In Bloom: Hippeastrum reticulatum var. striatifolium

Hippeastrum reticulatum var. striatifolium is an amaryllis species with a white stripe down the center of each leaf. Flowers are smaller than typical hybrids, and the foliage is not necessarily deciduous for this one. I keep it with my young clivias, so its in pretty low light, but as some of you recall from my previous posts all other amaryllis are kept in near full sun. I don't actually know if this species can handle that much light, but given that it has flowered for me with two spikes on one bulb I'm betting it isn't necessary. I pollinated the two open flowers. Let's hope for seeds!

In other news, I gave the safety of my fingers a substantial risk today by man-handling the sour puss. I was trying to get him to hiss for the camera but it didn't work. Looks funny but needs an 'lolcat' caption...

Quick & Easy Rainbow Dishcloth

I cranked out these cuties yesterday as a thank you gift for our hosts in FL, just using the cotton yarn I had stashed. I hope they like them. The pattern is quick and simple, and I thought I'd share it for any of you who might also like to use up your stash! (If only it was that easy!!)

Materials:
Lily Sugar & Cream Cotton or similar
Colors: Rose, Peach, Yellow, Apple Green, Variegated Blues, Lilac
or colors of choice. You will not need full balls of each. I had half size balls of the yellow and green and after making all 4 of these there is still some leftover.
Size G (4.25mm) crochet hook

Finished size (before washing): 6.5 x 6.75 inches

Instructions:
* With rose, Ch 30.
* Sc in 2nd ch from hook, (ch1, skip 1 st and sc in the next st) across. Ch1, turn.
* Sc in first 2 sts, (ch1, skip 1 st and sc in the next st) across, sc in last st. Ch1, turn.
* Repeat last 2 rows until cloth is the desired size. Example uses 4 rows (2 repeats) for all colors except the variegated blue, which was 6 rows (3 repeats).

Vegan Silk - Yarn Review and Pattern

This is "Vegan Silk", a scarf I recently crocheted with Bernat Bamboo yarn, one of their new "natural blends" line. The high percentage of bamboo fiber makes it a very dense yarn, giving only 63 yards for 2.1oz bulky weight. Compare this to Lion Brand's new yarn, Nature's Choice Organic Cotton, of actually less wraps per inch but 103 yards for 3oz, yielding more yards per oz.


Exact fiber content is 86% Bamboo, 12% Acrylic, 2% Polyester, which sorts out to the structure aspects of the yarn (shown above). So, the bamboo would be that fuzz on the right, with the acrylic on the left and the polyester in the middle. The acrylic serves as the core of the yarn, with the bamboo 'core spun' around it. Then the polyester thread is laid down as a binder and shaper on the outside.

The handling of the yarn is divine. It is very silky smooth in texture, and was easy to crochet. I have not knitted it, but due to the density I doubt that would split much in knitting. However, I'm not sure how well it will wear. In general, this type of construction is soft and nice to work with initially but tends to fuzz out a lot in areas of heavy abrasion. Ever knitted a sweater with Lion Brand's Homespun? Soft and warm, but really really fuzzy where you lean on the counter or carry things against you frequently. Fortunately scarves don't generally get a lot of abrasion.

Additional features of this yarn include a certification by the Forest Stewardship Council (www.fsc.org, cert. no. SW-COC-002192) stating the materials come from "mixed sources [of] ...well-managed forests, controlled sources and recycled wood or fiber." This adds to the appeal of the texture with a bit of 'good for the environment' karma.

The cheapest source I've found for this yarn is AC Moore, where I recently got it on a 25% off sale at $3 per ball. This is good since you'll need 6 balls for the scarf... Most internet sources I've seen are selling it at $5 per ball. If you see something better, please leave a comment!

Now. To the pattern!!


Materials:
3 balls each Bernat Bamboo in Wicker and Linen.
US J/10 (6mm) crochet hook
Gauge ~2.3 dc per inch

1. With wicker, Ch 184 loosely.
2. Dc in 4th chain from hook and each ch across (181sts).
3. Switch to linen. Ch1, turn. Sc in first st, *skip next st, sc in second st, between second and third stitches make bobble (#yo; insert hook, yo and pull up loop# three times, yo and pull through 6 loops, yo and pull through last 2 loops)* repeat between * across to last 2 sts, dc in last st.
4. Ch 1, turn. Repeat row 3.
5. Switch to wicker. Ch 3 (=first dc). Dc across.
6. Ch 3 (=first dc). Dc across.
7-9. Repeat rows 3-5.
10. Weave in ends and add fringe. I used 16 inch strands to give long fringe.

Sreepy, the backyard alligator

Everyone, meet Sreepy, the backyard alligator. He has a lazy streak and some allergies, and much prefers the life at home to life in the swamp. His main diet is cookies. He looks a little ridiculous, with his lazy eyes and crooked teeth, which I think is just right. I had wanted to make an alligator when I started making Teh, the cartoon lizard, but as I started working over his head I realized he was a much better little lizard than alligator. But as it turns out Teh's new mommy also wanted an alligator! We talked it over, she made some really great suggestions in terms of color and attitude of the animal and this sparked all kinds of ideas in me that led to Sreepy. I'm really pleased with how he turned out and very happy that she asked about alligators. I don't think he would have been nearly as cool without the ideas she provided. Thanks omeow!