Owl Obsession

 Here's what I have been busy crocheting for a Christmas gift for my Granddaughter, my version of a pattern created by Marken of The Hat & I, called "Owl Obsession". I really enjoyed this pattern and the open-ended possibilities one can use in recreating this design. In my revisions, I used 2 different colors of yarn in recreating the owls, I crocheted the eyes completely instead of using a button for the iris, I joined the motifs through the front using a complimenting multi-colored yarn, and I added a border that reminded me of feathers.

The pattern can be purchased through Ravelry here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/owl-obsession and the original pattern image made by the designer is displayed below. I want to make a few more using the suggested yarn. It's so lovely!

Happy Holidays!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

Banju Pillow

Nothing beats an interest outside of your work to inspire you and leave you feeling completely contented. I have been busy crocheting and painting lately, trying my hand at smaller this & that projects. I just completed this lovely Banju Pillow and really enjoyed the creative process in making it. You can find the pattern here by clicking on this link, Häkelkissen BANJU, Kreativ-Ebook .

This is one side of it. I used lots of bright, cheerful colors with a mixed style of yarn. After I completed both sides I pinned the backsides to a piece of material and sewed in a liner using my machine. I was careful not to sew on my top final row of each panel that is needed to enclose the sides and then I carefully trimmed around the edges.

And here's a side view. Instead of using a double crochet stitch (dc), I went with a tighter half double crochet (hdc) stitch to help keep its stuffing in.

 This is the flipside, I made the opposite sides different in case I liked one more than the other. Thanks for taking a look!

~sMiLeS~

Tammy in Northern Michigan



Afghan turned Sampler

I was serious on following a pattern when I first started this afghan, then I just couldn't help myself and I started playing around with some different stitches. I was really impressed with how the corner squares turned out. They are from the Forest Chain square pattern and I added little extra kick to them with some single stitch outlining and corner cross post stitches.

I really love how they turned out, pretty neat looking! 

I also wanted to show you how I organized my yarn using 12 x 12 cardboard boxes, packing tape, and a few drywall screws. I wanted a neat way to organize and show it off without being too permenate or costing too much.

The neat things about organizing it this way; are that I can change the boxes around on the wall  into different patterns to fit my mood and decor needs, and I can also add or subtract a box at anytime I want to, just depending on my yarn stash. I was even thinking about wallpapering the outside of it to make it look all copasetic for me.

Not too Shabby for Being a Newby!

Well, here it is! I didn't block it yet and I'm not sure if I will because my daughter wanted it like, yesterday and to be honest I'm not sure where to begin on something so big. It would be one daunting task, that's for sure! I started this Afghan with "me" in mind, I wanted something bright for my room. Well, I did mention "bright", didn't I? :) What do you think? Not too shabby for being a newby still. The pattern, "Realta Afghan by Olivia Rainsford from Gingerbread Lady Designs" 

can be found here:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/realta-afghan

Last week I had it spread out on my living room floor tucking ends in and my daughter happen to finally take a good look at it, you all know how teens are. She wouldn't stop telling me how much she loved it and then the girl managed to bamboozle it right off my bed and on to hers. Oooh well, c'est la vie (that's life)!  

It turned out a bit too color punchy for my room. At least this is what I kept telling myself as to why I gave it to her (I'm a schmuck when it comes to my babies)! It's okay, though, as it turns out I have been eyeing down a different pattern, that I've fallen in love with (like that was really hard to do). Here's the color palette below that I have already chosen for it; seafoam green, blue, denim, and I also plan on using a linen or light tan color to help accent the others. I first picked my Primary color, denim, when I seen it in Lion's brand, Pound of Love yarn. It's a luscious color! 

Projects, Toys, and Cleaning, Oh My!

This week I kept myself busy by finishing off the Tri-color Twist Lapghan that I had started a few months ago.

 I just love the peacock blue I used for the edgings, it turned out great! I had a heck of a time trying to photograph it because of the high saturation of colors.

I also spent the other night cleaning my craft room and started organizing my yarn and wool material. Yeah, Me!

On Sunday I took a trip to Jo-Ann Fabrics with my mom and purchased my new toy, a Simplicity Boye Electric Yarn Ball Winder with a 50% off coupon. I had read reviews about it before I purchased it and there were both pro's and con's on it. For the $45. I spent I would have to say it was money well spent, so far (since I have only had it for a few days). If I would of had to pay the full price I'm not sure if I would have bought it, to be honest.

 

 I do wish it had a foot pedal with it for when I need to stop and adjust the yarn I am using. I had read on one review that the tension was too loose on the center pull skeins it creates, mine seemed just fine for me. Trying to adjust the speed while feeding the yarn is completely awkward, though. See the red dial switch on the top there? Try imagining hanging on to a hank of yarn, with both hands in mind, while hurrying to turn the dial

switch off because of a tangle. I always dial it up to an even higher speed it seems while I am trying to do this, lol! while One good thing is, that when I messed up feeding the yarn and it did tangle in the guides the machine did not break the yarn, it seizes up and the motor whines a higher pitch. I do not know how good this can be on the motor.  I hope they created the machine's motor with tangles like this in mind because of the difficulty I had trying to switch it off and foreseeing more of these episodes in my future.

 

~sMiLeS~

Tammy in Northern Michigan!

Adorable Owl Pillow

Well, I finally finished the pillow below and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out! One down and many more requested for me to make! I did alter the eyes a bit and added some pretty shells for lashes. This beautiful Owl Cushion design was created by Greta Tulner at ATERGcrochet, Click here for the pattern .

Tricolor Twist Afghan

Here is one of the projects I have begun. I wanted to create an afghan with a more romantic colorway. I really like the pattern I am using, it's called Tri-color square. I found it in 200 Crochet Blocks by Jan Eaton, and is also in Crochet Inspiration by Sasha Kagan . I tweaked the pattern a little and I am using 3 solid colors consisting of shades of purple and pink with a more lustrous multi-colored yarn (Yarn Bee, First Love, Kisses) for the 3rd row for each square, while alternating between the solids. I am really pleased with how it is looking. What do you think? Thanks for looking, everyone!

 Tammy