I Like Thursday # 151 ~ My Autumn Home

 Hello from my sunny back yard!

I have been home for almost and month from my summer vacation.

It has been an eventful month.

After staying well throughout our travels, Mr Scrapatch and I, who are fully vaccinated and boosted,  both caught covid. Both had a mild flu like case and we are now recovered.

One of our sons called us while we were on our way home to say he had it. His symptoms were similarly mild and he is also recovered. Although we dropped off groceries and supplies to his doorstep, we did not catch it from him either.

Mr. Scrapatch, who has been going to work all through the pandemic, apparently caught the new variant and brought it home to me.  Fortunately, we have not passed it to our other son or anyone else. 

As you can see, I finished the purple shawl for my friend.  This was actually completed before my trip but we have not been able to get together for lunch until yesterday.  For details on the yarn and pattern stitch I adapted for this shawl ... Read More Here

After shaping the shoulders, I added deep pockets to the front for keeping hands warm and carrying a phone or other essentials.  

The pockets are the same pattern stitch as the center back piece.

All of this is done in Tunisian Crochet except the final edging.

I worked the pockets on the back side of the ends and folded them forward and stitched up the sides with a single crochet stitch border. 

I am pleased with how this worked up and my purple loving friend was very happy with it.  I may work on another shawl like this soon, but will be making a few changes based on what worked best for this one.

I am now working on a new Tunisian Crochet Shawl in the Tunisian Simple Stitch (TSS). 

This one is for my daughter and she picked the yarn and the pattern. 

I am also working outside when the weather is good to get our garden ready for winter.

In keeping with today's theme for 

I Like Thursday @ Not Afraid of Color 

Here is a photo that I have posted before about the type of snacks I prefer when crafting, whether it is sewing or crocheting.  For home, I buy big bags of fresh nuts, dried seeds, dried fruits and make my own mix.  For traveling or carrying in my hand work bag, I buy small bags or bag some myself. I always have a bottle or insulated cup of ice water near me at home or on the go.

I cannot really say that I am back to regular blogging.  

I may post from time to time on this day or that.

May all of you stay well and happy and safe.

May you have a Happy Thursday! 

Monday's Stitching

Today I worked on the edging border 

of the back block for my purple shawl project.

For this part of the project I used my regular size K 6.5mm hook started by working a single crochet in every stitch on all four side of my block.

On the side edges of my block I worked three rows of single crochet

and on the top and bottom where I cast on and off, I added only one row of SC. 

Then I worked around the block one more time adding a Back Post Single Crochet (BPSC) to finish the block border. 

Now my block measures 20 inches square and I am ready to start the sides of my shawl tomorrow with my Tunisian Crochet Hook.

As I said, this is a design as I go project.

So far is is looking just as I had hoped. 

It was so oppressively hot and humid today,

 I stayed inside most of the day 

and was very thankful for my window air conditioners. 

The daytime adjusted temperature was in the triple digits all day. 

Is it as hot where you are?

How are you staying cool? 

Slow Sunday Stitching ~ Tunisian Crochet

 

My Perfectly Purple Shawl is progressing. 

I have completed my planned part one in this design as I stitch project.

I last showed this project in my 

Stitch Sew & Show Linky Party

The link for this particular version of the stitch is in the link above.

After I started stitching, I made a personal variation in my long stitches from what is given in the instructions. I pulled through the first two loops and then the single loop as it felt more natural to my hands.  I think I also was able to keep my elongated stitches looking straighter and neater this way.  When following a pattern, I always find what works best for me and go with that. 

I found video for a very, very similar stitch called

Framed Block Stitch by Hobby Stash

The only difference is an extra yarnover loop on the long post stitch. 

Hobby Stash

is a wonderful site for people who quilt and crochet.

I also found this virtual treasure trove of

52 Block Sampler Tunisian Crochet by HobbyStash

That would be one block a week!

I may make this a yearlong project for 2023. 

After completing 63 rows of 63 stitches across, I measured my block using my largest quilting square.  Since Tunisian crochet has a natural tendency to roll at the beginning rows and the ending row, the ruler allowed me to flatten it and get an accurate measurement.  I was very happy to find that my gage is perfect in this block.

I used a Tunisian Crochet Hook size K  ~  6.5 mm.

I really love the texture and look of this stitch.

Here is the front and the back of my block.

My plan is to add a narrow border to this block 

and set it on point for the back of my shawl.

I will start part two of my shawl design tomorrow.

Tonight I am linking up with all the lovely creations at

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

May your weekend end well 

and your new week be a happy one! 

Stitch Sew & Show ~ 2022 ~ Week 31

 

Welcome to Stitch Sew & Show ~ 2022 ~ Week 31

Here is my progress on the Perfectly Purple Shawl 

that I am making for my purple loving friend's birthday this month.

I have been working on this shawl

Inside, Outside and All Around the House

with the help of my kitty cats. 

Maestro has been particularly helpful with this project.

A tutorial for this pattern may be found here:

Tunisian Block Stitch @ YL Yarn Crafts

I was working on a different stitch for this project when I saw this

Mesa Hat Pattern from YL Yarn Crafts

and it was just what I had envisioned for my purple yarns.

I am adapting this stitch for my own shawl design.

I am really enjoying working on this project.

When last I posted this linky party in July

I was working on my Pretty Pink Radius Shawl ~ Started Here

I did finish this Pretty Pink Shawl in time to gift it to ...

... my friend, Elaine, at her birthday luncheon. 

It fit her perfectly and is the same color pink as the shirt she is wearing. I picked this color yarn because I have seen her wear this shade of pink many times. 

I added a border and a button closure to the original 

 Radius Shawl Pattern by Light & Joy Design

As you can see, my friend was very happy with the results. 

I am hoping to be back to posting weekly on my blog.

What have you been working on this summer, my friends? 

Please share! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter