My Favorite Things

Two more projects I've finished. These are 2 of my favorite things to do: a crocheted purse and lace socks.

This design is from Maggiescrochet.com. I changed the color combination, some stitches, and the way the handles were attached to the body of the purse. I used J&P Coats crochet nylon thread.


Below is a lace sock using Durasport sock yarn from Briggs and Little. I really enjoyed knitting with this yarn. The design is from Socks (3X) book by XRX pub.

Classmates

I found my high school classmates (or they found me?) and we've started a group in Yahoo.I have been so busy e-mailing them back and forth that I haven't had a chance to blog or read blogs. But no fail, I zoom in on Yarn girl's and Vera's, Yarn Tomato's, Marlo's, Cat's, Susan's, Chicknits and Keyboard Biologist's blogsites. I find myself reading more crochet blogs nowadays.

I've also dyed more rovings and yarns. I love experimenting with hand dyeing or kettle dyeing. I save those little plastic bottle applicators that hair dyes come in. Those are perfect for applying colors. I just have to remember to put on gloves.

I'm also pattern testing another sock pattern for Mary McCall. She's a genius at making charts! And finishing up some socks I have lying around. No matter what, I go back to socks. I can't make myself go back to the Sheep Shawl project that is almost finished. Just do the borders, Vicki, and you're done!

Was it Susan who was talking about a Poncho-Along? Well, I started one, from the Straw.com site, using my own small skeins of handspun wool. We'll see how it turns out. Just too lazy to take pictures.

Experiments in Dyeing

Tequila Sunrise roving



Violets in bloom



Tie-dyed Rhapsody



Durasport sock yarn

Amazingly, I had fun handpainting these rovings and yarns. I like knitting with that Durasport sock yarn! It's spun by Briggs and Little, single ply, wool and nylon blend. They're the makers of Tuffy and Heritage yarns. Very affordable.

You have to check out these crocheted sandals at the Gotta Make Something blogsite. It is so cute! It's a freebie and requires Adobe Reader. Do check it out.

I have been busy dyeing some yarns and rovings which I'm going to sell in my Ebay store. My fingers have turned black. And I used Latex gloves. Must be the fact that I keep taking them off--lol!

Pictures to follow.

Tribute to a Great Man

I cried my eyes out last night watching President Ronald Reagan's funeral. It's so heartwarming to see how he was loved and to know that Nancy will miss him terribly.

In 1982, my family and I came here to the US as immigrants. Ronald Reagan was in office then. I was totally amazed at how different it was here, us coming from a country that was under Martial Law, under the dictatorship of one man. Soon after we left our beloved country, the Marcos regime crumbled. President Reagan was the first US president I knew. Five years later, we were naturalized US Citizens. I value that gift, I value the democracy that this country offers, and I value the privileges that most people craved, that this country gifted us. Here's to a great man! Thank you, Mr. Reagan!

Okay (wiping off tears), on a knitting note:
Here's sock #1 of my Cloverleaf socks, part of the Six Sox Knitalong.


And here's another sock I just finished, from Handjiveknits.com


The yarn used is the same Nature's Palette yarn I got from her, color is Owl's Clover. Very pretty color.

I am so NOT good at scanning pictures either. Just as terrible with digital cameras.

Flower Mini poncho from Stitch Diva Designs

Aside from the obvious fact that I don't know how to center my digital pictures, here's a pic of my Flower mini poncho. Very enjoyable to crochet inspite of my reservations on doing triple trebles. And very quick to finish. Of course I made some changes to suit my fancy. The yarn used is a peachy blend of acrylic and wool from Bernat. It is a discontinued yarn and I doubled the strands to meet the chunky requirements of the pattern. It drapes well and even with the holeyness of the fabric, it can keep you warm and cosy on chilly summer evenings. I think I will take a better picture later, with my daughter modelling it.

BTW, Vera has started a Crochet-along for this pattern. Of course I joined since I plan on doing another one. I got the pattern on Ebay under username "Stitch_diva".

I can't believe I've finished 2 of my sock knitting UFOs. These socks were started 2 years ago. Inbelievable!

Oh my! After reading Rachel G's comment on my blog, I got nosy and went to her website. What a Treasure Trove of free Crochet patterns! Why have I not seen it before?? Visit Crochet Pattern Central and go crazy. Big problem- I don't know which one to click on.

Check out the Midnight Knitter website for lots of free crochet and knit patterns. They're way too cute!

I finally got to watch THE LORD OF THE RINGS #3 on DVD. This is so far the best of the 3. Everytime I watch this trilogy, I always fall in love with Legolas, the elf of Greenleaf. But, this time, the one memorable character who stood out is Eowyn, the blonde niece of the old King. Very courageous yet feminine. A woman after my own heart. She didn't have to fight but she did, just to be with the people she loves. And she killed the one nemesis who cannot be killed by any man. Her words: "I am no man!" She would have made Aragorn a great queen. But it wasn't meant to be. Aragorn's love is Arwen.

Oh yes, I've done some knitting and crocheting and spinning too. But that's for later.