Crazy crafting

Well, I've been going crazy making headway on projects and then losing interest.

Now, I must again FOCUS.  I want to make a skirt that is modeled after the Dem-n-nit Pineapple Skirt (rav link).  It's for my trip to Costa Rica = My honeymoon + Cousin's wedding.The skirt is very pretty.  I have two issues with it. 
1. It's too long for my trip to Costa Rica....it's made in WW yarn and will suffocate me with any kind of significant length --> this, though is easy to fix.
2.  The chaining in the pattern has too many stitches (again, for my aesthetic).  I want my pineapples more defined, so I will be ripping and re-crocheting until I get the shape and tension I want.  I know I can block it to the dimensions I want, but it's hard to shrink things.

I've started it:  G Hook and Caron Simply Soft in Country Blue.

I have two free patterns that I will be posting soon.  I'm debating whether to free post them or put them into a PDF....we shall see.

Great Yarn Sale.....

Great yarn sale here:
Royal Yarns Discount Yarns

Use Coupon Code:  SAVEMORE
You get an extra 15% off of the discount yarns!

My gown and some knitting

Hey all...
Here is a picture of my finished gown.  Front and Back.  I loved making it, unfortunately, with all the commotion of wedding planning and my new anti-dep meds I lost 15 lbs.  So fun figuring out how to take in a crochet dress......ahem....so anyways, here she is:

I've started knitting Multnomah (rav link).  Love it!  I got to learn a new technique...the "long tail cast-on".  Once I learned how to do it, it went fairly well.  Not sure I prefer it to a regular cast-on.
I'm using Bernat Sox in Wooded Dennim.  Soft and works up well in this pattern. 
I've discovered how much I love knitting.  It's precision, just like I love crocheting.
Here is the link for my project (rav link).  Here is a photo of the start of this...don't look at my lame-o stitch markers.....er....:

All Married and Stuff....

I'm so excited.  Out wedding is over and now we're married.  Not sure yet if it really changes anything, but only time will tell.  I'm recovering today and resting up for work tomorrow.  Have no fear I will be going to Costa Rica for my cousin's wedding and our honeymoon.  Short and sweet today, photos of my dress and shawl to follow.

Knitting Craze

I'm not really sure what happened, or how....I think it may have something to do with all the crocheting that I'm doing and have done for the wedding.  I have two bridesmaids' bags complete, two more to go, my "pineapple gauntlets" are done and the pattern written.  I will post it soon on ravelry and here on my blog.  I just have to fix up the pictures.
I think I've burned out on crochet.  I haven't finished my shawl yet, and time is running out.  After it's finished, then I have to block it....UGH!
Okay, so I'm attempting my first "feather and fan" pattern.  I thought it would be too hard, but I already have it memorized....makes me happy.
I'm using Patons Kroy Socks Jacquards in Lavender Jacquard.  Love it.  So much going on, but the pattern is still visible.  Once it's blocked, it will look great (I hope).

Pictures pictures

With the crochet part of my wedding gown having been completed, I figured I should take some pictures of it.  The pictures are of it unblocked.  I plan to do some light blocking to help maintain its shape while I wear it.

 This is a picture of the neckline of the dress.  All the details about yarn, hook size, and pattern can be found either on this blog entry or here on my Ravelry Project Page.
If you click on the photo, it should enlarge so you can see where I added the beading.  This is the front of the dress folded over and the back is peaking out slightly from behind.

This is the back of the dress.  Still unblocked, I have to try it on a few more times, so I'm waiting before I wash it (carefully) and gently block it.

 

This is a picture of the extra piece that I inserted under the armhole.  The pattern called for a rather large gap to be there, as you can see, I filled in quite a bit.  I just followed along with the stitch pattern.  It doesn't look great so close, but when I'm wearing the dress you don't see it at all.

Now I have some more pictures for you today.  I went picture crazy yesterday.  I tried to touch them up to show the real colors as well.  They are still slightly off.

This is the center that you can see here.  The shawl is made in one piece, but you attach at the starting side once you have half the length that you desire.  It's a powdery blue color, and that is the main theme color of the wedding.

Pattern : Lace & Amethyst Wrap (link)

Yarn : Caron Simply Soft in Soft Blue

Hook :  H/5.0mm

Made for : My Wedding yipppeeee!!!

Notes : Please see my Ravelry Project Page for my notes

 

Here is a close up of the edging which is the Celestial Edging.  It's quite lovely, and once blocked really add some more "umph" to the shawl, make it a little more special.  I added some silver and gold beading to the tips, but they are fairly well concealed , maybe they will show up better upon blocking; we shall see.... 

 

Another close up

Looks snuggly up close....doesn't it?

Even I'm slightly offended......I think???

Has anyone perused the new issue of Cr@chet Wor1d?

I have to say that this does not really say "ethnic".  I get the mix part....really, I do.  I mean, all those bright highlighter-type colors.  I wonder what is supposed to make it ethnic...what particular ethnic group does it associate with?  The pattern is fairly challenging and quite nice really....I'm just stuck on the title.

Ok, onto much cuter things.
Here is a picture of newest kitty!  His name is Chet (shay); can you guess where that comes from?  He was sooo tiny when we got him.  It was unbearably adorable, but here he is now, 6 months old and already rather large.  Cuteness abounds!