The New Year has been odd, so I'm now about to begin row 17 of 31 rows in the famous "afghan in a weekend" I adapted to be my Christmas Afghan. It's getting hard to photograph the thing, since it becomes embiggened with each row rather amazingly. It's still very relaxing to work on, and the yarn is soft and very warm covering my lap in the cold temperatures we've had. I've learned how to attach a new color/new skein of yarn in the middle of a row while working on this. It is so simple, and makes life easier as I make my way around this behemoth.
Yarn Lust and Finding Patterns
Think me a bad dog if you must, but I decided this would be a year where I learn to do scarves. I love scarves of all kinds, and want some nice wide ones in colors of my choosing. I am so much all about the color.
It seems to me one of the first projects any crochet book gives you is a scarf of some sort and length. Ya, time to tackle the ez stuff I'm too stoopid to make. Why not branch out, you say?
I confess I have been out hunting the yarn aisles as I vowed not to do. BUT. I now hunt with a project in mind. Either I've found something intriguing on the wonderful Yarnspirations site, or I'm looking at the yarn itself for one of the free patterns on every label.
I could write an entire post on Yarnspirations, but I'll say I really started looking at it in depth one day when I was looking for patterns for all of the colorful little skeins of Lily Sugar and Cream Yarn that I have accumulated somehow.
Yes, there are a few skeins of the soft, shiny Paton's Yarn in there too. Soft and Shiny appear to be irresistible to me.
Caron Cakes
Speaking of Yarn Lust, I thought I'd try the Caron Cakes yarn. These were apparently made for the 100th Anniversary of Caron Yarns to be sold last August and not for a regular product line. Apparently special spools are needed to create the "cakes" and there aren't many of these spools...
But people went wacky over them and wanted MORE. http://thecrochetcrowd.com/future-caron-cakes-customers-unite-michaels-stores-caron-yarns-respond/
This sort of shortage feeds Yarn Lust. I hope Caron knows this and will act responsibly. I started by purchasing one skein of it, rather pricey, I thought, at $7.00, but it is big and fat and soft.
Then I find out about the scarcity, and my collector Spidey Sense goes whacko. Particularly since they are adding some new colors in January that are prettier than the originals. Also, they plan to retire some originals and it looks like a few new colors will be introduced in June. BOINK!!!!! I've been to three Michael's stores so far looking for the new colors, and haven't seen them. Don't think me discouraged!
I'm making (fingers crossed) three scarves with the Caron Cakes. The pattern is very simple, really just single crochet. But. I've never made a scarf before at all and I am wondering it if is typical of them to twist up like a strand of DNA when you're just starting out. Or is this another DOA epic bozo fail?
I love the variegation of the yarn, the softness of it, and I really like the three colors I have for scarves: Blueberry Cheesecake (above), Bumbleberry (purple), Faerie Cake (soft greens). None of these are the new colors, which I haven't gotten my mitts on yet.
https://www.michaels.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-siteCatalog_michaels_US/default/dw55dada9f/project_pdf/CaronCakesLookBook.pdf
So Many Scarves, So Little Time
Whilst indulging my Yarn Lusting, I liked this pattern for Red Heart's Stylish Stripes Scarf on some yarn skeins:
I like the width and the way it hangs, but I didn't care for the colors. I bought three other colors of the Red Heart Soft Essentials (trying to use the right yarn for the right project, yay me) yarn instead:
PINK! The Soft Essentials is very silky and a bit slippery to work with, but oh, so pretty. Imagine me with that scarf, la la la.
Finally, who doesn't need to have a few afghans in progress, in case I should shockingly finish one. It bends the mind, does it not?
Caron Pinpoint Crochet Blanket
This uses three of the HUGE Caron One Pound skeins of soft grey, which I like, because I have a gray couch.
How perfect, except for those centers, which are not in colors I ever would use. I need 72 centers for the afghan, and I decided to use some of my leftover pastels for the centers instead. It will be so very soft and pretty. I'll share it with the beagle.
I can make these during commercials or while supper is cooking. And, so wisely use up the leftover yarn bits.
I've "bookmarked" many more patterns, but haven't made the big step of getting the materials. These will do for now!
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