update – Page 13 – Organizing Threads

October 1, 2015

California Crochet

After finishing Mina’s afghan I had a request to make Kwazii for Volker. Kwazii is a former pirate in the show The Octonauts. I bought a pattern from Etsy and started. But I didn’t get it finished before leaving for California. I dutifully packed all the necessary parts into my carry-on luggage, intending to work on it on the plane.

First thing I discovered – I’d brought the wrong crochet hook! I have previously travelled with my case of crochet hooks, but I also almost lost them in security at the airport, or it felt like I almost lost them. Some of my hooks came from my Grandma Roth and I do not want to lose them, so I don’t take them anymore. So no crocheting on the plane.

Trina did not have a 4mm hook, so I had to buy a new hook. In the US Amazon is really amazing; I decided to buy a set of hooks, 2mm – 6mm, for less than $10 with the exchange! a really good deal.

Once I had the right hook, it didn’t take me long to finish Kwazii. I redid his whiskers as I didn’t like the first set. Volker was pleased. Mina wanted a toy too. So I crocheted another character from a pattern book that Trina had purchased. This is Tweak: Then Trina decided to try crocheting a toy while I was there to help. She chose a Vegimal, Tunip (also from the Octonauts), to start. She caught on quickly and decided to make more. Volker is quite in love with the Vegimals. It’s hard to hang onto all your friends and climb around on the playground equipment too!

Mina also wanted a Vegimal, so I made one with a different yarn and smaller hookThis is the size difference, my Codish and Trina’s Tunip:And here are my two favourite children

How I do love them!

September 24, 2015

California September ’15

September 20, 2015

Mina’s Birthday Party

We celebrated Mina’s 6th birthday at the Museum of Discovery in Capitola:

August 21, 2015

Eine Fledermaus

This summer has been dreadfully dull much of the time at work. Today, however, I had a few moments of genuine excitement.

I was sitting in my office and I heard some peculiar noise. But when I looked for the source I couldn’t find anything. A bit later I heard it again. I was fairly sure I was in the building alone, yet the rustling seemed to be coming from another office. I very quietly moved from mine down the hall toward the kitchenette. Yes, the noise continued and it seemed to be coming from the window — or the garbage can. I peeked in and saw a bat wing!

I had to think quick. I did not want the creature flying around where it would be difficult to catch. I remembered some towels in one cupboard. I got one out and covered the top of the garbage can. The little guy disappeared very quickly under the garbage. I carried the works outside and carefully emptied the garbage onto the grass.Oh how I wish I’d been smart enough to grab my camera beforehand! The dear little brown bat wasn’t going to wait and pose for a picture when he realized he was free. Away he flew.

Little brown bats are an endangered species in Canada. These creatures eat a lot of insects, preferring those that spend the first part of their life in water, like mosquitoes. They like to roost in buildings during the summer, and hibernate in caves during the winter. “White nose syndrome,” a fungus which kills, is wiping out entire colonies. The Canadian Wildlife Federation has lots of information about these animals. Including directions on how to build a bat house.

I quite enjoy the short visit from the little “flying mouse” (direct translation of “fledermaus”).

August 9, 2015August 9, 2015

Finished!

Mina’s afghan is finished:

The finished product is 37.5″ wide, and 27.5″ (roughly Mina’s height floor to waist”) to the beginning of the tail. This part is all 5 double-crochet shell pattern – 20 shells per row, 27 rows to tail.

I then joined the two edges and did 4 rows of single crochets, decreasing the number of stitches as I went (sorry, don’t remember how man I did each row). On the 5th row I started to increase again, as well, I did a front-post double crochet at each side, so I would know where the sides are. I did three rows like this before starting the alternating front and back post double crochets. I did all the increases on the sides of the tail. After 5 rows I started each fin separately, decreasing at the inside (centre) on each round, while increasing at the outside edge at least every second row. I really did this by eye-balling it to decide if I should increase of leave it the same. After the last (9th from the dividing) row I used a single crochet to close up the fin. Then I did the other side — because I don’t write these things down the two sides are not exactly the same, but I don’t think the wee girl is going to notice or mind.

I am quite pleased with the results. The only down side I see now is that it is quite heavy, not sure Mina will need all this warmth in sunny California.

Next project: something for Volker – Kwazii