Frogged again

After finally completing Christmas projects for others I decided to make something for myself. Of course it didn't go well.  The hat pattern, "Easy Slouchy Hat," (click here for Ravelry link or click here for PDF) I decided to make was supposed to be a "beginner" pattern, but it just confused me, a lot.  I ripped it out and restarted it twice last night, changed the pattern and got halfway thru only to realize that I had been doing it wrong from the get-go which is why it didn't look right, and the original pattern was confusing.  SO I put it down and went to bed.  This morning I took the whole thing out so I could start again.

And I started it again, twice, so I frogged the whole thing.

 Wait, not a "frog frog", "frogged" refers to ripping out a whole project when you have to start over, either because you were knitting the wrong size, decided you didn't like the pattern, or for some other reason.

totally frogged

I realized that the problem with the pattern was the instructions.  Yes the instructions, they just weren't clear.  There is no mention of how many stitches should be in each round, and there are no explanations as to what constitutes a "space" versus the normal DC in a stitch.  My frustrations are at an unacceptable level, so I'm going to forget this pattern. Although I am still going to make a hat for myself...if anyone reading this would like to attempt this pattern, and is successful...please contact me and tell me what I did wrong, cause the hat is cute, and I have PLENTY of yarn to make one.

I found a new pattern to try, "MioMi Beret," (click here for Ravelry link or click here for PDF) it is an intermediate pattern, and after reading through the directions MULTIPLE times I am satisfied that this is a pattern I can tackle and do! So here we go!

Update on projects past

Well it's been a busy week.  I started on the new project as posted yesterday.  It has taken off, and it crocheting up nicely!

I am down to only two rows of the Do it your way Afghan to connect then I can start connecting the rows

I can't wait to get this afghan done, I'm definately going to finish this one before starting on the ripple afghan I have planned for my living room.  For today I'm going to take a small break and go have fun with my mom.  I may do some more tonight when I get home!

My CADD strikes again!

© Lion Brand Yarn

I am a day or so away from completing my second Ami-gurumi project (post on first Ami-gurumi to follow soon), and here I am starting a baby afghan for my new niece, she is due in October.  I chose what I thought was a simple baby ripple pattern.  (click here, or on the picture)



It really is simple, and once you get the pattern down it goes quickly.  The part that I found to be super hard is the foundation row...after you make the ump-teen chains...I also used a different yarn that what is called for in the pattern.  I used Baby Bee Little Britches, in the colorway Charming.  I highly recommend using a site like Ravelry to "stash" your yarn collection, and to keep record of the projects you want to do, and the projects you have in progress.  Great for any yarn project!

I started with my 131 chain stitches

Then had to kick my dog off of my directions

And then spent considerable time growling, grumbling and crying trying to get my 2nd row done, after a while I got the hang of it, and it came out right!!!  No need to undo most of the row to start over, or heaven forbid the entire thing and re-chain to start over! And they say that crochet and knitting is supposed to be calming!  Well it is, once you get past the first row.

The blanket should crochet up quickly after this point...unless I get distracted by another project that is!