Here's Another Dishcloth and Potholder

Here's another potholder and dishcloth.  I'm packing these and the ones I made the other day and mailing them to my uncle.  I think he'll like them.  The potholders aren't "pretty" but they are practical and a bit over-sized and will be a good fit for a man with big hands.

Do any of you have problems deciding what to use for backgrounds when taking photos of your crochet projects?  I'm running out of ideas.  I use the grass when weather is good and grass is green, my black coat is another choice, the dishcloth on this post is set on a table runner on my coffee table, and today's potholder is on a chair in the living room.  I'm out of ideas so please everyone, leave me a comment on any new ideas you may have.

Take care all...

A New Dishcloth and Potholder

While I was sitting at my temporary job with the Census Bureau and had nothing to do, I made this potholder and dishcloth.  The potholder is based on what I remember of a pattern from LionBrand.  The dishcloth is just rows of single crochet done in the back loops.  The edging of the potholder is a one row of single crochet, then a row of triple crochet, slip stitch in the next single crochet  repeat around to corners and then half double crochet chain one and another half double crochet.  I'm really happy with how they turned out.

About my Census job, I work three, five hour days Monday - Wednesday and this week I only had 1 person come in!  I guess I'll have a lot of crochet time!  Speaking of crocheting, I'm making a lot of granny squares for an afghan.  I'll show you those some other time.

Take care everyone....

Monday's Link for Free Crochet Pattern

Here are patterns for a   pretty place setting you can crochet.  It is very spring-like and even has an adorable egg warmer shaped like a chicken!  Check it out.

Started Temporary Job With Census Bureau

I started a temporary job with the Census Bureau today.  Actually, today was a little over 8 hours of training.  I worked with them last year and enjoyed it a lot.  I walked around neighborhoods with a handheld computer and put map spots on maps for the location of residences.  This time, the pay sucks ($8.50 per hour) and we're limited to 15 hours a week at satellite locations helping people fill out their forms or giving them forms if they somehow got missed.  I'll stick with it though, there is another phase coming up after this one is over and I have a chance to get a position with it too and hopefully it will be lots better than this one.  Take care y'all and if you're in the area and need help with your census form stop in and I'll be happy to help you out!  Hugs...

Magic Ball Afghan is Finished!

Finally, I am finished with this magic ball afghan!  I told my dh that it was for him and the chis when they snooze in the recliner.  Here is dh showing off the afghan and trying to hide at the same time.  Hey Sweetie, your head is showing lol!  OK, I'll stop jabbering and post the picture:

Today's Mixed Bag

I went into the spare bedroom (aka yarn warehouse) to look for some yarn that I had bought at Dollar Tree a while back.  I got a bit side-tracked in my search when I found a couple dishcloths I had made and just needed to weave in the loose ends.  I quickly did that and took some pictures to post here for you.  So here they are...

I remember doing this from a pattern in a book I have.  I can't remember what book it was though! I really like to post the source of patterns I use so that my readers and I have a reference to it.

This dishcloth is alternating rows of single crochet and double crochet.  The edging is a picot edging.

****************************

We have a small pond in the back yard that is stocked with goldfish.  Every spring we give it a thorough cleaning and water change. It is usually filled with all sorts of debris such as leaves and small twigs.  It has been a big chore to clean out.  My dh came up with a good idea to make this job easier.  He built a frame out of 2x4 wood and covered it with screen material that I was able to get cheap when it was marked down last fall.  He put the cover over the pond last fall and just recently removed it.  Now,the pond's spring cleaning has been simplified!

Here are the fish happily swimming in the clean pond a few years ago.  The fish are much bigger now.  Here is  an idea if koi are too expensive for your pond budget...we used feeder fish that I got 8 for a dollar at a local pet store!

Another view of the pond.  The white rock is a piece of coral we brought back from Hawaii when we were stationed there.

Here is the cover dh made for the pond. 

Monday's Link for Free Crochet Pattern

I thought that this pattern might be of interest to those of you who are rushing to see the new Alice in Wonderland Movie.  So here is the pattern to deck out a doll in Alice-type garb.  Hope you enjoy...

Getting Back on Track With Magic Ball Afghan, Finishing up Doily and Getting Ready for Next Project...

Yesterday, I had doctor appointments in Louisville, about an hour from here. When I go there I have the opportunity to to stop at Hobby Lobby. Yesterday I got the black yarn to finish my magic ball afghan. I also got red yarn to use in a spiderman ghan for a friend's little boy. The ww acrylic blues they had just didn't look right so I stopped at Meijers on my way home and they had a good blue color by Bernat. I was a naughty girl at Hobby Lobby and splurged on a few bamboo handled hooks. I love my J-Hook with a bamboo handle so I thought I'd try some others. No good sales yesterday though--maybe that is good because I impulse buy too much on yarn--yarn comes in faster than it goes out lol!

The spiral simplicity doily I'm making for my uncle is coming along. I'm working on the last 2 rounds! YIPPEE! I hope to finish it up this week and get it in the mail to him. Below is a picture of it so far. Definitely needs some blocking when it's finished.

Above is a toddler-sized spiderman ghan I made a couple years ago. The one I'll be starting soon will be a little larger for a little boy in elementary school. I use the round ripple pattern that AggieMay from crochetville generously provides to other members who pm her.

Edited to add doily picture

Monday's Link for Free Crochet Pattern

I really like the look of granny square afghans but I'm not too thrilled with sewing the squares together or weaving in the loose ends. However, I do like this pattern with the squares laid out on the diagonal and the use of half squares. Anyway, I really think it is a classier version. Hope you enjoy...

Another Birthday...

Today was my birthday and I'm 39 AGAIN lol!  I can only do that for a few more years because then I'll be the same age as my son :).  Anyway, I was born my grandma's birthday, her first granddaughter, and we used to celebrate together.  Here's a picture taken on my 10th birthday and her 62nd.  I have the glasses on. I really miss her...

Hat and Scarf Set is FINISHED!

 

I just finished this hat and scarf set.  The pattern is a freebie from Lion Brand Yarns. It was so simple to make because it was only double crochets and chains.  The homespun yarn gives it a nicer look.  The only thing I didn't like about the pattern is that the hat was supposed to have 4 holes in the top.  I gathered it together and closed it up and I think I'll like that a lot more.  Happy hooking...!

Update on Hat and Scarf Set

I have about a dozen rows or so left to do on the scarf and then a few ends to weave in and the set is finished! I'll try to finish it up today and get pictures posted. It is very easy and would be perfect for a new crocheter's first pattern. Take care y'all!

Monday's Link for Free Crochet Pattern

F

For some reason this post popped up a few days early so I guess we'll call this a bonus lol!

In honor of St. Patrick's Day here are patterns for a shamrock coaster and shamrock dishcloth.  Enjoy!

Getting Ready for Next Winter--A New Hat and Scarf Set

I'm already burned out with working on my uncle's doily and I still haven't gotten more black yarn for the magic ball afghan I've been working on.  Once again, I started a new project without finishing up what I was working on.  I'm making a hat and scarf set for next winter.  I'm using some Homespun yarn I bought on clearance at Wal-mart a while ago.  I normally don't like working with Homespun because my hook gets caught in the thready fibers but for small projects I can put up with it.  I finished the hat last night while watching television with dh and at this time, I have roughly a foot of the scarf made.  After I started the hat, I noticed that the crown of the hat wasn't closed but rather had 4 openings.  Well, I couldn't have that so I gathered the top of the crown and closed it off.  Winter is cold and I didn't want the top of my head to freeze :).  Anyway, the pattern I'm using for this set is a freebie from LionBrand Yarn.  I'm not going to post a picture of the hat until I finish the scarf and can show the set together so stay tuned...

Monday's Link for Free Crochet Pattern

Here's today's link for a free pattern.  Today's pattern is for panhandlers--an alternative to potholders.  It is part of the collection of free patterns found at CrochetNow.  Enjoy...

Some of My Thoughts...

Not much going on today so I thought I'd just put some of my jumbled thoughts here...

My magic ball afghan project is on pause for now. I ran out of black yarn so I decided to focus my attention on the doily I'm making for my uncle. Can you tell I'm procrastinating with it? I think I have been working on it for MONTHS! It is just so darned hard for me to see the tiny, little stitches.

Here are some other thoughts...everyone I know has replaced their incandescent light bulbs with the new improved energy bulbs. My question is, is it more economic and better for the environment to take perfectly good bulbs and toss them in the trash causing factories to manufacture more new bulbs quicker, the consumer to pay for them sooner than necessary, and landfills to receive them quicker? Let's see, you also need to calculate the cost-saving of having the new bulbs in your lighting fixtures.  How do we do that?  Whew!  You almost need to be a scientist to calculate out this one! Me, as my old bulbs die, I replace with the new and improved model.

Last night dh and I had our supper at a diner-type restaurant. I ordered a meal that was too much for me and as I was putting the left-overs into a "to-go" container a bit of food dropped on the table and I picked it up and put it in the container. DH said, "Heloise says that you shouldn't do that because sometimes women use public rest rooms and they put their purses on the floor. No telling what gets on the bottom of their purses. Then when they go back to the dining room, they might put their purses on the table and all kinds of germs get on the table. Then you just picked up that food with all sorts of bathroom bugs on it." Got me thinking that's for sure! Heloise is not only in the newspaper she is also online so go visit her for some creative hints.  Oh, by the way, I'm sure there are more "bathroom bugs" on the floor in the men's room!  LOL!

See ya later gator...

Just Before Midnight, 28 Feb 1942, USS Houston CA 30 Engages Japanese ...

On February 28, the USS Houston CA30 and the HMAS Perth proceeded to the port of Batavia in western Java, and partially refueled before attempting that night to pass through Sunda Strait in an effort to reach the safer waters of the Indian Ocean. As they approached the entrance to the strait near midnight, they unexpectedly encountered a Japanese covering force of nearly one dozen destroyers, three cruisers, and numerous torpedo boats and minesweepers that were protecting the invasion fleet. In the ensuing Battle of Sunda Strait, the Houston and Perth both aggressively fired at the attacking Japanese ships at close range, but, outnumbered and outgunned, they were no match for the enemy forces that completely surrounded them. Four torpedoes sealed the fate of the Perth shortly after midnight. Soon after, the first torpedo struck the Houston, and another Japanese shell destroyed her number two eight-inch turret, at which point Captain Rooks gave the order to abandon ship.
Tragically, one of the incoming Japanese shells struck a gun mount, killing Captain Rooks. The abandon ship order was countermanded and the Houston continued to fight, now alone against the Japanese fleet. She managed to hit three destroyers and sink a minesweeper before three more torpedoes ripped into the ship.
Hit by four torpedoes and listing to starboard, the Houston was doomed. The Japanese turned on their searchlights and continued to blast the ship. Captain Rooks and the majority of the crew were already dead. As a second order was given to abandon ship, the remaining crew members jumped over the sides, then began swimming furiously away from the suction of the sinking ship.
In the water, Japanese torpedo boats were machine gunning escaping sailors. Those who could avoid the gunfire began swimming through the dark, oil-coated water towards the Java shore, many miles away. Terrible as the experience of the last few days had been, their ordeal was just beginning.  (Information from University of Houston Special Collection).


When I was in college, I wrote my thesis on the sinking of this ship and the heroic crew.  The ship was substandard and the men did the best they could.  I was fortunate to attend a reunion/ memorial ceremony in 2002 and again in 2003.  The survivors I spoke with were friendly and more than happy to answer my questions. A bit of trivia, their experiences as POWs of the Japanese were used for the movie Bridge on River Kwai.

Update on My Magic Ball Afghan

This magic ball afghan is my relaxation.  I work on it in the evenings while dh watches television.  I think this afghan will fit a queen-size bed when it is finished or an over-sized double/full size bed.  I love how these look and I like the idea that I can use up remnants of yarn left over from other projects.  Roughly, I have crocheted it to 52".  I'm not sure how big I'm going to make it until I get it a tad bit bigger and lay it on the bed I'm making it for.  I'm thinking about using it for a regular blanket.  What do you think??? Do people use afghans for blankets?  The stitches in this one are close so there aren't any gaping holes to let the cold air in.  My chis, Opi and Nellie Belle love when I work on this and Opi is curled up next to me and Nellie B. is on my lap.  I've rambled on here long enough.  Thanks for visiting...
Click on the cute doggie button below to see links to other crafty people's works-in-progress.

Monday's Link for Free Crochet Pattern

Here is a vintage pattern for the

CROCHETED SONTAG:SHAWL PATTERN .

 It is a little bit different from most shawl patterns that I've seen because it has "ties" to help keep it on.  The site that it comes from is for Civil War re-enactors and has a variety of sewing patterns too. Hope you enjoy... 

Slavery Video: The History of Slavery in America

I've been a bit neglectful of posting topics of historical events in my blog.  Today, in honor of African American History Month, I am posting this 3 part video The History of Slavery in America.  You may turn off the music player by scrolling down the right column until you get to the player and then clicking on the mute button.  May we learn from the mistakes in our history...

Monday's Link for Free Crochet Pattern

Today's link to a free pattern is for a cuddly costume for your k9 fur baby. It can be worn in cooler weather just like any other dog sweater imho. It is from crochet kitten.    Here's the pattern.  Enjoy y'all!

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

Sending all of you warm wishes and affection on Valentine's Day... Here's a sweet video for your listening enjoyment. You may want to go to the column on your right hand side and scroll down to the music player and mute it before playing this video. Happy Valentine's Day!

Need Crochet Motivation...

I  need to get motivated and finish the 2nd doily I'm making for my uncle's new place in Florida.  I'm not too keen on crocheting with thread.  In the meantime, I am working on a "brainless" project--a magic ball afghan.  For this, you just wind up all your scraps of similar yarns, in this case worsted weight acrylic, and crochet a simple pattern using a strand of the magic ball yarn and one other color, I'm using black.  It is so relaxing to just crochet back and forth. I'm doing the following row sequence:  single crochet, half-double crochet, double crochet, half-double crochet, and single crochet.  I'm repeating this sequence until I get to the desired size or run out of magic balls and have to put the project on hold until I have enough scrap yarn to make additional magic balls.  I'm using a J-hook to have a tighter crochet and hopefully warmer ghan. 

Until later, stay warm everyone!

Cuppa Coffee Anyone?

I love my patio and my front porch.  Frequently we have our coffee out there.  When I lived up north, not too many people used their front porches except as means of egress.  Now that we live a little further south in Kentucky, it is common to see folks sitting on their front porches visiting or just kickin' back.  I was thinking about how it's been months since I had my coffee outside and missing it.  Anyone want a cup???

Monday's Link for Free Crochet Pattern

Today's link to a free pattern is for the triple dishcloth.  You can find it here.  It is at Marlo's Crochet Corner.

UFO Scarf Is Now an FO

A scarf I was making had made its way out of favor and was set aside for a couple months.  I pulled it out the other day and finished it up today.  The yarn I used was some novelty yarn in a royal blue color.  I think I got it at Hobby Lobby so it is probably one of their brands.  I used a 2nd strand of Red Heart Super Saver in black.  Those novelty yarns are hard for me to see where to put my hook so I usually use a strand of  "regular" yarn with the novelty yarn.  Anyway, the ufo is now an fo and I still have time to use it this year before the weather warms up!  Here's a couple pictures....

 

Made Another Potholder

I made another potholder last night while dh and I were kickin' back watching some television.  The pattern I used is the same one I used in yesterday's post.  I think 2 good potholders should be enough for now.  Last night I dumped the rest of my store-bought ones in the garbage can.  They were in sad, sad shape.  I currently have 2 projects I'm alternating between, a scarf and another doily for my uncle.  Concentration has been off for more than a week because of this bug I can't seem to shake.  Anyway, thanks for stopping by and visiting...

Potholder and Dishcloth Completed

 

 

Yesterday as dh and I went to the VA Hospital for my appointment, I sat in the waiting area and worked on this potholder.  I finished it last night and had only a small amount of one of my colors to make this dishcloth that I finished this morning.  The reason behind making a potholder is that I was looking at my potholders and they are TRASH!  I hate to waste them just because they're not pretty but the ones I have are way beyond the "not pretty anymore" stage.  I made this potholder to be functional.  This basic design is the workhorse of potholders.   The pattern is a freebie from Lion Brand Yarns.  It whipped up pretty quick and I'm going to make a couple more and throw my current (store-bought) supply in the trash.  The dishcloth is just one row single crochet and alternating rows that are double crochet, chain one and then skip a space and double crochet again all the way across. A single crochet edge finishes it off. Thanks for visiting...Sharon 

Look-Up #1 Song for Specific Dates Since 1940 and On This Day 05 Feb 1953--"Sweets" Rationing Ends

Are you ever curious as to what the #1 song was on the day you were born, married or other special day?  You can go to this page and look up #1 songs for dates since 1940.  OK, let's look at an event that happened this day in history and see what song the people back then were listening too.  On this day in history, 05 February 1953, Great Britain ends rationing of sweets--candies and confections.  Sugar was still rationed until September of that same year.  You can go here for more information on this event.  Anywho, in the UK, they may have been listening to Perry Como sing Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes. Here's the song for your listening enjoyment.  Note:  To turn off the blog's music player and to more comfortably listen to this song, go to the blog column on your right and scroll down to the music player.  Click on the pause button to turn the player's sound off.

The Ripple Toddler-Sized Afghan is Complete!

This is a picture of the toddler-sized afghan I was working on.  It is finished!  WoooHooooo!  It was very easy to make.  There is a problem with it though and it's not because of me unless you consider the fact that I went "cheap" by using mill ends to make this.  Ok, here's the scoop.  The claret-colored yarn is mill ends that I ordered some time ago from a now defunct company.  Anyway, mill ends also equals "seconds" as far as quality.  In approximately the middle of this little ghan, the claret yarn is much thicker.  I think it will be alright as long as I throw in some baby booties or hat to go with it when I find someone to gift it to.  What do you think?  The yarn is soft and very pettable--crocheters and knitters know what I mean by this lol!  Here are 2 other posts I've made about it #1, #2.  Hope you enjoy.  Hugs...

The January Snow Here at Home

The things we do for our kids.  When we had our "big" snow of 4-6 inches, that was a big deal for our little chihuahuas, Opi and Nellie Belle.  If you think about it, that amount of snow hits them in the middle of their faces!  DH, the good doggie daddy that he is, shoveled an area for them to go outside to do their duty.  Here's a glimpse of  the "rest area." Barney, our "big girl" didn't have any problem with the snow as you can see by all of her foot prints.She loves to frolic in the snow.

DH thought I should put this picture in here so you can see what our pond fish are living under. He made this cover to put over the pond to keep all the leaves and winter debris out of the pond to save beaucoup effort to clean it in the spring.

Monday's Link for Free Crochet Pattern

Today's free pattern is for a crocheted baby set and afghan done in the shell stitch.  Enjoy...

Ripple Blankie for Baby/Toddler.. a WIP

Still working on the ripple for a little toddler.  I'm slow, what can I say lol!  The pattern I'm using is a compilation of 2 with the color design my own based on what was in my stash.  The claret yarn is a mills end from Caron.  The thickness of the yarn varies quite a bit from skein to skein.  Oh well, it's still nice, I guess... Hope you enjoy.

Monday's Link for Free Crochet Pattern--Dog Sweater with Stripe

Today's free pattern is for a dog sweater.  I made this one and it was pretty easy.  It was a little big for either of my chihuahuas so I gave it to my brother for his little terrier-mix.  The picture here is my mil's fur baby modeling it.  I thought the rug yarn the pattern called for was a bit stiff but I bet some of the chunky or bulky yarns we have nowadays would be better.

New Link for Crocheted Round Afghan Pattern

Edited for bad link.

As some of you may recall, I have been keeping a list of links for free patterns for round afghans to crochet.  I found another one today in an email from redheart.  Here on this page you will find a pdf of this pattern.  Hope you enjoy,,,

A Cute Video About the Food Chain

Yesterday when I subbed, I collaborated with a science teacher for one of the class periods.  The kids were studying the food chain.  To help them understand it, the science teacher had found this cute video on youtube.  The kids loved it and sang along with it.  I thought it was so cute that I just had to come home and find it for you to see too.  So here goes...

Ripple Baby Afghan/Blanket--A WIP (Work in Progress)

Here's my latest wip.  It is a baby blanket based on a pattern I found at Lion Brand Yarns.  I am making it out of sc instead of dc for a tighter weave.  It looks narrower than I expected.  Originally I was going to give this to a toddler I know but I think after I finish it I'll put it in my "gift" drawer and give it to the next little boy born in the family.  I thought this color scheme, burgundy and white, was more appropriate for a toddler--I'm still of the old-school mind-set and like pastels for newborn babies.  I get rather nostalgic over ripple baby afghans/blankets because that is what I made for my older son before he was born.  I started it when I first got married just to have something to do.  I didn't have the stick-to-it-ness and I finished it about a week before he was born 2 1/2 years later!  I have speeded up some in recent years so I know the one I'm working on now will be finished in a few weeks.  Take care y'all...Hugs...

Monday's Link for Free Crochet Pattern--American Heartland Afghan

I  have decided that on Monday, I will post a link to a free crochet pattern.  So, with no further ado, here's the link for today's pattern, American Heartland Afghan.  Enjoy...

First Ever Crocheted Doily Made by Me

I finished crocheting this doily about a week or so ago.  Tonight, I starched it and ironed it to shape.  The pattern was very easy to make.  The problem I had was "seeing" but it did get a little easier as it progressed.  The pattern is called spiral simplicity doily.  I made it for my uncle who requested doilies for the arms of his couch; one down and one to go!  I'm not sure if I used the correct gauge thread because the label was missing when I bought my stash of crochet thread at a thrift store and I really don't know much about crocheting with thread since this is only my 2nd time to ever crochet with it.  Anyway, if you're looking for a simple, not flowery doily to crochet you  might want to consider this one.  Hope you enjoyed looking.  Hugs....

15 January, 1947, Elizabeth Short's (aka Black Dahlia) Mutilated Body Found

Today I think we'll take a look at an unsolved crime from the 1940s.  

On this day, January 15th, 1947 the mutilated remains of 22-year-old Elizabeth Short, who came to be known as the "Black Dahlia" were found in a vacant lot in a residential area of Los Angeles, CA. Short was born on July 29, 1924, at Hyde Park, Massachusetts. She was murdered on January 14, 1947.  Numerous persons were questioned in the murder of Short, but her killer was never found despite investigations by the FBI and local authorities.  This murder has been the subject of numerous movies.

If you're interested in the 2006 movie The Black Dahlia, here's a trailer for it:


More information:
FBI Electronic Reading Room records

13 January 1922 Conference of Cannes Ends

on 13 January1922:  Conference of Cannes concerning German retribution payments ended.  Germany had been having a difficult time paying reparations established by the Treaty of Versailles (related to their actions in World War I).  This conference eased the requirements for repayment of this debt but it was still more than the Germans could realistically afford. Originally, Germany was required to formally admit guilt, relinquish lands, reduce military to only 100,000 and pay monetary reparations.  "The final sum amounted to 132 billion gold marks; the schedule of payments drawn up in 1921 would have burdened the German economy until 1988." (Richard Overy, The Road to War Revised and Updated Edition, (London, Penguin, 1999), 28).  Germany's economy entered crisis mode and after the Conference of Cannes, a more realistic system of payments was instituted.  The system of payments continued to cause hardships to the German economy and individuals and ultimately helped to set the stage to put Hitler in power and the start of World War II.


Here's a newspaper article concerning this conference:


German Delegates Start for Cannes

For more information:
Resolutions adopted by the Supreme Council at Cannes, January, 1922 
Conference of Cannes