Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern (29 June 2015)

I love the look of crocheted doilies. They're pretty and add a lightness to the decor. Today's pattern link isn't for a doily but rather for a doily-ish rug. It is made out of t-shirt yarn but you might be able to "fudge" and use several strands of worsted for a different look. Whatever you do, have fun!

Hugs,

Sharon

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In a Crocheter's Ideal World...

In a crocheter's ideal world, they will never be told by the recipient of a crocheted gift that said gift was tossed in the trash. When a crocheter makes a gift, even a small object such as a hat, much time is spent making said object. Love is worked into the stitches and a bit of the crocheter's affection rubs off on the person every time they use the item. If the item is not wanted or doesn't fit or some other reason, please donate it or give it away but please don't trash like-new things such as hats and slippers. It doesn't take much to put it in the donation box at Goodwill and someone else can be touched by loving stitches.

Our Nellie Belle

Nellie Belle will be 10 in August. That's not too old for a chihuahua because life expectancy is about 16 or more years. Nellie started hobbling on 3 legs and developed a cough that sounded very similar to a cat trying to bring up a hairball. So, being the good mom that I am, we went to the vet. Nellie was all happy to be going bye-bye in the car (she loooves going for rides).

Diagnoses
*Arthritis in her rear right leg
*Heart murmur. The cough is a classic symptom of heart murmur in canines.

The vet prescribed a pain killer for the arthritis to be taken as needed and Lasix for Nellie. The Lasix has eased her cough by removing fluids from around the heart. She drinks like a gazillion gallons of water and pees like a race horse but she is doing better. There is no cure for a heart murmur other than very expensive surgery and it was not offered for Nellie. On a scale of 1 to 6 with 6 being the most severe, Nellie's murmur is at a 4. We learned that even though she may still like to play like a puppy, we have to try to keep her from getting over stimulated. About 2 weeks ago, she was running the fence line while the neighbor was cutting his grass. She has done this for almost 10 years every time he cuts his grass. Now, the exercise is too strenuous for her and she fainted. I never heard of a dog fainting before and I rushed her to the vet and that's when I learned that even though our Belle-Belle is playful as a pup her health is fragile and she has to take it easy. A murmur can develop fast. Just a couple months ago she was at the vet in Florida and her heart sounded good. Nellie has become a bit picky with her food and treats but otherwise she is very playful and active.

I wasn't going to post about this but I decided so that if any of your fur babies has an innocuous sounding cough, you might want to get it checked out because there may be a more serious issue.

Hugs,

Sharon

Sharon's Clothespin Bag

Per request, here is the pattern for the clothespin bag I designed. If you find any problems with the pattern, please let me know and I'll see what I can do to fix it or explain it.

Here's the link to the pattern --> LINK

Hope this pattern suits your needs.

Hugs,
Sharon

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern (22 June 2015)

In some areas, stores are starting to charge for shopping bags. As we know, crocheters are not only talented they are also thrifty and there are many patterns available for crafty crocheters to make their own bags. Here's one that I like the looks of.

Sending you wishes for a great week.

Hugs,
Sharon






Ikea 172.283.40 Frakta Shopping Bag, Large, Blue, Set of 5

Mostly Green Charity Lapghan Finished

Here's the latest lapghan that I'm hoping to donate to the veterans home when it opens here later this year or in the spring. Most of the yarns, with the exception of the "checkerboard squares," were from the batch of yarn my son and daughter-in-law picked up for me at a yard sale. I just played around with graph paper to make this arrangement of squares of 4 rounds, 6 rounds and 12 rounds.

Thanks for stopping in and looking!

Hugs,

Sharon

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Hat from Scraps

 This is such an easy pattern to make and I can use up some of my odds and ends making something besides granny squares. The pattern is available on this Ravelry page.

I'm listening to thunder rumbling and watching lightning shoot down from the sky. It is a good night to be indoors and enjoying a cup of decaf as I crochet. I am almost finished with making squares for another lapghan for donation. The squares are mostly done in shades of green from the stash my son and his wife brought me from one of their yard sale jaunts.

This is it for now.  Take care my friends.

Hugs,
Sharon

Clothes Pin Bag

I needed a clothes pin bag to hang on my clothes line and I decided to make one instead of spending good money on an inferior quality one from China. I found the items to make it available at Dollar Tree.

Used a pack and a half of this plastic-like twine

I bought 2 packs of these and used 2 of the middle-sized ones.

And here it is on the line full of pins--

Basically, I made it by starting out with a hat-like item, then I made it a little narrower for several rows before the opening. Hooked the carabiners between stitches and voila--a clothes pin bag! I did take notes on what I did so if anyone is interested, I can write it up.

Hope your week has started off on a good note. 

Hugs,

Sharon

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern (15 June 2015)

Today's link to a free pattern is for the exciting butterfly bolero vest. It is a cute vest with cap-like sleeves that would look great over a dress or even with jeans.

Have a great week everyone!

Hugs,
Sharon

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Found Alternative Source for Pattern

I've been sleuthing around the Internet knowing that there had to be an alternative site for afghan pattern I posted about yesterday. There is and you can find it here. Just thought I'd share this with you. It was driving me crazy that I couldn't find the pattern because I knew it had to be online. Have fun!

Take care my friends...

Sharon

At Last, I Finished this Afghan

I've been working on this afghan off and on since April. It really wouldn't have taken me so long except my CADD (crochet attention deficit disorder) kicked in a few times and I temporarily worked on other projects. The pattern is on a Red Heart label but I can't find it anywhere on line. It is called Ragged Ripple. It will be off in the mail this afternoon. It's a surprise and I hope it is liked.

Close-up--

Here's a freebie pattern e-book from Amazon for crocheters and knitters-->  Welcome to Our Home - Knit and Crochet Ideas from Red Heart. I don't know how long it will be free so hurry up and get your copy.

Hope y'all are well. Hugs to all...

Sharon

Great Son and Daughter-in-Law

My younger son and his wife were out yard sale shopping today. They brought me a great gift--YARN! I'm going to use most of this to make lapghans. I'm making them for the veterans home that opens either the end of this year or early next year. I hope they'll accept donations of these. If not, then it will be off to the local nursing home. I just like to give to the veterans because I am one.

Here's my great new stash--

I temporarily piled it on my crocheting chair to see what I had. You can get a little look at the afghan I am making for a special someone. 

Hope everyone is well.

Hugs,

Sharon

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Lapghan for Charity Finished

A Veteran's nursing home will be opening in our town either late this year or early next year. I've made and put away a few lapghans over the years and I will be donating them when this facility opens.

Today I finished another lapghan. I'm very happy with how it turned out and how the multitude of colors blend so well. To make this, I made solid granny squares. The large squares are 12 rounds and the smaller squares are 4 rounds. I single crochet the squares together (on the right side) and made a round in black of double crochet to give a bit more of a finished look.

Then after looking at it a while, I decided that the edging seemed sort of blah so I added another round of DC in black, 1 round of SC in white and the final round of HDC in black. Now it looks much better.

I took a break from the afghan I was making to make this. I focused on the afghan so much that I faced burn out with it and had to distract myself with something else. Making the squares was just what I needed with the different colors and use of the colors so it wasn't boring and didn't require so much attention to detail.  I have 11 more rows to go on the afghan and I'll share pictures then.

I do have a couple hats I haven't posted pictures of but I'll save that for another day too.

Y'all take care...

Sharon


Caravan Sports Infinity Zero Gravity Chair

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern (01 June 2015)

Today's pattern is for a Nike inspired pair of baby booties. They're really cute and I can see them worked in pastels for girls and darker colors for boys. Have fun!

Hugs,
Sharon

Nike shoes for the family