Crochet Alligator Scarf

Been a while since I posted.  I have been trying to come up with something fast and easy to crochet, that would bring in some money (need fundraising money to go to D.C. 2013 Memorial Day Parade that my daughter will be marching in).  I finished my alligator scarf today, had to add his eyes.  Took about a week to do, with all the frogging I did.  Still not happy with the outcome.  He needs to be a bit wider for one and just not sure on the other.  So I will working on another and doing some tweeking here and there to see if I can come up with something I am really happy with.  I think the kids at school would like.  Our mascot is a Gator and our colors are purple and white.  I used 2 different patterns.  Crocheted Alligator Scarf by Kathy S.  & this one which is not free.  Pictures are not very good, probably should of waitted for the sun to be out better.  I used Caron Simply Soft in color Pine & a size I hook.  Tatting is on the back burner for now.  Waitting on some books from the Library.  Sure wish they would hurry!!  :)  Soooo how is everyone and what have yall been doing??

What a dreary day today

Well it is raining and I just can not get motivated today, so I figured I would update my blog today.  Yesterday I did manage to get 2 projects finished.  I was working on a crochet pineapple snowflake (can be purchased here) & heart's desire (a tatting pattern which can be found at here).

The crochet pineapple snowflake I plan on making 2 more and doing another 3-D snowflake.  If you are wondering how to make a 3-D snowflake, I do talk about it more here.  This pattern will make a larger 3-D snowflake.

The tatted heart's desire, well not really sure what I will do with it, but I did get more practice by making it.  I do have a boo boo in a join but I think it is not really noticeable.

Between working on those 2 project, I had a sick Deuce.  He is my 70 lb. white boxer.  I woke up yesterday to a mess on the kitchen floor.  Could tell he was not feeling well.  He ate breakfast but around 2:00 P.M. breakfast came back up.  He pretty much stayed at my feet and would stare at me with those puppy dog eyes (mom love me, I do not feel good).  For supper I decided to see if he would eat some plain rice.  He did not want that either.  Right before going to bed, I tried again to get him to eat some rice and he did.  This morning I gave him a little more rice and he ate it.  I also offered him a doggie kibble and he ate, but did not want to risk upsetting tummy again.  If the rice stays down, might go ahead and feed him normal at supper.  Right now he is sleeping on my bed, which is typical at this time.  LOL
When my boy does not go outside and bark at something (there is always something to bark at & squirrels to chase) then I know he is not feeling good at all. 

 

So how is your weather and what do you plan on working on today?

Latest Tatted Project

Have been spending alot of time tatting.  I think my crochet hooks are getting jealous.  LOL  I was working on what I call a snowflake.  The pattern says Base Motif #2.. I found on the internet and forgot to pin so I could offer a link.  I only printed and for some reason there was no printed url at bottom of page.  I hate when I do things like that.  I do have some boo boos but I am learning and also trying to make sure I work on tension.  I have problems with that the most.

 

Will take a small break and try to get some crocheting done.  I have a scarf exchange in Oct. with the ladies I meet with here at our local Books A Million.  If you happen to live in Lake Charles, Louisiana or close by, we meet every Thursday at 6:30 P.M.

 

Well I guess that is all for now.  Nothing new to report.  How are you spending your time??????

Frustrated:Learning from mistakes

I guess I will start at the beginning.  My daughter is in band and is in high school.  Her school band has been chosen to march in the 2013 Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C.  So I have been on a quest as to ideas as to some small items I could make and sell.  I want to chaperon this trip.  The estimated cost per student is $900 this does not include food.  The kids will have tons of fundraisers between now and then.  But I need to try and raise my $900 plus extra for food.  Ok so I decided to make Carnival Earrings over at yarnplayertats.  So I loaded up my shuttle like she states for the beads.  I get he 1st ring made and notice my beads are not sitting like hers, and somehow my thread has twisted and my stitches are not sitting properly.  I try to undo the stitches to start over but was unable to do so.  So decided to trash and start over again.  Still not understanding why my beads do not sit properly, I started again.  This time I got to the point where I was adding the 9 beads and just could not figure out how to do it.  I have not added beads to rings so was a little confused, but after stopping and then thinking about the pattern and instructions, it hit me as to what I was doing wrong with beads and why they where not sitting properly.  The pattern says to slide up beads, which means when you are ready to start that ring you slide beads for that ring onto the thread that is held in your left hand.  I was sliding beads into place from shuttle which means they where on the shuttle thread when worked.  Soo once again I try to undo as many stitches as possible to save thread.  I am working with Lizbeth size #20 color #131 and is tiny thread.  I ended up cutting and removing my beads and starting all over.  So 3rd try is always a charm, right?  Well I did it, after all day I finially finished the 1 earring.  Came out pretty good too.  So to hide ends I decided I would knot like some of the others I have heard done.  Well I think I knoted wrong and after I cut the ends the knot came undone.  All that work done the drain.  Said a few words, decided to take break and catch up on my True Blood episodes.  So after I cooled down, decided okay need to find way to hide ends and had heard of few methods, so decided to visit youtube.  Good old youtube, such a wonderful place.  I found 2 videos that show how to hide beginning thread if just working with shuttle and also found video that shows how to hide your finished thread ending.  I hope this information helps you. I did take picture before taking apart to salavage beads and earring part.  Is rather hard to see the round bead in center, but it is a pearl in an ivory color.  Seedbeads are also ivory in color.  I did not have a teardrop bead for long loop so I added a few extra seedbeads.  Today I will attempt again and use the knowledge of hiding thread.

Pros & Cons of Needle & Shuttle Tatting

My biggest struggle with tatting was getting my picots uniform.  Well I had some input from experienced tatters at the forum about cutting strips of paper and using this.  Well I just did not see how that would work and be very tedious.  I was searching YouTube and stumbled across this video which shows you how a strip of paper, probably should say stock paper, something thick and and stable.  Of course after I watched, had one of those Ahhh Haaaa moments.  LOL
Video Here!

As promised here are my pros & cons of needle & shuttle tatting.  Remember this is from my own experience.

Needle Tatting Pros

• The way the thread is held mimics the way I hold for crocheting which makes it easier and faster to put my stitches on the needle.
• I can actually see how many stitches are on the needle.
• I find hiding the ends are much easier.

Needle Tatting Cons

• Working with a tail is very tedious and I spent more time untwisting the thread.
• I am not very good at guessing how much I need for a project and could mean a lot more joins for larger projects
• Once the stitches are off the needle, it is almost impossible to unpick the stitches if an error is made.

Shuttle Tatting Pros

• You can wind more on a shuttle and not have to worry about working with a tail.
• I find that my finished work lays flatter then my needle tatting work, not sure if this has something to do with the Shoe Lace Knot that is done after each ring or chain in needle tatting, and also something I may not be doing correctly.
• Shuttles come in different sizes and I like the smaller ones.
• Picking out wrong stitches are easier.

Shuttle Tatting Cons

• I think for me was how you hold thread.  I felt awkward with the traditional way (pinching thread between thumb and pointer finger), but received some advice of holding thread between my thumb and index finger.  Which has helped and I think with more practice I can actually enjoy shuttle tatting more.
• I find it hard to be able to see the stitches I have made, but once again with practice that will come.

So I have come to a conclusion.  I prefer shuttle tatting over needle tatting.  Yea I know, I was all for needle tatting and I think for smaller projects I will use needle tatting.  But over all using the shuttle will be my method.  I really do encourage everyone to learn both methods.

Wanted to show you my shuttles.  Nothing fancy, as they all came from Hobby Lobby.  I got the large red one first, then the white one with the bobbin, then the green & orange one with out bobbins.  I like the last ones better.  I can wind more thread on those then the bobbin and they are small.
I am working on making my daughter a lanyard for her keys.  Pretty simple design that will be repeated on the other side too and joined to top picots.

 

I meant to publish this yesterday and just lost track.  On Thursday I meet a few ladies at Books A Million for our weekly knit/crochet meeting.

Feel free to leave comments.

We are still here....

Just a little wind blown.  We are expected to get rain tonight and tomorrow with more wind.  Have had a few branches break, but as long as they are not on my lines, I am a happy camper.  :)
Daughter did not have school today.  Only thing we got was wind and even that was not too bad.  They will be off tomorrow since they expect rain and more wind.  Possible that the roads will be flooded.  Will give a holler tomorrow evening and let you know how it went.

I managed to finish my bookmark that I had started with my shuttle.  Did pretty good.  I did run out of shuttle thread and had to do a join.  I think that came out okay too.  I just need to find a good tutorial on how to hide my ends.  I was having a hard time getting my picots to come out like they where suppose too.  Can not tell that there are suppose to be two different sizes.  LOL  Oh it is same pattern as the other one I did with the needle.  You know the one with the big ole boo boo.

 

Well did some searching and found a great way to get them uniform in size.  I will share that secret with you tomorrow along with some pros & cons of shuttle & needle tatting from my personal experience with both.  

Another Big Ole Boo Boo!

Was working on my needle tatting last night.  Working on  a snowflake.  Pattern here.  I was having a hard time trying to keep everything straight (pattern and the thread:OMG! the thread twisted so much, much more then Isaac...LOL) and to make sure I was joining to the correct picot.  I was on the 2nd half and was about to finish up 3rd part of 6 parts when I forgot to hold thread to make a ring and it dissappeared and was never saw again.  If I had more tatting under the belt, I could of salvaged, I think.  But what was made is never going to see the end.  I did get picture before I took apart to salvage the beads. I was hoping to finish even with some small boo boos and other ooppsy, but guess will chalk that piece up to practice.  So I decided to finish bookmark with shuttle that was tossed aside when needles came in.  Almost there.  I have found new way to hold thread that makes shuttle tatting a little easier on me. 
Okay here is picture and please try not to laugh too hard.  :)

Well  looks like Isaac will not bother us TOO much.  Depending on which way it goes once it hits land, will depend on how much rain and wind we will get.  Today is nice and windy but I think tomorrow will be a tad bit windier then today.  Will keep yall informed.

Drop a comment and let me know you stopped by.  Thanks!