marketing bag redo

My crafting mojo has been all over the place lately, so during times like these I usually take up some project that doesn't require too much brain power. For some people that's dishcloths. I must admit... I've never crocheted a dishcloth! Not that I have anything against them, mind you, I just would never use one myself so I guess I'm skeptical that others do. I also remember my mother using dishcloths and bleaching them every so often so I'm not sure how well any crocheted cloth would stand up to that.

Oh, I'm a sponge/scrubber kind of dish washing woman, btw. But that's neither here nor there. How did I get on the topic of dishcloths? Oh, yeah... some people love making them when they have leftover yarn, a quick easy project to throw in your bag, etc...

I tend to make purses, pouches, bags big and small. Yes, I am a bag whore (you too can join the Ravelry group by said name if you're so inclined and feel safe and warm with others who share your addiction).

So.... not knowing what else to do I crocheted up this market bag using Peaches & Cream 100% cotton:

Well, I don't know what I was thinking, but I made it too long (one can of beans and it was dragging on the floor) and the way I did the handle made it hard to even get that can of beans in there. I was not pleased.

So ... I unweaved the ends (I never knot anything, but do weave in long ends) and took out about a third of it. I also changed the handles (four rows of slip stitch each) and now I'm very please with the result.

And oh yay! I think I have enough yarn left over for some dishcloths!!

crocheted summer scarves - Opera .. how I will miss ye!

two current project using Opera thread, size 10 and 5 respectively

I was really bummed to hear a few months back that Coats would no longer be making Opera 100% cotton thread. It had to be my absolute favorite crochet thread... beautiful shine, unique twist and super soft... but alas. I bought up as much as I could find and I still search for it now and then.

A couple weeks ago I started up two projects (both summery scarves) using Opera. They are pictured up above together, so here's some close ups:

a pale dusty rose, Opera size 10

close up of my purplicious broomstick scarf in Opera size 5 thread

But ... not to fear... there's always hope... doors close, windows open, that kinda thing. At the recent Finger Lakes Tatting Conference one of the vendors introduced me to Venus. I haven't had a chance to work with it yet, but it looks promising.

Venus cotton thread, although the package says 20, this is a traditional US size 10

bulky cotton

Cotton is my absolute favorite natural. I like the feel, the sheen ... though bamboo is pretty cool too.

This summer I'll be offering a class or two in needle tatting -- which I pretty much gave up once I mastered the shuttle. Needle tatting works especially well when using thicker, bulkier yarns since you don't need to wind it all on a giant tatting shuttle that probably wouldn't get you too far anyway... soooo.... I had found this Laines du Nord Cleo (100 gr. 110m/119 yds) in a sale bin and picked up a few balls. It's a bulky 100% cotton yarn and I loved the shine. To try it out I first crocheted up this filet scarf:

Here's a detail shot:

filet crochet I just filled in a random space every other row, single crochet edging

This yarn seemed like a good candidate to use for brushing up on my needle tatting skills so here's the motif I needle tatted up:

I really like this yarn and it's bulky look. It was, however a bit "splity" to crochet with, but not so much that I'd never use it again.