:Yarn Love :

W.I.P: If At First You Don’t Succeed …

Nicky18 Comments

” dust yourself off and try again, you should dust yourself off and try again, try again … uh, huh …” ~ Aaliyah

So, what had happened was …  this cushion did not look as big as it really is when I saw the pattern in my crochet book.  Honestly.  Cross my heart.

Enter into evidence — Exhibit 1:

Seriously,  tell me the truth … does it look huge to you?

Well, it really didn’t to me, so I  figured I could make it as a sofa cushion.  Womp, womp.

The pattern asked for bulky yarn, but I forgot how much bulky yarn grows.   So here I was, crocheting my little heart away, finished the first panel …. come to find out … BOOM …  the thing’s as big as my ottoman.  Errr … okay … 😳  Heck, this panel is as big as the front of my current sofa cushion.  And this is only panel one of four!!!!

Enter into evidence — Exhibit 2

Honestly, I don’t want a cushion that’s four times the size of my ottoman, I really don’t.  So I’m dusting myself off and trying again. 

I’m a little intimidated by the pattern I really want to try so I’m going to leave you with the yarn for it (not the pattern, in case I have to dust off again 😛 ) … worsted this time … not bulky.  These babies are some decent acrylic from Stylecraft.  They feel great, and should be perfect for my next attempt.  Oy vey!!!

I’m  joining Tami and the other ladies at WIP Wednesdays although my WIP is technically a no go now.  😛  Pop over there, you’ll be inspired.

Weekend Happy!

Nicky5 Comments

I love rainy, cosy weekends.  These kinds of weekends where my house is spotless, smelling wonderful from candles and cooking.  These kinds of weekends where my time management is so good, I got all my chores done early.  I was then able to bake and cook then mess around with yarn, hooks and sticks. 

This weekend, the things that made me happy are:

Making home-made granola for the first time.  🙂 

I also made a Jamaican Easter Bun for the first time.  It tastes like one, but it doesn’t look like one (hence the lack of photo evidence :P). I think not doing the sugar syrup glaze for the top is why the top of the loaf looks more rough than smooth.  Next time, I’m also going to lessen the sugar amount and add more stout in the recipe.  I forgot how sweet this treat could be.  But that’s for another weekend.  In the meantime, I can still have “bun and cheese” with what I’ve made.

Continental Knit Stitch

(click for video instructions)

Practicing my continental knit stitch.  I’m struggling, but I’m committed to becoming a more efficient yarn crafter (I’m a super slow throwing knitter) so I’m in it to win it despite wanting the throw my yarn and needles across the room. 😳 😛

Starting my second crochet project — a large stripped  floor cushion. 

I’m having trouble counting, especially on the first row from the foundation chain.  Once I get past that row, it’s pretty easy for me to spot where my hook is supposed to go, but the struggle is all part and parcel of me learning to crochet.  I had to do that first row over twice,  but so far so good.  Once I got past that, I was able to complete the first five rows of that first section quickly.

Any counting tips from the crocheters is greatly appreciated.


Messing around with my camera.  Day 2 of my photography series — working with white balance.  I haven’t gotten it down pat yet, but it has been fun seeing my photos look different.

Movies with a historical backdrop (nevermind the factual inaccuracies 😛 ). 

This weekend … Troy is making me happy although I’m not a Brad Pitt fan.  I’ll take Eric Bana, thank you very much and please.  😛 

Orlando Bloom’s character was such a wuss and so cowardly  … ugghhh … get out of here. Stole somebody’s wife then had to have his brother fight for him.  Seriously dude?!!!

For love of God, family and country … fight, win or die trying.