Camp Loopy this year...

Waroo

This is a crochet pattern that I plan to make for one of the Camp Loopy groups. I chose one skein to use instead of three or four…I hope I won't regret it! I don't plan on making it as large as this..just something to wrap around my neck.

I only have one skein of this so that's the deal. It is for the 400 yard group.  This is Canon Hand Dyes in the color Wind in the Willows. It is a finer fingering weight so just hope I can make it work.

One of the beautiful Rhododendrons in my front yard. I wish they lasted longer. At least one bush will re-bloom this summer.

Anniversary Lace

This is the second pattern I am hoping to finish for Camp Loopy…in the colors below.

Universal Bamboo Pop.  I think they will be good to use…I do have more of the same yarn in other colors so I can add to it if I have to…don't get credit for the added yarn used, but that's okay as have enough in the other yarn to meet the criteria.

Love this Iris! It looks iridescent up close. I love Iris as they multiply quickly to help make your yard look lush and gorgeous!

I plan on adding these Azaleas to my plantings out front…I think.  I might add them out back. I live on a dead-end drive, so unless you are the UPS man, the USPS man, or the FEDEX lady, not too many people ever see my front yard.  I don't unless I'm driving in our out because my living room faces the back yard.

This is one of Pandia's Jewels Hand Dyed Yarns beautiful skeins. It is so beautiful in person. My photo doesn't capture the sparkle! Can't wait to finish Camp Loopy and find a pattern for this gem! I'm going to purchase a skein for my DSD.

My Shell Cottage Slide - to gift or not to gift?

But first a little eye candy!

This is the Rhododendron in my front garden area. It is next to the house so the shade makes it a late bloomer for here. I also have the pinkish white one that blooms first, and the peach one that blooms last. I have no clue as to why they do not bloom at the same time.

I'm probably a little more than half way with this scarf. It is taking me a LONG time because it is mostly single crochet.

I'm on my second skein, but since I am not going to make it quite as large as the pattern, I will be fine. Plus I have four more skeins if I need them

The stitch is so pretty, and the ridges give it such a lovely squishy feel.  I sure helps to have such a great yarn to use!

RILEY

He is starting to be a BIG boy now. Looks more like a Mastiff than Lab in this photo. Has that baggy loose skin. He is almost 7 months and weighs about 75 pounds…probably a tad less. Very stocky. He is so so cute with me, and in most ways behaves quite well. As he gets older and learns I'm top dog he tends to do as he is requested.  It is his older brother, Brodie, that's become somewhat stubborn and not coming when called.

This is the bulb that my Sister-In-Law gave me many years ago. I just take care of it and it gives me beautiful flowers every year…and they get larger each year, too! Creamy white with red speckles. Can't wait!

Another Iris is blooming! This is a regular Iris, but super beautiful.  I'm excited to see it in the coming years when it spreads and there are many such gorgeous flowers.

I need to decide if I am keeping the scarf, or giving it to someone this Christmas. Decisions, decisions, decisions!!!

🌹

Cat's Crochet Decrease

I don't think I posted anything before about the way I decrease in crochet. I devised this years ago, but after people started making claims they invented the Air Crochet I was pretty loathe to post anything about it…but finally did recently on Ravelry. Might as well post it here so you can see how easy it is and use it. Just watch Interweave putting it in their magazine again and giving Doris Chan credit like before! 

Perhaps link back to here if you ever use and post in your blog? That would be nice, thank you.

THIS IS HOW I DECREASE

I have been doing this for years. I think it is easier that the “regular” way.

When I decrease I do a yarn over (this will be a dc decrease), go through the stitch indicated, pull up a loop. 

Next, you will go to the next stitch and pull up a loop.

Then I pull that second loop carefully through the first loop pulled up in the first stitch indicated.   

Now I have the amount of loops on the hook for a regular dc. I just continue with the dc.

 It makes it look like a regular dc, and you almost can't see the decrease. Then continue your stitches!

When I do it with sc it is about the same (and it looks the best of any of the stitches). I go through the loop indicated and pull up a loop, do the same on the next stitch, and then that last loop I pull through the first loop and now have only two loops on the hook. I yo and pull the yarn through the two loops on the hook.

You can use this for any stitch. However, the taller the stitch the larger the gap that shows, just like any decrease. Since MOST (not all) decreases are at the beginning or end of a pattern, this does work out quite nicely.

Try it! Let me know. So far people seem to love it.

🌺

Scarves - one finished, one on the way...

Grotine Shawl

I could not get a grand photo of it like others take of theirs.

The middle photo is probably more true to color.

You can see the width better in this one. No matter how you look at it I should have had two skeins of the yarn to make it longer. I had to block it out to get it to a more acceptable scarf to wrap around my neck once.  This is the second one I have made in crochet - still working on the knit one - so will attempt it again ONE.MORE.TIME! In crochet. I have two skeins for the knit one.

I also started the Shell Cottage Slide as seen in the last post.  I have been working on it, on and off,

for a week.  It doesn't look very large, but it is deceptive.

I love the texture of this scarf. Not only from the aspect of the wonderful yarn, but the nubby effect of the stitches used.

I'm so happy I have enough yarn to make this one the right size!!

My yard is coming into bloom. The red Rhodies are spectacular again this year.

I need to plant more flowering bushes in the huge front yard.

The Flattie Iris I planted year before last are finally blooming! I really love these, and especially their coloration.

My sweet little brother gave me some Iris last year for my birthday, but they generally won't bloom until next year. ONE which is sort of a maroon is about to unfurl her lovely flowers. She gets more sun than that others…poor planning on my part!

What are you working on these days? 

Camp Loopy starts in June so maybe wander on over to that Ravelry group and join in the fun!

🌼

Different pattern, different yarn!

I love this color scheme. So quiet and peaceful.

Mine seems to have less of a blue and more of a silver grey, or perhaps a dusty blue. Very beautiful!

This is the beginning of the shawl. I am making the Shell Cottage Slide by Michelle DuNaier. It was a little hard to start in but that was because I had the wrong yarn. Too thin. Now it seems so much easier!

So I chose a yarn that seems to reflect that same peacefulness and serenity. This scarf will be so sort and cozy! I am using Universal DK Colors in Seaside, and it is like whip cream! It is a little more than other acrylic yarns but the consistent softness is unbeatable! 

I still have a green scarf I made with this yarn in green and it is as lovely now as it was then.

🧶

Camp Loopy

Camp Loopy

50th Anniversary of the Moon Shot

I'm going to do one shawl for sure for the 400 yard range. It is called Anniversary Lace by Michelle DuNaier, MADcap Fancies. I plan on using Canon Hand Dyes William Merino Fingering. It's only 460 yards so won't be making the full version, unless I can get a second skein that matches.

The day after the moon shot I was in a car accident. This color way reminded me of the photo that was taken afterwards. Figured it was a good addition along with the name of the shawl to bring it all together. 

You can barely see the scar line now. I remember going to my doctor after being in the hospital to be stitched up. He was so mad saying that they were barbarians and he took out the stitches and put on butterfly stitches (closures) which had been around for a long time. 

I have another knit shawl to make for the 800 range but I am not sure I can actually do it, or even finish it in a timely manner. BUT I will try.

Brodie has been a good dog to his "little" brother Riley. He has not been mean, even when Riley would try to do damage! Somehow animals must know they need patience and are helping train the little ones…even if they are an adult male.

The Olympic Mountains did have quite a bit of snow, but it has almost disappeared. There are a few of the taller mountians that still have a nice snowpack, but unless we get rain soon that, too, will be gone long before it is needed this summer.

I have finished another Grotine that is blocking.  I tried to stretch it out a bit so that it would wrap nicely.  I made it wider and stopped before I ran out of yarn as thought it would take more to sc around one edge. Should have kept going, but think the wet blocking will size it better.

This is a few inches from the finish line, and not blocked yet. The Malabrigo yarn has some dark purple and maroon mixed in the red giving it a smokey look.

Mother's Day has come and gone. It doesn't take that special day for me to think about my own mother with all her quirks, and all our fun times. I miss having her around and especially miss her sense of humor. I remember how she seemed to miss her own mother - someone I never met as she died the year before I was born - and often wondered while growing up why she kept the home fires burning. Now, of course, I know. Too many 'what ifs', too many unanswered questions, too many of life's milestones passing by that I can't share with her, or get a giggle from her over some foible of mine or my bothers.  It has been almost 32 years since she passed away and that is hard to believe.

The first Rhododendron has bloomed. The dark fuchsia colored Rhodie is just starting to bloom. The peach one is lagging!

Riley has now chewed down ALL of the 6 Crepe Myrtle trees, chopped off one Giant Sequim, and disemboweled the Dogwood tree. It was about two feet tall, chewed down to a nub, then pulled out of the ground! I keep him away from the other 6 larger Crepe Myrtle now, and won't plant anything else unless it is nearly full grown! Big waste of money.

He does look a bit evil, doesn't he!!!??!!!