2019, May

Many years have passed.  I continue to crochet and craft. I’m still managing my store, I’ve started going to craft fairs.  I’ve visited new places like Alaska and spent more time with friends and family. My own family has grown in the 4 legged variety. But enough about that, let’s talk crochet.
I have not progressed on making my own patterns but I found my passion is not only collecting yarn... but enjoying all that others make as well.   I love following people and I get inspired by their works.  I enjoy doing one offs on projects because there is so much to explore I don’t think I have the time to make multiples of the something.  My most recently completed project was a baby blanket for my sisters son to be.

I chose to write today because I found the page again.  I’m alone in the home, which is very rare, and I was enjoying the quiet.   I’ll continue cleaning and doing house work, but it’s nice out and I might just take a book outside or some crochet and lay in the hammock.  I have another small project in the project bag.  It’s a lovely green cabled hood pattern and I’m on the last bit of it. I do hope to have to completed by this weekend.  Then off to work on a shawl out of some lovely Caron Cupcake 🧶 yarn. Maybe .....

Crochet never comes out the right size for me :(

Here is how my little Dragon Amigurumi is coming along... a lot larger than original photo :(

I did how ever finish the Chain Link Cowl for my friend Jennette.  I put all the photos for that up on Ravelry - but here is a quick shot

Here is the direct link: Chain Link Cowl Crochet

Off to have a wonderful breakfast with the boyfriend and then get together with the bride-to-be for dress planning! Uh oh !

Sudden Crafting Urge....

             Day off and crampy day to boot.... started off today slow with watching some DVDs.

               Started with the 1989 Classic: Little Nemo.  Love this movie, so cute and it is about Slumberland.  Nothing better than trippy dreams :)  I love this movie because I named one of my sugar gliders after the flying squirrel: Icarus

This is Icarus: 

And Icarus as a Pimp with this cute hat.  Now I am making a felt pair of goggles to plop on his head as well so we can look like his namesake.

After that I watched the 92' special: The Cutting Edge - starring D.B. Sweeney and Moira Kelly.

 

Very funny, super 90's movie :) "Toe Pick!"

After this I started back on my Castle Season 4 catch up.  While watching I was flipping through my pile of crochet magazines and came across this adorable thing!

Dragon Amigurumi

 

Now it's time to pop out some of these cuties. I'm thinking different colors? How adorable!

Update to follow!

Also lets see if I can try out some of these excersizes to get me into shape for my next(?) cosplay!

How fun!

Lies!

Ah Ha! I lie!

Not only did I let one year get by, I let 2! Ah ha! 

Take that computer. 

Updates:  Many projects over on my Ravelry site.  New items for sale on the Etsy site. 
I have a new apartment, in a  new town with a new (ish) job.

  Life gave me great change. 

I have a boyfriend that enjoys costuming (and fabrication) as much as I do. 
We enjoy roller coasters and marathon-ing tv shows on netflix. 

For creative patterning, I have made many new hero suits

 but I have not had time to create new crochet patterns. 

Sorry :(  but off to work on more costumes:

It's been over a year... that is pathetic :(
I really don't get too much time to go on my computer, it's my own fault.  I bog myself down with piles of "to-dos"  and not as many "ta-dones" 
I have a great many items that did get finished, for any of your who are Ravelry members, my name there is Kaylamew  - there you will find my current up to date crochet finished projects. 

If you are interested I'm on etsy as well, and you can find my current for sale items, sewn and crochet.  http://www.etsy.com/shop/KaylaMew?ref=ss_profile

I will be trying to finish up some SCA garb for the upcoming events I'll be traveling too, and hopefully pulling some cosplay outfits out as well. 

I'm slated to help my friends make some halloween costumes, and another friend a dress to wear to an event.  I'm over booked again! ^_^

Lets see what I have hiding around here,

This "British" inspired purse was done in time for the London 2012 Olympics.  It's a cross stitch guard with a felt frame embroidered on a linen purse. I even had time for a zipper!

OOH this was a fun thing! My friend who lives in NYC got to snap a few pictures of the "Doctor" from Doctor Who while they were shooting in Central Park for the upcoming season.  Although Matt is not my favorite doctor, Doctor Who is inspiring me to make some new cosplay costumes.

My adorable octopus amigurumi who must be wearing a top hat, mustache, and monocle. I made this for my youngest sister, who had a thing for mustaches.

This hat was going to be the beginning of my "Follow a Blog"  I wanted to create every item that was published in one magazine and show of my work.  As soon as I started this hat, my friend loved it, and once completed, I made her matching fingerless gloves. 

And lastly for today, my finished Waffle cowl.  This was an "EXPENSIVE" project.  The yarn was Cascade Chunky yarn.  It was so soft and fun that I didn't realize how much yarn I needed to complete this. You could easily complete this in a day, if you have enough yarn :p  This project was put up on Etsy, but if it doesn't sell soon, I might just keep it.  It is so lovely!

OK that is a wrap for today, perhaps I'll behave and update again before the year is out ....who knows...

Just a quick update

Current news on my projects:
   Top hats have been started - prototype 00 is a smallish purple velvet mini hat - I added ribbon, feathers and doodads on to it for a little flair.   The next hat will be made NOT out of velvet.  I find that the smaller the hat the harder the velvet wants to work at unraveling!   I need to finish sizing and creating the correct hat in time for my tea party birthday! 
After I complete these hats (because I know I'll keep messing up and having to make better ones) I have to finish a few Renn Faire outfits for my sister and her boyfriend.   These should be easy enough.... except Maggie (my sister) has insisted that she wants to be a fairy and chose a Vogue pattern for her bodice.  *Sigh* not my favorite patterns to work off of, but I'll do my best.

Now after this it is straight on crochet!  I have birthdays and holidays to prepare for!  I have a few new projects that I believe I will have to make my own pattern for, so look forward to seeing them on line.  (after I present them that is... no wanting to spoil the surprise in case any of the friends are actually reading my blog ^_^ ) 

I have been collecting many yarns in preparation for the time for presents and have found so many local yarn shops that are just simply AMAZING! 

These 2 sites are very fun.  I bought some yarn from each store.
http://www.fabulousyarn.com/  

            - I bought indigodragonfly yarn  mostly because for the Joss Whedon theme.  I bought 1 skein of Wash "Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal".   http://www.fabulousyarn.com/indigodragonfly-mcs-angst.shtml (well they no longer have Wash :( )

 

You can find more of indigodragonfly yarn on ravelry (http://www.ravelry.com/people/indigodragonfly)

Then I also love - Hudson Valley Sheep & Wool Co. A real farm! full of nice people and fun sheep! 
http://www.hudsonvalleysheepandwoolco.com/
I picked up one small skein for a quick project made directly from the farm itself! Grown, sheered, spun and dyed! 

just an example!

Woah this became a huge post.  I really can't wait till I have my own finished projects shown here! 

Current Costumes

Currently I have been working on many new crochet projects.  I have not been making any new patterns but I've got a few in mind.  I'll let you know soon.

Costumes I have been working on are as follows :
Alexia Tarabotti from the Souless Novels by Gail Carriger (http://gailcarriger.com/)

P!nk's corset and tophat costume from Please Don't Leave Me Music Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-XLvUpvjZo)

i

i wish I had a better picture of her full outfit :(

 and many more renn faire outfits for my siblings ^_^

Plus I need to make tophats.  Many top hats!

The Holidays are over

Wow.. last time I checked it was 2010...  Happy new year everyone!

I was working on so many crocheted projects that I have yet to update my ravelry account.  I also was checking out what I had left of my etsy account and cried because I gave most of my handmade projects away for the holidays.   I have been thinking about some new crocheted projects that I want to work on and put patterns up for, but I'm just getting over my crafting vacation.  

I have a Zelda throw in project in the works since last year that is a granny square mockup - based on this picture:   

 

Also I have a Cherry Amigurumi Pattern that I haven't written up yet... but here is a few pictures!

That'll do for now!

Black Friday is over!

Finally I can relax :)

Time to crack down on all the last minute holiday projects!
I have so many ideas for new projects... plus SO many projects in queues.... sigh ^_^

My project for my mother (Link throw - http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Kaylamew/legend-of-zelda-pixel-throw)   has been on hiatus for awhile now. I think I get bored of the squares. I started trying to sew the pieces together and get excited about the project but it hasn't helped yet.   I highly doubt I will have this done by Xmas. 

I want to put up pattern I've started for it for any others who want to attempt the throw after me, but I want to finish it 1st. 

In my area there will be a small Fiber Festival (Woodstock/Zena Area NY) December 4th and 5th. http://www.visitvortex.com/catskill_fiber_celebration
10 am to 6pm.  I plan on hitting it Sunday just for a little while. I went a year ago or so with my friend and we had lots of fun. It's a nice small gathering and everyone is super friendly!

I also missed this: http://www.facebook.com/kaylamew?v=wall&story_fbid=10150191350890431#!/note.php?note_id=457441096633&id=158371143678
I have visited a few of these stores but I'm glad to see there are more in my area!!


As for sewing, I have a bunch of projects for my friends (but I can't write those up here, some of you might be reading this).

Off I go to work on some of this! yeah!!

Super Mario Bros Crochet Chain Chomp Hat

I made this hat for my sister last year xmas time - this is my 1st time writing down a pattern, so it's not professional at all.  I would say this pattern is for someone in the intermediate range of crocheting because it has a lot of little pieces that you need to connect.  Happy Crafting!

Chain Chomp hat (From Super Mario Bros.)  by Kayla Brink

make a black beanie    any black worsted weight yarn - hook size I or bigger crochet for larger hat, smaller for tighter hat- i like to make my hats BIG.  teeth hook j or I , chain hook H , need yarn needle for sewing   --- if you have a beanie or hat pattern you like already, make what you are comfortable with, this pattern is just a basic beanie worked in the round. 

start off with magic ring, 7 sc in ring - place marker (i like stitching in the round)
rd 1: 2 sc in each sc around. (14 sc) move marker
rd2: 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc. repeat (21 sc)
rd 3: 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 2 sc. repeat (28 sc)
rd 4: 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 3 sc. repeat (35 sc)
rd 5: 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 4 sc. repeat  (42 sc)------yeah this gets boring about here.
rd 6: 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 5 sc. repeat (49 sc)
rd 7: 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 6 sc. repeat (56 sc)  ---------BIG JUMP
rd 8: 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 13 sc. repeat (60 sc)
rd 9: 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 14 sc. repeat (64 sc)
rd 10: 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 15 sc. repeat (68 sc)
rd 11: 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 16 sc. repeat (72 sc)
rd 12: 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 17 sc. repeat (76 sc)
rd 13: 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 18 sc. repeat (80 sc)
rd 14 thru 30: sc in each sc around (move marker) until desired length of hat.  (WARNING: teeth take up a bit of space, so to make sure you can still SEE please do not make hat TOO large)
Slip stitch into last stitch.  when you get to the end fasten off.

White teeth:
 we need about 4 teeth across on top row

in front of hat, sl st white into any sc with hat opening facing you , sc in sl st space
sc 36 across
ch 1 turn; each 9 sc = one tooth
i wanted to make them tight so i did each tooth separatly
sc in next 9 sc - ch 1 turn
sc 1, sc2tog, sc 1 , sc2tog, sc1, sc2tog: ch 1 turn
sc 1,sc2tog, sc 1 sc 2 tog, ch 1 turn
sc 1, sc2tog, sc 1,  ch 1 turn
sc1 sc2tog ch 1 turn
sc2tog - fasten off

sl st into stitch adjacent to last tooth, repeat tooth pattern.
continue for 2 more teeth.

**I didn't do this step on my sisters hat... but you could if you would like to make it true to the photo**

(Do bottom row of teeth; there is 5 teeth)
slst into back of hat
sc in next 35 spaces
*ch 1 turn, sc in 1st sc, hdc in next sc, dc in next sc, trc in next st, dc in next st, hdc in next sc, sc in next sc* : make 1 small tooth
repeat from * 4 more times than fasten off

Chain in silver/grey:  make at 7 links of chain - make base separate from hat and attach by whip stitching on.
start with chain 20 of grey with size H hook.
slip stitch to 1st chain to connect.
*crochet 35 sc around the chain (you do not have to go in the stitch) make sure to slide them on tight
slip stitch in beginning sc and fasten off

start next chain link by chaining 20 - then slip stitch into 1st chain to connect them, when you do this, make sure you contain the other chain link in this new link
 becareful not to TWIST  the link when you are crocheting around
repeat from * of last step - sl stitch and fasten off,

do 5 more times.

Base of chain: Silver:
start with magic ring, 6 sc in ring - pull closed
rd 1: 2 sc in each sc - (12 sc)
rd 2: 2 sc in 1st sc, 1 sc in next sc , repeat. (18 sc)
rd 3: 2 sc in 1st sc, 1 sc in next 2 sc, repeat ( 24 sc)
rd 4: sc in back loop only of each sc (24 sc)
rd 5: sc in each sc (24 sc)
rd6: 2sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc (30 sc)
rd7: sc in each st around (30 sc)  sl st into 1st sc of row: fasten off

slip stitch to back of hat - use some polyfill to stuff and keep shape.

make chain to attach chainlink - this i kinda "winged it".  
Insert last link of chain through yarn (so now your chain is dangling on your yarn)
sl st into base around 3rd row of base
chain 10 and make sure link of chain is within the chain before sl st"ing" back into base to create half link.
ch 1, turn and sc each stitch back then into base and fasten off.

Eyes: get two pieces of white and black felt, make a circle and whip stitch on - see picture for placement.

What a Panda can do...

My sisters annoyingly cute kitten, Panda, has discovered if you knock water out of the dish it will refill itself.  I have on of those self filling water stations for my cat in my room and he has become obsessed with listening to the gurgle of the water refilling itself to the point of him knocking out all the water just to hear it... over and over and over again.  

In other news, getting over being sick.  Getting ready to work in CT for 3 days. YEAH COMMUTING! Getting ready to drop my mom off at the airport tomorrow AM.  She will be gone a week. It's going to be hell with out her.

I also started uploading some pictures to facebook.  I can never seem to take a good photo even tho I got a nice camera for xmas last year.  I either forget I have the camera or just take REALLLY bad photos.  I'm not a photographer. I don't have it in me. 

I have been crocheting alot but I can't show any of it to anyone because they are to be presents. Thus the only accomplishments I can proudly display are my HALF complete cosplay outfits.  I really only seem to finish the bottom half.  

OH WELL.

Next Step is going to be learning how to put some pictures on this blog.  I think pics are fun at least. 

Nothing to do and feeling overwhelmed

Ever feel like you have too much to do and not want to do ANYTHING? Yeah, that's what I'm feeling right about now.  I wanted to start by talking about crochet since that is on my mind, but I haven't even wanted to pick up the hook today.  I have plenty to work on, but I'm not motivated.  

I should have taken this time to be with my sister and go do "something". I'm seriously becoming a lame-ass. 

I've been too tired to do anything else.  It must be that depressing time of the year.  The days are getting shorter and that just causes cranky me... but the good thing about shorter days is now I can pull out all the crochet I have and start wearing it!