I'm still here!

Working hard, crocheting harder... that's been my life the past couple of months. I've made several scarves - family holiday gifts - and didn't take pictures! Doesn't that suck? I was so busy trying to figure out who would get what that when the time came, I packed them all up and shipped them out... without any pictures. Kinda sad about that.

Anyway, I did take pictures of the cute little outfit I made yesterday. The dress is actually the newborn romper - I just didn't add the middle.
The booties - my first (yay!) - are these very cute 5-minute baby booties, which were ridiculously easy. I'm about to make several hat and bootie sets to have available for newborns.. They're THAT easy!
The hat was my own easy pattern. I did a cute sc scalloped edge on the dress and hat.

This set is going to one of my husband's coworkers. I hope she likes it.

I realized something about myself also... I really only like to make baby items. I want to make other stuff - legwarmers, sweaters, earrings - but I always get the most joy out of making baby items. So I have decided... instead of trying to force myself to finish an adult item, I'm going to be content with my baby gear. I'll perfect that. Then MAYBE, if I get the itch to make something more, I'll do it once in a while.

For now, for me - it's all about the babies.

If you need anything for a baby, let me know!! I'd love to make it!

Well... time to make more booties. :-)

Until next time!

Where have I been??

July... that's the last time I've updated the blog. I'm going to try to do much better. 

Anyway, if you're not one of my FB friends, I wanted to show you what I've done and where I got the ideas from:

Hat and scarf I made for a male friend. I made mittens as well, but I didn't post them... I got the hat pattern from Ravelry. Click here for the pattern. The scarf pattern was from All Free Crochet. Click here for that pattern. 

I found that both the hat and scarf pattern works better with very soft yarn. I tried with with Red Heart Super Saver yarn... it works, but they are pretty stiff.

The dress and outfit was for a friend's baby. I unfortunately don't remember where I got each piece of the pattern from. After searching all over, I found the best yarn for it at Hobby Lobby. The color of the variegated yarn is a great girly autumn color. Most autumn colors are more for boys, but this one was perfect. 

This is the owl that almost wasn't. I had so much trouble putting the two balls together. First time I did it, it looked more like a peanut than an owl. I didn't follow a pattern for this, I just made two circles, made round pieces for the eyes and tummy (the black part of the eyes are buttons, and made narrower earflaps for the wings. I had trouble sewing ears onto the owl, so the ears (very small earflap triangles) became feet, and I made a bow by crocheting about 5 rows sc and wrapping a string around it. The beak... that gave me problems. I tried making the same triangle, but it just wasn't working for me. 

Now that I've made it, my daughter's friends also want animals. Don't know if I'm going to do this again... 

I'm still in hat and scarf mode. I made several hats, now I have to make scarves to go with them. Once I do, I'll post the pics. 

Until next time... 

Busy, busy, busy!

Busy with regular life. SO busy, that I can't get crocheting done - at least not any of the gifts I want to make for people.
I have hat orders and an order for a baby boy set, so that's pretty much what I'm going to do until September. After that, I'm going to start making scarves, hats, and I'm even going to try some mittens... yay!

So... I probably won't post very often, but I'm going to post.

Be patient - you'll see some pictures soon!

It's been over a month...

... and I haven't posted anything. I have made several items - hats for a friend and a couple of baby girl outfits. But other than that, I've not done much.

Most of the reason is... I want to buy more yarn. I have lots of it, so buying more really isn't justified right now... but for some of the things I want to make, I need different yarn. Maybe I'll make some blankets and hats to use what I have. I have some books... I need to try some new items in there.... hmmmm.....

Be back later with photos...

It's earring time!

I decided yesterday to start making some earrings. I gave it a try once, and I didn't really like them. It may have been the thick yarn I used or the fact that I used such a large hoop to work with, so I thought I'd try again.
Last night, I made 2 pair with my own pattern and today I made a pair using Mrsfitty50's pattern off of YouTube. I purchased thread and beads, and I think I made some pretty cute earrings for my first real try.

What do you think?

For my next project, I'm going to make a pair of booties and baby boy's vest. I want to branch out more, and I haven't made anything for a boy yet.

I also want to find a good adult dress pattern that I can master. I purchased a few books on Amazon, so I hope I can find something there.

Well, let me get working on these booties!

Until next time!

Jewelry: to make or not to make...

 I'm still debating. I like these, but they're a little large for me. I see others creating earrings, and I would love to add them to what I do, but I don't know if I have the patience for it... not like I have the patience for other things... but still. Plus, the work is a little small for my arthritic fingers...
They're made around rings - I can do free form rings, but I like the stiffer version - not the floppy things I've seen others wear. The girls in the group I'm in makes some beautiful earrings. Maybe I'll just purchase from them.

This pair is a little smaller. This was the first pair I made. I'm thinking I'll wear these this week, see the reaction I get.

Anywho - I'm still working on my blanket. LOTS of squares! I didn't like how the larger squares were turning out, so I changed them to a different granny. I can't wait to put them all together! Of course as soon as I do I'll post a picture.

How do you feel about the earrings?

I love buttons!

I have been finding the most adorable buttons! I'm so excited! This little buzzy little bee is perfect for the dress and diaper cover I made. I need to get more...
Picking the right accessory for the outfits is almost as important as the outfit itself. I know when I shop, I look at the snaps or buttons or other decorations... if they're not good, they throw the entire piece of clothing off. I also have to take into account WHO the item is for. Don't want anything that could harm a little one, or something that the owner is going to struggle with. The item will stay in the back of the closet if that happens... I don't want that.
Anyway...

I have mailed out several packages - scarves that were supposed to be mailed a while ago, 3 dresses, and a baby afghan. I hope your items get to you safely. Let me know if they don't.

Oh, what's that you say?
You didn't order anything?
Well....

What are you waiting for??? ;-)

Yaaayyy!

I finished it today - my tote bag! It will work great as a big beach bag to carry towels and other essentials. I love the color... reminds me of summer.

I still have to place a lining in it, but I'm not sure what color yet - orange or yellow. There are some specks of pink in it, but not enough.

I'm going to make a smaller one as well - one that I can use as an every day bag.

So... what do you think?

I want 100 facebook fans!

I want fans!! Tell your friends to tell their friends to tell their friends that if I have 100 fans, I will give away a beautiful afghan! I found this perfect pattern, and I want to make it for someone special!

I have 5 granny squares left, then I can put the bag together. This, like many of the items I've made lately, is my first bag. I want to finish this one, because I know I'll have more to make once I show it - it's a really cute bag!

I need to apologize to my people that I have items for... I'm going to mail everything on Tuesday. It's been really crazy. They will definitely be in the mail on Tuesday. 

I don't have much to type about today... soon as my bag is finished, I'll post a picture!

Thanks!!

Stuck in a rutt

I hate having to use that term, but that's how I feel right now.
I noticed if I make something that has - let's say, 20 rows of the same stitch, I want to go CRAZY!! I need to start getting into something a little more challenging, but I'm afraid of screwing up the design and being upset with myself.

I know, I know.... I need to get over it and be adventurous. I guess I will soon enough. I did start a new stitch I've been wanting to try - the tunisian (or afghan) stitch. There's a tank top that uses the stitch, so I'm going to try it and make myself a tank. I also want to start another stitch - broomstick lace. This is what it looks like:

(stitchdiva.com)

It looks difficult, but it's very beautiful! Lots of formal accessories will be made with this stitch.

Well, I need to get back to this order. It's almost done. After that, I have a bag to make, then I'll start some of those more difficult patterns. I promise!!

Until next time!

BTW - I still haven't made that sock...

Why is it so hard to make a sock???

Like I said in the beginning of this blog, for over 10 years I only made granny square afghans. And I didn't even make the ones that you sew together, just very large granny squares. When I tried sewing squares together (when I first started), they just didn't go together right. It was very frustrating... so I just stopped and stuck with my large granny square afghans.

Well now that I'm branching out - and having a great time with it - I've been getting crazy requests for items. It's been fun--- until I got to the socks.

I CANNOT make a sock! I do need to say I've only tried twice, so I do know eventually I'll make a wearable pair of socks.

I thought about posting my mistake here, but.... you guys are going to have to just wait for a real sock. Lol!

Sorry I'm a week late....

... but I've been busy with work, home, and crocheting new items.
I'm also recovering from being an eBay yarn buying addict!! I purchased over 120 skeins of yarn in a WEEK!! The bad thing is, I already had PLENTY of yarn around the house. I need to find something to do with all of that yarn...
I also purchased a yarn winder - but I'm not 100% sure on how to use it yet. I have so much loose and tangled yarn - I need to get it all together and in order. I saw someone who has some of those black hanging closet organizers - FULL of yarn! I want to do that - but that would mean me getting rid of my husband's clothes in the closet... not mine... lol!

Anyway, here are some of the things I made in the past two weeks.

These scarves are from the contest I was holding on my FB page - Leslie's Crochet Creations:


Made this shawl for my mother-in-law:


My hair was a mess one day, so I learned how to make this hat. Since then, I've made 3 more, and have orders for 2 more.


This dress, diaper cover, and round baby afghan are for a special first time mommy:


Although I've been crocheting for years, this has been such an exciting time. Finding patterns and creating these great items have been so much fun!

Once I get to 100 "likes" on my facebook page, I'm going to give away a queen sized afghan! Tell your friends to like my page!!

I'm going to Philly for a week, but don't think I'm going to stop crocheting! I have my yarn and hooks packed and ready, and I know where the closest yarn store is if needed.

As always, if you see anything you want, I can recreate it for you. Just let me know.

Well, that's all I have to show you for now -

What am I making right now?

A shawl. That is taking a pretty long time. It's a plum colored, treble crochet granny shawl. I started it almost 2 weeks ago, but then I had some company and didn't crochet much. Then I've been running around like crazy. Then I've been sick...

I need to get this thing finished and start on others. I'm giving away a scarf - I already gave away one - on my facebook page, and I want to make sure I have time to start them.

Time for work... I'll post a picture of what I've completed so far when I get home.

Have a great day!!

Items I've made and where they came from

Hello, all!
Here are the items that I recently made. Most of the items I found were on Youtube, and they were surprisingly easy to create.

The sweater I made.
(that's my foot, lol, and my bag I keep the yarn I'm using)
Cat's One Piece Wonder (Youtube)
Cat's Rockin' Cradle One Piece Wonder(blog)

Puff stitch scarf:

From The Crochet Geek (Youtube)

Baby Doll Top:
(I changed it slightly...)
From Red Heart and Double Stitch Twins

Some of my other creations (without a pattern):

Baby afghan, loose swirl scarf, caterpillar scarf.

If you have any questions about any of the items you see, please let me know!

Thanks!

Introduction

Hello, all!
My name is Leslie, and before I go any further, I want to let you know that this is my second attempt at blogging. The first attempt didn't go so well because it was about my family, and basically at the time, we were a little boring. I just have to face facts... lol! Our lives are a little more exciting now, so I may get back to that site soon...

Anyway, this time I want to talk about my adventures of crocheting. I'm not new to crocheting, I actually learned how to crochet 13 years ago when I started working at Independence Blue Cross. They had a lunch group called the Crochet Hookers, and the items made were raffled off to raise money for a local hospital in Philly. The first item I made was a hat (so big it could fit waist long locs), then a pillow, then a granny square baby afghan. I loved the granny square so much, that's pretty much where I got stuck. I tried other projects, but I didn't do so well with them, so I went back to the granny. Then for a long while, I stopped altogether.

Now, with the help of some crochet loving friends on Facebook and videos on Youtube, I'm back to my love of crocheting. I started back up right before the Christmas holiday, and I believe I made about 12 scarves, 3 baby blankets, 3 baby sweaters, and my first adult top. It's been very exciting to learn all of these projects, and now I want to share them with everyone. AND... if anyone wants me to make something for them, I can do that, too!

I cannot say that I can teach you how to crochet, but I will post where I get my information from and I'll post any new projects I'm working on. Most of my projects are from Youtube and yarn sites. I'll post a list soon.

As I said, if you want something that you see posted, I am taking requests. I have paypal, and can ship to anywhere in the U.S and Canada.

Thanks for reading, and have a great day!