Green Dreamcatcher Square

I made an off-white “filler” square for the crochet-along on Craftster.org.  I already blogged about it.  Here, though, is my second one that’s done in green this time.  The pattern is called “Dreamcatcher” and I LOVE it!  The borders are rather wavy, but I’ve been assured that they’ll straighten out when the block is sewn to others.  I still can’t believe I read the pattern and the square turned out right!  I think it’s very pretty.

I used a “J” hook and TLC Essentials acrylic yarn, and the square turned out to be 12″.  I’ve opted for an all-acrylic blanket because the dogs will be using this, and it’ll be washed alot.

So… here’s my green Dreamcatcher square:

Crochet Obsession

Okay… I do this about EVERYTHING!  When I decide to do something, I end up going out and spending alot of money on it.  Some things (like quilting) “stick” and others don’t (like I don’t even know what because whatever those things are just didn’t “stick”). 

So, if you can’t figure it out, my newest obsession is crochet.  I’ve already bought several skeins of yarn (with no projects in mind), 6 new books, joined a crochet-along on Craftster.org, and made myself a crochet hook roll for holding all my hooks!

So… I read in The Happy Hooker book (by Debbie Stoller) that there are two types of crochet hooks:  sharp and blunt.  The sharp ones slide through stitches easier, and she likes them better than the blunt ones which she likens to cutting fabric with dull scissors:  not fun.  So, I checked out my hooks, and every single one of them is blunt!  Hmmm…  I need to fix that.

Also, I’d like some wooden crochet hooks.  Hmmm… will also have to fix that.

So, what did I do yesterday?  I searched for “wood crochet hooks” on Google, and came up with hundreds of sites.  There are some wooden hooks that are $30 a piece!  But they look so cool, I might just have to buy one or two of them (and if nothing else, that’s a great birthday or Christmas gift I can ask for).  Anyway, like I NEED them or something,  I bought a set of 12 bamboo crochet hooks from eKnittingNeedles.com.  They range in size from 3mm to 10mm.  It’s kind of hard to tell in the pictures if the hooks are sharp or blunt, but I have my fingers crossed that they’re the sharp kind.  But if they’re not, I’ll still like them anyway because I don’t know any differently.

The only bad thing about these hooks, is that I think they only have the size hook printed on them, and not the corresponding letter.  Most patterns I’ve seen just say “H” hook and not 9mm (or whatever the right size is for that letter).  But, oh, well…  I’ll just need to learn the sizes, and I’ll be fine.

Anyway, the set was $29.99 with free shipping (and you KNOW how much I like free shipping–that’s just the icing on the cake).  The hooks are $4 or $5 each so that would be around $50 if I’d bought them individually.

Now I need to make another crochet hook roll!  That’ll be fun!

New Crochet Books

All of my new crochet books from Overstock.com have arrived, and I can’t rave enough about them!

The first book is Stitch and Bitch:  The Happy Hooker by Debbie Stoller (4-1/2 stars on Amazon.com).  It has a WONDERFUL, very interesting history of crochet and several great projects I’d like to make.  There are a couple of scarves and bags that I really like.  And a couple of tank tops, too.  But, really, I don’t think I’ll EVER crochet a bikini!

The next book is 201 Crochet Motifs, Blocks, Projects and Ideas by Melody Griffiths which got 5 stars on Amazon.com, and I can see why!  Because it’s a GREAT book!  I especially like the flower and lace sections.  There are also chapters on the alphabet (cool, but I don’t know what I’d do with any crocheted letters???), shapes, pictures and geometrics.  Plus there’s a chapter with projects that is way cool.  One of the projects is the CUTEST little siamese cat mini bag.  Totally not my style, but it’s soooooo cute, I’d carry it anyway (even though it’s probably intended for a child!).  Also, there’s a belt made from a string of 2-colored swirls that is pretty nifty, and I’d like to try.

I started making four-inch flower motifs out of my new “Cotton Ease” yarn this morning (got three finished so far).  I’d like to make a scarf like the one in The Happy Hooker book.  I’m not sure why I’m not using that pattern, but I’m not.  BTW, the Cotton Ease yarn doesn’t hold it’s shape like acrylic, but who cares because it feels so WONDERFUL!

Next book is 200 Crochet Blocks for Blankets, Throws and Afghans by Jan Eaton (4-1/2 stars on Amazon).  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!  I bought this book because I wanted some other block choices for the afghan I’m making on the crocet-along on Craftster.org.  After I ordered it, I read a review that said the blocks were 8″ big.  I just figured I’d have to add several rows around the perimeter to get them up to 12″.  However, I was pleasantly surprised to find the blocks are 6″ blocks instead, and all I’ll have to do is sew 4 together to get 12″.  At least I HOPE that’s all I’ll have to do–as tight as I crochet, though, I may still have to add a row or two around the borders to get 12″

Anyway, the blocks are all listed with a number of hooks to indicated the skill level required to make them.  One hook = easy/beginner; two hooks = intermediate/medium; three hooks = difficult/advanced.  Most of the squares are 2 hooks.  I wonder if I can do any of them yet?

Also, I read another review that said to make sure and go to the Interweave Press website and download the corrections for the book.  There are 7 squares that have corrections.  I’m glad I read that review because I wouldn’t have known otherwise.