Martha Winger

MW Has A New Blog Home

2011-08-12T14:33:00.000-07:00

Visit me at my new blog home:

Finished Projects July 2011

2011-07-25T20:44:00.000-07:00

The hook has been at work quite a bit lately so I need to stop and show you what I've been doing!

This is my first Winter Special Olympics scarf donation. I used half double crochet stitches and worked in the back stitch only at the color changes for a slight cable effect. The dimensions had to be 60" x 6" and I was happy with the way it turned out. The next one is going to be more of a sampler design or basket weave stitch - I can't decide. I'm using the foundation single crochet method for the first rows and it really makes a nice finished edge. Watch Alice Merlino, AKA Futuregirl show you how to do it!

I was also very flattered to receive a special request order from a reader in Australia for a cowl/scarf/hat pattern I showed on my blog last year. Christine of Golden Lily Crafts wrote: "Here in Australia it is blisteringly cold and as I walk my dogs daily this cowl would be perfect. I can start off with it wrapped around my head and as I warm up it can fold down to a scarf."

We exchanged emails sorting out color choices and shipping details and I was so happy to be able to ship it off! Word to the wise. When you buy postage online, double check the dimensions of the box you choose. I unknowingly chose a box that barely fit the cowl and hope it doesn't get too squished on it's journey across the pond. Thank you, Christine for being my first client! I hope the cowl gives you years of enjoyment!

Hitchcock on the Hill

2011-07-17T19:48:00.000-07:00

Forest Park is home to so many amazing museums and events all year round from Ice Skating at Steinberg Rink to star gazing at the Science Center, to watching the prairie dogs at St. Louis Zoo. Every Friday in July, the St. Louis Art Museum hosts Friday movies outdoors on a giant, inflated movie screen. We couldn't believe our good fortune to have 90 degree weather instead of 100 degree weather this night. Four days before, I attended my son's swim meet at at balmy 110 degrees at 7:00 pm.

The movie was Rear Window and I hadn't watched it since college. Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly. Swoon! I'm sure January Jones took a cue from Grace Kelly for her role on Mad Men. I found myself noticing the amazing clothes and the sets. There's nothing like a Hitchcock thriller, in my book. Perhaps we'll check on Vertigo and North by Northwest and Dial M for Murder on the old Netflix. Notice I didn't say Psycho. Shiver.

Are you a Hitchcock fan? What's your favorite Hitchcock film?

Field Trip to Upcycle Exchange Equals Stash SCORE!

2011-07-12T17:34:00.000-07:00

My friend sent me a link to a new shop that opened in south St. Louis, the Upcycle Exchange. It employs a new business model - you name your price for upcycled craft supplies, yarn, fabric, notions, scrapbooking supplies, art supplies, crafty books, magazines and more. Items for sale have been donated at the shop or at one of many indie craft establishments in the area. You pick the items you want and enter the price you want to pay in the store's Square-based checkout system. And 10% of the proceeds benefit a different local charity each month.

Autumn Wiggins, a St. Louis indie craft rock star and founder of the Strange Folk Festival, opened the shop in 2009. The open structure pricing model has proven to be sustainable and Wiggins is meeting and exceeding her overhead costs. There are already plans to open Upcycle Exchanges in Detroit and other cities.

And can we just say, how much fun it is to shop here? Autumn has a real eye for merchandising and terrific storage ideas. She used ordinary storage bins and jars, then painted a patch of chalkboard paint on them for easy labeling. Everything is stored in Ikea units and the place has a cool combination vibe of modern and pressed-tin-ceiling vintage.

There is such a huge variety of materials I had to stop myself and focus on key items I needed. Since I love to dabble in so many different crafts, it would have been sooo easy to go overboard.

My stash from today's visit included:

3 hanks of handspun alpaca/wool blend yarn
Buttons (for seat belt cozies)
Fresh water pearl beads
Cotton crochet thread
Buttons for softie cat eyes
Scrapbook paper in basic colors
Wine corks (for mulling spices gifts)

Now it's time to get busy and use some of this stash to start on Christmas goodies!

Crochet for the Winter Special Olympics

2011-07-07T19:23:00.000-07:00

Special Olympians Wisconsin 2010, courtesy of scarvesforspecialolympics.org

Have you heard about this project to crochet or knit scarves for Winter Special Olympians? The scarves are given to each of the athletes and there are over 30 states hosting events. Last year, over 26,000 scarves were donated.

2010 Special Olympics Scarf Project website

The scarves can be any pattern as long as the finished dimensions are 6 inches by 54-60 inches long. The image gallery offers lots of inspiration. I love this scarf created for the Northern California Special Olympics and the combination stitches and patterns.

Image courtesy of scarvesforspecialolympics.org. Scarf created by Esther Hsiao Tsai

We were shopping over the weekend and I found the Red Heart colors needed for the this year's scarves (red and navy)and started hooking! My plan is to get our local crochet group and church folks involved and see how many scarves we can get together for the Illinois athletes participating at the Galena, IL games.

Check out this page for the list of states and the deadlines.

I'll post progress photos soon!

Crochet Apple Cozy

2011-06-27T18:22:00.000-07:00

You knew this was in my future. Couldn't wait to use some of my cotton bits and bobs to make an apple cozy. Who doesn't throw an apple in their bags and take it out for lunch only to find nicks from keys and crochet hooks?

I used #4 weight yarn instead of DK as the pattern called for and a "G" hook. So I didn't need as many rows and kept an apple handy to judge my progress. This worked up so quickly! One thing I changed was instead of skipping a stitch to do the decreases, I crocheted two stitched together. The skipped stitches were too obvious with the larger gauge.

Funny how the simplest, quickest projects can make me so happy! What projects have you made lately that make you happy?

Crochet Finds Roundup

2011-06-24T15:00:00.000-07:00

The house is quiet so it's time for a bit of blog hopping. It's so fun when I blog I read leads me to another and another and so on and so on. Here's where my hopping led me today:

Image courtesy of The Coral Reef Project.

Yarn Over Pull Through - video tutorial on invisible join using double crochet. This post was from 2008 so I clicked on the home page and wow! A hyperbolic crochet exhibit in Hawaii and one of Hypercycloid's crochet transverse coral pieces was included! I have admired hyperbolic crochet for a long time and demonstrating physics and crochet at the same time would be nirvana! It's definitely on my bucket list!

Image courtesy of Mollie Makes.

Molly Makes - This site is home of a UK publication of the same name. They just made a video to promote their latest issue and it was filmed at The Makery in Bath, UK. This shop is a dream! To have a place you can just drop in and work on your project with other crafty types, say during your lunch hour. Those crochet apple cozies are the bomb! So, I have a lot of catching up to do reading this blog/magazine!

Crochet Seat Belt Cozy and Free Pattern

2011-06-13T11:35:00.000-07:00

Is anyone else bothered by their seat belt strap during the summer? When I wear t-shirts or tank tops, my seat belt strap feels like it's chafing my skin, especially if I get a bit of sunburn. Crochet a simple seat belt cozy that buttons onto your belt and viola! Problem solved.

Free Crochet Seat Belt Cozy Pattern

You'll need:
1 ball of cotton yarn, medium (4) weight (such as Sugar and Cream)
Crochet hook size G or H.
Two buttons with shanks, 1/2 to 5/8"
Needle and matching thread

Row 1: Ch 27. Turn.
Row 2: DC in second chain from hook and across to end of row, Ch. 2. Turn.
Rows 3 to 11: DC in each stitch; Ch. 2, turn at end of each row.
Row 12-14: DC across in each st, at end of row, sk last stitch, Ch. 2 and turn. (This will decrease rows to the end, making a tab.
Fasten off yarn at end of Row 14, weave in ends.

With same or contrasting color yarn, SC around outside of cozy.

For buttons, wrap cozy around your seat belt and mark button placement. Sew on buttons and enjoy your new comfortable seat belt!

What projects have you designed to solve an everyday need or problem?

What to do with a pound of vanilla beans!

2011-06-06T06:55:00.000-07:00

The first time I saw anyone use vanilla beans was Ina Garten on Barefoot Contessa. She said vanilla beans were expensive so I dismissed buying them myself, putting vanilla beans in the same category as saffron. I'd also never seen them for sale in my usual shopping spots either.

The first time I saw/smelled/used vanilla beans was when a swap partner sent me some as part of my package. Could not believe how good they smelled! I promptly made vanilla sugar and won't be without it in my cupboard!

Vanilla Sugar

Take 2-3 vanilla beans and place them in a mason jar of sugar. Your sugar will be flavored with vanilla in a week or so. Just keep adding sugar to the jar; the beans will last for years.

I've read online for years about how to make your own vanilla extract. I just never got around to doing it until a co-worker asked if I wanted to be part of her online vanilla bean order. So, my pound of Tahitian vanilla beans arrived and we started our homemade vanilla extract.

Vanilla Extract

Ingredients

A bottle of cheap vodka (or other grain alcohol. I've heard rum is also delicious.)
3/4 pound of vanilla beans

Make a slit in each vanilla bean and drop into the alcohol. Let sit in your pantry for 3 to 4 months. Remove the beans, strain if desired and enjoy your vanilla extract!

Finally, I put some of the saved vanilla beans into homemade ice cream. (Slit open the bean, scrap out some of the seeds and add to ice cream base.) It's the same flavor boost as using orange zest in cooking. Very intense flavor and sooo yummy!

So I hope this inspires you to get some vanilla beans and enjoy using them in your kitchen!

Baby Baptism Embroidery Gift

2011-05-30T19:50:00.000-07:00

This past weekend marked a special occasion in our family - the baptism of our nephew! To commemorate the event, I embroidered a shell and the date on muslin. I'm trying to decide if I want to frame it with his photo or create blocks for baby's first year quilt. I could embroider a baby shoe and the date for his first steps and some curly hair and the date of his first haircut. What to do, what to do?

Cotton Crochet in the Round for Summer

2011-05-23T09:36:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned before that I love road trips and the chance to do a lot of crochet. These are three projects I've made in the car, no pattern, no reading required. Just cotton yarn and a hook. Also, a drink bottle or soda can helps for gauge.

One of my favorite cotton yarns is Cotton Tots. It doesn't split, it's sturdy and feels so rich and thick worked up. When I learned to crochet, one of the first projects I made were baby wash cloths with this yarn, yummy.

These can cozies and drink bottle covers were just crocheted in the round. I used the net stitch for the bottle cover with a chain three.

The coasters were made with Sugar and Cream tweed yarn. The coaster holder is just a coaster with decreasing rows to make the sides. My mom showed me how to add the edge by doing a front post stitch for the last row of the coaster. We use these all over the house and I need to make more when we hit the road this summer.

Hope this inspires you to pick up your hook this summer! These make great gifts, too!

Using Google Keyword Search to Increase Blog Traffic

2011-05-17T09:06:00.000-07:00

Sometimes my day job spills over into my hobby pursuits ...

If you blog, you’re probably interested in getting more readers. Ever wonder what search terms are most commonly used to find more info about your area of expertise? I read an interesting article about tweaking blog posts to get higher Google search result placement on ProBlogger. Basically, you can use Google’s Keyword Search Tool to find you which words are being used to find websites and blogs like yours. By tweaking your posts slightly to use most-used search terms, you can increase traffic because your website will come up higher in the list of search results in Google.

Using my own blog as an example, I searched for “crochet” and got these results:

So I learned people are searching for crochet patterns, versus crochet tutorials or crochet directions. I could tweak a tutorial title or content, for example, to include “pattern” to get higher search result placement. Looking further down the list, “free” patterns and “baby” patterns and “how to crochet” are also common search terms for crochet. Do I have something to offer in these areas that would attract new readers? I’m reminded looking at this list that I never wrote a post about my new nephew’s teddy bear hat project.

You can also use the Google Analytics tool to see what keywords brought people to your blog. (If you’re not using Google Analytics, visit this link if you’d like to learn more.

Also, in the Blogger dashboard under Stats>Traffic Sources, you can view the keywords used to find your site:

There is a fine line between using keywords to dictate your content versus to focus and refine it. If I only followed a keyword strategy to create content, whether I was interested in a certain subject or not, it would backfire. But if I use Google Keyword Search and other tools available, to discover which topics my audience is interested in and choose the words that get them to my blog, I can increase readership.

How do you choose crochet project colors?

2011-05-13T13:24:00.000-07:00

My crochet Japanese flower motif is growing by leaps and bounds as I add two motifs a night. As I work with the colors of cotton yarn, there are just no bad color combinations. I've seen these amazing creations online and thought there was some magical formula for making it all turn out well. The only secret, that I can tell, is to buy colors you really love and get going. There are eight colors I'm using in this project that range from light pink, to dark purple to turquoise and tangerine. It does seem that there needs to be a balance between light, medium and dark hues but otherwise, it's all good! I try to mix up the color combinations and join the motifs together as I go so I don't have a project at the end of my project. (Hate that.) I've also been weaving in the ends with the next row so the color changes don't drive me crazy.

Making this motif shawl has turned on the light bulb for my gardening also. I've never just tried randomly mixing colors and types of plants in our planters. This spring, I just bought a bunch of flowers that were full-sun rated and mixed them in patterns I liked. It was so joyful to just plant and not try to control the outcome so much.

How do you choose colors for your projects? Do you use a certain color theory? Have you ever just gone with your gut reaction to choosing colors that "go together?"

Got Loopy with Mary Beth Temple and Crochet Giveaway!

2011-05-09T19:14:00.000-07:00

It was very exciting to be Mary Beth Temple's BlogTalkRadio show, "Getting Loopy." I volunteered to be her guest after she put out the call on Twitter. Couldn't believe I had enough to say about crochet to fill 40 minutes but before I knew it, we were out of time. Thanks, Mary Beth for making me feel so relaxed and welcome!

Mary Beth is also doing a giveaway for a free cloche hat and fingerless glove set I crocheted to one lucky winner. Listen to the show for details and good luck!

Mary Beth Temple is published crochet and knit designer. You can find her patterns at hooked4life.com.

Listen to the show here:

Listen to internet radio with Mary Beth Temple on Blog Talk Radio

Moms Who Rock the Hook

2011-05-04T17:32:00.000-07:00

All my life, I have been surrounded by handmakers. This post salutes all the moms in my family who have created with crochet but I could easily do five more posts showcasing these same amazing ladies and their quilting and knitting.

This Crochet barbie dress was made by my mother when I was seven or eight years old. When I told her I was working to reproduce great-grandma's venetian lace collar, she said I was crazy. But look at the tiny stitches in this dress! This dress was taken on and off many a Barbie in the last 40 years, including my daughter's dolls. It's stood the test of time and wear and tear. I love the bright yellow thread she used and the sassy strapless pattern.

My grandma crocheted these flower trivets for Christmas this year. They are double layered and very thick for protecting tables and counter tops. She has always loved bright colors and combines them in unusual and wonderful ways. Grandma Marge also makes socks, slippers and all matter of useful objects.

Filet crochet is my Aunt Marlene's specialty. It boggles my mind to look at these stitches and the intricate pattern of this piece, which spells our last name and measures over 36 inches long. I cherish this special Christmas gift and think of my aunt every day.

My mother-in-law made this crochet bear for my son when he was a toddler. I think this was way before the amigurami craze. She passed away almost a decade ago and I regret not asking her more about her crochet projects. She also crocheted a beautiful broomstick lace afghan for our first house and we still cuddle under it on the couch. Her crochet is a lasting legacy for us.

My step mom crocheted this fun, granny square afghan as a Christmas gift for my daughter. I love her color choices and the yarn she used has withstood many washings and dryings. It is usually laying on the back of our sofa all winter and it is so cheery on a dreary day.

So here's to all the Moms who rock the hook! You inspire me every day as I appreciated you lasting gifts of crochet.

My crochet spot with the best helper ever

2011-04-25T08:47:00.000-07:00

Anywhere is fair game to be a crochet spot. At a sports practice, in the car waiting for pick up, waiting room, lunch room, at a swim meet ... that's why I love crochet. It's the most portable craft! But, there's one spot in our house, "the wedge" in our family room sectional that attracts people and pets alike. The light is perfect, there is an end table at your right and outlet close by for charging laptops.

I've been bitten by the japanese flower motif bug! All the bright cotton colors for spring make me so joyous. This is going to be a crochet shawl to wear in over-conditioned restaurants, at work and to the Muny. I'm using dribs and drabs of Paton's Grace and Tahki Cotton Classics. Lovely stuff to work with!

Under Construction and the ABCs of Me

2011-04-19T15:10:00.000-07:00

Progress on vintage crochet grape and leaf motif reproduction.

Thanks to Allyson of The Sweatshop of Love blog for the idea to fill in the ABCs of Me while my house, crochet projects and life are under construction at the moment.

Our basement two months ago. We are 85% finished and I'll post finished photos soon!

A. Age: 47.5
B. Bed size: King.
C. Chore you hate: Cleaning toilets.
D. Dogs: Had a dachshund named Heidi for 12 years from kindergarten to high school. Now we have two gray tabbies, almost two years old.
E. Essential start to your day: A shower to clear my head, i.e. the cobwebs.
F. Favorite color: Hooker green like the center of these blossoms.

G. Gold or silver: Silver.
H. Height: 5’4”
I. Instruments you play: No musical talent AT ALL.
J. Job title: Web developer
K. Kids: Mary and Matt
L. Live: St. Louis
M. Mom’s name: Marla. Our female family members' names start with “Mar” for three generations now. Margie, Marla, Marlene, Marti, Marian, Mary.
N. Nicknames: Martha Winger
O. Overnight hospital stays: Gallbladder surgery 11 years ago.
P. Pet peeve: The dishes that make it to the sink but not into the dishwasher.
Q. Quote from a movie: “Isn’t that a little excessive for the Carolina leagues?”
R. Right or left handed: Right.
S. Siblings: One sister, Marian.
T. Time you wake up: 6:00 am, weekday or weekend.
U. Underwear: Usually.
V. Vegetables you dislike: Jicama.
W. What makes you run late: Procrastination and a warm bed.
X. X-Rays you’ve had: Broke my foot when my daughter was four months old. Smooth.
Y. Yummy food you make: Chicken enchilidas
Z. Zoo – favorite animal: Giraffes.

Bella is thinking,"What's all the racket, people?"

Crochet Trimmed T-shirt

2011-04-06T05:08:00.000-07:00

While on our recent car trip, I wanted to learn new stitches with a triangle motif from Crochet School. Three attempts later, I was happy with the results. Since I was using my stash, no chance of making a shawl or scarf. What to do with my motif? How about sewing it to a t-shirt with a neckline too low for my taste. And then I realized if I washed it, the motif would stretch out. So I sewed snaps around the motif and the neck of the shirt so I could remove it to wash it. Crazy, I know.

Now I am psyched to adorn more t-shirts with the Japanese flower motif. Never a shortage of ideas, just a shortage of time.

Join the Ultimate Blog Party

2011-04-05T08:09:00.000-07:00

Have you heard about the Ultimate Blog Party sponsored by 5 Minutes for Mom? What a cool idea and four days into the party, there are over 700 blogs listed. Wow! I'd better start hopping.

This blog started three years ago but lacked focus until this year, when I took the ultimate blogging class from Diane Gilleland at Crafty Pod. Now I have a focus, direction and excitement about blogging my crochet and craft projects! Plus, I have started some great friendships with other crafty creatives.

My favorite projects include jewelry, accessories, and home decor. Thank Mom for re-teaching me to crochet about 5 years ago because when she taught me as a kid, it didn't stick. There are five (that we know of) generations of crochet, quilt and knitting talent in our family. I recently started a project to reproduce my great grandmother's venetian lace collar with a pattern from 1912. Still making those tiny grapes and trying to figure out the leaf directions but it's coming along.

Thanks for stopping by my blog! I'll be making the rounds soon myself!

Do You Blarter?

2011-04-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

Blarter is the brainchild of Molly Dunham of Foothill Home Companion that brings bloggers together to barter goods and services. She gives organization to a practice she and a lot of others have been using for years. I'm going to have to go home, look at my stash and figure out what I want to barter. What a great way to clean your craft supplies and send them to a good home!

Check it out!

Inspiration Thursday

2011-03-31T14:23:00.000-07:00

Thursdays are my planning day for weekend projects. If I need any materials, I can get them early or at least have my list first thing Saturday morning. So here are some of the pieces that inspire me to do great things:

(from left to right)

If only I had the figure I had twenty years ago, I would sooo wear a skirt like the Rag & bone over my suit to the pool. But I'll never be out of shape to wear the crochet and leather driving gloves.

What's on the hook for you this weekend?

Cruisin' and Crochetin' 2011

2011-03-25T15:56:00.000-07:00

We took a bit of a break and went on a Spring Break Cruise this year to Mexico. Between the day trip to our departure and the five days on the ship, I had lots of time to work on crochet projects.

This granny square cuff was made on the way to New Orleans, our departure city. We had to make a quick stop for me to buy more yarn before we set sail.

Had to have biegnets from Cafe Du Monde on Decauter. Lovely sunny day to wait in line and watch the busy traffic. The cafe au lait was strong and delicious with the hot, crispy beignets covered in powdered sugar. My son said they were definitely worth the wait.

One of our stops was Cozumel, Mexico where we went to an adventure park for ziplining, repelling and snorkeling. I'd never done anything like it and tried not to freak out at the top of the first tower. But it was exhilarating! We will try some local zipline places this summer!

Of course, I couldn't just sit in the sun doing nothing, so I worked on a mini granny square necklace. Very happy with the results.

Relaxing trip, lovely weather, wonderful food. As we drove North towards home yesterday, the temperature fell ten degrees every couple of hours. Woke up at home this morning to blooming Bradford pear trees and new snowfall. So lucky to have had our tropical break!

Moral of the Story: Get the Right Yarn

2011-03-14T20:16:00.000-07:00

Feeling a bit discouraged with my progress on the Tressa scarf. My yarn choice did not work well for the pattern. This silk bamboo blend yarn is too smooth to hold the loop joins the pattern calls for and it isn't thick enough. I can tighten the joins but as soon as I move the scarf around, they go slack. Plus, after reading the Ravelry forums on this pattern, I realized there were conflicting instructions on how far apart to set the loom. I used the larger 4" spacing and it seems those who used a 3" spacing had better results. So, I will frog the two strips I have already joined and try a single crochet join to see if that works better. I love the chevron pattern and hope I can find a solution to my woes!

Great Grandma's Antique Venetian Crochet Collar

2011-03-08T07:23:00.000-08:00

This Grape and Leaf motif collar was crocheted by my great grandmother, Ethyl Cole Sikes Mafies. This PDF has the pattern for a very similar Grape and Leaf collar to the one made by Grandma Ethyl. These collars were worn over an "everyday" dress for church on Sunday.

Grandma Ethyl is pictured with her sister and sister in law and is seated at the lower left. They are sporting these amazing Victorian era hats and dresses.

This website has an amazing collection of antique knitting, crochet and tatting patterns.

On the hook now ... I'm working to replicate this pattern for a cardi makeover. The original pattern calls for No. 40 crochet thread but I'm using #10. Though my stitches aren't as tiny as hers, I am excited about the way it's turning out.

Lucille's Shop

2011-03-03T12:57:00.001-08:00

Columbia 754 l a photo by cemetarian on Flickr.

My mom worked at Lucille's yarn and fabric shop in Columbia in the early 1970s. After I told her about my newfound love for chunky, oversized crochet, she told me that the girls from Stephen's College would come in the shop to buy yarn. They were combining three or four strands to make super chunky afghans, ponchos and sweaters. So I guess there really is nothing new under the sun! If you were a Stephen's girl or remember Lucille's tell us your story!

This photo is from cemetarian's Flickr pool group called "Campus Fashions." Love it!

Hairpin Lace Scarf - WIP Update

2011-02-28T12:09:00.000-08:00

Progess! Working on the second strip of hairpin lace for the Tressa scarf I'm making from Wrapped in Crochet. You see the groups of fifteen loops I've marked that I'll need to join the strips together in a chevron pattern. My goal is to finish this scarf THIS WEEK. There, I've announced it to the blogging world. There is a St. Louis Crochet Guild meet up tomorrow night and I should be able to make great progress!

Spring Crochet Project Inspiration

2011-02-23T07:04:00.000-08:00

While I'm loving my chunky wool, I'm looking forward to Spring projects, too. These images inspire ideas for cute tank tops embellished with crochet, cute beanies for sunny days and lovely beaded necklaces.

Chunky Crochet Cowls

2011-02-16T18:58:00.000-08:00

Inspired by the knitted version by Allyson of Sweatshop of Love, these chunky cowls were crocheted using Debbie Bliss Como super chunky wool and cashmere yarn. This yarn was so easy to handle and has a light but sturdy feel. I had to order more of it. The colors are more vivid than their website photos.

The ivory cowl uses two strands and was crocheted with an "S" 19mm hook made by Turn of the Century Designs. The striped cowl was crocheted single strand with a 10mm hook.

These were very quick and fun projects. You'll see more chunky projects in the next few weeks!

Super Bowl Crochet-In

2011-02-14T18:20:00.000-08:00

The Super Bowl was only a week ago but it seems longer. Could I make a hat in the time in took me to watch the Super Bowl? And make appetizers? And watch the commercials? And help someone with their homework? YES I CAN! I had to wait a week to take after photos because my lovely model had a cold. So, here we are, crocheting to the Super Bowl.

And progess at half time:

This hat pattern is from Funky Chunky and the yarn is Vanna's Choice in Silver. The stripe and flower were from the stash. Of course the design was inspired by Elle Woods hat in Legally Blonde, my favorite Crochet in the Movies moment.

Who's up for a challenge next Super Bowl?

Craftypod Online Craft Blog Tune-Up Class

2011-02-10T10:29:00.000-08:00

Sister Diane at Craftypod delivers a content-packed, personalized and FUN blog learning experience in her online class, "Craft Blog Tune Up." This class exceeded my expectations in several ways.

1. Personalized attention

Sister Diane goes above and beyond to answer classmate's questions in the class forums and one-on-one via email. Her responses are positive and come from her real-world success as a blog entrepreneur. She knows her stuff people! And she is genuinely interested in our blogs and our successes.

2. Online community building

As a new blogger, I didn't really have an online community. By providing multiple forums and class discussions, I had a unique opportunity to meet other bloggers and exchange ideas. Plus, weekly live chats with other classmates gave me a chance to ask and respond real-time to my classmates.

3. Abundance of Knowledge

The class covers blog design, photography tips, building a blog audience, using feeds, technical help with common blogging platforms, generating blog topics, and the day to day best practices of blogging. The material is delivered in PDF documents, video and audio casts and weekly lesson posts.

This class was a terrific investment of my time and resources to improve my online presence and blog. It has inspired me to be creative and encouraged me to continue expressing myself on my blog.

Check out Craftypod's next online class offerings!

Mobius Scarf to Keep You Warm

2011-02-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

This mobius scarf was made with two skeins of Homespun in Baroque worked in rows of double crochet a size K hook. It measures 52" in diameter and 13" tall and is worn wrapped twice. It is quite warm and perfect for a cold winter's day outside. It took me about three weeks of night crocheting to finish. The yarn colors worked out to be a striped pattern but that was a happy accident.

Here is an instructional double crochet video by theknitwitch :

Jumbo Crochet - Trial and Error

2011-02-05T07:14:00.000-08:00

This week I received my new 19mm "S" hook in the mail and couldn't wait to start working with it. So hubbie drove me to the store once the snow storm died down to get rope. But there was no cotton rope, only nylon. I bought 100 feet to try it out. So this is my 100 feet of nylon rope swatch. Nylon rope is too expensive, too heavy and too slippery for my purposes. I would need about 200 more feet to make the size wall hanging I want. It would also weigh a ton. And do I really need a $90 wall hanging?

Back to the drawing board. Or rather, to the internet! I ordered what I hope will be double super chunky to get this wall hanging project off the ground! I'll keep you posted.

Book Review - Funky Chunky by Jan Eaton

2011-02-03T10:22:00.000-08:00

One of the first crochet books I bought was Funky Chunky Crochet Accessories by Jan Eaton. I sat on the floor at B&N an looked at every book they had and this book had everything I was looking for.

It contains basic patterns for hats, scarves, slippers, purses and mittens with many ways to personalize and make the project your own. It also illustrates different stitch variations for each project. It was perfect for me because I wanted to learn the basics but also some flexibility and new ideas to use on the next project as my skills progressed.

This book taught me all the things I needed to know to begin creating my own patterns and projects. I have gone back to this book many times. So check it out at your local library!

My Favorite Crochet in the Movies Moment

2011-02-01T18:02:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite moments in "Legally Blonde" is when Elle and her manicurist confront a loud mouth ex to get back a beloved pooch. Reese Witherspoon sports an adorable crochet hat, braids and glasses. A look I would so rock if I had long hair.

What are your favorite "Crochet in the Movie" moments? Check out this list of other crochet spotter's favorites.

Stitched Heart Valentine's Day Card Tutorial

2011-01-29T11:25:00.000-08:00

When I saw all the tiny crochet heart projects out there, I was inspired to make a Stitched Heart Valentine's Day Card. These are the steps to make one.

Step One: Crochet a Heart

Check these links for patterns:
Planet June
Julie-K

I used Paton's Grace in Cardinal and an "F" hook.

Step Two: Prepare the Card.

Take a blank card (I get them in the statioinary aisle at Michaels and Hobby Lobby) and trace the heart on the front lightly with a pencil.

Cut out the heart shape with scissors or a craft knife.

Punch starter holes for your yarn about 1/2 inch apart all the way around the heart. I used an awl but if you have paper punches, use those.

Step Three: Attach the crochet heart to the card

Use a yarn needle to stitch from back to front, through the heart and then the holes in the card.

Weave in the ends.

Step Four: Personalize your card

You can say anything but I like the idea of "My heart ..." "...is yours."

Other message ideas:

Kind heart ... kind friend.
True heart ... true friend.
I love you because ... you keep me in stitches!

I used a thin point marker but if you don't like your handwriting, just run the card through the printer first or cut out words, art journal style.

There's no end to the possibilities!

Add your Stitched Heart Card project photos to the Flickr pool!

Happy Hearting!

Call for Donations - Winter 2011 Special Olympics

2011-01-27T07:26:00.000-08:00

Photo courtesy of Susan Valiquette.

This popped up in my reader this morning at Whip Up! You can crochet and donate a scarf for an athlete participating in the 2011 Winter Special Olympics in Minnesota. There will be 1,000 athletes and so far, the organization only has 99 scarves. Yikes! There are official Red Heart Yarn colors to use and general size guidelines but no specific pattern has to be followed. See all the details here:

scarvesforspecialolympics.org

Submissions need to be mailed no later that February 11. So break out those needles and hooks if you can help!

Vintage Craft and Needlework Flickr Pool

2011-01-25T13:51:00.000-08:00

Need some inspiration for a new project? Or a good laugh at 1970's crochet fashion? Check out the Vintage Craft and Needlework Flickr Pool on Flickr!

Love some of these styles and am amazed that some of these have come back! My favorites are the granny square skirts, the pill box hats, and the

Sheath Dresses and Mini Dresses

Courtesy of Cemtarian via Flickr

Hats

Courtesy of gytk67 via Flickr

Do you ever just "wing it?"

2011-01-24T10:20:00.000-08:00

So I am a very non-conformist when it comes to crochet. I don't like to follow patterns in books unless absolutely necessary. The process of looking at a pattern, deciphering it, buying the right yarn, in a correct quantity, etc. doesn't fit my lifestyle right now. I usually crochet with many things going on at once or while waiting to pick up family members during practices, lessons, etc. So carrying around a complicated stitch pattern that requires concentration is impractical. Plus, it is hard for me to read the small type usually used to set patterns. I have to copy them enlarged.

A hat I made up as I went along at a youth conference we attended last year.

Okay. So. I just wing it. I know when I start I'm making a hat but depending on the yarn and hook I use, I have to check for fit as I go. So I use myself, or my family members or my mannequin. I recently made a baby hat for my nephew and used my daughter's bitty twin doll to check fit. Granted, I went to one of my many books and found a baby hat pattern (too girly for this project) to get the finished size dimensions I would need. Then I just crocheted it.

Do you ever just wing it? Do you write down what you're doing as you go so if it turns out great, you can do it again?

Mega Doily!

2011-01-21T14:45:00.000-08:00

Here is another large scale crochet project, made without a hook but hand woven! So lovely and homey. Available at: www.ladiesandgentlemenstudio.com/megadoily

Photo courtesy of ladiesandgentlemenstudio.com

Welcome Baby Nephew

2011-01-20T14:35:00.000-08:00

Our family welcomed a sweet little peanut this past weekend. You can bet I'll be photographing him in a baby bear hat and cocoon at the first opportunity. Meanwhile, enjoy his sweet baby toes ...

Cloche Hat with Square Ear Flaps

2011-01-18T17:30:00.000-08:00

This nubby, tweedy textured yarn is soft and warm. Created a cloche hat with square ear flaps. The flaps can be tucked inside for extra ear warming.

Leftover ingredients

2011-01-15T09:59:00.000-08:00

When I make lasagna, I usually have dribs and drabs of ingredients left over. A bit of sauce, a bit of cheese. This week, I miscounted and made an extra noodle that wouldn't fit in the page. Voila! Instant, mini lasagna for lunch. I'll cook extra noodles next time.

Hairpin Lace Scarf WIP

2011-01-12T11:35:00.000-08:00

Surprising to find that my mom has never tried hairpin lace. One of my Christmas gifts, Wrapped in Crochet, contains a pattern for a beautiful hairpin lace crochet scarf. Thank goodness for YouTube where several talented folks have posted their video tutorials. I'm on a roll with about 2/3 of the first strip made.

Rolled Brim Chunky Hat

2011-01-12T04:00:00.000-08:00

Chunky yarn projects are so satisfying. I can see quick progress and it's not a huge time or yarn commitment. This hat was made with Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick yarn. Gauge: 2 stitchs = 1 inch.

Finished size: 22 inches wide by 9 inches tall (brim unrolled.)

Round 1:
Ch 5, join sl in first chair.

Round 2:
Ch 3 (counts as first DC) and DC 9 into center of circle. Join sl in top of first DC.

Round 3:
Ch 3, 2 DC in each chain around. Join sl.

Round 4:
Ch 3, *1 DC in next chain, 2 DC in next chain. Repeat * around. Join sl.

Round 5-7:
Ch 3, 1 DC in each chain around. Join sl.

Round 8-12 (Brim):
Ch 2, 1 SC in each chain around. Join sl.

Fast off; weave in ends.

Giant Crochet

2011-01-11T11:39:00.001-08:00

Out of the box thinking thrills me. This stool cover is terrific ... how did they do this? Huge hook and huge yarn! via Design to Inspire

Needlepoint Pendants

2010-07-09T14:35:00.000-07:00

It's summer and too hot for me to sit under a mountain of crochet. So, I was inspired by Sister Diane at Crafty Pod to make some needlepoint pendants using 14 count plastic canvas.

And the matching earrings:

The geometric patterns were fun but then I decided to try doing some zebra print. I love making this pattern. The pendants are reversible so here is side 1:

And side 2:

Why I Craft

2010-06-18T16:29:00.000-07:00

I recently listened to Crafty Podcast #117 about the business of crafting. Megan Auman of Crafting an MBA speaks about the Etsy community and how there are two types of sellers, professional and amateur. By her definition and my own recent experiences, I am definitely an amateur. Not in a bad way. I don't really have the desire to make the same product over and over again. I don't depend on crafting as my main source of income. I craft to explore my own creativity. I craft because I learn things about myself in the process of making things with my own two hands. Like, I am better at starting new projects than finishing current projects. I craft because it is my contact with the material world, versus the virtual world. I craft because unless I take them apart, the things I make will stay made. Unlike laundry, dishes, taxes, etc. I feel a sense of accomplishment when I hold a finished piece in my hands.

Why do you craft?

WIP - Plastic canvas pendant. Need the reading glasses to see these stitches.

Re-Fashion Recap

2010-06-14T15:44:00.000-07:00

The Re-fashion Party at MADE Studios was a blast! My friends and I had a great time at the event sponsored by St. Louis Craft Mafia. We donated a bag of clothing and got to choose from other donations to make a cool refashioned item. There was such a mixture of clothing types and textures, it was hard to choose. The two hours flew by. Here are some photos from the evening:

Finished Crochet Projects - Part 2

2010-06-09T16:09:00.001-07:00

I used a combination of two yarns to make this capelet. It is basically a rectangle with decreasing rows at the top to make it curve more at the shoulders.

I was on a hat-making kick in colder weather and loved this shell pattern.

This pidge has a removable, double-sided button closure.

I hate using those plastic produce bags and made some produce bags from scraps of yarn.

Completed Crochet Projects

2010-06-08T17:41:00.000-07:00

While preparing for Green With Indie, I gathered up all my finished crochet projects. Here are a few photos of pieces made in the last few months. This cowl scarf doubles as a hat on blustery days:

I made several of these ruffled scarves, cloche hats and fingerless mitts:

This hat is my own pattern, brim can be worn turned up in front, down or rolled:

More photos in the days to come ...

Green With Indie Craft Fair

2010-06-06T14:34:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all the organizers at the Green With Indie Craft Fair. Kudos to Shangri-La Diner for the tasty lunch and the most amazing chocolate cupcake with chocolate ganache frosting. Who knew vegan could taste so fabulous?

Shout out to Zenbot Baby for making this newbie feel more at ease! They make the cutest baby changing kits and other baby goods from upcycled materials.

Also thanks to J.D. Wolfe for stopping by with encouraging words from CraftGossip.com about my plastic bag crochet purse project:

Here are some photos of our booth and the plastic bag swim totes we made just for the show ...

Thanks to everyone who stopped by!!!

Mother Load

2010-05-25T09:51:00.000-07:00

I am so lucky to have good friends who support me in my crafty endeavors. Look at these amazing ties I received from a co-worker. The colors and textures are so amazing! Can't wait to get started using these!

And thanks to all the friends, neighbors and co-workers who have donated plastic shopping bags for the Green With Indie craft fair.

Green with Indie

2010-05-05T11:46:00.000-07:00

Hurray! I've been accepted as a vendor at the Green with Indie craft fair, June 5 at Webster University. Send productive thoughts my way as I have a lot of work to do between now and then!

Chicago Craft Social

2009-05-06T07:48:00.000-07:00

If you live in the Chicago area, here is an amazing opportunity to get your craft on: craftsocial.blogspot.com.
Too bad I don't live closer!

Backtack 4

2008-10-16T07:53:00.000-07:00

I received my Backtack partner information and it's Mama Urchin! Check out her amazing photos of autumn in Virginia and fall goodness. It's going to be fun to create her Gold Frankincense and Myrrh package.

Ronald McDonald House

2008-10-09T07:31:00.000-07:00

The confirmation class went to our local Ronald McDonald House to cook and serve a meal for the residents. They decided to grill hamburgers and chicken outside and back dump cakes for dessert inside. Then we took a tour of the recreation and living room areas of the houses. The teens did a fantastic job and the residents were very appreciative!

Duct Tape Purses

2008-10-01T07:52:00.000-07:00

Finally tried our hand at Duct Tape purses. We used white plastic shopping bags for the base, great way to recycle! Then, we used large grommets to make handle openings and used white cotton rope for the handles. The girls were very happy with their project!

Double the Garlic

2007-11-27T07:32:00.000-08:00

Everyday Food is my favorite source for new recipes. I usually have everything on hand and the results are usually very tasty. However, I tried the Pumpkin Penne Pasta from the November 2007 issue and the taste left a lot to be desired. Pretty bland. I should have doubled the garlic and rosemary.

The first step is to fry fresh rosemary in olive oil. It smelled amazing and tasted wonderful. Normally, I think the texture of fresh rosemary is like pine needles. But frying it makes it crispy and tender. We used it as a garnish on top of the pasta and that was the tastiest part.

3-D Snowflake Factory

2007-11-23T06:11:00.000-08:00

What a lovely Thanksgiving holiday! After the stuffing, during the football watching, we made these easy and spectacular 3-D snowflakes. I now have a row of them in our family room windows while awaiting window treatments.

W.I.P.

2007-11-15T11:36:00.000-08:00

Futuregirl has been an inspiration for months now. Her crochet is simple, yet elegant and her adornments are so clever. I started this scarf and decided to try embellishing it with some small crochet flowers I made some time ago from the spring issue of Crochet Today! magazine. Hope to finish this weekend before Thanksgiving prep begins!

Martha Winger dot com Launched

2007-11-15T07:23:00.000-08:00

I have launched a new website to show the handcrafted items I make that seem to be piling up around the house. Next step is to launch a site at Etsy.com. Creating the flash module was very educational!

Topsy Turvy Doll

2007-11-12T08:41:00.000-08:00

The history and craft of this doll fascinates me. At first, I thought how un-politically correct the idea of this doll is. But after doing some research, I learned a lot more about it and can't wait to make one.

The Historical Folk Toys website has this to say about the black/white Topsy Turvy Doll:

The original Topsy-Turvy dolls were created before the Civil War in the Southern United States on plantations where slavery was prominent. Arguments arise as to whether the dolls were made for the slave children to play with or whether they were made for the white children who lived in the plantation house.

With one identity on one side and an opposite identity when flipped, slave children could have played with their prohibited black doll and then flipped it to the white doll when the master was around. Others believe that the double-ended dolls were made for white children with the black doll used as a maid for their other dolls.

Stephanie V. Siek writes that this doll "was a mirror or the African-American woman's life. She took care of white children, but had children of her own -- the white child is present when the black child is invisible, the black child is present when the white child is invisible."

Eugene Field House

2007-11-12T08:12:00.000-08:00

The kids had the day off school so we headed to the Eugene Field House for a tour. The interior is completely restored and full of period furniture, toys and household items. An antique baby walker and china vaporizer were two of the unique things we saw and realized these are not modern-day inventions.

Our docent gave us a thorough tour complete with facts about the Field family and the Dred Scott case. There is also a toy museum on the third floor with a current exhibit featuring dolls from around the world. I couldn't stop looking at the handmade dolls on exhibit.

There is also an interactive room for the kids to see the difference between slave quarters and owner's quarters. They dressed up in clothes of the time and saw the difference in toys, bedding and nutrition. Quite an eye-opener for the kids to see the impact of slavery on everyday life.

The final stop was the gift shop filled with vintage reproduction toys, books and kits. The kids picked out a Jacob's ladder toy and build-your-own-ferris-wheel book. Should be great occupations on a cold winter's afternoon.

Math and Science Night

2007-11-08T08:15:00.000-08:00

Friend daughter and I went to the first annual Math and Science Night at school and what a show! The turnout was terrific, stations fun and cheerfully staffed with parent volunteers. This was a warm up event for the Science Olympics next year. I think many kids will be gung ho to build egg drop containers, can rollers and participate in the Science Quiz Bowl. Friend son's team took second overall in the Quiz Bowl last year.

Basketball season is off to a great start with practices this week. Friend husband is getting into the swing of things coaching the girl's fifth grade team. Here is a link to a short animation I built in my Intro to Flash class this week in honor of the season.

Rose

2007-11-07T11:19:00.000-08:00

This cashmere sock dog was made during a trip to visit my grandma and aunt with my sister, mother and our daughters. Quite a girl crew! We had a great time catching up, playing games and eating, of course.

SWAP Monkey

2006-08-10T09:50:00.000-07:00

This lady is living in England now as I sent her as part of a Softies SWAP on Swap-bot. I loved working with the poppy seersucker and the rainbow rick rack.

Whiplash Competition Entry

2006-08-01T11:47:00.000-07:00

Jeans Clutch Purse

When I was my daughter's age, my mom made a bookbag from a pair of jeans. My daughter ripped a hole in the knees of her jeans and I decided to try making a purse. She saw the purse in process and asked, "Who's purse is that? Can it be mine since you're using my jeans?" She has more purses than I do! So I guess I'll need to make more. Luckily, she's outgrowing her jeans almost faster than I can buy them.

It was really fun to work with this material. I did have to use a heavy needle in my sewing maching to attach the liner to the outside. Many of the details are hand sewn.

Thanks, Whip Up for the great opportunity to show my work. This is to be entered in the Deconstruct/reconstruct category.

Check out all the entries on Whip Up's website .

Mother's Day for the Handy Mom

2006-06-06T08:18:00.000-07:00

My mom is in the process of moving and doing all kinds of fix it projects at home. I stenciled a handyman's apron for her and bought some new basic tools so she'd have everything in one spot. Quick and easy - I even used duct tape to attach the stencil and cover parts of the design. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

For My Patriot's Fan Living in Ram's Territory

2006-01-31T17:06:00.000-08:00

My son wanted a no sew fleece blanket and matching pillow for camping. I started with 2 yards each, of two colors of 60 inch wide fleece. I lined up the two pieces, wrong sides together and cut strips about 2 inches wide and 5 inches long, all the way around. Then, I took the top strip and double knotted it with the matching bottom strip. I cut out the squares at the corners. Viola!

The pillow was 1/2 yard of 60 inch wide fleece. I sewed three sides of the rectangle and fringed all the way around. The pillow case is smaller than a standard pillow. So I took an old one and cut it, removed stuffing and re-sewed the seam to fit the case.

Merry Christmas to Me!

2005-12-26T20:41:00.000-08:00

My co-worker gave me this wonderful gift for Christmas. The perfect vintage tin with a handle contained peppermint bath salts, lavendar bath salts, southwest spice blend, Christmas CD, Irish soda bread recipe and PEZ on earth greeting card. Lucky, lucky me. Thanks, Jess!

Vintage Swap Package

2005-12-26T20:26:00.000-08:00

Thank you to Jen Leheny of Red Instead fame for the beautiful swap package! It contained vintage pillow cases, napkins, notepaper, zipper pouch with animals, handmade Christmas card, salt & peppers and ocean in a bottle! Hope Jen's swap partner was good to her, too!

Sign up for the vintage jewelry swap at http://www.purplepinkandorange.com/swap/

Stained Glass Christmas Tree Cookies

2005-12-12T12:03:00.000-08:00

Our first cookie exchange required six dozen cookies - we made the stained glass Christmas trees from MS Holiday cookie magazine. Crushing the Jolly Rancher candies was fun. They were tasty, too!

Swirled Paint Ornaments

2005-12-12T11:30:00.000-08:00

Here's a super easy project for adults and kids alike. We purchased clear glass ornaments with hangers and poured paint inside.

Place a piece of cotton over the opening and shake like crazy! Add more paint if needed.

Let dry; tie a ribbon around the hanger. Enjoy or give as gifts.

Toasty fingers

2005-11-29T06:21:00.000-08:00

These fingerless gloves keep your hands warm while leaving your fingertips free for typing. My hands get so cold in the office. They are made from socks - I'll try to get a tutorial up this weekend as I make another pair to fill a Christmas gift order.

Christmas gifts

2005-11-23T08:02:00.000-08:00

This year, I'm sewing many of my Christmas gifts for relatives and friends. This bag is for my mom and has a purse organizer inside. Super easy to make and I love the trim. Saved a piece for another bag because as soon as I make one, I want one for myself.

Month of Softies, July 2005

2005-07-22T12:20:00.000-07:00

ballerina_monkey
Originally uploaded by Martha Winger.

This is my first MOS entry and I really enjoyed making her. It is for my daughter, who wanted a ballerina. My next project is a sock elephant for my son. I made a mistake sewing the skirt onto the bodice but decided it looks nice with the ruffled edges showing at the top. The ballet shoes were also fun to sew together.

Procrastination

2005-07-08T09:35:00.000-07:00

Why is it when I have free time, I'm unprepared to use it wisely? There are a couple of craft projects I'd like to tackle only to discover I don't have a needed "ingredient." Should I just stock a bunch of crafty supplies? Does anyone have a basics list that would save time and money?