I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to get back into blogging.  Yes, I have been crocheting up a storm, but also doing taxes for three people (myself included), so that’s why you haven’t seen my “face in the place” for a while.

My Knit for Kids Crocheted Sweater Pattern

So here’s what I’ve been up to.  I’m still working on that Knit for Kids crochet sweater pattern.  Actually, I have all the notes I need to create the pattern; I just have to sit down and do it.  Here are three different versions of the sweater I’ve done.

The yellow and turquoise sweater, which you can view in this post, is the first one I made.   It didn’t quite turn out the way I envisioned.   I actually took out the shoulder seams after I had washed it and added a few more rows to make the yoke 5.5 inches; then I rewashed it.  So it’s just about the right dimensions for a child’s size 2.

The turquoise version was done with an “H” hook (“I” hook for the other two).  I just wanted to see how it would turn out.  I tried to compensate with more stitches and rows, but I think it’s a little smaller than the first  one.  I prefer the “I” hook versions, so that’s what I’ll use for the pattern.

The dark teal sweater is the version that helped me finalize my pattern notes.  The sleeves are a bit longer vertically than the pattern calls for, but I don’t think that’s a huge problem for the wearer.  I have my gauges, so hopefully I’ll be able to figure out the other sizes and add those to the pattern instructions.

I’m going to send all three sweaters to Knit 4 Kids, along with the pattern.  It will be interesting to see what their response will be.  As soon as I have the pattern done, I will post it in the “Free Pattern” section of the blog.  Hopefully that will be soon … like before the end of April, maybe even sooner.

PATTERN UPDATE: 8-24-11:

You can find the my Knit for Kids crocheted sweater pattern in the FREE CROCHET PATTERNS section of this blog.

“60-Odd:  A Freeform Odyssey”

The other project I’ve been workng on is another freeform challenge offered by the International Freeform Guild which is a group of freeform knitters and crocheters on Yahoo.  I participated in their first one back in 2005 called, “60-Odd:  A Freeform Odyssey.”

It took me so long to start that one.  You know how it goes — you want it to be perfect, but you’re not sure if it will be; you’ve never done anything like this before; what if it sucks …. and on and on and on.  I finally just started scrumbling.  Well, that’s not altogether true.  I made little motifs which I sewed together.  This is called “organic patchwork.”

I really want to post a photo of my new piece, but I have to check with the group first.  I’m not sure if they want photos posted before the pieces are presented.  This is going to be an online exhibit, I think (boy, I sure do know a lot about this, don’t I?).

This new piece is going to be the flap for a purse which I think I’m going to felt.  After the body is felted, I’ll sew on the flap then line the bag.  And I’m thinking of calling it, “Purple Rain” (I was a HUGE Prince fan back in the 90s).

UPDATE 8-24-11:

You can find my discussion and photos of the new freeform crochet piece here.