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Thursday, September 25, 2008

Some Completed Work and Some Stash...

To start with I finished Teo's slippers. They are the "Yo Mama's Fat Booties" pattern. Love, love, love this pattern. Easy peasy and really warm. I am going to have to make some for all of us this winter. It's supposed to be bitter cold and frankly I can't afford to turn the heat up as high as we would need it to stay super comfortable...so slippers it is. These are made from a wool/cotton combo called Bloom. Which despite looking high and low for it on the web...I have no idea where you can get it from. Apparently the company JoJoLand does not carry it anymore.


These were a necessity for T right now cuz....well, he was cold a week or two ago and the only slippers he could find were his sisters pink/glitter slippers that I had made her a few years ago.
And after watching him buzz around the house in those for a day...I decided he needed his own.
Notice the lovely 'construction zone' floor in my living room? Sexy, eh?


Now, to yummy yarnage. Here we have two skeins of loveliness. I purchased them while visiting Bayfield in August. And yes, I just took the pictures of them this morning. And yes, I have been THAT busy that I haven't had time to do anything with them yet. So I just take them out, sigh, pet them and put them back in their bag, about every other day.

1) Trekking, Hand dyed sock yarn. 100g/459yds. 75% Superwash wool and 25% Nylon. Colorway: Feuerland....which translates to me as gorgeous, earthy reds and browns. This skein is for me and me alone. I will be wearing a soft, warm, sexy pair of hand dyed socks.....someday.


2) Berroco Sox sock yarn. 100g/440yds. 75% Superwash Wool and 25% Nylon. Colorway: 1433 apparently. LOL. Which means it is mostly deep grays and browns with touches of deep gold, black and cream. This is for Tony. This is to replace the pair of Cashmere/Wool socks I made him last year and shrunk in the wash (they now fit my feet) this year. :) I know these aren't Cashmere...but I actually think they will make better dress socks than the last pair. And yes, that is me trying to make myself feel better for ruining his socks in the wash.


And the two of those together cost me the total of a meal out for my entire family. I'll say no more.

TTFN!
biz

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Sweet and Simple Shawl Pattern

Sweet and Simple Shawl Pattern

by Elizabeth Mareno

You can purchase an ad-free version on ETSY or my website for $2.00



MATERIALS:
12.25 oz/ 350 g/ 1109.5 yds/ 1305 m
#2 Fine or #3 Light yarn
Black and White sample used 3-1/2 balls of Knitting Fever Chromatic- #2 Fine Weight with a G hook.
G hook

NOTES:
The beginning chain establishes the width of the shawl from neck to waist. That makes this shawl very adjustable both in width and length.
The material amounts listed will give you a shawl 24” W x 60” L.
If you want it longer than 60” and wider than 24”, I suggest you buy an extra ball or two of yarn.
Your beginning chain is any multiple of 3 + 2.

Gauge: 5 diamonds x 3 repeats = 4” x 2”
Gauge Pattern: (yarn used Patons Astra #3 Light w/G hook)
R1- ch26, sc in 2nd ch from hook, (ch3, sk 2 ch, sc in next ch) repeat across. (9sc)
R2- ch4 (counts as dc + ch1), turn, (sc in ch3 sp, ch1, dc in next sc, ch1) repeat across. (9dc)
R3- ch1, turn, sc in 1st dc, (ch3, sc in next dc) repeat across putting your last sc in the 3rd chain from R2’s ch4. (9sc)
Repeat R’s 2 & 3 until you have completed 3 repeats, ending with R2.




PATTERN:
Row 1: ch 92, sc in 2nd ch from hook, (ch3, sk 2 ch, sc in next ch) repeat across. (31 sc)
Row 2: ch4 (counts as dc + ch1), turn, (sc in ch3 sp, ch1, dc in next sc, ch1) repeat across. (31 dc, 30 sc)
Row 3: ch1, turn, sc in 1st dc, (ch3, sc in next dc) repeat across, make sure to put your last sc in the 3rd ch of Row 2’s ch4. (31 sc)
Repeat Rows 2 and 3 until you reach your desired length, ending on Row 2.
Finish off this end by placing a sc in each ch and st across. Cut your yarn.
Reattach in the first sc of your starting row. Put one sc in each sc, 2sc in each ch space.


Crochet Terms:
ch- chain
sc- single crochet (UK dc- double crochet)
dc- double crochet (UK trc- treble crochet)
sk- skip




© Bizzy Crochet and Design 2008

Monday, September 22, 2008

I FOUND IT!!!!!!!


Oh Blessed Day!! I found my design notebook after only 9 months of desperate searching, angry and irritated denial and finally sad acceptance that I may never find it again. Yay. So in honor of that I'm posting a few new, free patterns today!

Oh Joy of Joys!!!!

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Eat Like A Vegetarian...

...sing it with me now....

Although, my title doesn't seem to roll off the tongue quite as easily as 'walk like an egyptian'. BTW. Why did we do that STUPID dance back in the 80's? and Why did we think the Bangles were so cool? She has such a whiny voice! Did you know that they are still touring?

But I digress, back to the subject at hand. Yes, I have decided to convert my eating ways to that of a vegetarian. Although, I will admit, I am not a 100% vegetarian. I do consume chicken and other fowl, as well as, eggs and milk products. How anyone survives on a vegan diet is beyond me. I may understand it later as I've been at this longer, but for now it's a mystery.

Why be vegetarian? For me it has nothing to do with the ethical treatment of animals...although, as a lover of what God has created, I think it's my job to treat animals ethically and it bothers me greatly when they are not. But, I also believe that animals were put here for people (not to be abused, mind you). I have done alot of reading on the Christian Vegetarian Association website and I agree with the majority of it, but I am not an 'animals come before people' type person.

My decision was based on this: beef and pork make me sick. I mean physically ill. I have been noticing lately that I have not been feeling well after red meat and pork consumption (and as of last Friday night, popcorn too). I mean like a rock in my gutt. And painful. So taking my cue from that I began discussing with my family about vegetarianism. As soon as I mentioned it's health benefits my family jumped on it. Tony and Stefani were on board right away. As of last week we very abruptly became vegetarians. We had to clean out the freezer, but that wasn't hard. I stopped eating meat immediately and felt, oh so much, better for it. Not to mention I have dropped 3-4 lbs. We will see how much exactly at tonights weigh in. Stefani wants to lose weight cuz she has gotten really heavy over the last 9 months. I think this is making a difference in her too. She was complaining yesterday of having to continually haul up a pair of pants that were previously too tight on her and now are getting loose. Last time she weighed herself she'd dropped 2 lbs. It may not seem like alot, but when you struggle to lose even 1 lb...2lbs is a big deal!

We had 'tacos' last night. I made my own corn tortillas...a recipe I will post later cuz they are virtually fat free and pretty tasty. We used fat free refried beans and I mashed black beans in with it, then just topped with cheese and sour cream. They were really good and really filling. That is one thing I've noticed is that the food is so much more filling. I can barely eat a whole plate of food anymore. Stefani went out to eat with her grandparents and later when I talked with her, I found out she made really good/smart food choices...other than the fact that her sub was a 12" and not a 6". Nobody needs 12" of sandwich. IMHO.

And like today...I was hungry, but not hungry enough to walk next door and get greasy food from the greasy food place (the thought actually turned my stomach). So I had some yogurt and an apple with peanut butter...which, BTW, has just become my new favorite snack (the apple and pb). Oh yummage! The perfect comfort food. It's my first time having it..I always thought it would be gross...oh no..it's brilliant.

And then last night at the football game everyone was talking about going to McD's or Hardee's after and getting their uber huge burger...I literally had the most disgusting image of a grease-laden, slimy, nasty, stinky burger in my head. I've never thought like that before. I could always see some redeeming quality in going to a fast food restaurant. I worked at Hardee's in high school and I can literally still smell the stink of the fat/grease vats that they had....omg...horrendous. And that is what those burgers smell like to me. I just cannot eat there anymore. If nothing else, it'll save us money.

So anyway. Just had to share some thoughts. As I get or come up with new recipes, I'll share 'em. Oh just have to share this beautiful website. I got lost reading it for like 2 or 3 hours one day...(see I got so lost, I don't know how long I read it!)....Vegan Visitor. Beautiful recipes and she's very witty. I can't wait to try cooking some of the things she has posted!

Happy eating everyone!

biz

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Potholder Pattern

Hotpads/Potholders
(I would say these are by me, but I got the pattern from my grandma eons ago)

With Chunky or Bulky yarn & size I/J hook
ch 26
1- sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across (25), work down the opposite side of ch (do not increase in the corner) put a sc in each ch across. do not join (50 total sc)

Then continue to work in each sc around until the square begins to fold in on itself forming a 'hot pad'. (It will look like a bag or pouch by now).This will be about 10 rows for the chunky/bulky yarn. On one end I chain 6 to form a loop to hang it with. This is completely optional. Then when the edges meet together nicely without puckering or pulling...I simply whipstitch the edge together and Voila! you have a potholder!



Potholder/Hotpad with WW yarn & G/H hook.

Ch 36
1- sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across (35), working on the opposite side of the ch (do not increase in the corner) sc in each ch. do not join. (70 total sc).

Then repeat as for the Bulky/chunky pattern. Do the same for the loop and assembly.

It really is the easiest pattern. Just remember the edges need to fold in towards each other. If you are sewing it together in a big square...it's not wrong...it's just not this pattern. :)


Crafting Memories: Section 5 of the Memories Blanket CAL

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