In Memory of my Bullseye Blanket

This was my beautiful first and only finished crocheted blanket. The Bullseye pattern was super fun to do and I loved the finished product. In my earlier post about it I talked about the need to block it.

" It has not been blocked and desperately needs to be, but I'm showing it (and using it!) anyway."

I also talked about the need to be able to wash it...

 "I used Cascade 220 Superwash Wool because it will be used and I really wanted to be able to wash and dry it easily. It is an affordable version of wool so that also helped. I haven't actually washed it yet so we will see..."


NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is what I said when I pulled it from the washer.

Well I now know this:
1. The gentle cycle is not actually  GENTLE
2. Cascade 220 Superwash yarn is not actually WASHABLE
3. I STINK at tying in the ends!

There were about 5 squares that survived, but they have their tails coming out.

I'm heartbroken that my Bullseye blanket has fallen apart. At this point I don't think I can revive it. I may try to convert the surviving squares into pillow cushions so they don't go to waste. The only thing I think I could or should have done differently is to leave much longer tails for weaving in and/or tie tighter knots. Well, that and to NEVER PUT ANYTHING I CROCHET INTO A WASHING MACHINE!

I'll survive this little setback, but I admit it's quite a blow to my ego. Life is like that, right? This isn't world hunger, poverty, disease, etc. It is art, and art is a learning process! I will pick myself up, dust myself off and NOT start all over again. ;-)

Have you had any crafting disasters?
Did you start again?
Did you learn something from the experience?

I'm leaving you with a smile and  the reality that life in blogland is not always pretty! Here IS a pretty picture until next time.

Have a great day!

Fireside in Fall

Hi y'all,

With the weather turning nasty here I have hunkered down in front of the fire for some hooky time! Nothing makes me more motivated to crochet than a warm fire and comfy chair. I am having problems getting up from my spot FIRESIDE.

Little friend hanging on my mantle that I made using Lucy's Birdie Decoration.

Sorry it's a little blurry.

I am so thankful for my home when so many people are digging out from the mud, sand, and water left behind from Hurricane Sandy. The pictures and stories are heartbreaking and I am praying for the MANY who were in her wake.

While I have been at home watching the news my hands have been busy trying to finish the blanket I started last spring.

I have had to rethink the size and edging for this project since I am running low on the yarn for the squares, and I really don't want to buy anymore. It is one of the challenging, and also rewarding, parts of crochet...  reworking, adapting, changing, undoing, doing again.....
Keep checking back for more updates on this ever changing blanket.

What are your working on at the moment?
Have you had to rework any projects?
Do you find the process frustrating or rewarding?


I hope all is well with you and thank you for stopping by for a visit!
xxxxxx

P.S. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Summer Break !?

I seem to be taking a little break from blogging right now without planning to. I've been buzzing from one thing to another with no regular schedule, and I've found that sharing on here is falling through the cracks. I have decided not to stress over it, and I will put things on here when I get around to it. Soooo... there may be fewer postings over the next few weeks. I AM still working on my hooky projects, and maybe I will have some "Ta-Dah" moments toward the end of summer. Remember this? I'm still making HEXAGONS. (Now I know why I like making scarves- QUICK!)

This tedium inspired my new blanket project... Bullseye by Brittany Tyler 
I was going crazy making little complex granny hexagons, and I needed something simpler and faster to work on at the same time to break up the monotony. This pattern is so easy and I'm really enjoying the speed with which it's coming together. The squares are about twice the size of the hexes and circles make for some happy hooking! You can see I'm still pushing the color wheel on this project, but I think I will be using this on our newly screened in back porch where color choices can be more adventurous.

Speaking of the new back porch...
The baby birds from the last post left the nest three days later and moved over to the woods beside the house while the mom and dad still fed them for a few more days. I LOVE having all of the trees next to us and the animals that live there... BUT... with woods come MOSQUITOES.  Millions of AGGRESSIVE, EVIL, HUNGRY MOSQUITOES! Ok, maybe not millions, but so many that I cannot sit out there without being eaten alive. I have had various methods for fighting these critters but finally we are putting up the white flag and SCREENING in the whole thing. I am so excited to have this beautiful area to sit and crochet without scratching, swatting, and saying bad words in my head. It should be much more peaceful! Here are some pictures of this work in progress.

The roof will be extended to the edge for the screening.

These posts will be moved to the edge of the porch to provide more floor space.

The cushion for this swing will be the fabric from my earlier post here.

Here's the furniture form the porch. Yes, the grass is getting CRUNCHY from a dry spell.

 

 

 

I hope you are having a great and relaxing summer and I'll pop in here a few times over the next few weeks if I have something to share with you. As always, I am so glad you stopped by to visit and I'll talk to ya soon.