Author Archives: atangledyarn84

Dog And Crochet

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This blog is now a crochet granny stripe blanket blog….for now. We are at Day 11 of my mini skeins and Duke is properly supervising my work.

He is adding just the right amount of dog hair dusting in my work. But he often sleeps on the job.

I recently lent some yarn to a friend for a photo prop and she returned it. It was a bunch of bulky cotton yarn in neutral colors. (See zip lock bag) And instead of putting this all away again I think I will start a chunky granny stripe baby blanket. It can be a gift or a doll blanket for PB?

I mean, why not add to my pile of active WIPs, right? Happy Crafting!

Book Time Machine

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Part of my 2024 plan for wellness is more reading. I joined a book club last year and picked up some new books at the library sale as well. I am trying to incorporate fun and professional reading as a part of my self care.

And I thought it prudent to clear some of the books off my night stand before starting new book. First up is #IMOMSOHARD. I think I started this book in 2022? And I only had a few chapters to go. So Duke and I turned off the TV and wrapped this one up this week.

And we found treasure. I found a printed knit hat pattern that I never made, a tooth fairy note about Jellybean and a crumply post it. Apparently I store things in books?

Happy Reading!

RSI Avoidance

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I have really been hyper focused on my Granny Stripe Blanket and crochet is not my normal craft. Those muscles are not as “in shape” as my knitting muscles. I did start to notice some RSI stress and soreness in both my hands this week. But I don’t want to stop working on this project.

So I went off to the local Walgreen and sourced compression gloves. They really do help with soreness and making my hands feel better. I do find it difficult to tension my yarn while crocheting. It doesn’t feel the same or slide the same. So I am alternating working with the gloves, taking breaks and working bare handed.

Hoping this keeps me making progress! Happy Crocheting!!

Mom Skills

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PB reached 100 days of school and celebrated by dressing up as a granny. Per my usual MO, I went to Amazon to help this working momma out. But alas the kit came WAY to big and way to late to exchange.

So it was my sewing machine to the rescue. I had to take up 10 inches which meant a 5 inch hem. I did not cut off any fabric so as she grows I can just pick out the stitches and let the “dress” down to fit her.

She was EXCITED. She had her cane, purls, granny glasses and dress. We skipped the skull cap and wig because I don’t hate her teacher. And bonus, she can now play Grannies like they do in Bluey. IYKYK

Happy Sewing!

Day 9 And A New Addition

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I am not up to day NINE in my crochet blanket of advent calendar past.

Duke decided he needed to be in on the photo this time so included are some tiny puppy toes. I have been monitoring my full skein of the Christmas red/green. I am using it WAY faster than I should be to make it to 24 stripes. So I am going to need some help.

I knew I had some other Christmas yarn in my stash from a gal’s gift last year. So I pulled it out to see if it would work. I think the colors blend beautifully. It is a different fiber content with a wool/cashmere/nylon blend. But the thickness and twist are consistent. I’ll just need to be careful with washing/drying.

I have a plan to alternate this in with the full skein I have already been using. I have a scale so I can keep track of how well I think this is working. I also have some mini skeins in solid red/green that I can use in a pinch.

Happy Crocheting!!

FO Friday: Mom’s In The Light

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The wooden coaster turned tassel maker works just fine. I got my tassels finished and temporarily on my Mom’s In The Light. We even got to see that yellow ball in the sky that was the sun for some good photos.

Pattern: In The Light by Casey Day-Crosier (Rav Link)

Yarn: Laneras Barefoot (100% Polworth) held double with yellow and green

Needles: US 8s

Mods: Omitted the lace section to conserve yarn as I only had two skeins.

I tried to style this shawl on my necklace holder. This photo was before it’s wash and blocking so it’s a little scrunchy. But I think it still looks nice. My mom is coming this week so I can get her input on the tassels before I do final touches.

I used every bit of each 400 yard skein for a total of 800 yards used. So this was a nice bang for my buck getting yarn out of my stash. And it will be nice and toasty with the fingering held double.

The Last Yards

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I got nervous with yarn chicken on my Mom’s In The Light and started the fringe. Turns out a wee bit early as I could have done at least four more rows of shawl body. But now the edge has been knit, unraveled and knotted. I am NOT going back. The shawl was also supposed to be this size, lol.

So, I am going to do up some tassels to weigh down the edges of the shawl and use up the last yards. These balls are pretty close to 4 grams so I will get fairly robust tassels. I don’t know my mom’s feelings about tassels….so I won’t sew them on permanently until she gives the okay.

If she hates them, I will give them to PB to add to her craft kit. Happy Knitting!!

Blanket On Parade

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Happy Valentines Day!! I woke up to many many hugs from my littles and chocolate for breakfast.

We are back in full swing with all the lessons/appointments/chores. This means my blanket is on parade. So far this week we have done PB’s gymnastics lessons. The warehouse is still chilly so the blanket felt great on my lap!

And of course in the middle of all this, our washing machine broke and developed a leak. So two hours at a local laundromat got me through 2 weeks of laundry and the next advent day mini skein. I think I am on eight or nine? I should count.

This blanket has also been to work, car rides and at least one doctors appointment. I have just fully embraced this is my public life now. Muggles be darned! I did find another crafter at the laundromat, this lady was working a very complicated and lovely cross stitch.

Happy Crochet!

Crocheting Day 7

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The blanket fever continues apace. I even took this to a crafty lunch at work and my coworkers went GAGA over it. I am just now adding Day 7 mini from this 2021 Queen City Yarns advent calendar.

Thus far I am doing okay at managing my edges and keeping a consistent stitch count. Counting the clusters helps. I also find that I must keep eye contact with this project 90% of the time and I can’t watch and craft. So for this project I am re-watching old shows or listening to media to compensate.

I adore the contrast stripes, but find I am 40% way through the blanket days and over 50% done withe my full skein. I have been weighing to watch the yarn disappear. I may have to go stash diving to find something that compliments this to help me get through all 24 days….

Happy Crocheting!

Pin Update

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It’s been a minutes since I got out my bag of stitch markers and assorted progress keepers. I tend to use a small subset of what I have and that is a shame! I also purged the top of my dresser and found 8-10 new enamel pins I needed to add to my collection

My mom made me this simple canvas pouch that is perfect for pin holding. And the tools inside are not at all bothered by the backs on the inside. I would never store yarn in something like this, that would be a nightmare of snagging.

I just need to keep working on filling out the back! PB tells me that she loves the tinkling sound it makes when I carry it and it shakes. She says it like an inside windchime!

Happy Knitting!!