A Little Break and a Big Mess: Finished Projects and Fresh Starts

I’m back. Wow, it has been a busy, busy month. I have managed to get quite a few things finished, and I also started tackling my spring cleaning. That has turned into a complete craft room redo. I have a few pictures to share now, and in the next post I will talk all about the new room. It is super pretty and full of storage ideas and easy-to-make things, so be sure to check it out.

First up is a big one.

I finally finished my poncho. I am so excited to get this off the needles. I started it on September 24 and finished it on January 7. You can see all the details and the pattern link here:
https://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarning4asmile/my-easy-folded-poncho

The pattern is the Easy Folded Poncho by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas. I knit it using US 7 (4.5 mm) needles and Fibra Natura Oak yarn in the Tyme colorway. The fabric is light and airy, which makes it perfect for fall in Alabama. The yarn is soft, has a lovely feel in the fabric, and works up beautifully. I absolutely love how it turned out.

Next, I finished a hat for Halos of Hope. I used Red Heart With Love Premium yarn in the Aran colorway, dye lot 16021. The hat uses approximately 95.3 yards of yarn, which is about 0.26 of a skein, and I crocheted it with a 5.0 mm (H) hook.

The pattern is Clusters and Shells Hat by Yvonne Tate, and you can find it here:
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/clusters--shells-hat

The accent stitch is easy to work and creates a really nice texture. I did have a little trouble at first. The hat started flaring out, so I ripped it back. Then I lost my place and ended up winging part of it, but that is the finished result. I mailed it off on February 6 as part of the Team Knitmore Girls donation effort.

Halos of Hope is an organization I truly believe in. With several cancer survivors in my family, and some who were not, this cause is very close to my heart. You can read more about their mission here:
http://halosofhope.org/

If you are a knitter or crocheter and want to help, several podcasts are hosting friendly competitions to see who can donate the most hats. I am proudly on Team Knitmore. You can find the Knitmore Girls here:
https://www.knitmoregirls.com/

If you cannot make a hat, you can donate five dollars instead. That five dollars is enough to ship about thirty hats and also counts as a hat for the Knitmore Girls team. If you do make hats, be sure to label the yarn type and include care instructions, since some people have wool allergies. Knit Picks offers free printable care labels, which you can find here:
https://www.knitpicks.com/care-labels/c/300825

The last finished item is a Barn Raising square. I used leftover yarn from my first pair of socks. The yarn is Wisdom Yarns Marathon Socks in the Balsam Fir colorway. I used approximately 56.8 yards and knit it on US 2 (2.75 mm) needles. The yarn is beautiful but not very soft, so I soften it with a few drops of hair conditioner when washing.

I knit the square to about six and a half inches, then blocked it to seven inches. I used a crochet bind-off to give it a finished edge and make it easier to join later. You can see the bind-off I used here:
http://yarning4asmile.blogspot.com/2014/02/acrylic-square.html

The pattern is the Barn Raising Quilt by Shelley Mackie and Larissa Brown. If you have trouble finding the book, check with your local library. Mine was able to locate it from another library in Jackson, Mississippi, and have it sent over for me to borrow.

Sporting my crochet head warmer

I also fwore my crochet head warmerThis week. I used Red Heart Super Saver in Charcoal, dye lot 3950, with a 5.0 mm (H) hook. I could not locate the original blog pattern, and I mostly used it as a guide anyway. The flower was my own attempt, and while it is not perfect, it works.

That is all I have for today. I am hoping to get a few reviews done in the next couple of weeks, share a look at my new craft room, and, of course, have some new finished objects to show you.

Happy yarning.

Awesome prize pack I won from Craftsy

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