One Hundred FOs! Yay!

One of my 101 in 1001 goals is to have two hundred projects on Ravelry. Though I didn't specify it on my 101 list, these are to be finished projects (FOs = Finished Objects). In order to help myself achieve this goal, I'm aiming to have 150 finished projects by the end of 2011. 

I'm superduper excited to let you all know that as of April 5, 2011, I'm two thirds of the way there! Yep - I have completed 100 different projects! And that's with counting all those blue flowers as one project, too.

To celebrate this wonderful and exciting (but relatively unimportant in the Grand Scheme of things) moment, here's a little journey through a few projects. Pretty pictures! Yay!

Exhibit A: Fan Bookmark (ravel it here - it's a free pattern!)

I have made this bookmark six (yes, SIX) different times, but I've only kept one. I love it. I feel proud of myself when I finish it (and it only takes an evening to make!). It uses embroidery thread and a tiny 1.25mm crochet hook. It's beautiful whether it's made in a varigated thread (as here) or a solid colour. The best bit, however, is taking photos - I spend an inordinate amount of time choosing the book with which to photograph these bookmarks. So far, my selections have included Little Women, The Secret Garden, one of the Anne books (Rainbow Valley, I think), and (boringly) the pattern for making the bookmarks.

Exhibit B: Chevron Cardigan (another freebie - ravel it)

 

This progress shot is of the third thing I ever crocheted and of the first garment I made myself. (Excluding a pair of trousers I sewed in grade 10, and ruined by melting them with the iron - I swore and mum didn't even tell me off because she realised what had happened. I love my mum.) I have actually worn it, too! Though I don't wear it much very more, and have thought about frogging (undoing) it to make it into something else. I like this picture (though I can't articulate why) and so that's why I'm sharing it instead of one from when it was finished.

Exhibits 3, 4, 5 and 6: My very own patterns! 

(Ravel them all here or visit the Crochet Patterns page on this blog - they are all free)

Please note that the large orange flower is not of my design.

I really am so proud of each of the patterns I've written, and stoked by the response to the scarf and beanie patterns. It's such a joy to know that others have not only made something that I thought of and wrote a pattern for, but that they also love the result of their time and effort. I have plans for another pattern to release soon, depending on a few things... but to see a prototype simply keep reading...

Exhibit 7: Slippers! (pattern may be coming soon, for shorthand notes on it, go here).

These are inspired by (and reasonably similar to) this free slipper pattern (ravelry link), but are designed with an 8ply yarn in mind (as opposed to a heavier 10ply), and have a different increase pattern for the toes. and a slightly different edging. I have made several pairs of these slippers, and am planning on making many more. They are comfy, don't use much yarn, and are really cute. Love 'em! I also sell them to friends for twenty bucks a pair :)

Exhibit 8: Love Bunnies (free pattern, ravel it here)

I have made four of these cute as a button bunnies: pink, purple, blue and green. The blue and green bunnies had bells inserted into their heads (instead of brains) so that they would be a bit like a rattle. I've included this as an exhibit because it was the first item I ever sold (for the token amount of $10 - just enough to cover cost). I felt very grown up!

So, that was a quick trip through a few projects! I love looking through the pictures of what I've made. Some things I would forget about if not for the photos I have because they've either been sold or given away as presents. I've also completed a number of knitted projects, even though there weren't any shown here. I think I'm well on my way to my goal of 150 FOs by the end of thisyear, and 200 FOs by July 2013. Yay!

Making the Saroyan

(Crocheters, there's a little note at the end especially for you!)

I've had a few people comment on the saroyan I made for my sister, asking if it would be too hard for an inexperienced knitter, or saying that they "could never make that".

In response, I want to encourage all of you who knit, love the scarf, but are hesitant to have a go at it. It was my first lace project. If you can knit and purl, you have the prerequisites to make this scarf. The leaves that edge the scarf are made using combinations of decreases (such as knitting 2 stitches together: k2tog) and increases (like yarn overs [yo] and knitting into the front and the back of the stitch [kfb] which may be difficult if you knit very tightly, but other than that is simple).

If you look at the picture below, you can see that the majority of each row is plain stockingette: knitting and purling. Very easy! The leaf portion of each row is very small.

Looking at an individual leaf (see the picture below), you can see that a portion of each leaf contains a significant amount of stockingette stitch, just like the body of the scarf. The holes are made using yarn overs (yo) which really are very easy: simply wrap the yarn anticlockwise from bottom to top around the needle in your right hand (for right handed knitters, of course, the other needle if you're left handed). The leaf also uses one or two other increases, which are all demonstrated here at Knitting Help.

The leaf also utilises decreases to form its shape, these can all be seen here, also at Knitting Help. Knitting Help really does live up to it's name: you will also find videos on how to cast off, which you need to know, as when a leaf is completed, six stitches are cast off, making the leaves stand out more. This is simple, and not something of which to be nervous.

As with many projects, the first bit is the hardest, but by no means is it impossible. If you visit my project page on ravelry for the saroyan, you can see the changes I made. You can also see that it only took me a month to make (as I restarted it on the 23rd of November after deciding that I wanted to begin it differently to how the pattern is written). You will also be able to finish this in a month, just by doing one repeat (that is, a new leaf) every day. If you visit the ravely pattern page for the saroyan, you will get more information, and you will also be able to look at the saroyans made by other people, finding information and tips.

Lastly, let me encourage you by saying this: if you don't try to learn new techniques (such as knitting lace) your knitting skills will stagnate and you will will never know what you are capable of doing and making.

For the crocheters out there who like this design but never want to knit, Camille is a crochet version of the Saroyan, and really is very pretty - I plan to make it one day. I imagine that it would be gorgeous made out of a merino and silk blend: warm yet drapy.

 

The Flamies!

Yes, crochet-world includes awards for crochety things!

The cool bit is that anyone who wields a hook can partake and have a say in who they think deserves recognition. Just follow this link to the Voters Guide (should that have an apostrophy? I'm thinking yes?) and click on the VOTE NOW text. You will need to refer to the guide - there are a lot of categories. If there are some that you don't have an opinion on, just skip that question (like I did for about 10 questions...).

If you vote, you get a gift of a free scarf pattern, which will apparently only be available for a limited time. 

Happy voting!

Here I am! (And the Saroyan)

After having a certain someone (Hi, Lissa!) ask several times when I was going to write another post, I thought I better do something soon, so here I am again - yay!

WELL.

I'm sure no one really wants to hear about uni and assignments and so. much. reading. that I think it's actually impossible to do it all, so I'll share some pretty knitting pictures instead. Come to think of it, I never did get around to showing you pictures of the Saroyan I knitted my sister for Christmas - yes, I got it done it time! (Posted about here and here.)

This is the completely finished (but unblocked) Saroyan, taken the moment after I cast off, which was well after midnight:

Blocking made a very noticable difference to this scarf. In this photo, one leaf has been steam blocked and the other hasn't - notice how the blocked leaf is larger and flatter:

I don't actually have a picture that shows the whole, blocked Saroyan, but if you go to my project page and then follow the link through to the pattern page you'll be able to see pictures of Saroyans that other people have made. Below is a picture of one end of the scarf, showing it blocked and drying on the ironing board - I am so pleased with how it turned out!

Happily, my sister also loved it (HUGE relief) and wore it all evening. I had fun dressing her up in it and showing her different ways to wear it. I'm planning on making myself one of these at some stage - it's a gorgeous design, and the lace isn't too hard if you're not an experienced knitter.

If you are a crocheter, however, there is an alternative: the amazing Cheri McEwen has designed the Camille scarf/shawl, which is a beautiful crochet interpretation of the Saroyan.

And that's a blogpost done - woohoo! Next time I'll try not to leave it so long :-)

Urban Shells Beanie - Free Crochet Pattern!

You may remember that a year ago (nearly to the day!) I shared a pattern for a scarf. 

Well, finally, here is a beanie pattern to match! It was tested by some wonderful ladies, who I appreciate immensely.

The beanie comes in a range of sizes, looks good and is quick to make. And with the scarf... well... gorgeous ;-)

You can find the pattern for the Urban Shells Beanie here on Ravelry, or you can download a pdf from my "Crochet Patterns" page.

I hope you all love the pattern, because I know I do!

The copyright of this pattern remains with myself. It is provided free for personal use only. The pattern may not be reproduced for commercial purposes. If you want to sell products you have made from this pattern, you are free to do so (please refer to my FAQ page).

Urban Shells Beanie by Katherine Crombie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Thank You

I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who left a comment on the last post, or wrote to me via Facebook or Ravelry. Your sympathy means a lot to me. I was crying when I wrote the post, and it's nice to know that it made others cry too - and I mean that in the nicest possible way! I know I haven't written back to you all individually. I was going to, and then wasn't sure if I could, so decided to do this post, which you can all see.

My husband and I are still adjusting to not having Dougal around the house. Yesterday there was a basketball in my kitchen (why, I don't know) and when I saw it out of the corner of my eye I'd think it was the cat. This morning when Julian left for work I nearly called out, "Don't forget to let the cat out!"

You will be happy to know that I have felt a lot better, and the events of the past week haven't been running through my mind as much. It's like I don't need to try to remember it now, because it's been recorded. For those who could only make it halfway through the post, let me assure you that the last few paragraphs aren't quite so miserable!

This is my first full day at home since Dougal left us (unless I go to knitting tonight... I can't decided whether or not to go) and I have started the process of doing a thorough cleaning of the whole house. Admittedly, it is only a one bedroom unit, so that isn't actually as much work as it might seem. 

Regular posting about cheery things will recommence soon! I have lots of things I've been making lately, and my beanie pattern has been tested and will be released soon. And I've done a few things off my 101 in 1001 list which I want to share with you all too.

Again, thank you.

To Dougal: A Goodbye Letter

Dear Dougal,

You had been sick for so long, though I didn't realise it. You declined so gradually that I didn't notice. It was only after being away for five nights that I realised just how lethargic you were. The vets didn't know what the problem was at first, but after three appointments in nine days, they were able to fit the pieces together. 

Rapid weight loss, swollen intestines, not eating, lethargy, and jaundice.

When the vet said quietly, sorrow heavy in his voice, that you most likely had cancer, I cried. When they took some blood you were so patient and still, but I stood in the corner and looked at the pictures on the wall. I asked them to keep you there to be picked up later, and I left to catch the bus. I walked through the centre of Sandy Bay with tears running down my face. That was last Thursday.

On Sunday I knew that we needed to put you down. You were so sick. You had stayed on the bed all weekend, not eating and barely drinking. Your meows were soundless and your eyes were dark and pleading (though for what your were pleading, I don't know). When I patted you, you purred. Your purr, however, was different. Instead of the deep, loud purr that was so familiar, I needed to rest my ear against your side. When I kissed the top of your head, I could feel you responding, holding your head still and firm. You always loved your kisses.

On Monday it was windy, and you were more lively. You wanted to go outside. We let you, but we couldn't let you out of our sight so we had to follow you as you wandered from waterdish to fishpond and back again, drinking as if it was about to go out of style. You got to say goodbye to your favourite neighbour, though you didn't realise the significance of that last pat and her half-whispered, "Oh Dougal, you're going to make me cry." I think she loved you nearly as much as we did. You used to visit her everyday, even though she never fed you.

When I picked you up to carry you to the car I started to cry, knowing you were never going to return home again. You were so good the whole car trip, lying down on my lap. When my husband changed gears you watched intently. It was so cute. I was busy trying to commit to memory the feel of your weight on my lap. I didn't mind that you would dig your claws into my knee when we went around corners. Rather, I savoured it, knowing I would never feel it again.

When the vet gave you the injection, you sank gently to the table. It was peaceful and surprisingly fast. Your eyes stayed open, big, beautiful and yellow-green. You were wrapped in a beach towel - the one you used to sleep on. When you disappeared from sight under a fold of the towel it was worse than when you died, because I knew I'd never see you again or feel your fur or the weight of you walking across my legs when I was in bed. When you were wrapped up, snug and secure, I picked you up and held you tight. We walked back to the car, through the carpark of the shopping centre. I was sobbing and could barely see where I was going because my eyes were so full of tears. I held you for over forty minutes, until we arrived at my sister in law's home, now your home too. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to let go of you to put you in the box. It was the shoebox Julian's hiking boots came in - big and square. You filled all of it, even though you were skin and bones. 

Julian dug your grave - it was slightly rectanglar and deep and so perfectly done. It's in a beautiful place: a small clearing, surrounded by trees and birdsong. You were heavy in the box as I carried you from the car to the grave. Julian put you in the grave. The hole was so deep that he had to stand in it so as to be able to put you down gently. I didn't say anything. I physically couldn't, though my whole being was screaming "I love you and I miss you already." Pete (remember him?) said something, and I'm glad he did. It wouldn't have seemed right to bury you without anything said. You were a part of my family. I'd call you my baby, my darling boy. My sweet Dougal.

We planted a geranium on your grave. It will have red flowers. I thought about trying to find some of those orange daisies that you used to chew on, but I didn't want to plant something that would turn into a weed. There are stones around the edge of your grave and a cross. The cross is so big! I'm not sure if it's appropriate for a cat to have a cross, but you thought you were a real boy so I suppose it's okay. We are going to get a wooden plaque made to attach to the cross. It's going to be simple - just your name. Dougal.

I'm finding it hard to sleep, because I no longer get squashed between you and Julian. Your food is still sitting on the bench, and your water bowl and litter box are still on the floor. I was going to tidy it up this morning, to fill in time before catching the bus, but I couldn't. I need to do it when I'm not in a rush, because it's part of this thing that's happening to me called 'mourning'.

I know you aren't here to read this, and even if you were here you wouldn't be able to read it anyway because despite enjoying typing (and putting your feet on my touchpad) you never bothered with education (unlike the animals of the Hundred Acre Wood). You also ignored my repeated requests that you learn to speak English. It would have made things so much easier. Admittedly, it was always fairly easy to interpret your meows and enthusiastic purring. 

I knew you so well. You were mine. I didn't mind that you loved lots of people, because I knew that you loved me the most.

You were my companion, my cushion, my waterbottle, my friend. You were part of my family. I miss you so much. I still find it hard to believe that you are gone. I'm avoiding cooking because you're no longer here to sit on the stairs and watch me. I'm going to have to start rinsing out the emptied tins of tuna instead of giving them to you to clean. 

Saying goodbye to you was the one of the hardest things I have ever done. Sometimes when we love someone we have to make choices that hurt. I'm hurting now, but I know that we made the right choice by you. It doesn't seem fair. You were only five or six years old (I can never remember which) and you were so lovely. You weren't snobby and aloof like so many other cats. You would follow me around as if you were a dog (you also loved to chase your tail). You never were good with small children. They freaked you out. You knew when you were being naughty - you would look so guilty if you were caught. It was hilarious. Though you were always well behaved around my knitting and crochet. Thank you.

I don't know how to end this. You know how much I can talk. We used to have converstations. I'm sure that once you came in and complained to me about another cat. It was so funny.

Dougal, you were a wonderful pet. Remembering you makes me smile, even though it also brings tears to my eyes and a heaviness to my heart. I love you so much. I miss you. I will never forget you.

(P.S. The scars you gave me are fading, because I got sunburnt. I wish I had put sunscreen on.)

Knitting, the Flood and You

I think every Australian and many people from overseas would be aware of the massive flooding that has been happening in Queensland Australia. Last I heard (which was several days ago), fifteen people had lost their lives. The story that leaves me in tears is of the 13 year old boy who insisted that his younger brother be rescued first. The 13 year old lost his life before rescuers could come back for him.

As you might imagine, there have been several funds set up which through which you can donate money. In an effort to raise money, my sister in law, Meika, has set up a raffle. The prize? A handknit (and she's a great knitter!) for your child. All you have to do is donate $5 to the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal, and leave a comment on this blog post with the receipt number of the donation.

 

The above picture is an example of the top that would be knitted for a little girl. If you have a boy, click through to Meika's blog to see pictures, and to get more information on how to enter. This really is a great fundraiser, and with only two entries so far, you have a good chance of winning!