockinette, single crochet, double crochet and the like.  I need a little pattern to liven my work up.  I might have a post stitch design or a shell pattern.  It all depends on what hits me in the off moment and what I see when I look out the window to inspire me.

Aside from all this fun and excitement, I look forward to seeing family and friends for cookouts and picnics, the fireworks for the 4th, fresh fruit from our trees and bushes.  Our strawberry patch has already produced a pint or so.  I know there are car shows and carnivals coming up as well.

What kind of fiber fun are you looking forward to?  

Christmas in July day 17

When we entertain for the holidays a large group or have overnight guests, I make sure to have some face cloths available for guests.  Moms love this for kid clean ups and the overnight guests love the soft, cushy, smooth feel of hand crafted cloths to use in the mornings.

Here are a few patterns

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/ckc-tissueBox.html?noImages=0

http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/spa-necessities

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L30180.html?noImages=   

http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/crochet-eco-chic-bath-set

A new take on Summer crochet and knit projects

June seems to be the month for weddings.  I know this because Las Vegas is the marriage capital of the world and June is their busiest month.  I can't guarantee the capital of the world for weddings but I do know June is the busiest.  Getting hotel rooms there can be brutal for the month of June.  September, around the SEMA (the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world) show, is also not too easy.  But back to June, I have a son getting married in Las Vegas in June, in just a few days actually.

Bride friendly gifts have been running through my mind for a while.  Wedding party ideas have also been swirling through.  I'm going to crochet a wedding purse for myself on the plane since I know what my limits are beforehand.  It will be a small beaded thing, nothing fancy but pictures will be posted after we return home.  I'm also going to make myself a general purpose multi pocketed wallet/purse for times when a purse is needed but not a fancy one and not the tourist fanny pack.  Most purses I carry are entirely too large to be airline friendly.

Some bridal ideas include a small clutch, a veil and/or headpiece if she hasn't chosen one yet, a shawl, or a garter.  Groom ideas could include boutonnieres for the men to wear.  

Check these links for some ideas:

lion brand bridal patterns

red heart bridal patterns

Patterns abroad

I subscribe to some blogs from other countries.  I don't speak any language well with the exception of English.  I can get my point across in Spanish given enough time and possibly a dictionary.  I don't read any language sadly.  However....

I have found that non English patterns have one of two things going for them.  They are either charts with a finished picture.  Or they are easily copy and pasted into Google translator.  With a translate program, you might not always get the whole thing in an understandable instruction but you can usually figure it out.  European languages are easiest it appears.  Asian and Middle Eastern are a bit harder for this program.

Thankfully, Asian and Middle Eastern patterns that I have found are usually charted.  If you can read charts, this is a great resource for you.  I'm sure there are patterns that are written but I have not seen them, nor have I searched for them.

Why am I telling you about these?  Other countries do such interesting things with their crafting.  Things I have not seen in American patterns before.

Three of my favorites are  http://www.meumundocraft.com/


https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Crendo-Giocndo/194797540599902

http://www.liveinternet.ru/users/orhideya6868

The top one is in Portuguese and comes from Brazil.  The middle one is a facebook page and I think you have to join facebook in order to access the page.  This is an Italian page but everything is laid out like pinterest pins or is charted.  Sadly, I'm too old for some of the ideas I saw but I have a soon to be daughter in law who isn't.  The bottom one is in Russian.  Google translate will be a great help here.  This woman has a lot of great patterns and ideas.

I have seen a lot of Japanese patterns scattered all over but I don't have a site I frequent.  Do you have an international blog that you follow for patterns?  Are you an international reader who posts patterns?  Please share.