Cute headband

whipped this little number up last night. I like the way the black contrasts against the colors! It's made from 100% cotton yarn.

It's a foundation row SC band then the color is 2 stitches SC, 5 stitches HDC, 5 stitches linked DC (this part is basically Tunisian crochet), 5 stitches linked TC, 10 stitches 4 wrap long crochet. then continue reducing same as other side. Attach black yarn 3 stitches from the color and SC across color and into 3 stitches of the black on the other side.

I leave 20 stitches on each end for the ties then 50 stitches in the center for the design when I make the 1st band.

do do the linked stitches instead of YO amount needed for the normal stitch I insert hook in cross bars (where yarn wraps around post) and draw up loop. I do this either 1 time (dc) 2 times(tc) or 3 times for the 4 one. to increas I just yo then insert hook into the bar, this creates another bar on the next stitch. to decreas I insert hook into one bar lower on pervious stitch skiping the top bar.

I created a poetry blog

figured it was a good idea to have them posted so they are safe. And I won't be clogging up this crafty blog w/my poetry
Poetry Thoughts and Ideas

Some of my other art

My daughter found my old sketch book and here are a few of my faves...

These are pen and ink sketches. one is upside down because rather than draw with my hand over the bind (lefty) I turn the book upside down to draw on the next page. I really enjoy drawing faces with focus on the eyes. These are old sketches from my High school days. some from later.
This was a doodle. pen and ink.

Another face.

I also like drawing other body parts such as this hand. They are challenging.

This is a set of sculptures I made. I call them corrosion, distortion and scars. I had other sculptures but they broke over time so this is the only remaining one. The faces are actually made from plaster casts of my own face (life mask). I no longer have the mold.

I've opened an Etsy shop

I finally did it. I've been putting it off for a while for no good reason. I have only put up some kerchiefs but intend to do more as time passes.

G's Crafts n' Things

Striped knit kerchief

This one is really easy on circular needles and the tie is knit into it. For the band & ties i cast on desired # of stitches allowing for 20 stitches on both ends which will be the ties. I'm still working on the exact amount to cast on that works for me. The one above I grabbed my smaller needles by mistake so it's a bit to small for me but would work great for a child. Either way I like to have a tie that is 20 stitches long.

row 1: in Color A knit the entire row

row 2: cast off 20 stitches then continue knitting the rest of the row,

row 3: cast off 20 stitches (you now have the ties ties on both ends) knit rest of row

row 4: attach color B and k2 together, yo, k2 together then knit the entire row.

row 5: Slide the project back and pick up color A and K entire row up to last 4 stitches, k2 together, yo, k2 together.

row 6: Pick up color B pearl entire row till last 4 stitches p2 together, yo p2 together

row 7: drop color B and slide project back and pick up color A and P2 together, yo, p2 together, p entire row

So in essence you create your edging by p (or k) 2 together, yo, p (or k) 2 together on both sides alternating every other row. Think of it like a dish cloth.

you need circulars to be able to slide your work back and forth to pick up the yarn from opposite ends.

so you k a row slide back and k in opposite color. turn and p in 1st color slide back and p in opposite color.so you are knitting 2 rows (one in each color) then pearling 2 rows (one in each color) to create a stockinette stitch.

I have another on that has a super pretty stitch pattern but am having a hard time making it a symmetrical triangle. I'll get it though. I'm pretty new to knitting so it's all a work in progress.

Cedar Point

We spent the day yesterday at Cedar Point. My Dad watched the boys for us and we took DD and one of DH friends and spent the whole day at the park (10am-10pm). we had a blast! Anja went on almost all the rides excluding Top Thrill Dragster and about 2 others. We hit Millennium Force 1st and she said it was "awesome" which came after she exclaimed "oh crap!" when we took the 1st dive on the 1st hill. I let her have that one.

She took this photo from the parking lot on her DSi so the quality isn't great but this is a shot of the park. The coaster on the left by the pole is Millennium Force. The one in the middle that looks like there are bars going accrss it as it shoots straight up is Top Thrill Dragster (which goes 0-120mph in a matter of seconds!).

We had fun, we got burned and I am thourly sore... it was a good day and very worth it! Weather was great! started out overcast then cleared up.

Lacy knit kerchief

This kerchief has a lacy pattern and works up easily. The triangle is knit but the tie is crochet.

I have a large head so this is how i made mine. As you can see you can easily customize it for your sizing needs.

cast on 85 stitches
Row 1: knit 2 together then knit each stitch in row to end
Row 2: K2 together, yo, K2 together, yo... all the way across

Repeat rows 1 and 2 till it closes to a point and bind off and finish off triangle tying in ends as needed.

For tie: Use foundation row SC and stitch 20 stitches. SC across long side of triangle, end with 20 stitches using foundation row single crochet fasten off and tie in ends.

If you do not know the foundation row single crochet (or chain less foundation) just do it in the traditional way by: chain 20, SC along long side of triangle, ch21. SC in 2nd ch from hook and in each chain and stitch all the way across to beginning chain.

Crochet kerchief

Crochet kerchief

I always am wearing bandannas and figured I would make my self up this kerchief. It's very simple to make and works up really quick. I will explain how I made it.

I used a G hook and 100% cotton worsted weight yarn.

You can customize this to your liking. my head is a bit larger and I made this to fit me. The ties are 20 SC long so just adjust the triangle portion to your desired sizing. I often make things by trying them on as i go.

To start, I made a foundation row SC of 85 stitches and then a chain of 21 stitches and I SC in 2nd ch from hook and each ch back to the end of the foundation row SC and connect w/a slip stitch (this creates the 20 stitch tie on the end and brings you back to where you can start the triangle).

The triangle portion is a simple dc, ch1, dc, ch1 in each ch1 space.... all the way across stoping to leave 20 stitches of your foundation row to make the other end of the tie. And reduce each row on each till it comes to a point and fasten off. Reduce the edges which ever way you like that is easier for you... The way I reduce is when at the end of the row I turn and insert the hook into the next ch1 space and draw up a loop then yo and draw through 2 loops on hook ch 3 and dc in next ch1 space then continue the row in the DC ch1, dc to the last 2 ch 1 spaces and I inset hook into next ch1 space yo, draw up loop and yo, draw through 2 loops on hook, insert hook into next ch1 space, yo, draw up loop, yo, draw through 2 loops on hook, yo draw through remaning 3 loops on hook.

Reduce how you like, the key is to reduce each side evenly.

If you cannot do a foundation row SC you can make a chain and start the project in the traditional way. Doing it the traditional way, once i have done my foundation chain then SC my way back to the start of the chain I would probably slip stitch my way back 20 stitches so I can start the body of the kerchief. I prefer to sl st my way back instead of cutting my yarn and creating more ends to try to work in. Just remember that if you start this with a traditional chain it won't have as much stretch. That is why I like the foundation row SC, it has a good amout of stretch for these sort of things.

The last photo shows a close up of the stitching.

Remember my "patterns" if you really want to call them that are merely guidelines to give you an idea of how to make it. I don't write actual patterns well and don't try.

Crochet pinwheel sparkler suncatcher

I didn't post this before but i know it has been received so now I can. This is the gift I made for our crochet/knit exchange on the HGTV boards. It's crochet directly onto a 12" brass hoop (hard to tell it's size in the photo). I made it and then was stuck figuring out how to ship it. Being 1 foot across, flat and not foldable I had to make my own packaging but I did it and it arrived it good time.

You can find the design at crochet memories (it's a pay per pattern site) I really like her thread work. It's under their holliday designs.

This is done in #10 bead spread weight cotton and a #8 hook. My gauge was a little loose but i just didn't feel like working in a smaller hook size. There are actually 40SC between each point around the hoop.

Excelent crock pot roast!

Threw this in this morning and it's really good! Got the recipe off a PBS show about cooking cheap. It calls for a brisket but the store I went to didn't have them so I got a couple cheap cuts instead.

1 brisket
1 can whole berry cranberry sauce
1 pack onion soup mix

put brisket in the crock and top with cranberry sauce and onion soup mix and cook all day. You don't need to add any water and the flavor is amazing! I would never have though of combining meat, cranberry sauce and onion soup mix. You can't tell it's cranberry when it's done and the juice is really good over everything after it's served.

Been so tired!

I have my gift finished for the gift exchange on the HGTV crochet board. Can't post a photo (though I have one) because a couple of the ladies watch this and, well, it's a surprise!

I've been working 12 hour days which means I have been working from 11pm-11am which gets fairly tiring. Did it Wed-Fri this week and again Wed - Fri next week. It helps that DH is laid off though cuz he takes care of the kids and does so much with them.

We will be leaving the boys with my Dad on the 18th and taking DD to Cedar Point with us.