12 Resolutions for 2012

While both my sweater and peacock blanket are crochet projects, they are two very different mental exercises. My blanket is repetitive and mindless. I repeat the same simple pattern over and over, switch colors, and repeat. My sweater requires a lot of thought and creativity. Making up the pattern as I go requires constant judgement, etc. At least I can be my own mannequin. That makes things a lot easier.

Tonight is the last night of 2011, and thus resolutions come to mind. I make resolutions all year long, so I figured that I would spew a laundry list of my 11-ish resolutions of 2011 and add one for 2012. I already have a lot of stuff on my plate. Here goes nothing!

1. Exercise daily

2. Eat healthily

3. Be less judgmental

4. Appreciate others more often

5. Appreciate my body for what it is capable of and not knock it for its imperfections

6. To take time for myself more often/to crochet more often

Aside: I already crocheted over 1oo,ooo stitches this year, and that is a low estimate (panda, bows, blankets, table runner, animal ears, hats, scarves, etc. )Maybe I should just strive to crochet more than an hour a week? Concrete goals are more doable/measurable.

7. To only deliver high quality work

8. Evaluate my happiness at least once a month

9. To think more before I speak

10. To socialize more often

11. To ponder my spirituality

So what is my addition to this list?

12. To experiment more often, in crochet and in life, and to not be too hard on myself if such experimentation leads to a non-success (The only failure is complacency in my eyes).

I hope to return to regular blogging, if possible. I thoroughly enjoy the writing component. If not, I would write very rarely, and I love getting to look back at things.

Today I decided to experiment to get in the spirit of my new resolution.

It is pictured below.

This is an embellishment pattern by Robyn Chachula.

Bow Love!

-Bow girl

Finished but mentally blocked...

I am finished with everything for the baby blanket. I hope the parents like it...

Here it is!

I love it, but I don't think I will have trouble parting with it. It is too small and pastel for me.

I am progressing on my peacock blanket right now because I am mentally blocked on how to proceed with my sweater. Making stuff up on the fly is difficult. The upper half of the body is always the zinger. Anyway, here are some pics of the sweater in action.

It slid down. Oops. It is placed more properly in the picture below. See, now I need to make straps to remedy that! If only I knew how...

I think that it is pretty flattering considering being homemade. Obviously I will need to wear a shirt under for coverage.

Crochet adoration (I feel like being different today)!
-The one who is truly Hooked ; )

Blocking and Being a Busy Elf

I just pricked my hand 25-ish times with sewing pins (I mean, blocked the baby blanket)! Here are some pics of the ordeal...

Here are the steps to blocking an item made with synthetic yarn (in case you were wondering/care). Avoid heat/ironing or your work will melt!

You will need:
1. A hard surface (ironing boards work well if the item is small)
2. A spray bottle that has not been exposed to chemicals (buy a new one if necessary. The "no chemicals" part is important!)
3. A thick towel to lay between the hard surface and the fabric described below
4. A gingham/square piece of thin cotton fabric. It is pretty cheap at any fabric store. You can also use a tablecloth as long as it isn't that weird plastic-y material

5. Water to put in the spray bottle

Here is the setup of my blocking apparatus. Make sure it is flat and the towel and fabric are pinned together at the edges. In general, the more pins, the merrier.

The pinning begins...
All done! My work, once wet, will stretch to conform to this shape (hopefully!).
Mist thoroughly with room temperature water.

I am doing well on my sweater. I started with a new pattern, which I am making up as I go along. That way it will fit me swimmingly (hopefully). In my eyes, it is not worth custom making something if it isn't going to come out how I intend. So I ditched the pineapple motif and decided to go for the arcade look. My mom says it looks like a skirt. She's kind of right, but as I go along and make up the rest (literally! Wish me luck!), it should look more like a top. I tried it on, and it seems okay thus far.

I am working from the hips upward, in case that was unclear.

Crochet love!

- Bow Girl

Pre-Blocked Blanket

Last night, I said to my mom "I wouldn't have believed I made this if I hadn't made it!"

I Love it. With a capital L.

You can see my peacock blanket in the background. It has become my back burner project for the time being.

Now I just have to block it to make it more rectangular.

I'm off to do just that.

Blanket love!

-Bow Girl (Blanket Girl sounds too much like a wet blanket)

Progress Update

Here is my blanket as of last night.

Right now I am more of a blanket girl than a bow girl... So here goes nothing.

Blanket Love,

Blanket Girl

P.S. Does Blanket Girl make me sound like a wet blanket?

Sorry, guys!

After a month-long hiatus, I realize that I am updating this for myself, so I should probably include my 2 newest projects! Below are some progress pictures.

1) Baby Blanket

2) Sweater

And as always, I am working on my zigzag peacock-colored blanket.

My sister bought me the best crochet book ever for Chanukkah. Now I have a guide from both sisters!

Bow Love,

Bow Girl

Bow at Vertigo

Vertigo was lots of fun! I wore a bow and felt just dandy. Too bad about all of the fiascos that occurred. White bows look awesome under black light!

Bow Love,

Bow Girl!

Progress

Snuggly blanket= snuggletastic!

Pants for my teddy bear= 1 leg down, 1 leg to go, and then I have to connect the legs, etc.

Yay for progress!

Get excited for the first bow of the week! It should be up by December 1st.

Mixing it Up: Bow of the Week

Today, a lot of people realized that I no longer wear bows (when they saw me at Mix It Up Day). I guess some people don't see me that often or weren't aware that I had stopped my bowstravaganza after 6 months instead of a year.

Also, Friday is my bow auction premier. They will be auctioned off for my sorority's charity. The bows are loose-leaf, so to speak, but can easily be put on a necklace chain, bobby pin, etc.

I am also auctioning off a hat and a mustache. : )

This made me think... People seem to somewhat miss my bows.

So here goes nothing...

I am proposing a "Bow of the Week" Program.

Every week, I will post a bow on the blog, and people who comment on the post will be randomly entered to win that bow or flower.

For now I will restrict this to Wash U students.

Please comment on this post if you would be interested in this program.

Bow Love!

-Bow Girl

Nervous to put myself out there

I am donating some miscellaneous items to be auctioned off to charity. I am so nervous nothing will sell. Wish me luck!

-Bow Girl

Finally (only 8 days late!)!

My hooks arrived this morning. They are TINY. But seriously, I am so glad they are here, because now my ginormous doily is done... :D I think... I may add more later.

I saved the best pic for last!
So excited to be done (and feeling better)!
-Bow Girl

2 out of 3: Not bad!

I finished 2/3 of my commissions today, including this new flower pattern I invented.

This one is for Brittany, who works in the cafe at the DUC. She likes me from that time on April fool's day when I surprised her with a red flower. So she asked me for a bow and offered me some cake. I didn't take her up on the cake, but I did make her this.

Also new: it is on a clip, not a string. It's also quite petite, but my hand is so small it makes the flower look bigger.

Enough talk. Here it is.

Two posts in one day. How do you like them apples?

Bow Love!

Nicole

Bow for Betty at BD

I made it today (finally!). She asked for a red bow-tie and I obliged. I also found her and delivered it. I love that 15 minutes of work can bring two people so much joy!

Here it is.

She put it on right away and gave me a big hug. Awww!

Bow Love!

Bow Girl

2 Bow orders and a 2nd SNAFU

Two bow orders so far! Yay!

Also, the hooks I ordered are out of stock so they refunded me my money, but I still don't have any hooks.

Fail.

SNAFU

So today at 1 am (basically, last night), I decided I wanted to finish my big doily for my birthday. Which is tomorrow.

I was working on it between classes a bit when someone noticed I had a light-up crochet hook. The actual hook part is see-through plastic. I told her I got it online, etc. when she inquired, and so I put it away and went off to class, happy to share the info with her so she, too, could possess a nifty light-up crochet hook.

Said crochet hook is my only 2.5 mm crochet hook. The ONLY hook that I have in the small size range appropriate for my doily. I opened by tool bag later on to see the plastic tip had snapped off. So annoying.

I always say that Susan Bates aluminum hooks are the best. Perhaps I should have preached to the myself instead of the choir. However, I figured I would try something new, since I like to think I am open-minded.

Long story short, I had to buy a hook on Jo-Ann's website, and now my doily will not be done for my birthday. Oh well.

Here it is as of now on a dark surface (so it can be appreciated better).

Quality crochet hooks are an important aspect of crocheting. Don't opt for the cheap plastic. Aluminum hooks are like... 50 cents more and they are much harder to break.

Practicality and doily love!

-Bow Girl

To all of those who want me to start an Etsy/ Bow Girls Wants YOU Part II

a) I have an Etsy account. I bought something from there once.

b) I am not, however, set up to sell anything

c) tons of people already sell stuff very similar to my bows.

Try searching "crochet bows." If you find something you like, I can probably make it for you, and I will probably do it for free if you live within walking or biking distance of me. How is that not better than Etsy?

As my mom and suitemate love to say, "Why buy the cow if you can have the milk for free?"

I am almost done with my massive doily... about 28 or 29 rounds out of 33. The blanket is a long term gig, and I always like to have a shorter term project on my plate. So if you really want a bow or hat or something and live in my hometown or go to college with me, I want YOU to ask me to make it. I am pretty decent at inventing patterns if need be.

PS. Halloween is coming up, and with ample notice, I can make some pretty cute cat ears.

Bow Love,

Bow Girl

Photos of my two longer term projects/ 1 full bow free week

After 6 months of bow-wearing, a week off feels pretty short. I have reflected a lot on the whole thing this week as well.

Blanket update!

The colors look way off, and I have to weave in ends, but you get the gist on the size.

I sincerely apologize for the awful quality of my web cam.

Doily update!


26.25/33 done! I know you can't use decimals in fractions, but that won't stop me from doing it. : )
I adore this pattern!

Crochet love!
-Bow Girl (forever and always!)

Update on Life

I have been bow free since Saturday night. It is strangely liberating not to have my head confined in a headband. I feel more sophisticated and more adult-ish, which is good considering I am going on 2 years of adulthood.

I feel as though my six months of bows, despite not being an entire year long bowstravaganza, was still immensely successful. I have blossomed a lot since I first put on a the orange rose on that first day of EnWeek. Pun only slightly intended.

I am at peace with so many things that I thought I would never be at peace with. And I thought that these gains were contingent upon me wearing a bow. When I took it off and saw that very little changed (and very few people could figure out what HAD changed other than me looking "really different"), I was glad to see that while my bows are fun and spunky and reflect my crocheting talents and zest for life, those qualities didn't fade when the bow came off.

I definitely want to wear bows a few times a week, but I think establishing myself as a serious, goal-oriented adult will be much less of a challenge now that I look more mainstream.

I am slowly chugging away on my crocheting projects. I just had some exams, homework, etc. that had been making crocheting an afterthought.

I also want to make my teddy bears overalls/jumpers at some point. I guess I am always a child at heart. Pictures to come soon!

Bow Love,

Bow Girl

Ending Early

I feel like the purpose of the bow has been served, and that I am starting to use it like a crutch.

So the bow is coming off. Tonight.

I will always be Bow Girl on the inside!

After 6 months of bow wearing in public... I wish you so much bow love!

- Bow Girl

Creating

Inventing a new bow can be scary. I disliked this bow at first, and it is made of precious Paco's wool... I felt guilty somehow. But then it grew on me over night. Here it is. My newest flower. I hope you enjoy.

I decided to wear it tonight.

Bow Love!

-Bow Girl

Going into business...

I am stalled in so many ways right now. I want to break through this brick wall that is halting my crochet progress (and every other aspect of my life too). I think I am shying away from anything other than school and extracurriculars at the moment. Kind of typical of me, I guess. I am craving a creative surge. I want to invent a new flower in my head so badly... I feel like I haven't done it in forever.

I was talking to a bunch of people recently about starting a(n Etsy) business. I honestly don't think it is a good idea right now. First of all, I don't want to have to put a time limit on things... Second of all, everything I make is obviously custom... Thus there is a lot of creative pressure. Third of all, lots of people already sell similar stuff. Also, I have been sleeping more lately, which has taken a lot of time away from my crocheting (as of right now the blanket and the giant doily are taking up most of my crocheting time).

I want to go into business in theory... I can't do it in practice. However if anyone ever wants something... feel free to let me know.

Notice: if you just say "I really like that!" or "I want one of those," do not expect me to make you something. "I want one" doesn't mean "Please make me a _______." I just take "I want one!" as a respectful form of admiration. If you want something you can message me privately and we can meet to design something and discuss colors, etc (I love the mental outlining process prior to making a bow).

Thanks and Bow Love,
Nicole, Bow Pattern Maker and Crocheting Instructor (Bow Girl)

Happy Day

Today was super happy. I have 3 quizzes and an exam tomorrow. Something is wrong with that statement, but I will take it! At least I am pretty free after that.

Bow Love,
Bow Girl

Dear Eli:

I made you a bow tie, as requested. I just have to attach it to a band. Here it is.

And it really loops around, unlike my bows (more masculine, in my opinion; however, bows are not that masculine).

Bow Love!
-Bow Girl

Cream Cotton

I had a hectic day today, but I still managed to do some work, go to the gym, and crochet. That is pretty cool, if you ask me. Also, I got my cream cotton yesterday, so I was able to continue working on my doily. Here is where I am at... I just finished the first casing around the pineapple style leaves, so that is pretty exciting!

It's kind of dark, but I think you can still appreciate my progress thus far.

Bow Love!
-Bow Girl

Well begun is half done!

More than half way through my year... So weird. Thank goodness I made so many bows at the get go, or this would have been a lot more difficult to pull off. Being so prudent initially also allowed me to branch out.

My Aunt Lydia's cream cotton came in today, but I didn't get the email notification of the delivery until after 5 PM, so I will pick it up tomorrow. That means I can finally finish my doily from the other day.

Bow Love,

Bow Girl

9/11/11: Ten years later...

Today I bawled... The 9/11/01 Memorial at Wash U was moving... The phone calls between dispatchers and victims I listened to the other night moved me... and made me ill.

I felt moved to make something. I didn't have time to finish... The outer stripes were supposed to be red, white, and blue.

I wanted to somehow show that I remember... where I was when I heard... the feelings of panic... The moment is embedded in my head forever. And youtube has immortalized the media frenzy that ensued. It was just... horrific. Words can't capture it. I was just a little girl at the time, but I remember thinking that the world would never be the same. I could just tell.

I remember the tragic stories, the heroic actions of civilians and first responders of all types. And I appreciate that the inhumanity of the terrorists brought about so much unification in America. Even if only ephemeral. I am not sure I will ever see such public patriotism and neighborliness again in all of my life. I hope if I do that it is not brought about by terror...

The black of the piece I made is to represent the gravity of what happened that day... The white light behind is to represent a sort of heavenliness about the towers, and the red, white, and blue will represent the overwhelming patriotism that the event brought about.

Bow Love,

Bow Girl

Becoming Bow Girl and Half-Way Bow Day

Sometimes I have confusion about this whole Bow Girl thing... Am I becoming Bow Girl, or am I already Bow Girl? Obviously am a bow girl of sorts, because I always have a bow on. However, in my head there is a lot more to being a Bow Girl than just wearing a bow. I capitalize Bow Girl to mean the confident, fiercely-independent, self-improving type I set out to be when I started the journey. A lot has transformed in my life since I set out on this yearlong Bowstravaganza... almost all of which has been positive. However, there is still so much for me to learn, both in life and in crocheting.

Like any person, I have days that I don't feel like I've made that many gains in this project in terms of internal progress. However, last night was one of those times I could definitely feel the improvement. Wearing bows (for whatever crazy reason) helps me to feel comfortable in my own skin... Whatever it takes, right?

In happy news, Monday, September 12th is Half-Way Bow Day. I am 182/366 (it's a leap year) done with my mandatory sentence for today... I am aware that usually "mandatory sentence" is not a phrase with a positive connotation... However, I am not really sure what to do after this whole thing is over. I am a bit lost about what I will do on that 367th day...

Even if I do become Bow Girl internally... I don't know if taking the bow out of the equation will throw me off kilter. It's hard to predict. I am a bit nervous that it's becoming like my long hair: a security blanket that I am scared to do away with. I also have a bump in my hair where the bow sits... and I don't think anyone would recognize me without it. The other day I wore a black bow in honor of Dean McLeod's passing, and some people didn't see my bow at first. The response was pretty dramatic. There were some gasps. None of the freshmen (and many others at college) have seen me bowless... The thought kind of gives me a weird feeling... like that dream where you go to school in your underwear.

Anyway, I realize this is writing heavy and that most people prefer picture heavy posts, but I haven't actually been analytical/verbose in a while on here (I just finished my first college paper tonight, so maybe I am just in a writing mood.).

Bow Girl

Bow What?

Guess what? Today I wanted to wear a bow that didn't exist... So I picked out the best existing bow to go with the outfit and set out on a mission: to make the bow in my head this morning, and to make it today. And as you know, I haven't been churning out bows like I did last semester. I was kind of a factory back then. Recently I have been doing more long-term work such as my blanket.

However, I am back in Bows-ness, people! And just in time for Half-Way-Bow Day, which marks my half way mark through my yearlong Bowstravaganza. The bow that was IN my head is now ON my head.

Behold:
A blue flower that doesn't look super ridiculous (in my opinion).
A new headband of cluster stitches that I really wanted to try.
A better view of the whole thing. I like the tufted sort of appearance of the headband.

Hope you enjoy this increasingly rare treat!

Bow Love,
Bow Girl

Free Time

Hi Bow Peeps! From the appearance of this blog, it probably seems like I have a lot of free time. This is not exactly true. I realized today that I have so much occupied time, that taking some bow/crochet time for myself has become a really important break. Time I didn't used to take for myself prior to my bowstravaganza, and time that has helped me improve both my sanity, my productivity, and my ability to manage my time and increase my amount of breaks. So if you know someone who seems overwhelmed or is confused by how Wash U kids pack so many activities into a 24 hour day, I can reassure you, I slept 7 hours or more every night this week, I have multiple crochet projects happening at once, and I go to class, extracurriculars, the gym, etc. Taking breaks is awesome and you should take 10 minutes for yourself at least twice a day. If not more.

On a more somber note, one of the Deans at Wash U passed this afternoon, and he was surely one of the nicest people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. Rest in peace, Dean McLeod.

Life is certainly TOO short not to take time for yourself.

Bow and Break and Dean McLeod love,
Bow Girl

25 weeks and one day. 19.5/33 of a doily

Too many numbers in my title. Today is day 176. Wow! I have been a bow girl quite some time now. I feel as if I were born in a bow. There WAS a bow on my birth announcement... But that is completely unrelated. I am working on this doily I found on the internet. The one I showed a sneak peak of in my "Taking a break" post. Well. I have done about another third of the project, and I am almost out of Aunt Lydia's cream cotton (the thread), so I am going to have to wait for my new shipment to arrive. Luckily I ordered it during Labor Day weekend so I got the Labor Day Discount! 50 cents off each spool! But really, every little bit helps when you're a poor college student living on your measly savings and your parents' generosity.

Regardless, here is the 19.5/33 doily:



Doily and bow love,
Bow Girl

The Lost Panda

Okay, so if ANY of you can remember back to a long, long time ago, I started a making a stuffed panda. Well, if you can remember back then, you can also probably remember me putting ON his ears and putting OFF sewing on arms and legs. Truth be told, I really don't like the arms and legs and think he looks cutesy and perfect as is. So I am going to call him done!

Here are pictures:

Closeup.

My hand for size.

On display in my window.

Alpha and Bow Love,
Bow Girl

Taking a break

Taking a break from studying/homework is a good thing. Today I did so in a few ways. Let me elaborate.

1. Starting a doily. Photo below.

2. Going to the gym.

3. Eating Dinner.

4. Blogging about that doily.

I like the little shells on the edges. It doesn't look like much yet, but there is much more in store for this little doily.

I have been taking few breaks in general this week. To make up for yesterday (having nearly 6 hours of extracurriculars and meetings, etc.), I decided to spend Friday night working and taking microbreaks (listed above).

Bow Love!

Bow Girl

A more "serious" set of ear buds.

By serious I mean no pastel colors and no bow at the junction of the two earbuds. The cord has little alternating loops on it. I think the earbuds are darling, but obviously I designed and made them (and am a tad biased). So judge for yourself.

Voila.

Bow and Bud Love!

-Bow Girl

New doily (on a green chair in Lopata Gallery)

Today I got to go to the EnQuest/Activities fair to work the mug booth. I got free ice cream and tie dyed a shirt. I also made this. I emailed the pattern to my Gmail, opened it on my phone, and voila. So I took a picture of it in Lopata Gallery against a green chair bottom for contrast.




I kind of like lacework... I have been using slightly different strategies for getting the loops over each other, which has made it easier.

Bow Love,
Bow Girl