Episode 5: Aqua Blue and Something New

Episode 5 wraps up finished projects, plans for stash busting, a chat about anti-crochet perspectives and a new question for Shorty's Sutures listeners.

Finished Objects

• Finished up the squares for Blankets for Ethiopia and Joplin, MO


• Finished up Crochet Adorned project using the Fuzzy Bib Top pattern as inspiration with my modifications along with the Bird Brooch pattern

What’s in my bag?

• GGH Garn-Grobhandel-Hamburg (GmbH), Samoa - 50% cotton/50% acrylic blend in Aqua Blue


• Luxury Sock Yarn – Knitters Brewing Company in Grasshopper to make a neck scarf using the 113-26 Crochet shawl with intricate flower pattern in ”Alpaca” and ”Vivaldi” by DROPS design

What’s new my library?

• Little Crochet by Linda Permann


• www.PoetryinYarn.com

What’s in my ears?

• TSP


• SavvyGirls knitting podcast and my rebuttal to some anti-crochet perspectives

What’s new in my stash?

• Nothing just yet; trying to get thru the massive stash that I currently have


• Have some beautiful 100% Alpaca yarn (maybe 1500 yds) that I would like to make a sweater from, among other lovely yarns

Question for Episode 5 listeners: What is your favorite yarn to work with?

Reminder of the Crochet Concupiscence Hookin’ Up project that continues through July. A big thanks to Cheryl at Purple Butterly Crochet Collection and Keri at Yarn Dharma for their participation in the Hookin' Up project, too. I'm so glad to have gotten to know them better!

Thanks so much for joining me! Feel free to send me an email at shortyssutures@gmail.com, find me on Twitter or join the ShortysSutures Ravelry group. Until next time, keep those hands stitchin’!

Hookin' Up Project

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! If you're here through the Hookin' Up Project please click over to my new blog www.ShortysSutures.com. You'll find my review of Yarn Dharma and all the social media links so you can chat with me on Facebook, Twitter, Ravelry and more!

Hookin' Up with Yarn Dharma

As I've mentioned in the podcast and in previous posts the month of July has been host to a 'blog it forward project' over at Crochet Concupiscence. Today it's my turn to share with you a little something about one of the other blogs participating in the Hookin' Up project.

I am excited to tell you about the crochet blog Yarn Dharma! I must admit I was a bit curious when I signed on for this project what kind of blog I would get to review. Would it be a blog that I honestly liked? Would I have to create a lot of fluff? Fortunately for all of us I adore this blog and there is absolutely no need for fluff because I could go on and on about Yarn Dharma!

From the moment you click on the home page you can see you have a crochet lover on your screen. Not only is she enthusiastic about challenging herself with new projects and stitches, but she is consistent with sharing her lovely projects with her readers! If you're like me then you appreciate consistent posts on a blog you are fond of.  Click on her page entitled Yarny History you'll find out where her passion for crochet began.

One of the things that really stood out for me while I was looking at Yarn Dharma's stitches is that she has a knack for creating crocheted blocks that are reminiscent of quilt blocks. In particular, her Nine Patch Granny block really impressed me. I love to quilt, I've made many nine patch blocks in my past, and I had no idea you could create something similar to a true quilt block out of crochet. I may have to give this square a try at some point. My motif making skills have always been a bit on the lacking side, and seeing all of these great motif options is very inspiring.

Another project I was very intrigued by was the Stash Bag that YD completed. I also saw this project posted on the Purl Bee blog and considered making it. Seeing it again in the bright red that YD used to make it reminded me what a fun and useful crochet project this would be. I may have to add it to my queue pronto!

Be sure and check out Yarn Dharma on her blog, subscribe to her RSS feed and follow her on Twitter as @KeriKinnic. You'll find crochet inspiration and creativity abounding!

Special thanks to Cheryl at Purple Butterfly Crochet for featuring me on her blog as part of the Hookin' Up project. Cheryl has an online business where she shares her handmade creations and instructional videos, and you can also find her on Facebook as Purple Butterfly Crochet Connection and Twitter as @PBCrochetCol.

I would also like to thank Kathryn at Crochet Concupiscence for hosting this blog share project! It's been so much fun to see the different crochet blogs that were involved and to find even more crochet sites to interact with. Be sure to continue following the Hookin' Up project through the end of July so you won't miss out on what's to come.

The next episode of the Shorty's Sutures podcast will be out later this week. Until then, keep those hands stitchin'!

Surprise Stash

[caption id="attachment_51" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Hunter Green Sprinkles Lion Brand Yarn (practically ancient!)"][/caption]

My son recently surprised me with the news that he had found a long forgotten crochet stash of mine. I was so excited when he handed it over to me! Not only did I find crochet hooks in sizes that I didn't know I had, but there is also yarn that I can use! Two of the skeins are Lion Brand Wool-Ease in the Hunter Green Sprinkles colorway. I can't figure out exactly how old it is because there isn't a date on the yarn label, but I'm guessing it's from the late 90's. I remember the color Hunter Green was such a big thing 'back in the day!' (I'm sure you won't be surprised when I tell you that colorway has been discontinued.)

One of the coolest things about this discovery is that some of these hooks look quite old. My husband was saying that part of the reason the older hooks looked different from new ones because they aren't anodized. The paint is much less shiny and its fuller in places. It looks like the diameter of the hooks are just a smidge thicker than my newer hooks, but perhaps that's just my mind playing tricks on me.

You may remember when I mentioned in my introductory episode of the podcast that my Grandmother Berger taught me to crochet when I was five years old. She sent me things during my adult years like old crochet magazines, hooks and yarn that regrettably I haven't kept up very well with over the years. I'm hoping that some of these older hooks were ones that she sent me, but honestly I can't remember. Now she's gone and I have no way of really knowing.

I'm using the Lion Brand yarn to make one-color granny squares for the projects I'm wrapping up. I think the little sprinkles of color add a nice pop that will hopefully match well with the other squares that will be attached to them.

I can't get over how much I love having these newly discovered hooks! It instantly reaffirmed that I have a growing desire to collect vintage crochet hooks. One of these days I'm going to start visiting antique stores, especially ones in small towns. I think it would be so fun to hit the road, end up in tiny Texas towns and chat with antique store proprietors. Maybe when cooler weather emerges in a few months. (Unfortunately, that sounds like such a long time from now!)

 

New Friends and New Podcasts

Check out Episode 4 of the Shorty's Sutures crochet podcast! This episode reviews wrapping up of charitable crochet projects, new online friends and favorites as well as upcoming projects using the book Crochet Adorned by Linda Permann.

While you're over at shortyssutures.com, you can also take a peek at my Sand and Squares post where I hit the highlights of our recent trip to Padre Island.

I hope you're having a great start to your new week!

Episode 4: New Friends and New Podcasts

This episode reviews wrapping up of charitable projects, new online friends and favorites as well as upcoming projects using the book Crochet Adorned by Linda Permann.
[amazon_image id="0307451968" link="true" target="_blank" size="medium" ]Crochet Adorned: Reinvent Your Wardrobe with Crocheted Accents, Embellishments, and Trims[/amazon_image]
You can find and join in on Shorty’s Sutures discussions here on the blog, on Ravelry and Twitter, and if you’re on Etsy or Flikr you can join me there, too.
Highlights of Episode 4 include:

• Recap of the beach weekend
• Charity squares and the blocking process
• Ravelry pattern for a 4 x 4 granny square

Upcoming projects I'm starting from Linda Permann’s book [amazon_link id="0307451968" target="_blank" ]Crochet Adorned[/amazon_link]:

• Bird Brooches
• Vintage Kitchen rivets
• Lace Bowl
• When I’ve worked up the courage, hopefully before August is over, the Pretty Petals Tank

Key features of [amazon_link id="0307451968" target="_blank" ]Crochet Adorned[/amazon_link] that I really like:

• All patterns have both written instructions and a diagram
• Stitch dictionary as well as instructions for joining motifs and how to read patterns
• Inspiration and instructions for sprucing up garments already in your closet or for something entirely new

What’s in my bag?

• Stitch Nation Full o’ Sheep yarn, 100% Peruvian Wool, #4 weight/Worsted/Afghan/Aran in both Aquamarine & one in Poppy

What’s new in my library?

• Crochetwithdee.com

What’s in my ears?

• Fluffy Fibers by Isabelle at kittycouture.blogspot.com
• KnitPurlGurl at knitpurlgurl.com
• ManicPurl at manicpurl.com

What’s new in my stash?

• Stitch Nation Full o’ Sheep (linked above)

My new question for you… what do you do while you listen to podcasts? Chime in with your favorite way to listen to podcasts either here on the blog in the comments section or in the ShortysSutures group on Ravelry.
Something exciting going on for the month of July is the Hookin’ Up blog it forward project hosted by Kathryn at Crochet Concupiscence that I mentioned on the last episode of the podcast. She has set up a month long schedule where crochet bloggers will review each other’s Websites; basically she kicked it off with a review of a crochet blog, the person she reviewed mentioned Kathryn as a thank you but also blogged about the next crochet blogger on the list. It carries forward just like that for the entire month. Be sure to check it out. I’m scheduled to report on another crochet blog later this month, so keep checking shortyssutures.com and crochetconcupiscence.com to learn about other crochet blogs out there for you to interact with.
Thanks so much for joining me! Feel free to send me an email at shortyssutures@gmail.com, find me on Twitter or join the ShortysSutures Ravelry group. Until then, keep those hands stitchin’!

Squares and Sand

[caption id="attachment_45" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="In the Surf"][/caption]

Is it really already Saturday again? Last Saturday I was waking up on the beach on Padre Island. This week has blown right by me. Life has been full of fun, sun and crochet business that's for sure.

Last weekend my husband and I went on a Scout camp out with our son and his troop to Padre Island in Texas. We camped on the beach, swam in the surf and I soaked up as much of the environment as I could. The drive was long, over eight hours each way, but it was well worth it. One of the things I got the most enjoyment out of was watching the pelicans as they would fly along the beach. We didn't end up getting any video of it since our camera was never in our hands when they flew over us, but this video from YouTube will give you a great visual for what we saw. If you can also imagine adding to the video the hilarious fly-by commentary that the dads in our group added as the birds flew over, it sounded like military pilots were talking to each other about a mission.  Pelicans in Formation by TimandCherylDay

[caption id="attachment_46" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Birdie looking for grub"][/caption]

While I was in the car for the long drive I tried to focus on my crochet squares for charity projects. I must confess that I didn't make a ton of progress. The drive to the beach I was excitedly looking out the car windows as we cruised the Texas back roads, and on the drive home I was feeling sticky and sandy without much motivation to handle my yarn. Plus I began to realize just how tired I had grown of making the same type of crocheted square. I finished one 4 x 4 inch square I had been working on, then completed a second one, then I called it quits. I was determined to figure out a new square to make as soon as I could get back to my computer and look for inspiration.

[caption id="attachment_47" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Turtle hatchlings headed for the surf"][/caption]

I'm happy to report that I found inspiration (again) on Ravelry! I was searching for a 4 x 4 inch Granny Square pattern so I wouldn't have to worry with calculating stitches, and I found one as part of a felted slippers pattern. It was just was I was looking for. I'm back in action making more crocheted squares and can't wait to wrap up this project in the next week or so. Pictures of all my blocks will be available later in the week when I post show notes for Episode 4 of the Shorty's Sutures Podcast.

I hope you're having a great week, and remember to keep those hands stitchin'!

Hookin' Up

You may have already heard the news, but if you haven't then let me be the first to tell you about the Hookin' Up Project by Kathryn at Crochet Concupiscence.

Kathryn has put together an event showcasing all different kinds of crochet blogs. The bloggers are able to interact with each other by reviewing one of the blogs on the list and sharing the review with their followers. Later this month Shorty's Sutures will be covered by another blogger, and I'll review one of the blogs on the list, too.

Check out the entire list of crochet blogs featured in Hookin' Up, and be sure to follow Crochet Concupiscence on Twitter as @CrochetBlogger to get all the latest updates on the project.

Happy Weekending!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend full of creativity and crochet, or whatever form of hand stitchery you choose!

I'll be back next week with a recap of my weekend, which I can assure you will be an adventure!

Happy Weekending!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend full of creativity and crochet, or whatever form of hand stitchery you choose! I will continue working on my crocheted squares for charity. What's in your project bag?

I'll be back next week with a recap of my weekend, which I can assure you will be an adventure!

Episode Three!

Go here to listen to Episode Three of the Shorty's Sutures crochet podcast! Included in this episode are lots of links and resources for all things crochet, as well as progress on projects and a recommendation for a wonderful local yarn shop in Fort Worth, Texas!

Subscribe to the podcast through iTunes and be sure to provide your feedback in the review section!

Thanks for listening and keep those hands stitchin'!

Episode 3: Crochet Contributions

Episode Three

A brief journey through iTunes registration, the Fourth of July weekend, charitable crochet, my review of Go Crochet Afghan Workbook, awesome yarn and a wonderful local yarn shop.

Today's episode began with some tips I learned about getting my podcast registered on iTunes through the guidance of a good podcasting friend Jack at TSP.

The Fourth of July weekend recap included details of crochet time and the two charity projects I'm currently working with. Join me on Ravelry to find out more about where to donate crochet squares and be part of the feel-good-stash-busting experience!

Discussion of [amazon_link id="1440209073" target="_blank" ]Go Crochet Afghan Workbook[/amazon_link] by Ellen Gormley.

What's in my Library?

• Crochet designer and innovator Vashti Braha online here and here


• Paper.li Website: The Crochet and Knit Daily List by Karen Ratto Whooley from KRWKnitwear


• Paper.li Website:  Crochet Social - Leaders List by Aberrant Crochet


• Crochet Concupiscence and a Blog It Forward Project

What's in my ears?

• Yarn Thing with Marly


• Getting Loopy with Mary Beth Temple


• The Survival Podcast with Jack Spirko


• Yarn on Tap

What's in my bag?

• Charity squares for Little Crocheters in the Woods & Blankets for Ethiopia using Linked Treble Crochet foundation stitches and repeats


• Finished Nook Pouch

What's in my stash?

• Splitty Acrylic


• Polo Zitron (purchased at the wonderful Jennings Street Yarns in Fort Worth, Texas


• Lana Grossa Cool Wool


• FibraNatura with Sea Song (also purchased at the wonderful Jennings Street Yarns; what a wonderful treat after work on Tuesday!)

Thanks so much for joining me and I do hope you’ll join me again next time. Where can you find me: on Ravelry, Flikr, Etsy, Facebook and Twitter as ShortysSutures, or send me an email at shortyssutures(at)gmail(dot)com.  And you can always return here to my blog at www.shortyssutures.com.

Until then, keep those hands stitchin’!

Foundation Crochet Squares

[caption id="attachment_34" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Squares for Joplin"][/caption]

I hope you had a wonderful Fourth of July celebration! My family and I had a great time visiting Arkansas, relaxing with good friends and we set off fireworks each of the three nights we were there. My son did a great job running back and forth staging the explosives then setting them off. Sounds kind of horrible when I describe it like that, but he's a very conscientious fire cracker, I must admit!

During the moments when I had some time to crochet I managed to work up several 8 x 8 inch squares that will be headed to Joplin, Missouri very soon. Crocheting with a charitable purpose really has given me a sense of satisfaction while I work. And it's nice to be involved with a group of crocheters that I can link up with through Ravelry to see what tips and tricks they might have, or to just read about their involvement in the project we are working on together.

If you're looking for ideas on what to crochet for a charitable cause check here and here.

When I began working on the squares I found it a wee bit troublesome trying to calculate just how many stitches I could make that would come out the right size.  When I chained eight inches I measured my yarn and thought I was on the right track. But, as I added rows I found that depending on the gauge of my stitches my foundation chain either grew or shrank by at least half an inch.

I remembered that I knew how to make foundation stitches and that solved my problem. I started using the Linked Treble Crochet stitch and my progress tripled! (no pun intended) You can create foundation stitches using any crochet stitch (single, double, treble crochet) once you get the hang of it. Here's a link to a great article created by futuregirl where she explains more about foundation stitches as well as has pictures with the differences between foundation single crochet and foundation double crochet. If you'd like to watch someone create a foundation double crochet stitch then be sure to watch Teresa's video here. There are more videos available for whatever type of foundation crochet stitch you would like to try.

I think I'll make squares that utilize other foundation stitches so that I will not only have blocks that vary in color but also in stitch. This is really a fun and productive project. Not only am I crocheting with an added purpose, I'm de-stashing at the same time!