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

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

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

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern (25 May 2015)

Bet you thought I forgot to post a link to a pattern for you. I almost did and I'm sorry for being so inattentive. Today's pattern is a cute purse modeled after a Slushy/Slurpee/Icee cup  A little girl might enjoy putting her treasures in a purse like this. Twinkie Chan  designed this and she has created many cute patterns. Here's the link to today's pattern.

Hope you enjoy!

Hugs,

Sharon

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern (18 May 2015)

I have seen numerous types of crocheted food that I think are great for kids to play with. Here's a link to a pattern for a bologna sandwich that the kids will enjoy serving up. These toys won't take up too much room and are fun to boot!



more play dishes for kids

It's Mothers Day

To all moms, I'm wishing you a blessed day. To my mom, thanks for your love. You may be gone but never forgotten.

Review: Amish Confidential

I love to read. I was so disappointed in the book I recently finished reading that I felt compelled to put my review here. The other day, I finished reading the book Amish Confidential. I had enjoyed watching the television series on Discovery Channel but, I believed from the very first episode that I watched that many of the events on this show were scripted. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed watching the show. The last episode of the series promised that Lebanon Levi Stoltzfus was writing a "tell-all" book. I am disappointed that his definition of "tell-all" and mine are quite different.

I was mildly interested in the biographical information on Stoltzfus that was written in the book. He was one of seven children. His father died due to a farming accident when Levi was 2. Levi's mother remarried a widower with 8 children. Levi went a little "wild" during rumspringa drinking and received 2 DUIs. That may not be the norm but it's not surprising since many teenagers test boundaries and try their wings as they are entering adulthood especially when the strict rules they live by are suddenly eased.

The book also did a rundown on crimes the Amish were involved in or committed such as the shooting of Amish students at the West Nickel Mine School. Another big emphasis in the book was about a politician bashing the Amish and Stotlzfus bashing the politicians. This wasn't a surprise because the last few episodes of the show placed a huge emphasis on these events.

When we were promised a "tell-all" I expected to get the low-down on the Smucker family whose father was in charge of Amish Aid before Stoltzfus was. I was anxious to learn of the ties between Esther Smucker and Levi. I was disappointed to not read of any of this. The final episode showed that Levi had a baby with an "English" woman and there was no mention of this in the book.

My opinion of this book--Not worth your time or money if you had watched the show. This book read like it was just thrown together to make a buck and keep interest alive in the show. Don't waste your money; get it from the library if you still want to read it.

Star rating: 2 out of 5

Hope y'all are okay.

Hugs,

Sharon

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Patterns (27 April 2015)

I was surfing the Internet looking for something a bit different and upbeat for today's link to a free pattern. Twinkie Chan has done it again with a cute ice cream cone shaped pillow--TRIPLE scoop of course!  Here's the link to some high fiber ice cream.

Have a great day  my friends.
Hugs,
Sharon

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern (20 April 2015)

If you've visited my blog a few times, you've probably noticed that slippers are one of my favorite projects. Today, I have a pattern for yet another pair of slippers. The pattern calls for "yarn group C." I had no idea what "yarn group C" is so I googled it and discovered that it is for a worsted weight yarn that has been discontinued. To see the yarn chart go here for more information.

Hope you are enjoying yourselves.

Hugs,
Sharon

Flag Etiquette and Crocheters

I have seen, and probably you have too, many beautiful flag afghans.

I had even bought a book of afghan patterns that included a beautiful flag afghan pattern that I was going to make until I was told about the flag code forbidding bedding with a flag design. I have also seen some cute models wearing flag-inspired swimwear. An applicable quote from the code is "The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery."

What about the depiction of the American flag on postage stamps? Does this violate the flag code? 

Section 83 of the Flag Code reads, "The flag should never be used in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled or damaged in any way." It reads "[The flag] should not be printed or otherwise impressed on anything that is designed for temporary use and discard." Sounds like to me that these government approved stamps violate the government written flag code. (more information here about a third of the way down the page.)

What's the penalty for breaking the flag code?

There isn't one. The flag code is an odd duck in this regard. As part of the The United States Code, the flag code is technically federal law. However, the code doesn't outline any measures for enforcement or punishment.  Basically, the flag code is a set of advisory rules for Americans who want to know the proper and respectful way to display their flag. Even if the flag code did provide measures for its enforcement, it's not clear that the measures would be constitutional. Individual states used to have their own prohibitions on and penalties for desecration of  the flag, but the 1989 Supreme Court decision Texas v. Johnson invalidated these laws as infringements on free speech. Congress responded by passing the Flag Protection Act, which made flag desecration a federal crime. Supreme Court struck down this law in the 1990 case United States v. Eichman. (and more info here.)

This page is a gateway to much detailed information on flag etiquette and use. I do not mean to negate the talent put into the making of American flag crocheted afghans; because most of the ones I have seen are examples of very talented crafters. I believe that we need to spread the word about what is/is not allowed. Americans are not stupid people. We have intelligence. We do not need to establish more big government to rule us nor do we need to establish a system that fines or jails us for violating the flag. We just need to obey the rules! If you don't believe in the rules then as an American, you can write to your politicians or lobby to change the rules or in extreme cases move to another country.

I am a veteran, can I salute the flag at a military funeral, sporting events or other situation where the flag is flown?
Some thing that many veterans and service members might not be aware of is that Public Law No. 110-181 changes section 9 of title 4 permitting members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform to render the military salute. I have done this at a few military funerals that I have attended. I felt a sense of pride to be able to send off my friends with the respect they earned as defenders of our Constitution and country.

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The topic of crocheting flag afghans has become a discussion in a crochet group I follow on facebook. A member got a little testy and said that making flag afghans is okay because of how veterans use the flag. If you have visited my blog before, you may remember that I am a 100% service-connected disabled veteran. As such, I am expected to follow the same laws pertaining to the flag as anyone else and I do so with pride.

It is a sad situation if Americans think it is okay to violate federal laws because they can get away with it.

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern ( 13 April 2015)

I was recently looking for a different pattern for an afghan that wasn't too difficult. I found this one and the few rows I've done have been fairly simple to do. When finished, this is a surprise for someone. Here's a look at what I've done so far--

Hope everyone is okay. We're back in Kentucky and I'm happy to see my sons again. Nellie Belle is happy to have a yard to run in and I'm happy that we don't have to go on "duty walks" several times a day. Hope that Nellie Belle loses some weight because she gained almost 2 pounds over the winter and that's a lot of weight for a little chihuahua.

This is all for now folks.

Hugs,
Sharon


Sorry, but this pattern has disappeared off the Internet and I can't get it on the Wayback Machine either. There are similar patterns but they are made with double crochets and this is single crochet.

Here's a Bunch More Finished Items

I'm catching up with posting my finished projects. I had a lot of them and I made a few more things. Here we go--

This is a hat made from chunky (aka super bulky) yarn. The pattern is the Nifty Newsboy Hat. My version turned out a little big (I crochet loosely). If I make this hat again, I will use a smaller hook. This pattern is easy and was fast to make.

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Here's a neat looking slouch hat. It is the Amazing Grace Blissful Slouchy. It is a cute pattern that I found out I had to pay attention to what I was doing and not get wrapped up in the television like I do many times.

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These next hats are made from my favorite slouchy hat pattern Rubylene. You can make it slouch more or less by changing the number of shell rows.

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Next is a hat I just whipped up because I wanted something easy to make. I left off the pom-pom because I don't like pom-poms for adults. I'm not terribly fond of this design. It's easy but it just seems so skimpy and not a good choice for cold winters. This is the Adult's Easy Crochet Hat.

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This is a hat for a gentleman. It is made from the Crochet Seafarer's Cap pattern.This is my favorite hat pattern for men. I believe it is the most manly pattern for a man who likes basic, conservative fashions like my guys do.

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This next hat is made from the Woman's Granny Hat pattern. This was a fun, easy pattern to work with. The final row called for a reverse single crochet but I changed that to my own design because I am not coordinated enough to do the reverse single crochet.

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I made a Granny Scarf to coordinate with the above hat. Both patterns were designed by Suzette of Suzie's Stuff blog.

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The last hat I made is the Elegant Hat designed by Kim Guzman. I like to change out the decoration on the side of this hat when I make one. This is the only pattern I make that turns out small. I usually make it with a larger hook but I forgot to this time so this hat is for a girl instead of a woman. Wish I had my "heads" here to model these hats. In a week I'll be back to my stash and supplies so in the near future new hats will be displayed better.

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I'm caught up with posting my finished objects. I don't even have a project on the hook right now. That will change tonight when I sit down to watch  Mike and Molly and 2 Broke Girls.

Take care my friends.

Hugs,

Sharon