Our Beautiful Boy

Rest in Peace
Jeremiah Peter Summers (Jake)
June 21, 1991 - September 2, 2007

I Am Working on Another Hat

Click on the photo above to go to the author's website. Look to the right on this site under Crochet Patterns for the Kinky Reggae hat pattern.

I bought this great book full of great patterns by Afya Ibomu. She writes her patterns clearly with pictures to show her techniques. She adds elastic to her hats to keep the shape. Nice technique to hide the elastic after weaving it in. There are lots of "How To's" along with a section on colors and yarn. She recommends acrylic yarn, which I have a lot of in my stash. I will be making a few of these hats for the holidays. Her photos are beautiful with recognized Soul and Rap artists as models. Five star book!

My kids like hats and this book gives me a great selection. I have started on the Mellow Moods hat (green hat on the cover). I am using Red Heart Super Saver in Windsor Blue. Here is a slide show of the hat in progress. The only thing I did differently than the pattern was to use the reverse crochet stitch (crab stitch) for the last row of the brim. Here is a YOU TUBE video on the stitch.

My Dog Days Swap

These are the things I got from my swap partner in the Dog Days of Summer swap. The cloth is a cute paw print, some lovely soap, 3 stitch markers that came in a cute box, Sugar 'n Cream Twist and the cutest card made by my partner. Swaps are so fun, it's like a birthday or Christmas when you get that package in the mail.

Did You Know?

Here are a few interesting little tidbits of crochet trivia I've come across that I hope you will enjoy!

• The first national crochet contest was held in 1937. Representing 32 states, 214 people entered the contest.
  
  
• In 1885, Laura Stafford helped establish the Philadelphia Guild, which later evolved into The Needlework Guild of America.
  
  
• The term "afghan" originated with the early American settlers, who first
  bought "Afghanistan blankets" from European trading ships. Later, they
  crocheted their own with scraps of yarn left over from knitting.
  
  
• Ann Orr, one of America's most popular and prolific crochet designers of
  the early 20th century, became the principal editor and designer for
  Coats & Clark's needlework publications while still only a teenager.
  
  
• James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States (1857-1861), liked to crochet.
  
  
• In the United States, Boye Needle Company produced the first complete line
  of American-made steel crochet hooks in 1917. Each hook sold for a
  nickel.

Dog Days of Summer Questionnaire

1. Do you knit, or crochet, or do both? How long have you been knitting\crocheting? Knitting about 2 years - Crocheting about 20 years.
   
2. Are there any cotton yarns you don’t enjoy knitting with? I've not really found any I dislike.
3. What type of needle do you prefer using? (Metal/Wood/Plastic) Metal if not my plastic Denise needles. Clover metal hooks for crochet.
4. What other projects do you enjoy knitting or crocheting? Baby clothes. I am currently working on shrugs and I like to knit socks. Unfortunately I try just about everything so I have many projects in the works.
5. Do you have other hobbies or enjoy other kinds of crafting? I like to sew when I find the time. I like to read and I have my favorite TV shows.
6. What kind of treats do you like? Chocolate? Candies? Nuts? Dieting right now, so most are off my list at the time. Sugar free gum is good.
7. What colors are your kitchen and bath decorated in, if any? My kitchen is under construction at the moment and my bathroom is done in Travertine tile - browns and tans and sage green.
8. What are your favorite colors and what colors do you dislike? I love greens - sage - really most shades. I also like red and pink
9. Do you drink coffee? Tea? Other beverages? Coffee and chai latte is my favorite hot drink
10. Do you have any kids (human or pet variety!)? I have 3 sons 21 (out of the house) 19 and 16, 2 outdoor cats and a snake.
11. Do you have any allergies? none
12. Please share 3 tidbits about yourself that you think your pal and other swappers might find odd or interesting. Though I live near the beach now, I grew up in the Mojave desert (I prefer the beach). I have a collection of ceramic and wooden suns from places we have visited.

Feeling Patriotic

With Independence Day just around the corner and the serious events going on in the U.K. and Scotland, I was feeling a little patriotic today. Not that we are planning a big 4th of July event - we are just going down to the in-laws for a BBQ and fireworks. I am crocheting up a pork pie hat with the red, navy and variegated cotton I bought. It doesn't look like much now, but when it is folded and sewn and the rest of the body and brim are done it should look great.

This is what I have completed so far.

I bought a flower maker that is a small version of the knifty knitter - actually made by the same company and made this flower this afternoon. I have found some other ribbon and plan to make a couple of patriotic flowers. This one is missing the white so I will add it to the next flower.

My final photo is the bracelet I bought at a local craft show. I've seen them for years and never had the opportunity to purchase one. They were cheap, so now I have one. It isn't the most comfortable thing that I have worn but for a day, I can sacrifice.

So, if I don't post before Wednesday - Have a

Dodgers Stitch and Pitch

Here is a link to the post on my knitting site for the LA Dodgers Stitch and Pitch night. I look forward to next years game!


See more of my photos from the game. Click here.

Baby Blankets for Marni

Crocheted from this book

One more row to go. I got this blanket done just in time for Marni's shower. Now I have to finish the Granny Square blanket (I've been working on it for awhile) before the baby is born. Here is what I have so far. I used this pattern.

Sun Center Granny Square

I have had this pattern and yarn for a long time. I have dragged this yarn around for years. I finally made the first square. It is a fun pattern. The sun is made with triple crochets and double-triple crochets. I had to look up how to do a dtr. Google dtr and you get a page for diseal truck resource, Data Termial Ready or from the Urban Dictionary:

1. DTR define the relationship
2. DTR Desktop reconnaissance
3. DTR Determining the relationship
The oddest is:
4. DTR Short for DraTeR ...Just read it backwards(1) You freakin' DTR
(2) This guy is DTR'ed

Google dtr crochet and you can find out how do do a double crochet. Anyway, this is my result of learning the dtr: the Sun Center Granny Square

My St. Patty's Hat

This is me yesterday and today. I went up to the desert to visit my mother and all day had this headache. I woke up with it two day in a row. I tend to suffer with migraines and I didn't treat this like one until late this afternoon. My normal routine of Advil just didn't cut it and I am currently out of Imitrex. A friend suggested Excedrin and to my surprise it worked! I am still a little sore, especially my back and in need of a deep tissue massage, but my head feels 99% better than it did a few hours ago. My friend said that it is the caffeine that is in the Excedrin that does the trick. I have to remember that when this happens again.

On to better things. Yesterday not only did I visit with my mom but also my sister, my niece and her baby daughter that I have crocheted and knit for in previous entries on this blog. The red hat from the post below came out smaller than I thought. Still a little big for the baby, but we put it on her anyway and here is the result. Isn't she a doll!

Another hat, this one to fit my head

Using the Happy Hooker book and the PDQ pattern I made this.

I used Bernats Softee Chunky in Soft Gray and Heather Rose. It is very cute.

I don't know if I will wear it or gift it.

Tried it first in cotton"

I had a little red cotton at hand and a G hook and started this hat from "The Happy Hooker" by Debbie Stoller. It fits the foam head, but not mine. It is more a kid size, so I'll probably give to one of the nieces. It is a simple pattern, all in double crochet. It calls for Red Heart worsted yarn and an H hook. I have lots of Red Heart and the right hook. It crocheted up so quickly I am going to give it a try and do it with the right materials

Dressing Baby

This is the second dress I made for Karina. Crocheted from Jane Davis' Simple Crochet for Cherished Babies. I used Patons Grace in Rose. I also knitted her the hat. Isn't she a doll!