A Crochetier's Confession

i, mari, lifelong "i only do crochet" -er.. have been ....
knitting.
yes, i know. it's a shock. i'm shocking.
i've said before that crochet felt like expression and it still does
and ive also said before in the same statement that knitting felt like work
but i think i changed my mind.
weird, i know, but i totally did.
it must be my attitude :) also it feels like a sort of rhythm or beat, that i finally heard and felt and was able to follow along with. it's not like crochet, because everything is flat when you make it and even after you make it. it has to be assembled, which a lot of people might not like. i find myself not minding.
i've only made 2 things, and one of those is flat lol and neither of them are excellent, but both of them are flawed. and it's perfect.
i enjoy knitting, and that is this crochetier's confession.
now for the pictures!



the flat piece is just a swatch of k1. p1 which i later found out is called moss stitch?
oh wait, nevermind i was wrong that's not what it's called...
the doll was fun and easy, it super surprised me and i'm thankful for the lady who put up the pattern which is here: http://plainandjoyfulliving.blogspot.com/2009/02/fun-knitting-gnome.html

<3 Mari

My Curly Clown

This is my version of a clown my mom used to make. She winged them (meaning she made them up as she went) so there was no pattern. i know that she used sc for the arms and legs but i'm lazy and i like things fast, so i used dc. when she saw him in person she was like "he's so skinny!" lol. my version was on a diet, and he's also apparently smaller than the ones she made. oh well.
you'll need stuffing, like a couple fists full
i used one ball of peaches n creme cotton and an aluminum size G hook (US) for the body
for the hat i used the same hook but different yarn, it was like baby weight yarn. took for friggin ever to get the hat done cuz i had to work so much over the past couple days... :)
also the hat is different in my version. my mom's was more pointed nightcap looking with a pompom on the end, and it had a ruffle on the brim as well as around the neck.



SO!! here goes. i started with the arms. (make 2)

ch 30
- dc in 4th ch from hook.
4dc in each ch across to last ch.
dc in last ch.
Fasten off yarn.
(the yarn curls/ruffles as you work, smooth it in the direction you want)

NOW!! the legs. (make 2)

ch 40
- dc in 4th ch from hook.
4dc in each ch across to last ch.
dc in last ch.
Fasten off yarn.

AND!! the head. (make one ;) )

ch 2
- 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- ch1, 2sc in each sc around. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- ch1, sc in same st as joining, 2sc in next. (sc in next sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- ch1, sc in same st as joining and in next. 2sc in next. (sc in next 2 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each of next 2. 2sc in next. (sc in each of next 3 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each of next 3. 2sc in next. (sc in each of next 4 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each of next 4. 2sc in next. (sc in each of next 5 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each sc around. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- repeat last step until there are a total of 6 rounds in plain sc.

- ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each of next 4. (sc2tog, sc in each of next 5 sc) around. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each of next 3. (sc2tog, sc in each of next 4 sc) around. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each of next 2. (sc2tog, sc in each of next 3 sc) around. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- ch1, sc in same st as joining and in next. (sc2tog, sc in each of next 2 sc) around. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- ch1, sc in same st as joining. (sc2tog, sc in next sc) around. join with sl st to top of fist sc.

- by this point you should be stuffing the head. don't worry about overstuffing, this stuff squishes and flattens and all of whatever.

- ch2, (sc2tog) around. this round will about close up the hole.

- Fasten off yarn, leaving a long enough tail to sew the little hole shut for sure.

sew the arms and legs to the head
you can paint on your face or embroider it (i tried that even though i sucked at it). or u can get those safety eyeballs that i've seen and admired but could totally not afford.

THEN!! the hat. i did mine in baby yarn and will give my pattern for it but you can totally use other thicker yarn with a few less rounds from the pattern.

ch4, join with sl st to form ring

- make 10 sc in ring. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- sc in each sc. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- 2sc in each sc around. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- sc in each sc. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- sc in first sc, 2sc in next. ( sc in sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- sc in each sc. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- sc in first sc and in next, 2sc in next sc. ( sc in each of next 2 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- sc in each sc. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- sc in first sc and in each of next 2, 2sc in next sc. (sc in each of next 3 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- sc in each sc. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- sc in first sc and in each of next 3, 2sc in next sc. (sc in each of next 4 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- sc in each sc. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- sc in first sc and in each of next 4, 2sc in next sc. (sc in each of next 5 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- sc in each sc. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- sc in first sc and in each of next 5, 2sc in next sc. (sc in each of next 6 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- sc in each sc. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- sc in first sc and in each of next 6, 2sc in next sc. (sc in each of next 7 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- sc in each sc. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- sc in first sc and in each of next 7, 2sc in next sc. (sc in each of next 8 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- sc in each sc. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- sc in first sc and in each of next 8, 2sc in next sc. (sc in each of next 9 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- sc in each sc. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- sc in first sc and in each of next 9, 2sc in next sc. (sc in each of next 10 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- sc in each sc. join with sl st to top of first sc.

- repeat last step until there are a total of 4 rows of plain sc.

put hat on head, fasten in place if you like.

this is my original pattern. do not copy or post to any other publication. do not sell this pattern or copies of this pattern, or the products made from it. link to my pages to share if you like. you may print out a copy for your personal use.

<3 Mari

He still needs a name...

But i'm not in a hurry cuz he's not done yet.
i posted about him on Ravelry.. (ya, i finally joined, mostly to look at pictures)
he's inspired by my mom's original "pattern", which she never wrote out lol, and which she made a friggin ton of when i was a little girl. ok, friggin ton is an exaggeration.
but my version has a creepy sad but smiley face, since i suck at embroidery. his eyeballs look like super-eyebrows, no?
i'm not done with his hat i'm gonna take my work to work lol, and try to finish it there. and maybe i'll add the ruffle around his neck like my mom's clowns had. i dunno.
i realized long ago that i can't make myself too ambitious or i'll never do what i want to do because the thought would get too overwhelming. yeah, weird.
so anyways, ok. i'll post on the progress!


<3 Mari

Wahoo!!! (oh yeah)

yesterday paulie shows up to pick me up from work, like he usually does. before i'm off the clock he's asking if i want to go to a new restaurant that recently opened. and i'm like cool cuz i love food. so we go, it's a place called Rio West Cantina, very cute and cozy without being too small. and omg they have delicious food. i had a chimichanga and paulie had a shrimp burrito MmMMmMmm everything on that plate was good. after we finish eating i go (cuz im stupid i dunno) "so you didnt have like a coupon to come here or something?" cuz paulie loves coupons. lol. and he's like "why u think that? just cuz i like coupons i always gotta have one?" and i was like awww he's my cute.
so we get boxes to put our delicious left overs in, and paulie goes "hold on i have something for you" and im like O.o? while he goes to the car and i wrestle with the rest of my chimichanga.
he comes back with a shiny red box with a ribbon around it... i love red. and i love shiny. it's about the size of a book, so i'm like "... it's not my birthday... anniversary? no, it's too warm.."
so i'm opening it and theres just a crapload of tissue on either side of a tiny hard lump wrapped in more tissue. it is a box. inside of another box. inside of which is a RING! :O i know like u couldnt tell from the pic what was gonna happen lol.
and he's on his knee with his big cutey eyeballs looking at me :*) he says "i was wondering if you'd wanna marry me" and i was like ...duh... but i said YES not duh. of course.
so i put on my ring (yay) and it was too big so we have to get it sized on monday ;)
wahooooo!!!





















<3 Mari

Marisa

i just finished this hat.. excuse my face :)
i used a small amount of yarn from a Caron One Pound skein, i'm not certain how much, maybe 2 to 4 ounces? the color is Cream 589 and it made me think of my mom.
the skein was sitting there begging me to make a hat with it, so i did. it was very simple. very very simple. it looks much better and less like a washerwoman's head-dress if you wear it high and tilted on your head and close to the hairline, almost like a headband.
here's the pattern ;)

Materials:
WW yarn (i.e. Caron One Pound. Simply Soft is too thin and will result in a hat for a tiny head.)
US size H hook or equivalent for hat
US size G hook or equivalent for cuff



Using H hook
ch4

1. 9 dc in 4th ch from hook. Join with sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch4. (10 dc)

2. ch3 to count as first dc. dc in same st as joining. Make 2 dc in each dc around. Join with sl st to top of beginning ch3. (20 dc)

3. ch3 to count as first dc. dc in same st as joining and in next. Make (2dc in next dc, dc in next) around. Join with sl st to top of beginning ch3. (30 dc)

4. ch3 to count as first dc. dc in same st as joining and in each of next 2 dc's. Make (2dc in next dc, dc in each of next 2) around. Join with sl st to top of beginning ch3. (40 dc)

5. ch3 to count as first dc. dc in same st as joining and in each of next 3 dc's. Make (2dc in next dc, dc in each of next 3) around. Join with sl st to top of beginning ch3. (50 dc)

6. ch3 to count as first dc. dc in same st as joining and in each of next 4 dc's. Make (2dc in next dc, dc in each of next 4) around. Join with sl st to top of beginning ch3. (60 dc)

7. repeat Round 4. (90 dc)

8. ch3 to count as first dc. dc in next dc and in each around. Join with sl st to top of beginning ch3. (90 dc)

9-15. repeat Round 8.

At end of Round 15, fasten off yarn and weave in ends.

Make Cuff Using G Hook:

ch9
1. sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each across. (8 sc)

2. ch1, turn. working in bl only, sc in each sc across. (8 sc)

3-76. repeat Row 2.

At end of Row 76, do not fasten off. Instead, ch1 and work 90 sc's evenly along long edge of strip. This is the side that will attach to the bottom of the hat.

Turn hat inside out so WS of work is facing you. Also turn cuff so WS is facing out towards you.
Sl st cuff to hat evenly.
Sew short ends of cuff together while it is still inside out so that the seam won't show when you turn it right side in.
Cut yarn and weave in ends neatly.

Here is a picture of the hat without a head in it :)
so cute.


Please do not sell this pattern, or claim it as your own. Please do not sell the finished work from this pattern. Do not copy this pattern to any other website or publication. Please feel free to post a link of my pattern to share. You may print out a copy for your personal use.



<3 Mari

We Have Come Too Far

we can't turn around
we'll flood the streets with justice
we are freedom bound

and that song is stuck in my brains. soaking and squishing.
Sooo yeah, i guess i'm finally a college girl ;)
(i'm excited) it's exciting (i'm excited)
i've been working on my own socks.. like as in figuring out how to crochet socks with actual sock yarn... i made paulie go with me to the yarny store after we had dinner cuz it was close by a couple days ago. and i found some awesome sock yarn and now im on a MISSION. and its a red and purple variegated kind of mission.
i found out that i have no concept of "gusset" like.. what the heck is that anyway? so i think i have attempted it but quit while it was still a formulation of a thought in my head. yes. i'm almost done with one sock which means my pattern's almost done but don't get your hopes up because then i'll definitely crush them. utterly.
i'm also working indefinitely on yet another "scrap" afghan lol. it looks awesome but i discovered early that it's only for show. i draped it over me one time to see how it felt and all my toes and the tips of my knees poked out of the lil granny holes lol. ermm... decoration it is! it's fabulous. maybe on top of the "real" covers it will give some added warmth in the dead of winter? eh.
oh yes.

<3 Mari

Return of a Blooger

aye, blooger.
it's been a little while since i posted anything on here.. so i thought i should. even if i don't have a pattern to post :)
a lot has happened since my last post, while strangely at the same time not a lot has changed. one change though, is that i no longer have MySpace or Facebook accounts... i know right? little tear..
so i guess the yeen machine will occasionally be more talky and less yarny. (i used MySpace for blogs pretty exclusively, and Facebook i have no idea why.) so don't be surprised if instead of a good/mediocre pattern post you see a poem or dream or rant.
it had actually been a long while since i made or attempted anything in crochet. i guess that helped me not to post anything recently eh. but now i'm back on the ball i guess, doing my little dance.
i'll have pictures but i don't know when

<3 Mari