How I moved across the ocean

it is Pacific ocean! I'm moving back to Russia! I can't part with my stash, even if there is not much good yarn left or if left, in not enough quantity for a big project as a sweater for example. And I don't know the prices there for yarn. When I checked last time 2 years ago, prices were as high as in New York! And I took all my needles and hooks into my suitcase with me (didn't send it by package) so it won't be lost!

If you don't like the yarn... change the hook!

That's right! I didn't like working with DK or sport weight yarn until I realized that it is the hook to blame, not he yarn! Usually I crochet with Susan Bates Silvalume hooks, but with sport weight yarn I tried Susan Bates Quicksilver 3.5 mm. I hate it!!! The grid is too small to hold the loop and I couldn't stand it!! I ordered the rest of Silvalume hooks online--what I don't have to complete my collection! I'm so glad!!! I wanted to find Silvalume in bigger sizes--from 8 mm and couldn't find it, though.
I'm constantly crochet, almost every evening (more at night). Yesterday I tried fillet crochet--and loved it! I did a heart from Crochet today! magazine. Today I did my name in Russian and now wear it as a bracelet! I want to make my mom's name for her birthday.
Now to pictures:
I still hope to make a perfect WARM blankie for my daughter. I imagine that I'll do a small blanket now and will add to it as she grows, so the blanket will grow with her. I had one demand: it should NOT be granny squares!! Also it should not be too lacy or it wouldn't be warm. And one more thing: I wanted to use variegated or multicolored yarn, so I don't need to change the colors. Here is the swatch of the pattern that I found in IC:
I love this pattern! Here is what I did with Patons Decor:

It is just 1 skein. I saw it in the store and liked colors and wanted to try it. I don't like what is it made of (80% acrylic, 20 wool), but the colors are nice and it is machine washable. I'll buy 2nd and 3rd skeins and will make it bigger.

My ideal blankie will be from Patons Classic Merino wool 3 colors or so. Wait for swatches!
BTW, the 1st swatch is made with Cottontots. i started the sweater:

I know, I need to concentrate on one thing, but can't! When I "crack" the pattern, it is not interesting for me anymore!!! (i mean I start to understand how it's constructed and look like in real life). That is why I started to design --it is way more interesting to figure out by MYSELF how to make it than to just follow someone else's pattern!!!

My wish came true!!!!

Oh, I'm so glad!!! I dreamed about case like that for several years!!! Now not all my hooks , but Susan Batets Silvalume hooks (I ordered the rest, they are coming) are in one place, placed in order of their size!!! Thanks to craftydaisies for the template. I did my case 20'' wide, not 18". it took me 3 hours to sew it. I was a little bit afraid that my seams will be not straight, but they turned out great!! And the last thing: it is recycled from husband's old shirt!

Crochet-Along of Tall Latte from "Everyday Crochet" by Doris Chan...

... I'm doing on crochetme.com. Anyone is welcomed to join!!

Tall Latte

This is my progress on Tall Latte using 6.5 mm hook. So far I'm enjoying it

Stitches closer:

I did several rounds and thought that the fabric is too loose and tried it with 5,5 mm hook,as I would do it normally with worsted weight yarn:



but after several rounds it was obvious that the fabric is too stiff and I abandoned it and returned to my first try.
And this is bonus--the bag that I did from free pattern by Drew Emborsky. I found it on the Ravelry. I plan to line it

Don't fall out from your chair...

..but can you believe that a ling-time crocheter has never done a granny square before? Well, you better believe, because this is me. I don't like granny squares! OK, I said it. I just don't like how they look like! Not cool to me!
Yesterday I had a creative bag. I wanted too do every stitch and motif that I ever wanted to do. I needed to get it out of my system, to move further. Here is what I did:

Infamous granny square


A try of stitches for a child hat
A trial of stitches for a sweater

Yes, I know, it's acrylic, but that's why I'm using it to try new stitches instead of using good yarn!


Here is the swatch that I wanted to do for a long time too. It's Bernat Cool Crochet (70% cotton, 30% nylon), light worsted or DK weight, usingE4/3.5 mm hook
I'm not in awe in this hdc swatch how he colors ar changing , but I've always wanted to crochet socks (I knitted one pair already and wearing them constantly), like these for example
I need to check them on Ravelry and look how they turned out.
This veriegated yarn is good for baby items. That is what I bought it for -- to do a sweater from Crochet today! magazine by Candy Johnsen. Not with these balls,
I need to do swatches with different stitches in this yarn to see which stitches it looks best. For every variegated yarn there is a sitch to shine in!

I did this heart for my hubby for Vallentine's day:
Pretty, isn't it?? :)

My behavior patterns

1. I'm easily distracted by new projects
2. I want to complete the project even if it was laying around for several years
3. I need several months to sew three buttons
   

YARN

I found perfect yarn for crocheting :
- knit one crochet too BabyBoo (45% Bamboo/55% Nylon) 115 yards, 50-gr ball, Sts per 4": 22 sts, Machine wash cold water, dry flat (DK)
- Lily Chin Signature Collection Chelsea (30% merino wool, 35% cotton, 35% acrylic) DK weight 191 yrd.(174.7m.), 50gr. (1.75 oz.)
_Classic Elite Sundance 50% Cotton, 50% Microfiber, 83 yards, 50 gr skeins, 5sts/inch US 6 needle (DK)
-Diakeito Diacotton Powan 56% Cotton, 40% Nylon, 4% Polyester 21-23 sts, 28-30 rws = 4" x 4"Needle size: US 7 118 yards, 30g (DK)

Designers' salary...

...is miserable. I was listening to Craft Sanity podcast yesterday with Lily Chin. She was describing how is she working twice amount of time to get average salary. And she is a renown designer! Prices for designers' work has been DOWN since 1980's. Something is really wrong with it. Of course, it's not the most demanded work in the world, but big corporations shouldn't take advantage of people who are so passionate about this.
I was listening also to the last Cast on podcast with Annie Modesitt. She is the only one designer who has the courage to speak about it!
I got today Knit Pick's Shine Worsted. I'm going to crochet a sweater from "Everyday crochet" by Doris Chan. She is my the most favorite designer now. I like EVERYTHING that she is doing. We both love dresses and top down design and design that I can wear everyday, not just at summer. I'll chain on today! :)

I'm designing. Again

I have a lot of news!
I designed ....( can't write) and deciding which magazine/yarn company to submit it. Or maybe I need to design more and submit it at once.
I'm also ordering yarn to try how it hangs/ perform in the crocheted item. I'm convinced now that 100% cotton is not the best yarn out there to crochet with because of the weight of the fabric. Especially if it is a big garment as a dress or a sweater for an adult. I'm looking for yarn that has some blend as nylon to retain the shape of the garment also. And it is good if it would be machine washable. It should hang well, not be stiff when crocheted. Soft to skin.
I found several yarn lines that I'm happy with. Cool Crochet from Bernat, Knit Picks Shine worsted and Sport, Main line should be good. I tried TLC Cotton plus -- too stiff and bulky and Lion Brand Cotton Ease is too bulky and stiff too. They don't hang well also. I did swatches.
I'll make swatches and see how they'd behave, and will post later.
One thing that i DON'T want to use is bad yarn, 100% acrylic. If I'm putting THAT much time to design and crochet the garment, I want it to last forever!
I want to make a web site to sell my patterns, maybe separate site, maybe here.