Posted in crochet, Finished Objects, Jewelry, Works In Progress

Here Is What’s Been Keeping Me Busy

Wednesday WIPs is taking a backseat today for two reasons: I’ve way too many WIPs, but I have a lot of finished projects I want to show off. It doesn’t help much that I’ve been gone for so long. What with two trips in two months under my belt, who has time to write. Additionally, I’m still publishing two newsletters a month for The Yarn Store at Nob Hill, teaching classes, and now getting ready for craft fair season.

One project that took quite a bit of time and effort was getting a teaching plan and patterns ready for a project for The Yarn Store (TYS). The store wanted to reach out to the university crowd by offering kits at a reasonable price. The kits are for either crochet or knit and include how-to instructions for beginners, five patterns, yarn and tools in a pouch plus lessons with an instructor. Another woman did the knit portion, and I did the crochet portion. I wrote three original patterns, a photo-tutorial on a granny square scarf in chart form, and an adaptation of the Amazing Grace headband. Since starting this blog, I’ve been updating my color scheme in my patterns, so you’ll notice that they coordinate well with the blog. I also like the bi-fold style layout which looks like this:

Front and back cover
Inside pages

I had to put the watermark on them because they are for sale on Ravelry and in TYS kits. Here is what the others look like.

Continue reading “Here Is What’s Been Keeping Me Busy”
Posted in Craft tips, motivation, timeless thursday

Do You Remember These Crafts?

…and would you make them today?

It is craft fair season — and I’m madly making items to sell — so I’m sharing a page from an old Workbasket magazine. The feature “Making Cents” highlighted projects for the crafter to sell. Usually made from common household items (these days we call it upcycling,) the projects even included a suggested price range. Why, wouldn’t someone just snap up a hat for a doll made from a nut cup for a mere $.25!  And for about the same price, everyone will be grabbing the crocheted chocolate chip cookie pins off  your table.

Get crackin’, time’s awasting.

thursday

Are you participating in craft shows this season? What are you making; what are your best-sellers? Do you have any tips for us? Comment below.

Posted in Craft tips, Crochet Technique, Personal

What’s on My Hook

Plus some finished items too. And, yes, I know it is Friday. But I have been working on this post for two days.

It has been over three weeks since I last posted my WIPs, but lest you think I’ve been slacking, here are some photos of what I’ve been doing.

I finished the 4-Hour Fall Sweater sample for the store, even though my own is not finished. I completed the Headband and Fringed Scarf sample for Michael’s, plus the phone cozy and Floppy Hat.  I’ve done everything but weave in ends and block my Blue Curacao. (What an accomplishment!) I had to prepare for the CAL, which meant making sure the correct yarns had been ordered, getting the pattern ready — to which I added two charts and some notes.

blue curacao not blocked
Blue Curacao by Doris Chan, finished but not blocked

fringed scarf
Fringed Scarf sample for Michaels, using Loops and Threads Charisma yarn

20180720_180936
Yarn Store sample of the 4-hour Fall Sweater for the CAL using Universal Yarns Classic Shades Big Time.

Continue reading “What’s on My Hook”