In a few days you're going to be like Jiiiiiminy Christmas, we know it's 2012, we can all put the date on our checks correctly on the first try, stop using your silly graphic. Until then:



Also around that time someone will point out that it's 2012 so no one writes paper checks anymore.

I have run into a problem with this crochet project. A gazillion years as a knitter means I have a lot of yarn. (Though less than many - my guilty pleasure purchase for crafting is pattern books with glossy pictures instead of yarn.) However, almost all of it is wool, with some alpaca in there for fuzz. Crochet patterns all call for cotton, and some of the dishclothy ones call for ACRYLIC because it's more abrasive, which is precisely why I performed a total Red Heart exorcism from my yarn bins as soon as I got a grown-up job with money. So, shopping is in order! (Yes, I haaaaave to go yarn shopping. Pity me!) Until then, though, I'm VIOLATING CROCHET LAW and using wool.


"BLASPHEMY in wool with acrylic twiggy bits" by Lion Brand Yarn and Little Red

That is this pattern, and the first things dottieangel says in her pattern post are:

it is a time for gleefulness
and a time for handcraftedness

So obviously a pattern for me!

I used a little mason jar that a coworker gave me along with homemade jam, and it's the perfect size for a votive candle.


Action shot!

I wanted to add the little windows because I wanted to be able to see the flame flickering, and couldn't for the life of me figure out what to google. Googling "crochet windows" brings up a lot of people crocheting massive window treatments. Like one would expect.

Thankfully trial and error is very easy with crochet, because you can see the result on that one stitch right away rather than having to wait until the next row for the magic reveal! I did something that approximates triple crochet (ooooooh) interspersed with chain-1-stitch, skip-1-stitch (aaaaaah). It worked! MAGIC!

Things I learned: It's very satisfying to rip back in crochet! All the fun of ripping back, none of the suck of getting your stitches all back on the needles facing the same damn way.

Things I did not learn: How to not add or subtract a mystery number of stitches every row when crocheting in the round.

Next up I'm making this!


image and pattern by creativeyarn.

Right now it looks like this!


This time, BLASPHEMY in Cascade 220 wool.

Shopping list:
- Cotton yarn
- Cheapie acrylic yarn for scrubbies that will make my soul weep a little as I go through checkout
- Removable stitch markers so I can stop using a paper clip. (these seem apt)