iPod Sweater

Turns out that I am not good at following patterns. I try regularly but never quite get what is expected. No fret though, as I am actually good at making things work for me some way or another. Crochet hacks, as some might say. I got this great new book,
Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker by Debbie Stoller. I tried the cozy pod creatures pattern on page 265. It's a great pattern design! If I remember correctly you only cut your yarn once. I think that I got lost at the pocket. That and it wasn't going to fit my 60 gig like I thought. So, I took my iPod out and measured some vinyl to fit the front and went from there. My pattern is a lot different but with similar results, as in it cover the iPod. No pocket or creature cuteness in mine. Also, I cut my yarn at least 4 times so I had lots to tuck in. Mine is made of Patons Merino wool in a camouflage color pattern. My iPod is happy with its new sweater :)

Marvin and Mabel

Finally the search for glass mannequin heads is over. Meet Marvin and Mabel, the two latest members of Earthy Eye.
I have been searching all over Portland for these two. I searched many fixture stores, second hand stores, Ikea and the internet. Finding glass heads on the internet looked to be my only hope but they cost $15 or so plus that in shipping. Beat the $65 plastic mannequin heads that I had seen but I decided to look on. I ending up finding them at Pier One for $15 each! YAY! I am very excited to have these new hat models. Their head circumference is about 21 inches which is a bit small but not really, because it's better than too big.

Misguided Mittens

Back in September upon having cold hands I decided to make myself some mittens. I did not find a pattern that I liked though I probably did not look too hard as I wanted mittens quick. I was very excited to start my mitten project and bought some feltable Merino Wool. As I crocheted I wrote down exactly what I was doing to so that I could make two mittens just a like. After completing the first one I washed it in the washer on warm with some jeans. Turned out pretty great! Then, with plenty of distractions later, I did not complete the second mitten until December. Thought I should since if I waited too much longer I wouldn't need mittens until next September. Anyway, so the second mitten went following the directions that I wrote from the first. It went quite fast as I started to remember the initial excitement of having 'me-made' mittens. The results did not turn out as had planned though. The second mitten was a bit different even though I followed the directions. And, I since then had gotten a new washer/dried with a front load washer. I don't know why it's different but the second mitten did not felt even after trying twice. So, in the end, what I have is mittens, that are not exact. (the second one turned out smaller) I wore them last weekend for the first time and they still worked out as originally planned. Lesson learn: when making two exact items, 1) do them one after the other, no waiting around, 2) felt them together at the same time to ensure same results. Guess I will have to try again next September. ;0)

Got Courage?

This lion sure does! Following the Beary Bean, the lion is for David's nephew Liam. To the right, modeled by Beth who makes it obvious how very cute it is.

Scrap Cat

My very first crocheted friend. This is Scrap Cat and he was made as an experiment out of scrap yarn with no pattern. He was given to a special friend as a Winter Solstice gift. I think he's pretty funny with all of those random yarns, and he's not very soft. He doesn't have any bottom legs either as he is just like the velveteen rabbit. And we all like him just the way he is. Go Scrappy!

Happy Winter Solstice

I was a craft vendor at the PDX Etsy holiday sale at PSU. My mom came to this event with me and we had a good time. It cost me $24 for my table and luckily I sold one hat, a $24 dollar hat. I am thankful for that. Also, for the other vendors that I got to meet who are all really awesome and inspiring people! At the end I got to trade with other vendors. I traded a hat for some earrings and a hat for a ceramic tea cup. Awesome!
It did weird me out a bit that I was able to sell hats better in September than December. But I know some reasons why including the two other vendors who were selling beautiful knit/crochet hats and the farmer's market vendor who was selling crocheted hats and homemade yarn.
It was a great day either way, and I've found that I LOVE trading! So, let me know what you've got ;)

Beanie Hat with ears - Candy Cane

Beanie Hat with ears - Candy Cane,
originally uploaded by earthyeye.

Many new hats with ears are being made to keep cold ears warm. This hat is just in time for the holiday all dressed in candy cane.