Cecile's Crochet

2011-08-03T08:40:00.002-04:00

I just can not believe so many months have passed AGAIN, without a word form me about what's been going on here in my little corner of Virginia! How can my blog get the most boring award, if I don't at least post something boring, lol? I have MANY projects I would like to get done, way more than I can ever do, though! The one craft I would LOVE to learn by the end of this year, is knitting:-) Crochet will always be my #1. I've signed up for a class on Craftsy, and I've also ordered a How to Learn Portuguese Knitting from Andrea Wong I'm hoping something will "stick" with the 2 courses.

Auction to help Japan

2011-03-15T11:04:00.000-04:00

Like many of you, I WANT to be able to HELP Japan's survivors. I wrote the Red Cross, asking them if they could help point me in the right direction of who would be willing to help crochet and knitters send shawls, blankets, hats, etc to Japan..so far I haven't heard anything back from them. There is a designer who is auctioning an amazing SHAWL, if you can, please bid..the auction funds are going to Japan, you get to help Japan, plus have a gorgeous shawl/wrap too.

Special Olympic Scarves

2011-02-27T15:24:00.000-05:00

The weather here has been pretty nice, except for the winds this weekend, but the temps today are around 70, spring is in the air:-) Here is a picture of the other Special Olympics scarf I made. The designer is Shari White, the pattern is in the February 2011 Crochet World Magazine , the pattern is called Silver & Gold Scarves. These 2 scarves are out in the mail. I'm working like crazy to try and make 2 more this weekend, a friend of mine wasn't able to make her scarves, so I'm trying to get them in by the deadline, yikes!

Bestfreecrochet

2011-02-25T11:11:00.000-05:00

I've spent all morning over at Maggie Weldon's Besfreecrochet site. I've been oogling over the vintage crochet patterns. I can't show you them here, you have to sign up...it's free:-) There are some GREAT vintage "cast iron" crochet patterns. I've never tried these, but after seeing the patterns, they're definitely only my to do list. There are wall trivets, and even a rooster pattern, they're heavily starched to look like cast Iron. That's a new technique I haven't tried before..I'll share the pictures when I try the pattern.
Last night I washed and blocked the 2 scarves I made for the special olympics scarf project, they have to be in the mail by the end of the month..which is rapidly approaching. Here is a picture of one scarf: the pattern for this was on the coats and clark red heart turqua yarn wrapper. The name of the pattern is Special Olympics Rib Crochet Striped Scarf. I love the pattern! Depending on your mood that day, you can choose either the Turqua or reverse the scarf and your predominant color is the blue:-) This is a really easy pattern for those of you who are new to crochet..go buy your favorite yarn(s) and try it!

Cat Sweater

2011-02-24T07:31:00.000-05:00

I tell you, for the last year or so, it has been one illness after another, and Now I have developed shingles. I don't think I have ever experienced this kind of pain..but hopefully they will go away quickly with the meds I'm on.

Here is a sweater I made, out of necessity for one of our cats, her hair has become feeding ground for one of our other cats. We're working on correcting this problem, but until we can, I made a sweater for Rose to wear, for protection. I was surprised how much she really likes it...I guess it's the warmth it creates? Anyway, I would give credit to the designer of this sweater, but I did not write down her name, if this is your design, I apologize & please let me know, I'll give you credit.( if you want it after seeing the finished product,lol)

The sweater has a ruffle around the collar, and it comes down longer than shown here. I used cotton yarn, if I make another one though, I want to use some superwash merino, maybe..

Dog Sweater

2011-02-23T13:37:00.000-05:00

Wow, it's been a VERY long time since I posted. There's been a lot going on, and not much computer time, or crochet time either unfortunately. However, the cold weather has made me break out the crochet hook and make a sweater for a friend of ours dog, she recently lost her husband...we miss him every day as well. We found the most adorable Shih Tzu for her..the dog was being taken care of by an amazing woman, she has small children, a husband in the army, and she found time for rescue dogs as well. How adorable is she, right?

With the cold weather we've had I just had to make her a sweater. Actually I made her 2 but one was made with two needles and too many mistakes to count lol. I am determined to learn how to knit! Anyway, I went to my all time favorite pet sweater pattern on Dog Gone Knit. Here are a few pictures of the sweater, I even made a flower..that's a first for me:-)

Here is another picture of her:-)

Here is a picture of the sweater, and flower I made. I used a button for decoration, this sweater really is very easy, and you can make it in one long evening if the dog isn't too big.

Purse

2010-06-10T18:53:00.000-04:00

Wow it's been awhile! I've been busy with other things and haven't had much time to create anything new. Although, I did crochet this purse last month. I should have written the pattern down as I went along, however, I really did not think I was going to crochet a purse I actually liked lol:-) Next time I experiment, I will have the laptop or paper and pen nearby. I used Bernat Cotton - Swimming Pool Color

Sweetheart Roses

2010-05-04T03:24:00.001-04:00

I made the pantsuit, headband, and the jacket all according to the pattern. This layette was made from the same Leisure Arts Book Tender Touch Layettes#3363 as the Say It With Flowers, and was made for the same customer. I made the booties from a different pattern. I could not for the life of me follow the bootie pattern in the book, no fault of the author I'm sure. I sure it must have been me, lol!. Anyway, the pattern I used for the bootie in the picture is by Sandy Powers, there is a short bio about her at the provided link on Annie's Attic. The pattern was her" Mary Jane Bottie Revised." You can find the pattern at her store on Ravelry I used Bernat Baby Soft Yarn.

Say It With Flowers-Sandra Abbate

2010-05-04T03:01:00.000-04:00

I'm finally getting around to posting the Afghan to this Layette.

Say It With Flowers-Sandra Abbate

2010-04-11T12:12:00.000-04:00

I finished this layette set last Friday, and begun working on the second layette--Sweetheart Roses--the pattern is in the same book. Tender Touch Layettes by Leisure Arts This is the first leaf I've ever crocheted that I didn't have a problem with:-) I changed the rose a little, to make it more 3D like. I used Bernat Baby and Bernat Soft Baby yarn for the layette.
This is the front and back of the coat

Dress

Bonnet

Booties

I have to post a picture of the blanket in another post.

Treasure Basket

2010-03-30T06:25:00.000-04:00

One of the groups I belong to on Ravelry, is Lisa Gentry's Group, she's a fantastic designer, and as fantastic as she is, she is just as generous:-) I made a planter from her treasure basket pattern, the pattern can be found in her Hooked For 30 Days E-Pattern Book.

Leisure Arts #3363- Say It With Flowers

2010-03-25T23:52:00.003-04:00

I am working on the above layette, Leisure Arts-Say it With Flowers, by Sandra Abbate. I stated crocheting this pattern last week for a Lady who is waiting on the birth of her first Grand daughter in decades:-) I THOUGHT the pattern would be fairly easy, and not take very long to complete.

Every time I make something else, I learn not only the stitch or pattern, but I learn lessons about WHY it's important to use as close a match to the Designers choice in yarns, or that some patterns scream out metal hook, why others beg for warm wood, lol. Let me get back to my current lesson.

The Lady who asked me to make this beautiful layette, fell in love with Sport Weight Yarn, I agree the yarn and colors she choose are so pretty, the problem is the pattern calls for fingering weight yarn, for all the clothes, and sport weight for the afghan. So, I'm crocheting a 3 ply yarn with a D hook, and fighting with splits, and frays etc. Instead of having the dress,coat, and bonnet complete by now. I'm jut barely finishing the dress. So, if any of you reading this are new, or fairly new to crocheting, and you take on a job where the client has purchased the wrong weight yarn, do YOUR BEST to convince the client that it DOES make a difference. I'm just praying I can finish everything before her grand daughter!

The picture above is the dress, so far.

Crochet For Cancer

2010-03-24T05:02:00.003-04:00

I haven't blogged in forever! So many things going on, I'm always putting off blogging until last, as you can tell by my poor blog lol. I will be posting some of the projects I've made and working on over the next few days though. I belong to Crochet Partners group. For anyone new to crocheting, or even if you have been crocheting for years, there is so much information shared by caring and genuine people.

The other day I was reading through my mail trying to catch up with what's been going on with the group, when someone posted this link about about this group of students from the University of Virginia, of course being from VA. I read the article, and was so PROUD of those students, and have never met any of them, lol. Right away I wanted to help, so I contacted the Director of Media Relations at the University, Rebecca Arrington, suggesting perhaps the students create a group on Ravelry, where the group may have some more exposure, and hopefully have lots of crocheters, and knitters help make some hats, etc. Ms. Arrington, forwarded my e-mail to Ms. Ariel Talts- President of Crochet for Cancer. Ms. Talts

created a group on Ravely CROCHET FOR CANCER. Please, if you have some extra yarn, and a little time and love, please consider making some caps, hats, for the kids.

Heavenly Hearts Afghan-Sue Childress

2009-06-25T00:03:00.003-04:00

Yeah! Finished this afghan for my cousin, she's been having a lot of health issues recently. I saw the angel and the hearts and thought this would be perfect for her to curl up in:-) I love,love, love how this turned out. I used a bigger hook than was called for, I used and L hook, and I added a little edging, but it would have been perfect without the edging also.
I had to PaintShopPro a picture of the top and bottom of the afghan together, because I couldn't take a clear picture of the whole afghan.

Heavenly Hearts Afghnan-Sue Childress

2009-06-07T11:06:00.004-04:00

I finally got around to take a picture of the Heavenly Hearts Afghan I've been working on. The Afghan is about half way done in this photo. I had a few problems in the beginning, it wasn't the pattern though. This was the first time I've ever done filet crochet, and I wasn't reading the chart correctly. However, after ripping out several different times, it finally clicked, lol.
This was a free pattern of the day offered on Annie's Attic's site. I'm using Bernat Baby Sport Yarn-peach blossom

Rose Octagon Afghan

2009-05-30T20:28:00.004-04:00

I finished making this afghan while I wasn't posting! This design is by Maggie Weldon, I love how it turned out. I really like making pineapples! This was made using Bernat, and Caron yarns.

Two Afghans

2009-05-30T20:07:00.003-04:00

Wow, I had not realized how long it has been since I posted!!! I've been working on 2 afghans, when time permits. One Afghan is a Wreath Afghan by Carolyn Christmas. The other one I'm working on is Heavenly Hearts Afghan by Sue Childress. I haven't taken a picture of the Heavenly Hearts afghan yet, it's the first time I'm making something in filet crochet!
Here is a picture of the Wreath Afghan.

Yarn Bag

2009-02-05T13:32:00.002-05:00

I loved that yarn bag I made yesterday so much, I made myself one.

Yarn Bag

2009-02-04T12:33:00.003-05:00

This bag is perfect for tossing your yarn and project supplies in to take with you on the go!
The bag was so easy to do! I had it finished in a few hours! Great Design Lisa!!!
The bag was designed by Lisa Gentry, she broke the Guinness World Record in 2005 as the world's fastest crocheter:-) You can find the pattern as of this writing on her site Hook and Needle Designs

Pink Parfait Dress Update

2009-01-28T18:28:00.002-05:00

I just received this picture of the baby I made the dress for:-) Isn't she just too precious?
She's 3 months old. My mom and I made the booties, but they really didn't turn out too well, thats why we put the ribbon in so she could tie them to fit, lol. Oh well, lesson learned, always use the right size hook.

Rose Octagon

2009-01-12T12:22:00.004-05:00

Right Now I'm working on an afghan pattern, Rose Octagon by Maggie Weldon. The pattern is from the book The Needlecraft Shop 841001 Crochet Pineapple Afghans 6 luscious designs.

Elegant Lace Stole

2009-01-10T17:12:00.002-05:00

I made this for a friends birthday during the "ravelympics" Ravelry is a fantastic knit and crochet group, if you stumble across this, and don't know about Ravelry, please give their site a look! They held ravelympics during the summer Olympics, and this was one of the projects I made while watching the olympics. The pattern is Elegant Lace Stole, by Dot Matthews, she has beautiful patterns on her site. I used Caron Simply Soft yarn.

One-Piece Solid Dog Sweater

2009-01-10T16:58:00.002-05:00

I made this for my husband's baby, I love her to pieces, but she is 100% dedicated to him, lol.
The title of this sweater is solid, but once I started crocheting it, I thought how pretty it would be in various colors. I had a lot of the bright orange left, and thought it would be perfect to find her when she is rambling at night. The pattern can be found at Dog Gone Knit
In the picture you will see an orange strap hanging, I left it hanging in the picture, so you could see the how the sweater stays on, it's a belly strap, it attaches to the other side with a button I sewed on.

Special Olympic Scarves

2009-01-10T16:49:00.002-05:00

I made these 3 scarves for the Coats & Clark Special Olympics Scarf Project. I read on their website they met and passed their quota of 5000. WooHoo GO CROCHETERS!!
I found the patterns on Nancy's Crochet Place. The patterns were easy, I had all 3 done in a few days:-)

LionBrand Sampler Afghan

2009-01-10T16:26:00.004-05:00

This was really fun to make, it was my first CAL. You can find the pattern as of this post on Lion Brand Notebook. The internet is wonderful for bringing people together!! I made my afghan in Virginia, and Mom made hers in Pennsylvania, but thanks to the internet and Ravelry we were both able to help each other:-) Mom's afghan is the different colored afghan. Mine is the aran one, if I ever make another one, I would use multicolor blocks, I think Mom's came out much better. You can see the different stitches in hers.

Pink Parfait Baby Dress

2009-01-10T16:10:00.002-05:00

This pattern was the first pineapple pattern I've ever crocheted. I always stayed away from pineapples, thinking they looked too difficult for me to do, they really aren't though! The pattern is Pink Parfait by Rebecca Leigh. I found it in Annie's Attic publication #AA875554. The Pink and white dress was made with Bernat Super Value Solid yarn and Bernat Baby Coordinates, The red and white dress is the same pattern and was made the Bernat Baby Coordinates, and Caron Simply Soft.

Sweet Dreams Baby Afghan

2009-01-10T15:57:00.002-05:00

Another Sweet Dreams lol, I must be drawn to that title! This is one of the many unique and exquisite baby afghans by Terry Kimbrough. You can find this pattern in a few of her books, this was on the cover of Absolutely Gorgeous Baby Afghans, Leisure Arts #3015. If you are a big baby afghan crocheter, you will use her patterns over and over again:-) I used Bernat Baby Coordinates yarn to make this.

Sweet Dreams Bunting

2009-01-10T15:14:00.004-05:00

I made this in 2007 for an infant who needed a lot of love. Mom told me the infant was a gir, so I picked this peachy pink color. AFTER I finished the bunting she told me the infant was a boy! I should have known to ask her though..Mom has a habit of calling girls-him, and boys-her, lol.
The bunting went to one of her neighbors..so it found home:-) The pattern is called Sweet Dreams, the designs were made by Ruth Holloway and Deborah Levy-Hamburg. I found it on the Crochet! Magazine Site. I used Bernat Baby Coordinates yarn,

Hearts & Diamonds

2009-01-10T14:50:00.002-05:00

I made this throw in 2007. I love how it turned out, however I had to rip it out so many times it wasn't funny. I don't know if it was me or the pattern, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say it was me! The pattern was a free leaflet, by Coats & Clark, LW1335, the pattern was designed by Marilyn Coleman. You can find the pattern as of this writing on Purplekittyyarns web site.
I used Red Heart and I Love This Yarn brands of yarn to make the throw.

Capelet

2009-01-10T14:43:00.002-05:00

I made this in October 2007. The capelet was made with Lionbrand ribbon yarn.

360 Move

2009-01-09T04:17:00.003-05:00

I have a blog on yahoo 360, same user name:vacrocheter. So, if you think you have seen some of these pictures before, lol, you're not crazy!