Halloween!

Halloween is a fun time of the year. What a better way to celebrate than to gorge on candy especially if it is chocolate. Often times, children have no idea of how Halloween celebrations first started. Here's an animated look at the origins of the holiday, its traditions and superstitions related to it. Try to control yourselves, don't be frightened...





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Slipper Confusion

The slipper pattern I use quite frequently is a little confusing if you've never made them before. I've been asked many times about what to do after chaining 11. Hopefully the pictures I'm posting here will help out with that.
Here is where we are making the 12 rounds prior to what we'll call part 2 that starts with the ch 11:

Here we have started part 2 by chaining 11.

Here you can see where I am doing 10 sc down the first side of the chains:

After doing 10sc down the first side of the chains, do 25 sc around to the other side of the chains:

(At this point, you will have 35 sc)

Do 10 sc up the back side of the chains for a total of 45 sc to work on:

At the end of that row, chain1 and work the remainder of the 9 rows in the back loops. The following 3 photos show you how it looks after working the first 3 rows in part 2:

The next 3 photos show you what the slipper looks like after doing 9 rows in part 2:

The last 3 rows are decrease rows. These rows add the heel to the slipper. These stitches are also done in the back loops but for the decrease stitches and the sc in between them, I don't worry about doing them in the back loops--I use all the loops. Here are some pictures with all the rows done. You can see that the back is now rounded into a heel:

The next 2 pictures show you a completed slipper:

If anyone has any questions just drop me a line and I'll do my best to help you. I think the big problem with making these slippers the first time is visualizing them. After the first pair it's a piece of cake--I promise!

Hugs to all,
Sharon

WIP Wednesday

Here's what I'm up to right now.  I do have more irons in the fire but this is my fastest project.

This two-toned blue item will turn into slippers when completed.  Can you see the twister seal? I use it for for a stitch marker! Here is another pair of slippers from the same pattern that I finished this week:

For these slippers I used a strand of pink and a strand of lavender yarns. I just love mixing up colors and seeing how they turn out.  Here's a link to the pattern I used-- http://www.knitting-crochet.com/crochet/slisoc.html


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I Have an Idea for Our Politicians...

This being an election year, politicians are slamming each other left and right. One topic that has many of us interested is health care reform. There are allegations that some politicians are proposing a $2000 deductible for Medicare recipients and rumors abound that some medical procedures won't be available for elder folks. My solution--For an entire term in office, make our politicians live off of checks the size of an average social security check and see how well they make ends meet and pay for their health care and meds. Plus, for medical care, they will only be allowed to use the Medicare program. They can get a supplemental policy for Medicare IF they can afford it out of their social security checks. I don't believe it is ethical for folks who have at least 6 figures or more in their savings to play god with those who are less affluent. We're not talking about low-life people but rather people who have been productive individuals but are now having to chose between putting food on the table or paying to see a doctor and getting recommended care. What do you think, should our politicians personally test-drive the new program?


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Updated List of Free Round Afghan Crochet Patterns

(Above Pattern by Aggie May)

I almost missed this link for another free pattern for a round afghan. The comprehensive list of links is found here. Hope y'all enjoy. I really like this one. Actually, I like 'em all! One of these days I'm going to make one. So far, I've only made a bunch from the pattern that Aggie May on crochetville pm'd me. So many patterns, so little time...


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Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern

Here's a cute vintage potholder pattern.  This might make a cute gift for the cat lover on your holiday gift list so check it out!  Hugs...

Search Amazon.com for vintage potholder patterns

Slippers Are Done!

Here's the latest completed project of mine. After these, I'll wait until I get a few pairs completed before I post pictures. This time of the year, I make quite a few pairs of these and I don't want to burn you out on them. Anyway, here they are, my favorite slippers!

Edited to add this link:
Pattern is from http://www.knitting-crochet.com/crochet/slisoc.html 

Happy Birthday Ray!!!

Today is dh's birthday.  He's 4 1/2 years younger than me--sshhh don't tell anyone!  Here he is coming home from work today and Opi and Nellie Belle are greeting him with balloons. I made him a cake and brought home some KFC--one of his favorites. I told him that we'd go this weekend and he should pick out something for himself. I never know what to get him. I said he should get whatever he wanted as long as it didn't have wheels because he's been talking about Camaros, Harleys and Ford 4x4s.  Men and male menopause geez... ;)

Hope y'all are having a great day too.  Hugs...

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Moved Widget For Children's Online Book

I had a widget on here for a children's online book of the day.  I have moved it over to my chihuahua's blog. You will find it in the column on your right side. I decided to do this to "clean up" a bit here.  Have a great day folks!

Latest WIP--Slippers

I have so many projects that I'm working on now but today's post is about one of my favorites. Here are some slippers that I've designated as a "purse project" because I carry them in my purse to work on when I get stuck waiting somewhere. I started these today and in one more sitting they should be done! Slippers made from this pattern are a frequently requested gift so I try to have a few pairs stashed for the unanticipated need for a gift. Link for pattern is here.  Anyway, here's the pic:

Getting in the Season's Mood...

I'm getting in the Halloween mood.  So here's a spooky-looking witch to put a little fright in your day!  ;)

On another note, I see my ex-sister-in-law has been visiting and I just want to say "hi" to Twila!

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Scored Yarn!

My younger son's neighbor was going to throw away some yarn.  DS brought it home to me.  Two skeins cones are ww and 1 skein cone is thread. I did the burn test and it's synthetic and that's ok with me.  Unfortunately, it's a bit on the dusty side so I'm having to wash it before using.  To do this, I'm winding it into hanks on the back of a chair and then tying with small bits of yarn to keep it from becoming a big knot.  Before it goes into the machine I'll put the yarn in lingerie laundry bags. Whew, a lot of work but get this, IT'S FREE YARN!  Can you tell I'm excited? I love bargains!

On 18 October 1867, United States Gets Alaska

I've been remiss at throwing out some tidbits of history.  Today I'm changing that by posting an "On This Day in History" entry.

The Alaska Purchase

On this day in history, 18 October 1867, the United States takes formal possession of Alaska from Russia at a cost of $7.2 million. 

 On March 30, 1867, Secretary of State William H. Seward signed a treaty with Russia for the purchase of Alaska for $7.2 million. Despite the bargain price of roughly two cents an acre, the Alaskan purchase was ridiculed in Congress and in the press as "Seward's folly," "Seward's icebox," and President Andrew Johnson's "polar bear garden." Nevertheless, the Senate ratified purchase. Critics believed that was too much money for land that was cold and barren. The critics were forced to change their tune when major discoveries of gold were made there in the 1880s and 1890s. These discoveries brought attention and people to Alaska. Today, petroleum transported across the state through a pipeline is Alaska's richest mineral resource. For more information, the treaty that ceded Alaska to the United States is here. 


Hugs...


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Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern

Just found out that a relative is expecting a baby in January. I'm not ready to start crocheting something for the baby yet, but I did go on a hunt for something cute for a winter baby. I found these booties made of ww yarn that might work out along with a matching hat. This baby isn't a close relative so I probably won't be making a blanket like I usually do. The video makes these booties look kind of easy and they're kind of cute too. I was working on a simple granny square throw I'm making while watching this video and I couldn't come close to keeping up with Teresa; she crochets a heck of a lot faster than I do!  There is a written pattern for these too so you don't have to rely completely on the video.



Happy crocheting!

More Kitchen Stuff...

Here's another hanging towel and dishcloth set for the kitchen--this time in pink!  I'm getting hooked (excuse the pun) on making these because they go so fast.  Here it is:

Pumpkin Carved to Look Like Dog Face #1

I was emailed several of these pics of pumpkins carved to look like dogs.  I thought I would share this one with you and the others I'll post  prior to Halloween.  Hope you enjoy.

EDIT:  Decided to add these pictures to my little chis blog.  You can see the rest of the pictures here.  Thanks!

It's Friday!!!!

What more can I say except I hope all my friends have a great weekend!

For the Kitchen...

I just finished crocheting a few kitchen things and I thought I'd make one post instead of several.  The pattern for the dishcloths is based on the Granny Mandala tutorial and the towel ring is from this pattern.  OK, now that I have the pattern information out of the way, here's the pictures...!

Nice red dishcloth.  Nice for washing dishes on Christmas.

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Pretty pink, red and white variegated yarn

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Crisp fall color for this hanging towel and dishcloth matching set

I like the edging on this dishcloth best.

I just used a 5DC shell stitch without any other stitches in between.

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I'm thinking of stockpiling these and maybe do a craft show next year.  Do you think they'll sell?  I'd bundle the 2 dishcloths with another in similar color that I made and do the matching hanging towel and dishcloth as a set.  Am I crazy or would these sell?  I'd have to get really busy if I want to do it.   

New Link for a Beautiful Round Afghan Pattern

I added another link for a new free round afghan crochet pattern.  This one is by Aggie May of crochetville.org.  Here is the somewhat extensive list of other free round afghan crochet patterns that I have compiled for you and me.  Enjoy!

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

I'm a regular Susie-Homemaker today. DH has been moaning that he wanted a pineapple upside down cake for the past several days.  I was going to cheat and buy a mix but the Super Walmart here didn't carry them anymore!  So, I bought a small yellow cake mix meant for a batch of cupcakes, or a jiffy yellow cake mix would do.  I mixed the mix as per directions.  In the bottom of a round cake pan I melted 1/4 cup butter and mixed 1/2 cup of brown sugar.  I had a large can of pineapple and I used about half the slices and put some maraschino cherries in the circles and big open spots.  Baked at 350 degrees for about 1/2 hour.  Here it is...

Crocheted Christmas Throw is Finished!

I've had a couple skeins of Christmasy yarn for several years now. I didn't know what to do with them then the idea popped into my head to take the white Red Heart SS in my stash and these Christmas yarns and make a giant granny square afghan/throw thingie. Here, in all it's glory is (drum roll here) my latest completed creation! I did have to buy an extra skein of the white and I ended up making it 3 rounds shorter than I wanted to.  The white in between the Christmas colors is one round larger each time but I figured it would be ok as is.  I ended up with maybe 10 extra feet of the white so I cut it pretty close with the amount of white.  I still have about 1/3 skein of each of the green and red yarns.  I figure it would be nice as an embellishment on something else I may make for Christmas.  This creation goes to a dear friend--not sure which one yet though.  :)

Closeup of the shell edging

Hugs to all of you!

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern

It's getting to be that time of year again.  If you're like me, you're starting to think about Christmas and what you'd like to crochet.  These napkin holders might be just the thing to dress up your table for the holidays.  Happy Holidays!
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