Aloha!

I can't tell you how good it feels to get back to blogging.  I will briefly try to sum up what has been happening in my life since my last blog entry.  After 4 months of not knowing whether we were staying in Germany or moving to Hawaii we got our orders for Hawaii the first week of January.  Within two weeks, we got all our items shipped and everything else in order and then flew home to visit our families in Illinois.  Yes, you read that right.  Two weeks to get everything in order to move.  Surprisingly, it went fairly smoothly.  Or I should say everything went smoothly that my husband's unit had no control over.  Any type of paperwork they were in charge of, not so much.  Although that isn't a shock considering it was their mistake that led to the whole mess to begin with. 

So we had a wonderful 3 week visit with our families.  Although I could have done without catching a horrible cold for a week.  We moved to Hawaii the beginning of February, bought a car, found a place to live and moved in by the end of the month.  Our household items arrived from Germany a few weeks ago.  If anyone is wondering how long it takes to move your stuff halfway across the world, the answer is almost 3 months.  Yesterday we finally got our computer set up so I'm back to blogging.  I give people credit that manage to blog on their phones, I just don't have the patience for it which is part of the reason I haven't posted an entry in months.  And you know, the fact that I moved thousands of miles to a beautiful island which has kept me busy as well.

Sightseeing and getting familiar with our new surroundings has taken up a bit of my time but I still always manage to get in a few moments of crochet here and there.   Right before we left Germany I started making a bunch of teeny, tiny squares. After spending hours and hours making these two round squares, I am now close to being able to put together the Penguin Cuddle Quilt.  I'm very excited to get this finished although I still have quite a few things to do around the house before we are truly settled in.

Again, it feels great to be back in the blogging world.  Can't wait to catch up on comments and get to reading all my favorite blogs.

Child's Play Square

Today I completed the Child's Play Square.  I thought the look of this square was interesting enough to make a square of my own even though I don't have a project in mind for it.  I love the way it turned out and it wasn't that complicated to complete.  The author of the pattern included written instructions and a pictorial tutorial.  Although you wouldn't know it by looking at the photo, the colors I used were Dark Orchid and Spring Green in Red Heart Super Saver.

I also want to share a photo of one of the German smokers that my husband and I have purchased since we have been living here in Germany.  Most people use incense in them but we  use the smokers for decoration only.  If you shop around at the different Christmas markets you can usually find ones that aren't super expensive.  I will definitely miss shopping at the Christmas markets here when we move to Hawaii.  I guess I will have to comfort myself next December by lounging around on the beach!

WIP Wednesday: Another Mermaid Tears Purse

I was so happy with the outcome of my Mermaid Tears Purse that I decided I should make another one.  I'm using Red Heart Super Saver in Windsor Blue.  I haven't yet decided whether or not I will add a flower this time.  I might just go ahead and make one and then decide if I want to attach it at the end.  I really like how the purse is coming together so far.  It really is an easy pattern and like I mentioned before there is a video tutorial if you have a hard time following the written pattern.

I hope all my American blogger friends have a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow!  Since my husband and I aren't going to be here in Germany much longer we decided to pass on celebrating at home and will instead visit a nearby German town and do some shopping.  We want to stock up on some German kitchen items before we leave. 

WIP Wednesday: Basketweave Purse

Lately it seems like I've either been making a purse or using the basketweave technique.  And in some projects, like this one, I have combined the two.  Yes, this is my attempt at the Basketweave Purse pattern.  This is a different pattern from the one I previously attempted.  I ended up using  about 9 oz of Red Heart Super Saver in Dark Orchid.

This purse is not worked in the round like the other pattern instead you work about 19 pattern rows make the gusset/strap and then attach to the purse.  Or at least I hope that was what I was supposed to do.  Now I need to buy a metal ring and a metal fastener.  That should be fun, trying to find that in Germany. I have absolutely no hope that these type of items are sold here on base.  Someone posted a photo on Ravelry where a large button was used instead.  I think I will keep that option in mind if I strike out on the metal parts.

Have a wonderful day everyone and don't forget to check out the different Link Parties at the bottom of the page!

WIP Wednesday

I've been working on a few projects lately.  First up is the Mermaid Tears Purse.  It's a free pattern offered on the Bernat website.  An extra bonus is besides the written pattern, they also offer a video tutorial.  I think I will continue using the Aran color in Red Heart Super Saver for the entire purse rather than using 3 colors as the pattern suggests. 

The other project I have been working on is the Herringbone Afghan.  I think just a few more rows are needed and then I can work on the border and weaving in all the ends.


Please check out SusanD1408 Crochet Addict 's blog and Tami's Amis and Other Creations  For some reason I could not figure out how to display their blogs like I did with the others.

Beginning of the Herringbone Afghan

I decided to start another afghan yesterday because our spare bedroom is overflowing with my recent yarn purchases from Joanns.  This is starting to tick off my husband because he likes to store most of his military items in that room as well.  He has more of a tolerance for completed crochet items rather than boxes of unused yarn.  So I went searching for a new afghan pattern.

I've mentioned before that I like to try something new when I make an item.  The pattern for the Herringbone Afghan uses the double treble stitch which I had never used before.  I also have to make double crochet stitches either behind or in front of the double treble.  It's slightly awkward but I'm getting the hang of it.  I don't have to do this for the whole afghan, just the sections where I'm using Red Heart Super Saver in Aran.  The sections using RHSS Soft Navy are half double crochet in the back loop. 

I'm not sure when this will be finished since I'm already freaking out that I won't have enough of the Soft Navy color.  I have the suggested amount but I have a feeling it's going to be close. If I do run out of yarn, I will just have to put off ordering until after we move.  Hopefully we will find out some more info soon.

Corner to Corner Afghan

I didn't have a chance to run downtown and pick up fabric and thread for my Kit Kat purse until today so this weekend I started working on a Corner to Corner afghan.  I'm using Red Heart Super Saver and the colors are Black, Cherry Red, Paddy Green, and Amethyst.

I chose this pattern because I like challenging myself with new patterns and techniques.  I figure that's the only way to become a better crocheter.  This is an easy and mindless pattern once you get the hang of it.  Red Heart provides a short tutorial video to help get you started.  If you know how to chain, double crochet and slip stitch you are good to go.  While I've known how to do these things since I first started crocheting it's interesting how if you just alter it slightly you can create a whole different kind of finished piece.

Thank you to everyone that follows my blog or leaves comments!  At the moment Blogger is acting up and I'm not able to load the pages to respond to comments.  Hopefully, this will get fixed soon.  

Patriotic Baby Blanket

A patriotic baby blanket is what I have been working on lately.  I have 3 skeins of Red Heart's Stars and Stripes yarn that I didn't know what to do with so I figured that something small like a baby blanket would work.  I'm hoping I will have enough yarn to finish. I'm using the One Skein Baby Blanket  pattern.  I'm using smaller skeins that almost equal a One Pounder like the pattern suggests.  Now my husband looked at me strangely when I showed him what I was making but I figure that living on a military base there has to be at least one person out there that would love a red, white, and blue baby afghan. 




Thank you everyone for the nice comments you have left on my blog.  It's reassuring to know there are still wonderful people out there in the world.  Lately,  I've been so frustrated with some of the people in this community.  I guess I took it for granted that if you are in adult you act like one.  Maybe I'm just lucky that all of the people I know back home treat others with respect and are kind, wonderful people.  I'm just not used to being around people that are so unhappy with their lives that all they want to do is sit around and gossip about others.  I hope in Hawaii things will be a little different and we will have the opportunity to meet more people that aren't in the military.  For me, I just don't think it's mentally healthy to only be around the people you work with all the time.  For civilians, can you imagine working and then having to go home and always be surrounded by your coworkers?  Yes, they don't live inside your house but you will see them all the time wherever you go on base.  Have you figured out why my husband and I like to get out and travel as much as possible?

Alright enough of my pity party.  I just needed to vent my frustrations.

More Yarn!!!!

I received order #2 from Joanns today.  I bought 2 Caron One Pounders in Black and one skein each in White, Scarlet, Rose, Country Rose, and Soft Sage.  I also decided to try Red Heart's With Love yarn in Lettuce since it was on sale and I've never worked with it before.  Most of these will be used towards making hats for the Bridge and Beyond.  Not sure what I will do with what is left over but I'm not complaining because at least my acrylic yarn stash is growing again.

Crocheting to keep me sane

Still working on items for the Crochetville Charity CAL.  These items will eventually be donated to the Bridge and Beyond.  The hat was made with Caron One Pounder yarn and the black was maybe Red Heart Super Saver.  The blue dishcloth was made with German cotton yarn and the variegated green one was Sugar 'n Cream.

Crocheting has been keeping me busy while my husband is away but I still feel a little down in the dumps.  As much as I have loved living in Germany, I think I'm ready for the fresh start in Hawaii.  Living on a military base in a foreign country is almost like living with people you go to high school with.  And it really is literally living with people you work with.  Traveling has been a escape for us where we aren't constantly surrounded by all the drama.  I've become close friends with a few people here but for the most part I keep to myself.   I'm hoping in Hawaii I'll be able to meet people outside of the military community. 

Go Illini!

Using the yarn I had previously intended to be used for a U of Illinois afghan, I recently completed a scarf and 3 hats.  I'm fairly certain I have no more skeins left in the navy blue which is good and bad.  Good because I no longer have to keep staring at the navy blue as I try to work through the skeins and bad because I'm getting low on acrylic yarn. 

I decided since my husband is away at a training class until next week I would join the April Charity CAL over at Crochetville.  Once a month they have a CAL where you complete items to be donated to charity.  It will be fun at the end of the CAL to see what we accomplished.

Speaking of donations,  I decided to keep track on my blog the items I have donated to charity this year.  I decided to only count the items once they are sent instead of after I complete them.  I forgot how much I sent in my most recent package to Bridge and Beyond so I will just wait until Sandy makes a blog post there before I add to my totals on my blog.

One Blue Scarf

Got back from Amsterdam a few hours ago and I'm ready for bed.  I had an awesome time and will post some photos tomorrow.  But since I missed blogging while I was gone, I'd thought I'd post a photo of a scarf that is almost done.  I started it the day before I left on vacation and plan to finish it tomorrow.  After 4 days of traveling my plan is to zone out in front of the tv and crochet.

Hat and Scarf Set

I'm almost done with another hat and scarf set.  I just need to add another foot or so to the scarf.  I decided to use up some of my Caron scrap yarn and add some some stripes.  I think I'm down to my last skein of RHSS in Soft Navy.  I have a few hiding spots for my yarn stash so who knows if I'll find another one.

Polka Dot Afghan

I made the Polka Dot Afghan a few months ago when my husband was away at a training class and later a field exercise.  It was made with Red Heart Super Saver yarn.  I can't remember the exact color names but it is cream and brown.  I still have some ends to weave in which I've been putting off.  I'm not overly thrilled with the final product but I am happy that I challenged myself with a new square pattern.  I'm also very thankful that I had enough yarn in the brown color to finish.  I really did not want to have to order another skein and then wait a month for it to arrive.

Navy Blue

Before we moved to Germany, I bought 3 or 4 Red Heart Jumbo Super Saver skeins in Soft Navy.  I can't remember what price I paid for them but they were on clearance at Walmart.  I also purchased some skeins in Orange with the plan being I would make some type of afghan using the U of Illinois colors.  Well, I never got around to making the afghan so instead I've been using the navy blue to make hats and scarves.  So anyway, I've completed one scarf and hat this weekend and am working on another scarf. These items are not part of the items I posted yesterday that are packed and ready to ship.  These items were either completed or started after I made yesterday's post.  So as you can see,  I've made a ton of items with this color. And while I like the color, I'm looking forward for my yarn shipment to arrive so I can alternate back and forth in between different colors.

Boxed and ready to go

Finally got around to packing a box full of items to send to the Bridge and Beyond charity.


4 matching hat and scarf sets:

2 scarves and 7 hats (There's a red hat at the top that you can barely see peeking through.  My photography skills leave a lot to be desired.)

And 10 washcloths:

So if I counted right that is 6 scarves, 11 hats and 10 washcloths packed and ready to go.  All of the scarves and most of the hats were made with Red Heart Super Saver.  I used Caron One Pounders for a few of the hats.  The washcloths were made with Bernat Handicrafter Cotton.  Joann's had a sale a few months back and I got 14 oz skeins for $4.99.  I wish I would have bought more since that was such an awesome deal.

9 Hats

These hats are what I have been working on lately for the Bridge and Beyond.  The majority of the yarn I used for these was Red Heart Super Saver but I think the hat at the top right I used some scraps from a Caron One Pounder.  I try to use up all my scraps as much as possible. 

2012 Goal

I have decided to set a goal for myself and will attempt to make and send 100 hats to charity this year.  I already have a decent stockpile that I am waiting to send next week.  And yes, technically some of the hats were made last year but either way 100 heads will be warmer and that's what counts.

Now I am patiently waiting for my shipment from Joann's to arrive here.  That's is one of the bad things of living on an Army base in Germany, having to wait at least a month for your yarn shipment.  There are yarn shops here in town but I really do like the affordability of Red Heart and Caron yarns so I buy the majority of my yarn online from the States.  Unfortunately, it looks like I will have to continue to do this when we get to Hawaii because it doesn't look like there's going to be a lot of yarn stores on the island.  Oh well, I guess I will just have to jump on the online sales and buy enough to keep me occupied.

What a mess!

I was in the middle of crocheting a hat last night when the skein of yarn I was using became tangled.  Oddly enough it usually doesn't bother me that much when this happens.  I look at it as sort of a challenge to get it untangled.  Weird, huh?

I'm using Red Heart Super Saver yarn in the color Shaded Browns.  I'm hoping I can find another skein of this in my stash so I can make another hat.