Recovery and Revisiting Old Projects

Recovery

I'm regaining my strength after illness and surgery. Recovery is a process that has to be measured in daily increments with a few setbacks along the way. I am making progress though.

Thank goodness I have my crochet. It has gotten me through pain, insomnia and boredom with being bedridden.

I am so grateful to my loved ones for taking care of me.

Revisiting of the Old

During the moments when I am strong and energetic, I've been pulling out old crochet projects and UFOs. I had several UFOs that were completed except I never wove in the ends, blocked, added buttons, etc. Finishing is NOT my favorite part of crochet. Usually I want to keep my hook going and start on something else as soon as I'm done. That's why I try to keep several projects going at one time.

I finally put the finishing touches on my Lily Chin Lace Dress that I made ages ago. I will take a photo as soon as I find a slip to wear underneath.

I found a jacket/coat I made a few years back and when I tried it on, I was surprised at how CUTE it was. It was very simple to make and more of an experiment so I never really looked at it. I'm going to finish weaving in the ends and put on the buttons. I think I can even retro-engineer a pattern from it just from looking at it.

I also finished a mystery project that I was working on. I cannot wait to share that with everyone. It is the sexy hotness IMO.

Connecticut Avenue Redeux

I am very happy with the way the original Connecticut Avenue Jacket turned out, but after going over my notes, I saw there are some areas that need refining. So I am making another one using a different bulky yarn. This one is made using Knit Pick's Quarry in Ubatuba.

One trick that I'm using this time is making both the left and right front at the same time using two skeins of yarn. It seems to go faster and I can be sure that they are working up the same by doing my increases/decreases for the row at the same time on both pieces. I'm going to do the same thing when I work the sleeves.

I'll take better pictures also. Make sure I wear a bra this time and model someplace other than my bathroom.

Easy Custom-Fitted Hat Download

This is an easy and simply way to make a hat without being able to make a circle or crochet in the round. This pattern is basic but allows for any type of embelishment you can imagine.

I've uploaded this as a free downloadable pattern on Ravelry. Feel free to add it to your PDF library. For those of you not on Ravelry, you can download the pattern in PDF format HERE.

Enjoy.

What Does HE Know?

Thanks for the comments on my "Envisioning and Staying Focused" post. My son is 24. But you all are right about what does HE know. He's spent the last four years wearing a uniform in the Air Force. In fact, I just had to give him a lesson this weekend on shopping and types of men's clothing.

Thanks for the encouragement and I am definitely doing to attempt a pattern for my Connecticut Ave Jacket.

New Logo, Uh Huh!

Finally got around to putting up a new logo. Looks good with the blue background.

Actually, it's a rip off the logo from my old blog website Unrepentant Hooker. I'm going to eventually revamp that blog and site.

Envisioning and Staying Focused

The other week, I couldn't wait to get to my Connecticut Avenue Jacket and remove the pins from the blocking. It has turned out exactly like I had envisioned, maybe even better. I proudly put in on, sans the buttons that needed to be added, and went into my 24-year-old son's room to model my creation.

"What do you think?"

Him: "Is that the thing you've been working on all this time?"

*smiling proudly* "Yes!"

Him: "Oh, it should be longer and why are the sleeves too short?"

"Because that's the style that's out right now, and I think it's cute."

Him: "Well, it looks okay, but the sleeves . . ."

*getting irritated and cutting him off* "You don't know what's hot right now." *I exit back to my fortress of solitude and sanity, otherwise known as my bedroom*

I can only imagine what my daughter will say when I show her. LOL!

For some reason, I tend to keep my creations to myself and admire them in private. I don't know why I only trip about my crochet only. I used to design jewelry, dolls and others creations -- proudly displaying them for sale -- but it's like I couldn't bear for someone close to me to talk bad about my first love, crochet.

Ravelry is helping me to get over this. Seeing so many people freely displaying their work has made me brave. Got me in my closets looking for things I made long ago so I can say "look what I made!" I'm even modeling my designs. LOL!

I have one more step I need to take, though. I need to work up the courage to show my boyfriend my finished work. He always sees me crocheting but never sees what I've done. And on top of all this, he's professional photographer, but still my crazy butt is taking pics in my bathroom instead of asking him to take my pics. Does that make any sense?

I really want to eventually have some of my designs for sale as patterns, and in order to do that I'm going to have to get focused and get over my phobias and weird ways.

This AIN'T Crochet

I decided to pick up a little knitting project just to see if I still had it. I chose these cute, little Pocketbook Slippers by Lisa Vienneau & Allison Barrett at Knitwits Heaven.

Started a little rough but I'm getting a steady pace going. My hands hurt though because I knit tight and hold the needles with a "kung-fu grip."

I'm sure I'll be making more of these in lots of colors. They would make a nice holiday gift too.