Climbing Shells Blanket

Good Morning!!

What an awesome morning it is here where I live. Its promising to be another one of those hot days in which you want to crochet something but don't want anything hot and heavy to work with.

I'm currently working on both the round blanket with square corners and a climbing shells blanket. You saw in the previous post the round blanket..In this one I'm hoping to share my climbing shells blanket. Its in a size for a newborn. And its so pretty in pink that I can't decide if
I will give this one to a woman in the church who is expecting her first born daughter or donate it to one of our group events. I'm thinking of donating this one. I thinking that some young mother is going to be thrilled with it. Regardless, if I choose the woman in the church or an event.

I'm working on the last few rows and then I will be putting on the border. Not sure of which one I will use. I seem to be a free spirit on borders. Much depends on mood and how much more I want to put into the item I'm working on. I tend to be very simple on boys blankets but on girls I get more decorative..I guess that would mean I like frilly things? yes and no..I like them both really.

Above, is the climbing shells blanket. Cindy, I'm sending you a picture..well, two actually of Rita when I was trying to take a picture of the blanket..she was being very silly on my bed..losing her mind..lol.. so those pics are for you and Bert.

Until We Meet Again!
Hook's up!
Leslee
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/craftersintheattic/

Groundhog Day!

Today was Groundhog Day!
Did you remember? I didn't..I was too busy thinking about how I didn't really want more snow. We have a lot already and are getting more. Usually where I live we only get one or two days of snow and not a lot. This year we have had already nearly two weeks of snow..Heavy snow! Did the groundhog see his shadow? YEAH..oh goody! NOT!!!

Well, the most positive thing is that its great crafting weather. And that's what most of us in Crafter's in the Attic love. well, most of us as I have five grandkids in the house. Four of them get housebound and the littlest guy is only five months old..

Today I worked on my shawl. I managed to go get two skeins between the snow storms. Remember its in gemstone by Red Heart.

I also was looking for a Bernat yarn called Baby Softee. Well, I found it but the bad news was that I couldn't find it in the color skein I started in. grr! I had to choose another color and will have to frog the piece I started. To frog..for some newbies to the craft means to rip out all that you have done or up to a place where you went off track in the pattern. A good lesson here is also to make sure you have enough yarn for the project you wish to start.. sigh!

Now don't worry if you mess up..the great news is that even veteran crocheter's do this once in awhile. We aren't perfect. Incidentally, I learned something important a long time ago from some crafters. When you are working on a project and you look back and see an imperfection, don't rip it out. Remember that we aren't perfect and this is a humble stitch. Its as unique as the crafter herself.

Well, I am going to close this for now. I will take more pictures as I am working to show you my baby blanket and how the progress goes. I will post that pattern when I can show you a picture of it being worked on. It is easy.

Until we meet again!
Hook's Up!
Leslee
http://craftersintheattic.nexo.com

New shawl for Cancer patient.

Hello Everyone!

Seems like I have been gone for such a long time here. For those who read my blog for Crafters in the Attic my apology for my absence..Our holiday was a very busy one.

Crafters in the Attic are working on my different projects this year. We are donating to two hospitals for newborn/mom's, the Cancer Treatment Research Center in Texas, Catholic outreach that helps teens and mothers, Pine Rez in S.D., International Children's Network who help Inner City kids and orphans in Peru, and The Caring House in Upper Michigan that is a shelter for abused mom's/kids.

Most of us have our own personal charity's around us so it makes for busy hands. Currently I'm working on a shawl for a lady I know is suffering cancer. The shawl is a triangle shawl. The above picture is the one I'm working on. It takes 4 skeins of yarn to complete it. Even though it looks like its a granny type pattern it provides some warmth. This pattern also works up pretty fast. I was amazed at how quickly it goes and also how much yarn it takes..Its rather deceptive. However its beautiful ... this was my choice of color. I felt it has a warm look to it because of the jewel tone colors in the yarn. The yarn I used was by Red Heart. Its a 4 ply yarn. I am using a J hook on this one.

I'm also working on a baby blanket for my grand daughter that will be born sometime in March. She is an at risk baby as her heart valves are parallel instead of crossed. She will need surgery to fix this problem sometime soon after birth. I will post the pattern for her blanket on my next blog. This pattern can be used for other donations...Its pretty and very easy to do.

I will post to my next blog about using circle looms to make quick and easy hats for donation and family. The hats are warm and work up fast for those who want to make hats for charity.

Until we meet Again!
Hook's Up!
Leslee
http://craftersintheattic.nexo.com/

The Middle of November!

Its now November.Wow! already!
Time sure has been flying. I've been busy with trying to move and settle down for awhile.I've moved things into storage and out. I'm still not done. However, life just keeps on going on around me. The kids are into activities that they are interested in. There are birthdays this month and now Thanksgiving is next week! I think of the days that nothing happens and time seems to slow down to a crawl. This has not been the case for me for the last few months.

My group, Crafter's in the Attic is doing well. We still have only a handful of ladies. They are some very sweet dedicated women whom I love dearly. Our group is currently making things for 100 orphans in Peru who sometimes have as little as a thin sheet to keep warm in temperatures of below 10. Slippers are sometimes worn as shoes as they have nothing else. My heart is sad for these children. So we are trying to help them as best we can hoping that God sends us more hands to do the work.

Lately, I've worked on some loomed hats. They work up really well if you use two strands of 4 ply yarn. I would imagine by the way they are turning out that they will be nice and warm. I'm also going to work on a blanket. A friend recently said she was using an I hook and working hdc which would make a nice warm blanket to keep someone warm. I have decided to give this a try. I want to send some fleece blankets as well. I have worked on sweaters but I'm not sure on larger sizes..Yet these children really need our help so I will give this a try. My knitting is still in the baby stages so it will have to be crocheted.

I just added some holiday recipes to our group. We were thinking that a nice page to leave up anytime our members wanted to find a different dish or dessert..or just spice up a midweek meal. I love our Nexo site. Its given us the freedom to create pages for our use and make the group a fun place to come. We still have our regular pattern pages and files/links..Having an arcade to come to is a nice break as well. I'm looking forward to finishing up my donations soon. I have a lot of holiday projects screaming at me..but now at this time of year most crafters do so I guess I'm in really good company.

Until we meet again!
Hook's Up!
Leslee Libby
yarnangel52@gmail.com

October News

Finally,
I'm back to blog again. Sometimes my life has me going in several different directions. I'm sure that many of you also experience this. I get frustrated as I really just wish to craft.

I had a wonderful opportunity in September to visit an old online friend. I had an awesome time as she lives on a farm. I saw a wonderful part of our country at the same time. Mother nature changed the leaves. What a radiant picture of color it was! I got quite a bit of crocheting done then. I also knitted my first sock! wow, I almost couldn't believe it. Now that I know I can do that I will be working on the second sock..giggle..well, once things settle down a bit.

I have been moving around trying to find a place of my own since I came home. I will finally be living with my daughter and her family.

Crafters in the Attic has been in a state of change. We will be listing our places for donation and instead of making a place only have what we called an event for one or two months, we will be listing the places and our members can work as they are able and just send to the places we list. I think it will work out better.

I found a nice pattern book from Bernat at Walmart for only 97 cents. It has some crocheted and knitted blankets in it. One of them I'm trying right now is rather lacy. I'm making it in a Bernat soft lavendar. Its going to be really pretty.

I also belong to a group that sent out a new pattern for a man's cap and scarf set. Its great as its just the pattern I've been looking for since July. You see one of my many sons loves this sort of sporty cap. I saw him wearing one in July at my youngest daughter's wedding. So I thought it would be a great gift for Christmas if I could make one in charcoal gray. I'm sure he would love it.Then I would need to figure out what to make or get for his wife. I made her a lovely shawl last Christmas so I'm really not sure what I could create for her. I hope to make some nice things for charity as well as my family.

Until we meet again!
Hook's Up!
Leslee
yarnangel52@gmail.com

Busy Crafting

Hello!
Oh my! Two days in a row for my blogging! Might become a habit. I love to write. I don't always have time. I love more to crochet which explains why I get more of that done.

Right now I'm sort of on crunch time. I have baby blankets to get ready for my new grandsons who have yet to make their appearance! I also have a lap ghan and two sweaters to finish..Then someone in our group drew our attention to some free patterns that are great. One is Cowboy Booties and the other newborn gowns. After saving the patterns I was trying to decide which to do first..Ok, better light in the morning for sewing and threading that darn needle in my machine..so that can wait..I guess tonight will get my attention in my crocheting.

I also have a challenge I'm working on. The challenge is to make hats/scarf sets for inner city children ages 5 thru 18. I think I mentioned this before. Its the CRS and my meds playing with my memory. Not to mention a bazillion other things I am trying to keep on the back burners..
I haven't started these yet. I set a goal for two sets a month till the end of the year. Hmm..I'm thinking I need to get started..lol

Until we meet again!
Hook's Up!
Leslee
http://craftersintheattic.nexo.com/

I'm back!

Its amazing how time just seems to fly when you are busy!
That's the case here with me. I've been working hard to crochet some baby things for my daughters who are pregnant. Both of them due in August and two days a part. The funny thing here is they are almost like to horses in a race..just when you think one is ahead the other's nose shows she is taking the lead. Let me explain. One of them went to the hospital for pain. Was told she is dilating but not yet ready to stay. Then the other goes to the doctor and she is told she is
experiencing some labor but will need to wait a bit.. This has gone on for three going on four weeks. So, like a good mom/nana, I'm working on receiving blankets, spit up cloths, sweaters, what ever they need really. Both are expecting little boys. So color choice is now easier. Both have very little for their babies so that makes choice easier too.

I'm crocheting lapghans too. I have one red climbing shells ghan done. I have one baby blue and one tan/lighter tan striped one on the hook.. I love this pattern as it works up easy.

Crafter's in the Attic, is now supporting a challenge from now throughout the year. We are setting goals to make hat/scarf sets for inner city children in poverty ages 5 through 18 in this country. We are working in collaboration with International Children's Network to help these children. We also have an event in Nov/Dec of this year to work with them to help keep warm 100 orphans in Peru. They will need blankets, sweaters, hats/scarfs, anything to keep them warm in temps -10. I guess you could say the "Attic" is a busy place. We have going on right now an event to help senior in a place called "Summer Wind". Those seniors are being taught to crochet or knit from one of our members to help children in the U.S. Meanwhile we hear in the "Attic" are making things for them. The ladies there that are crocheting are not aware that we are making things for them...So, it should be a nice surprise!

Until we meet again!
Hook's Up!
Leslee
http://craftersintheattic.nexo.com

New Things to Enjoy!

Today we got a new lady in Crafters in the Attic. She is affiliated with a group in East Oakland that helps teen mom's. Its good to have her here.I hope we each can get something good with our union.

I almost have my pants finished for the wedding. They are in pink crepe. The top is started. Its a pink flimsy see through with satin flowers on one side. Its pretty material. I'm trying to roll this small piece of it to be a loop and it rolls and comes undone. Haven't figured out how to get around it. Too much noise today from the kids. The swamp cooler causes the door to swell so my sewing room door will not close. Ever feel like running away?..right now I do. The pressure to finish as the wedding is in seven days!

I will not have the time for other projects till this wedding is done and over. I will have the pleasure of visiting with two friends from my group who are able to attend. It should be fun to sit and crochet and talk. Possibly pick up some new skills. I have a darling knitted baby footie pattern,(e-PatternsCentral.com) I want to make for my two new grandsons who will be born next month or sooner, depending on the mom's. I also got a sweater pattern I want to make and see if I can enlarge for larger children.

I wish you all a peaceful evening,

Until we meet again!
Hook's Up!
Leslee
craftersintheattic@nexo.com