Happy Monday!

Hello,
  I am not usually one of those people who hate Mondays. Especially today. I start full-time today instead of being a substitute. When I first went back to work part-time was what I needed. But now I am stronger, my knee is doing pretty well and I was lucky enough to land the position that opened in the nursery where I work. I work in a daycare/preschool. So now I get to work with the little babies and toddlers all day. I have been subbing in the preschool room and I will miss those little guys, but they are right down the hall from me and I can pop in  and see them anytime. I also get to work with a young woman that I am really fond of. She was the recipient of the Blanket Statement baby blanket that I finished a few weeks ago. So all is well here.
  I had meant to post on Saturday, but I had to take a CPR and First Aid class, then grocery shopping. By the time I got home I was good for nothing. No crochet even. Lol. Yesterday I had to drive down to pick up my daughter, she was visiting my sister-in-law and her cousins at their farm. So, again, by the time I got home and made dinner I was good for nothing. I crocheted one half of a row on my granny ripple. Somehow I did manage to make this little monkey for Autumn, it only took about an hour.

I got the pattern from the February 2012 edition of Crochet World magazine. Here is the web address, Crochet-World.com. I am not a big fan of making amigurumi, but for once I followed the pattern and it turned out pretty cute. The only changes I made were to use an F hook and worsted wt. yarn. I wanted it a little bigger. In the pattern you use [0] wt. yarn and it comes out 2 1/2 inches long. Very cute, but Autumn wanted something bigger and I am not buying any yarn right now. I have enough. Lol.
  I also finished up another one of the bolero tops for one of Autumn's friends. I had Autumn model it. When the little girl got it she took off the sweater she was wearing and put it on so she could wear it to school. It made me feel good. Sometimes I worry that the kids aren't going to care for some of the things I make for them, so when they love it, it makes me feel very happy.

Please pay no attention to the baskets of laundry that needed to be put away. He he. I hate laundry. Anyway, I followed this pattern exactly. I had enough yarn for this one so the peplum is just like it is supposed to be. Autumn's has a scalloped edge since I ran out of yarn. The pattern is on the Red Heart site. This also works up really quickly. I made it in two evenings while reading stories to Autumn.
  So that is what I have been up to this week. I will post tomorrow for Tuesday's Tallies. Have a great Monday. We are supposed to get more snow here, yea!

Tuesday's Tallies

 

Hello again,

 Time for Tuesday's Tallies. I am excited. Last week when I finished the Grandala Blanket, I sat right down to work on this new project. I am making a granny ripple. I looked for just the right pattern and didn't like what I was finding too much. So after messing with it for two days and pulling out countless stitches, I came up with something I like.

• I have never worked with Stylecraft or DK before, so it is a treat. The yarn is so soft and I am having lots of fun with the color selections. It is going to be another huge blanket. I measured it from side to side and it is a little over 5' wide. So too big for afghan size, but just right for the whole family to use on the couch at the same time. I am keeping this one. I started with Lavender, then Plum, Magenta, and Wisteria then Pomegranate. Would you believe I already have the whole color sequence worked out in my little notebook. Lol. To check out everyone's One-A-Day projects pop over to Gingerbreadgirl's blog.

 I finished this little top last night for Autumn. It took about 3 hours total. I started it during lunch last week and then picked it up again when I got home yesterday. It is a Red Heart pattern. Very easy to work up. The only problem I had was that I ran out of yarn. I ordered it because Autumn wanted it just like the photo and none of our stores had that particular yarn. I checked the pattern a few times to make sure 2 balls would be enough. It wasn't, so I put a scalloped edge on it. That is the only change from the pattern. I am kind of irritated though. This is the third time this has happened with one of their patterns. I always check my gauge and am usually right on track. Again, I wouldn't have cared at all if I could get the yarn around here somewhere. I am not going to pay shipping for one ball of yarn though, so a  scalloped edge it is.

I am always so happy when she asks me to make her something. I hope everyone has a great day. I am trying to decide if the weather is going to let me walk to work or if I need to drive. Not much of a problem, I work 2 blocks away. He he.