Almost Complete Plans

I was in the process of making Valentine's Day, remember Internets?
Well, we are one step closer to completion! All I really need now is the Martinelli's - but I can't get that yet or else we will drink it all before the proper day! Then again, I don't think we would be sad over here if that happened!

Anyway, dear Internets, let me show you how I have been successful.
I did a Ravelry search a few days ago on how to crochet a heart. Yes, I know, shame on me for not knowing how to already. It's just something I've yet to try, really, little decorative hearts. At one point I had a dream of doing a whole bunch in a ton of colours and filling up a jar or bin of sorts with them (small-ish size, you know), but never could think of a good reason to have them/make them. Other than I wanted them!
On Ravelry, I found this afghan square.

Via Here - Ravelry

This of course led me to a Red Heart pattern. Which I downloaded. Red Heart makes decent yarn. I like it, it's decently priced. Their patterns are so/so. But they are free. And you can learn a lot of new things from them, I promise. Oh, yes, it's a whole afghan of 12 heart squares, each different, and can be found here if you are interested. I don't think I'll be making the afghan, but I have so many patterns for things I'll probably never make anyway, why not keep it?

I didn't want a square, though, I wanted an actual heart. Like place-mat sized. But of a heart. And I like granny squares. They are good, and simple, and much faster than single or double crochet. Granted, with the other two you end up with a complete fabric (no holes), but I don't really mind the holes.

I gathered some yarn. Loops & Threads. Which I do believe is a Michael's stores generic yarn. I cannot say that I am correct in that, but I'm pretty sure it's the case. I picked the "Snuggly Wuggly" which is a baby sport yarn that I had in the drawers of doom I showed you a while back. Got out a hook, and got to working. It took two evenings, with half of my attention, but I ended up with something almost heart-shaped.

Yes, I pinned it to the door to take a picture!! It's a pink colour, very hard to describe, kind of fruity in a way. It's called "Soft Red", though, so I really have no clue.

For size comparison, but also so you can get a better idea of what my plan is. Mwa-ha-ha, oh so close now!

It's a rather simple make, though.  If anyone is interested, I would be more than happy to give instructions, but considering I just kind of guessed as a I went and hoped for the best, there are no notes. No worries, though, I didn't forget what I did, which is more often than not the case!

xoxo, Jess (who is rather fond of how this turned out. she was all ready for disappointment, really)

Night Time Adornmentation

Last night, I got my W-2 form in the mail. However, tax returns will not be accepted until the 1st of February. So, I know what I'm doing Friday!
My plan, dear Internets, was to put allllll of  my tax return (however little it will be) into savings except for just enough to buy a sewing machine.
I've been dreaming for a sewing machine for well over a year now (the plan was to get one Christmas of '11, but that did not happen). The time just hasn't been right, there isn't really anywhere to put it (honestly) but I want it anyway. And I'm going to use it, even if it means I have to put it on my non-useful desk and hope all works out in the end.
I will have my sewing machine, gosh darnit!

I, however, am not sure at all which kind to get, so any suggestions would be lovely! Keep in mind, I would prefer cheap and sturdy, I don't need anything terribly fancy, just be able to stitch things up with a faster speed than hand-stitching!

I also have realized, I talk 'bout crochet every so often to you, dear Internets, yet I haven't shown you my most precious creations.
There's two of them.
And they are used everyday.
They are our bed blankets.

 This one was first. It's a giant granny square, and I think it took a little under two months to complete? Something like that, I can't remember exactly, but it was rather quick. This was also (I'm ashamed to say) my first successful granny square. I liked it, decided I'd continue, and then ended up with a blanket. Good deal, right?

This one took 6 weeks. It's a corner-to-corner afghan. I started it in the car when we went to Seattle in August, and continued with it after the trip was over. And ended up with a blanket. I had to do some adjusting, so I wouldn't end up with a square - because the directions are for a square - but I figured out if you get it to be as wide as you want, you just stop increasing, but don't decrease yet, and you end up with a rectangle. It's hard to explain, but if you know the process, it makes sense!

This is the current state of the blankets. We sleep with them every night - very nice especially since it's been so cold of late!

They're both made out of Red Heart "Soft", which can be a bit expensive, but I tried to buy it either on sale, or using the discount at my work (not a yarn store, sadly enough, but we have a small selection, that carries most of these colours). It's a lovely yarn - very soft and toasty - yet still acrylic, so it can be washed and thrown about and no worry about wear.
They are showing signs of love already, though. The yarn is pilling, and the ends are slowly becoming unwoven, but intact they are.
They get much love and (ab)use around here, and I'm rather fond of them indeed.

xoxo, Jess (who really is far too proud of these simple things) (erm, also, our bed is queen-sized - to get an idea of their size)