Under a Neon Moon

I'll start by saying, this is definitely a work in progress.  I'm not sure if I can write up a pattern for it, but I'll try. There's a lot of stitch markers involved.

With flash.

Without flash.

This neon moon is kind of a rough draft. The yarn I used is I Love This Yarn NEONS in the color Dark Neons. I don't recommend working in a well lit space for this yarn. Dim lighting is key, I was seeing colors weird for hours. 

It doesn't seem to photograph well either, though with flash gives you an idea of what it looks like under florescent lights.

It starts as a wonky circle with increases at certain points.

Then you fold it over, like so.

Then add a border, stuffing it before you close it up all the way.

I free handed, (free formed?) A few moon pillows, just trusting my ability to keep count. I must say, it worked out much better this time. With loads of stitch markers and counting nearly every stitch, I was only off by one stitch at the end. I'm rather proud of myself (and extremely surprised).

Next I plan to make one in velvet. Which is actually what started this entire endeavor.  I want black velvet moon pillows for my bedroom.  I looked everywhere for a pattern I liked with no luck. So, I grabbed some scrap yarn and started to see what I could figure out. 

I thought just adding extra increases at the top and bottom of a circle would give me what I was looking for. That turned out more like a crab claw. And the double crochets left more of a gap between stitches than I wanted in a pillow.

A strange, alien moon...

A little experimenting with increases at certain points gave me the moon shape I was looking for. I also used a tighter stitch, the linked double crochet.

I like the way it works up in stripes.  Both of those are in Loops and Threads Barsalona. I forget the color names.

It's been a process, it ain't over yet.  I'll try to get it written out, or at least a step by step tutorial for those who might also want a moon pillow. I rather enjoy making these, and may put a few up in my Etsy eventually. 

Just thought I'd share what I've been working on and a bit of the process. Have a lovely day.

--Tracie

Bewitchin' in The Kitchen

I've been cooking up something spooky.  I finally got the pattern finished and up for sale in my Etsy. 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/877433970/crochet-pattern-for-cauldron-stand-mixer

I've discovered that this cozy is not only a great place to keep my mixing tools hidden away, but also a great place to squirrel away some candy for myself. 

October is flying by way too fast. I feel like I haven't been able to savor my favorite time of the year, and it's almost over. That's the real scare this Halloween. 

This mixer cozy isn't my first I've designed, but it's the first one I'm showing off here. I've got a coffee cup, and a chocolate chip cookie dough bowl written up and available for download on Etsy. I've got more planned out, a few already made.  I just need to sit down and put the patterns together. 

I'm so happy with how it turned out.   I made one last year, but I didn't like it much.  I'll show you anyway. 

Not enough eye of newt, I suppose. Much more pleased with my new one.

I hope your Halloween is full of treats, with enough tricks to keep it interesting.   If you're like me and need something spooky to listen to, I've got a few recommendations for podcasts. You can find them by searching for them in a podcast app if you've already got one. Otherwise I'll link to their main pages. I listen to true crime as well, but this is just a list for the fictional monsters. 

I listen to lots, but I'll keep my recommendations to 3 at a time. No particular order, I love so many.

NOCTURNAL TRANSMISSIONS: I'm not yelling at you, it's how it's done. This fella's voice is something spectral. He reads a lot of classics too. You can find his offerings on YouTube as well.

https://www.nocturnaltransmissions.com.au/

Wrong Station: Very twilight zone in my opinion. 

https://www.wrongstation.com/

13 Days of Halloween: Grab your best set of earbuds for this one. Kind of a dark comedy. Stories are told to you while you're given a tour of a mysterious manor house. 

https://www.grimandmild.com/13days

Happy haunting, lovelies.

--Tracie

Welcome!

However you've found me, I'm glad you're here. 

How do you do? My name is Tracie. I'm the scatterbrain behind this blog, the connected social media, and Etsy shop.  I mostly crochet, but there will probably be other crafts and oddities scattered throughout these posts. 

There's a reason I've latched onto the horrible pun in my shop name (besides my unhealthy appetite for bad puns.) I'm a lot like a crow. My aesthetic is an amalgamation of old, dark, spooky, dusty things tossed about with shiny things; like the night sky and freshly dug precious stones.

This blog shall be my cabinet of curiosities. I hope you'll be amused. 

(My assistants, Dimitrios and Whittaker or Dim, and Whit.)