Yarnjeannie's Crochet Cache

It's Halloween night and the costumed kiddies are out and about! I really enjoy seeing the little ones dressed up - we've had Harry Potter, princesses, a king, Eeyore, a wolfman who got quite insulted that I called him the big bad wolf, and lots more. One little Batman jumped about 6 inches off the ground when I answered the knock at the door. Probably because he could hear the two dogs barking like crazy here inside the house. At least I think that was the reason - I hope I'm not that scary! I remember when my brothers, sisters and I used to go out for Halloween. My mom kept a bag of old clothes (the "rag bag") in the cellar, and each October we'd go through it to see what we could salvage and turn into costumes. We designed many a scarecrow and hobo costume, we were ghosts, monsters, clowns, and steelworkers and even "Granny Clampett". That was my sister - she looked like Irene Ryan's twin! I don't think that any of us even owned a ...

Been having back trouble this weekend. Nasty muscle spasms for 3 days, and so I've been taking it easy. Good excuse to break out the yarn and hook. Not too strenuous! I owe my hairdresser a baby gift and so I put together a hat and poncho set. It's made with baby print, white and pink worsted weight yarn. The hat actually started out as a round ripple afghan. Part way into the afghan, I wondered how it would look as a hat. I like it! Much as I hate to say it though, I would like to go back to work tomorrow. That would mean the pain is lessening! As long as I have someone who can pull me up out of my chair (or wheel me down the hallway), I should be fine!

These are some of my favorite items to make! I've gifted these to people, and donated some to auctions to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. I know 2 little girls who were the happy winners of some of these items!

I am hooked on round ripple afghans right now! I finished one rainbow afghan for my former boss, who is expecting her first baby in about 3-4 weeks. I missed her baby shower last week, so I dropped it off today. She seemed to like it a lot. I used Red Heart worsted weight yarns, and I've just recently started washing and drying the items I make. Red Heart seems to be so stiff and scratchy lately. But wash it on a gentle cycle for a few minutes and dry it with a dryer sheet and it comes out so soft! I have another RR in the works - also in rainbow colors, but in pastel shades. I haven't finished it yet. It's worked with two strands of yarn for a blended look. It's going to be massive, though! I goofed and made each section 4 rows wide. I should have used 3 rows. I'll post a photo when it's finished. I guess it will make a good "mom and baby" afghan! LOL!

What a day! My husband Wayne and I just got back from the University of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. He had a new patient appointment and I had a return visit scheduled. We started out before 9:00 am, and it's an hour's ride by train to the hospital. We arrived at 10:30 for appointments at 11:00 and 11:45. OMG - neither one of us saw the doctor until almost 2:00 pm! There were medical students in and out. Good thing Wayne brought a book and I brought my yarn and crochet hook. I started out crocheting on the train and continued throughout the wait at the hospital. The medical student who stopped in to go over history with us commented to me that we had both been waiting for a while. I agreed - I told him that my crochet project started out as a Barbie doll-sized rug, and was now well into scarf mode, since I'd added over a hundred rows. I told him that I would like to get out before I had to consider turning it into a hallway runner! He laughed, said he...