Yarnification

You know, I just changed the colors in my little progress bars on the side of the page, and I really think they’re awful. Just too bright to go well with the rest of the page. I think I need to change them again, or at least lose that particular shade of orange. The other two colors might look just fine if I find something else to replace the orange; they’re not so different from what I had before, just a little brighter. (So is the orange, but that didn’t turn out so great.)

I really, really need to get back to that beaded shawl since it’s theoretically going to be a birthday present in just about a month. I keep forgetting to get started back on it, but since I’m on the mesh and beads part, it shouldn’t be hard to finish in time if I just get my ass in gear and start working on it again. I also still need to find the 8mm hair beads the pattern calls for to put around where the tassels attach to the shawl. It says they’re the kind you squeeze together around a section of hair—I haven’t been able to find them anywhere I’ve looked so far. I’m going to try Sally Beauty Supply sometime soon, and if they don’t have them, I may just figure out something else to use.

Sometime last week, Don mentioned that it would be really cool if we had something to curtain off the black wire shelving unit in our bedroom. We talked about me doing a crochet thing, and I haven’t fully decided yet what might look best, but I’m thinking maybe the crazy belt pattern at Crochet Me might adapt nicely to that, with shorter spaces between the crocheted sections maybe. I think it’d look pretty cool.

Anyway, to get a feel for it, I figured I’d just go ahead and make a belt/scarf/thing for myself with that pattern since I think it’s really nifty and have been thinking about it for a while. I’m not very far along yet, maybe four or so of the lengths of yarn, but it’s a fun project and I think it’ll turn out pretty. And I think if I adapt it it’d make some neat curtains for that shelving unit.

I also finished those book thongs I was talking about. (Um, I did mention those, right?) I got all inspired when I saw the ones Donna made. I’m giving them to Sara (my stepdaughter, who I sincerely hope doesn’t know about this blog or it wouldn’t be much of a surprise). Those blue glass beads are fish—since it’s a birthday thing, I figured I’d go with a Pisces theme.

You know, it’s a lot harder than I realized to photograph glass beads, what with my poor photography skills and ancient digital camera and all. It turns out that one of these is poorly lit but gives a better idea of what they look like overall, while the other’s got some glare to it but you can see the beads a lot better. Later on when I’ve got a little more time I might try to get some better lighting and take different pictures to replace these ones:

I officially love book thongs. They’re so fun. My next one will be Donna’s crocheted book thong that just came out in the new issue of Crochet Me.

Earlier while I took my break at work, I also started (and am almost done with) the jazzy java jacket pattern, also from the Crochet Me. I don’t really have any cute novelty yarn, so I’m experimenting with finishing the top and bottom with purple Homespun (the main part is black), but I’m not sure how I like the way that’s turning out. Just doing sc around didn’t look like much, but doing sc, ch, sc is making it a little floopy. I’m going to keep working at it, though. And I’m off to the city this weekend, maybe I’ll come across a ball of marked-down novelty yarn.

Or maybe I’ll use some of that glittery white thread I picked up a while back—not sure how it would work out, but I’m sure I could find a cute edging pattern to use. Then again, white might not be the way to go considering it’s going to be near coffee—specifically, near coffee I’ll be holding before I’ve finished my morning coffee. Maybe that variegated pastel thread I’ve got instead. I’ll come up with something, I’m sure…