Keep sane this semester

On Monday, I'll be starting my graduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh.  Woo hoo!

And I'm trying to overcome my ADD, non-structured, completely random nature but actually scheduling a crafting event on a regular basis.  There a super little coffee shop in my neighborhood called the Sugar Cafe.  They are really supportive of community based groups and so I'll be hosting a yarn-in every-other week there.  Maybe every week if I can find a co-host.  Yay! Community yarn-ins!

Two-strand variegation baby blanket

I have to admit that I’m a lazy crafter.  I usually have more yarn, ideas and patterns than I have patients or time.  Therefore, anytime I can make something squishy, yummy, and cute, I’m there.  I don’t recall my first introduction to the two-stranded method of knitting/crochet, but it’s a great time saver.  I believe my first experience in a multi-strand work was in making a charity scarf.  The Three Rivers Crochet group had been given a number of yarns and not all of them were great scarf material.  However, if the novelty yarn was mixed with a regular weight yarn, a very cool item could be made for a person in need.

Several novelty yarns crocheted together.

 

Some more examples of how yarns were combined.

However, if you were to mix two regular weight yarns together, the result is a lovely, squishy material perfect for cuddling.  My first blanket was knit and took me some time to complete.  It was for my friend, Louis’s, newest grand-baby and I wanted to get it done quickly and creatively.  My friend is a prolific and awesome knitter/crocheted, so I needed to create something she wouldn’t do (aka something super simple).

Louis's work.  My baby blanket photo is lost...oh well.

Now I have realized I have a bunch of baby yarns gathering dust in my collection.  This is what I came up with.  Two-strand, variegated pastel strips of double-crochet.  My original plan was to sew them directly to one another as my friend Rose did.  

Diane and Rose from Three Rivers Crochet donating a blanket.

However, the colors are different enough that I’m now unsure if that’s the best method.  Ah, the pains of impulsive creativity.  I also had an idea of embroidering a simple design over the panels to unify them even more.  What should I do?

Now what?

Things that catch my eye: Lace patterns

My friend on Facebook has Pinterest and there are some really cute things she finds...somewhere.  It got me thinking about the creative process and how I get inspired to create things.  I'm a very visual person but coupled with ADD, I find I don't just pick-up things by osmosis; I absorb things. It's called hyper-focusing.  However, I often forget where and when I encountered a pattern or color I like.  So, here are a few things I've found through Google Image and liked:

 

www.sweaterbabe.com

Land O Lace

Land O Lace

   

Sarah's Yarns

Sarah's Yarns

Aesthetic Nest

  

Woven Thoughts

Sandra Hanson

Lush Yarns

Knit/Wit

String or Nothing: Tangled Knitting Thoughts