Garbo

I've missed a few days blogging, because I've been super busy getting a pattern ready for release.   I've decided to do a series of shawl patterns inspired by the glamorous film stars of the thirties and forties.  This is my first, called Garbo.  It's made with the oh-so-soft Shalimar Breathless fingering weight. 

I designed Garbo for Shalimar yarns for their Shalimarch celebration on Ravelry.  There is a 50% discount coupon through the end of March that you can use to purchase my Garbo pattern.  Just go to their Ravelry group and click on new patterns and discounts.  To get the discount, you must purchase the pattern through Ravelry and not Etsy.  To check out the pattern on Ravelry go here Garbo pattern.

The body of Garbo has an easy-to-remember three row repeat which makes it a great traveling project. Instructions for optional beading and four helpful charts are provided. The length of the shawl is easily adjusted for as much or little drama as you desire.  It's rated advanced beginner because of the fingering weight yarn and optional beading.  

Crocheted daisies and spring fever

Brrrrr……  Coldest day of the year.  We’re a couple degrees below zero this morning.  I know that for some this would be a warm spell, but this Missouri girl isn’t used to this frigid weather.  

Aren't these coasters pretty.  They are so easy and quick to crochet.  I found this lovely free pattern on Ravelry, Daisy Coasters by Doni Speigle.  If you are on Ravelry, you can find the pattern here.  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/daisy-coasters.   

If you aren’t on Ravelry.com and you love yarn crafts, check it out and sign up.  It’s totally free and super fun.  

Yesterday I couldn't hold myself back.  I bought a ton of seed packets for our veggie garden.  I love thumbing through seed catalogues and displays, and planning what I’m going to grow and when to start seedlings. Can you tell I have spring fever?  My biggest problem is keeping myself from getting too excited and starting the seedlings too soon.  

   

Stay warm and think spring!

Nancy

Heart dishcloths

Oh my, it's such a gloomy, rainy day.  I'm so ready for warmer weather and sunny days.  Since I'm stuck inside, I'm spending the afternoon with crochet, audio books, hot chocolate, and a dog snuggled on my lap.  Being lazy on a Saturday feels pretty good.

Currently I'm listening to Lying in Wait by J. A. Jance.  I love audio books and download them from audible.com and the library.  Lately I've been devouring books by Jance and Anne Perry.  I'm partial to mystery.  With my name, I'd better.  However, I loved mystery long before I got the name through marriage.

These are my crocheted heart dishcloths from the pattern that I released yesterday.  I'm getting a wonderful response on that pattern.  I can imagine all the colorful hearts being crocheted this month.  If you missed the pattern, you can find it on my January 31, 2014 post.  

My original coaster hearts were made with DK weight yarn, but for these dishcloths, I used worsted weight cotton and a 6 mm hook.  I also added an extra row of sc color to increase the size a little. On the additional row, I increased each side of the heart by 4 stitches following the same stitch pattern as the other sc rows.

Have a blessed day!