link cal/kal

 Nintendo Knitters Ravelry.com Group 

KAL/CAL Square One: Link - The Legend of Zelda

In the above Rav group I suggested a CAL/KAL involving squares from that blanket I have been working on. My idea was that it would be fun to see what the others can do with this project as well as making it a little bit more fun and motivating for me to do.   I am offering something that most dont, I am offeirng a poll. That way, those who wish to participate, can vote on what they want to do next.   I chose the Pokeball simply because I thought it would be an easy start for those who have not done this before.  Yet, the poll results were overwhelming... Link won with a stunning eight votes.

 Whilst we are on this WONDERFUL topic that is LoZ and Link... I am a huge fan of the music. In fact, I bought Skyward Sword, Special Edition and uploaded the music cd to my itunes before anything else!  This girl, Lindsey Stirling is AMAZING!  I dont see how anyone can actually play while making this video but who cares, its fun and just amazing.  I dont usually like it when girls dress up as Link but this is ok... I suppose... lol :)  Enjoy.

I think that my favorite game thus far has been Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask.  I love them all dont get me wrong but those two I think hold a special place for me because those are the first ones I ever finished.  I played the earlier ones when I was younger but  I would get stuck, then frustrated and never pick it back up. This, I'm sure, had a lot to do with my age at the time. When the N64 was released I was... 10? Maybe? so I was much younger than that when I was trying the other ones.  It makes sense to me. 

I cant wait to see what the others come up with for the C/KAL! I asked if I could use their photos when I blog about it again :)

Catching up a bit...

Whelp...After having this blog for almost a year now, I have no followers. No love for me.   But i guess its best I keep updating  because you never know when someone will WANT to follow I suppose.  Lets do some catching up then shall we?

Home life: Shaky. Things got rough between me and my brother and sister in law for a few months after my niece was born. Things are much much better now as far as that goes. Nicole just has surgery yesterday to fix a condition that I cant remember what its called.  She was at Mattel's Children's Wing at UCLA Ronald  Regan Medical Center.  It went well and she will be in recovery and ICU for a few days before she can come home (3-10 days) My sister was a mess... But we are all happy that the 6 hour procedure went well.  Whats kinda cool is that they are trying out this new method for udating family. They are texting the 'call list' that the next of family can fill out, updates about the patients!  So all morning while I was getting ready for class, I was getting things like this "Nicole is now resting comfortably under anesthesia and her procedure will start shortly.  We will keep you updated as we progress".  It was really nice.

School:  School is almost over. My final is on the 31st and then I will be on break.  Studying for finals has been a bitch.

Craft:   I have been working off and on on this blanket. Since this shot was taken I have made one more square (super mario fire flower) and I am actually just now sitting down to make a goomba. In the Rav group called Nintendo knitters I have posted about this blanket and offered to send out my patterns as a craft-a-long to see what other's can do witht the same pattern.  It seems to be a nice idea and lots love it.  Im just waiting till after finals to start that one up.

Also on Ravelry I have posted in a group to have the pattern tested (see last post) for a bracelet I have made. I am still waiting for the results from my three testers. I will have two more to test after that too.  

I give you The Leviathan Band!

I give you The Leviathan Band!

This is my FIRST EVER written pattern and its still in testing. it WILL however, be edited after its been fully tested.

I did the original band using caron simply soft 'spring brooke' yarn, some DMC thread a,d random beads that I had layinga round.   Now that I have been to the local craft stores I have stocked full of glass beads and other embelishments to make the more beautiful version.  For now, enjoy the Beta Pattern and pictures :)

Pattern Beta for the Leviathan Band:

Original pattern, Pre Testing period

Using 10ply yarn and 3.75 hook:

Keep and even gauge and please report on your finished measurements.

Chain 32

Row 1: Single crochet in 2^nd chain from hook, single crochet across in each.  Chain 1 and turn

Row 2: Single Crochet across, chain 1 and turn

Row 3: Repeat above step.

** I did this to make four rows, but you can do this as many times as you need to increase width. (one more row wil be added later on)  If you do, please notify me in your FINAL report, please note that doing so may increase the amount of thread needed later.**

Row 4: Repeat above step, but before you turn – instead of going across the length of the band, you will be going down the WIDTH. So after you Chain 1, turn the project 90* to the right (if you are working left handed, then left) Single crochet 1, Chain 7 sc into the same space. This should create a loop big enough to fit your button. Single crochet to the corner and chain1 and turn.

Row 5:  Single crochet across.  Ch1 and sc across the opposite width.   F/o leaving at least 2 feet of yarn to  attach a button on. 

Button: Thread the button and snugly sew it on with a tapestry needle OR,  If you prefer you can crochet it on as well by weaving the tail into the spaces between rows to the point you want it attatched, threading the button, weaving out, then applying another row of single crochet to the end. This will seal it on.

*Testing your loop/button.  After creating the loop for the button, you should be able to snugly slide the button in and out of the loop.  Make adjustments as needed.

               

Lace and Bead work:

Un ravel the whole skein of thread. At one end, thread beads in the following order -  Color A, Color B, Color A, Color C, Color A, Color B, Color A.  Make a loose knot or tie off with another bead to prevent them from sliding off.  You will be working with the opposite end and sliding the beads up as you need them.

Lacework –

Row 1 – working away from the loop. Single crochet into each stitch – do not pull tight! Try to keep gague with the yarn. When in corners, Single crochet 4 times. Work all the way  around but NOT on the side with the loop. Chain 3 and turn as normal.

Row 2 : Double crochet in same stitch as ch3. Chain 2, skip one sc, 2 double crochet in the next stitch. Repeat across, stopping at the corner. Chain 1 and turn.

Row 3 (beadwork) Single crochet in the space BETWEEN the double crochet, 2 single crochet in the chain 2 space, single crochet between the doubles. *2sc in the ch2 space,  single crochet in between the doubles, 2 single crochet in the ch 2 space, single crochet between the doubles, chain 5 working the first bead into the 3^rd chain, sc into the same space.  Repeat from the * two more times. When you reach the fourth bead (color C) Chain 5, work bead into the 5^th chain. Single crochet in each of the rest of the chain, sc into the same spot. Repeat from the original *-* the rest of the way across. F/o.

Uber Epic Gamer Squares!

I have been inspired to start a new project. Though i kinda shocked myself, its another blanket! Im hoping that this one wont be nearly as daunting as the one I made for my niece (BORN OCTOBER 10 BY THE WAY!!!) being as how this one is not all the same colors and just one pattern. This will be something entirely new!

This project was inspired by Alicia1018 on Ravelry.com. The squares seem simple enough. A single crochet- only 30x34 square with a few color changes to make video game characters! SO in downloading her patterns, Darryl and I see that she used a pattern maker to base hers off of. So we went and downloaded it to make out own! It was cute, he found all these other old 8bit characters we loved growing up, took my laptop and made it his job to plot them out for me to crochet! I really enjoy that he is involved in my hobby. It may only seem a little bit but still. It makes me feel this is OUR project. Not just mine.

In his search for 8bit characters, he came across a few that were made with purler beads. This sparked intrest for him as well. Not only are they one bead per pixel, but they make a GREAT pattern base for my crochet as well! So while I was visiting with my mom and dad, he went to out local craft store and bought some purler beads. We have made 3 coasters since. It just took us forever


But these color changes are not so easy, you see... Some rows call for only ONE stitch after a color change.... how does one do this while making that stitch secure? Not only that, how about making it not unravel in the wash??? Well I figured I would outsmart this technique. I made a SOLID 30x34 and began to follow the color change pattern by using the embroidery method. That came out looking like THIS before i got sick of it.

A change in pace, Inspriation for a new project!!

Yarn In Review: Loops & Threads Snuggly Wuggly

My Rating: 4/5 *it really does not feel all that super soft in the ball, but once its worked into a project it preforms wonderfully!

Price: Normally about $5.99 a ball, snatched up these8 balls for only $7 a pair!

I have yet to finish a project with this brand and line but so far my WIP is going well and I am GREATLY pleased with it. Pictures to come soon!

A Yarn in Review

I think I will start writing reviews on yarns that I purchase. I'm hoping that once I get followers (alas, no one has followed me yet. Even after linking to Ravelry.com or Craftster.org.org) that they will find these reviews helpful, maybe even help them choose the right yarn for the right project. Well, here we go!

A Yarn In Review

In the hot seat today is Premier Everyday Soft.

My Rating:: 5/5

Price : $4.50 per ball (4oz) Directly from the company. I normally would not pay quite so much for a single ball, let alone three, but I found a GREAT DEAL on Amazon.com. These balls were 3 for $3.50 with Amazon prime free two day shipping on top of it! So excited. With a deal like that I could not pass it up.

Feel: It definitely is super soft in ball. Have you ever bought a skein that was super soft? But then mid way thought the project is doesn't feel NEARLY as soft anymore? I HATE that. I am currently using this yarn for the craft bag mentioned in the last post, the one for my friend Heather. Not only does this yarn feel super soft after its been worked with, but its sturdy, and the color seems to have more luster and shine! Its very pretty. The picture I took just does not do it justice.

The label clearly states that it is anti-piling. I have purchased several yarns and after the project has been washed it looked awful. So, I made a tester square. Just a simple granny square and washed it. I also tossed in one of those washer sheets that grab any bleeding color, just to see. this is a VERY purple yarn... No bleeding, and the square definitely kept that "just finished" look and its STILL super soft. I think I may have found my new favorite yarn for "wear ables"

I recommend checking out Amazon for great sales like the one I found. If you search for this yarn in 3pack, there are several colors for the same deal up now. This one, is Aubergine and is a dark plum color, but its not on sale anymore. Happy Shopping!

Of Bags and babies

So forget that Hex project for a while. Its hard to type all that out considering there are two more motifs that need to be put up as well. So Keep checking as we go. I'll be editing that post soon with the other two as I feel motivated. That project has basically become my "I want to do SOMETHING but I want something fast that will give me some kind of satisfaction tonight" project.

Right now I'm working on a birthday gist for Heather. She likes to cross stitch. She has a project that she leaves at home to work on and one she leaves at my boyfriends house. (We were all really good friends before he and I started seeing eachother intimately. She also comes from a very troubled and verbally abusive home, so shes there quite often after I get home from work.) ANYWAY, thats a whole nother story for a whole nother day. The project she leaves at D's house, she keeps in a plastic market bag. Her project is rolled and her thread is loose... Whenever we all go somewhere (like girlscout meets... D's sister is troop leader and when robotics competitions come up, he becomes an leader too since he was in robotics in highschool... wow thats already 5 years ago?!?! wow. I feel old.) she carries that market bag. its loud, and distracts the girls. So I'm making her a project bag. Pictures to come ....

BABY UPDATE!!!!! My sister just hit week 37!!!! So now, its ANY TIME. We are all very very excited! Yes there will be pictures to come of my baby niece in her blanket :)