Summer time Crochet

I bought some yarn to start Cupcake, from the Happy Hooker. I'm gradually working my way through the book, since there are so many good projects in there. I want to make more knitted summer stuff, since I've basically only made worsted weight sweaters, that I can't wear all the time. So far, Cupcake seems easy enough, and I'm using the recommended yarn, Amazon DK. It's really smooth and lightweight. I keep starting new projects and not finishing them. I'm excited when I start, then the pattern seems tedious. If I work on a bunch of different projects, it keeps them from getting boring.
I'm glad summer is here, because it means in season fruit is here. There's nothing like organic strawberries, blueberries, and mangos, in my opinion.

First Top Down Raglan

I unraveled another sweater, which I had done a while ago. I kept noticing all the problems with it, since it was the first sweater I made. Some parts were done wrong and I ended up not really liking the style. It was green and purple, so I used the green to start this raglan sweater. I used Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride, which I won't be able to wear for a while, since it's too warm now. So far, I like how it's coming together, and there won't be much seaming at the end. It's going by really quickly, and I like being able to try it on as I go.
I was thinking about using the purple yarn for a crocheted sweater, but I might not have enough. I was thinking of a lacy pattern, or something else more challenging than stockinette, so I'll just have to keep looking.

Sugar Magnolia

I went to Hendricks Park yesterday, and hadn't been there for years, it seems. I don't know why I don't do things I like more often. I think springtime here is the best, because everything is blooming, even bushes and shrubs you wouldn't expect.

Sesame Is Good

I finally finished with this sweater. I started thinking it was too small, but I finished and blocked it, and it seems fine. The buttonhole band curls though, and I don't know how to fix it. I thought of rebinding off again tighter. I used Brown Sheep cotton fleece, which I really like. I don't know which specific colors they were, because they were mill ends. It feels soft against the skin, and is lightweight. It was a relatively easy sweater, except that I kept running out of yarn, so the size became an issue. Also, the colors bled after I blocked it, so I guess I would have to wash it again.

Lace Projects

I have been working on lace patterns lately. One is Branching Out and the other is the Om Yoga Bag from S & B Nation. I'm using Lion brand cotton, and it is more difficult to work with, but should be sturdy. I' ve seen some mistakes already on Branching Out. I think I didn't add enough yarn overs, so I ended up with too few stitches. I just have to pay more attention to it.

Fat Bottomed Bag In All It's Glory

I finally finished this project. It took a while, because the yarn split constantly with the herringbone stitch. The stitch is the only one used throughout, and it really is a lot slower than the regular ones. But I like the finished texture. I might do more to dress up the bag, with ribbon or a crocheted flower. One thing that I would have done differently, is to sew the lining to the bag before I attached the handles. It was really difficult to get the lining centered in the bag. I was just excited about finishing, so I didn't think about that. I like the finished look of crocheted bags a lot better than knitted. They seem a lot more sturdy.

Granny Squares Bag

Granny Squares Bag
Originally uploaded by sphilange.

I recently finished this bag in one day. It was crocheted with Lion suede and cotton, based on the Granny's No Square pattern. I want to do the orginal, which uses much more expensive yarn, but I wanted to test out the pattern first. It turned out a little bigger than I wanted, because the suede is so much thicker than the Berocco suede the pattern called for.

Dislike the Name, Like the Project

I am halfway done on the Fat Bottomed Bag from the Happy Hooker. I used Lion Brand cotton, which splits a lot, but is cheap. The construction of the bag is different than I thought it would be, since you're working sideways, instead of from the top. I might make fewer rows, because I don't it to be as wide. It's taking a while, but hopefully the finished project will turn out good.

Mosaic Coaster Attempt

I made these recently, with glass tiles. I wanted to make a design, but it was difficult to cut the tiles precisely. I think they turned okay for the first try.