Crochet 7" Record Box

I've been designing and crocheting 7" and 12" record boxes for at least a decade now.  I used to make them quite often but then once I had Xena, I started using the same basic template to make toy boxes for her instead (which technically also double as LP crates).  But while I was at Stitches South, I found an indie-dyed yarn from Inner Yarn Zen in the exact colors of Troy's favorite basketball team, UVA (University of Virginia) and I immediately knew the destiny of this wool.  I bought the last 4, 230 yds hanks of their 100% SWM yarn in their #67 Mustang colorway.  It was my first time seeing and meeting these vendors who were very sweet and I believe are from Idaho.

I made a "long box" for 7"'s which measures about 8" x 16" and fits probably about 200 7"'s, depending on what kind of sleeves you have.

I spent the last 2 months working on this project in between all of my other things and I'm very pleased with my results.  I used almost all of the 920 yds worth of yarn I purchased with a size G hook.  It's rather cumbersome crocheting around thick corrugated cardboard but the finished object is always so rewarding.  I find that while crocheting the boxes in SC is much more time consuming, it's more durable and aesthetically pleasing than using the DC stitch.

The box was very well received and I do not doubt that I will crochet many more in the future!

Tin Can Knits Flax Pullover and more!

Sure, I've crocheted and even designed my own crochet garments in a plethora of patterns and sizes but I am still quite a novice when it comes to knitting garments and following knit patterns.  The Tin Can Knits Flax Pullover is the first (toddler) sweater that I've knit for Xena, on my own without any help and instructions.  

I knit the 1-2 yrs size with a required yardage of 310, Worsted/Aran weight yarn.  I used 2, 110g/141 yds balls of Valley yarns Berkshire in Copper #18 and 1 ball in Merlot Heather #54.  This yarn is 85% Wool and 15% Alpaca.  

 I swatched and made the gauge for the required US #6 & US #8 needles required for the pattern. 

 Xena is a little petite so even though she turns 2 on the 14th, I knew that by knitting this size of sweater, that it would still have some legs (or arms?).

 As soon as I put it on her after her bath this morning, she pointed to it, proudly smiled and shouted, "Mom!".  That was truly one of the most rewarding moments I've had since I became a mother.

This was a super quick knit.  I finished 1/2 of it the first week I started it and then finished the majority of it on my flight to Toulouse, France a few weeks ago.

Now that I feel confident with this pattern, I'm going to make a monochrome adult version for myself with some of the yarn I purchased at Rhinebeck.

Because I am such a "maker", it is extremely rare that anyone ever makes or sends me anything knit or crocheted so this crochet Amigarumi Hangy Odon that my dear friend, Milly, made for Xena, came as such a magnificent surprise!  Thanks Millowski, you're the best! CT x FB, foreva!

From my recent trip to Toulouse, just 2 deviant toddlers cheerfully unraveling hours worth of crocheting...

I managed to randomly walk into this classic French yarn shop mere moments upon exiting the metro station in the Toulouse city center!

Yeah, I know I don't need anymore yarn, but (of course) I couldn't possibly resist picking up a couple souvenirs.  Here they are, pleasantly posing alongside the pillows I crocheted for Etienne.  

In my haste, I completely forgot to post my photos of from Stitches SoCal before I went abroad.

Kristine and I had a fabulous, although considerably mellower time, in comparison to last year, as she's now in the 2nd tri-mester of her pregnancy.

The Bob Ross quilting competition blew our freakin' minds!

The marketplace was so tiny in comparison to Stitches West but the quilts were worth the trip alone.

 These were 2 of my favorites!

This was a great challenge presented by the Greater Los Angeles Spinning Guild.  They all made something different out of the same base.

This crochet mosaic of mini-granny squares was one of the most impressive crocheted garments I've ever seen.

I also spotted my future ride.

There is only 1 major UFO that I am working on for X-Mas and then I am moving on to a very special gift for Bill and Kristine's baby shower in Feb which I may or not be able to finish by then.  Of course, I also have some socks on the needles for myself but I've come to realize that I feel "naked" without perpetually having a pair on my needles at this point.  I imagine that this will be my final post until after the New Year so Happy Holidays!  I'm looking forward to Matt being off work for a wk and having a little more time to focus on my own shit.  I'm quite proud of all of the progress I've made with knitting this year and I look forward to expanding my repertoire even further in 2021!