I don't even like the word afghan, but I'm using it here because it just fits.  You know what I mean? This isn't a blanket and it's not a throw, per se.  It's crochet and in my mind most afghans are crocheted.  So I'm going with afghan, which I like and don't like all at the same time.  The word, that is.  The actual thing that I made - I like it quite a lot.

Started in July 2007 and finished just this past week, this has been one a handful of very large scale, tedious and expensive projects that have been sitting around the house waiting for me to feel inspired enough to tackle them.  I've worked on it in fits and starts, but seeing Blair's scarf really pushed me to its end and I am so glad that I dug it all out and just got it done.

It's made of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran.  I am not sure what the colors are - all the yarn tags are long gone.  I also can't tell you how much yarn it took.  I have some left over and don't remember exactly how much of each color I started with three years ago.  I can tell you that I learned how to make this type of granny square from the book Simple Crochet by Erika Knight and that I used this tutorial (via Blair) to join the squares together.  The joining was the part of the project I had been dreading the most, but it really went fairly fast and smooth thanks to the tutorial.  It's made of 63 squares, laid out in a 7 x 9 grid - the squares are about 8" square each.  I haven't measured the finished size exactly, but before I joined the squares, I did lay down on the floor next to it to ensure it was large enough for a couch nap.  It is - I took it on a test run Saturday and had a hard time motivating myself to get out from under it.  For the border, I pulled out Crochet Adorned by Linda Permann for inspiration. I did something similar to one of the borders in the book, tailoring it to my needs which means I totally winged it and it worked!  After it was all joined, I blocked it on the guest room bed because it was the only space big enough to lay it flat that the dog and cat wouldn't get to.  It's super cozy and soft.  And I love it.

Sometimes I wonder why I feel compelled to start these crazy big projects that I know will take forever and a day for me to complete.  I really don't have an answer, but I know that I am as excited about this afghan as I was when I started it over three years ago.  It's not perfectly made, but it is perfect for me.  I'm haven't tired of the colors or the design - that may have something to do with why I plodded on.  I'm not sure entirely the why of it all, but I am so happy with the what.  This finished afghan is so very me, if you know what I mean.  I'm glad I saw it through to the end.

And since I'm on a roll of finishing what I've started.....single girl quilts, you're next.

I don't even like the word afghan, but I'm using it here because it just fits.  You know what I mean? This isn't a blanket and it's not a throw, per se.  It's crochet and in my mind most afghans are crocheted.  So I'm going with afghan, which I like and don't like all at the same time.  The word, that is.  The actual thing that I made - I like it quite a lot.

Started in July 2007 and finished just this past week, this has been one a handful of very large scale, tedious and expensive projects that have been sitting around the house waiting for me to feel inspired enough to tackle them.  I've worked on it in fits and starts, but seeing Blair's scarf really pushed me to its end and I am so glad that I dug it all out and just got it done.

It's made of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran.  I am not sure what the colors are - all the yarn tags are long gone.  I also can't tell you how much yarn it took.  I have some left over and don't remember exactly how much of each color I started with three years ago.  I can tell you that I learned how to make this type of granny square from the book Simple Crochet by Erika Knight and that I used this tutorial (via Blair) to join the squares together.  The joining was the part of the project I had been dreading the most, but it really went fairly fast and smooth thanks to the tutorial.  It's made of 63 squares, laid out in a 7 x 9 grid - the squares are about 8" square each.  I haven't measured the finished size exactly, but before I joined the squares, I did lay down on the floor next to it to ensure it was large enough for a couch nap.  It is - I took it on a test run Saturday and had a hard time motivating myself to get out from under it.  For the border, I pulled out Crochet Adorned by Linda Permann for inspiration. I did something similar to one of the borders in the book, tailoring it to my needs which means I totally winged it and it worked!  After it was all joined, I blocked it on the guest room bed because it was the only space big enough to lay it flat that the dog and cat wouldn't get to.  It's super cozy and soft.  And I love it.

Sometimes I wonder why I feel compelled to start these crazy big projects that I know will take forever and a day for me to complete.  I really don't have an answer, but I know that I am as excited about this afghan as I was when I started it over three years ago.  It's not perfectly made, but it is perfect for me.  I'm haven't tired of the colors or the design - that may have something to do with why I plodded on.  I'm not sure entirely the why of it all, but I am so happy with the what.  This finished afghan is so very me, if you know what I mean.  I'm glad I saw it through to the end.

And since I'm on a roll of finishing what I've started.....single girl quilts, you're next.

This is one of five (!) colorways of patchwork camera straps that I just put in the shop.  I finally broke down and cut into my Hope Valley stash.  I love these prints so much - I am not sure why I waited so long to use them.

Have a good weekend, everyone.  See you back here next week.  I actually have some finished things to show.  Woot!

This is one of five (!) colorways of patchwork camera straps that I just put in the shop.  I finally broke down and cut into my Hope Valley stash.  I love these prints so much - I am not sure why I waited so long to use them.

Have a good weekend, everyone.  See you back here next week.  I actually have some finished things to show.  Woot!

I'm trying to make December enjoyable.  Imagine that!  For me, that means cutting waaaaay back on my own expectations of myself and, in turn, I hope that will reduce the holiday stress.  To that end, I am making just one gift this year.  Shocking, but true.  I spent some time working on this one word proverbial quilt last night and this morning.  I really like how it's coming together.

Also coming together are the latest batch of camera straps.  The final shop update for 2010 will take place on Friday, December 3 at 2:00 pm EST.  Everything sold on Friday or over the weekend will ship on Monday, December 6th.  Anything sold after the weekend will ship within two business days.  I am happy to ship overseas, but I cannot guarantee Christmas delivery.  That said, in my experience, air mail to most places any other time of the year takes about 10 business days.  You might want to keep that in mind.

It's 50 degrees outside.  I'm going to take this opportunity to hang the garland.  It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here. And I am getting kind of giddy.

I'm trying to make December enjoyable.  Imagine that!  For me, that means cutting waaaaay back on my own expectations of myself and, in turn, I hope that will reduce the holiday stress.  To that end, I am making just one gift this year.  Shocking, but true.  I spent some time working on this one word proverbial quilt last night and this morning.  I really like how it's coming together.

Also coming together are the latest batch of camera straps.  The final shop update for 2010 will take place on Friday, December 3 at 2:00 pm EST.  Everything sold on Friday or over the weekend will ship on Monday, December 6th.  Anything sold after the weekend will ship within two business days.  I am happy to ship overseas, but I cannot guarantee Christmas delivery.  That said, in my experience, air mail to most places any other time of the year takes about 10 business days.  You might want to keep that in mind.

It's 50 degrees outside.  I'm going to take this opportunity to hang the garland.  It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here. And I am getting kind of giddy.

I sewed up this revesible cowl for a friend's birthday last week.  I used my own pattern from the current issue of Stitch, but switched out the fabrics.  Instead of velvet, I went with the very last bit of a lovely wool/cashmere blend from my stash.  I skipped the interlining because the wool ups the warmth and lined it with some Anna Maria Horner voile (Liberty of London Tana lawn would be nice, too).  It's completely reversible - both the wool and the voile are super soft against the skin.  This one is a bit narrower than the dimensions in the magazine - I only had a fat quarter of the voile which was 27" wide and it worked just fine.  I wouldn't go any small than this or it won't go over your head.  Bonus:  from start to finish, which includes some hand stitching, this took an hour.  It probably would have taken even less if I hadn't waffled on which print to line it with.  So it's great for gift making and giving.

I've received numerous emails about camera straps.  I'm aiming for a shop update somewhere around Decemer 1st.  That date is not set in stone - I'll be back on Monday with an exact date and time.  It's all dependent on just how much I get accomplished this weekend.  First things first: pie crust today, pies tomorrow.  My parents are here for Thanksgiving so I'm going to sign off to enjoy their company.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you that are celebrating.  I, myself, am extremely grateful for this blog and all of you that read it.  The time you take to read, comment, cheer me on and sometimes commiserate is a great gift in my life. Thank you.

The Japanese maple in front of our house is my favorite tree. When we had it trimmed this summer, the arborist told me it is the largest green Japanese maple he has ever seen. I don't doubt it. It's huge. It has started turning deep red and the leaves will drop soon.  It's always the last tree in the neighborhood to go, signaling winter is on its way.  I feel it coming too.  It's time for soups and stews, baking bread and making quilts, wool sweaters and socks.  I'm ready.  Well, I will be when we find the bin of hats and gloves.  I wonder where in the world I could have put it.