What have I been up to this week

Let's see...

I worked for 2 days temping for the agency I'm registered with for some much needed cash to pay the bills.

I won a full set of Boye Crochet hooks participating in a CAL with Crochet Soirée  See this post for more details.

I started and finished a doily for the Crochet Soirée July CAL. The original pattern gives a finished size of 15 1/2 inches. My doily came out to 31". I'm not sure if this still qualifies as a doily, but I don't care. It's a nice size to be a nice tabletop cover for in between meals.

Here it is all pinned out. I love love love the pattern. The Starlight Doily was originally published in the October 1999 issue of Crochet With Heart magazine but can be downloaded at Crochet Soirée's site. I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't done doilies yet. I'm considering doing it again using ww yarn and turning it into a round blanket? shawl?.

I'm sure my Mom will appreciate it!

I have 2 shawls on the go. One for my darling daughter and one for my wee sil. Both are from the pattern by Doris Chan called the All Shawl. It's a free pattern that can be downloaded on Ravelry. If you're not a member of Ravelry yet, it's high time you come on in and join us in all the fun.

I also have a vest in the works for my darling daughter. I've been working on it off and on and really need to just sit and get it done. The pattern is from the May 2010 Crochet magazine and is called Caribbean Topper.

 The yarn is from Rowan, handknit cotton in navy blue. It's a very nice yarn to work with.

I know I have a lot other things in the works, just can't quite list them  all at the moment. With Christmas and stuff ... Definitely will update as I figure them out :)

"Surprise surprise surprise" a la Gomer Pyle

Wow, talk about a surprise!

I open my email to see what's new and there's an email from Crochet Soirée.... and this is what I read...

Hi MariAngel,

I drew your name for the prize of a Boye CrochetMaster hook set!
Congratulations!

Please send me your full mailing address and I'll get your prize out to you
ASAP.

Thanks,
Doug

 My jaw hit the desk and I scared the cat and my husband with my whoop of joy LOL

I have been participating in Crochet Soirée's CALs. The May CAL was the Red White & Blue challenge. I chose to make the hot pads, 1) because I needed one and 2) my daughter needed one as well.I had some beige cotton with flecks of red and blue in it and that's what I used to make the hotpads. They came out quite nice.

I have been wanting a set of these Boye hooks for quite a while now. I had a Boye hook that I absolutely loved but lost earlier this year and hadn't found a replacement for. Now it's on its way along with a lot of other gorgeously colored hooks in a range of sizes!

Every crocheters dream come true!

Flower Scarf CAL

The scarf is done!

I'm actually quite pleased with the outcome for this pattern. I found it on Crochet Soirée as a CAL challenge. I figured why not! and signed up. The CAL started on April 5th and I finished the scarf today! I used Bernat's wool blends (discontinued unfortunately) in a blend of blues, makes me think of winter ice with the color shifts. The scarf pools beautifully and feels comfy and scrunchily yummy. I know, I'm gushing, but this is the first item I've crocheted that I actually like the feel of the finished item. The pattern called for a 4 mm hook. With the yarn I used, I had to go up to a 5.5 mm hook since the smaller hook sizes made the fabric way too solid. Not what I was wanting out of a scarf.

Finished dimensions for this baby are 17 cm wide by 320 cms long without the attached floral fringe. What can I say, I love a long wide scarf! I think my niece will love it as well. Now all that's left is to find a hat pattern and crochet a matching hat and she'll be all set come next winter.

I wanted to take a photo of the finished scarf all nicely laid out, but by the time I had the camera set up, Gambit had usurped the scarf and was all tucked up under the flowers. I didn't have the heart to wake him so I took a picture of my sleeping baby. Isn't he the cutest?!

It's still not too late to sign up for the CAL. It ends April 30th. All the finished entries will be included in a draw for some very nice prizes. Go check it out!

If you've never been to Crochet Soirée, it's a nice place to hang out, nice patterns and great friendly folks ready to help with any questions. It's free to sign up and you get a newsletter reminding you of the free pattern Fridays!

Flower Scarf Pattern

CAL sign up