Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Finishing the Christmas list

I had to take a break from the knitting and dollmaking to finish up a couple of items left on my Christmas list.  I don't know about you, but it has been a couple of decades since I shopped on 'Black' Friday, the Friday after Thanksgiving.

The plum colored cowl is from the Jan/Feb 2011 issue of Crochet Today, made up in Stitch Nation Bamboo Ewe.  It was lovely yarn to work with, and has a wonderful drape.  You can wear it with the buttons in front, or in back.  Looks great either way.

The bolero is a pattern I've had for ages, published in 2001 by the American School of Needlework.  It is worked in Lionbrand Homespun, which is NOT my favorite yarn to work with.  However, it made up beautifully.   This is the second time I've made this bolero; an easy pattern with a neat 'cable' look border accomplished with front post double crochet stitches.

Maybe we should start a new trend, called 'White' Friday, and spend the day making something as a gift for friend or family for Christmas :-)

Have a heartfelt and blessed Thanksgiving, my friends!

Charlie, helping to oversee the photo shoot :-)

18 comments:

  1. That plum cowl is gorgeous! =) Great job!

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  2. What a great bolero and cowl.

    I so love Charlie with it's dreamy eyes. I think he could fall head over heals for my cat China.

    Great to see you crocheting again.

    Carolyn

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  3. Beautiful cat! And the crochet is pretty neat too:-)

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  4. Charlie is definitely a gorgeous guy :-) Thank you Carolyn and Cro-Shay-inator for your good words.

    Beth

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  5. Love both pieces and the cat is gorgeous.

    Also the white Friday idea sounds great.

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  6. Hi, Beth! First of all, I am SUCH a kitty person! Your Charlie is gorgeous! Speaking of gorgeous, the cowl is EXACTLY that! I have that pattern (I'm a long time subscriber to Crochet Today) and need to make one! The color you used is just beautiful & really spotlights the stitches! I also love the bolero! Like you, I am not absolutely nuts about Homespun, but I've used it in a number of things. It DOES look great in that pattern! LOVE your idea of White Friday! If you don't object, I will put that on MY blog, too (giving you credit, of course) and see if we can't generate a lot of interest! No WAY do I even BUDGE from home on Black Friday! UGH! Chaos & I are not a good match! Have a beautiful Thanksgiving, Beth. I'm VERY grateful for having met you through blogging!

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  7. Dear Kai,

    Thank you so much for your lovely words :-) Yes, I've made a lot of pieces with Homespun, and though it aggravates me to crochet with it, I do love the results. The Bamboo Ewe was wonderful to crochet...felt good sliding along the hook, and has a lovely drape.

    Pay it forward! I love that you would put the idea of White Friday on your blog! It disgusts me that Target, Walmart, and TRU are all opening on Thanksgiving evening...what a thoughtless thing to do to their employees. Who even remembers what the 'must have' gift of last year was?

    Have a lovely Thanksgiving as well; it is a blessing to know wonderful people like yourself, here in blog land :-)

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  8. Lovely job. White friday is a great idea. What bugs me the most are those people that do the shopping in a black friday

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  9. Hi!

    Love your gifts! I am SO behind on my Christmas crocheting! Just a question -- was that purple cowl difficult, or was the pattern easy to follow? I have that pattern (somewhere) too, and it might make a nice gift for my sister -- she's always cold!

    My sister, by the way, IS a "Black Friday" shopper, but only when she really wants to get a special present. She has 3 kids, many nieces and nephews, and two granddaughters, so she has to save money where she can! I NEVER go out that day myself -- I'd be way too cranky that early in the morning.

    Just another comment -- I really love your blog, and all the wonderful dolls! I hope I can make some time after the holidays to make a few for my little girl!

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  10. Hi Linda,

    Thank you for the good words :-) Actually, the plum colored cowl was quite easy to make. The instructions were easy to follow, and there was also a stitch diagram for the pattern (in addition to the written instructions). This one is for my sister-in-law :-)

    Happy crocheting!

    Beth

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  11. LOVE both of them.

    The plum shoulder shaw is gorgeous, love the pattern work.
    Nice work on the bolero. Maybe you could share a Black Friday photo with you wearing it?
    The background on your bolero is very nice too.
    I truly enjoy your work.

    `til next time,
    Happy Thanksgiving,
    God Bless

    connie

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  12. Hi Connie! Thank you so much for the good words, and the Thanksgiving wishes :-) Hope you have a great holiday as well.

    In friendship,

    Beth

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  13. Now I'll have to dig through my magazines to find that lovely cowl! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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  14. Linda, it is worth the effort :-)

    Beth

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  15. Beautiful projects, I just want to say I agree with the white Friday idea..and think it is a fantastic way to start a new creative tradition.
    Sherry

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  16. Thank you, Sherry :-) Together we can make it happen!

    Beth

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