It Feels Good to #Crochet (a Black & White Shrug)

One of the things I really love about crochet is how it makes me feel.  I love the entire process of creating something unique and useful.  It may sound funny, but it actually makes me feel powerful! :)

I started this Black and White shrug on an airplane to visit my alma mater, Mount Holyoke College, in the beautiful mountains of Western Massachusetts. It had been almost five years since I'd been home, except for a very quick jaunt last summer.

I just followed the pattern for the Lacy Springtime Shrug from Lion Brand Yarn (free login required). Don't tell anyone, but I didn't swatch (gasp!) I just had a huge ball of B/W yarn I bought in the streets of Mexico City's yarn district, and my trusty hooks, so I went for it! I made the largest size.

The entire time I was making it, I was thinking, 'Hm. Is this thing going to fit me? Am I going to run out of yarn?' Well, when you crochet like I do, those are some pretty common thoughts. I'm more of
a 'fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants' crocheter. I just go for it. Hook now, worry about yarn later. It's just how I am. Somehow, it all works out. I either end up with a cool project, an excuse to buy more yarn, a mass of something for the frog bin, or a piece begging to be yarnbombed. If you ask me, that's okay. There's always more yarn.  There are always more patterns.

I ended up getting to the very ends of my mega ball of yarn and realizing that THIS WAS FAR TOO BIG, AND THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO FINISH THE PATTERN AS WRITTEN. Luckily, I understood the construction well enough to understand that I could just make the sleeves a little shorter and then hope for the best.

To make a long story short (too late,) I skipped the sc border rounds, fit the shrug to myself, addressed the resulting "space age" shoulders, and added on some little sleeves. The resulting shrug is a short-sleeved cutie, and I like it a lot! I can wear it to work or out and about. I love wearing shrugs with camisoles in the Southern Florida heat. To me, they're the perfect layering garment.

Since the shrug has a definite "top and bottom," I stitched a little red yarn onto the inside seam of the right armhole. I will remember that "red is right," and never put my pretty shrug on upside down! :) 

So, what do you think?  Have you ever modified a pattern at the last minute?  Tell me your story! :)

@CraftyChica Design Team: #Crochet Fabulous Milagro Market Tote Tutorial

Welcome to Crafting by the Pool  

with Cami from Artlikebread.com

 It's so exciting!  I applied for and was chosen to participate on the Crafty Chica Design Team! The purpose of this post is to show you how I used one of her cool, new, Dia de los Muertos-themed products in an original DIY project.  Before we begin, take a look at this fun video where I show you all the materials I used!

And don't worry. In case you're viewing this on a mobile device or don't feel like watching the video, I'll do a play by play right here with still pictures.

HERE WE GO!

#Yarn Candy: Lion Brand Bonbons!

Could it get any cuter?

Last month I was asked by Lion Brand to do a review of their new product, Bonbons, or as I like to call it, crochet cuties.  The idea was that I would receive a package of their new product in each colorway, and fill out a survey about my thoughts on the product.  I completed that piece over a month ago, and my excitement for Bonbons has not died down.  I knew I had to blog about this!

I was not asked to blog about the product. I asked permission to blog about this experience because I am truly excited about it!  It's always exciting when new products come out, but not all of them are this interesting.

#Christmas Crafting! 20 Free, Masculine #Crochet Pattern Links

We all know that gender expression is a pretty relative thing, and nothing really could be defined as "for a man or a woman".  Well, that's what I think, anyway.  Even so, I personally have at least two men on my perpetual Christmas list that have a traditionally masculine style. 

Each hand-crocheted gift is an individual creation, from the moment you pick the pattern and yarn, until the finished item is gifted.  So, use the list below to choose projects for those people who can rock a masculine style.

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Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links.  All 

Ooo, cool!  The Brain Waves Beanie pattern comes 

in child & adult sizes at Playin' Hooky.

Link over to "Playin' Hooky Designs" for the free pattern.

Inspired?

 This earflap hat can be made in any color.

The design team at Lion Brand never fails.

Earflap Hat by Lion Brand. Click through to find pattern.

This guy's sly smile tells us one thing.
He loves this hat!

Streetwise Brim Hat by Red Heart.  Click for free pattern owned by Red Heart. 

A guy would totally wear this and it's totally in style right now.

Brimming with Fun Cap by Sharon Mann for Red Heart. Click for free pattern owned by Red Heart

Ooo. Now this is an interesting one.  I could see the boys in my class loving this one.
Link to "The Convertible" free pattern by Deborah E. Burger for Crochet Uncut

The basketweave scarf is a classic. It's easy and adds texture.

It's great for practicing post stitches.

Winter Wear Accessories by Marilyn Coleman and Gayle Bunn for Red Heart. Patterns owned by Red Heart.

Cables are cute, too!

Starter Scarf by Coats and Clark. Link to free pattern owned by Red Heart

Rock this, dude.
Subway His or Her Scarf by Vickie Howell

I am all about this scarf in a bulky, non-fuzzy yarn.

Alternating Windowpanes Scarf Click for free pattern on Crochet Me.

For the interesting, pensive types, try Dave 2.0 by Vickie Howell.

Click for free pattern on Crochet Me.

I've made a Flexi Cowl and they RULE!  

It's an easy pattern with many possibilities.

Flexi Cowl by Alicia Ramirez of hookandneedles.com

Babies would love these!

Beep Beep Bib Free Pattern owned by Red Heart

Seriously- How adorable is this?Yeah. Sock monkeys know no gender. No age, either.

Free pattern by Linda Cyr for Red Heart.  Pattern owned by Red Heart.

 For the wee ones on your list- a cute turtle from Red Heart!

Turtle Pillow Pal by Nancy Anderson for Red Heart. Click for free pattern owned by Red Heart.

This would look great on any guy's couch.

Diagonal Pillow by Kathy Wigington for Red Heart. Click for free pattern owned by Red Heart.

This would be a fun way to practice your colorwork while making a sweet gift.

Two-Color Pillow by Candi Jensen for Red Heart. Link to free pattern owned by Red Heart.

A music lover would love this, too!

Free Pattern: On the Record Coasters by Amy V. of Baroque Purls

Who doesn't want this cute rug in their home?

Whimsy Stripes Rug by Lion Brand. Click for Free Pattern.

Dishcloths or washcloths are quick, useful, and always appreciated.

Here's a cute one from Lion Brand.

Click here for the free pattern on LionBrand.com

Nosh.

Free burger pattern from Lion Brand. Yums!

Baby M. Got a Froggie

Wow! Is it possible that it's been so long since I last posted? It's amazing because I feel like I've been blogging all along! I have so much wonderful content lined up for you, I'm just about bursting to get it all blogged, but all in good time.

So, here's your requisite apology for my being M.I.A. over the last few weeks. I hope you'll forgive me. :) Here's my promise to be a better blogger, and here's a seriously cute frog bib on a seriously cute child.

Don't wake the baby just to have her model the bib!

Wow! That was lucky! She just happened to wake up just after I took that first picture. Great timing!

"No, Auntie. You woke me up. But I still love you."

 The pattern is from Lion Brand, and can be found here.  If I have a minute to post my mods, I will, but for now, this is what I've got! Hope you like it!

Learn about Designing Yarn with the YarnCraft Podcast!

Hey everyone! Oops! I'm a bit late on this one, as the newest episode of YarnCraft has already been released, but I had to mention that my question was answered on the April 26, 2011 episode of the very cool podcast.  When they are talking about Cami M-C-C (in the very first moments of the show), they are talking about me.  I would pronounce it Cami Mic-Cee, but who's counting?

I have been a loyal listener of YarnCraft for quite a long time!  The hosts are Liz and Zontee, who both have exciting jobs in the Lion Brand company. My question is answered in the first segment after the intro (approx. 5:18)!  I was asking about Liz's background and the work she does.  I heard that she was a designer, and since I am a big fan of the Lion Brand patterns, I wanted to see if she had designed any.  She didn't mention any patterns by name, but apparently she DOES have some sweaters in the collection!

Mmm. Yarn.  Image from lionbrand.com

Liz went on to explain her job and how she develops the products and yarn lines.  I think that's so interesting.  You've got to love textile production.  Well, if you're from my family, you do! 

She explained how fiber content dictates how a yarn will be used.  Considering a fiber's properties, like whether it is feltable, washable, absorbent, or if it has a certain drape, will determine its use.  Even among acrylic fibers, there is great variance when it comes to the shiny-matte spectrum, and also differences in the construction of the yarn itself.  She went on to discuss how plies contribute to stitch definition and whether or not a piece will keep its shape.  The construction combined with the fiber content will determine how well a yarn performs.  All of this is very important to a hard-core yarn crafter.

I bet you didn't think about all that goes into designing a simple ball of Vanna's Choice, did you?

Liz and her team watch the trends when it comes to yarn weights.  Did you notice how bulky and super-bulky were very "in" for winter 2010-2011?  I've noticed that the Lion Brand patterns have definitely picked up that trend.  I'm sure it will be on trend again for this coming winter, too.

This is a very interesting episode of YarnCraft, which is a podcast that I truly adore.  I'm always looking forward to the next one.  If you're not into podcasts yet, what are you waiting for?  Download iTunes and get started searching and downloading!  (You don't need an iPod to listen. I don't have one!)

How I Made Scratchy Yarn Like Buttah

Image Source - google images

Recently I made a great scarf. I had my dad try it on and he told me he didn't like how it felt on his neck.  Boo!  I can't say I'm surprised, because the yarns I used were Red Heart Super Saver, Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool, and a really rough, straight from the sheep wool I picked up in Oaxaca.

I'm not dissing on any of these yarns.  I adore them all, but let's be honest- they don't have the best reputations for being squooshy and buttery to the touch.

So let me tell you (step by step) what I did to make my scratchy scarf buttery smooth. Saturday Night Live character Linda Richman would say, "Like buttah."   

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Thanks to Leslie on Crochetbug for the Red Heart in vinegar tip!

1.  Soak the scarf for 20 min in a cold vinegar solution.  (Ratio of 1:64, vinegar to water should do.)

2.  Rinse

3.  Hand wash in cold water with shampoo. Do not agitate.

4.  Rinse twice

5.  Gently massage in a generous amount of hair conditioner into each part until it is saturated.

6.  Let sit 10 min.

7.  Soak saturated scarf in cold water for at least an hour. 

8.  Rinse twice.

9.  Gently get rid of excess water by lightly squeezing, and rolling in a towel.

10. Block garment by laying flat to dry.

I used cheap Suave shampoo and conditioner for this, and not only is my scarf like buttah, it also smells like apples.

Love Ravelry - Swaps & Gold Jewels!

I have been loving Ravelry.  How could I not?  It's simply the best social network out there, and better than that, it lets me organize all of my myriad yarn projects.  I have to say- the readers of Art, Like Bread only get a small sampling of my crafty endeavors.  I wanted to share a couple of cool collages that I made with the Picasa Photo Editor, which is available free from Google. 

The first is a swap package that I received as part of the Lion Brand Swaps Group on Ravelry (free login required to access group).  I was lucky enough to be paired with a pro swapper, Deniseworld of Voie de Vie Blog.  Boy, did she ever spoil me!  Here's a picture of all that was included in my package.

I'm lucky, right?

It was great to see the Windmill Bag of Crochet! Magazine up close and personal.  Denise did a great job and the bag is really useful.  Lucky me! I received a copy of the very magazine containing that pattern (Ravelry link) at the CHA show! 

For each swap, we choose a theme and this one was all about color.  I requested a natural color palette, and Denise kept it earthy for me.  :)  Very pretty.

The other thing I wanted to show you is part of my Halloween costume.  Maybe after seeing this, you can guess who I am going to be.  Needless to say, people, I'm taking it back & kickin' it old school. 

fresh!

I got the pattern for the chunky chain and the earrings from who else but Afya Ibomu, the brilliant author of Get Your Crochet On! Fly Tops and Funky Flavas.  I wish she'd come out with a third crochet book, but we'll see.  :)  The gold jewelry was a quick and fun project.  I think I can use them after Halloween, but we'll see.  I think the chunky chain needs a very special outfit to look current. 

Anatomy of a Swap

Hey there, everyone. I've always wanted to participate in a swap, and I finally signed up for real in Ravelry's Lion Brand Swaps group (free login required to access link). It's been a ton of fun putting my partner's package together, and it's also been fun seeing what everyone else has been getting.

The packages (valued at $20.00 USD) needed to include: a handmade item from at least one (1) skein of Lion Brand yarn and/or using a Lion Brand pattern, and any random summertime patterns, yarn, books, local items, etc.

Here's the thing- $20.00 USD can buy you a LOT more stuff here in Mexico than it can in the US, if you know where to shop. My swap partner said she liked bold colors and bright pastels, would like local yarn, and would enjoy any kind of useful crafty items, especially Tunisian hooks.
Strategy: 1. Attack the handmade item first. Since Lion Brand isn't so easy to come by here, I decided on a Lion Brand Pattern. On my third try, I ended up with the Greenmarket Lunch Tote (modified version). But I had a ball with my other tries!

2. Find the yarn next. I went to La Rueca, a local yarn store, and selected a yarn from Spain, in what I would consider to be a bright pastel.

3. Use up the remaining $20.00 at Telas Parisina. In case you are not familiar, Telas Parisina is a nation-wide fabric retailer in Mexico. They have all kinds of stuff at great prices. Sister Diane of Craftypod did a great review of the store on her blog. I had about 60 pesos to spend, and that goes a LONG way in notions at Parisina.

4. Provide suggestions for what to do with this random stuff! The package does look a little bit like a hodge-podge, but I'm proud of it. I'm sending some project suggestions, just in case!

The final swap package looked like this!

I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of my package!

Baby A gets an Owlie!

So, like, three of my friends are preggers right now. I used to do a set of 50 cards for each. Yeah. That was before they started getting pregnant all at the same time! So what's a girl to do?

Bibs.

I know nothing about babies. Nothing. And that's the way I'd like to keep it. But when I saw this cuuute Lion Brand pattern, I questioned the 6x6" size. Are babies who are that small able to sit up and eat? I'm just clueless.

I pondered this question (about baby size) for a while, until I realized I'd really better start, lest my project fall by the wayside. So I made an executive decision to double-strand my 100% cotton sport yarn and use an I-9/5.5mm hook. The resulting bib base is about 8x8. And just in case Mom & Dad still couldn't use it as a bib for some reason, I decided to make the straps removable so they could also use it as a washcloth.

As most things do, this project took a lot longer than I thought it would, but I am really pleased with the results!

The Owl Bib pattern is available for free on the Lion Brand website, and you'll need to log in. (It's worth it!) I've posted the mods here in case you'd like to replicate the project. They also have bib patterns in duckie, froggie, piggie and robot(tie?)! God I love Lion Brand.

TIES (make 2)
I/5.5mm hook
double-stranded yarn
Foundation: ch 5
1: sc into 2nd, and rep across (4 sc)
2: ch 1, turn sc into 2nd and next 3, ch 41 (4 sc and 41 ch)
3: turn sc into 2nd and sc up to the last 3, ch2, sk 1 sc, sc into last 2 (40 sc, followed by ch2 sp, then 2 sc)
4: ch 1, turn, sc into next 2, sc into one ch, sc into next sc. stop. (4 sc)
5: ch1, turn, sc into each. fasten off. Weave in ends. (4 sc)

FEET (make 2)
F/3.75 hook
Hold 1 strand beak yarn and one strand yellow embroidery floss together
Foundation: ch 7
1: sc into 2nd ch from hook, rep across (6 sc)
2: ch 1 turn, sc into 3, ch 3 (3 sc, 3 ch)
3: ch 1 turn, sc into 2nd ch from hook, rep across (6 sc)
4: ch 1 turn, sc into 3, ch 3 (3 sc, 3 ch)
5: ch 1 turn, sc into 2nd ch from hook, rep across (6 sc)

WINGS (make 2)

I/5.5mm hook
double-stranded yarn
foundation: doublechain 10
1: working in round, ch1, sc in first 2 ch, hdc, 4dc, hdc, sc, 4sc in end. Working into bottom of doublechain: sc, hdc, 4 dc, hdc, sc, slst, slst into ch1, tie off.
The end with 4sc is the top of the wing.

Lollipops Dispensed

I made this bag from a free pattern by Lion Brand. You will need to log in to access the pattern.

I jazzed up the bottom & handle after I ran out of white yarn.

I like the results.

The book is there to show you how HUGE this bag is.

Lion Brand has other, smaller versions of the same basic bag, too. Try the Golightly Tote or the Green Market Lunch Bag for a quicker, smaller project.

edit: By the way, I got the inspiration for the name of this bag from Fiona Wallice, the online psychologist as portrayed by Lisa Kudrow on Web Therapy. Click here for the hilarious episode!

A Ruffle Scarf

I crocheted up this scarf for my dear friend Helen. I wanted to do it for Christmas, but that didn't happen. The next big thing would be her birthday, so... I decided to give it to her early, so she could use it now. I used this pattern from Lion Brand. It worked really well. Instead of using the suggested yarn, I used some pretty, variegated acrylic that I bought in Puebla. I double-stranded it and used a size 10 hook. The only other modification I made was making it longer. I was impressed with how many different ways it could be worn. I see many more of these scarves in my future.