Quilts on my mind....

I am tapping the quilt patterns for crochet projects. Annette Lep's book, Crocheting Patchwork Patterns offers patterns and directions for making these patterns. The evening star was completed during a recent trip to the midwest. The small blocks are easy and convenient while riding. Most quilt designs are only various arrangements of basic squares and diagonal ones. This block is approximately 2' x 2'. After washing, it will be better, and it will join other blocks for a throw size piece.

On my trip, I became fascinated by what I learned about   Barn Quilt Trails . These trails were started in  2001 in Ohio. When I visited the Flint Hills in Kansas, I discovered a trail there and later bought Suzi Parron's book  on the history of the trails.

Of course when I told Kyla about this, we decided that WE have to make these for our barns. Maybe we will start a barn quilt trail in Orleans County! The U.S. trails are organized now and accessible on this barn quilt info website. Vermont has a trail in Franklin County near Grand Isle where I will be this summer. Of course I will get that trail map, follow the tour and meet with some of the participants. Such fun!

California Dreamin'

California
California writer Brittany Shoot recommends the World Famous Crochet Museum – a 5-by-8-foot plastic green kiosk that's part of the kind-of-random "Art Queen Compound," near the northern entrance of Joshua Tree National Park. Shari Elf, the artist who escaped L.A. to run the crochet museum and the rest of the compound, told Shoot, "I added 'world famous' as an affirmation that crochet, and the craft-work of loving hands, deserve to be world famous." The dirt-and gravel lot is also home to an art gallery, and a variety of outdoor tables, metal rockers and oddball art projects. The museum itself used to be a Fotomat kiosk. There's no admission fee and no set hours; if the key is in the lock, you can let yourself in. It's so small, only two people can be inside at the same time. The eccentric Elf doesn't actually crochet; she merely displays her collection of others' creations – mostly animals and dolls, including tatteredSesame Street and Winnie the Pooh characters, well-worn alligators with googly eyes, and tiny crocheted angels with magnets affixed to their backs. It looks like a child's well-loved collection. The museum provides no history or how-to lessons regarding crochet, and there are no fancy doilies and lace, just the folksy, finished products. Visitors are welcome to add their own handicrafts to the collection.

World Famous Crochet Museum!!!!

.How curious is this????  Maggie googled it and found it near the Mohave desert outside of  LA. It really is a California Dreamin' kind of a place. I love it!! It is on my Rv travel list for sure!!  The little creatures are so reminiscent of what I have done over the years.

Knitting with Beads

Looking through a book of knitting patterns I came across this lovely necklace and when I read that it was an easy pattern for learning to knit with beads, I decided to give it a try. To my surprise, it really was easy and I think my first one is good enough to give as a gift.  Now I'm thinking of all the other color combinations that could be made into more necklaces.  It works up quick and if you haven't knitted with beads and would like to give it a try, I highly recommend this pattern.  It can be found in the book,  101 Designer One Skein Wonders.

Jill's Scarf

My dear friend Jill is modeling the scarf, more as a stole, but it looks lovely. This was done in acrylic with two main colors, and a Leno, hand-weaving detail in violet. The Leno technique is fun and will be done again with other colors and yarns. Can't wait!

Hello Kitty

This is the Hello Kitty hat that I made for Lydie for her 3 rd birthday. I found the pattern on the web, of course, and I think she liked it!!!! Just google hello kitty hat and you will find it. Very easy and good for left over yarn bits.

Leno for a friend

Using the new warping mill to measure out some nice soft yarn, I produced another scarf for my friend. I wanted to learn a new weaving technique called Leno. It is a form of hand weaving that is quite simple to do. There are variations on Leno and other hand weaving techniques like Brook's Bouquet that I will attempt in the next project. This was a 2 day project during a time in Vermont that has been rather unpleasant, extreme cold, now snow and wind. What better to do while keeping the wood stove going......

cabled scarf

Last Fall I learned how to knit cables and made a scarf for Mark for Christmas.  Now I am trying a different cable scarf pattern using alpaca wool.  It's nice to learn a new technique and maybe I'll finish it in time to wear this winter!

Hello Kitty for Lydie

I hope that Lydie will be happy with her HELLO KITTY hat for her third birthday next week. The pattern was located in www.crochetincolor.blogspot.com when I was searching for animal hats for kids. She and her sister Ellie enjoyed the Fox hats for christmas! see previous post. I will post a picture of Lydie in her new hat next week.

Christmas Knitting

I made a lot of hats this year as gifts, but I sent most of them off before I took photos of them!  I found a neat pattern for a ski mask that rolls up to form a regular hat when it's not too cold. My husband had been asking for a ski mask for when he runs the snowblower, so I made him two for Christmas (both are knit from handspun, and the brown one is handspun alpaca), and one for a present for another friend.  He likes the hat and it works well as a ski mask in cold weather.  No sooner did he get the mask than we had our first major snow of the year.  Here are photos of the mask and the mask in action as he runs the snowblower!

I also found a nice pattern for a cowl that knits up quickly, looks good, and is very warm.  The pattern is called "Curling Cowl" and is available on Ravelry if you want to try it.  I made several in different colors of kid mohair and they made nice gifts.

Happy Holidays everyone!  I haven't posted in a while, but will try to be more active this year!