Happy Hallowe'en!!!!!

I hope everyone is having a Happy Hallowe'en. I'm not sure how big of a deal it is in other parts of the world but it's pretty popular here in North America. I had to work all day, but that doesn't mean I didn't take part in the fun.

Grrrr! *Howls at moon* I'm a werewolf, if you can't tell. I initially had claw on, but they quickly fell off. I lost one, but I think I know where, so hopefully I'll find it Monday. Considering I really didn't get to plan too much for it, I think I did alright. I don't think you can see the makeup on my face, but since I can't wear a mask at work, I think I did a decent job. I love the way the pants look though. I bought a ragged pair of jean from a thrift store, cut slits randomly in the legs and hot glued fake fur from the inside with the fur showing. I ended up gluing the slits open a bit too. I also shredded the bottoms too. I should have added some fake fur to the cuffs of the shirt, but maybe anther time. I like the idea, so I'll probably do it again in a few years.

Since I don't usually get too many trick or treaters where I live, I'll probably tat and watch movies this evening. I'm sure some chocolate will get eaten too. Till next time.

The Monsterpiece Doily, Round 5; Two-thirds Done

I was hoping to get more than two motifs tatted for round 5 of the Monsterpiece Doily last week. Before anyone says anything, I'm not being hard on myself. I'm glad I got some tatting done period. I just would have like to have gotten all six required motifs done. Between general life happenings and other distractions, AKA video games (games on my iPad/phone), I consider myself lucky that I tatted what I did. I hope to at least start anther motif before I go to bed tonight. I plan on taking something to tat to my support group meeting tomorrow. Maybe I can tat for a bit before it starts. We'll see.

Anyway, as I said, I managed to tat another two more motifs for round 5. I now have eight tatted and only four more to go.

I'm starting to look forward to the next round. It's not too early, is it? I'm still enjoying tatting these motifs; I'm not giving up yet! Hopefully in another week or two I'll be done with them, and I'll be able to start the next round. Thread stats: the dusty rose thread is Manuela #20 colour #a022 and the cream/off white thread is Manuela #20 colour #a055.

That's about it for now. Like I said last week, if I get more than one motif finished by midweek, I'll post then, otherwise I'll post next weekend. I honestly don't expect to post midweek. Hallowe'en is on Saturday, and I have to work. I don't normally work Saturdays, so I had nothing planned for a costume this year. I have a few ideas and will be spending a lot of my free time this week working on it. Hopefully I can find a source of affordable fake fur in large quantities...

Till next time.

The Monsterpiece Doily, Round 5: Halfway Done

My tatting progress slowed down somewhat last week. That's the main reason I only posted once last week. I really didn't think it was worth posting after adding just one more motif. Hope no one minds too much. I'm not sure if this week will be any better; I have to work tonight and I have a support group meeting tomorrow night. I did get a fair amount tatted though this weekend.

As you can see I've got six motifs finished and I've got six more to go. Well, five and a bit. Hopefully I will have a good start on the next motif before I go. Not much to say here, I'm still enjoying tatting them. I will probably have to find somewhere else to take photos by the next post. Thread stats: the thread for the motif centres is Manuela no. 20 colour #a055. The thread for the clovers is Manuela no. 20 in colour #a022.

If I manage to get a couple motifs tatted by midweek, I'll post again. If not, then I'll probably post again next weekend. Till next time.

The Monsterpiece Doily, Round 5: 3 Motifs and Counting

Now that my special project is over, see here if you missed it, I can continue to share my progress on the Monsterpiece Doily. I've added a few more motifs to the doily since my last post. I'm happy to say that one of the motifs is part of the one I cut off. After coming home from work Monday evening, I looked at the motif and decided to start cutting. I ended up with a little over half a motif and figured out where I can add thread and my strategy for hiding the ends.

Can you tell with one it is? Actually, I hope you can't. While adding the motif to the doily, it felt like I was doing major surgery. It doesn't look as bad as I first thought, and I probably could have fixed my mistake when it happened. It would have been easier, but I'll never know if it would have looked pretty. Thread stats: the thread for the motif centres is Manuela no. 20 colour #a055. The thread for the clovers is Manuela no. 20 in colour #a022. I love tatting these motifs. We'll see if I still do when I get to motif #12.

That's about it for now. It is Thanksgiving tomorrow here in Canada, so Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Canadians. 

Crochet Football Coaster: 2015 Crafty Football Blog Hop

It's that time of year again. Time for the Crafty Blog Hop! Instead of something tatted, I decided to make something crocheted this year. It might allow more people to actually follow along. For anyone not familiar with a blog hop, each participant creates a tutorial that they share on their blog. At the bottom of this post (and the posts of each participant) are links to the other participants. Make sure you check out their tutorials as well. There will be a new participant each day, so be sure to check this post often (ie: daily!) to see a new tutorial until the end of next week.

Probably because footballs are pretty easy to make in many different crafts, I made a football again.

I'm not really a fan of patterns turned into tutorials, but here we go anyway.

Crocheted Football Coaster ©2015 Jeff Hamilton

Materials

You will need:

Worsted weight yarn in two colour (team colours would be great but brown and white work well)
Size H / 5.0 mm crochet hook
Stitch marker, safety pin, or even a scrap of contrasting coloured yarn
Scissors, yarn needle
Felt to back coaster (optional-I didn't do it but you are welcome to if you want)

I used Bernat Super Saver yarn in Tea Leaf and Bernat Cot'n Corn in Oatmeal for the green/white coaster for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The brown/white coaster used Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool in brown (I lost the label) and Bernat Cot'n Corn in Oatmeal. I used yarn from my stash since I didn't want to buy anymore. I should have used a brighter coloured green for my Rider coaster.

The finished coaster is about 6 inches by 4 inches. Gauge isn't really important for this project. If anyone is curious, the brown coaster above is a little different (and larger) than then the one I'm going to share below. I tweaked the pattern as I went during the photo shoot. If you find any errors, please let me know. It works for me, but I've memorized the pattern and any possible errors.

OK. Let's begin.

Abbreviations (US):

Sc     =  Single Crochet
Hdc  =  Half Double Crochet
Dc    =  Double Crochet
Sl st  = Slip stitch
Trc   = Treble (Triple) Crochet
Ch(s)    = Chain(s)
St(s) = Stitch(es)
**    = Marks sections of stitches that are repeated

Starting with round 2, you'll want to mark the first stitch so you know where to join. Also, the ch 1 at the start does not count as a stitch.

Round 1: Using your main colour, start with a magic ring. Ch 1, make 6 sc in ring and close ring. Join with sl st to top of first sc. Ch 1. (6 sc)

You can learn the magic ring technique from here: www.planetjune.com/magicring . This isn't essential to the pattern, I just find it looks better. Feel free to substitute Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd chain from hook if desired. Join with sl st to top of first sc. Ch 1.

Round 2: 2 sc in each st around.  Join with sl st to top of first sc. Ch 1. (12 sc)

Round 3:  *2 sc in next st. 1 sc in next st*. Rep between ** around. Join with sl st to top of first sc. Ch 1. (18 sc)

Round 4: *2 sc in next st. 1 sc in next 2 sts*. Rep between ** around. Join with sl st to top of first sc. Ch 1. (24 sc)

Round 5: *2 sc in next st. 1 sc in next 3 sts*. Rep between ** around. Join with st st to top of first sc. Ch 1. (30 sc)

Round 6: 2 sc in next st. 1 sc in next 4 sts. 2 sc in next st. 1 hdc in next st. 1 dc in     next 3 sts. 2 trc in next st. 1 dc in next 3 sts. 1 hdc in next st. 2 sc in next st. 1 sc in next 4 sts. 2 sc in next st. 1 hdc in next st. 1 dc in next 3 sts. 2 trc in next st. 1 dc in next 3 sts. 1 hdc in next st. Join with sl st to top of first sc. Ch 1. (36 st).

Round 7: 2 sc in next st. 1 sc in next 5 sts. 2 sc in next st. 1 hdc in next 2 sts. 1 dc in next 3 st. 1 dc, 1 trc, 1 dc in next st. 1 dc in next 3 sts. 1 hdc in next 2 sts. 2 sc in next st. 1 sc in next 5 sts. 2 sc in next st. 1 hdc in next 2 sts. 1 dc in next 3 st. 1 dc, 1 trc, 1 dc in next st. 1 dc in next 3 sts. 1 hdc in next 2 sts. Join with sl st to top of first sc. Fasten off. (44 st)

Football Stripes (Make 2)

With your second (contrasting) colour ch 10. Sc in second ch from hook and in next 3 chs. 2 sc in next ch. 1 sc in the remaining 4 chs. Fasten off leaving a long tail.

Assembly

You should have your crocheted football coaster and two stripes finished.  Awesome! Feel free to hide the yarn ends on the coaster either now or after you have added the stripes. Position one stripe onto one end, doesn't matter which side you start; I started with the left stripe. Position the stripe across round 6, so the pointed part of round 7 is mostly visible. It doesn't have to be exact; the stripe should fit across the football almost perfectly, so just play around and see where you like it. You'll want to leave space in the middle of the coaster for glasses, mugs, cans, etc.

Using one or both yarn ends, sew the stripe as best you can onto the coaster. It doesn't have to be perfect, just make sure it is attached securely.  Repeat for the other stripe. Hide the yarn ends after you are done to make it less frustrating for the next step.

Embroidering The Stitches

This is pretty basic embroidery, if you can even call it that! The positioning is up to you. I had them across the centre on the brown coaster and higher up on the green one. The stitches are fairly flat so they shouldn't cause any issues with glasses, etc, placed on top of them. Attach a length of white (or contrasting colour) yarn at approximately round 4 and take a long straight stitch across the coaster to the opposite side and take the yarn down at approximately round 4. Anchor the yarn and come up though the same stitch as you went down. Hopefully that makes sense.

Take another long straight stitch roughly across the same stitch as before and go down in the same spot you started at. Anchor the yarn underneath and come up again. Take a third straight stitch again across the two previous stitches as before. You should end up with a three yarn wide straight stitch.

With the yarn still underneath the coaster, come up about one quarter of the way and slightly above the long stitch from before. Go across the long stitch and come down a little below the long stitch. Repeat twice more making the stitches approximately equally spaced apart. Hopefully that all made sense. Hide the final end, or all of them if you haven't already. Now would be the time to back the coaster with felt, if you desire.

There, you should have a football coaster of your very own! Enjoy! Much like the last Crafty Football Blog Hop I participated in, which you can find here: click here, I made a green football coaster for my local CFL team, the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Who, um, aren't doing so well right now. Come on guys!

Here is what everyone else has done for the 2015 Crafty Blog Hop. Check back everyday until the end of next week as a new participant will appear each day.

The Monsterpiece Doily, Round 4

I had hoped to post last night, but I never got that far. I made a somewhat serious error right when I was finishing the first motif of round 5 and decided to made the motif over. Oh, and I finished round 4, but forgot to take a photo of the doily before attaching the motif. When I cut off the first motif to make it over, I was going to take a photo before attaching the new motif. I forgot. Again.

Looking good so far, IMHO. If you're wondering what serious error I made on the motif, I'll tell you. After pulling the ends into the finished motif using the magic threads, I cut the threads short and accidentally cut a joining picot in the process. I know, I could have cut out the affected section and reattached the threads and hid them, but since I had to add thread part way through for one of the colours, I didn't want so many threads hidden in one motif. There were already several rings and chains that were thicker than the other ones. Besides, the motifs are pretty easy to make. Of course, I got so into making the new motif I forgot to add the first magic thread. I bet you saw that coming. Thread stats: the thread used for the round 5 chains/thrown off rings and round 4 is Manuela no. 20 colour #a055. The dusty rose thread in the round 5 clovers is Manuela no. 20 in colour #a022.

Hopefully it's obvious, but I got a hold of a needle that works to sew in the ends. I got several types and sizes-the exact sizes suggested for size 20 thread weren't available at the store I went to. I ended up using a self threading needle and was able to hide the threads I needed to hide. Hopefully they stay hidden. Because I'm gonna need it again.

Till next time.

PS: I won't have another tatting related post this week. I have a special post scheduled for Friday instead, so stay tuned for that.