Rasta-ret!

One of my all time favorite type of hats is the beret. At this point, I've made more than my share. The one pictured below was thrown together with scrap yarn, while watching a 2012 documentary on Bob Marley.

I totally free-formed the entire thing in a few hours.

It was an enjoyable crochet AND a stash-buster to boot!

Now I have something to pull about my ears when sitting around the campfire next week in Yosemite! Okay, I have lots of hats to choose from for this purpose, but I am definitely bringing this one with me anyway.

I think I may need to crochet a few dreads to pin to my head...

Many thanks to Heather for modeling and Steve for snapping the pics!

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Woven Star Shawl

I love small loom weaving. Weaving on a small frame loom is portable, allows me to use up small amounts of leftover yarn and it gives my wrists and fingers a much needed break from crocheting and knitting. As such, here's my latest small loom FO...the Star Shawl!

I love my Hazel Rose Diamond Looms. You've seen my diamond loom shawls before and I've got a diamond shawl schematic that seems to work for me, but this time I decided to vary it up a bit. I am a big fan of this shawl on the "Knitting in Tuscany" book cover by one of my fave designers, Nicki Epstein. So, I figured why not try a star shape with woven components! Using my 3.5" loom, I wove 8 diamonds and arranged them into an 8 pointed star. Beautiful. Now repeat (and repeat again)! I used lots of my own homespun as well as some commercial yarn scraps on the individual diamonds.

I also wove a few squares and triangles to fill in the open spaces between the stars. All in all, I am pretty happy with the results.

Oh, and even more exciting that this FO is the fact that my loving boyfriend and very talented photographer, Steve, has been elected the Head of Photography at Monster Crochet. And thank god for this! His photos are heads and tails above my own. In addition, the lovely lady in the photos above? Yes, that is Heather. Hi, Heather! She will be modeling a lot of my wearables now. Another thanks be to god for this development. Yay! Thank you both for helping me!!

Crocheted Raffia Fedora - Free Pattern!

Everyone likes to sport a bit of fun atop their heads during the summer months, whether at the beach or just running errands about town. So, I figured I'd get my fingers working on a quick crochet that looks great under the summer sun...

Yes, that would be a lovely green fedora, crocheted from raffia ribbon, with a stylish white daisy adhered to its side. Literally peeps, I made this hat in one evening. That being said, I need to make another one in navy, one in natural and oh, maybe one in a lovely shade of coral. Ooooh, and one in turquoise! The raffia color selection is vast...Must. Take. Advantage.

You too can take advantage and make your own pile o'fedoras. Just download ye olde pattern link here. Happy summer crocheting kids!

Love,
LadyLinoleum

Mixed Grill Bowling Bag

First there was this...



Then there was this...



Give your barbecue tongs a clink for the newest grillalicious accessory to hit the Project Wrongway runway, the Mixed Grill Bowling Bag!



Okay, let me just say, before proceeding with the meaty details of this item, that this bag is modeled after an actual bowling bag. It is not an actual bowling bag and will not hold a ball. It's definitely sturdy, but I bowling balls are heavy peeps and this is made from yarn. However, it warms my heart that you all think that I possess the skill to make something so, well, functional.

Okay, let's move on shall we?

I definitely took this bag to the next level. I don't really know what level that happens to be, but hey, no matter. An evolution is an evolution.

So, in addition to the steak, we've got a few standard Monster Crochet motifs such as kebabs...



As well as cheeseburgers and franks...



Like its predecessor, This bag is highly constructed, roomy and equipped with zippage. And this one is all mine! No, shipping to a publisher; never be seen again other than on a printed page. Mine, mine mine! Unless of course the offspring fancies it. In that case, it'll be hers, hers, HERS!

Ahem...

Crochet Stats-O-Rama
Fibers: Rio de la Plata in heated coals color, medium rare burger color, slightly cooked meat color, American cheese color, and metal skewer color. Cascade Pastaza in grill color, hot dog color, onion color, tomato color and green bell pepper color. Pity those poor yarn store employees who actually attempt to help me upon my entrance into their shop. They have no idea what they're getting into...
Hook: US G Hook
Pattern: Moi

Copyright 2007 Regina Rioux Gonzalez. All rights reserved.

The Ball-Bearer

Free at last! Free at last!

Yes folks, my February crochet-a-thon ended this morning with a visit to the master of my office's FedEx dimension for a celebratory box hand-off. What was in that box inquiring minds would like to know? This...



Ain't it purty?

Nothing like a crocheted bowling bag to help you get in touch with your inner-plaid-pants-donning, rented-shoe-wearing self.

It's flamerific, is it not?

Even I was proud of myself. This thing is highly constructed peeps. Lots o' parts. I inserted a zipper too...not bad eh?



It actually pained me to ship this bag off this morning. I want one! However, I don't want it bad enough to start crocheting another one anytime soon. I need a serious break. Really though, I designed and executed this um, ball-bearer, in 7 days (2 full days and 5 evenings). I think I broke my own record.

Have no fear though. There be themed bowling bags in the future coming to you from LabLinoleum. Count on that.

Happy Thursday peeps! Can't wait for the weekend when I plan to crochet or knit whatever I want. So there.

* This bag is a bowling bag style purse. In no way will it hold the weight of a bowling ball. If you're a faux bowler, this is your bag...

Copyright 2007 Regina Rioux Gonzalez. All rights reserved.