One Project Finished... Another Started!

First, the finished project:

I completed this afghan a little over a week ago, and it has already found a wonderful new home. This was a 'scrap' afghan made out of some yarn I had left over from some project I had abandoned (or maybe never started). The blue, burgundy, and off-white were in my stash. I added the green because I thought it need an additional color. I was really pleased with the end result, especially since a couple of people (read the hubs and my friend who has claimed the afghan) didn't think the colors were going to go well together. Both of them were surprised and delighted with the finished project.

Here are a couple of more shots that give you a better look at the pattern and the colors:

This is a great pattern to work with in the summer. Because it is done in strips, it is very portable. The strips are also cooler to work on since you don't end up with the whole afghan sitting across your lap making your legs sweaty.. well, except for when you are putting all of the strips together! It is also a simple pattern that doesn't require carrying around a pattern.

I've already started a new project to keep my hands busy.  It is going to be the same basic pattern, but with a really soft yarn called Simply Soft Eco. It is a yarn put out by Caron that is partly made out of..... recycled water bottles! Really! I feel so.... Green! I chose to use 4 colors and soft white for this project.

 

The four colors will be the centers and the soft white will be the accent/connecting color. I thought they would make a very bright 'springy' colored afghan. What are you all doing to stay busy this summer?

 

Squeeeee!

One of the earliest blogs I started reading, way back when we were all using AOL Journals as our platform, was Crochet With Dee.

I loved reading about all of the things Dee was up to. She was living the dream. This talented lady had taken her enthusiasm for her craft and managed to make money doing what she loved. Not only is Dee a registered teacher of crochet, but she designs her own patterns and has had them published!

She's also a really nice person who spends a considerable amount of her crochet time doing things for Charity. Every year she does her 60 scarves in 60 days challenge. She makes some really wonderful (and beautiful!) chemo hats that she donates to local hospitals. And, she always seems to be looking for people who can benefit from her big heart and talent.

When we made the crossing, she did also and today blogs at Crocheting With Dee.com where I still follow her.

I'll let Dee introduce herself in her own words:

Hi, I'm Dee Stanziano, crochet teacher, designer, enthusiast. Crochet is my passion, and because of this, many, like Gwen Blakely-Kinsler and Carolyn Christmas call me "The Crochet Cheerleader." I invite you to join me here, and at my website, where I share my passion for the art of crochet. :)

O.K.... now, why am I telling you all about Dee? Well, in addition to the fact that you should be following this nice ladies blog anyway, she was also kind enough to leave the following comment on my last entry.

CrochetWithDee said...

I love it! Your stitches look fantastic, and the color combo is awesome! Your friend will love this treasure! :)
~Dee

To have someone like Dee say that my stitches looked good... well... just Squeeeeeee! LOL!

Now, in reward for all of you who have waded thru this entry so I could squee, I offer up another pretty picture of a flower to remind you that, yes, Spring is on the way!

 

Finished!

 

Look what I just finished. It's for a friend who really, really likes orange. I started it as a present for her 16th birthday and I'm only 4 months late getting it finished. LOL! Her whole bedroom is done up in oranges and pinks. Sounds like it would clash, but it is actually very pretty. Since the pretty (and bright neon!)  orange thread I found for her afghan was a little too bright, I fell back on a favorite afghan pattern I have that uses 2 strands of yarn held together while you crochet. This way I could add a strand of heather colored yarn and tone that wonderful bright neon orange down a little bit. It came out pretty nice if I do say so myself. Now I just need to find a nice box for it so I can ship it to her in Canada.

I love this pattern. It works up fairly quickly using just a chain stitch and double crochets. It is a ripple afghan, but instead of the points you usually see in a ripple, it has a more scalloped effect. And, because you use two strands of yarn held together, you can do a lot of interesting things with color.

This picture shows you how it is scalloped at both top and bottom.

And this close-up gives you a feeling for the wonderful textured look you get with this pattern.

I like the softer look of the more rounded peaks and valleys of this pattern.