Author: yarnchick40

madly, passionately in love with yarn

crochet:: yeah, yeah, yeah…I took some time off

img_5760

unicorn

 

And just what exactly have I been up to?  Things…stuff…sometimes nothing.  Lots of other social media & deleting a bunch of apps I don’t like.  Taking classes & learning to *gasp* knit.  More about the dark arts later though.

 

Today is for saying

Hello Again Lovelies!

 

Today is for easing back into the focus it requires

so I can write again.  It’s been too long.

 

Today is for showing you some yarnporn

of my experiments in wool dyeing since we last spoke.

 

 

Enjoy & thanks for stopping by

img_5755

super girlie

img_5794

martha’s beach

img_5754

capturing summer

 

 

 

crochet:: an ode to the dyeing of wool

I’m currently loving the dyeing of wool

It’s squishy goodness makes my heart full

Colors & fibers & basic alchemy 

Making art is good for me


crochet:: popping in to say…

Helllloooo! While I pretty much abhor the word, I’ll say it, I’ve been busy.  How about you?  The good news is that I’ve been busy on GOOD STUFF!

I’ve been working on a secret project that I’ll share in the next few days, I’ve been making tons of crochet FOs, and I’ve been honing in on the direction of my future in fiber art.  And it feels great!

As you probably know, I’ve tried lots of things on this journey since I started this blog & not all of them have turned out so fabulous. That’s not all bad. I’m not saying I’ve found the secret sauce to success, but for me, I’ve found stuff that makes me happy and ditched the things that don’t.  I count that as a win.

So while I’m stopping in to say hello, I just want to give you the heads up on a great tool for fiber arts that I just came across on my Instagram account.  It’s called TINK & there’s a Kickstarter campaign that you guys might want to check out. Although I’m not affiliated with it in any way other than a backer, it’s so cool I had to share because I really REALLY want to see it succeed.


Here’s a link if you want to check it out::

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lets2tog/tink-the-fiber-artists-first-wearable-notions-brac

So thanks for stopping by! I’m planning to slam your notifications with more regular posts again & hoping we can continue to inspire each other😘

Happy hooking!

crochet:: is it a cozy or cosy?

Having a water bottle is a very British thing to have according to my mother.  I often am quite a British girl according to her.  I also have more Eastern European genetics than I know what to do with, and am not the least bit of British descent.  But my favorite city on the planet is London, I MUST HAVE hot, strong, English breakfast tea in bone china on the daily, and I use traditional English spelling on lots of words by default.  I guess my brain is British, and I’m totally fine with that.

So, whether it’s British to have a water bottle or not, I have a water bottle.  It warms my toes in the winter, it soothes muscle pains, and I would not do without it.  It was a naked water bottle, and now it is cosy…er, cozy…damn, let’s just say it’s in a snuggly onesie.

Thanks for stopping by!

crochet:: occasionally, i make stuff

I’m going to go out on a limb here & suggest that we ALL have been making stuff. 


Did you perhaps notice the dyeing of wool?? Why yes, yes I am dipping my toes into a new endeavor.  It’s frigging wonderful too!! 

That was my first try…I’ll update you when I finish the next batch😘

🎄Happy Holidays All You Fabulous Hookers🎄

crochet:: the chunk

I promised you the pattern for The Chunk a few weeks ago, and I am here to deliver.

I have finally finished it, and we love, LOVE, LURVE this blanket.

I’ve been working on this idea for a couple of years, just letting it percolate because I wasn’t really sure of the details.  I knew I wanted a bed-sized blanket in white or cream.  I knew I wanted it to be thick & squishy.  I knew NOT what pattern to use.  I knew NOT what super bulky yarn to use. Did I try several?  Oh heck yeah, I tried and frogged lots.  And then lots more.  And then ignored the urge for some months.  But it kept nagging at me.  I wanted a fisherman’s sweater for my bed.  The inspiration pieces from designers on Pinterest I could find were great, but they were all knitted.

When I gave up on the fisherman’s sweater look with complicated cables in a super bulky yarn, it finally clicked for me.  If I wanted a simple and classic monochromatic afghan, I needed a simple stitch pattern. Instead of reinventing the wheel, I looked back at my favorite patterns from the past.  Lo and behold, I realized the Dreamy Layers Afghan from back in 2011 could rock a single color with a nice pebbley, nubby texture. At that time, I had only bought 8 of the massive Bernat Blanket Yarn skeins I thought I needed.  Little did I know it would take double that!  In the end, you can make it whatever size that works for you, but I’m not gonna lie ~ it’s really awesome to have it basically end up king-sized on a queen-sized bed.

Expensive? Yes. 

Also. Totally. Worth. It.


the chunk afghan pattern can be found here::

https://www.ravelry.com/designers/lisa-victoria–yarnchick40

I’m completely smitten with The Chunk paired with my Amazing Technicolor Dreamghan. And now, with these 2 in the done column, my bed is complete and we can handle whatever cold this winter has to offer.  I say, bring it on old man winter!

Thanks so much for stopping by & if you should decide to make The Chunk, please do come back to share your FO!

crochet:: outdoor cushions & the best adirondak chairs on the planet

Many years ago, I found a pattern in a magazine for some DIY Adirondack chairs and it was true love.  I was pining for a pair of them and my Dad was looking for a project to fill his non-golfing hours during the winter days of his retirement.  So it was decided that after Christmas that year, he would begin the project for me, his favorite daughter. (Nevermind that I am his ONLY daughter. I prefer to go down in history as his favorite.)  

Then life happened, as it often does.

I got diagnosed with cancer.  He got diagnosed with cancer.  We commiserated and spent our time trying to live normal lives while battling the big C.  The chairs dropped completely off of our radar.

Fast forward to this year, and my lovely friend Martha knew I still wanted those chairs.  She also knew that Frankie was not the woodworking type of guy.  She enlisted the help of her retired husband Don to bring my chairs to life.

Currently, I’m in the process of making cushions with scrap yarn.

One down, one to go 🙂

My Dad would be so happy to know that they are now part of my world.

crochet:: afghan envy

You know what they say about men & their vehicles when it comes to size, right?  What I need to know is what it means when it comes to hookers & afghan size…

I’ve taken on another king-size afghan project that is  currently running my life, and I’m not sure what my obsession is with massive blankets.  A couple of years ago, you may remember the Amazing Technicolor Dreamghan that was my afghan to beat all mother of afghans…

fatd 11

well, take a peek at The Chunk.

And no, I’m not talking about Frankie (lucky dog is already down to his goal weight loss & that shot of his bicep it pretty hot…hmmm, where was I?…).

Oh, right…I’m about 3/4 of the way done with the chenille super bulky weight blanket he is reveling under.  Our love for it is rivaling the wooly counterpart.

I’ll be sharing the details when it’s complete 🙂

Happy hooking!