Yellow dress - almost finished!!

I just wanted to tell you... I'm almost finished with the yellow-blue dress...

I just need to do some more sewing and weaving... and it's done... completly my pattern, very easy I have to say. It's made for a 2 year old, I hope!

And I got the yarn for my new project... another baby dress, this one so much smaller... for a 3-6 months old. The yarn is again a Cascade Yarn (220 Superwash paints - color  9863) that has a lovely color changes in blueish-greenish tones that I just love... I can't not smile when I see it... it's so colorful, and cheerful!!!

I will use the Little Sister Dress pattern from Tora Froseth wich I think is so cute!! and delightful!
So I want to knit the yoke and bottom part with this yarn and make the middle part with a plain blue or green that marches the other yarn.
I started yesterday... I'll work with the smallest size instructions (3 months), but I'll be using thicker neddles that the ones the pattern requires (it ask for 3mm and I'll be using 4.5mm) so I think it will be a little bit bigger than 3 months. I decided to do this because as thiner the neddles are, as bigger and stroger my hand pain will be.
I cannot knit for extended periods of time... not even for an hour...
It makes me really sad and a bit depressed... yesterday night I wanted to cry because of the feeling that I cannot do what I want I like with myhands (knit, crochet, jewelry) because I get pain if I do it...
I had such a pain yesterday...
Today I'm better though...

See you soon!

Pink dress -- Finished!!!

Guess what!!! I finished the dress!!! I feel super proud of myself... It is my first crochet girl dress, ever. I followed a pattern all the way, and it makes me feel really good.
In the past, I've only made dresses for my dolls, it's not very different, but when you are making clothes for your dolls and you are 9 years old, it doesn't really matter if they are not perfect... now it's different... I don't mean they HAVE to be perfect, but somehow it feels like it.
So the dress continue growing row after row in that vibrant pink, until I run out of it... I still had like 10 rows infront that needed to be done, so I had to decide if I should buy another ball of pink yarn, or finish the dress with the green yarn that I bought for the edges... and after a few trials I decided (helped by my great friends and lovely husband) that it could look good with the last rows in green, like a trim of color... so that is what I did...

And here is the result.....

Ready....

Yei!!!! I love it!!! I love the way the stripes of shells fall down and make a slightly curve.
I love the contrast the green makes with this pink, and I love the color accent at the neck and arms edges...

I had another trip to the yarn store, I was looking for yarn for my next project, and a button to use with this one.... and I found the most perfect and gorgeous button and it goes perfect with this dress!!!

It's a perfect, lovely wooden flower!!! I really love it!!!

The total project took me 3 weeks to complete, a bit less... not bad, huh?
It's all cotton yarn, it took 2 and a half balls, and it weighs aroun 250 gr.

See you soon!

Pink Girly Dress...

The pattern I choose for the dress is easy to follow, but I had to concentrate on it, specially at the begining while crocheting the yoke. It's a (kind of a) lace pattern at the yoke that didn't allow a lot of multi-tasking while doing it (i.e. watch TV at the same time). But I have to say that I've enjoyed a lot crocheting this.
The dress is crocheted in one piece from the top down, and it has an opening in the back part of the neck so you can pass the girl head without a problem. Later, it will have a button for closing purposes.
Once I passed the yoke, the rest seems to be pretty easy going. It's a repetitive pattern with a few increses every other row, that allow me to do it while watching TV or visiting a friend.
I run out of yarn around a third part of the lenght of the dress, so I had to go back to the yarn store to buy another one. I know you are suposed to buy as much yarn as you will need for a project, so all of it would be the same color as they are dyed in lots... but I decided to buy just one of this to start with.


I have been crocheting for more than 20 years, and also doing jewelry for 13. I don't know if it is because of that or other reason, but after a while (too short while for me) of doing my crafts I start having pain in my hands, fingers and wrists. So I have to stop and I cannot do it for long periods of time any more... wich is really depressing sometimes.
So...... I decided to buy just one skein of yarn, because, since it was primary cotton, I thought it would be hard to work with since cotton is not very stretchy. But so far I haven't had any problem with it.


So I went to the store for another skein, and I bougth 2 this time... one pink and one in a contrasting green (sorry, no picture of that one, I forgot to take it). And this time, instead of making a simple ball like last time, I made a Center Pull Ball with the method shown here and it was such a difference!!!!I hate when you have a regular, simple ball of yarn and you pull it to work with it and your yarn goes rolling and ends at the other side of your living room... with this "tube" method, the ball it's perfect, because the yarn comes from the center and you can place your ball right at your side, or your yarn basket and it won't roll when you pull out the yarn!!! So good!

So now I'm on my way to finish my first crochet dress!!!! I'm excited... and so far, I like how it's going... Hope you like it too!

See you soon!!!

Trip to the Yarn Store.

The spring arrived just when I was finishing the ripple blanket... I needed something new to do, a new project. However, the idea of doing another blanket wasn't inspiring with the warm temperature. So I thought what else it could be... I finished with the idea of a girl dress... Since I don't have kids of my own yet, it should be for a niece.
I went to my local yarn store... mmmmmm I love those trips....
I'm excited all the way to the store, just thinking and anticipating, all the colors and textures that are awaiting me there!! and then, when I got there, and open the door that anounces my arrival with a cheerful bell... I smile, because all the anticipation was right.
Racks and stands, full of yarns, mohair, cotton, wool, acrilic.... wow!!! it's great!!! I love it!!! and I hate it.... I hate the idea of choosing just one, I hate not be able to take them all home with me... so I start walking around, feeling, touching, delighting... filling myself with joy!

I didn't have a pattern yet, so I asked for help. Do I want crochet? or knitting? I'm in a period of returnig to my beginings, so I choose crochet. It's not something easy to find a pattern because, at the store, they have a lot of knitting patterns for a girly dress, but just a few in crochet... finaly, the lady showed me a magazine ::: Crochet Today ::: that had a nice pattern.
So I decided to try it.... ok, Pattern: ChEcKeD!

So now I needed to find a yarn for it... I didn't want a super girly color, I wanted something strong, something alive. Baby colors are ok, and cute, but it was not what I wanted... so I choose a Cascade Yarn from Peru (80% Prima Cotton/20% Merino Wool) in a deep pink...And I made the ball when I got home...
My niece is 1 year old, but this is my first time making a dress (well, besides the ones I did for my dolls when I was a kid), so I decided it will be size 2... just in case I mess it up!

Ripple blanket

Hello!!!

I'm happy, happy, happy...
Spring has arrived with a delicious warm weather, I love to watch the trees and bushes and yards all blossoming with beautiful flowers with diferent colors.
I Love to see our yard, green and ALIVE!!! The breeze that move the trees and get into my window and the kids playing around, riding bicycles and playing ball (not my kids, since I don't have any still, but my neighbourghs kids).
Last week I went out to walk around and found this Daffodils just outside my apt. building, I got so excited about them!!

I had the most Lovely Easter Day!!!! My hubby took good care of that... so we had breakfast out, enjoyed going to the movies, and after our groseries shopping we ended up having a nice evening at home.

Today I want to show you my Ripple Blanket, I think is a good size to finish it... I made it following a pattern written by Lucy which blog I AbSolUtLy LOOOVEEE!!!

I got the yarns as a Christmas present, so it took me around 3 months to finish the blanket (I know it's April, but I din't worked on it for a month).
So I'm very pleased with it, it's a great blanket for snugg in the coach while watching TV, even if we are not gonna use it so often now with the spring-summer time.

See you next time!!
S.