Crochet @ MindSay

I am working on recycling plastic bags into one or two rather large take-along grocery bags. Knitting with it is like scraping nails over my fingers, so I will probably cut up a heap more bags and crochet them instead. I am running out of bags though, since I continuously reuse the ones that I have OR they are cut up to use as reusables later. My mom is about to donate a heap of plastic bags to my cause. I think the only thing worse than trying to knit them is cutting them up to work with.Oh, but the fun of knowing I am helping to save the environment just a little makes me happy.

I don't really know which yarn and how much I will need yet, but I have in my mind to make another sweater soon. I might end up crocheting it, which will likely take more yarn. There are so many cute patterns and stitches to try. I even have in my mind to design my own. It's crazy! I am still working on the shrug from hell. It's only that because I forgot to write down the ribbing pattern clearly marked for my own use. It's terrible. I have been trying to deconstruct my knitting without taking it all apart for 2 days and I think I FINALLY figured it out. Believe me, next time I will be writing down every. single. stitch pattern that I use esp if it will be like 20 inches before I get back to that pattern again.

So my daughter asks me the other day, "Mami, are you old?" I try to hold back my giggle and say, "No. Why?"  "Because you are knitting and only old people knit on TV."  So I told her anyone can knit, I learned when I was 9 (her age now) and she became very excited and interested to learn.  My eldest picked up the knitting needles yesterday.  She's pretty good actually.  Very fast learner, though her patience ran thin quickly, I think she'll get the hang of it.  She already knows how to crochet and made a quit in 3rd grade.  So yeah... my girls are pretty handy with the home ec stuff (if that's even politically correct nowadays, one can never tell). 

Yes, I have been doing a lot of knitting and crocheting as of late.  Every year I like to make my Christmas presents as opposed to purchasing them.  Not only is it more economical but I feel it adds a more personal touch as well. 

A few things I've been working on:

A knit scarf I completed...



Two crocheted panels of a blanket I started years ago... :-/


and another knit scarf for my daughter, Melissa... I will be adding crocheted ends and tassels to this one...


I also started a baby's blanket last night.  I have an idea of who I want to give it to but not sure yet... ;)

Of yarn that is. My mother just brought me a huge bag full of brushed acrylic and various other yarns. OMG I can't believe it! I am going to have to take pictures and catalog it all, but right now I am content to just fondle it. I might just have to throw it all on my bed and roll in the luxury thereof. I cannot believe I have all this yarn! She also found me a scale that measures grams AND another circular needle. That is all for my craft blog within the next few days, though.

PolyCraftual that is. What does this mean? That I can do many crafts and do them WELL. I love it. I actually learned two new languages while learning to knit and broadening my crochet:

Knit Purl is one language. That is all to itself: k2 ssk p2 k1 p1
Crochet has another language that looks like this : sc dc dc sc ss

Of course I am sewing and from time to time I make a dreamcatcher or two. I love being polycraftual.