Ninja scarf Mod

Since the summer is reaching its end (Boooo) and the colder months are coming I thought about what I could do for winter and well, Christmas.

I figured that my first design was a little awkward. Have those 4 ties makes it look more like a hospital mask and leaves some other issues like the sides flaring out and a little more work. Some tangling if one is in a hurry. I like the light weight and less bulk compared to scarfs. Now that I have modified the design it seems a lot better.

It's still the usual colour. Loud.

It covered the ears and face a lot better then the tiny ties, and seems to distribute the tension of tying it together at the back a little more evenly.

It's just over 3 feet (96 cm to be exact.) And it is a lot easier to make then the first design. Made with the super bulky Bernat Baby Blanket and a 10mm hook.  If Crochet programs weren't so out of my current budget, I would put up a diagram. It's pretty easy to make.

It took me less then 2 hours and my son is becoming more and more self entertaining each day. I am relieved that he no longer yells at me for crocheting in front of him.

Hiatus of sorts...

Extremely long story short, I had to move. I would being going on and on if I said the whole story.  Our (former) room mate decided to break some previously agreed upon rules and, instead of doing the mature adult thing, left us in tough spot that we wanted to avoid putting our son in.

That being said I haven't really had any time to crochet. My son has learned how to crawl in the last month and gets into EVERYTHING! I am lucky if I get more then a minute to sit down, The place is far from baby-proofed and we won't start having our own space until at least the first week of September. So I get to follow my 9 1/2 month son and do not get to stop unless he is asleep.

Even as I have typed this I have pulled the adorable little monster away from playing with the dogs dish twice and away from trying to slap any electronic in the area...make the dogs dish 3 times... He understands the words 'no,' 'come here,' and 'juice.' And is currently trying to climb me while yelling at me for telling him no for the dog dish.

Since I can (rarely) grab 5 minutes here and there without him getting into something I have been trying to finish this checker/chess board blanket for him, I need 16 more dark blue squares before I can put it together. 

You do not realize how much running after human larva time consuming can be until the last time you checked, it was lunch time. Now its dinner time. I will be happy when we move into the apartment we are getting. Whenever that will be. For now I feel like a space invader living with my in-laws, Its been more then a year since I had personal space. I miss what that feels like.

Filet Rose Shawl

I once swore I would never do filet crochet. At the time I was just getting the hang of crochet and seeing other people's filet made me cringe. Extremely tiny. Not entirely complicate form of crochet as long as you aren't getting into the fancy Hairpin Lace or Romanian Point Lace (RPL), it is actually pretty easy to get the hang of. After some practice of course.

Oh an I will point out that when you usually see that awesome, lovely raised lace patterns. The really classy and beautiful stuff, if it is not machined it is RPL or Tatting usually. They are both very insane, extreme crochet and, makes my brain hurt just watching the tutorials. But that may change the more I practice.

As I ponder more about where my skills are now, and what they once were, versus where I want them to be. I know that I have come along way and can be happy with myself, but, I feel like the unpaid intern at a fashion studio. I love it but I had to do the math.

This is has taken about 10 hours at the point when this was taken

By this picture it's been about 15 hours

Granted, with the simple pattern above the rose its a lot fast to do, but that is still about 20 hours of work.

I first esitmated it would take about 80 hours to finish, but probably closer to 70 hours.
Sadly, I do not fore see anyone paying me (Ontario) minimum wage for it. That is about $700. I will be lucky if someone wants $250 for it. $3.50/hour doesn't cut it for thrifty Canadians, how can I compete with spending pennies a day on child labour of any brand name.

Have you even gone out and splurged on a beautiful article of clothes or well crafted leather bag? I have seen people spend over $200 on a pair of pants they wear for 3 months and toss. 

Face it, no matter how you can justify to yourself, cheaply mass produced items make our world go around.
Mind you, if you gave me $700, it would go back into the economy, not to a different country or, someone else's pocket who doesn't need more pocket change.

Nobody likes to over spend, but no one likes their work to depreciated in the grand scheme of things either.

Birthdays, Holidays, Family and Teething

Feeling drained gets tossed around a lot when you have a baby...

So after spending the majority of the last 2 weeks sleeping on a floor or couch looking after my son who is currently teething.

  Upset baby taking a cute break.

All he wants is to fall asleep chewing a hand. Now that he can pull himself up he has been yelling at me from a whole new height. Because he isn't happy unless he is on my lap, it's been hard to crochet anything. When it hasn't been an uncomfortable baby, finding the time between family birthdays, Mother's day, upcoming Fathers day.... It's hard to get 10 minutes to myself.

Ten hours of work. Not even close to finishing. I am sure it would take me as long if I didn't have a baby to look after.  Hopefully now that the little man's teeth are coming out he wont feel so put out. 

Shirts!

Ok so I haven't been on in a while, moving with a baby is really hard. It's worse when said baby has also discovered mobility within days of moving. I had bought a bunch of yarn (and currently waiting on thread,)
crochet seems to help keep me sane on my down time. It's a good skill to know.

The green one took me about 8 hours give or take. I felt proud that I used all 360 yards (a ball) in one day.

The pink one took maybe about 4 hours, as it is just a simple mesh design. I did not have a pattern for either one of these shirts. I have a giant grey ball and a deep purple ball of yarn that I am currently working on. When I find my skirt I will post that on here.

As for the crochet thread  that I am waiting for, I am currently attempting to work on a pattern for both colours before I even get them.

Off Topic: Hand Bag

I hate Throwing out clothes. I remember growing up and seeing pretty much EVERYTHING recycled in one way or another. Growing up in the country with a big garden, a large backyard and, a creek to play in you see recycling a lot.

You plant, you pick, you cook, you eat and return what you do not use in the mulch where it turns into fertilized soil for your garden. Seems almost too easy...

I have a pile of clothes that over the years I no longer fit, I would hate to throw out and donating my worn out clothings... well, I wear the heck out of my clothing.

I have tried so many times to sew. but I can't seem to make it past simple hem jobs. But no time for that right now.

As you can see this was a very pretty (and very LOUD) sweater at one point.

Not shown: How majestic in its sparkly it is.

I made it into a simple bag, no second pockets, two handles and one draw string. I like sewing, productive hobbies are great. But it takes way to much set up and planning with a baby in the house. And I am sure I am not the only one who has stabbed themselves with fast moving sewing needles.

However, I used the all knowing thing called google (seriously its scary what you can find.) BAM! Presto Clothing to Yarn.  

Thick floor rugs here I come!

Final touches

This has only taken, forever. Over the last year and something... Well up until a few days ago I had left this for months just about to finish the bottom third of the wing.

 Size discrepancy. I had the other to segments stretched 

and rolled over and over while working on them.

Hours.

That is indeed how long this took. First time trying tapestry and something honestly this freaking huge. Not a weekend. After a while your fingers cry rug burn. My husband asked me how long this has taken. I've lost count, does 50 hours even sound right? I am vaguely aware of when I started this. 

Almost finished the border but otherwise it is done! Now to cackle wildly with madness as I repeat "I'm Free!" over and over as I finish it. Kidding. But it's cause for celebration of sticking the whole thing out instead of giving up when it got to at one point a half a dozen strings to work with at once.

Breaks and eye exercises help when working on something for hours at a time.

It was certainly easier towards the end after getting the rhythm and technique down.

Left over yarn for the win.