Future Yarnoholic

My name is Mary-Claire and I'm a future "yarnoholic."

My mama can't stay away from the yarn shop, and I know I'm going to get "hooked."  The crochet hook is already clenched in my little fingers, and I know the knitting needles will be next.

Woe is me!  This is hard work!

Enough already!  I surrender!  

Have a great weekend and a Happy Mother's Day!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Quick Crochet Project: The Doris Scarf

Yesterday was one of those days that I felt like I got a lot done.  At least a lot of stuff that I wanted to do.  The guest bed is still covered with stuff, the antique chair is still not recovered, the laundry is still not done, but I did make new pillow covers which I blogged about yesterday, and I also made this very cute, very springy scarf!  So, see, all was NOT lost.  

 The pattern can be found at Vicki Howell's website - click here   The project only took a couple of hours while I was watching TV - much faster than knitting!!!

I typically like to use yarn that I've purchased at my local yarn store, Magpie's Cottage, however there are times when I run to JoAnn's for fabric that something jumps out at me, and that's what happened in this case.  The yarn is Caron Spa, a "silky soft Bamboo Blend" according to the label.  It can be found at www.naturallycaron.com.  The yarn is a little tricky to work with and tends to separate, but overall, not bad.  And I like the drape for a springy scarf.  My yarn shop has some new pima cotton that would have been great for this, too!  

Busy day today - another non-stress test at the doctor's office, then the second half of my "Knit Baby Hats" class at Magpie's.  I also have a very cute baby sweater to piece together and learn how to finish the edging.  Stayed tuned for the finished projects!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

The Chunky Newsboy (Cap, that is....)

I finally finished the Chunky Newsboy Cap I started a while a go. I had problems with the gauge, and I have a small head, so significant modifications had to be made.  Plus, as usual, I also used different yarn than called for, so I guess I'm a glutton for punishment!

  

 I finally fixed it by using smaller hooks, and then I added some embellishment:  a crochet flower and one of my favorite brooches (click here for closeup) that I don't wear much.  I think it turned out pretty cute after all the trouble it caused me!  

 Next, I practiced my knitting, using a pattern from Jill over at Wool's Happenin'.  Not sure my counting on my rows was exactly accurate, but no major mistakes, and I made my first "pattern."  Tonight I start a baby hat class at Magpie's Cottage.  We will be working on circular needles and also double points, so I think I have my work cut out for me!  

 And lastly, my husband gave me the best gift for Valentine's Day!  Now maybe I'll finally finish The Pillars of the Earth that I started over a year ago, but it was such a heavy book I never wanted to take it with me!  It was so heavy I couldn't even hold it up to read in bed!  Problem is solved with my new Kindle.

Now what can I get myself into next?

Stay tuned.

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Friday Showcase: Finished Projects!

I think Friday is a great day to showcase a couple of finished projects:

The first knitting project - not without mistakes, but hopefully not too noticeable!  Two balls of Knitcol trends yarn - self-striping, 100% Merino Superwash purchased at Magpie's Cottage

Crochet Baby Hat made from leftover yarn

And matching Mary-Jane booties...they'd look better with little feet in them!

 And finally, Happy Valentine's Day!

Have a great weekend!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

What to wear to the Doctor? or How to be presentable without adding pounds!

yYesterday was doctor day for me.  I'm at the point where I'm going every two weeks, and soon will start going twice a week for non-stress tests, due to my "geriatric" pregnancy.  At some of my doctor's visits, they don't do the weighing & measuring, so "what to wear" is never an issue on those days.  I wear cute sweaters & jeans, with my nice cute boots.  But on days when they weigh me, all bets are off!  I want to wear the lightest weight clothes I own, so have been struggling with how to do this without looking like a slob. I ran across this crochet pattern over at the Prudent Baby Blog last week, and it was kind of a follow-up to a post they had done called "Hot Mess Mommy Tips" from January 30, 2010.    

So, over the weekend, I bought some yarn and whipped one up.  It took only about 100 yds and I used a lovely Malabrigo Chunky in Geranio that is soft and hand-washable (not-driable).  You could make it with a less expensive yarn, and it would still be cute!  

This helped solve my "what to wear to the doctor on weigh-in day" dilemma.  Yoga pants, gray long-sleeved t-shirt and the new scarf.  And yes, everyone looks better with a little lipstick, so that was part of my ensemble, as well.  

Things are going well with the pregnancy, and I have finally decided to take some profile shots, as several people have told me I will regret not having any, so this is the first!  I'm trying not to worry about the scale too much and just enjoying my time until our little bundle of joy arrives.  The weight will come off when it's supposed to.  

Watching it snow and enjoying the day!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Crochet Baby Blanket - Finally FInished!

Yes, it's true!  I'm finally finished!  I started this blanket for the baby just before Christmas, but have worked on many other projects along with it.  Over the weekend, while frustrated with my knitting, I decided to get serious about finishing this project.  Insomnia is good for something! 

This is a pattern from The Big Book of Weekend Crochet.  Of course, as usual, I altered it a little.  I added stripes, and also made it larger, then I changed the edging, adding a nice scallop edge for a ruffly effect. 

You can see the scallop edge in the photo below. 

I just loved the way the Dark Horse Fantasy Yarn in Color #91  shows so much color variegation.  

Another project completed for the baby's room!  Now just waiting for the baby!

All for now,

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Crocheting for Baby

My last post was about my knitting.  I made it to Magpie's and got back on the right track.  Until Saturday night.  Things were going along well, and I was getting cocky.  Then I looked at my scarf and realized I was knitting on the wrong side of the scarf!  Maybe 3-4 rows worth.  I thought I could take it out myself, but ended up in a tangle of knits & purls, so decided to put the cap on my needles and find another project to keep my hands busy.  I will get this fixed on Tuesday, and start again.


In the meantime, I decided I hadn't crocheted for the new baby in a while, so decided to find a project.  I have made her one other hat, and one thing keeps stumping me.  Just how big is a baby's head?  I started making the hat, and when I finished the increases and started working down the side, thought to myself, "This seems really tiny."  So I asked my dear husband, and he said, "There's no way that will fit!"  So, I added another increase row, and got to work.

Now, I think the hat is too big!  So, I Googled "What's the circumference of a newborn's head" and came up with around 14 inches.  Measured the hat, and it's a little over 15 inches, so I think I'll rip it out and go back to the original plan.  At least I know how to rip out in crochet without ruining everything!  Score one more point for crochet!

It's cute, though, isn't it?  Maybe I'll make some booties to match!

To Knit or Not: My journey from crochet to knitting

I learned to crochet last Fall, and have been very happy with my experience.  I like the process of learning something new, so the early mistakes have made me a better crocheter, and I've made some lovely things, this being the latest finished product which I can't seem to take off:

It's the Maven Moebius Cowl pattern for one yarn, I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick, and it worked up in no time!


So, back to the knitting.  The local yarn shop I frequent, Magpie's Cottage, has an avid group of knitters and not nearly as many crocheters, so I decided to see what the fuss was about and signed up for a Knitting 101 class.  Our first class was Tuesday.  This is the book we are using to learn:

It's published by the National Needle Arts Association, and they also published the How to Crochet book that I learned from.  

I am left-handed crocheter, but was pleased to see that I could knit "normally," which makes it much easier to learn.  I started catching on, and I thought, wow, this isn't so bad after all.  Then the lesson ended, and when I got home, this is what I ended up with:

The end product will be a scarf.  Next, the problems came.  I dropped stitches, and didn't know how to fix them, so I ripped it all out and started over.  The good news in this lesson is that I can now cast on much better after ripping out everything 3 or 4 times.  So, shortly after 10 a.m. yesterday, I was at the shop to get help fixing my mess!  Everything fixed, and was going swimmingly yesterday, then again last night, whoops!

So, needless to say, my project is a shambles, and I will once more be at Magpie's shortly after opening today to get some help.   Thank goodness for good local yarn shops!  Kim Oslund has been extremely patient with me throughout my short yarn obsession.

The jury is still out on this knitting thing.  So far, my "con" list is longer than my "pro" list, and as I continue on this yarn adventure, I may write more about that, so stay tuned!

Have a great weekend!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Insomniac Crochet:

I am not at my best today - still in my jammies and it's almost noon.  You see, I woke up at 1:45 and couldn't go back to sleep.  This has been a problem recently, and not sure if it's due to the pregnancy, or just too much going through my head.  Oh, and I have a cough and a little bit of a stuffy nose to boot, and can't take the usual Nyquil because of the Bambino.  

The middle of the night is when I get some of my most productive crochet done, so there is a positive in this lack of sleep.  I am trying to expand my skills as a left-handed crocheter, so thought I would try a new pattern that uses Foundation Single Crochet, since it's a technique I haven't tried before.

  

The pattern is from Alice at Futuregirl and is call the Starling Handbag.  I keep wanting to call it the "Starlight Handbag" - seems prettier than a Starling.  I decided to make the large bag, but if it turns out, I might try to make an XXL bag to use for a project bag.  This will be not only my first crochet handbag, but also the first time I will make a lining for something, and Alice has a tutorial for that, too!  I can't remember how I stumbled upon her blog, but I am glad I did.  Now if you're left-handed like me, some of the directions will be different, but I'm getting pretty adept at flipping things.  There are also some left-handed crochet videos on YouTube, so just enter this in the search and you'll probably find what you need.

So far, so good!  The yarn is a nice Mission Falls 1824 Cotton that I purchased at Magpie's Cottage.  They have great colors!

So, tell me, what do you do when you can't sleep?

What I've been up to this week!

I haven't posted on the blog this week until now, so I will do a wrap-up of what I've been working on.


The Anniversary Scarf:  Jim's anniversary present - almost done

The yarn is Jarbo Garn Duo, purchased at Urban Arts & Crafts when I was back in Kansas City over Christmas.  It's acrylic, but very soft, and should wash well.  It's a very simple pattern that I got from the Ravelry website called "Simple Textured Crochet Scarf".    It's hard to find something that is "manly" sometimes, and I thought this pattern fit the bill.


I also made a scarf for myself, inspired by this tutorial on the Make It and Love It blog.  Here is how mine turned out - not perfect, but I've worn it twice already.  Next time I will make it a little shorter, I think, but will try this tutorial from Sew Much Ado with the rest of my material.  If it turns out, I might make some for my nieces.  P.S.  You can also barely see my anniversary gift - the Tiffany heart necklace.  I love it, as it's so lightweight I barely know I'm wearing it and I love the way it looks.

Finally, I got some new yarn on impulse yesterday as I was cruising through JoAnn previewing what was going on sale later this weekend.  I loved the color, so bought a couple of skeins and will make a Moebius Cowl (similar to this one) for myself.  I'm not sure the photo does the color justice.  As you can tell, I like to work on many things at once, or I get bored!

I'm still working on the baby blanket, I hemmed two pairs of my husband's jeans this week, and will probably try to clean out some of my magazine clutter over the weekend.  Hubby has to work this weekend, so I will have plenty of time to craft, daydream, watch the birds and play with the dog.

I hope you have had a good week!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

The All Things Baby Day

I am almost to the end of a day that has been "all things baby."  Today was our visit to the Fetal Concerns program run through Froetdtert Hospital and Children's Hospital in Milwaukee.  Our soon to be daughter has a small birth defect that will require surgery after birth, so today was the day we transitioned our care to the specialists.


After an ultrasound (probably my 7th!),  we met with the perinatologist, who will deliver the baby.  He was a little crotchety (probably from too many late night deliveries), but nice.  Next we met with the pediatric surgeon who will perform the surgery on our little one.  We really liked him, and he seemed to think the surgery would be very routine (at least for him) and should be easily handled.  We felt good about our child in his hands and since he did his residency at Children's Mercy in Kansas City, my hometown, I felt good about his credentials.


Finally, we met with the neonatologist who will care for our baby after birth and surgery in the NICU.  We're not sure how long she will have to stay in the hospital after her surgery, as it will depend on various factors.  We are counting on at least two weeks, although it could be more or less, depending on how she does.  

During the ride, I worked on the baby blanket for her room.  This blanket has so far been an exercise in patience for me, as I have ripped out row after row trying to get my stitch counts right.  I love the pattern, but have decided that this blanket is just not going to be perfect, but it will still be pretty, and most mistakes won't be noticed by anyone but me.  My patience level has increased immensely over the years, and I am less willing to give up when something is difficult like I did when I was younger.  That being said, if I were to have had a child with a problem during my younger years, I know I wouldn't have handled it with the positivity and patience that I am handling the news now that I have some experience behind me.  Of course, a great husband, who is one of the most positive people I know also helps.  

As for the rest of the "all things baby" day, when we arrived home from the doctor's visit, a nice UPS package was waiting for me with the bedding for the baby room!  That's the little baby comforter that the yarn is sitting on - doesn't it match perfectly?  

Here's to all things baby,

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Simple Gifts

For many years, my Granny supplied our family with "the best" scrubbers you'll ever have.  She took time to buy the tulle net - the scratchy kind, not the kind for making tu-tus - then spread it out on the floor, carefully folded it, pinned it to the carpet so it wouldn't move, and cut it into 3 inch strips that were about 6-8 yards long.  Not an easy feat even at my age, but you must know that Granny is 91!  

When my mother told her I was learning to crochet, the first thing she said was "she can make the scrubbers!"  So, the last time my parents visited, my mom brought "the pattern" and we bought the netting, did the cutting, and had many laughs imagining Granny doing this herself while the net slipped around.  It's not an easy material to work with!

I worked the pattern, and don't you know that it looked nothing like Granny's!!   We called her to discuss.  She assured me that the pattern was correct, then at the end of the conversation, she said, "It's just 14 double crochets, or until you run out of net, then slip stitch and work in the ends...."

Light bulb moment - even though she had the pattern, she made up her own!  Now, it all made sense to me, although it always made sense to her.  

The above photo is my "pile" of scrubbers that I will be handing out to family this Christmas, and I'm sure every Christmas until I can no longer cut the net.

Here's how to do it - again, use your best judgement and play is by ear, like Granny!:

Buy 8 yards of scratchy tulle net, cut into 3 inch strips lengthwise (folding the material really helps here)

I use a size N plastic hook - plastic just seems to work better with the tulle

Ch 3 or 4, join into ring w/ slip stitch

Work as many Double Crochets as you can into this space (it's usually between 14-18 for me)

Slip stitch to finish and weave in end.

There.  It's that easy, and I'm sure variations have been passed down for generations.  

Happy scrubbing!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Baby Blanket for the Little Girl

I have decided to work on a baby project next.  This will be a crocheted baby blanket with stripes and popcorn stitches.  A sample of the popcorn stitch is shown on top of the yarn.  This will be my first attempt at something larger, so I will be counting lots of stitches! I have decided the baby's room will be brown and kind of a seafoam blue/green, so I thought this yarn would be nice.  Once again, it's from Magpie's Cottage in Sheboygan Falls.   The seafoam colored yarn has some variation in it, so should provide some nice interest in the piece.

This little tray is the inspiration for the color palette for her room, as well as the theme.  It says, "Follow your dreams, for as you dream, you shall become."  I hope she will always keep dreaming.

'Til next time,

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

True Blue Winter

I finally finished the winter set I've been crocheting!  I love the yarn - Malabrigo Kettle Dyed Pure Merino Wool in Indigo - and the variegation it gives.  Also, I think this is a color that is great on anyone!  The yarn and buttons (Celtic Hearts) are from Magpie's Cottage in Sheboygan Falls, WI.  Kim has been a great help to me as I'm learning to crochet.  Now, what to make next?  Suggestions?

Winter Days:

I have been struggling with the shorter days, but a friend posted on Facebook this morning that in only 12 days and the days will start getting longer again!  Yee-haw!  Good thing I have switched to CFL bulbs in most lamps, as they seem to be on almost all day during the winter!

We had snow yesterday, but not as much as they predicted.  I enjoyed seeing the beautiful cardinals in the snow covered trees, and wish now that I would have bundled up to try to photograph.  I'm sure we will have many more snow days, so I can take advantage of the beauty then!  Winter days are great for working on projects, though.  I am crocheting a great neck wrap that will match the hat and fingerless gloves I just finished.  I finished a baby bib and hope to start on some sewing projects.  Last winter I didn't have as much to do, so was bored trying to adjust to not working, but this winter will be a whole different story!

Soup seems to be my favored go-to dish at this time of year.  I made a great potato soup the other night that was a big hit.  Of course, I used no recipe, so who knows if it will turn out the same the next time!  Kind of like my chili.  I love to cook and find comfort in chopping all the ingredients and doing the prep work.  Funny how things have changed.  It used to be that I wanted to get things done as quickly as possible, but now, whether it's sewing, crocheting or cooking, I take my time - rip out when necessary and start over.

I can't believe it's been a year since my retirement.  We are using the last of my frequent flier miles to go to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in February - FIRST CLASS, I might add!  I will be 7 1/2 months pregnant, so will probably need the extra room!  I'm looking forward to it and the sunshine and fresh food.

I am reading the book Blogging for Bliss right now, and hope to get some hints on how to make my blog better and more robust.  I am so new at this, that I am lucky I can make a post!

Always Evolving,

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County (or Shevegas, as the locals call it!)