A Big Thanks!

I just want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers. By the grace of God, we made it through Katrina unharmed... we only lost power for about 5 minutes and the lights came right back on! But unfortunately so many others here in Birmingham and surrounding areas are not so lucky; the 200,000 + will be without power for a while. My thoughts and prayers go out to others on the Gulf Coast that were not so lucky.

Don't come this way!

I wake up this morning and even though they have sustained a great deal of catastrophic damage, I'm glad to see Nawlins' (New Orleans) still on the map! I prefer my hurricane in a styrofoam cup walking down Bourbon Street. According to the storm tracker, Katrina may be coming our way late tonight.

Katrina, you can't stop by!

I guess I'm on my way to Wal*Mart for flashlight batteries and non-perishable items!

Curlique Scarf

Finally, I am moving a WIP to my FO's! Curlique Scarf is finally complete. This was done in TLC Amore, which is super soft. Can't wait until the weather cools off so that I can wear it.

I want one too!

Had to make a shrug for my little one who is 8 yrs old. The body was done as a basic shrug in a rectangle/sewed the sleeves/crocheted around the opening to create the lacy pattern for the back, front and shawl collar/added eye-hook for closure.

Autumn Leaves Shrug

This one of this week's projects. It's another shrug I've done and decided to call it "Autumn Leaves" because that's what the colors of the yarn remind me of. This was done in Lion Brand Moonlight Mohair - Safari.

More Bitching than Stitching Today

Mood today: Bitchy!

Today I've been reading postings from several crochet groups and communities regarding copyright infringement. Now, I don't know a lot about the topic but it doesn't take a J.D. (juris doctorate) to know right from wrong. It's pretty black & white: if ain't yours, don't claim it! Just that simple. On this blog I have made references to the fact that I have used published patterns as "inspiration" and altered them for my on satisfaction and not for personal gain... I just want to look cute! But I have never scanned, copied, or emailed a pattern that I have purchase to anyone! First of all, I don't think I'm that nice. If I paid for you, you can pay for it too! Check out this link below from a conversation in a Live Journal crochet community regarding members of a yahoo! crochet group:

Stealing 'cause I'm broke! :(

Honestly, a single pattern only cost, at the most $8.00. Honey, if that will put you in the poorhouse, let the hobby go! Look, it doesn't matter if you are going through a divorce, disabled or whatever, stealing is just plain WRONG and I don't feel sorry for you!

Another issue that was addressed is aspiring designers (I'm being generous by using the word designer) are emailing out copies of their patterns for testing. It appears that these patterns are being shared. That's just low-down and dirty to that.

Of course I would like to be a published designer one day. I know that I still have a lot of learning to do. I buy patterns and crochet books to learn techniques, primarily shaping.

Now for the nastiness:

For all of you "designers" out there, only a few of you are worth your hooks! Everyone does not steal, I don't have to, I have my own vision. If I'm going to knock off a designer it would be Alice Temperley or Missioni Knits, not your fugly afghans, out-of-style ponchos, or doilies my grandmother wouldn't even display in her house.

Crocheters are becoming the butt of many jokes throughout the internet. Honestly, is it really that deep?

Are we becoming stupid hookers?

After I make this comment, I'm pretty sure the crap will hit the fan: if you are so afraid that your precious patterns will be fraudulently distributed, don't sell them! Why don't you sell the finished product? Or do you think your work is not good enough?

Now my broom has been placed back in the closet!

V-Stitch Shrug

This is fresh off my hook. This started out a shrug for me, but my 13 yr old daughter saw it and had to have it. She proceeded to tell me that "all the other girls" are wearing shrugs to school but theirs are store bought and not made by mommy. Okay, I was suckered into giving it to her. I have to admit, she looked really cute this morning standing at the bus stop so I had to take these pictures and post them.

Continuing Popularity of Crochet!

In the August 14th edition of the New York Times - On The Street, the author describes the popularity of crochet. I'm so glad that I am handy with the hook and I don't have to pay the thousands of dollars to retailers to have this look.

Am I really that weird?

You Are 50% Weird

Normal enough to know that you're weird... But too damn weird to do anything about it!

How Weird Are You?

Are you a Hooker?

HOOKING, A WAY OF LIFE

Original Author Unkown

My wife she is a hooker,

Of this she's mighty proud,

And the stories of her exploits,

Are legends in our town,

She's shameless with her talents,

She'll go hooking anywhere,

And if people want to watch her,

She really doesn't care,

It seems to be a family thing,

Her mother taught her how,

Seems her grandma was a hooker,

And my daughters hooking now,

She goes to hookers meetings,

To learn the new techniques,

She starts hooking in a frenzy,

And won't talk to me for weeks,

She doesn't do the housework,

She doesn't make the beds,

No she doesn't have time for that,

She'd rather hook instead,

My wife she is a hooker,

And I curse that awful day,

When she first picked up the hook and yarn,

And learned how to crochet

Multi-Color Skirt

Well, I finally finished the skirt. It was quite simple and I would have finished earlier if I hadn't been jumping from project to project.

Cap & Cloche

I haven't posted in several days. Been really busy getting the kids back to school. Now I have the peace and quiet I need to concentrated on crochet. These are a couple of his & her caps that I made for my husband and I. I did each one of these in like 2 hours, they were really easy so I'll be doing plenty more of these!

My First Shrug

This project was somewhat of an experiment. My daughter wanted a shrug and I decided to try my hand at it. This was done totally without a pattern. It took my only a day. This was done in TLC Amore - Sand #3005.

Ready for Fall?

Well, I am! I'm also looking forward to Interweave Crochet 2005. I previewed several projects that I am absolutely giddy over.

• ZigZag Skirt
• Fifth Avenue Jacket
• Pirate's Jacket
• Retro Car Coat
• Ruffle Scarf

Look for it -- September 7th!

Crocheting as a Punishment?

In Edinburg, Texas, a man pleads "no contest" to sexually assaulting a girl. In the past he has done crochet work for charities and the judge thought that to be a befitting punishment for his crime. He was sentenced to 320 hours of crocheting. Let's be serious, he lives in "Hang-Em High" Texas! What is up with the judge? Is he encouraging sex offenders or is crochet supposedly that awful?

Open Fan Cardigan

This is the progress I've made so far on my cardigan.

Yarn, Yarn, Yarn!

When the temperature hits 98 degrees and the thought of lounging by the pool makes you want to sit in the fridge, what do you do? What else -- go yarn shopping.

Luckily for me, Michael's, Hobby Lobby, A.C. Moore's and my favorite yarn boutique Knit Nouveau are all with five miles of where I live. Sometimes I amaze myself at the length of time I can spend oogling and feeling luxe fibers. After several hours of aimless browsing and indeciveness, I finally purchased 3 skeins of Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Goldenrod #187 and a skein of Moonlight Mohair in Safari #203 and threw in a copy of Crochet! magazine for good measure. I plan on using this to make the open fan cardigan from Interweave Knits Crochet 2004 issue.

"No-Ponch Pledge"

Now, I am all about crocheted fashions. I take a lot of pride in wearing garments created by my own two little hands. But the dreaded "poncho" is one item that will never be crafted by the hands of this crocheting diva! To ensure this fact, I have taken the "No-Poncho Pledge":

"I Erica B. swear on the head and/or the grave of my sainted granny to never wear, buy, knit, crochet, or fashion from the old throw rug, the poncho. And if the poncho it is given to me as the gift, I will graciously thank the giver and then, when she has left, put the poncho into the dog's bed and/or the trash as the case she may be. Only by doing these things faithfully can I help end for the good of the humanity the scourge that is the poncho. So help me Erica B."

World Tour

Recently, I have discovered international crochet sites. Honestly, I am considering becoming multi-lingual! Here are a few of my favorite international sites. Oh, by the way, you may want to use Babelfish or the Norwegian to English translator to translate.

Russia

• Uzelok.ru

Italy

• Mani Di Fata
• Adriafil

Norway

• Garnstudio

France

• Sylfeline

Deutschland-Germany

• Initiative Handarbeit

Progress Report

I've been really busy lately... I've had to register three kids at three different schools, plus my own school work. Wow, the life of a SAHM! But I always make time for my hook! This is where I am so far on the multi-color skirt. I'm using Coats and Clark Red Heart in #312-Black, #400-Heather Grey and #316 Soft White.