Plan A: change collar to slip stitch technique.

The Yarn: feeling a bit “jaded” (a play on words) after discovering I have 2 diff dye lots of this yummy yarn. This happened when I rec’d 1 hank as a gift in 2011, and then ordered 2 more in 2012. To deal with the extreme color difference, I’m thinking I will save darker hank for collar & trim. Update I only needed 1 1/3 of a hank, so I used the “granny smith apple colored” hanks. No need to sweat blending the two dye lots together. :)

Hook being used: Brainsbarn.com
http://hooksnstitches.blogspot.com/2011/12/brainsbarn-rak-crochet-hook.html

5/2/12: OMG, I so love this yarn! Pattern is addictive w/ “one more stitch” syndrome.

5/3/12: Now on row 14. (Plan B: if I crochet another topper, for fun, swap out tr st with extended dc.)

5/4/12: Due to endowment, added 2 increases on Row 15, and 2 increases on Row 16. Ah, less confined! LOL The last add’l inc on Row 15 was done near pattern’s inc; joined to row start with tr st, keeping me in correct position for next row start. (see 4th image)

5/5/12: Starting row 22; 1st “cake” of yarn nearly spent. Thinking about the collar: I wasn’t graced with a giraffe neck like the model in the picture (img #10); since my neck is short (like the rest of me; lol) thinking of going with a mock collar, still using sl st technique from Plan A. We’ll see….

… added 1 add’l row before adding trim. Collar is marked with stitch markers to help me remember where to do sl st shaping (img #5). Won’t be long until it is finished and on the blocking board! :)

5/6/12: the 5.00 mm hook was too small for the sl st collar -- it made the stitches “choke” the yarn, removing the softness from this lushious yarn. I frogged all the stitches and have started again using a 6.00 mm, also a “Brainsbarn” hook. (Img #6) If I can get the collar done in next 90 minutes, then the project will go with me to the hhcc monthly meeting so I can do an impromptu demo on blocking (members have been asking I do another demo). Wish me luck…

… finished collar in time for meeting; wove in tails at the meeting. Had Mini~Dee model for me before blocking (img #7); did a demo on blocking (img #8; photo by Dee Jr); and -- Had Mini~Dee model the absolute finished project (img #9). Fantastic project! :)

Img #10 is from pattern book, referencing model’s beautiful long neck.

8/20/12: This project won a Blue Ribbon at the Bridgewater Fair.

9/20/12: This project won a Blue Ribbon at the Eastern States Exposition (aka The Big E).