A Crochet Crazy Life on the Other Side of the Atlantic Ocean

Springtime was waiting for me when I arrived in Germany yesterday. After 3 1/2 years here, I'm familiar with the earlier arrival of spring, which comes about two months before its arrival in the Chicago area. The warmer temperatures, the green grass, spring flowers and flowering trees were an especially welcome sight after the cold, harsh winter I experienced in Chicago this year (more about that in this blog post).

Even though I don't sleep on the long flight over (I'm just not one of those people who can fall asleep in moving vehicles), I always make myself stay awake the entire day for a faster recovery from jet lag and a quicker adjustment to the seven-hour time difference. To keep myself busy yesterday, I went out to say hello to my favorite, familiar country walking path.

Narcissus and daffodils are blooming everywhere.

Front yard gardens made me smile with their colorful displays.

This poplar tree-lined path is a favorite, peaceful walking place.

The path around the old abbey is pretty no matter what the season.

The birds were singing in the cherry tree and forsythia in bloom across the creek.

Freshly tilled fields mean the farmers will soon be planting.

I wasn't the only one enjoying the fresh spring air.

Apple blossoms in bloom...what's not to love about that?

Even with a long trip from Chicago to the Rhine area of Germany, I still made time for crochet. Even if it's only for five minutes, I need to have a hook in my hand and work with yarn. Crochet is something I enjoy, but it's also part of who I am. Last night I finished a project I began last week in Chicago and also worked on in-flight -- a cotton infinity scarf for my daughter, S.

And I finally began my much-anticipated Cath Kidston inspired Giant Granny Rectangle Afghan! I've been drooling over the yarn I purchased and am delighted to show you the beginnings of the project.

Finally working with these skeins...

....ta-dah! The beginning of my afghan!

I've been here for about 30 hours (10 of which were spent sleeping) and now you can see what I've been up to....besides spending time with M, of course! What have you been doing the past couple days? Are there any signs of spring where you're at?

Four Infinity Scarf Patterns to Keep You Warm -- A New Pattern eBook

Amidst the three crochet projects I've been working on simultaneously, my blogging here and my regular writing work, I've been busy writing a new pattern eBook! The Twisted Infinity scarf I finished the other day was the last of the four patterns I wanted to create for my pattern book. With it finished and photographed, I can finally say "Ta-da!" or "Voila!" and present my next (but not last!) crochet pattern eBook.

This pattern eBook was a labor of love. As I created each pattern, writing it as I stitched, I made alterations along the way. I put myself in your shoes, carefully considering the projects you might enjoy and find useful, as well as those that offer a bit of challenge and a learning opportunity. My sincerest hope is that you will find all of the above in my newest crochet pattern book, Four Infinity Scarf Patterns to Keep You Warm. If you like, while you're browsing, you can see my other books here.

With that accomplishment crossed off my Crochet To-Do list, I'm going to diligently continue working on my Lazy Daze Poncho (WIP pictured below), which is just a thrill to crochet because I love the yarn I'm using.  Even the name of the color -- Watercolor -- fills me with yarny pleasure! The Lazy Daze Poncho will be my next published pattern, which leads me to a question...as a consumer, do you prefer patterns of single items or do you like a pattern book that offers a few crochet patterns in one? Your thoughts and feedback are most appreciated! Wishing you a Happy, Crafty Sunday!

Lazy Daze Poncho -- a Go Crochet Crazy WIP

Off-the-Hook Thursday: Twisted Infinity Scarf

This week I learned an important lesson: crochet multitasking is not for me. I've been working on the last of four infinity scarves for a pattern eBook, a lapghan and a poncho pattern (get a glimpse of these WIPs here). While they're all wonderful, worthwhile projects, I haven't enjoyed them as much as I know I would if they were solo projects.

As I've hopped from one project to another, I've discovered that I feel pressured and unable to get lost in the joy of creation. And isn't that what crocheting and craftiness is all about? Relaxation and love of the craft are certainly amongst the reasons I crochet.

So it's with great pleasure that I take one of the three projects off the hook today!! The project that looked like this last week...

Twisted Infinity in Progress

Now looks like this....Ta-da!!!

The Twisted Infinity by Go Crochet Crazy

Now that the Twisted Infinity is finally off-the-hook, I'll be able to get my pattern eBook finished and published in the upcoming week. It feels good to finish projects, doesn't it? What are you taking or have you taken off-the-hook this week?

Cream and Pastel Chunky Infinity Scarf

A few weeks ago, I started working on a new crochet project. It started out with a forest green chunky-stitch infinity scarf, which I blogged about here. After working on a few crochet square designs, I returned to my infinity scarf project to make a cream and pastel version of my chunky infinity scarf.

With my trusty wooden Q hook in hand, I stitched up this beauty, working on it in bits and snatches of time over the course of a few nights.

Made with Redheart acrylic yarn in Aran along with a variegated pastel brand from Germany, this infinity scarf will be one of two basic patterns in an upcoming infinity scarf pattern book. It's soft, has just the right amount of elasticity and the bits of pastel color woven through give a classic scarf an attractive look.

I think it's safe to say that I'm officially addicted to infinity scarves. My next scarf has already been planned, and it's a fun fun fun pattern designed for intermediate crocheters. I can't wait to share it here! Do you like or wear infinity scarves? What crochet project are you addicted to right now?