Life's a Multi-pitch. Heaven's the Mountaintop.

Fall Garland, made by me. I’ve already had a few friends request I make some for them as well. I’m also plotting winter, spring, and summer versions.

WELL…since I was done with work early this week, I’m catching up on one or two things and prepping for the holiday. Here are a few crochet challenge questions:

Day 12: Where do you keep your stash? Post pictures!

I keep my stash in a cool little chest bench. I might post a picture later, but it isn’t especially impressive :) Although my cat certainly thinks it’s someplace she should be.

Day 13: Do you have yarn that you love but can’t find a project for?

Most of the yarn I have I find ways to use…I do have a weird green colored yarn I used for one project, but haven’t been able to find a good project to use it up. It’s a great color, but it’s still a weird color that’s difficult to match with others.

Day 14: What’s the worst yarn/fiber that you’ve worked with and why?

There’s this fuzzzzzy multi-colored yarn I love to use, but it gets tangled very easily because the fuzz gets mixed up together. The yarn itself won’t be knotted, but the soft fuzzy of the yarn makes for occasional headaches.

Day 15: What was your least favorite pattern and why?

Uh….I don’t think I’ve come across one yet :) I have come across a few I’ve changed to fit what I wanted. It’s really frustrating to come across cool patterns that aren’t written well, though.

Day 16: Have you ever had a crocheting related injury? 

No. Not yet anyway… 

Day 17: Have you ever had a project that you loved become ruined? What’s the story behind it?

I made these beautiful stuffed animals for my niece and nephews and whenever I’m over at their home I see the yarn of the stuffed animals get more and more fuzzy from having to be washed. I can tell they are well loved and I LOVE that the kids love them so much, but it’s kind of sad to see them get so dirty and roughed up.

I don’t consider them to be “ruined” because that wear and tear is what I made them for, but I might make a purple hippo in a little pink tutu for myself who will be made to sit on my shelf and stay pretty :) 

Day 18: What are your preferred hooks made from (metal, steel, bamboo, wood, plastic)?

I really like the metal hooks I use. I have a chunky plastic one I use on occasion that I don’t mind either but I think I still prefer the metal for smaller gage projects. I’ve never used wood, but all the ones I’ve seen are so beautiful that I’m awfully tempted to give them a try. 

Day 19: Do you watch movies and/or listen to podcasts while crocheting? What are your favorite things to crochet to?

I either listen tomusic or turn on something like Community or The Colbert Report. I find it easiest to have something that stays as background noise rather than a new episode or movie I’ll want to see. I’d say mostly I listen to music.

Day 20: Do you crochet in public? Was anyone offended/incredibly happy/curious that you were doing so?

Yeah, I do. Sometimes if I need to get something done I crochet during my breaks at work. I’ll more often crochet at coffee shops. I’ve never really had anyone bring it up to me. Sometimes other people who crochet will want to talk about what I’m working on, but I think that’s about it.

Day 21: Do you crochet gifts for friends and family for the holidays or birthdays?

YES! This year I don’t have enough time do make something for everyone, but I’m trying necklaces for the ladies and a flamingo for my mother. I like making people stuff year-round, though.

Day 22: Have you ever stricken someone off your to-crochet-for list because they didn’t appreciate/take care of your last crochet gift to them?

My boyfriend keeps mentioning this site of pictures of boyfriends who have been forced to model their girlfriends’ crochet/knit beanies. And of course each picture is of the poor souls wearing the absolutely horrendous beanies that I think we all know are out there…being made…RIGHT NOW…that I think we all wish could disappear. 

I threatened him with a (ridiculously cute but not at all something he would ever want to wear in public) cupcake beanie.

Day 23: If you had the supplies (and patience) for it, what project would you start today?

Uhhh…I have a HUGE list. But I think I’d make rugs for my living room and bathroom.

Day 24: Have you ever made your own pattern or dyed your own yarn? How did it turn out?

A lot of the time I’m pulling together bits and pieces learned from other patterns to make what I want. Actually, if I’m not simply adjusting a pattern to suit my own tastes I’m making my own pattern. Currently I’m making up my own pattern for mittens for my boyfriend. If they weren’t made to fit his hands, which are much larger than mine, I’d be tempted to keep them myself. The yarn is so ridiculously fluffy and warm.

FINISHED MY FIRST SWEATER!

Ummm…No, no I do not have a crocheting hero. But I absolutely love crocheting/knitting with my friend, Erin. She’s a doll and quite talented with her needles, and her hooks, too. At our last get-together she brought over The Shining, which I had never seen before. I don’t like scary movies. At. All.  But that has to be the first scary movie I actually liked!

I didn’t get much crocheting done.

Hmm…I don’t think so. I do find it handy to have basic patterns for beanies, flowers, etc. easily accessible for quick projects. I do love finding cute amigurumi patterns…which happens far too often.

I love wool!

Otherwise, anything that’s ridiculously soft is welcome on my hooks.

Apparently the sweater and elbow length gloves. They aren’t particularly difficult but I can’t seem to sit down and finish them.

Maybe I’ll do that right now.

Ooo…I really like the monkey hat. I still associate a huge feeling of excitement with finishing it.

But I think the purple hippo in the pink tutu stuffed animal I made for my niece wins! I want to make one for myself now…

I don’t remember how long I was in the cast…I believe I gave my doctor the blanket the day I got my pins out. A couple months?

But I finished a monkey beanie first, in-between starting and finishing the blanket. Blankets take forever!

I broke my ankle climbing.

Seriously, I was on my ass for a while so I asked my mom to teach me to crochet. I started a blanket for my surgeon and savior (and friend and fellow climber…I really lucked out). By the time I had my cast off and was hobbling about in a boot, he had a lovely ivory and pine tree green blanket.