keira's crafting & journeys

Good evening!  I have had a busy fall, with no time to update at all! I just completed my student teaching in English as a Second Language last week.  Pretty soon, I will hopefully get my teacher certification for my state and a my first full-time job! With the holidays coming, my mom asked me what I was getting my dad for Christmas.  Well, I didn't get anyone anything.  That had to change.  So I dug around in my stash for some yarn to make a Christmas pudding ornament for my dad.  Then, a TARDIS ornament was added.  Then, I added a weeping angel and Dalek to the mix.  My sister made me add a mince pie to the collection.  So, the British Ornament set was born.  My dad is English, so it works. I added the mince pie ornament to the blog.  Please enjoy and have a happy holiday (if you celebrate one). This is a pattern for my Mince Pie Ornament.  It uses US crochet terms.  Enjoy!     Items needed: 3.25 mm (D) hook [I LOVE my Clover Amour Crochet hooks] pastry-colored

Well, I finished the shrug last Sunday hours before the wedding Jamie was invited to occurred. However, I had to go to my cousin's high school graduation party and couldn't weave in the ends. I instructed Jamie on how to do it. In the long run the shrug was all for naught! The ceremony was outside and it was hot. No shrug needed... Anyway, she can use it for another event later on.

I actually finished by granny square pillow two months ago but I've been busy lately.  Here is a link to the completed project page on Ravelry: Granny Square Pillow .  I like it even though I messed up a stitch I notice every time I look at the back on the giant granny square.  There's on cluster where I only did one stitch of double crochet.  Whoops! After finishing the pillow, I started a hedgehog tea cosy that was in Interweave Crochet Accessories magazine.  It is half fur-type yarn (Premier Yarns Lash Lux) and it is horrible to work with.  It is such a pain in the butt that I've been putting it off forever...and it was supposed to be my mom's Mother's Day gift.  That's come and gone but the tea cosy remains incomplete. Now I am working on a shrug for my sister.  She's going to a friend's wedding this Sunday and she needed a shrug for the service since the dress is sleeveless--at least she would if it was in a synagogue.  It isn't but we'r

I've started my granny square pillow, although it is a different pattern than in my previous post.  I took a photo of my progress from last night and tonight so far.  The squares are quite colorful! This pillow will surely be gorgeous!

Project #1: Vintage Fan Ripple Blanket by  winkieflash     This colorful blanket is great!  I fell in love at first sight!  I even purchased comparable yarn already!  For this project, I am going to use Bernat Cotton-ish yarn.  I realized tonight, after I bought the Bernat, that Jo-Ann Fabrics has their own brand of 50% cotton and 50% acrylic yarn now.  It looks bigger and I bet its the same price...  The selection of colors, however, was fewer. Project #2: Granny Square Pillow from  wisecraft: handmade by Blair Stocker     I haven't done any work with motifs or granny squares so I'm eager to try this out.  Looks cute and vintage.  This just might be a great Mother's Day present... So...I've been looking and not doing much.  I did a little more of the quaggan.  I ended up taking out the beige stitches and will sew it on top after the body is completed.  I have to do the bottom now.  I think I should have started from the bottom up sometimes...

I'm making progress on the pink quaggan, but haven't written the pattern out yet.  Started a page for the pattern on here as well as a project post on ravelry.  I can't wait to finish it! I have a concern about the fact that my single crochet stitches move diagonally while working in the round.  I made the belly of the quaggan flush with its body.  I might have to go back and stitch over it with yarn to make it look more even...or I could backtrack... I don't know what to do...

I've already put some 9mm safety eyes in my quaggan!  I'm making progress, slowly but surely. I haven't been writing my instructions yet so this will be a problem for pattern-writing time... As you can see, this is what I've done so far with my new ergonomic crochet hook! The light in the family room wasn't on at dusk, so I put the flash on. The colors are represented well but it's really dark in the background! I still need to finish up my mom's hobo bag. I've finished crocheting it but I need to sew the lining and strap. I also have another purse and the biker mitts that are started. I really want to get a set of ergonomic crochet hooks now. I don't know what type though... I like the look of Clover's Amour set. Anyone have a favorite?

I had to reduce the size of my quaggan amigurumi. It was too...floppy? It's reduced size will make it cuter! Watching the Little Couple while crocheting with Weasley on my lap is the best.

Last night I started crocheting a pink quaggan with my metal F hook.  After a while, my middle finger started hurting.  I decided it was time to invest in an ergonomic crochet hook.  So, today I went to Michael's and bought an F-hook by "The Crochet Dude."  Too bad they didn't have the Clover brand ones, as they are prettier... Guess what's on my Amazon wish list now... My pattern isn't very round right now.  I'm hoping it will round out soon or else I'm going to have to start over and the pain in my finger will have been for nothing! I am upset that Michael's doesn't carry animal/safety eyes used in amigurumi.  It is an essential item in the creation of amigurumi and they sell books on how to make them there.  Shouldn't all the supplies required in their construction be sold at their store?!  Jo-Ann Fabrics carries them in their superstores but I would prefer to not go to my workplace on my day off.  Next time I'm not closing wil

I bought the newest issue of "Simply Crochet" yesterday at Jo-Ann Fabrics with my employee discount.  It was under $10, so I was pleased!  There a quite a few promising patterns in this issue.  I can't wait to try some out. I started a pink quaggan amigurumi this evening.  Hopefully the pattern will be successful.  If not, I'll have to try again. My cat is being really annoying.  Stop standing on my arm, Baggie!

My Pusheen amigurumi courtesy of Emma's Animal Creations on Ravelry.

Oh my goodness! The leather hobo bag straps I ordered from Amazon are here! That was quick! They look to be of good quality. They're by byhands--a Korean company. I know they'll look fantastic on my crocheted bags!

I have just finished crocheting one of the biker mitts from issue 13 of Simply Crochet.  I didn't use DK yarn, but rather worsted weight.  I have yet to attach the clip included with the magazine.  I love British magazines because they have prizes! The biker mitt will be too large for my hands because mine are rather small.  Was it the yarn that made it bigger?  Or is it the pattern's fault?  Or are my hands really that small?  Will post a photo soon...

Hello!  This is my first post in my new blog. As of right now, this blog will be dedicated to my crafting efforts.  Recently, I have been interested in crocheting.  I have made a couple of amigurumi, a lapghan, and I have started some purses.  This blog will document my progress as well as be the place where I can post future patterns.  I plan to create a quaggan (Guild Wars 2) pattern soon.