crocheting | The Angel Forever

Category Archives crocheting

Winter Weather Sweater Nails

Posted on January 14, 2015 10:37 am by TheAngelForever

It’s no secret that I love fiber arts. I have been knitting since I was in elementary school. Crocheting is new in the scheme of things, but I have not looked back since I started two years ago. There is just something special about putting a handmade hat on your head, scarf around your neck, or blanket across your cold legs.

The last week or so, Mother Nature has reminded us that winter is here to stay in New York. It has been COLD. Of course, the temperature is the perfect time to pick up yarn to knit or crochet. It also inspired my latest manicure with Jamberry wraps.

Yes, my hands have beautiful knit sweaters on them and I am in love. Seeing the purple and yarn look makes me smile.

Now, I just need to make them warm enough so they feel like sweaters are on them. So far technology has not made them quite that sophisticated…YET.

Valentine’s Day is just a month away and I am already planning how my nails will be ready to celebrate. I do believe that Love Spell will be my choice, but who knows what I will select when the time comes.

How will you be keeping warm the rest of the winter? I would love to know if you have plans for Valentine’s Day or will be dressing up for nails for the fun. Message me if you are interested in trying a sample, want to host a party (you earn FREE wraps), or place an order.

Disclosure: I am a Jamberry Independent Consultant and paid for my own starter kit to sell these products. If people purchase items from me, I will earn money for my business.

Categories:
crocheting holidays Jamberry knitting me moments

Three Fiber Arts Apps for Android

Posted on July 28, 2014 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

A long time ago, I was an elementary school girl learning how to knit on a neighbor’s front porch. In between riding my bike with the kids, several of us used to sit on rocking chairs and knit together. Knitting has always been a passion, but I secretly craved picking up a hook to ease the pain that knitting caused in my wrists.

Last year, I finally taught myself how to crochet using several YouTube videos. Prior to this, I was not very successful with crochet because books just did not cut it. There is just something wonderful about being able to see a person showing the way to work a pattern up with yarn. I am also able to pause it and rewind to see a section over and over until I am successful.

Over the last year, I have often used my android smartphones to keep up on my fiber arts. I can share photos of my creations, ask questions on Facebook groups, and explore new apps that will help my new love for crochet. While there are a lot of apps out there for people that knit and crochet, several of popular ones from yarn companies are only available for iOS. Thanks to this, I was not able to test them out using my beloved Samsung Galaxy S5. While I have an iPad, I utilize my smartphone a lot more when out and about and shopping for craft items and working on a project. The Crochet Crowd App is a favorite of mine. Mikey and the entire Crochet Crowd community were part of the reason that I have been successful with my crocheting adventure. This app does a wonderful job of combining all parts of The Crochet Crowd together. You can:

see the latest posts on The Crochet Crowd Facebook page
view the amazing collection YouTube tutorials
check out the latest crochet challenge
view photos of gorgeous creations from other hookers
use the yarn calculator to assist with an upcoming project
head to The Crochet Crowd website
read the latest on Mikey’s blog
look for patterns
learn how to crochet

Of course, there is much more to explore on the app. It really is a wealth of information for the new, intermediate, or even advanced crocheter. I know I have my eye on the latest Mystery crochet along that was just revealed and would be a new experience for me to try. Michaels Stores also have an app for Android users. I found this one after I was a bit underwhelmed by another craft stores app. The Michaels Stores contains a lot of items packed all into one resource. You will find:

the Michaels Stores weekly ad
coupons for your local Michaels Store
projects that are not limited to yarn and needle crafts (baking, painting, home décor, kids crafts, and a lot more)
product listings by craft type
videos will be coming
a place to store the project you like
listing of events at your local Michaels Store

There is a lot more within the app. What I adore is that I can quickly get coupons when I am going to the store to pick up items. If I am looking for a new idea to craft, I can save a project that I like. Later on, I can go back in and find what I need to purchase, along with the project instructions. Another fun feature, I can check the weekly sales and just skip right to the yarn brands. A lot of thought was put into this app and it is great for a fiber arts enthusiast on the go. Knitting Patterns Database is an app that combines tools from many other knitting apps into one location. Within this app you can:

store PDF patterns
download patterns from locations like Ravelry (you must sign into those)
import patterns
use their row counter
find a calculator to help with yarn substitutions and more

This app is new to me and I plan on exploring it more this summer as I finish up my latest crochet project. I know I will be able to use it for future knitting works, but there is a way to utilize it for my crochet work as well. What apps have you used for knitting, crocheting, or other crafting? I would love to know so I can add them to my growing collection. Be sure to check out my latest crafting fun by following along on Instagram.

Disclosure: As a member of the Verizon Lifestyle Bloggers, I receive devices like the Samsung Galaxy S5 to test out and share ways that I use it in my life. I am a long time Verizon customer, and all opinions are my own.

Categories:
arts and crafts crocheting knitting Technology

Hues of Blue Crochet Blanket

Posted on May 19, 2014 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Last summer, I finished my first big crochet project and quickly fell in love with granny squares. During the fall, I was itching to get something else started while making hats, wristers, and other small projects. At some point in the process, JSL begged for me to make him a blue blanket. I was not entirely sure where I was going on this crafting adventure, but over the last 24 weeks it has grown, and grown, and grown. If you follow me on Instagram, you will be able to look back and see when I bought many hues in blue and really got this project started.

The week after JSL’s surgery, all of the individual granny squares were made. We took a field trip to Nana and Papa’s house to use their floor. While JSL did not select all of the yarn colors (they were limited in Caron Simply Soft), I wanted him to make the final design. He really enjoyed figuring out the pattern and setting it up.

After all of the rows were connected by single crochet, I took the blanket back to see how big it really was going to be. I had a little helper jump on top to give you a size comparison.

I had hoped to finish the afghan before JSL’s birthday, but there was just too much going on. Days later, I was able to surprise the kiddo with the completed blanket when he woke up in the morning and snuggled under it.

I do believe he was a happy camper, though he keeps telling me several are not really blue. I remind him they are blue-green and acceptable given the circumstances. Next, I will be using the colorful combination below for a new project.

So what knitting, crocheting, or craft projects will you be working on this summer? I

It's Me

In case you missed JSL’s antics while helping with the pattern, I shared a little video on Instagram from that day.

Categories:
arts and crafts crocheting me moments

Making Pom-Pom Hats

Posted on November 18, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Growing up, I remember wearing fun winter hats with giant pom-poms on top. I am not sure why I remember that, but I do. For years, I have avoided hats in the winter time. I have never found any that I like, that fit right, or are fun. A short time ago I started to crochet my own hats for everyone in the family. Guess who is hooked (no pun intended) on wearing hats again? I have been making a lot of hats, but I was not in love with my pom-pom. I tried to make it on my own and did not have a lot of yarn left in the skein. The one for my mother’s hat was a little better, but did not make me happy.

Thanks to Instagram, I saw photos of the new Clover Pom-Pom maker and wanted to check it out at the craft store. When I went to pick up some yarn for projects the other day, I stopped by to look at the different pom-pom making options. Since I am a Clover fan, I decided to get the large pom-pom maker to test out. I had some more of the yarn for my first hat to redo that sad looking guy on top.

While the directions on the back of the box were easy to follow, I decided to check out Clover’s YouTube video to make sure I was setting everything up for the first time. Here are some photos from my process.

I still need to help the shape out a bit and cut from yarn to fix it up a bit, but it looks so much better. Check out the sad old pom-pom next to the brand new one. Then, through a small procedure (scissors), the old pom-pom was removed and I sewed the new one in.

And, just like that, I fell in love with the Clover Pom-Pom maker that I bought at my local craft store. Are you a fan pom-pom hat fan, or do you prefer to have a plain hat to keep your noggin warm?

Categories:
arts and crafts crocheting

Crochet Hat Central

Posted on November 7, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

When I find a craft that I enjoy, I tend to go a little wild making items. Years ago it was knit cloths, scarves, and blankets. Recently I switched my focus to crocheting. For a while I was constantly making crochet granny squares for what eventually became my rainbow blanket. Next up, I fell in love with making wristers. Then, I knew the cold weather was coming and wanted to make hats. I never tried a knit hat, but crocheting intrigued me. Last week, I decided to try the First Fall Crochet hat pattern by Lion Brand Yarn.

While I liked this pattern, I wanted to make something that would not require me to stitch it up in the end. So I found another pattern on a video (not sure the name) and made another hat to match some wristers that were already finished.

I quickly fell in love with this pattern because it is the base for a lot of more fun character hats that I want to try one day soon. Some may include two mouse ears and help me to share my Disney Side a bit more this winter. So to practice, the boys each picked out some yarn for me to make them something. NHL’s hat is orange and black. JSL wanted a TARDIS blue hat. I made a hat to match my potato chip scarf that I knitted last year. Of course, once I was finished, I decided that it had to have a pom-pom on top. I made another hat with a pom-pom for Nana to match some wristers that I crocheted her a while back.