Starting the New Year with a New Blog!

Please visit me at http://mama-beth.blogspot.com I want to start 2012 afresh.

Thanks to all my loyal followers, it tickles me that so many people are interested in my handicrafts.

I will be posting the Star Afghan/Starghan pattern for purchase as soon as I can get a Step By Step Photoshoot done. Thanks again for your patience.

Happy 2012!!

A Renewed Passion...the Crochet Diva Knits!!

I was into knitting (especially machine knitting) 9 years ago and made a few items with my knitting, but it wasn't until I was introduced to the Woolie Ewe in Plano, TX by a friend that my knitting really went into FTL (Faster Than Light for you non-Stargate Universe fans out there).  ;D

My first knitted project of the year was a Pumpkin Hat made for my Chiro's newborn son...little did I know that his wife loved all things pumpkin and when he gave her the hat she soo totally flipped!

Here is a picture of baby Asher dressed up as a pumpkin!

 Here is the hat just finished!

I had made a second pumpkin hat, but do not have a picture of the recipient wearing it as of yet....

PS:  Although the body of the hat is knitted in the round with 12" size 7 circular knitting needles with Lang Sari 100% Mercerized Cotton in Pumpkin & Lt. Green, I crocheted the stem and leaf...not that adventurous in my knitting as of yet!  ;D

Long Time No Blog!

I can't believe it's been over a year since I posted anything on my blog...with my new job (teacher) and keeping up with 4 kids and my hubby, down time is a precious commodity!

I have made a few more tops (and crocheted girls dresses) since last year, but I have decided not to post anything yet as I am thinking of submitting them to various crochet magazines in hopes of getting a nibble.

When that is going to really happen? I don't know, but this Spring Break has given me some time to breathe and reflect and to focus on what needs to be prioritized and what needs to be put in the back burner for now...no worries about the crocheting though, there will be always time for that! But at the rate things are going, it might not be until summer vacation before I post anything more here (also I cannot blog in school, but I think that might not be the case soon).

Thank you dear visitors for still visiting my blog and letting me know how my patterns have added some joy in your lives.

Always crocheting, with yarn or in my mind...

yarndiva

Violet Kimono Cardigan Revisited

I decided to sc the bottoms so that the edges would stay put, got rid of the black ribbon and put a black long-sleeved top on the bottom and viola! A whole new look! This one is definitely a keeper!

Burgundy Fan Lace Top

Just finished weaving the ends last night and wore it to school today! Made with elann.com sonata (100% mercerized cotton) and I used about 4.5 skeins of it. Pattern stitch (plus my own modifications) was found in a Brazilian crochet magazine and crocheted free-hand. I just measured myself after making a test swatch and based the pattern from that after making calculations. Took me 3 days off and on to finish. It was a very gratifying item to make as it was so fast and the stitch pattern could be done without looking at the piece.

Thanks for dropping by!!

PS. It was supposed to be a skirt, but it was a very tight skirt! I scooted it up and was very pleased to find out that as a top it was a perfect fit!! As with most of my wearables, my flukes turn out to be my best ones!

Sera Lace Tunic

From the Fall/07 issue of Interweave Crochet, I present the "Sera Lace Tunic" an adaptation of the "Sera Lace Top" by Doris Chan.

I used Classic Elite "Provence" in Natural (from eBay and Woolie Ewe in Plano, TX) and omitted the sleeves and made the top longer. With a black ribbon woven through the bottom 1/3 of the outfit and a black long-sleeved top and black pants to complete the outfit!

It took about 2 months off and on and I finally finished the ends last Wed. so I could wear it Thurs. As always, I received lots of compliments on it!

Enjoy!

Hot Baby Pink Skirt!!

I really had fun making this skirt. Actually this is my "I can't study for my Teacher's Exam any more I'm going to crochet" skirt that I started in May and put the final touches (the last 5%) last month (October).

After seeing pyogazel's take on the VS knockoff skirt using the painted thread technique, I decided to make skirt in a similar fashion.

I used 3 strands of UKI size 5 mercerized cotton in Baby Pink, Med. Pink and Fuchsia in a simple pattern made up by yours truly with a ruffle bottom. The underskirt I use is actually a skirt that I purchased a few years ago and it blends perfectly with the crocheted skirt...just how kewl is that!!

Violet Ruffle Skirt

Used 2 strands of #5 UKI mercerized cotton and the skirt pattern is a heavily modified version of a Brazilian Skirt pattern...I just finished this last night and wore it to school today with gnarly matching purple shoes both from eBay!!