Maryland Sheel & Wool Festival 2010

I've been rather busy.

Rob and I are recently back from our honeymoon in Costa Rica.  I'll post a few pictures.  Very beautiful and very hot.

Now, onto the title of my post.  I am going with my sister-in-law and a friend of hers to the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival, and I am very excited.  This is my very first time going and I'm so glad that my SIL is crafty.  We bond over yarn.

I'll do a project update soon, as well as an update from the festival.

I'm a machine.....

I finished a skirt that was based on the Den-m-nit Pineapple Skirt from elann.com.  The actual pattern has too many errors and occasionally didn't make sense.  It's a beautiful pattern though, but I just didn't have the patience for it.

So here is my "version of it".  I really only copied the top part for the waist shaping.  I have yet to make a cord for the waist.  Once I do, I will post pictures of me wearing it, so very hot!  The specs are on my Ravelry Project Page. Once I test the modifications I've made, I will post them here, but that will not be for a long while.

I've begun the Shrunken Jacket with Attached Scarf Pattern from Double Stitch : Designs for the Crochet Fashionista.  So far I've found a few issues with the pattern.  It seems that the writer didn't want to write each individual row out and therefore just "hinted" at what she thinks should be done.  I will say that this is not for the beginner crocheter, unless there is someone who can tell them how to work the "in between" direction rows.  I really like the shaping and the versatility of the garment though.  Here is my Ravelry Project Page.

Here is a picture of the back of the garment.

Oh Aphrodite...

Aphrodite Shawl...?  FINISHED!

I'm so happy that this is finally done, although I didn't work on it long.
My Ravelry specs are here.

Convention

Okay, I'm not even sure where to start because of how ridiculous it is.

Ready?

My husband and I went to Temple earlier tonight for Shabbat.  During the Torah reading, there was a series of overwhelmingly ridiculous events.
1.  An older man was called up to read the Aliya.  Hw had a large belly that was criss-crossed with suspenders and skinny legs.  His shirt was a bright peach, very nice.  His fly was down.  Yep.  That's what I said.  Fly.  Down.  I thought I may pee a little.
2.  Once the congregation realized his fly was down, the ripple of giggles and whispers started, this, of course, only makes you laugh harder.
3.  The very wrinkly little lady next to me says, "He always does that.  I always tel him not to."  I can't even follow that up with commentary.  I think it speaks for itself.
4.  Then we started getting feedback.  Now, I'm sure you're thinking, "feedback, from a microphone?"  Oh no my friends.  The lady next to me and her hubby, it was their hearing aids interfering with each other.  The people behind us are outright laughing at this point.
5.  Each time the rabbi read the page number, people would repeat to one another, incessantly.  Everyone must hear the page number at least 4 or 5 times.  The lady next turns and leans over to see my book and then proceeds to ask what page we are on.  The people behind me are no help, as they start laughing.  I answer her and get a few "huh's" before she figures it all out.
6.  There were two people there with oxygen tanks.  Whenever it was fairly quiet, you could hear them release the pressure, in a way that made them sound like some strange percussion

This is our Temple.  Awesome.

Crochet Paisley Motif - Free Pattern

Paisley Motif

WW yarn – 2 colors (optional)

I hook

H hook (optional)

With larger hook:

Ch. 4

 Rnd 1: In 4^th ch from hook, make 10 dc and join with sl st to top of ch 3

Rnd 2: ch 2, hdc in same st as join, 2 hdc in each dc around, join with sl st to top of ch 2

Rnd 3: ch 1, sc in same st as join, 1 sc in ea next 5 hdc, hdc in next hdc, 1 dc in ea next 5 hdc, ch 4, sc in next hdc and in each hdc around, join with sl st to first sc

Row 4: Row 4: sl st in next 5 sts
Sc in next st
Hdc, ch 1, hdc over next 2 sts
1 dc each in next 2 sts
Yo twice, insert hook into next st, draw up a loop, yo draw through 2 loops, twice (2 loops now)
Next:  Yo twice, insert hook into top of ch 4, draw up a loop, yo draw through 2 loops on hook, 2  times, yo and draw through last 3 loops.
Turn.

Row 5: ch 4, trc in next 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts, ch 1, turn

Row 6: hdc in first st, dc in next st, dc2tog in last dc, ch 2, turn

Row 7: skip first st, dc in last st, end off (unless adding optional border)

Optional:

Attach new color (finish off first color)

Now working along the edge of the motif and with the smaller hook

Turn

Ch 3, sl st in 3^rd ch from hook (picot made)

Border: sl st evenly around, alternating with picots, sl st to first picot, finish off

Note: keep sl st loose and go into the chains for turning rather than around them

Blocks, blocking, and Motifs

What I've done.....Ready?

I've been blocking:

Some of them are old projects that I finished when I didn't yet believe in blocking things.  The wonder of it is amazing.  Just need to have some patience.

I have a free pattern that I will be posting soon for my paisley motif.  If you look on my blocking board, you can see it there.

I started the Crochet-A-Long-A-Month Square Group on Ravelry.  I made the first three months and the April square was announced today.  Check out my project page for that.