Bureau Bag Revealed

In the new issue of Crochet World, is my little thread envelope for bedside items.  I'm not sure why they didn't show the front? It's a filet pattern in pale green so that the blue shows through.
Bureau Bag Revealed

Place notes, photos, prayer beads, whatever you cherish in this little pocket.

Congratulations!

This weekend, Tom and his firm were given an award for his work on the University of Kentucky's new hospital.  It's a beautiful building several years in the making. My hubby's a rockstar. I think I heard the presenter say that it was the biggest building project in Kentucky history. But really it's a hospital full of art and music and an atmosphere for healing and hope. 

Photo Friday

Ruby and Bumble are doing well.

Reveal: Ocean Breezes Shawl

Crochet! Easy No-Sew Crochet Spring Issue

That's my Ocean Breezes Shawl in the upper right hand corner!  They are join as you go hexagons made in  5 balls, Knit One, Crochet Too, Babyboo Bamboo/nylon blend yarn.    The issue is on sale now. 

E-Reader Cozy PDF now available!

Chickee earned an e-reader recently for her exceptional reading efforts. Of course I had to make her a fun cozy to keep it safe.  Now when she puts it away for the night, she can slide it into her custom cozy!  She chose 3 fun colors of Worsted Weight yarn from my stash.  I used Stitch Nation Alpaca Love, but your favorite worsted will work too! The polka dots are made with clusters.  The button is a popcorn. Everything you need to know to make this little pocket is included in this professionally tech edited e-reader cozy.  A see great possibilities for teachers' gifts this holiday season!


$2.00

Photo Friday

Yep, that's a laundry basket. One of the most unsuspecting toys in the house.

Inspiration: Zoe Vest

Originally published in Interweave Crochet, the Zoe Vest is available as a digital PDF download.

The nice people at Interweave wrote: Sometimes you need just a layer to keep you warm—something jazzier than a sweatshirt but not so fancy as a cardigan. This bright shell-stitch vest is as warm as a fleece but adds pizzazz to your outfit. The cropped styling emphasizes a smaller waist and gives dimension to a smaller bust for instant curves. Worked in SWTC’s Tranquility, a wool bamboo blend, it has both warmth and ease.

What was I thinking?
I was thinking that when I was in college/after I had this great little bolero vest that was corduroy and it had patch pockets on the front.  So, it had texture and dimension, both of which I needed as a, uh, petite built person.  Because it is a short bolero, stopping just below the rib cage, it shows the difference between the ribcage and the waist. I was thinking that I wanted a textured stitch pattern (but not necessarily to mimic the corduroy) and I wanted to have a nice rounded neckline. (No stair-stepping here!)

The contrasting colored trim makes this bolero have more of an ethnic feel to it.  (Frankly it reminds me of a 1980's? 1990's? sitcom, was it "Coming to America"? Where the cousin "Balky" comes to the United States and learns to live here while still he is very devoted to his customs of goat herding or something similar). He would do the "dance of joy". Anyway, that's what the stitching along the edge reminds me of, the embroidery and stitching that might often be found on Eastern European folk garments.

Thank you to "PhillyGirl64" from Twitter who said the sitcom was "Perfect Strangers".  YES! That was it!

Design Binge

Never fear, in this case, no news is good news.  I've been quiet on the blog because I have been in a serious design binge.  These are the result of FRIDAY's efforts. Just Friday.  I'm so excited.

Photo Friday

Here's my pal, Carol, who completed her Striped Shoulder Bag. It was published in Knit n' Style in June 2010, but now is a FREE pattern offered by Coats & Clark.

Carol was able to find the handles easily at our local JoAnn's store. Great job, Carol!

Inspiration: Go To Scarf

What was I thinking?
I originally designed the Go To scarf to try out a ball of Stitch Nation Yarn, Bamboo Ewe, when it first came out.  I wanted something easy and repetitive, that could be lengthened or widened. I love yarn that shows great stitch definition. For me, it's all about the stitches.  I wanted a project that would highlight the shell stitch pattern. What I ended up with was a "Project Maker"  A Project maker is the type of project that looks great in just about any yarn, looks great in inexpensive yarn or an exotic fiber.  It can be made in cotton (the blue is Universal Cotton Supreme) or wool or bamboo or alpaca or silk....
You can have fun adding color details on the edge (shown on the blue one), or leave it off like the above red one.  It is a project maker because it is easily memorized, fun to do, quick to make and fun to make again and again.
The pdf pattern is available on Ravelry or Craftsy for $3.00.
Don't forget to post photos of your projects! Let's see how you can crank out the Go To Scarves!

Tonight is "Live Chat" on my Ravelry group. What is it?   If you are a member of Ravelry (or if you aren't, it's free to join, there's still time before the 9 pm EST meeting).  Go on to my Group page... here's the link to the "GoCrochet with Ellen Gormley" group page. On the right of that page is a dialogue box that says, "Chat room".  At the designated time (or even if you are a few minutes late) you can click on that box and join us.  You can chat with me and my pals in real time by typing in your comments.  Don't worry, it's not a video chat, you can show up in jammies if you like.  It's not an audio chat, only typing.

Photo Friday

It's a long story, but here is the Carousel Capelet I made for Chickee. She didn't want the flower on it.  It's in Stitch Nation Yarn, Alpaca Love.  I'm not sure who designed it, the project page says Heather Dixon, but it also says Debbie Stoller, so maybe it was a joint effort. The is an adult "small" and you can see it fits Chickee well. In this same booklet (that is available as an e-book) you can also get my "Over the Rainbow Baby Blanket" stitched in Bamboo Ewe.

You have to see this!

Oh my gosh, I have been waiting MONTHS to reveal this project with you.  I can't even wait until a new post tomorrow, so you get another post today. 

Interweave Crochet has put out a new e-book called, "A Snowflake Story" 4 crochet accessory projects, featuring me, Doris Chan, Linda Permann and Natasha Robarge.  Here is my contribution:

 The Wintergreen Cowl is in the Bruges Style. Shown here in The Fibre Company's Road to China yarn. Which is a really luscious blend of Cashmere, baby alpaca, silk and camel (not necessarily in that order).

The booklet is $6.99 PDF download.  The projects aren't even up on Ravelry yet.  I just think this cowl would be so flattering in pink or rose for a bright winter accessory. Just in time for Valentine's day?

The pink/fuchsia yarn above is the now discontinued Mission Falls. A lovely color. Yay! It's great to have a reveal!

Motivation anyone?

I've been very productive the last few days, but in case you are needing some motivation and humor, here is a fun post on the Positivity Blog "Mark Twain's Guide to Living an Awesome Life"

"I can live for two months on a good compliment" Mark Twain.

So funny, so true. Enjoy!

Inspiration: Amazing Grace Wrap

Originally in the Interweave Crochet Spring 2009 issue, the Amazing Grace Wrap is made of SWTC's A-maizing Corn fiber yarn.  Though the yarn might be discontinued (I couldn't find it on their website), a good substitution might be SWTC Bamboo. Make a swatch in your stash yarn and then make a decision.  If I were going into my stash to give it a go and I didn't have the SWTC Bamboo, I might try Caron Spa.

What was I thinking? Again, like the Beach Sarong, I was thinking Honeymoon (with a capital H).  I originally designed this sweater to be a bed jacket, a pretty robe-like cover up for something a little more comfortable. Small join as you go motifs let you easily make it bigger or smaller in 2-3" increments. Side slits give it movement.