Quick Update: My darling daughter's visit!

I know I promised I'd post photos from my daughter's visit and I have full intentions to do that, just not quite yet. I need to go through all the photos and pick which ones I want to use. I also realised to my dismay that I did not take very many photos and too much video. Bleh! Maybe I can get my darling husband to (not sure how it's done) grab photos from the videos. So I will be back soon with photos!

I do have a few that I did get with my camera.

These are the hot pads, dishcloths and coasters along with a super cute dish washing liquid bottle cover up. The dishcloths have already graduated from the kitchen to the bathroom. She absolutely loves how nice they feel. She was also super happy with the coasters since she'd been looking for some.

Dish cloths, Coasters & Hot Pads

The Caribbean Topper, from the back.

The Caribbean topper that I finished back in August. She finally got to model it! It's an absolute perfect fit! and she loves the buttons I made. One set was used to close the front and one set went to tailor the back. Very pretty.

The Caribbean Topper. A perfect fit!

A super cute jacket I found @ a 2nd hand store

This really cute black velveteen top with a frilled bottom was also a huge success. I came across it at a 2nd hand store and just could not walk away without it. I am so glad I did get it. I was worried it might not have fit but it's a perfect tailor made fit.

Blown up doily throw

Not even quite sure what to call it LOL a top, a short dress, a jacket... I guess it all depends how and where you wear it. So many possibilities and knowing my darling daughter, she will try every mix :)

Blown up doily wrap

She also knew she was getting a nice throw but this was the first time she'd seen it. As you can see by the huge grin, she's loving it. This pattern came from Crochet Soiree, I blew up the Starlight doily into a fantastic looking throw or wrap depending on the mood. Gorgeous color for her too!

She also received some very original cosplay hats. Photos will eventually come to my blog once I publish the patterns.

There were a few more items that again, I won't be posting photos until they are published.

And last but not least, an awesome piece of news. Most of you know I was recently diagnosed with FMS. I did my best to keep up with the chores and errands but as the months went by, things just piled up and I couldn't keep up. I'm still figuring out how to pace myself! My darling daughter after discussing it with her husband has told me she will be coming over to help me every 4 to 6 weeks! That to me is the absolutely bestest news I could have received. Thanks to my beautiful darling daughter :)

Caribbean top done!!!

 I finished it! And I really like how it came out.

This is not a pattern for a beginning crocheter mind you. The instructions are somewhat confusing at times and I also changed the trim around the arm holes. The pattern called for a round of double crochet but when I completed it, the whole look of the vest changed. Not even remotely feminine with that round of chain fencing. So I ripped back and did a round of picots, the same used to trim the rest of the vest.

I'm quite happy with the finished look. I have it on a hanger to see how it will stretch. Being a light worsted cotton, trying to block this beast is not something I want to try any time soon.

I do hope my daughter likes it :)

 
These are from Doris Chan's book Everyday Crochet. They are basically like cuff links, but for closing any crocheted garment, especially if you don't want to have it button always at the same spot which risks of stretching that area. These can be moved anywhere along the front edge of the vest depending on what look you want.

Here is a close up of the button/cuff links I made using beads, buttons and elastic jewelry thread for the vest.

Update on the Caribbean Topper

It's almost done!!! Wild whooping sounds and dancing going on....

This has been an interesting pattern so far. I had some major brain farts along the way that took me a few days to finally decipher. But overall, once the pattern comes together in your head, it comes together in your hands. 

I have 3 repeats to go on the one front and then comes the seaming of the shoulders and the final go rounds of the arm holes and the entire outside of it. I'm not going to attach buttons to the top since I want my daughter to have options as to where the buttons go and how many buttons she wants to use. So... in order to give her that option, I'm using a pattern found in one of Doris Chan's books on how to make joined buttons that can be used anywhere along the front.

I'll add photos of the buttons when I finish them. Right now I'm concentrating on finishing the vest first.

Other stuff in the works but I can't post about those until later :)