I decided to try my hand at crocheting a skirt. What I really wanted to do was "warm up" for Josi Hannon Madera's "Spiderweb Skirt", which I think is just AWESOME!!! Skillwise, I think I can do it, but it's a long skirt, meaning a lot of crocheting, and I have needleworker's ADD. :-) I like my skirts long, so shortening the pattern wouldn't be a viable option. So I decided to try Caron's "Open Work Skirt" to start wi
th, and see if I can stick with it to see the project through. In my search for crocheted skirt patterns, it amazed me at how very few of the lacy patterns called for some kind of a lining underneath. I'm nearly halfway done with the repeats called for by the pattern (though I may crochet some extra repeats to make it longer), and as can be seen here with the white background fabric shining through, it definitely needs some lining! 
I automatically assumed I'd need a lining anyway, but I figured I'd crochet enough fabric to be able to make a more informed decision about lining. As it turns out, I'm just not that brave to not have some sort of lining!I don't know why I feel more relaxed about making crocheted garments than I do about knitting garments. I feel like I have more freedom or something. I mean, I make knitted hats and shawls; I've made a couple of purses and scarves, fingerless gloves and legwarmers, but I am a bit afraid to venture into the world of sweaters. So making a needleworked skirt of some type is a big accomplishment for me. But who knows--maybe once I finish it and try it on, I won't feel so accomplished? :-(
Anyway, the Caron pattern is VERY easy. I really can't wait to see how it will look once it's all done. I sure hope it turns out nicely. I'm toying with the idea of making a few underskirts out of different colors of fabric, so I can change the look of this skirt by changing the color of the underskirt/lining. I have a cute black crocheted (storebought) sweater that I don't wear very much because I don't have much to match it style-wise, so this would be a nice compliment and fun addition to that sweater.
I bought some yarn to try my hand at making a pair of Yuliya Sullivan's "Rainy Day Socks" from MagKnits. I saw them a while ago and have been itching to try them. I think they're really pretty! But I need to wait until I finish this skirt before I delve into beginning another project; as it is, I have so many projects on the needles/on the backburner/planned. If they turn out nice, I will have to buy myself some new shoes to showcase the socks! :-) When I tried my hand at making socks for the first time, I just designed my own sock out of the "feather and fan" pattern with some cheapie acrylic yarn that I had on hand, because I figured "no big loss" if it didn't turn out. It turned out pretty okay for never having done it before, but I had that "second sock syndrome" and didn't feel like doing the second sock. I fully intend on making a complete pair of the Rainy Day Socks (as long as I can master the pattern and techniques). I sure wish I could figure out how to do two socks at once, because then I'd have them done at the same time. I just can't figure out the tutorials I've seen on-line. This might be something I'd have to see done in person to be able to understand it.
