Elegant Lace Stole

I finished Grandma Wallace's shawl! David's Grandma is turning 95 years old this weekend. We all head to Kansas on Thursday for her birthday celebration. For her birthday, I crocheted her this shawl. I really enjoyed this pattern--super easy, but looks complicated. My favorite kind!

This is me, modeling. I hope to get a picture of it on Grandma this weekend!

















Here it is on sweet Grandma!

handspun yarn!

For the past 6 weeks, I've been taking a spinning class at the Fort Bend Museum. We started on drop spindle, then progressed to the great wheel, then to the treadle wheels. We could only spin on the wheels in class, but I got to bring a drop spindle home to practice. It was so much fun! I was so sad to give it back yesterday, and am looking into getting my own. They're fairly inexpensive, so I think I can swing it. Wheels, on the other hand, are not! Maybe some day...

I'm very much a beginner, but here's my first handspun yarn, spun on a drop spindle, dyed pink with Kool-Aid. Our class has a luncheon next Wednesday for our final gathering, and I'm going to try to crochet something with my yarn to take to show. I'm not sure what, yet, since I haven't counted to see how many yards I have. It will certainly be something small! And don't worry--I'll update this post with a completed picture.

Update: I had approximately 30 yards of yarn on my spindle when I unwound it. It was enough to crochet two flowers (plus a smidgen left over). I decided to felt one of them, which was only marginally successful--mostly the hot water just faded my Kool-Aid dye job! I have no clue what I'm going to do with these little flowers, but it's so satisfying to know that I spun the yarn myself and actually made something. Very satisfying indeed.

Vintage yarn, UGLY soaker!

a little background on this one...

Grandma Wallace gave me a (partial) skein of yarn that was found in Barnard while cleaning out closets before Christmas that has to be 30+ years old. It's Red Heart brand wool yarn in avocado green, orange and gold--soooo 70's! Well, of course I had to make *something* with it so I whipped up this soaker. All I can say is UGLY! But I love it anyway! Check out the wrapper that came off the skein, with the price tag from some store called "Duckwall's". It cost $1.27.

This soaker also confirms my decision that I really don't like variegated yarns crocheted. I hate that "built with Legos" look. Variegateds should be saved for knits, in my opinion. People should crochet in solid colors. Oh, and the trim is just green Wool-ease (something I had that didn't clash too badly).

a couple more hook/needle rolls...

I did these two for 'pin mamas.

a travel sized one for Freckle...



and a BIG one for Mollie...


Both of these were done on my friend Cynthia's machine (thanks Cynthie!) since mine decided to have a huge attitude problem and BREAK on the first seam of Freckle's. It's still in the shop. Boo. Hope it feels better soon!

for Marin...

I am so excited for my sweet college roommate Jane and her husband who are expecting their first little one in just a few weeks. This hat's in the mail on the way to baby Marin.

Can't wait to meet you, sweetie!

have hook, will travel!

I liked my crochet hook and accessories roll that I made last week so much I decided to make a travel sized one. This one is just big enough for a couple of hooks, scissors, tape measure and row counter, plus a ribbon for stitch markers. I always take projects with me on road trips to work on in the car. This will be the perfect travel companion!