visited 27 states (54%)
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Foundation dc

Chain 3.
Yarn over,
insert hook in 3rd chain from hook,
yarn over and pull up loop (3 loops on hook),
yarn over and draw through 1 loop (1 chain made),
[yarn over and draw through 2 loops] 2 times (Figure 1)— foundation double crochet.

Yarn over, insert hook under 2 loops of chain at bottom of stitch just made,
yarn over and pull up loop (3 loops on hook) (Figure 2),
yarn over and draw through 1 loop (1 chain made),
[yarn over and draw through 2 loops] 2 times (Figure 3).

*Yarn over, insert hook under 2 loops of chain at bottom of stitch just made (Figure 4),
yarn over and pull up loop (3 loops on hook),
yarn over and draw through 1 loop (1 chain made),
[yarn over and draw through 2 loops] 2 times.
Repeat from * as needed (Figure 5).

In my 50 years these are the states that I have visited. Only 16, this is a big country!


visited 20 states (40%)
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Wiggle Crochet

I found this technique to be so much rewarding in the out come of the project. Here are two of Susan Lowman's coasters from "Hot Stuff for the Holidays"

Here's the back of the project.

Sunday's Flowers

Based on Teresa Franco's flower (seen HERE on Ravelry). This is my interpretation of this unavailable flower pattern. It is so cute and fairly easy to make.

Birthday Mermaid

This cute mermaid was made for my niece's 5th birthday. She was fun and fairly easy. I loved the result.

Crocheting on Fabric

Thank you to Talking Crochet Newsletters

Crocheting on Fabric
Crocheting lace onto fabric is a great way to add decorative elegance to everyday items in your home. The basic steps for creating this technique are simple and easy to do.

The first thing you need to do is prepare the fabric by washing and pressing it. This pre-shrinks the fabric and avoids any warping of the finished crochet work.

Next, hem any raw edges by folding them under once or twice and tacking in place with a basting stitch. For curved edges, cut notches (see illustration) to remove fullness when folding the edge under. The more delicate the fabric, the narrower the hem should be (about 1/4 inch for medium-weight cottons, about 1/8 inch for lightweight cottons and a narrow, rolled 1/16 inch for sheers). Purchased items will usually have finished edges, eliminating this step.







To minimize the size of the hole made when working stitches into the fabric, the end of the crochet hook used should be small enough to easily go through the fabric and still catch the thread as you work.

For the foundation stitches, which are usually single crochet stitches, place a slip knot onto hook, hold thread over edge of fabric, insert hook through front of fabric at base of hem (do not catch folded edge of hem), yarn over and draw a loop up to outer edge of hemmed fabric, yarn over and draw through both loops on hook. Continue working stitches, spacing them an even distance apart.

One method of spacing is to calculate the number of stitches per inch needed for the desired pattern. Mark the edge of fabric with pins at one-inch intervals, and space the stitches per inch between the pins. Remove the pins when finished with the foundation stitches.

When working a specific number of stitches onto the edge of square fabric, divide the total number by four and space that number across each quarter of the fabric edge. For round or oval edges, fold the fabric into quarters and place pins at each quarter point and space stitches between pins.

Really cute slippers

It has been such a long time since I posted anything. I have been knitting more than I have been crocheting. I will pick up a hook occasionally but when I found this pattern, I just had to try it. I made the baby skimmers first and then had to try the adult skimmers. This pattern is written very well and the best thing of all...it helps me bust my acrylic stash!!

Sunflowers

This is a mammoth sunflower that I planted in a memorial garden for Jake. I planted four of them, this is the biggest. The coin on it is a quarter. Lots of seeds for the birds.

Panda Pirate & other crocheting

This little guy was too cute not to make. It's from the Leisure Art's book #4271 "Cute Little Animals.

I have also been working on the Heavenly Angels afghan. Here is my progress so far. About 1/3 to go.

Great Idea

For those that walk in the cold, what a great idea. Probably easy to make from your stash; the designer's price for this item is $30.

clipped from www.tamilynncollection.com

I am back

I am back posting on my site and showing my work. Yesterday was 5 months since my son left us. I think about him constantly, but I am moving on. I read something yesterday about inertia (in simple terms, inertia means "A body in motion tends to remain in motion, a body at rest tends to remain at rest.") and I believe that it has been inertia that has kept me crocheting and knitting.
I do what comforts me and needle arts do that for me. I am in the process of crocheting the Heavenly Hearts Afghan I have about 1/3rd done. I am using Red Heart in Claret. I have done more knitting than crocheting, but yesterday I got my hook out and made this little cat toy. My poor kitty had to have surgery for some abscessed wounds from a cat fight.
He is in the house and of course needing to scratch. We got him one of those cardboard scratchers and he liked the catnip, I don't think all cats are attracted to it. He is so I made him this toy.

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.