h o o k e d *o n* f l o w e r s

So, I've always wanted to learn how to make cute little crochet flowers. Crochet has always hurt my hands a bit, so I never learned how to crochet. But, my desire to learn how to make the flowers took over.

So, one night I downloaded a free pattern and crocheted a few flowers. The flowers were cute, I learned how to do a few crochet stitches, but something about the flowers weren't how I had always hoped.

So began the experimenting. 

First I played around with the center stitches until I found a stitch combo that I liked the look of. 
Then came the petals. These took a little more playing around with. How long to make each chain for each petal to be crocheted onto. Finally got that right. Then the final size and shape of the petals themselves. I change them a little for each flower, and I think one stitch is not really a proper stitch (but it's what completes the look of the larger petals, so I do it anyway) but have my formula down. 

My first crochet design! 

Ok, so it's just simple flowers. But I have become addicted to making them. 

And yes, making them make my hands hurt. But, still, I have made a small army of flowers.

Now to just figure out what the heck to do with them all, lol.

Stuff for my Feet

So I've been knitting for almost 3 years now, but never took up sock knitting. I didn't get it; I don't like making things twice (even gloves feel like a chore) and I didn't want to make something that will hide in boots or shoes and get wore out and abused. 

But a wonderful yarn dyer, Pandia's Jewels decided to host a Sock-A-Long for January, so I decided since I own some of her lovely sock yarn, why not? Might as well give it a try.

But first I decided to make some fun slippers using Lion Brand's Amazing yarn to see what I thought of making things for my feet. I chose Bea's Slippers, and I knit these just in time for the cold weather that blew through the midwest (our wind chill temps here got down to -48, brrrr! That's booger-freezing temps. I went out around midnight to look for a cat I heard crying by the house... which I unfortunately couldn't find, and every breath I took I could feel my nose hairs freezing up, horrible feeling, lol).

Bea's Slippers on Ravelry

I enjoyed making them, the construction was interesting (you start from the center of the sole and work your way out and up). They are simple but look very interesting. I love the look of Lion Brand's Amazing yarn, though I don't enjoy working with it.

So after finding out that I didn't mind too much knitting for my feet, I moved on and started my socks.

I picked out an easy, but cute pattern, Hermione's Everyday Socks. 
The pattern was well written, and I felt a perfect choice for a first time sock knitter. I didn't get bored with making two, they went quicker than I expected, and ooo... hand knit socks, sized just for my feet, feel oh-so-good. They feel much more comfortable than I ever expected them to, and I think I am on my way to becoming addicted to knitting socks.

h e r m i o n e  on ravelry

w i c k e d   s t o r m

And for anyone that follows my blog, 

I did finish my sweater last month, huzzah!