More Yarn

So far, I have been using yarn from my stash as I work through Vanessa Mooncie's Crocheted Wild Animals book. It's a practical thing to do. 

I love making toys from scraps but decided to splurge and buy new yarn selecting colours more appropriate for my next "Wild Animal". 

I bought five - 50 g balls of Mary Maxim Ultra Mellowspun DK yarn (70% acrylic, 30% nylon); two each in melon and rose and one in black. I also bought one - 100 g ball of Mary Maxim Trendy Baby DK yarn (100% Antipilling Acrylic) in playful pink print.

This new yarn is super soft, "non-splitty" and easy to crochet with ... perfect for toys. I expect I have found a new favourite yarn for when my 'stash' just won't do. I'm almost finished #9 on my list with this new yarn. 

Can you guess what it is?

I will be sure to share photos when #9 is done. Wait for it coming soon.

Here's the complete list of animals featured in the Crocheted Wild Animals book with the eight I've finished so far listed below. 

Finished:

1. Owl
2. Rabbit
3. Frog
4. Polar Bear
5. Lion
6. Fox
7. Elephant
8. Camel

Not Finished Yet:

• Deer
• Monkey
• Snake
• Giraffe
• Flamingo
• Chameleon 

  

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Special Yarn

I bought yarn to make a baby blanket for our niece who is expecting her first baby this summer. Our niece mentioned the nursery is decorated in grey and white chevron and one of her favourite colours is teal.

I splurged and bought Special Yarn for this blanket - four hanks of Berroco Ultra Alpacca in grey and one of Gems 100% Merino Wool in teal. I love the look and feel of this fine super soft Special Yarn.

I am making a grey baby blanket with a teal heart in the centre all worked in puff stitch. To imagine how this might look I took a photo showing teal in between two skeins of grey. I love this combination.

Using Special Yarn which comes in skeins requires extra preparation. First I rolled all the skeins into balls by untwisting the skeins, draping them over the back of a chair then rolling each ball by hand taking care not to tangle. Next I wound the balls into 'cakes' using my handy-dandy yarn ball winder. I wrote about that gadget here if you missed it.

I have finished winding all but one of the balls and started working on the blanket. I practiced the puff stitch making an Infinity Scarf in March. You can read about that here if you missed it. 

Unfortunately, two months passed after finishing the scarf before starting the blanket. My first attempt was abandoned after four rows as it was too loose and sloppy. My second attempt was neater with tighter, smaller stitches, but too short. I started over yet again adding four extra puff stitches to the length. Thank goodness my third attempt was just right. 

I have since worked through one skein completing 34 rows so far. Since this baby is due June 29th, I need to get moving. The clock is ticking with only six weeks to go. Fingers crossed I get it done in time. 

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Love My Ball Winder

I have been crocheting for over 7 years and winding all my leftover yarn by hand - a slow, time-consuming task. I justified it as a relaxing mindless part of the process. Just over a week ago now, I decided to splurge and buy a yarn ball winder for $50 at London Yarns. I say 'splurge' because I could have shopped around for a lower price, but I like to support our local yarn shop plus I didn't feel like waiting even one day longer.

I secured my new ball winder to an old wooden high chair and went to work on this colourful collection of yarn balls plus more from storage.

Once the table was completely covered in yarn 'cakes', I stopped to admire the view. I love how seeing all that yarn on display fills my head with ideas. But then I worry as there are so many things to make, yet so little time. I expect this is a common problem amongst crafters.

I do Love My Ball Winder. Making these stackable, centre-pull yarn cakes was so fast and easy, I wish I had invested in a gadget like this sooner. 

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Crochet-Free Week

This week I decided to take a break from crochet. I am happy with my latest projects, but four critters in four weeks including posts and patterns is rather a lot of time spent sitting. Besides the weather has finally improved, it's perfect for biking and spending time outside. 

This week, I rode my bike to work every day except Monday. You can read all about my commute here. I have a really great route and love making exercise a practical part of my day.

This week, it was warm and sunny. The nice weather prompted me to wipe off our patio furniture, pull out a couple cushions and sit outside with my husband after work sipping wine, relaxing and enjoying the almost-like-summer feeling. Only one more month, before we open the pool and fill our pots with plants. Don't you just love summer?

This week, tulips (a gift from my In-Laws) blossomed into gorgeous red and yellow blooms adding a welcome burst of colour to our windowsill.

This week, we loaded our Santa Fe with an oak pedestal table and leaf, two chairs, corner desk and bean bag chair. Luckily everything fit for the trip to Guelph on Saturday.

Our son will be living in this house with five other students for his second year at University. His official move-in date is May 1st, but his landlord allows furniture to move in early. The house is a back split and much bigger than it looks from the front. 

The table and chairs look great in the kitchen. The toilet and 'fire-safety' steps behind the table will be moving to the basement bedroom and bathroom. The boxed wood flooring is also destined for the basement. The landlord is doing a super job with renovations. There are six bedrooms, three full washrooms and a large kitchen and living room. Our son looks happy already. 

This week was a Crochet-Free Week. I did not crochet at all, but I did sort through my stash. I still have a lot of yarn for making toys - all sorts of various colours in both DK and worsted weights. 

 

I also have mixture of chunky, fluffy yarns. Fluffy yarn is challenging to use, but I do like the look of toys made with it. With my yarn sorted and organized, I'm finally ready to decide on my next project.

It'll be another critter for sure. I like cats, so maybe a fluffy cat would be nice. What do you think? Should I make a cat? 

Upon reflection, our Maggie thinks that would be 'purrr-fect'. As always, I will be sure to share photos and possibly a pattern when I finish.

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