My First Madelinetosh Project

 

So, as you may know, I am a newbie crocheter.  I took my first crochet lesson back in February.  Since then, I have definitely found, yet another, crafting addiction.  I love how portable crochet is!  Today in my class my students are winding down the year by watching The Hobbit and identifying elements of the archetypal hero’s journey from the storyline.  I brought my crochet with me today, so that I could work on it while my students watch the movie over the next three days.  I haven’t had a chance to actually crochet at all because I’ve been busy removing everything from my classroom walls and packing up my teaching stuff, but I do plan to use a little of my planning time to decompress and crochet.

The project I’m working on right now is a cowl (and up until about a week ago, I could have still worn it here in Denver! – It’s been unseasonably cold recently).  I’m using that gorgeous yellow Madelinetosh thread I wrote about a few weeks ago.  I picked it up while on vacation in Portland at KnitPurl.  Love that store!!  It was very inspirational perusing all of the beautiful fiber in their store.  Now I also want to learn to knit!  I will be taking a class sometime this summer.   This is my first foray with Madelinetosh, and I can understand the cult following with this fiber.  My local shop seems to sell out all…the…time!  It is soft and so easy to work with!  Love.  I also have some more Madelinetosh from the same trip but in a darker, eggplant variegated color.

How about you quilters out there?  Any fiber favorites?  Since I’m new to the game, I would love some suggestions.  I recently bought some of these fun little Bonbons.  They are from Lion Brand, and I got them at JoAnn’s.  I am such a sucker for cute little colorful things!!  Aren’t they so adorable?  I have been using them to practice making crochet flowers.  Lion Brand has 6 different color assortments.  I have the “Celebrate” and “Party”, both are metallic (sparkly!  another one of my vices).  But next up on my list are the “Beach” colors.  Such great colors – not sparkly though.

I hope you are all looking forward to the long Memorial Day weekend.  I have no set plans, and I am really excited about that!  My goal is to get comfy somewhere in the sun and read my book and do some crafting!  Sounds dreamy doesn’t it?

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Enabling My Craft Addiction

Today I had a great, fun day with my good buddy Maria. We took a beginning crochet class together at the cutest little shop in Castle Rock called Stash. It is in a tiny, old little house and each room is full of skeins and rolls of yarn and the most fabulous projects ever! I was immediately drawn in to the colors, the textures, the possibilities! I learned how to chain stitch, single crochet and double crochet. My least favorite part was the foundation stitches but with more practice it won’t be so daunting. I’ve been practicing and then ripping out and practicing again. My hands are a bit sore, but a good sore. Here is my practice swatch.

I couldn’t leave without a few skeins of beautiful yarn that hopefully will soon become a scarf or a cowl. It’s Liberty Wool. That’s about all I know about it. Oh and it’s made in Italy, which is where the best of pretty much everything is made, sorry USA but when it comes to the finer things in life: shoes, chocolate, espresso, pasta, jewelry and now yarn you can’t beat Italy. Am I partial? Of course. I am from Italian stock, so I’m hoping to channel my Italian Great Grandmother, Noni Alice Fellin, who was very talented at crochet. My family was blessed with a strong crafting talent, so I’m hoping to become skilled at the craft of crochet now. My Uncle Bill makes the most amazing crochet items and I’ve always hoped to be able to make beautiful projects like he does. Practice makes perfect, so practice I must!

I also couldn’t leave without this fabulous sticker for my car. It is awesome!! I’m now a knerd!

What are you all working on this weekend?

Hugs,
E