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!

Chartreuse

I will show you my latest WIP (work in progress) on the hook. I am making a cover for one of my Pottery Barn pillows that I LOVE. I have two of them but only have enough yarn on hand to cover one. They currently have white fuzzy lambswool covers, and I'm wanting a more Spring/Summer look for the upcoming seasons. I am doing the Block Stitch by Sue Pinner.  She has a wonderful crochet blog called The 8th Gem with many interesting projects. You should check it out. Anyway... here are the first pictures of my pillow cover.

I am using cottons and a couple of wools. I will bring you more pictures as soon as I finish.

Out in the garden things are really getting GREEEEEEN. I titled this post Chartreuse because of one particular plant. This one....

It's actually called Carpet of Gold but it is sooooo greeeeen. I have not edited these pictures in any way.

Thanks to a fellow blogger, Rowen at Coastal Colors, I found a cool app to make photo collages. I haven't been able to do this on Blogger (I'm sure there is a way but I couldn't figure it out!). It is called Diptic and the possibilities are endless. So FUN!

Finally, I found some drowsy bees enjoying the azaleas.

Big, fat, happy, DROWSY BEES.

I hope you're having a big, fat, happy, drowsy SPRING!

P.S. I you stop by please say "Hi" ! All you have to do is click on the word "comment" and it will take you to a comment box where you can leave me a message. I don't need glowing compliments (well, only if you want too ;-)). Just a simple "hello" will let me know you're there, and I'm not ALONE. Thank you for all my friends who say "Hi" on a regular basis. You know it keeps me going!

Bullseye!

While I was taking pictures on Easter Sunday of our family lunch I realized I haven't done a "TaDaaah" for my Bullseye Blanket by Brittany Tyler. It has not been blocked and desperately needs to be, but I'm showing it (and using it!) anyway. I have  to say I am IN LOVE with this blanket for several reasons... One being, it is the FIRST blanket I have FINISHED and that is such an accomplishment for me! I really never thought I would make something this large and I'm really pleased as punch. Secondly, I love the colors. It's a tricky thing picking colors for a project like this. It involves so much work that you really want to get it right. I stayed fairly true to the pallette that Brittany used since that is what drew me to it in the first place. Lastly, the yarn is very soft and not too heavy. I love a warm blanket and sit under one year round (hubs loves to crank up the air conditioner in the summer, ugh), but I can't stand a heavy wool blanket. 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 verion of wool so that also helped. I haven't actually washed it yet so we will see...

Here are a few more pictures and a few snaps from Easter.

Yes, we had a fire at Easter. No warm spring here!

My contribution to lunch was green beans, mashed potatoes, and sweet tea.

Sis in law brought broccolli casserole and cheesy pineapple casserole,YUM

Pork tenderloin with cranberry glaze, Honeybaked Ham, and deviled eggs.

 

T's parents on the left and mine on the right

A mix of candy, crochet and handpainted eggs

Watching basketball after lunch

I am so thankful that both of our families live here in town (and they really LIKE each other) and so we are able to spend the Holidays together without traveling. We were missing a few LOVED ones this year, but we will have many future Easters to share.


I hope you had a blessed Easter!

Cuddly Cowls and Woolen Miscellany

Last time I showed several scarves I've been making over the winter. They seemed a little drab when I saw them on my last post. Evidently, I like to wear more NEUTRAL colors. So, without further *ado...these are My Cuddly COWLS...  I really like wearing a cowl better than a scarf, I think. There are no "tails" hanging down getting in the way, which means you can leave them on while eating. Don't you hate it when your scarf falls in your plate? Okay.... here are some pics.

 

Well, don't they look all cozy and warm? I usually just make up a pattern for them and then stop when they reach the length I like; then stitch together. EASY PEASY!

Woolen Miscellany
I was going to post the hats and other miscellaneous items later, but let's face it. I think we are all SO ready for SPRING I better wrap this up now. Here are the other items completed this winter.

fingerless gloves

boot cuffs

headband

Okay, That's the end of the Show and Tell for today! Thanks for bearing with me and I'd love to know which is your favorite?  If you want a specific pattern let me know and I'll look it up for you ( or try to write out what I did).

* When looking up this phrase there was quite the controversy about which word to use: "adieu" or "ado"? It seems like the former means "goodby" in French and the later means "fuss" so I used "ado". Who knew something could cause such ADO?


As always, thank you for taking the time to stop by and I hope to here your thoughts.  :-)
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