BIZ-BIZ-BIZZY (like everyone else) & Time for a BLOCK PARTY!!!

Well it sure has been quite a while...It's time to recover from all the holiday chaos & get back to work! November went by fast & December has just been a blur. Kelly was home & gone again in the blink of an eye. It was the best Christmas present ever to have her come home...just wish I got to spend more time with her! The second best present was my trip to WEBS from Rich ~ YARN NIRVANA~ The poor man loves to torture himself by bringing me up to Northampton. He wanders around town for hours while I pet & play with all the fiber. This was followed by a great lunch at Sylvesters.
On the crochet & knit front...It's just been hectic getting the holidays gifts done. TONS of hats & scarves (mostly Dee's Tumbling Clusters Scarf & many of the Divine hats by Rheathelia) another awesome designer!!! Unfortunately I didn't have time to take pictures...
BUT now onto the BLOCK PARTY. We had a power outage that lasted most of the day & night yesterday so I got some of pieces finished & blocked. I started another scarf last night (IN THE DARK)...That goodness for those wonderful Crochet Lite hooks! I was working with the Noro Sock yarn & had no idea whether or not it would look good. Now to shed a little light on the darkness, I think it will be OK...Check Ravelry in the future for pictures.

Well enough blabbing for now...back to the "domestic" chores & a little knitting!!!

Here's to a healthy, happy, prosperous NEW YEAR filled with peace & love...

Karen

Great New Yarn Shop In Plainville, CT...BAYBERRY KNITTING!!!

There is an awesome new yarn shop in Plainville, CT called BAYBERRY KNITTING!!! I'm currently teaching crochet at the shop...starting with Beginner's Crochet, Refresher Crochet, Felted Bags and the Swirl Shawl. We are also having a Coffee, Crochet & Chat group on the first Weds. of each month for anyone that would like to get together to crochet, knit & make new friends! The CC&C will be from 10:30 - noon. Feel free to bring your projects for a little show 'n tell too.
We had a "crochet celebrity" visit Bayberry as well...Dee Stanziano made a guest appearance (Crochet With Dee). She brought along her great new pattern the Tumbling Clusters Scarf. I stitched up a sample for the store using 3 skeins of Plymouth Boku. Dee & I had a great time chatting and "doing lunch".
CALLING ALL HOOKERS (Crochet Hookers that is) ~Who knows...with a little luck we may be able to start a CGOA group for this part of the state!

Happy Stitching!
Karen

JAUNT TO GLOUCESTER, MA

Last weekend was so much fun...It was spent in one of my favorite places ever...Gloucester, MA! Rich & I had such a wonderful time (except poor Rich was very sick & guess who's sick now). It's been a rough week with a heck of a cold, so not much has gotten done!
While in Gloucester, we visited my favorite yarn shop in the area...COVETED YARN. Robert, the owner & his assistant, Astrid were very gracious hosts! If you are ever in the area, Coveted Yarn is a must see. The shop is jam packed with gorgeous yarns...many sensory delights to be had ~ including Blue Heron & Noro yarns...2 of my favs!
Here are a few pictures of the goodies I came home with...Blue Heron Beaded Rayon (on sale)!, gorgeous Blue Heron Rayon Metallic that I just couldn't live without...lol, & a gorgeous skein of Frolicking Feet from Done Roving in Christmas Cactus colorway. Robert was so very generous to send me home with the Frolicking Feet yarn all because I just adored the colorway. It looks like an explosion of autumn leaves in every color imaginable. Hopefully I'll feel better this week & can get down to business swatching the yarn. I can't wait to see what creations await!
Thank you Robert & Astrid for a fun visit...Looking forward to seeing you again soon! Yet another reason to fall in love with Gloucester...In addition to being by the ocean, all the gorgeous sights & sounds, great seafood, chocolate/fudge shops, yarn & most importantly...a wonderful partner to experience them all with...who could ever ask for more!!!

Till next time...
Karen

LABOR OF LOVE

Well YES it is totally awesome to have your designs published in leaflets, books & offered online; BUT do you know what is even better?!? My daughter, Kelly, asking me to make her an afghan. Let me explain ~ Kelly is in the army stationed at Fort Rucker, AL. She is an air traffic controller, working in the tower & telling the "big birds" what to do. She spends her time directing the helicopter pilots. She works long, hard hours as do her peers...& this mom couldn't be more proud of her!!!
As hot as it is in Alabama in August; Kelly has asked me to make her an afghan. (By the time this is finished it will probably not be so hot). Everyone could use a loving hug from their mom ~ even though it's many miles away! For me this is no ordinary project. I spent many hours & days trying to find "just the perfect" afghan pattern to suit Kelly. Yesterday I finally narrowed it down to 3 patterns & set off to A.C. Moore for the yarn. After fiddling around...this is the design I'm using. As usual, I will probably change up the pattern for the joining & border.
This project is very close to my heart & I have a feeling it will be loved & cherished by Kelly for many years to come (even long after I'm gone). It will have to suffice for a big bear hug until she returns home for a visit at the end of the year.

Happy Stitchin'
Karen

CROCHETED GIFTS...Awesome New Book

Did you have a chance to check out the new book from Kim Werker ~ Interweave called Crocheted Gifts? There are many awesome patterns crammed into the book. LOVE the layout of the book too. There are great pictures to go along with the patterns & a whole lineup of great designers. Lets see if I can name them all...Kathryn Merrick, Kristin Omdahl, Katie Himmelberg, Donna Hulka, Chloe Nightingale, Jennifer Hagan, Lisa Naskrent, Annie Modesitt, Robyn Chachula, Christina Marie Potter, Kim Werker, Jill Wright, Sandi Wiseheart, Doris Chan, Toni Rexroat, Myra Wood, Megan Granholm, Erica Alexander, Julie Armstrong Holetz & me too (Karen Drouin). I am so proud & excited to be part of this publication! There are so many projects for terrific gift ideas...an afghan, set for baby, jewelry, scarves & outdoor wear, clothing, & handbag. I'm sure I'm forgetting something.
Yes, I am biased...BUT seriously ~ there are many awesome projects in this book!!!
Already on my "To-Do List" is the Shawlette in Chains by Kristin Omdahl, the Trinity lace Shrug by Annie Modesitt, the Sorbet Scarf by Robyn Chacula & the Berry Baby Hat & Booties by Chloe Nightingale for a special little someone on the way!!!
So did I mention how awesome, spectacular, incredible, stupendous & fantastic this book is...lol
If you have the opportunity to do so...grab a copy today & you won't be disappointed. Kim Werker & Interweave produced another winner!

~Happy Crocheting~

"CHAN'neling Doris

The crochet dilemma for this week:

Our church in Southington, CT is in need of prayer shawls...preferrably made with Homespun. OK...I've knitted a few; BUT I want something quick, mindless, cheap, practical AND appealing. Could I be asking for too much...
I don't want anything too long, clumsy OR too holey. It has to be warm BUT not too bulky because chances are most of these will be going to the elderly. Could it be made with only 2 skeins of yarn to keep the cost down? You bet!

I can be sooo anal! It has to fit the bill and still look somewhat fashionable...In the end, it must past the "Karen Test".

Enough rambling already...To make a long story short, I decided to alter THE ALL SHAWL to my satisfaction for a prayer shawl. I was going to call it THE UNHOLEY PRAYER SHAWL (think I need to rethink that one)...lol! No disrespect intended...just pun!

If you'd like to try my version of the All-Prayer Shawl here it is:

*****Special Stitch: 5 Dc Shell - 5 dc's w/ a ch 1 between each dc*****

Using an L Hook & 2 skeins of L.B. Homespun yarn, follow Doris' fantastic All Shawl Pattern through Row 19. The pattern is free online. You will have 18 dc's in between each section.

ROW 20: Turn, ch 3 & work even, skipping 1st sp & last sp, ending w/ a dc in turning ch.

ROW 21: Turn, ch 3, dc in first sp and each sp across, ending with a dc in turning ch. You will end up with an increase at each end.
At the end of ROW 21 you should have 141 spaces.

EDGING: Turn, sl st into 1st sp, ch 1 & sc in same space, *sk next sp, 5 dc shell in next sp, sk next sp, sc in next sp. Repeat from * across ending w/ a sc in last sp. Finish off & weave in ends.

I'll be making more of these & they need to be done in a hurry...We are having our prayer circle on Tuesday & I'm hoping to make at least 2 more by then. These are so quick & easy to make that it shouldn't be a problem.

I really like the way this looks in general & it is a great way to give someone you care about a warm "hug". If you make one, I'd really like to see the pictures.

Happy Crocheting!
Karen

Holey Moley

Let me start by saying I am a HUGE fan of Doris Chan! I've made many of her fabulous designs and Doris has been a great mentor...
My newest "quickie" project is the Mei-Mei from Doris' Everyday Crochet. Talk about a quick, satisfying project. My little cover-up was finished in one evening! There is just one little problem though...I could not handle the holes on the bottom fronts. OK it is probably just me (YES I can be a little anal...OK more than a little). These holes probably don't bother most people & I really do like the design. BUT I just had to eliminate those holes if I'm ever going to wear it; especially since I will be wearing a black tank top underneath.
Last night I had dreams of changing the bottom edge...The most practical idea I came up with (without losing the look of the Mei-Mei) was to whip out the darning needle & get to work closing up those holes. I chose to weave the yarn back & forth gently eliminating the holes as I stitched. If you'd like to give it a go, here are a few pictures of what I did. Hopefully they will show my stitches OK.
Now I'm done with my rant...onto the next project in preparation for Key West!!!

Til next time...Happy Stitching!!!