Question...

On Sunday, I am going to visit relatives out of state. I'm undecided about what sort of project I want to take with me. I was thinking of taking my small butterfly loom and trying to make some squares for a project, or do I just bring a bunch of cotton yarn and make dishcloths, or do I bring my knifty knitter loom and make some hats? I was thinking that I might get bored with any of those choices so maybe I can just not take anything with me and maybe when my uncle and I go to a couple flea markets I might find some yarn and patterns but then maybe I won't. Decisions, decisions. What have you take on a trip to work on?

Finally, 21st Century Phone Service Here in the Sticks

Our telephone company only had the old fashioned plans where you pay as you go for long distance service and did not offer unlimited long distance. Our cable company recently began offering the package deal for cable, telephone and Internet. So, we are now able to use our home phone to call our old friends and not get the surprise at the end of the month. This is great because with the exception of my sons, ALL my family is out of state. I had been using my cellphone to make long distance calls but at the end of the month I would need to keep checking my minutes to be sure I didn't go over. I did that once in all the years I've had a cellphone so that's not too bad but that one time emptied out the wallet pdq! Anyway, it is nice to know that even though I live in the sticks I now have 21st century phone service. :) Hope everyone is having a nice day...

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern 21 February 2011

Here's a cute pattern for a bookmark that resembles an Easter Bunny. Great idea for someone you'd like to give a small gift too on Easter when candy might not be appropriate. Enjoy...

Suggestion...

If you are going to get your hair cut, don't use the stylist who spends time talking on her cell phone when she cuts hair. Short haircuts become super-short! That's what happened today when I went for a haircut. I'm a bit distressed about how short my hair is. I wanted a little bit of spikey action but there isn't enough hair to do it with. Grrrr.....

Usual Slippers "Fancied-Up"

Quick post of my latest completed slippers. I had shown the first one but now the pair is completed. The novelty yarn made these slippers a bit snug around the cuff so they're going to a petite young lady. Thanks for looking...

Hooked Not Only on Crochet but On Blog Reading Too

I love reading blogs. Since I've started reading blogs, I rarely do the magazine impulse buy at the grocery check-out. This is good--money isn't being spent to toss in the trash or drop in a donation box a few weeks later. Whenever I visit someone's blog, if I see a comment someone left that sounds interesting, intelligent or amusing and I'll visit their blog and soon I'll be scanning comments left for them and before you know it, I'm following a gazillion blogs-lol! I do enjoy them but I often don't have time to leave as many comments as I'd like to. If I don't leave a comment, I still enjoy reading your posts. I have found that many times, I'm reading about the same thing when I visit Crochetville.org and an individual's blog so I may only leave a comment on one place. If I'm visiting someone's blog and I feel compelled to get more information about what I've read there, I will use their google search box and maybe they can earn a few pennies if the writer has google for adsense installed. Anyway, before I started inanely jabbering away, what I wanted to say is that I am now reading 241 BLOGS!


As I was looking for a graphic to put on this post I found this comic that I thought was amusing:

I have a twitter account but rarely go to it, the same with myspace.

Hope all of you are having a great weekend. It's a bit overcast here but it isn't too bad otherwise. The crocheted hat and scarf wearing is having a break today. Hugs...

   

If You Crochet, Then You Will Appreciate This:

Did You Notice...?

Did you notice that under my blog's header not only do I have a link for a listing of free round(ish) afghan patterns but also for miscellaneous dog items? Under the dog items I also included some free patterns that are for sewing. I need to get off the Internet and stop looking at patterns and MAKE a few of them!

A bit off-topic but since I mentioned that dh hasn't been feeling too well I thought I'd do a quick update. He went to the doctor yesterday and when he complained of chronic headaches with neck pain and that a few days before it was so bad he had wanted to eject his dinner, they prescribed him antibiotics and told him that he had an upper respiratory infection. I don't know that I agree with that since he hasn't had runny nose or sinus congestion. He's back at work today so that is very good.

 Hope your week is going ok.

Head Sizes

If any of you are like me, you have some great ideas of making hat patterns but the question is, how big around is the "normal" head. At Martha Stewart's site, she has a chart that I am borrowing to put here. I hope she doesn't get mad at me since I'm giving her credit and a link back to her site. Anyway, here's the info:

Average Head-Size Chart
Newborn (6 Months and Younger)
Circumference: 14 to 17 inches
Crown: 8 to 10 inches

Infant (6 to 12 Months)Circumference: 16 to 19 inches
Crown: 11 to 12 inches

Child (1 to 3 Years)Circumference: 18 to 20 inches
Crown: 11 to 12 inches

Child (3 Years and Older)Circumference: 20 to 22 inches
Crown: 13 to 14 inches

Adult WomanCircumference: 21 to 23 1/2 inches
Crown: 13 to 15 inches

Adult ManCircumference: 22 to 24 1/2 inches
Crown: 14 to 16 inches

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Polarfleece Hats - Martha Stewart Crafts 

It's One of Those Blah Kind of Days...

Last night I finished one slipper (not pair, just one). I tried to fancy it up a bit by using some fun fur yarn but this extra yarn made the ankle snug so I'll finish the other slipper and set this pair aside to give to my adopted ggranddaughter because she is on the petite side. It looks pretty though.

DH hasn't been feeling well since Thursday and he stayed home from work Friday and came home in the middle of the day today. He's been "headachy" and that is strange for him because he NEVER gets headaches. It's off to the doc tomorrow for him. I've been moping today, although I did cook a relatively inexpensive, delicious dinner hoping to tempt DH to eat. It's round steak. I cut it in pieces, browned it and simmered it in tomato sauce with oregano, basil, garlic, small can of mushroom pieces and some dehydrated onions for about 2 hours. Every now and then I had to add a tad bit of water so it didn't cook down too far. I served it on noodles and topped it with Parmesan cheese. It's one of those things I came up with years ago when I had little money for good cuts of beef. I call it "Round Steak Italiano." I don't have exact measurements because most of the time I throw a little of this and a little of that in the pot. The downside of making this dish is that it has to simmer for a long time so that the meat gets tender; the upside is that it is delicious. I was going to take a picture for you but with son #1 over  it got devoured pdq! Hope everyone is having a great week.

Updated Round Afghan Pattern Page

I added another free pattern for a round afghan. This one is baby-sized. Patterns are listed chronologically by the date I added to the list so look under today's date. Oh, and the link to click to find these patterns is under the blog's header. Have fun!

To All My Family and Friends....

Have a joyous Valentine Day!

New Pair of Big Men's Slippers Hooked...

Here's another pair of "big men's slippers." Here's the original pattern if anyone is interested. I'm just hooking away making slippers to take on my trip to Florida for some family members there. They don't read my blog so I guess it's ok to blog about them. Now, if you know any of them, don't tell ok? :)

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern 14 February 2011

Last weeks link to a free pattern was for a free bootie pattern for baby girls so this week, in order to be fair, the link is for some adorable booties for baby boys. The pattern is here. Hope you enjoy...

Slipper Progress...

Here's the progress I've made on the slippers marathon I've had going on. I need to make some more "big men's slippers" and maybe another pair or 2 of women's just to be sure I have enough. Here's the basic pattern I used. The "big men's slippers" are from a modification I did to the original pattern.  Thanks for looking. Y'all have a great week...

Big Men's Slippers

To make a "Big Men's" pair, I used almost the full skein of rh ss plus a large amount of the one pounder. 

Big Men's Slippers  

Yarn required--get 2 skeins worsted weight (7 -  8 oz size). You will crochet using 2 strands of yarn.

Use a J Hook

INSTRUCTIONS

Rnd 1: Ch 2, work 5 sc into 2nd ch from hook to form a circle. Mark last st of this rnd with a pin, then move pin to mark the end of each succeeding rnd. 

Rnd 2: Work 3 sc into each sc around: you should have 15 sc. 

Rnd 3: * 2 sc in first sc, sc in each of next 2 sc, rep from * around:  20 Sc.

Rnd 4: * 2 sc in first sc, sc in each of the next 3sc, rep from * around 25 sc. 

Rnd 5 *2 sc in first sc, sc in each of the next 4sc, rep from * around. 30 sc.

Work even on 30 sc for 16 rnds more. Do not finish off.

Back: Ch 13.

Row 1: Using both loops, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next  12; sc in each of next 30 sc; sc in each ch on opposite side of beg ch; ch 1, turn. 

You should have 54 sc.

From now on, sc in the back loop (loop away from you) of each sc.

Rows 2-13:  Sc in back loop of each sc across; ch 1, turn.

Dec Row 1: Sc in each of next 24 sc, dec over next 2 sts as follows: draw up a loop in each of the next 2 sts: 3 loops on hook, YO and pull through all 3 loops on hook, work 2 sc, dec as before over next 2 sts, sc in each of next 24 sc, ch 1, turn. 

Dec Row 2: Sc in each of next 23 sc, dec over next 2 sts as follows: draw up a loop in each of the next 2 sts: 3 loops on hook, YO and pull through all 3 loops on hook, work 2 sc, dec as before over next 2 sts, sc in each of next 23 sc, ch 1, turn. 

Dec Row 3: Sc in each of next 22 sc, dec over next 2 sts as follows: draw up a loop in each of the next 2 sts: 3 loops on hook, YO and pull through all 3 loops on hook, work 2 sc, dec as before over next 2 sts, sc in each of next 22 sc, ch 1, turn. 

Finishing: Fold back section in half, carefully matching sts. Sl St inside loops of sides tog. Finish off  

 
If you see any problems with this pattern let me know. These are great slippers. They are warm and long lasting because of the double yarn thickness. Have a great day...

Slipper Marathon Continues...

I've made 3+ pairs of slippers in the last couple of days. Tomorrow I'll finish up the 4th pair and post pictures for you. I've "super-sized" the pattern for big men so if any of you would like the modifications to the pattern just ask me and I'll post the modifications for you. I've been able to use up several partial skeins of yarn so that's really good. Just need to use up some more so I can see what I have. Here's the pattern I'm using. It's the one I always use so some of you have probably already seen it. Today I was digging through my stack of patterns and I found the book it was published in. Boy was that book tattered from being used so much! Thanks for visiting and hugs...

Search Amazon.com for slipper crochet pattern

Slipper Marathon...

Here is my current crochet project. I need some quick gifts so I'm whipping up some slippers. I made one slipper last night. It's for a man and I had to resize the pattern a bit so that it would fit. Here's what I have so far:

I may have to pick up another skein of the variegated yarn. I need another 2 pair for men and a couple for ladies. I may have enough ladies pairs in my gift "stash" but I need to check that out to be sure.

You can click on the button below this post and see what other things are being created on this "Work In Progress Wednesday."

Search Amazon.com for slipper patterns

Happy Birthday Uncle!

It's my uncle's birthday today. He's a great guy and I just want to wish him a "Happy Birthday." He's my mom's baby brother so he's still a young puppy. :)

Opi to the Rescue...

I don't think Nellie Belle likes the shrug I made her. I put it on her this morning to take her picture and she took it off and "lost" it when I went to get the camera. So, he-man Opi became the designated model. He doesn't mind wearing a flower on his sleeve. Here's the "man" of the hour--

The pattern I based this doggie shrug on is here. I used a smaller hook and did this mainly in dc rather than the huge stitches they used. I also modified the flower by only making one of them and putting a button in the center. I think it is cute but I know dh will strip down the babies if he sees them wearing it. When he's not around, we play dress-up!