March Ain't Leavin' Like No Lamb

Nope. No siree Bob. Not at chez Voie de Vie. Not during National/International Crochet month.

I'm pleased to show you my second completed shawl - the Icy Snowdrops (from the Snowdrop Shawl pattern):

I am doubly thrilled because this turned out so much better than I anticipated and I love the way it lays nicely on my shoulders. I am usually not so wild about stripes, but the darker, variegated stripes add depth and warmth to all that icy blue. Additionally, I added some beads for just a little bling (a gal can't go wrong with bling). It blocked well so it's got enough drape (considering it's worsted weight mohair), yet because of the mohair it's warm and stays in place. A very happy confluence of yarny events, if you ask me.

See the beads? Size 6 silver-lined Japanese
light sapphire.

And now, mes amis, I have a wee bloggy giveaway, not only to keep crochet's party month chugging along at full speed (which party really is year-round in these parts), but also to celebrate my latest pattern publication - the Blottir Bebe Snuggler.

From anyone who leaves a bloggy comment between now and the end of the day next Thursday, March 28, either about the spring edition of Crochet! Magazine or how you're celebrating crochet in March (or both, you can be chatty), I'll choose one name randomly drawn from the hat to win a copy of the magazine + one skein of Caron Simply Soft, to get you started on making a snuggler for someone you know who's expecting. Maybe I'll even get George Bailey to lend a helping paw when I conduct the drawing.

See - he's all ready and set to go. To where, I have no idea.

Make certain you head on over to Wisdom Begins in Wonder and see what our very own Wonder Why Gal has been up to this week ... along with all her fibery friends.

A Script For Keeping Warm

A loaf of bread, a jug of wine and thou?

Well, not exactly. I had something a little less philosophical in mind ... you know, something in line with more fibery pursuits. For me, a script for keeping warm is usually something great around my neck and shoulders, as well as perhaps some type of hand covering in the really cold months. I will, on rare occasions, don a hat of some sort. If I can get away without a coat, that's fine with me. But it definitely all starts with neckware.

So, in an effort to keep to the script, here's my first completed project for me in quite a while:

The pattern is the Shell Script wrap/scarf and I worked it up in soft, squoishy light worsted weight yarn - Elann Incense and LB Collection Baby Alpaca. I tried to capture the softness of it in the photos - I love how this turned out in heavier yarn (the original was done in fingering weight).

Additionally, I am getting farther along in my Rustically Elegant Shoulder Warmer that I'm making as part of my Ravelry group's Int'l/NatCroMo JAL:

We're at the half-way point in the month. How is everyone coming along with their respective fibery projects? If you head on over to Wisdom Begins in Wonder and link in, you can find out the progress everyone else is making this Friday.

 

Oh, and happy St. Patrick's day!

All Kinds of Fibery Project Updates

Well, well, well my fibery friends - it's almost the end of the first full week of National/International Crochet Month, and I have been a very busy hooking bee. Yes, yes I have been.

 

Initially, let me say that my Rustically Elegant Shoulder Warmer won in the voting for the JAL in my Ravelry group. So, here are the humble beginnings of the one I'm working up alongside everyone else:

The yarn comes across in the cell phone photo only slightly lighter than in real life. I'm using Elann's Lunar Mist in a brown/gold colorway. They list it as aran weight, but this feels barely like worsted weight to me. I will have much more progress on this in the next update.
 
The shawl JAL is producing all kinds of crochet shawl awesomeness. With 53 (!) participants, I can't believe the crochet party we're enjoying in the Ravelry 12 shawls Forever group. In fact, five people have already completed at least one shawl (and a few have completed more than one already). Even though my three are cruising along, I feel like a minor slacker. Here's the progress so far:

My latest Le Bouquet stole is working up rather nicely in the Araucania Ruca Multy I'm using. The colorway is discontinued, which is a shame. It's wonderfully neutral, and it shows the stitches off really well.

I've completed twelve points on my Snowdrop shawl, just about half way done. I am loving these two colorways together. I might just become an ice blue convert.  




I am more than half-way through my Shell Script, and I am loving how this is working up. I cannot wait to complete the crocheting so I can block it. I have a feeling this is going to be one of my favorite go-to thick and squoishy scarves.

So what have you been up to, mes amis? Check in with the Wonder Why Gal (you know, Andrea!) at Wisdom Begins in Wonder and fill us all in.

Oh, and continued happy hooking in March.

 

The March Crochet Party Begins ... with a New Pattern!

It is March 1st, and it's definitely roaring in like a crafty lion.

 

Initially, let me share with you my various shawl beginnings for the crochet JAL (jal = join-a-long) I'm hosting over on Ravelry:

Here's the early progress on my Snowdrop Shawl. I'm pleased with the addition of the subtley variegated darker mohair. (And yes, that's George Bailey in the background.)

My Shell Script is coming along nicely. I am enjoying my yarn combo of wool/silk/bamboo  (the lace) and baby alpaca (the horizontal bands).

And here is the gauge swatch for my Le Bouquet stole. This is another very subtley variegated yarn, which provides an amazingly neutral backdrop for this lovely crochet lace pattern. I've worked out the revised math, and will tuck into this sometime over the weekend.



A snuggling cutie, no?

Finally, I can do a little show and tell for my first new published pattern of the year - it's the adorable Blottir Bébé Snuggler! Taken from the French word for snuggle, it's a quick and easy motif project (and you all know how much I love a good motif). The squares are worked separately and then put together, an edging is added for the tie, and it's topped off with two more motifs that form the foundation for the hood.

For those of you who receive my newsletter (what? you mean you don't? go and sign up for it, like, pronto - you'll find a linky at the top on the right-hand side), this is what I made with the Caron Simply Soft. And considering it's acrylic, it really is soft. It's also easy care, which is great for wee ones ... and their parents.

Look for this in the upcoming spring edition of Crochet! Magazine, due out on newsstands in just about a month - at the beginning of April. However, I expect those with a subscription will get their copy sooner.

Now I do hope you'll head on over to The Wonder Why Gal at Wisdom Begins in Wonder to see how everyone else's March is starting off.

A sneaky peek at the spring Crochet! Magazing cover