Steppin' it up

Today I published my first pattern.  Moving from Crazy Crochet Lady to Designer has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding things I've attempted so far.  Much like having kids.  I just kind of created the thing, tossed it out there to the world, and am hoping for the best.  Although unlike having kids, this pattern went through testing for accuracy and coherency before being released to the wild.

Meet Carousel, the easiest, most adjustable sweater pattern you'll ever find.  

Something Fishy

Last week I received a commission for a fish hat.

No joke.  The guy wanted a custom fish hat for his wife's birthday. People ask for the strangest things.

Halfway through creating this hat, I found out the intended recipient was expecting her first baby.   I couldn't resist using the leftover yarn to make a wee baby fish.

No pattern.  Made it up on the fly, loosely guided by some Google pictures.  I have a friend who calls this kind of made-up crochet McGuyvering*.    I like that.

*No bubble gum or duct tape was utilized in the creation of this project.**

**Unlike in sewing.  Day before yesterday I realized that clear tape can be used to hold the dang button in place while sewing it on with the machine.  Eureka!  No more swearing!  No more shifty buttons!  Why didn't I figure this out years ago?

Fabric Frustrations

This ring is causing me angst.

See, I have a purse idea.  It's been in my head for almost a week and it won't. get. out.  I don't need another purse, and I certainly don't really have time right now to make one anyway, but it's taking over my all my spare thoughts lately.  The ring you see here is one I got years ago.  The thing is huge!  So huge that I rarely wear it, because it catches on everything and is quite annoying.

But it would make the perfect purse clasp accent!

I've been doing this long enough to know that the only way to cure the obsession is to cave to it.  I know exactly what I want in my head, but it doesn't seem to exist in the real world.  I want something geometric and symmetrical that includes all three main colors in the ring.  I've been to three fabric stores so far and searched online without success.  The chase is only making me crave it more.  

I will not concede.  Eventually, Perfect Fabric and I will find each other.

Showing you my ugly hand for scale.  This ring is enormous!