Love, Luck, Leap Monster #2

Here is Caryn's second monster for the love, luck, leap swap with Danger Crafts.  It is Gort the Gym Bag Monster:

Here is another shot of him:

I thought I would include a monster to help her with Weight Watchers and to battle Iris the Gourmet monster!  LOL!  This monster took me a little longer than normal since I was changing colors every 3 rows.  I was tired of making stripes by the time I got to his arms so I made them solid colors!

Supplies:
Pattern: Gort the Gym Bag Monster from The Big Book of Knitted Monsters by Rebecca Danger
Yarn: Cascade Yarn 220 Wool #7818 - Royal Blue and #7815 - Light Blue
Needles: US 5 on 47" Cables

Love, Luck, Leap Swap Other Gifts

I made Caryn a set of dishcloths to be included in her swap package.  Here they are:

Here is a close up:

Come to find out, Caryn needed some new dishcloths.  I knew I should have made her more!!!

Supplies:
Pattern: HDC Cloth by Theresa L. Jones
Yarn: Peaches N' Creme #W268046 - Billowing Blue
Hook: US H

Love, Luck, Leap Swap Monster #1

Here is the first monster that I sent to Caryn as part of our love, luck, leap swap with Danger Crafts.  Meet Iris:

Here is Iris guarding the indoor grill:

Since Caryn is doing Weight Watchers, I thought I would send her a monster to cause problems with losing weight.  Since Iris loves food, this monster will be devil on her counter.

Since she chose a love package, I crocheted a small heart and used it as her belly button.

Supplies:
Pattern: Iris the Gourmet Monster from Danger Crafts and Love Hearts by June Gilbank
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Tonal - Blue Yonder and Knit Picks Palette Yarn - White
Needles: US 5 on 47" Cables
Hook: US C

Washboard Dishcloths (or Place Mats)

I found this pattern recently and I decided to make it.  Here it is in solid light blue:

And here it is in billowing blues:

I made the solid blue one first and I thought it was way too big for a dishcloth but a perfect size for a place mat.  So I made another one so I at least have a mis-matched pair.

Supplies:
Pattern: Washboard Dishcloth by Priscilla Hewitt
Yarn: Lily's Sugar N' Cream #00026 - Light Blue & Peaches N' Cream #W268046 - Billowing Blues
Hook: US G (4.00mm)

Granny's Heart Filet Motif Dishcloth in Pink

I came across this pattern in the Dishcloths R Us forum in Ravelry.  It is for February CAL (Crochet-A-Long).  Here it is:

This pattern has a variation to make the the heart open or solid and I wanted to make them solid so it could be seen easier.  This dishcloth is much bigger than I am used to, 10-1/2" squared.  It did woek up rather quickly too!

Supplies:

Pattern: Granny's Heart Filet Motif by Priscilla Hewitt

Yarn: Lily's Sugar N' Cream #18046 - Rose Pink

Hook: US H/4.00 mm

Morning Glory Tizzy

Here are anothet set of tunisian crochet dishcloths:

Here is a close up:

This pattern is crocheted on the diagonal to practice increasing and decreasing.  It was a simple pattern to make, they just need to blocked to stop the curling in the corners.

Supplies:
Pattern: Tizzy by Beth Graham
Yarn: Bernat Handicraft Cotton #W275722 - Morning Glory
Hook: Tunisian Crochet Hook H on 24" Cables

Crochet Hook Comparison

Today, I am discussing a few different types of crochet hooks that I have in my collection.

Boye Aluminum Crochet Hooks

These are the ones that my mother always used so these are the ones are learned on.  They are reasonably priced at under $2 each and come in a large variety of sizes.  They are available everywhere from Joann's, Michaels, AC Moore to Wal-Mart.  I have been using these for a while until December when I started getting a cramp in my hand from crocheting too long while making Christmas presents.  I needed to look for alternatives.

Clover Soft Touch

These were the help I needed from my cramping hands.  These hooks feel weird in your hands at first but I got used to them.  I was able to crochet longer without a problem.  These are priced between $6 and $9 each and come in sizes C through J.  These are available in craft stores like Joann's, Michael's and AC Moore and on-line at various knitting websites.

Knitter's Pride Aluminum Hooks


Then I discovered these!!!  OMG, I'm in love!  These also solved the hand cramping like the Clover ones but are not as ackward and feel more natural in my hands.  These sell for $2.99 each and are available at Web's on-line or in Northampton, MA.  These are available in sizes B through J.

After Christmas, I purchased the full set of Clover Soft Touch hooks.  Then I ordered a size 7 crochet hook from Knitter's Pride to give it a try since I did not have that size.  After using it, I needed all of them!  So I sold my Clover ones to someone on Ravelry and bought the whole set of Knitter's Pride hooks at Web's this past Saturday during my recent visit!  I am so glad that I did!  These are amazing and comfortable!

The Journey Home - Michael Baron

Summary from GoodReads: Joseph, a man in his late thirties, awakens disoriented and uneasy in a place he doesn't recognize. Several people are near him when he opens his eyes, all strangers. All of them seem perfectly friendly, but none of them can explain to him how he got there. They offer him a delicious meal and pleasant conversation in a beautifully decorated room. This would be a very nice experience if not for one thing: Joseph doesn't know where he is and he has no way to contact his wife, who he is sure is worried sick over him. Thanking the people for their hospitality, he leaves to make his way back home. The only problem is that whatever happened to him has stripped him of most of his memories. He knows he needs to get back to his wife, but he doesn't know how to find her. He sets out on a journey to find his home with no sense of where he's going and only the precious, indelible vision of the woman he loves to guide him.

Antoinette is an elderly woman in an assisted living facility. She’s spent the last six years there since her husband died, and most of those years have been happy. She enjoys the company of others in her situation and her son comes to visit often. But in recent months, she’s had a tougher and tougher time leaving her room. Her friends seem different to her and the world seems increasingly confusing. She spends an escalating amount of time on a journey inside her head. There, her body and mind haven’t betrayed her. There, she’s a young newlywed with a husband who dotes on her and an entire life of dreams to live. There, she is truly home.

Warren, Antoinette’s son, is a man in his early forties going through the toughest year of his life. His marriage ended, he lost his job, and in the past few months, his mother has gone from hale to increasingly hazy. Having trouble finding work, he spends more and more time by his mother’s bedside. But her lack of lucidity both frustrates and frightens him. With far too much time on his hands, he decides to try to recreate his memories of home by attempting to cook his mother’s greatest dishes using the rudimentary appliances available in her room. He finds the challenge surprisingly rewarding, especially because the only time he feels his mother is truly with him anymore is when she is eating the meals he prepares for her.

Joseph, Antoinette, and Warren are three people on different searches for home. How they find it, and how they connect with one another at this critical stage in each of their lives, is the foundation for a profound and deeply moving story.

This was a heartfelt story about Joseph, Antoinette and Warren and how their search for home came together. Antoinette lived in a retirement community where her son, Warren visited her daily. Warren lost his job and is getting divorced but visits his mother every day to amke her lunch. Along the way, he become close to Jan, a nurse in the community. Joseph is on a missio. To discover who he is, where he lives and how is in his life. All three stories come together in a unique way in the end.

Yellow Granny Dishcloths

I was in the mood to crochet granny dishcloths this past weekend.  Can you tell???  Here are another set:

Here is a close up:

This time I did 6 rounds and added the single crochet border.

Supplies:
Pattern: Granny Dishcloth #2412
Yarn: Lily's Sugar N' Cream #18010 - Yellow
Hook: US G

Knitter's Pride Tunisian Crochet Hooks

I wanted to write a review of my newest toys, Knitter's Pride Tunisian Crochet Hooks, that I purchased from Web's in Northampton, MA.  Here they are:

Here is a single Tunisian crochet hook:

Product Description: Knitter's Pride Dreamz Interchangeable Tunisian Crochet Hook Set includes US sizes E, G, 7, H, I, J, K, and L. This set also contains 4 cables (one 24", two 32", and one 40"), cable connectors, 8 end caps, 4 cable keys, and a clear vinyl case. These beautiful hooks are made of strong, lightweight wood with a polished surface that ensures effortless glide and a groove that prevents stitch slippage. The hooks come in a palette of beautiful colors that are easy to identify and organize. The resilient, no-kink cables easily connect to the hook tips with a smooth join that enables superior stitch glide without snagging.  They sell for $54.99.

OMG, these are the smoothest crochet hooks that I have ever used!  I love how they not as slippery as metal hooks but not as grippy as bamboo.  So far, I have only made 3 dishcloths with these hooks but I found it to be a pleasant experience.  I also love how each hook is a different color for easy identification.  The size is stamped on the hook and is engraved on the nickel base so you don't have to question the size.  This is a plus over my Knit Picks knitting needles that are not stamped.

To use with this set, I purchased one set of 40", 47" and 60" cables.  I also purchased some other hooks that were not included in the set.  They are the size F (3.75 mm), M/N (9.00 mm), N/P (10.00 mm) and 12.00 mm.  Two of them are on backorder and should be arriving soon!

I am going to try using these hooks to learn knooking too!  I'll let you know how that works out later on!  I would highly recommend these hooks!!!

Paprika Tunisian Intro Cloth

I have some new toys, Tunisian Crochet Hooks from Knitter's Pride.  Here are my first dishcloths using the tunisian simple stitch:

Here is a close up:

I made my first one using a size H hook and it was too tight.  The dishcloth is still usable but it was very hard to work.  Then I tried making it with a size J hook.  I like how it is a little looser and does not curl as much using this one!

Supplies:
Pattern: Tunisian Intro Cloth by Hailey Redden
Yarn: Lion Brand Lion Cotton Solid #133 - Paprika
Hooks: Tunisian H & J on 24" Cables

Billowing Blue Granny Dishcloth

I made some more granny dishcloths.  Here they are:

Here is a close up:

I like how these came out using the size G hook.  It is so much tighter for better scrubbing.  I also did 7 rounds of the pattern and added a single crochet border.  It looks more finished now!

Supplies:
Pattern: Granny Dishcloth #2412
Yarn: Peaches N' Creme #W268046 - Billowing Blue
Hook: US G

Hannah's Journey - Anna Schmidt

Summary from Good Reads: What could bring an Amish widow and a wealthy circus owner together? Though Hannah Goodloe knew she'd violated countless unwritten laws, she had to visit the only man who could help find her runaway son. But when the enigmatic Levi Harmon agreed to take her on his train, the results were utterly unpredictable.

Levi never expected to find the embodiment of all he wanted in a woman in the soft-spoken, plainly dressed Hannah. And for Hannah, to love an outsider was to be shunned. The simple pleasures of family, faith and place to belong seemed an impossible dream. Unless Levi unlocked his past and opened his heart to God's plan.

This story takes place in the mid-1920's in Florida. I have never read an Amish book whose community was from here. Hannah, along with her sister in law and father in law, take a train ride with the circus to find her son Caleb who ran away with the circus. It was discovered early that he was safe but the train had to make it's way to back to Wisconsin. The trip was interesting as they were in contact with circus performers but they stuck to their Plain ways.

Once they arrived in Wisconsin, Hannah and Levi developed feeling for each other. Hannah could not let those feeling grow since Levi was not Amish. As the book progressed, so did their relationship.

I have never read a historical Amish fiction book before, never mind one with the circus as well. I thought the book was just okay while they were traveling on the train. I enjoyed it more once the story shifted to Amish life. I was very pleased with how this story played out.

Monsters = Happiness

I made some monsters for a co-worker's children.  Here they are enjoying their new friends:

Teagan with Lurleen

Gavin with Maddox

They love them!  Teagan even taught Lurleen how to use the potty since she is learning too!  LOL!  Thanks Tara for letting me share these happy monster pictures!

Aquarius HDC Cloths

Here are some more crocheted dishcloths:

Here is a close up:

I am adding to my stash of completed projects since it shrank with Christmas.

Supplies:
Pattern: HDC Cloth by Theresa L. Jones
Yarn: Bernat Handicraft Cotton #W - Aquarius
Hook: US 8/H