I’ve been working on this pretty little beast for about two months.  And I’ve just hit the halfway point.  I started out crazy fast, and am mentally slowing.  I keep thinking to myself, I want to just GET IT DONE.  And then I instantly reprimand myself for not enjoying the process. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE FUN!

{Above is my super special organizational motif chart.  I cannot describe the delicious pleasure I take in maniacally crossing out a block in the, “to do” chart.}

TIPS AND TRICKS TO “GET THROUGH” making an afghan….

• Don’t do it alone.  Get a group of knitters/crochetters together and be in the company of others.  Support is important.

• Watch a ridiculous tv show if knit groups or friends aren’t available.

•  Section the project into small increments, and give yourself a sticker when you complete an increment.  (with a granny square blanket, i’ve marked how many squares I’ll need to complete.  I cross off when I’ve completed an entire color combo motif with a DARK BLACK PEN. if feels really good to have a visual of your progress.

• Change colors!  Immediately this makes me feel better to have a different color to look at.

• Stop when your tired.  Pick it up a little bit at a time.  (this way your not dreading it, it’s always a pleasure).

• Do not give yourself a crazy time line.  (This will just add to pressure, and you may push yourself to keep going when your tired or getting bored.  Then you run the risk of never picking it up again).

• Keep it out.  Have a basket or bag you keep next to the couch or where ever you like to work, so it’s easy to get at.

• Do it for fun.  (why else would you do it?)

• Hire friends to help you finish

I share all this with you, hoping i’m not the only person to feel this way?  When I hear stories of grandmas and great grandmas that made 100′s of afghans in their lives, I wonder HOW THE HELL DID THEY DO IT– Speed and mental strength?  Gosh, I want to time travel and ask them to be my fiber guru.

After 6 amazing years of making amazing trash garments on the cheap, junk to funk is in major risk of closing it’s doors.  We need some community support to help make some future projects.  Installations, guerilla flash mobs fashion shows, trashion classes, etc.  We can’t do it anymore with just love.  We need money to help spread the message and save the planet.  What better way to make an impact.  Please help if you can.  Even 10 bucks is a giant help!

We will be creating 3 new garments for earth day out of coffee cups, plastic water bottles, and plastic bags.  This installation will be in a window front in Downtown portland.  Location to be disclosed later

Desperately begging  tell your friends and help us help you and our sweet sweet planet!

Click here to contribute

Korie, starting to show the "baby bump"

I desperately wanted to make something for her newest family member.  I wanted something sweet and practical…. A blanket!  I modeled “project baby blanket” after my dearest love; my baby blanket.

Me 1983 holding my sweetest friend, my blanket!

2011

I choose a super soft acrylic weight yarn by red heart, sweet baby yarn.  And I choose lighter soft hues than a traditional pink or yellow.  In my blanket, there used to be cartoon drawings all along the satin (which I rubbed off or washed away).  And still, under careful inspection in the corner folds of the satin trim, you can see the pale yellow, light mint green, and soft pink sketches of warm friendly characters.  This was my inspiration for the color.

Next was choosing the pattern.  Since I was obsessed with crocheting and learning a mess load of different techniques, I was hell bent on making a delicate granny square baby blanket!

Goal: complete 42 squares and sew them together.

Added the satin trim

Its important to block the blanket before sewing on the satin.  The satin that I choose was actually a very thin rayon coat liner.  The “prepacked satin trim”  at the fabric store was like steel wool.  I wanted it to feel like butter.

While making this sweet blanket, I had no idea how sentimental I was going to be.  I kept reminiscing about the deep love and comfort I found in snuggling my blanket, and stubborn insistence to drag it everywhere.  With every loop and pull of yarn I kept imagining, “who will this unborn person be in this world?”  What countless ways will she touch and warm peoples hearts?    I can’t wait to find out, and I hope I transferred good wishes and luck into the soft warm fibers of yarn.  Welcome to earth little Lily!

]]> http://jenlamastra.com/the-perfect-baby-gift/feed/ 0 http://jenlamastra.com/crack-picks/ http://jenlamastra.com/crack-picks/#comments Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:19:26 +0000 Jen LaMastra http://jenlamastra.com/?p=848 I recently started a weekly craft group.  It is the most amazing idea I’ve had for several reasons:  One to connect to the crafting community, and Two because it’s sad to knit/crochet for hours and hours by yourself with the droning of the television in the background.  Getting a group of craft buddies together is the perfect winter activity.  During this event, I learned about “CRACK PICKS”  (this is the nickname to …. knitpicks.  Have you heard of this?  I was afraid I was the last to know.  Knit picks is a website for affordable and beautiful yarn.  Knit picks is like half.com or ebay… look here before spending an arm and a leg.

Now this isn’t to say that I don’t  love to support local businesses, but shit- they’re breaking my piggy bank with my obsessive yarn fetish. I will certainly continue to go as they do have an incredible selection of beautiful yarn….! but….  I just ordered about 36 skeins of worsted weight wool, and I am going to make my first afghan for 130 bucks– verses 300+ This is an expensive project if you want to use fancy pants fiber.  (knit picks also happens to be across the bridge in Vancouver WA– a 15 min drive from my house verses a 15 min walk up the street to yarn store)-still local and small business!

Now I understand why it’s nicknamed, “Crack Picks.”  Happy Crocheting!

It seems I’m at that age in life, when everyone is getting married and having babies.  This is great for me. I get to test run the critters vicariously through my tired friends.  My friend Carissa has a three year old who is adorable beyond words.  Smart.  Quick.  Insightful.  And always smiling.  She is the most well balance human being I know.  Anyway, she is the older sister to newborn Jedd.  As soon as Carissa had given birth to Jedd, I realized– I must send some kind of loving congratulations for caring and birthing and new creature into this world.  But what?  AMIGURUMI!!!!  I wrote a blog about my first attempts, in: http://jenlamastra.com/amigurumi/

But what I didn’t anticipate was that Jedd’s precious older sister, Alaire, would fall desperately in love with Disgruntled Dino, becoming one of her 6 other “babies.” Sorry Jedd!   And another precious thing to note is in, Alaire’s darling  3 year old speak, “disgruntled” has been renamed to GRUNCHEL.  Grunchel has been sent to take naps, and attend tea parties, while Jedd gets to hopelessly watch  : )  Guess I should get to work making Jedd something of his own, but maybe I’ll wait till he’s a little older and can fight off his maternal crazed sister.

Little Jed is letting his big sister Alaire take care of Grunchel

Grunchel taking a nap

Picnic for Grunchel

We started the week out by doing an inspiration collage of who they are and what they like.  This helps me identify visually what they’re aesthetic is.  I can see clearly the shapes and colors and patterns they’re drawn to.

Once they complete this.  I like them to make a list of adjectives and write out what they see.  What are the similarities, who is this person?  Who isn’t this person.  Invent.  Dream.  And then make a doodle.  Drawing doesn’t have to be perfect.  It’s just an anchor.  Or a contract of what you want to make this week.  I find this helpful to refer to as a reference point.  This is true with adults or children.  A little sketch helps keep you on track.  (I’m totally a list maker– can you tell?)

And here is our sassy 11yr old fashion goddess.   She learned how to hand sew, sew buttons, make earrings, reimagine a thrift store dress, identify different fabrics, use a sewing machine, and get techie with pliers.  Pretty impressive!

I’ll be teaching a Halloween centered one.  Every Wednesday in October.  There are still some open slots if anyone wants to sign up.  It’s gonna be a hoot!

stripy multicolor sock, paired with hippos and orange converse all stars.

When you live in a town thats catch phrase is, “Keep Portland Weird.”  The chances of finding someone else sporting the same crazy mismatched socks is high.  Still I was quite surprised at my shocking unoriginality.  The checkered suspenders also swelled my heart.  Thumbs up!

Purple Unicorn sock, Teal Black Bird Sock, with lime green Kangaroo shoes

Here is the latest card that I got for myself on a Jen date.  I love it.  I cheer myself on in my head as I read this like, “yah- totally.  Okay no, problem.” and then when I get to the end, I am nearly in tears.  It’s like an arrow through all the many distractions that smoke screen my life.  Each minute. Each second is passing.  What a great reminder to be present.  ”to live with intention….”

mary ann radmacher.com

The Broom stick technique

How to Crochet Broom stick technique

Rose bud technique

(Multiple of 2 chs)

Row 1:  Sc in second chain from hook and in each chain across.

Row 2:  Ch 1, turn. Sc in first sc, *skip next sc, sc in next sc, work around sc just made, sc in skipped sc; repeat from * across.

Keep repeating Row 2 for the pattern.

Basket Weave crochet technique

How to Crochet the Basket Weave technique