Post #3971814

2026-07-20 22:56 UTC

#MakeShitMonday, in which I cannot catch a break. My initial plan of making a second #crochet cowl worked, to the extent that I had enough yarn left on the hat-skein to get a good start on a second cowl for @mbroome@infosec.exchange, which I started more loosely (foundation double-crochet, rather than double-crocheting into a foundation chain) so it would fit over his bigger head. At which point it became obvious that the Malabrigo single-skein-dye-lots gotcha was going to bite me in the ass. Because the cowl I made from the second skein was distinctly brighter - and of course a better match for the hue of the hat - than the original cowl. And nobody but me would know... But I *would* know. So I thought, no problem, I'll just give him the cowl I made for me... But the foundation chain was too tight for him to get it on comfortably. So I thought, no problem, I'll just rip out the foundation chain and re-chain the first row with a looser approach... But after multiple laborious hours, when I finally got it re-chained, it was looser - but still not loose enough. I had an idea for how to rip and re-do the foundation chain *again*, but as @mbroome@infosec.exchange and I were on our afternoon walk and I was bemoaning my plight, he observed that I didn't seem to be having fun anymore. Which, frankly, I'm not. So I think I'm going to cut my losses and just frog the damn thing and re-do it with the foundation double-crochet... 🤷🏻‍♀️ Also, everyone's a comedian - @mbroome@infosec.exchange: "I'm sorry this is turning into such a hassle!" Me: "It's okay, I'm just being stubborn about it." @mbroome@infosec.exchange: "Hm. And it keeps changing shape. So I guess that makes it... Cowl's Moving Hassle!" Me: *punches him in the arm* @cannibal@infosec.exchange @crafters@fedigroups.social

Replies (1)

@llorenzin@infosec.exchange 2026-07-27 21:40

#makeShitMonday, in which I pivot and tally another FO! My sister's birthday is coming up next week, so I put the problematic cowl on hold and focused on finishing the Totoro amigurumi for her... This pattern is pretty light on detail - basically just stitch counts for each row of each component, with, no guidance on assembly. Fortunately, I had the original Totoro I made for @mbroome@infosec.exchange a couple years ago, as a guide! I'd made all the little pieces at Convention, and the body went pretty quickly. Attaching the appendages isn't difficult, just tedious... I cranked up the My Neighbor Toronto soundtrack for the last bits, and that helped me stay focused. Amazingly, I even found the leftover felt and button-eyes from the first round in my disaster of a craft room, so I didn't have to go re-source them! 🎉 (Apparently I totally failed to document how I added whiskers the first time, so I re-invented that wheel with some waxed-cotton cord, and I think it worked out well...) This one ended up just a bit smaller than the first one - it's made with the same size hook, but I used one of my nicer crochet hooks and my tension must have been tighter. Good to remember for next time - and I took copious notes on all the other fiddly bits, too. 😊 @cannibal@infosec.exchange @crafters@fedigroups.social

Open ##4147693