Another Way To Learn Symbols

Here's another way you might find easier to learn the symbols used in charted patterns for crochet projects.  It's only the basics but the images clearly show the symbols and what they mean to you as you crochet.  This is especially for those brand new to symbols and charted patterns.

I found these images in my files and thought they may be useful to someone just starting out.  If you have any questions feel free to post in the comments below.
Have a blessed day

Crochet Tip: Using Your Machine To Sew Fabric To Your Crochet Project

If you're like me you spend a lot of time trying to figure out an easier, faster way of doing things that bore you.  Don't get me wrong, I love to crochet and I love to sew - on the machine - hand sewing is not my favorite, or fastest thing to do.  It takes me what seems like forever to hand sew a lining in one of my bags.

I had a thought, tried it, and it worked just fine.  The thought came when I was hand sewing lining into a Fat Bottom Bag.  I thought, "There's GOT to be an easier and faster way to do this!  What would Mom do?"  That's when the thought came to me.  Mom would have used Freezer Paper and sew it on the machine!
The problem I had when trying to sew the lining with the machine before this was unfruitful.  It came out horrid because the pressure foot kept tugging and catching on the crochet work I did and the thread would all bunch up making one hundred stitches in the same exact place - the work would not move forward.
All I had to do was put freezer paper between the pressure foot and the crochet work and TA DA!  No more catching, bunching, and each stitch went exactly where it was supposed to, one right after the other in a neat line.  Yea.  Thanks Mom!

You'll need:
Freezer paper, or Parchment paper would work just the same
The fabric lining for your bag (or other crocheted item)
Your crocheted bag
A sewing machine

Several of you have asked about stitch length....

**Set your stitch length to one you would use for everyday, medium weight fabrics.**  I haven't tried a zig zag stitch yet, nor have I tried a top stitch setting (where the machine makes a triple stitch) but I'd like to try and I'll let you know how it turns out.

Just put the paper next to the teeth that push the material along (for which I cannot remember the real name of at this moment!  ack!) , under the presser foot.  The place your work, with the fabric lining pinned into place, on top of the freezer paper, underneath the presser foot as well.

As long as you don't go off the fabric, don't stray onto the crocheted part of your work, this trick should work just fine.

Once the lining is sewed in, just remove the paper, one side at a time, tearing it carefully away from the machine stitching.

(I don't have an example shot just yet of this action because I didn't think to share this with you until I was all done with this bag but next one, if need be, I'll post the photo of actually pulling the paper away from the stitches.  For now, this is what it looks like to pull the paper away from stitches I made in an hand towel. lol)

It's best to do one side and then the other to make sure you don't pull any stitches too hard and pull them out.  Any little bits of paper that may stay stuck in the stitches of your work can easily be pulled out with your fingernails or tweezers, but I don't find that very many little bits are stubborn this way, they mostly come out when you pull the paper away.

That's It!  I hope this made something easier and quicker for you.  I do like the results of hand sewing my linings in my bags but when it comes to being cost effective for a boutique sale or craft fair, machine sewing is the only way to fly.  We spend enough hours on our crocheting - my doctor figured out I get about 12 cents per hour for my crochet work at the prices I sell my items for.  Save time, save money, save your fingers, save yourself.  Use the machine whenever you can!  ;-D
If you found this post to be useful, please indicate by leaving a comment below.  Also, if you found it to be boring or dumb, please feel free to say so.  I like to share my secrets but don't want to if I find out everyone already knows everything!  lol
Do you have a question about crocheting or sewing that we can help answer for you?  Is there something that's been on your mind that you've always wondered about either of the two?  Let me know in the comment section below and I'll see what we can do to find the answer for you.  Maybe it's something you just discovered yourself, put that in the comments too and I'll create a post for and by my readers that shares tips like this one (without the photos and extreme explanations).  It would be nice to help each other by sharing our knowledge, don't you think?  It'll be kind of like Heloise's book of household tips except it'll be this blog and about crocheting.  We'll see.  Maybe we could get together a book like that - I don't believe there is one out there.  We'll see.
Gotta go!
Have a great day, God bless you!

Crochet News: A Quick And Easy Idea For A Doily

Thanks to Craftgawker.com I found a blogsite called "These Are A Few Of My Favourite Things" and a post called "Quick And Easy".  It is a short post but well deserving of your attention.

Olivia, the blog owner of Favourite Things posted an idea for using doilies that most of us have laying around or stashed in our linen cupboards.  It's a simple yet very creative idea for displaying earrings!

Simply put a doily in a embroidery hoop that matches it's size (or  better) .  Olivia's doily looks like it fits in the hoop perfectly but mine did not but I like the effect anyway.  It gave my earring hoop a lacy pretty edging:

I added ribbon to the outside of the hoop and tied the little bouquet of silk flowers to the top.  That's it!  So easy!  This is really only suitable for the "hook" type of pierced earrings, I tried with other styles but it was a lot of trouble getting them on and off the doily without the whole thing crashing down.  Maybe I'm just clumsy. ha ha. 

Isn't that about the easiest, prettiest thing you ever saw?  Thank you Olivia!  Please follow the link to her post and leave a comment to tell her what you think!

Have a great day and God bless you and yours!

On The Crochet Menu: Another FBB

What's on the crochet menu today?  Another FBB (Fat Bottom Bag), one I hope to sell very soon.  Many ladies are presenting a great interest in the bags since my friend - who goes to the hospital for treatments for Lupus - brought her FBB I made her to the hospital and the nurses there saw it and wanted to see more of them.  The nurses told my friend they would like to have a FBB like hers, proving my point in my previous post that word of mouth is the best method of advertising.

Here's the latest addition to my FBB inventory (below) and following this post is a quick (and easy) photo tutorial on how I made the handles for it.  Let me know what you think in the comments below, your comments are always welcome!

I made the flowers and leaves using size 3 crochet thread and a size 3 steel crochet hook.  I tend to like the thread flowers better than worsted weight but it really depends on each individual bag that I make.  Each one has a personality of its own.

By luck the lining I chose matches the thread I used for the flowers perfectly.  The purples and blues are really pretty against the black body of the bag.  I found this material at Jo Ann's in the designer area of the fabric section.








I was disappointed in the handles at Jo Ann's that day and was shocked at the prices of them.  They've gone up quite a bit and my little cheapy stand by handle - the unfinished rattan round handles  that were $2.99 are no longer available there.  Only the finished rattan handles were there and priced at $5.99!  I wasn't about to pay that much for a rattan handle so I decided to follow my boyfriend's suggestion, to look for cords or braids in the trims section and make my own handles.  Below is what I did to make a 3/8" cording work as handles for this bag.  If anyone has any better ideas about how to make handles, please do comment below!  Anyway, here's what I did:

 Before cutting your twisted cording wrap scotch tape around the ends and cut in the middle of the tape so both ends of the cut are held in place and will not ravel.  I only purchased one yard of this cording for the handles at a couple bucks a yard.   I cut the cording in half and used half a yard for each handle.

To ensure the cording won't ravel, apply a good amount of glue to all ends and allow to dry well on waxed paper.
This will also make a barrier so when you sew the ends together the stitches won't pull through and come apart.

In a zig-zag pattern, using heavy duty thread and needle, sew the ends together.  Go all the way around the cording with your stitches so it doesn't wiggle with a gap or bend funny.  You won't be able to get the needle through the glue you applied earlier so just stitch on the other side of the glue barrier.  I enlarged the photo so you'd be able to see how I made the stitches for this.  It doesn't look very pretty but it serves a good purpose and it won't be seen when the bag is put altogether.

To make sure the corded handles didn't slip around while being used, exposing the ends stitched together, I tacked the stitched part of the handles to the bag's handle flaps smack dab in the middle of the flap. 

Now all that's left is to secure your handle flaps over the handles and you're done.



Please leave feedback in the comments below.  I appreciate your views and suggestions and conversation more than you know.  Thanks for stopping by, I hope I at least inspired you to make something beautiful today.

God bless you and God bless America - One Nation Under God... United we stand, divided we fall.
Ronald Regan said, "If we forget we are a nation under God, we'll be a nation gone under".

Crochet Pattern: Beaded Scallop Earrings

Here's a free crochet pattern for my beaded scallop earrings.  It's been a while since I've made jewelry with thread and beads, this pattern is very easy and satisfying.  You can whip up a pair of these earrings in an hour or less!  I've gotten lots of compliments on them, I'm sure you will too.  They'd also make a great gift for a special friend, just because.

Beaded Scallop Earrings

by Cynthia J Luciene copyright April 2012
You may share this pattern freely using the link to this post, and you may sell anything you make using this pattern.  You may not, however, sell this pattern in any way or form.  Thank you for respecting the copyright and for giving credit where credit is due.

Materials:

Remnant of crochet thread size 10; two yards per earring should be plenty

7 small crystals or beads, 

1 larger bead or crystal (see photos)

1 pair of hoop earrings, approximately 1 1/8" in diameter

Size 6 steel crochet hook

Instructions 

(Note: for help "casting" onto hoop earring with a sc, please see tutorial HERE.  There is a photo tutorial at the bottom of the post at that link).

Before beginning, thread beads or crystals onto size 10 crochet thread in the following order, for each earring:

5 small, 1 large, 2 small  repeat this order for the second earring.  Now you have a total of 16 beads or crystals strung onto thread.

Begin: "Cast onto" hoop beginning with a slip stitch.  (see the tutorial mentioned in Note: above)

Row 1:  12 sc onto hoop;

Row 2: ch 1 turn, working into front loops only, sl st into first sc, Beaded HDC in next, sl st in next, HDC in next, dc, in next (beaded TRC, beaded picot, beaded TRC) all in next st, dc in next, HDC in next, sl st in next, beaded HDC in next, slip stitch in rem st.

Row 3: TURN, ch 3, beaded ch, ch 3, sc into next dc (just before beaded trc), ch 6, beaded ch, ch 6, sc into next dc (just after second beaded trc), ch 3, beaded ch, ch 3, sl st into last st of row 2.

Row 4: ch 1, turn; 4sc, ch 3 past bead, 4 sc on other side of bead (all in the ch 3-beaded ch-ch3 loop); in next ch sp: 2 sc, picot, 5 sc before next bead, ch 3 over bead, 5 sc, picot, 2 sc in ch sp after bead; 4 sc in ch sp before next bead, ch 3 over bead, 4 sc in ch sp after bead.  Join to Row 3 with sl st.

Fasten off weave in ends, repeat for second earring NOTE when making second earring, hold hoop in opposite direction you held your hoop the first time so you'll have one earring for each ear and not two right earrings two lefties - OR you can just pop the crystals or beads through to the other side, it's real easy to do that.

...On my jewelry tree, they fit right in.  ;-)


 Note:  My laptop got dropped ;-( and the screen broke so I'm not able to make a PDF file for this pattern as yet.  I ordered a laptop this morning and ought to be getting it very soon in which case I'll make a PDF file for easy printing, without all the gobbly-goop photos to soak up your printer ink.  ;-) 

Crochet Pattern: Favorite Beanie For A Lady

Of all the hats I've made I think I like this one the best.  It's fast and easy to make if you already know how to do the cross stitch.  If you don't know how to make a cross stitch there are several video tutorials on Youtube but you ought to be able to figure it out from the written directions below.

If you haven't already guessed, the cross stitch is one of my favorite stitches to add a lacy, textured effect to my projects.  It works well with ombre and solid yarn colors, and can be substituted for other stitches in almost any pattern you might be following.

For this beanie I used the cross stitch to give it a more lacy, lady-like effect and it looks marvelous on.  It can be worn as most beanies are,

or the bottom can be turned up to make a cuff so more of your hair shows and giving the beanie an entirely different look.

Good Beanie, Bad Photography, Really Bad Hair

Pattern For Favorite Beanie:
(Note:  beg ch 3 of each round counts as a dc)

Using an H hook and worsted weight yarn (I use Painted by Red Heart - it's a pleasantly soft yarn in beautiful colors that my photographs do not do justice)

ch 5, join with sl st to fifth ch from hook to form ring
Round 1:  ch 3, 11 dc inside ring, join w/ sl st to top of beg ch 3 (12 dc)
Round 2: ch 3, dc in same st as joining, 2 dc in each st around, join to top of beg ch 3 with sl st (24 dc)
Round 3: ch 3, dc in same st as joining, dc in next st, (2 dc in next st, dc in next st) repeat ( ) around, join to top of beg ch 3 with sl st (36 dc)
Round 4: ch 3, dc in same st as joining, dc in next 2 st, (2 dc in next st, 1 dc in each of next 2 st); repeat ( ) around, join with sl st to top of beg ch 3 (48 dc)
Round 5: ch 3, dc in same st as joining, dc in next 3 st, (2 dc in next st, 1 dc in each of next 3 st) repeat ( ) around, join to top of beg ch 3 w/ sl st (60 dc)
Round 6: ch 3, dc in same st as joining, dc in next 4 st, (2 dc in next st, 1 dc in each of next 4 st) repeat ( ) around, join to top of beg ch 3 w/ sl st (72 dc)
Round 7 - 10: ch 3, (dc in next st ) around, join to top of beg ch 3 w/ sl st (72 dc)
Round 11:  ch 3, (skip 2 st, tr in next, ch 1, tr in first skipped st)  repeat around, skipping last st and sl st into top of beg ch 3 to join.
Round 12: ch 3, dc in each tr and ch 1 sp around, sl st into top of beg ch 3 to join.
Round 13-16: repeat rounds 11-12 respectively

Round 17-18: ch 1, sc in each st around, join to first sc with sl st
Fasten off, weave in ends, enjoy!

Cross Stitch Up Close

When making the cross stitch, hold the stitches on the hook together as you're yo and drawing through, that way your stitches won't become super elongated when back tracking to the previous skipped stitches (the cross over stitch that makes the X).  Also, be careful about which tutorial videos you watch for this stitch.  Here's one that is for a dc cross stitch but it's done correctly with the same idea in mind.  With a dc cross stitch you use a dc instead of a tr and skip 1 stitch rather than 2.  I prefer the tr cross stitch, it's a much more dramatic effect and being the drama queen that I am, well, you get the idea.  heh, heh.

Crochet News: Flowery Snowflake For Mom; Free Pattern

Here's my first snowflake pattern, I made this for Mom with flowers, she loves flowers so much.  (And she's learning to love snowflakes, thank goodness!  ha ha)

Flowery Snowflake To Crochet
by Cynthia Luciene copyright October 2011


You may share the pattern but you may not sell it.  You may, however sell anything you make from this pattern.


Materials:  Size 11 steel crochet hook, size 10 (bedspread weight) cotton crochet thread


Instructions: ch 10, join with sl st to form ring
Round 1: ch 5 (counts as 1 dc plus 2 ch).  *dc inside ring, ch 2; repeat 10 times more, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch 5.
Round 2: sl st into next ch 2 space, ch 1, *sc, ch 1, sc in same ch 2 space; repeat from * 11 more times, join to first sc with sl st.
Round 3: sl st into first ch 1 space, ch 12, * tr in next ch 1 sp, ch 7; repeat from * around to last tr then instead of ch 7: ch 3, tr into 4th ch of beg ch 12.
Round 4: ch 11 (counts as 1 tr + ch 7) ** all between () in next loop: (3 sc, ch 7, sl st into 6th ch from hook, *ch 5, sl st into same 6th ch; repeat from * three times = four petals made, ch 1, 3 sc ), ch 7, tr in next loop, ch 7; repeat from ** around until last sc worked and then instead of last ch 7: ch 3, tr into 4th ch of beg ch 11 to join.
Round 5: ch 9, sl st in 3rd ch from hook,
** ch 9 sl st in 8th ch from hook, ch 4, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, ch 11, sl st in 5th ch from hook, ch 8, sl st in 7th ch from hook, ch 6, sl st in 5th ch from hook, ch 8, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, ch 9, sl st in 8th ch from hook, ch 4, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, ch 3, tr in next loop,
ch 16, sl st in 4th ch from hook, ch 7 sl st in 4th ch, ch 4, sl st in same 4th ch,
ch 12, tr in next loop, ch 5 sl st in 3rd ch from hook; repeat from ** around until last ch 12 then instead of tr in next loop, sl st into 4th ch of beg ch 9 instead. 
Fasten off, weave in ends.


Soak in liquid fabric starch diluted with water 50 %.  Squeeze out excess water, lay snowflake flat on dry bath towel and roll up tight to squeeze out even more moisture.  
Place waxed paper on top of box top.
Using rust proof pins, carefully pin the outer points of snowflake to the furthest positions they will go without disfiguring them.  I liked to make every other one roundish, the others pointy for variety (see photo).  
Allow starch to dry completely before hanging.
Store in tissue rather than plastic baggies so your snowflake won't mold.
I use a piece of fishing line for hanging on the tree, sometimes I add a red ribbon to the top of the fishing line.  For hanging in a window and when I can't find my fishing line (MIKE!) I just hang it with those suction cup thingys you can get real cheaply this time of year at the Home Depot or Joanne's.  
Beads and crystals can be added if they aren't too heavy.  I would keep heavier crystals toward the center of the snowflake where it's stronger and use seed beads toward the perimeter of the snowflake so the points won't droop when it's hung on the tree.

Have fun!  

Crochet News: Working A Cross Stitch Pattern Into Your Granny Square

I guess I was extra bored with making squares to enlarge my boyfriend's afghan (which will never be large enough for him!) and I got off on a creative tangent.  I presented myself with a challenge and for once I ended up with something I am proud of.


Today I pulled out my dog-eared copy of Leisure Arts little books #75009, Beginner's Guide Crochet Stitches and Easy Projects. 

I love this book when I want to refer to an old school stitch pattern.  The cross stitch is my favorite, and having a half-worked square made for my boyfriend's afghan that I didn't really feel like finishing, I wondered if I could incorporate my favorite stitch into this square that was burning the palm of my hand and seemingly making my hook shiver at the very idea of hooking another stitch for it.


I assured my palms and hook we'd not finish the square as usual but try something new and different and, well, a bit wild (for us, anyway) and we'd forget the afghan for now.  The other two of us cheered and danced about while I reviewed the cross stitch instructions to be sure it would work with the number of stitches on each side of the square I had started.  One side proved to be in a multiple of three stitches so I went for it, not caring if the others would be in threes or not.  I would make it work or die.  I simply could not make another afghan square right now, and that was final.


Here's the result of our experiment, the three of us (my palm, the hook and I) are very pleased with it:

I showed a closeup for two reasons:

1. I finally remembered how to make the macro setting work on my digital camera so I'm showing off,
and
2. I wanted to show anyone whose never made or seen a cross stitch just how very cool it truly is, in detail, um, closeup.  ;-) 

A tutorial on how to incorporate the cross stitch into your granny square is HERE or can be found in PDF format which is more printer friendly HERE

Crochet Tutorial: Working The Cross Stitch Into Your Granny Square

 Tutorial For Using A Cross Stitch Pattern In Your Granny Square
Before beginning please read instructions all the way through.


For same instructions in a more printer friendly format, go HERE  (free PDF download)

The cross stitch works in sets of three stitches so your rows must be in multiples of three.  The sides of this square are 12 stitches across, counting the middle stitch in the corner group.
That is important for later.


Instructions for cross stitch: 
Skip two stitches, tr in next stitch, ch 1, tr in first skipped sc (skip 1 sc going to the right and tr in next stitch to the right)

Start by attaching the contrast yarn at any corner with a sl st. and ch 4 (counts as a dc + ch 1)
Work the cross stitch across the side to the end.
**Ch 1, dc in corner st (last worked st), ch 1, dc in same st, ch 1, work cross stitches across side of square to end, repeating from ** around until you reach last corner.  After making last cross stitch on last side of square, dc, ch 1, sl st into third ch of beg ch.  If using contrast yarn, fasten off, weave in ends.

Attach contrast with a sc in ch 1 of cross stitch. (If not using contrast, ch 1, sc in next st)  Sc in each tr , dc, and ch 1 spaces across all sides in all corners as well.  Fasten off, weave in ends.










The photo below shows what the corner group looks like when finished.

You can make a more defined corner, of course, if you add two sc to the corner st of the square, which I did not do because I didn't think of it till I saw this photo and noticed how round the corners were.  I would put the two extra sc in the first dc of that corner.

The cross stitch makes a great border for a granny square or a wash cloth or dish rag.  If you're more talented than I you can probably add granny square rows following the cross stitch rows.

Crochet News: Snowflakes In The Works

 I found a beautiful snowflake pattern, well, actually two very similar patterns for snowflakes, in an old Crochet World magazine (12-2008 issue).  Since Christmas is coming faster than I am ever ready for, I decided to start my Christmas crocheting for decorations and gifts.

I haven't starched this yet, I'll wait till I have three or four snowflakes and do them all at once.  I just hate cleaning up anything at all so starching each one as I go along is something I wouldn't even consider.  heh, heh. 

The original pattern (which you may be able to get in the Dec. 2008 issue of Crochet World at your local public library, I'm thinking) did not call for beads but I am a lover of crystals and added them on my own:
Before I started this snowflake I counted the picots around the perimeter of the flake and noticing the group of three and then the single picot in between the 3-picots groups, I strung the crystals as follows:
(One tear drop, three small diamond shaped) six times.  I added the crystals to my stitches in the third ch of each picot so it would come out at the tip of each picot.
It'll be interesting to see if the starch I use will hold the crystals up properly.  I'll let you know about that after I block and starch it.

Sorry to bring up Christmas so soon, I can't help but wonder what everyone is making for gifts this year?  I have so many people to make gifts for I'd better get on the ball!

Crochet News: The Find Of A Lifetime! Crochetology.net!

I had the pleasure today of stumbling across a site I've never seen before and I'm sorry to say I have no idea how I got there, just that it was what I like to call a "God shot".   (A God shot being something that happens only due to divine intervention.)  I know God knows my heart and my desires and what makes me happy in my little world.  He knows I've been trying to put ideas together that lay in my heart and my mind's eye but I do not have the crochet intellect and experience to put my ideas and longings to hook and thread.  I've tried, believe me, and I've got a dozen or so projects that I started and then had to stop because I hit a hitch in the road and could not progress to complete the projects.   Crochetotology.net put an end to the end of my projects.  Fatima opened my eyes, taught me things I thought I knew.  Now I have guides to the following (and a lot more!)

•  More About The Square  details how to use a square motif to make a long sleeved top.  Includes a motif pattern in diagram.  (You'll have to follow the previous link to see the top Fatina constructed and how to do it yourself.)

• From Doily To Dress An excellent post explaining her procedure for turning any crochet doily pattern (new, vintage or antique) into a wearable dress or other garmet.  This is something I've had in my mind to do but couldn't quite "get it".  Thanks to Fatima I'm going to be able to use some very old (possibly antique) doily patterns to make beautiful wearables!

There's also wonderful, beautiful stitch and motif patterns available such as one of my favorites:

• Georgiana a hexagonish motif that  I think would make a beautiful top or skirt, or scarf.

Crochetology.net : The Art, The Pattern, And The Language Of Crochet.  That it definitely is!

If you want to learn, go there.  If you want to make something beautiful, go there.  If you're curious as to what I'm so excited about, GO THERE! 

Crochet News: Another Great Crochet Caddy Idea

The Home Depot is one of my favorite places to browse around, get inspired, find cool stuff, and spend money, all for the good of our home, and me of course.

While wandering around the huge hardware store (if you can really call it that) I saw a tool bag that looked like it might be something I could use.  I'm always attracted to things that make my life easier, keep things neater, and maybe even help me stay organized. 

This tool bag has many pockets inside and out and nestles inside a five gallon paint bucket (empty of course!), giving it a sturdy handle and good, strong form.  Check it out.  It happened to be on sale so I really had no reason to pass on this purchase.  Naturally I had to buy a brand new clean five gallon bucket to use with the tool bag.  Here's the result:

In this caddy I have plenty of room for my crochet hooks, scissors, (several pairs), tatting shuttles, pencils and pens, etc.  Inside I can store the project AND all the yarn required for it, the pattern book, and anything else that can't find a pocket on the outside.
The other side of the tool bag has pockets that are a bit wider, useful for many things such as project index cards, a packet of yarn needles, and so on.

I did not spray this one with Scotchgard Fabric Protector yet but plan to.  (Yea, I've got a horny boy dog who loves to mark his territory.  Until it gets sprayed by Scotchgard I have to keep it up off the floor so it doesn't get sprayed by my little chihuahua boy.)

I don't remember the exact price of the tool bag, it was on sale for approximately $7 and the bucket was regular price at $5

If you have any questions or ideas please comment below, thank you.

Signing off to find that can of Scotchgard I absentmindedly plopped somewhere in the house.  or garage. or yard. or car. oh crap.  It's here somewhere.

Note: Yarn in the bucket is Red Heart Super Saver worsted weight, color Real Teal

Crochet News: I'm Actually Blocking My Project!

Can you believe this?  I am actually blocking and starching (is that being redundant?) my snowflakes.  Well, one snowflake anyway:

I just finished crocheting Snowflake 41 from the Big Book Of Thread Ornaments

I strung tiny red beads onto my crochet thread before I started the snowflake and added them as I went along wherever I felt like.  Midway into crocheting and beading I had the thought that the beads could possibly weight down the ornament, making it droop when hung on the tree.  (I have no experience with this so bear with me).
I added many beads to the middle and less as I went along and actually like how it turned out.

Following the instructions I've read on many a crochet blog or craft web site, I:

• soaked my snowflake in fabric starch (100% strength for maximum stiffness)
• squeezed out the excess starch
• laid the snowflake flat on some paper towels and rolled it up to get a bit more of the extra starch out
• placed waxed paper on top of a sturdy cardboard box lid
• used nickel plated pins to shape and hold the snowflake
• waited
• and waited 
• and waited for the dang thing to dry!  
• ate dinner
• went to bed
• woke up in the morning
• waited for the starch to dry
• decided the old saying "watched water doesn't boil" is TOO true
• started working on a completely different project knowing that if I forgot about this one completely it would magically and suddenly dry when I wasn't looking
• realized I was right about the last bullet-ed step above
• forgot what I was doing and started pattern browsing

When I remember what I was blogging about in this post I'll let you know how it turned out.
Signing off to pattern browse some more and try to remember what the heck I forgot about and to practice being a serious grown-up, a discipline I never mastered, thank goodness.

UPDATE:
Here's the finished, almost dry product of all that waiting and wondering and worrying...

This last photo was taken before the snowflake was dry after starching.  For a follow up on my first block and starch project, see next newer post....

Crochet Pattern - Sunny Snowflake

For ease in printing this pattern or others I've posted,  or elsewhere on the web, here's a comment Viola left on one of my patterns that may help you:

"...As for the printing, if you do a "print preview" first, you can select only the pattern pages. I just tried it and the print is small, but nothing in the pattern was cut off...."
(signed),
Viola's Hook
----
Thank you Viola!
-----


Sunny Snowflake Ornament


Small amount size 10 crochet thread (Aunt Lydia's or other)
Size 10 steel crochet hook,
Size 7 steel crochet hook
Small beads, optional


I already had some beads on my thread and used what I had (6 beads) for this project, kind of by accident.  Beads are optional, you can place them anywhere you like while working along to give your sunny snowflake some shine.




String desired number of beads before beginning work.


With size 10 hook, ch 2


Round 1:  (sc, ch1) inside second chain from hook 6 times.  Join with sl st to first sc.  (total 6 sc, 6 ch1)

Round 2:  ch 4, dc in first st, *ch 1, dc in next st; repeat from * around, ending round with ch 1, sl st into third ch of beg ch 4 (top of ch dc)

Round 3:  ch 6. * tr in next ch 1 space, ch 3, repeat from * around, ending with tr in last ch 1 space, ch 3, sl st into third ch of beg ch 6 to join

Round 4: ch 1, * sc, hdc, sc in first ch 3 space and in each ch 3 space around, join with sl st to first sc this round.

Round 5: Use size 7 hook for this round! sl st to first hdc;  *sc in hdc, ch 3,   tr in next st, ch 3, skip 1 st,  sc in next, ch 3; repeat from * around and join with sl st to first sc and fasten off.

Weave in ends, block and starch as desired, attach red or white ribbon and hang!
In case you didn't click the previous link "starch as desired", it is a link that will take you to Crafters Love Crafts site page that tells several different ways to stiffen your crochet projects including instructions for using liquid starch or fabric glue (recommended), spray starch, sugar (low recommend), salt, etc.

Banana Berry Fat Bottom Bag

My Banana Berry Fat Bottom Bag, My Favorite One

This is my favorite of the Fat Bottom Bags I've made so far.  (Clicking on the link previous takes you to the Amazon site and the page where this book can be previewed and ordered, if you want it and you know you do.)
  This one didn't take me too long, I had lots of practice as you can see from several older posts.  I almost regret giving it away but I did buy two skeins of this yarn (Red Heart Super Saver in Banana Berry)  and there's enough material left over to line another bag, yea.

For the handles, as I mentioned in the post Chunky Fat Bottom Bag, I used hot glue to anchor the handles in place so they wouldn't slide around.  If using circular handles that the pattern calls for, this step is not necessary.

For lining this bag I used the same procedure as I outlined  HERE

Big And Chunky Fat Bottom Bag

 I made this bag for my friend with this chunky yarn - Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick And Quick - not called for by the pattern for the Fat Bottom Bag which you get in the book "Stitch and Bitch Crochet, The Happy Hooker".  (It's a fabulous book with detailed, funny instructions on each stitch, gauges, yarn weights, and has many wonderful, diverse patterns in the book that would make any "Hooker" Happy. )


Back to making the bag with chunky yarn.  To use the heavier weight yarn I omitted some of the middle rows  the body of the bag because the result would have been too chunky to gather and look nice. Also I had to dec the amount of gathering stitches and add one extra row of gathering stitches in order for the handle flaps to fit the small handles I bought and for the dec in rows of the first piece.

Before adding the handle flaps I lined the bag with 1/4 yard of matching fabric, cutting the fabric to fit the bag while easing it inside the bag and adding a few pleats where  necessary.  The lining is sewn in with heavy duty thread using a blind hem stitch.




Next I added the magnetic snap closures.

I hot glued the handle flaps in place to the handles themselves in order to keep the oblong handles from sliding around and getting sideways while the bag is carried.  I discovered why the pattern calls for round handles. heh, heh.  Being the weirdo that I am, not liking to be told what to do I thought I would get creative and use these different handles to go with each bag's personality.  Well, I should have stuck to the round handles but using the hot glue to anchor them in place, I am glad I didn't conform only to what the pattern called for.  That's the rebel in me I guess.

After sewing the flaps and adding the embellishment I am done but for a cell phone pocket that I'll make out of the lining fabric.  I tried to crochet one but the thick and chunky yarn wasn't suitable for making such a pocket.


And that's it.  Now, if you don't already have the book, go to Amazon and order it!  It's the best!

UPDATE!!  I finally found the link to a blog that has a photo tutorial for lining your fat bottom bag...  Here it is, it adds to this one, and this one adds to hers, so definitely check out this link if you wanna line your bag.  It will save you a lot of time, believe me! 
Go HERE

Speaking Of Fat Bottom - - Bags, That is..

I made this fat bottom bag a bit bigger than the others by adding some stitches to the beginning chain and some rows to the body as well as the handle flaps. 

 

 I used polka dot rick rack to weave through the gathering row between stitches and left the ends long enough to tie so I could close it up on the sides if I want.  The ends look okay even if I don't tie them in a bow and leave them dangling instead.  (see photo above)

 

I used opposite polka dot cloth for the lining, added after finishing off main body, before adding the handle flaps.  To put the magnetic snap closures on, I made sure to remember to fasten them on before sewing the handles into the flaps.  

I'm very happy with this bag, I think it's darling.  Someone will be getting it for Christmas this year, I think.  lol.

 

Snapdragon Washcloth Free Pattern

Materials

4 ply worsted weight cotton crochet yarn,

1 ball solid

1/4 ball variegated or contrast color

size G crochet hook



Using 100 % cotton yarn (I chose Peaches N Creme because it's softer than the others that I know)
And a size G crochet hook,

ch 41 (stitches are in sets of 8 plus 5 ch for beg st and turn)

Row 1:  dc in fifth ch from hook *skip next 3 chs, 5 dc in next ch, skip next 3 chs, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next ch; repeat from * across

Row 2: ch 3 (counts as first dc) turn; 2 dc in next ch-1 sp.  skip next 3 dc, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next dc, * 5 dc in next ch-1 sp, skip next 3 dc, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next dc; repeat from * across to last sp, 3 dc in last sp.

Row 3: ch 4, turn; dc in first dc, * 5 dc in next ch-1 sp, skip next 3 dc, (dc, ch-1, dc) in next dc; repeat from * across.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 for pattern, until cloth is same length on all sides.  You can check this by folding the cloth on the diagonal to see if all sides meet evenly.  (Of course, you can also measure it to check that the sides are all the same but I'm too lazy to look for my ruler and folding my work is SO much easier.  ha.)

When cloth is square, fasten off main color and weave in ends.


Round 1 Edging:  Attach contrast/variegated color with sc.  Sc in each st across, evenly down left side into ends of rows and stitches, across bottom into unused loop of beg ch, and evenly up right side into ends of rows and stitches as you did for left side.  sl st to beg sc to join, ch 1.

Round 2 Edging:  Sc in same sc as joining, dc in next sc, tr in next sc, dc in next sc, sc in next sc, following the same sc, dc, tr, dc, sc, across (one st per each sc) and around corners

Fasten off, weave in ends.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact me, I'd love to hear from you!

Free Pattern - One Inch Flower Motif or Applique

I think these would be pretty sewn together for a summer scarf or cami.  It would take a lot of them though, they're only one inch in size but they're so easy and quick to make it wouldn't be too much trouble at all.




I used Royale crochet thread size 10 in Mexicana and a size 7 steel crochet hook to make these little cuties.










(Free pattern - which is no big deal believe me - is below)

I left long tails on some of the flowers so I can sew them onto a purse or jeans as an applique.  I splashed bleach on my new black jeans and think I might use these to cover the bleached areas. 











Pattern For
One Inch Flower Motif Or Applique

With size 10 crochet thread and a size 7 steel crochet hook,
(leave a long tail - 6" or more - if you want to use these for applique)

chain 2

Round 1: 10 sc inside second chain from hook; sl st to first sc to join and start first petal group

Round 2: *(ch 3, 4 dc) all inside sc you just made a sl st into; ch 1, sc in next sc, sl st in next
Repeat from * around - five petal groups made
sl st to base of first ch 3 to join

Fasten off, weave in ends, if using as applique leave one of the ends alone so you can sew it onto the piece you want to add it to.

I will post my progress with the summer scarf or cami as I go along and let you know exactly how I put them together.  I've got another project going on at the same time and I'll probably end up switching back and forth between the two because I get bored with things really fast.  heh, heh.

Have fun and let me know what you're doing with your flowers, I'd love to link to your project that is made with these.

UPDATE:
Link to an idea for the flowers, thank you for sending this to me to post here...

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/supertinks/one-inch-flower-motif-or-applique
The project is on Ravelry so you may have to sign in to see her work. 


copyright 2010 antialite ;-)_  cynthia J luciene

I Have Hope Once More

Something you may not know about me is my daily struggle with mental illness.   I am diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder which is like being bipolar and schizophrenic at the same time.  You can read a bit more about my personal experience with it here on my associated content profile.  (Coming soon, waiting to be published). 

What it boils down to is this:  I've been very depressed (or the opposite, way too happy) and hearing voices, experiencing paranoia and bizarre thinking for many, many years.  Over thirty years, actually, and it's getting worse.  I am to the point where I feel there is no hope to get better and now that I'm going through menopause, it seems useless (to me, anyway).  I can't even help my kids through their troubles because I don't know how to get out of my own.  Daily suicidal ideations are not uncommon for me. 

Tonight, on PBS (Public Broadcasting) I saw a Dr Daniel Amen who wrote a book called "Change Your Brain" and "The Magnificent Mind".  Listening to this doctor has given me hope that I could find no where else.  My regular doctors have told me a gate has been opened that may never be closed, referring to my psychiatric symptoms.  In other words, all the medication in the world isn't going to make the voices go away or make me feel better.  Medication does help somewhat but the symptoms are bad enough that my quality of life is at an all time low.  Going into the hospital for intensive treatment used to help but no longer gives me the rest and help I need to feel better for a while.  Going to the hospital used to make me feel better but as soon as I was released and back into my home environment, everything would get bad again.  All the symptoms would resurface and before I knew it I was ready to check myself into the psych unit again for relief. 

Dr. Amen says there are things I can do to improve the functioning of my brain and one of the things that hit me was retraining (refurbishing) my basal ganglia which affects fear and anxiety in people.  Years ago I had a stroke and guess where it was?  My basal ganglia!  I try to remember if I had the fear and anxiety I have now, before my stroke but I can't remember.  (My memory is one of the things the stroke affected badly).

If I can retrain my brain and do things to help my brain be more healthy, maybe my symptoms will get better.  I don't expect them to go away completely but I can give it a good shot. 

Dr. Amen's website is here
You can find his books on Amazon, he's written many, all of them are not listed here.  If you want to see all the books this wonderful Doctor wrote, do a search in the Amazon search box (located on this page) and type in Dr. Daniel Amen.
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