I love bamboo

For Christmas presents this year I made four scarfs from Aunt Lydia's bamboo crochet thread. It was a really easy pattern, and one that I could do on both of my looms, so for a while there I had a scarf going at home and at the cabin. I was in a weaving frenzy.

I'm really pleased with how they turned out. This thread wove up incredibly silky and the scarves have great drape. And although the pattern is quite simple it looks way more complicated than it is.

Kitchen towels

I've been working on these for what seems like years, but is in truth only months. Whatever ... the final product ended up just like I wanted.

Here they are on the loom:

Here they are off the loom:

And here they are all finished:

Closeup of the weave:

Arty shot:

I'm weaving again!

I finally finished the peacock scarf, which I started, oh I don't know, two years ago maybe. I think it turned out well. Hubby is threatening to steal it, so that's always a good sign. I like the sheen, which I think comes through, sort of, in these photos.

Close-up shot:

Dramatic shot:

This one shows the sheen on the shoulder.

I am a sock-making machine

The first sock took me two weeks to make. I banged the second one out over the weekend. It's a little bigger than the first one but whatever.

The top view:

The bottom view, including a lovely view of my massive man-calves:

And the many charts I had to work with:

It was fun!

I love it when a plan comes together

All done but the cuff and heel. I figured out how to do the heel last night, so soon I'll have one finished sock.

Getting in touch with my inner Girl Scout

Over the weekend I impulse bought a potholder loom and some "loopers," and spent some time in a heavy childhood flashback. It was fun! I'll be doing more.

Tapestry socks, take two

I belong to the School of Extreme Tension. Sometimes when I crochet with thread I end up with a painful gouge in my tensioning finger. This tends to created really crisp end products, but when it comes to garments, sometimes it's better to slow down, pay attention to each stitch, and just try to relax.

I started my socks over again this weekend, and I think I have it figured out now. Behold, the first attempt, alongside the second attempt. Same number of rows, same hook, very, very different tension.

I also discovered that a large bag of Chips Ahoys helps the relaxation process.

Tapestry crochet

This is my first foray into tapestry crochet, which involves two colors, one of which gets carried along when it's not being used. But unlike in knitting, which creates horrible "floats" on the back side, in tapestry crochet the yarn that's not being used is hidden within the stitch.

Naturally, because I've never done this before, I decided to try it with one of the hardest things there is is to make: socks. Socks involve lots of increases and decreases, fancy hookwork, and total concentration. Tapestry crochet involves loads of charts and moving yarn around in complicated ways. It's a fun combination! And it's definitely not boring.

This is the bottom of the sock:

This is the top of the sock.

So far I have about 23 rows, which took about 4 days. And it's too tight, but I'm too invested to start over. Someone with smaller feet than mine might end up with these socks.

Just ducky

I made this little fellow over the weekend. What with my massive window/painting project at home, I haven't had time to make anything since my Barack-athon in January, so it felt good to throw something together.

He has a dark side, though.

Happy Inauguration!

I spent the day yesterday making four Barack Obama finger puppets, which I, my husband, and my two house guests will take with us tomorrow down to the Mall. The pattern came from the Lion Brand website.

As usual, not the best quality because I'm old and can't see well enough to focus my phone.