Log Cabin Lapghan finished

The Log Cabin inspired lap afghan that I've been working on I completed last night. I was SO happy! My hands have been aching because I couldn't find my circulars and have had to work on 14" needles. Boy did that get heavy towards the end!

I finished off with a crocheted border, which completed the look nicely and I am planning on giving this to Miss Dorothy at church tomorrow night as a late Easter present. :)

Cotton/Acrylic Log Cabin Afghan- WIP

Thought I'd share what I'm working on. I was making dish cloths. Thought cotton would be a good yarn to use in the new 80 degree, Florida weather I'm not yet accustomed to. I got Dish Clothed Out!! In the bottom of the box of cotton cones I found the beginnings of a cotton log cabin blanket that I had started at least 2 years ago. It was just the middle square and one round of "logs" made from left over stash yarns. I thought to myself "Yes. This is exactly what I need to be working on!"

So, I have embarked on another afghan. I found as I went along that I didn't have enough cotton colors, so I have had to throw about three acrylic logs in there. I know, I know....Integrity of the Project!! I'm just not stressing out over it. It is a scrappish afghan and I refuse to become bogged down with "rules". I needed coordinating colors and I was only going to get them from my acrylic bins, so that's what I did.

I don't know what is to become of this blanket. I know that I love how light and airy it feels, yet it keeps you so nice and toasty. As I started working on it a little, elderly woman from church named Miss Dorothy came to mind. I think I will give it to her. She wears a hat every service and she crochet's all of them. :) I asked her about her creations last Sunday and we got to talking about being cold. She said she is cold all of the time. lol. She is just a tiny thing. I know she likes bright colors based on her hats, so hopefully she will find a use for this blanket. I just want it to be a blessing to her.

Do you really want to know?

Where have I been for the last month and a half? Moving. Not just a "Hey, I'm moving!"..."Really? Where to?"..."This great new apartment across town! Ya wanna help?"..."Sure! That's what friends are for!"..."Gee thanks! And we can make as many trips as we need to!" No. This is the kind of moving where you pack your belongings into a trailer and pile it three feet higher than the vehicle you are driving (that will take 3 times the amount of gas previously planned for because it will develop a leak in the gas tank before it ever leaves your original state causing the trip to take twice as long and cost twice as much as it should have) and cover it all with blue tarps, stapled to every conceivable flat surface available (that will wear through in strategic spots allowing the torrential snow and rain that you will drive in for three states and 20 hours to seep in and soak the box spring sitting on the top of the pile) topping it all off with several tie down straps that will eventually wiggle loose and fall off somewhere in Kentucky. (That was the mother of all run on sentences!! LOL) There is no "going back" if you forgot something strategic and necessary. No, now you wait for someone on the other end to mail a box. Or you keep waiting...cuz heck they are coming down in a month....Whoops! Now we need to postpone for another 3 weeks... :/ So, you may never get that thing you need!! When we crossed the state line into Florida, the rain stopped....causing me to view Florida as the new promise land, a land flowing with milk and honey. :) We opened the windows on the car and let the fresh air in. Florida has a certain smell..I don't know what it is, but I have smelled it every time I've ever come to Florida. It's like ocean, sun-baked sand and fresh oxygen.... I LOVE Florida so far. I LOVE the warmth, the sun, the humidity, the city we live in, the house God has provided for us, the new church we have started attending, the Krispy Kreme shop 15 minutes away from my house, lol...I am very happy here. I miss my family a lot, but I am so thankful for where I am. I know it is only a matter of time before I am resurrounded by those I love and hold dear. I can say this...I do not EVER want to move to a place 1200 miles away from me again.

Jar Covers Pattern (For Home Canned Gifts)

I made quite a few baskets of home-canned goodies for friends and family as Christmas presents this last year. The baskets desperately needed some "dressing up", so one afternoon I sat down and came up with this pattern. It's a 10 row from start to finish, easy-peasy, fast pattern. Color coordinate with the goodies being given or use holiday colors to complete your basket of blessings. Hope you enjoy!

Shown on a Wide Mouth Jar w/silver ring removed.

Jar Covers Pattern

by Elizabeth Mareno 2011

Supplies:

#3 Yarn or Sport-Weight Yarn in 2-3 colors (Patons Astra used)

F & G hooks

yarn needle for finishing off

Scissors

With F Hook-(stripe as much or as little as you like)

R1- ch4, 16dc in 4th ch from hook, sl st to 1st dc skipping beg ch 3 (16dc)

R2- ch3 (counts as dc), dc in sm sp as join, 2dc in each rem dc, sl st to 1st dc. (32dc)

R3- ch3, dc in sm sp as join, (1dc in next dc, 2dc in next dc) around to last dc, 1dc in last dc, sl st in 1st dc. (48dc)

R4- ch2 (does not ct as hdc), working in BLO, hdc in sm sp as join, hdc in each dc around, sk ch2 & join w/sl st to 1st hdc. (48hdc)

R5-6- Repeat R4-Work 5&6 in both loops!

R7- (Loops) ch4 (counts as dc & ch1), *sk next hdc, (dc, ch1 in next hdc)*, repeat from * to * 23 more times, sl st to 3rd ch of ch4. (24ch1 sp, 24dc)

R8- ch1, sc in sm sp as join, sc in each rem ch1 space and dc around. sl st to 1st sc. (48sc)

R9- (Ruffle) join new color if you like, ch1, sc in sm sp as join, (ch3, sk next sc, sc in next sc) around, finish with sl st to first sc of row. (24ch3 sp, 24sc) Finish off, weave ends

R10- (Tie) using 2-3 strands(colors) and Ghook, ch 100, finish off and weave into the loop row.