Like a Ninja!

This wasn't a Christmas present.  It's actually a piece I finished almost a year ago and never blogged about.  Mostly because I couldn't get a decent pic --- 'cause I was too busy wearing it!

This was a pattern, Ninja Star Shawlette, from the book Seamless Crochet by Kristin Omdahl.  This book is genius!  No more joining motifs with tons of ends to weave in.  These patterns are designed to work back and forth, almost like rows.  Plus, she explains HOW it all works so you can designs with your own motifs.

This piece I worked on two evenings after work and then finished on a Saturday afternoon.  For me, the process was very intuitive.  I'm not sure it's for the beginner, but for anyone who can "read" their crochet stitches, it becomes almost mesmerizing.

 

The pattern is a triangular shawl and called for fringe.  I left off the fringe.  The yarn is Rastita by Malabrigo.  Such a soft-n-squishy merino.

Love, love, LOVED it!!!

Sea Jewel Cowl

If these colors don't stop you in your tracks, then I don't know WHAT will!

First attempt at plaid.  I think I nailed it!  LOL
I LOVED how this turned out!  Was a LOT of fun to weave!  Actually, when I pulled it off the loom, I think I actually said "Well, damn..."  See, it was soooo pretty that I didn't want to give it up!  But, alas, I had created it with a friend in mind, and yes, she did get her cowl for Christmas!

Doesn't it look fabulous on her?!  And Suzanne chose a great pin to accent it!
Here are a couple more shots, showing just the color.  I wish the textures and shimmer of some of the yarns would have shown up more.  I really gotta work on my photography skills!

I'll be posting a couple more weaving projects soon.  Two more cowls, a table runner ... plus, a few other Christmas gifts!

Where Art Thou?

Yeah, yeah, yeah...I've been MIA.  Had a craft show in October.  Trying to slowly get a web store up and running.  New job keeps me super busy all day so I'm kinda spent when I get home.  (Not that I mind.)  But the REAL reason I've been lax in blogging?

Well...
That would be WEAVING!!!

Oh, how I love it!  This above is my first thing EVER!  It's a mile long scarf.  SRSLY.  It's huge.

And here's my SECOND scarf!

There are other things that have been woven, but they're super secret until after Christmas.  :)  You'll see them then.  But apparently I have a new favorite thing.  LOL  I'm kinda obsessed.  I think you can see why.  Weaving yields such a soft and drapey fabric.  More so than knitting or crochet.  And it's quite meditative.  Once you've warped, it's just swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!  Now, I'm not doing anything super fancy.  This is just plain weaving.  Although I have an AWESOME plaid I can't wait to show you!  ...just not until after Christmas.  ;)

Ooo...and there's these fingerless mitts, too!  In a soft-n-squisy baby alpaca!

You can find the details over here on Ravelry, including the pattern I used.

In Which I Get All Wild & Woolly

Okay, okay.  I don't REALLY get all "wild & woolly."  It's just the name of the pattern I used to make ....

... THIS!

This yarn was quite trixy.  Not in working with, but in photographing.  Or maybe it's my (lack of) photography skill.  It's a bit washed out in the photo above.  But here ...

... here you can see how rich it really is!  Very jewel-like. 

The pattern is from designer Sharon Silverman's book Tunisian Crochet: The Look of Knitting with the Ease of Crochet.  The pattern is "Wild and Woolly Wrap" and is just so big and squashy.  It's actually worked on this bias to make a giant quadrilateral-(Yea, math!)-shaped shawl. 
With tassels!

The above pic shows both sides of the shawl.  The left side of the photo shows the "right side" of the fabric.  Notice how Tunisian simple stitch mimics weaving.  The left side of the photo shows the "wrong side" of the fabric.  It mimics garter stitch.  Looks good from either side!

The original sample in the book was made using a "thin and thick" yarn which I was having trouble locating in a multi-colored yarn that I liked.  This yarn was a good alternative.  It's Vineyard from Artful Yarns.  Unfortunately, this company is now out of business.  :(

Above is another shot of the "right side".

... and above, the "wrong side."

Tassels!
Apparently things really ARE better with tassels!

Anyway, this was a really fun, fast Tunisian crochet project!  In fact, I'm making another one!  For myself!   This one was for my Mom.  Supposed to be a Christmas present, but I decided she'd get more use out of it now as we approach Fall. 

... you know, if the weather here hadn't just decided to hit the 90's again this week.  Weather Fail.

Oh well.