Simple yet satisfying.

**Edit**
Pictures (=
** end edit**
Ah-ha. I have a pattern to post, yet because the google servers and unhappy right now I can't put up the pictures yet. The pattern is very simple and I will happily repost it when I can do so with pictures.
Moms short stole pattern.
Measures approximately 2' x 4.5' when finished.
First, grab 3 or 4 skeins of worsted weight yarn (I used a fun fuzzy acrylic variegated I was given recently) and your favorite J (6.0mm) hook.
Chain 77 fairly loosely, then chain 3 more (total of 80 chains)
Row 1... dc in the 4th chain from the hook. Do a total of 77 dc into the chain, chain 3 and turn.
Row 2... dc across (total of 77 dc) ch 3 and turn.
Row 3...One dc in top loop of the first stitch, ch 1 skip 1 and dc in the top loop of next stitch. (creating and open space) continue to ch 1 skip 1 and dc in top loop across. ch 3 and turn.
Row 4 through 9, repeat row 3
Row 10, 11 repeat row1.
Repeat these rows until you have 7 (or more) sections of open work and end in 2 rows of solid dc.
With 3 skeins I got seven sections easily. If you want more sections I suggest figuring on 3 sections per skein. No, I didn't do a gauge swatch...Sorry

Have some pictures.

I have a small obsession with brick stitch right now. I started this shawl with some Knit Picks "gloss" that was given to me over the holidays and I seem to be doing fairly well with it. I haven't changed stitch in the middle or gotten frustrated and ripped it apart. Might be the yarn cause it is smooshy and nice to work with... Might be the stitch as it is mindless once begun. Either way I just might be able to finish this.

This is a fair shot of the bottom. I like the way the spaces create pinwheel shapes for the light to go through. The color is more red and less fuchsia than this but hey, this is what I get for not trying to get a better camera for x-mas.

The next color after the chocolate brown is going to be this grape purple. I hope I can hold out long enough to finish because I think it will look good once finished.

I also made this yarn ball holder(not what I call it in my head, thanks to L&V) for a friend out of P&C cotton. The bottom has an issue where the knot I was making got out of hand. Soon to be remedied. Once that is fixed I will make the cord.

As most of you know I have been trying to learn to spin. This basket is my "homework" for the class. I have to take more pictures due to a spate of activity in the middle of the night while dealing with a cramp in my (still) broken foot. Eventually I will have pictures of finished yarn to show y'all.

In other news... I am a lazy wench and haven't found any of the things I wanted to put up for sale. I am seriously considering closing the shop for a while due to feeling guilty at not *making* the time to take care of it.
Also, for anyone in the area of MD please go to the fiber festival and put up lots of pictures. I really want to try to go next year and drag my favorite uncles with me.
Go buy Yarn from NHknittingmama
Cause she is just the coolest... And I said so. =)

Alive and Spinning.

So, for those that are interested... Small one is doing much better. Back to normal breathing and not running scary temperatures anymore. There is a long story about a local child that actually passed away from complications of the same thing she had but I haven't wrapped my head around it fully yet.
On to the fiber related stuff. I am actually learning how to spin on a drop spindle and learning how to prepare fleece in both woolen and worsted methods. I have a wonderful teacher that I will ask if I can put her info up soon. She has been spinning for much of her life and teaching for about 30 years. I am so glad to have found her... Yet another good thing to have come from the county fair.
Since my brain was not allowing me to finish anything without major frustration and frogging I haven't made anything to sell this month. I hope to remedy that this week and put up stitch markers at least. I make markers for both knit and crochet and occasionally even use them myself.

This would be the first thing I made from the wonderful book that hunny ordered me for V-day. Mr. Funky's Super Crochet Wonderful. Small one has informed me that I need to make them all.

This has been in the "unfinished" drawer for months. I started him using a "basic amigurumi" pattern I found on Ravelry and improved the arms and legs. He also has Dreadlocks because I couldn't help myself.

Ha, a swatch! Attempting to get the working of lace in my brain so I can design a stole for Grace to knit... (= I am happy with how the pieces fit together and I will likely make a few more swatches before the pattern comes together for me. I used P&C cotton for this and finished the top edge with an i-cord bind off... My teacher thinks I could add beads and turn it into a necklace... What do y'all think?

And finally, this... It is a head warmer. Not a hat, just the ribbing for one. I went up 4 needle sizes and did some funky lace work at the top to create the fluffy bits. Felted it and viola. An anemone on my head. Small one stole it and it looks a whole lot better on her than me. This just means I have to make another one for me using my new Harmony needles from Knit-Picks. I got the circular and DPN's in size 10 because I didn't have DPN's in that size and I really wanted to have a fixed circular of that size. I have an old Boye set of interchangeable points that work for most things but the threads are starting to get loose so I have to keep an eye out to make sure they don't come off while I am working.
I an also hoping to someday try to manage the magic loop for socks because I think that if I could do it that way there might be a PAIR in my future.
On to the rest of the day with coffee.
And again, Thanks so much to those that have been with me through the last couple of weeks. You will likely never know how much it helped knowing there were people across the country that cared enough to look in on me. <3 to you all.

Requested Creations.

I have been requested to make a few things. First a pair of crocheted slippers like the crazy colored ones I made a while back. Second, a wallet out of this checkered fabric that looks kinda like country curtains to me. Third (and hardest), a pair of fingerless mitts out of the *sigh* bamboo yarn my sweet upstream pal sent me.
The first mitt is just over half finished, the slippers have to wait till I can find the right yarn and the wallet will likely get worked on tomorrow.
On top of these things are the things I have taken upon myself. Most of them happily.
There are two sets of puppy legwarmers in progress. There are multiple things to be hemmed or altered in minor ways. There is the gift I made for someone that is %95 finished, just some beading to be finished. The final package to send to my downstream pal , even though she has said she was satisfied with the packages she received. ( I still want to send out these few things anyways.)
Oh, and there has been major upheaval at my house. One of my presents was a re-organization of the house. I can now sit at my computer and look at my creative supplies without getting up. More incentive for me to get things made. I will leave the *planned* projects to another post.

Attack Of the Monkeys!

Yesterday was the day of the MONKEYS. The day started with a plan. I planned to finish one thing that I had been working on for a couple of days so as to have it ready to give as a christmas present. Instead of doing that I made a pair of slipper socks, because I realized that I had worn a hole in the bottom of one of the last set.

Then I decided to start putting together a different present, a book that I am making for a dear friend. She knows about it so I can safely post without spoiling it. I got the pages cut, folded, marked punched and sewn together and got the outside of the covers finished...Then I put it down because the next step involves picking a button. Hard thing that.
Not long after that the final package from My pal arrived. Val, It was awesome. The adorable kitten was *immediately* absconded with and she slept with it last night.

I was insanely tempted to make things with the Yarn in this box. he hand spun, hand dyed alpaca merino is the most beeeeeeautiful shade of blue. So pretty it almost hurts my eyes to look at. And sooooft. But the *3* skeins of bamboo were nearly in bed with me last night. Outside cashmere I don't think I have held anything so pettable and squooshable.

There is a little kit to knit a little sheep...I maight just have to do this because, though she didn't know it, I was once associated with a local group that contains a few Scotsmen.Many jokes and good memories. (I wonder if I could dye the wool green?)

Then to the heart of the matter. COFFEE and a mug and an awesome cup cozy! The mug, while not entirely in my taste range (though very cool for a holiday theme), will definately be kept for my mother to use. She is over for coffee often and appreciates a good mug. I don't know if I will be sharing the three coffee sample sizes though. I might have to hide them. The mug cozy is happily being used on my all time favorite coffee mug, a jelly jar mug.

After the Joy was had at the opening of a *super* present I went on to work on 4 other things I am working on for various people that i can't put pictures up of yet.In between all this there was a phone call from the school we have been trying to get the Creature into. She will be starting in january and I can't tell her yet because she will get MAJORLY excited and ask fifteen million times a day if school is tomorrow. Then I *knit* this thing that I will choose to call a trivet. I will be felting it today to see if it does what I want it to. The colors kind of remind me of chocolate mint icecream...I think I'll keep it, maybe, if it turns out how I think.

While doing this I was thinking about some of the other crafts that I should be working on and putting up on etsy. Being all kinds of happy because of the 3 orders I have mailed out. Yippee.

Then there was the making of dinner. I decided to make Chicken cordon bleu and scalloped potatos, from scratch. So I did. And The Creature was a *big* help. I let her layer the potato slices in the pan while I was prepping the chicken and she did a wonderful job. After this there was the brushing of the teeth and the stories (she reads me bedtime stories now) and the *many* songs till she passed out.

Cleaning up dinner and trying to find the happy relaxed place before I go to sleep, I finally got some more work done on the thing I started my day wanting to work on. Now I am only a few rows from finished....Think I can finish it today without the monkeys in my head spoiling it?

Rambling and whining.

So, if I whine and say "It's not fair" enough, will the Goblin King come and take *me* away to the Escher castle?

FUZZY purple (almost raspberry) hat for Mom... To go with the scarf that I was too lazy to get a picture of.

No, that is not the toe of a sock! It is an experiment in dollhouse furniture. No, I do not have the other sock on a second set of needles. It is a knot I am trying to untangle.

But seriously, you can't really consider something made with double strands of acrylic worsted weight on size 8 dpns with a total of 36 stitches per round to be a sock. More of an experiment in trying to figure out why people would spend *weeks* making socks. As an *instant gratification* type I tend toward quick crochet projects, but I had to try it out... Might be something to try again in a few years. I'll let ya'll know *if* I finish them.

Next post will be more pictures than I should post... Be warned.

Ambitious much...

Announcement 1... I just put up a few more things on my Etsy page. Please go look. http://Mystarfalling.etsy.com


Announcement 2... Ha, pictures.

A crocheted twisted cable scarf that I have been working on. Loverly wool. Hoping to felt it a bit once it is finished to tighten up the cables. Done with front and back post double crochet. If you want me to lay out the "pattern" let me know.

A cotton dish scrubbie that I have been designing also with front/back post doubles. I will be typing this up for the benefit of the "cloth crew" within a week-ish.

A huge scarf that I started last night to use some cotton that had been yelling at me. The first section is solid black held together with grey. The second section is a variegated with the grey and the third section will be white. I have about decided that it will go to someone special that lives with "Shades of Grey" which is what I have decided to call this.

Uh, so I am trying to not let the sock kill me. I am stuck in the middle of the heel for now but when it is done I will have warm tootsies. Using baby yarn so as to not KILL the beautiful Opal that My pal sent me recently. Practice...

And the knitting. Working on a 1x1 ribbed scarf in grey wool for hunny. I am about half way done with it.
On top of all this I am heading towards the cleaning of the craft table because I HAVE to get in there withing the week to make my DS pal her pressies. I have the plan, I have the materials and tools I just don't have the clear space in front of my sewing machine. Small creature sometimes gets her craft on at my table and forgets to clean it up...The pile ensues.
More soon, I hope.

New pattern coming soon...and stuff.

So, I am working out issues with a skein of cotton and front and back post double crochet. I made a couple of dish scrubbies in junk acrylic and found one that works really nicely. Now I am trying a variation on the theme with cotton cause I had it on hand...I was going to make a bath puff for hunny but that didn't work out so well. I am going to put up a picture or three and the text of the pattern once it is done.
Now the "stuff"
Tonight will be the second meeting of a local group of fiber enthusiasts. I will be bringing my works in progress and enough other stuff to demonstrate with. Those that are coming should bring their projects and questions. Once things have gotten going we can discuss what I will need to post for edification.
Mouse still on the loose but hopefully not for long.
Two packages will be going out today... One to my downstream pal and one to my***upstream*** pal. I found out that my upstream pal has been having difficulty getting any communication from her upstream and feel like sending her a hug. The person ignoring her should have more *&$%#^@& care for the obligations. I have been happily spoiled by someone that has been given next to no reason to play her part. I truly am blessed by that. (and even if I had guessed who she was, I would keep my mouth shut...) Hopefully, she will read this and know how much I appreciate her efforts.
MORE STUFF...
Why do I seem to be running out of yarn? I have yarn....really. I just can't seem to figure out what it wants to be right now. I guess there will be more Watchum Pockets coming than I had thought....Soon I will be down to the *good* stuff and then I will suffer. The nagging feeling that I should be making something "better" with the yarn.
OK, done with my whining for now.

AAAAAAARGH!

I want to find the hole that they are coming in and plug it! This time there was a mousie in my pantry. Luckily I had already used the stuff that was important to make things for pal type people but the little beastie ATE my last bag of reeses peanut butter chips, ALL of my daughters favorite oatmeal and my bags of easy cook pasta with sauce. So, I had to throw away money and clean out the cabinets on top of having to set traps. I hate having to set traps. I hate having furry invaders.
Oh, yeah. There is supposed to be some fiber content to my rantings. Working on... Heather grey k1p1 rib scarf for hunny, who has finally succumbed to my griping about him not wearing a scarf. Scarf for (might be me, might be my mom...We'll see when it's done) in a twisted
quasi-cable pattern that I am improv-ing from front post and back post double crochet. Watchum Pockets from random acrylics to be added to the storefront. Finishings on other things to go there too...Bags with buttons and such.
Other than being too busy cleaning up mouse poo to take decent pictures, That's the life and times of me for now....Wait though, the weather might change.

The insanity has begun.

I have started listing things on ETSY. No, really. In order to support my fiber addiction I am really trying to sell some of my stuff. Anyone that wants to look it over and give me comments about how to make it better are welcome. mystarfalling.etsy.com

Weekend update. Pictures

My pal sent me an awesome package. In this package were all the fixins for an obsession start up. A BOOK....A crochet book about SOCKS!!! So now I can join in all the reindeer games and wrap my noggin around socks with the rest of the fiber world.

Booooooook. Loves me some books. I collect vintage needlecraft books and have recently gotten some new crochet and knitting books but this is awesome. I might even be able to make a few of these patterns. Now, if I can just manage to make a pair...2 that look alike. A minor miracle.

Yarn stuffs. She sent me a skein of some luscious Opal in a color called petticoat. Yes, there is some of the dreaded pink in it but I think I might be able to live with it. The colors combine to make a mighty morphin power sock! Truely, a lovely color. I think my daughter would love socks form this. Left to my own devices it might have been turned into a bunch of little wallets.

She also sent a nifty set of stitch markers that my creature took off with before the borrowed camera could be used and a lovely bamboo hook in a size F. Now I have a back-up just incase I loose the first one. And I could even carry it with me to the store and such. Never too many hooks, I say.
I have some other new pictures to put up, btu that will have to wait just a bit. I had to acknowledge my pal and her truly thoughtful gift.

I am Alive.

Really. My computer may need to have it's innards yanked out and replaced with shiny new bits. I can live with that. My yarn however, has been attacking me. The list of UFO's is growing. I seem to be unable to not start something new every time I feel a little down. I have a list... Wanna see?
The Hunny Hat (Knit)
Scarf for Mom (Crochet
Grey Triangle (Crochet)
Variegated blue Triangle (Knit)
Nonagon (Crochet)
Bear hat and bag set (Crochet)
Fingerless mitts/ Twisted and Broken (Knit)
FOUR PURSES (Sewing)
A sewn book for my SP
Mending and other stichery
On top of the lovely housework that I let myself in for almost 6 years ago and the chasing around of the small creature that calls me mommy. No this is not a complete list because my brain is melting and I have only had one cup of coffee today.
I will be getting back into posting more frequently and attempt to get some things finished before the world stops rotating. Someday I might even get medicated... What a happy thought.

There are days.

When I find myself in desparate need of amusement. Then I get a whack in the head from Muse lady....She weilding the metaphorical 2x4.



Now, I need a little help finishing him up. I can add any or all of these options. Tell me what you think. a)Tail b)Neck strap c) Wrist strap/ Belt loop d) Feet/ arms
When you tell me which you like please tell me why so I can see more humor in a demonic purse.

A picture of something a friend wants to make. Finally putting it somewhere you can get to it...(=



Hmm, I have always been a bit amused by wrought iron and this is even cooler because it is painted green. I wonder what kind of paint they used to withstand the heat? It is a heater grate after all.

Yes, I hate the outdoors in places with too many trees, but some green growing things are pretty to me. Love the delicate look of ferns. And when they have that dark reddish tint I think they are even prettier. While these don't have that, they are kinda cool to look at.


Also to start a theme thing.
5 For Friday.
1. I have too many things in progress... But, better than being bored out of my mind.
2. My house is a mess... But, my family is safe.
3. My friends are not near to me....But, I have a cell phone and the internet.
4. I am stir crazy... But, I will get to go out tonight and maybe tomorrow.
5. I can't knit a shawl(like Grace)... But, I can crochet lace and miniature hamsters when I want to.
All bad things have a good side, even if you have to be a sarcastic A** to see it.

I did what?

Four of the five blue ribbon winners. Yes, I made them and went out and put them in the fair. I actively participated in this community. Go, me. I was stunned at the fact that I won ANYTHING let alone 5 blue, 5 red and 2 white ribbons. Color my flabbergasted.
I will post other pictures later. Have to do house type things for a while now.

If you have to ask....

You probably don't want to know. (=





If there is any real interest, email me and I will tell you how much of your soul you will owe me.

Pictures of stuff.

More pictures to come, I promise.
Maybe even some of the ribbons I won.


First, A headband and matching cell phone bag that I had a picture of posted before I lost my mind.


My daughters flower headband.

A small pouch (think deck of cards) made out of cotton.

Finally.... The bag of holes. It won a first place ribbon at the county fair this past weekend. I am a little concerned at the state of crafting here...(=

Happy dance.

Wheeeeee. New books in the mail today. Crochet stitch bible and The crochet answer book. Happy fingers. New pattern stitches to try and diagrams and oh, so much more. On another note....I entered an even dozen things into the county fair yesterday. Hope I don't bomb. (=

Amazon wishing.

Time for pictures of FO's

Going to fix my picture sharing issues, then post them... I am learning by trial and "Oh, man, *what* did I do?