Here's a Small Christmas Stocking

Here's a small Christmas stocking I just finished crocheting. It's small enough to be another package decoration for a gift then whoever gets it will have an ornament/decoration too! The pattern is here if anyone is interested. I'm trying to use up the partial skeins of green and red Christmas yarn I have and  it's taking a while. Maybe I'll put pompoms made from it on Christmas packages too lol! Y'all have a nice night and good day tomorrow.

Opi Is in Photo Contest

Kodak is having a photo contest on Facebook. If you could, I'd appreciate it if you would vote for my Opi. Here's the page http://apps.facebook.com/holiday-pets/entries

I asked for help from my crochetville friends but it was kicked off the board. I don't know how many times I have voted for contests other members were in and I almost feel "picked on" over this. Sigh...

Hobby Lobby 40% Off Coupon

Click on link for 40% off savings at Hobby Lobby but hurry because coupon is good only thru 11 December! Perfect timing to get supplies for your Christmas crafts or crafting gifts. Enjoy! Link: In-Store Coupon : Weekly In-Store Specials : Hobby Lobby - Hobby Lobby

New Round Baby Afghan Pattern Added to List

Check out the list of round afghan crochet patterns for a new one for a baby afghan by Caron called Candy Cable Baby Blanket. Enjoy y'all!

ps... Found another one
http://smoothfoxlover.blogspot.com/2010/11/smoothfoxs-spiral-baby-blanket-number-2.html

Search Amazon.com for baby afghan crochet patterns

A Christmas Cartoon from 1933

As I was watching this cartoon, the thought occurred to me that there are more than a few differences between old cartoons and the new. Obviously, the primative animation and the black/white vs. color are the obvious differences. Did you ever notice that there is very little talking and viewers have to use their imaginations to imagine what is being said and happening? This is an oldie and it came out in 1933 when my dad was a mere babe in arms. I wonder if his older siblings saw it at the movie theater?  Enjoy everyone!

WIP Wednesday for 08 December 2010

This is a granny throw that I've been working with between other projects. It's coming to the final few rounds and I  hope to have it finished in the next couple of days. Thanks for stopping in and visiting. If you click on the Work-in-Progress button at the bottom of this post you will be able to see what some other crocheters have been up to. Have a great week!

Free Hat Pattern for Man: "Matt in the Hat"

I was asked for the pattern I used to make my son Matthew a hat. I just winged it but I did write down what I did so I wrote up the pattern for you. Matt is really happy with his hat. Enjoy...

Matt in the Hat:

Materials
ww yarn (not sure how much yarn I used because I started out with less than a full skein and had some left afterwards so it might be safe to start out with a full skein.)
H hook
needle to weave in ends
Stitch marker

Instructions
Rnd 1: Chain 2, and place 6 sc into the 1^st ch. Mark the 1st sc and remember to move the marker as you progress. Work in rounds--you will not be turning. (6 sc)

Rnd 2: 2 dc into each sc. (12 dc)

Rnd 3: 2 dc into each sc.(24 dc)

Rnd 4: *2 dc in the 1^st dc, and 1 dc in the next dc* repeat from * to * for remainder of round. (36 dc)

Rnd 5: *2 dc in the 1^st dc,1 dc in ea of the next 2 dc* Repeat from * to * for remainder of round. (48 dc)

Rnd 6: *2 dc in the 1^st dc, 1 dc in ea of the next 3 dc* Repeat from * to * for remainder of round. (60 dc)

Rnd 7: *2 dc in the 1^st dc, 1 dc in ea of the next 4 dc*, Repeat from * to * for remainder of round. (72 dc)

Rnd 8: *2 dc in the 1^st dc, 1 dc in ea of the next 17dc * for remainder of round (76 dc)

Rnd 9-20: 1 dc in ea of the 76 sts.

Rnd 21 : sc in blo for entire round (76) (this makes the "brim" fold up easier)

Row 22-26: dc in all stitches (76)

Row 27: sc in each dc (76)

Finish off. Voila it is done!

Copyrighted by Sharon Gardner 2010. Do NOT post pattern or photo(s) to other web pages or sell pattern. You may link to pattern. You may make and sell items made from this pattern.

Note: I'm the only one who has made a hat from this pattern so far. If you see any discrepancies please let me know and I will fix the pattern. Thank you very much.

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Old School Crochet--

The following patterns are in the open domain and are taken from the Project Gutenberg site. This item is taken from: ENCYCLOPEDIA OF NEEDLEWORK BY THÉRÈSE DE DILLMONT


Crochet square (fig. 441).—Begin with 4 chain stitches, and work 1 single on the 1st chain, to make a round. Work, 1 chain and 2 plain on the next chain, 3 plain on each of the next 3 chain, 1 plain on the stitch on which the two first plain are worked.
Slip the next stitch, that is, put the needle in between the horizontal bars of the 1st plain stitch of the previous row, and draw the thread out without making a stitch.
Then make 1 chain and 2 plain on the slipped stitch.
After which, you make 3 plain on the second of the 3 plain that form the corner, and 1 plain on all the other stitches of the last row. The beginning and end of each row, are worked as described above.
Fig. 441 represents a square, worked in consecutive rows. In making a crochet square, the rows may end in the middle of a side.

Fig. 441. Crochet square.

When you use a stitch that has to be worked to and fro, you turn your work at the end of every row and work back along the stitches you have just made.


Crochet hexagon (fig. 442).—Make a foundation chain of 6 stitches, join the round; 12 plain on the 6 chain; finish the row as indicated for the previous figure == turn the work == * 1 plain, 3 plain on the second plain of the last row; repeat 5 times from *. Finish the row with 1 single == turn the work == 2 plain, 3 plain on the second of the first 3 plain; 3 plain and so on. These hexagons can be made of any size.

Fig. 442. Crochet hexagon.

Coloured star worked into a light ground (fig. 443).—Begin with 3 chain, join the ring = 2 plain on each of the 3 chain; then for the foundation, 1 plain with the dark thread, and 1 with the light on each of the 6 plain.
In each subsequent row, make one dark stitch more, increasing regularly, that is, making 2 stitches on the last light stitch that comes before the dark ones.
Proceed in this manner until you have 6 or 8 dark stitches, in all and then begin to decrease in every row by one, until there is at last only one dark stitch remaining.
These stars are used in the making of purses, cap-crowns and mats for lamps, etc.

Fig. 443. Coloured star worked into a light ground.

Body Part Measurements ;)

No, I'm not getting into something I shouldn't. I want to post this link for all of you crocheters and me because there is a size chart with measurements for heads, babies, feet and so on as a reference if you want to make up your own pattern for say baby booties, just check the info and see that an average 3 to 6 month old baby will have 4 to 4 1/2 inch feet. This is great info that I found a reference to when I was reading some posts over at crochetville.

Search Amazon.com for measuring tape sewing

A Few Random Thoughts...

As applicable today as when this poster first premiered (ca 1940s).

Eat them left-overs and save money!

I'm really not in the Christmas spirit. I need to get my rear-in-gear and get to it for the family. I'm a depressed sort of person normally. Lately I've been thinking of some simple fixes to help our government start pulling out of the huge pile of debt they've put us in. and that's not a cheerful subject by any means. Actually, we're demanding people. We want minimal government in our lives but let there be a disaster and look at the media and local politicians jump all over our elected officials in Washington D.C. for not taking action quick enough especially with FEMA dollars. Folks filing taxes getting more money back than they paid in because they have so many dependents/deductions seems like a form of welfare to me. My little family was never in a position for that to happen and now that the kiddies are grown men, we get hit super hard at tax time--doesn't seem fair does it? Get close to retirement age and instead of being able to put some money in the bank it is going to taxes. I am fortunate to be able to use the V.A. for my medical care because I'm a veteran with service connected disabilities. Recently one clinic I go to got beautiful new waiting room furniture. The old was in perfect condition--clean, good repair and stylish too! Rumors (remember I'm saying rumors)  abound that housing that was built for the troops at Ft. Knox just about 5 years ago is to go under the wrecking ball because of the need for a landing strip due to expansion of the base related to base realignment. Does that make sense? Does it make sense that the majority of enlisted family housing units are being demolished and new ones built? That's after many were rehabbed with Pella windows installed! Drive past the old housing units and see crushed furnaces, water heaters, toilets, tubs, etc... that are all items with potential reuse and resale.

On the local level, the city has had to fire layoff employees. You can bet your bottom dollar that next year, like this year, city public works employees will be out planting thousands of dollars worth of annual flowers. I love flowers but I just think that some things need to be done without during financially hard times. You want flowers, call for civics groups to provide and maintain a variety of flower beds and strategically located giant flower pots.

Be conservative with office supplies. Everyone stop buying those "sticky" note pads. Use the back side of "waste" computer paper. Wassa matter with folks throwing out something that still has use and can save the government us money? Stop providing cell phones to workers and allowing them to use as "personal" phones after hours. Collect the darned things at the end of the work day and see how much of a cheaper plan you can order when the phone contract comes up for renewal. I am NOT responsible for providing cell phone service for Mr./Ms. X to call their significant others to say "What's going on Honey."

Now I'm going to make some people mad. I'm sorry but I just have say this--if a family receives assistance for groceries with what is traditionally known as "food stamps" or more recently known as EBT then why do the kids get free lunches at school? Aren't they already receiving money for that meal with the food stamps or EBT? What's the matter with packing a lunch and toting it to school like a large number of us grew up doing? I don't mind helping folks out so they don't go hungry but lets face it, times are tough and double-dipping isn't fair to the folks paying the bills.

Here's another suggestion. Don't cut taxes, make them more fair--filers who CHOOSE to have many dependents should carry their fair load of the tax burden. Let's give a little break here--allow deductions for no more than 5 total family members.

A while back there was a poll on Facebook about instituting a requirement for welfare (not disability) recipients to take random drug screen testing as a requirement to receiving assistance. There was an overwhelming response in support of this idea. Isn't it fair to those paying the bills that illegal drugs aren't paid for with "assistance" money? Military members have to take such drug screens randomly and they put their lives on the line for us so why not ANYONE getting a check from the government???

These are just small things when you look at the big picture. We have to start out small though and let the more knowledge able people we elect look at the bigger things that a woman sitting at her home computer knows nil about.

I'm in a negative mood today can you tell?

I promise to make my next post more upbeat and maybe even FUN. After all this moaning and groaning I've done I hope y'all have a GREAT day!

Smurfs' Christmas Special Part 2 of 2

As I promised you yesterday, here is part 2 of the Smurf's Christmas Special. Isn't it fun to watch something a little bit light-hearted?



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A Few Small Crochet Projects Recently Completed

Here's a Christmas towel and towel ring. The ring pattern is from this page .  I modified it by starting with a chain instead of wrapping the yarn around my hand.

Small wreath made by crocheting around a ring from a gallon milk jug.

Hat I made for my son. No pattern used; I winged it. I can write a pattern up if anyone wants it.

Hope y'all are having a good week!

Smurfs' Christmas Special Part 1 of 2

Remember watching the Smurfs? Here is part 1 of their Christmas Special; stay tuned for part 2 tomorrow. I really enjoyed these little blue characters as my sons and I watched them together oh so many years ago. I hope you enjoy them too. Hugs...

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern 06 Dec. 2010

Here's an interesting take on an afghan. This is a stadium afghan that folds up and has handles to tote it with you. Would be great for visits to stadiums (the name gives this one away), picnics or perhaps to carry in your car during the winter in case you get stuck somewhere in the cold.

PTSD and Women Vets

As I was watching this video, it brought back some vivid memories of events that I was aware of from my time in the military. I can not say how things are in today's military because I separated from the US Navy in 1992. I do know that any sort of abusive relationship problems oftentimes were brushed under the carpet and abused sailors were told "you weren't issued a family/boyfriend in your seabag"--in other words, we don't want to hear about your problems. There may be help on the horizon although I am wondering how many women vets will actually be sent to the facility in California that is mentioned in this video. Interesting video, I guess I shouldn't say I hope you enjoy because this is not an enjoyable topic.

From 1952: Pluto's Christmas Tree

Gosh I love the old Disney cartoons!
To better hear this, you may want to scroll down the column on your right and mute the music player if it started automatically. Enjoy...


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Just Finished Rereading a Favorite Old Book

Some time ago, I found the book Heidi by Johanna Spyri at a local thrift store. This was one of my favorite books in the long-ago days of my youth. I brought it home with the intention of giving it to a certain young lady but I forgot about it! About a week ago I found it and reread this lovely story. I can see the beautiful Alps of Switzerland and the rambunctious goats frolicking on the mountainside with Heidi and Peter the young goat herder. This book is of superb quality. It doesn't have pictures of characters in their underwear or other questionable subjects. What it does do is tell a story of an orphaned young girl starting at the age of 5. She was dumped on her grandfather by an aunt who felt she had done her duty by Heidi and it was the grandfather's turn to care for the youngster. The grandfather was a gruff old coot but that was only on the surface. Heidi was tonic for the old man and the old man gave Heidi a sense of belonging. I thoroughly enjoyed rereading this story. Have any of you ever gone back to a favorite childhood book for a reread?

Search Amazon.com for heidi by johanna spyri

Michaels Coupon

Click Madness and get a coupon for 15% off entire purchase at Michaels. Some items are excluded so read the fine print before using.

A Couple Crocheted Christmas Ornaments

I had some Christmasy yarn left over from another project and I thought I'd make some ornaments to go on gifts. Here they are:

The patterns are found on this page.

Search Amazon.com for christmas crochet patterns

WIP Wednesday for 01 December 2010

It's almost Wednesday so I'll post my wips a little early. :)

Here are the two projects that I played around with on Tuesday. The first is a Tulip Stitch Dishcloth. I ended up finishing the dishcloth after I took the photo of it as a WIP. It's going to be part of some sort of kitchen set so I'll show the finished version after I finish  whatever I decide to put with it.

The other thing that I was working on Tuesday, was a Christmas decoration from Drops Design. I really like this and I think I'll make a few more and use them as decoration on gifts and then the recipients can hang on their own tree if they want to. A few ends to weave in and this one will be done.