Fixer's Fibre Insanity

On the ninth day of Christmas my True Love sent to me...

2012-01-02T01:00:00.000-08:00

Nine traffic cops,

Eight buskers busking,

Seven baby possums,

Six Canada geese,

Five live octopuses!

Four tabby cats,

Three hummingbirds,

Two Muscovy ducks,

And an egret in a western red cedar.

“He says he’s not going to take me in for kidnapping because even with the octopus climbing up his leg it’s still calmer in here than the 680 at rush hour.”

On the eighth day of Christmas my True Love sent to me...

2012-01-01T01:00:00.000-08:00

Eight buskers busking,

Seven baby possums,

Six Canada geese,

Five live octopuses!

Four tabby cats,

Three hummingbirds,

Two Muscovy ducks,

And an egret in a western red cedar.

“Is that a...ukulele?”

“Looks that way.”

“Shame she has no idea how to play it.”

On the seventh day of Christmas my True Love sent to me...

2011-12-31T01:00:00.000-08:00

Seven baby possums,

Six Canada geese,

Five live octopuses!

Four tabby cats,

Three hummingbirds,

Two Muscovy ducks,

And an egret in a western red cedar.

“You know, I can’t figure out whether to report you to PETA, the UN, or Homeland Security.”

On the sixth day of Christmas my True Love sent to me...

2011-12-30T01:00:00.000-08:00

Six Canada geese,

Five live octopuses!

Four tabby cats,

Three hummingbirds,

Two Muscovy ducks,

And an egret in a western red cedar.

*sigh* “So much for the carpets.”

On the fifth day of Christmas my True Love sent to me...

2011-12-29T01:00:00.000-08:00

Five live octopuses!

Four tabby cats,

Three hummingbirds,

Two Muscovy ducks,

And an egret in a western red cedar.

“What is this I don’t even...?!”

“The Red Wings are in town, there was a sale.”

On the fourth day of Christmas my True Love sent to me...

2011-12-28T01:00:00.000-08:00

Four tabby cats,
Three hummingbirds,
Two Muscovy ducks,
And an egret in a western red cedar.

“You’re a sick bastard, did you know that?”
“Did you know there’s an egret on your head?”
“Can you blame him?”
“Wrawk.”

On the third day of Christmas my True Love sent to me...

2011-12-27T01:00:00.000-08:00

Three hummingbirds,
Two Muscovy ducks,
And an egret in a western red cedar.

“You know one of these hummingbirds is trying to take on a duck?”
“They’re very territorial.”
“And he’s winning!”
“Flzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.” “Wrawk.”

On the second day of Christmas my True Love sent to me...

2011-12-26T01:00:00.000-08:00

Two Muscovy ducks,
And an egret in a western red cedar.

“What the hell is a Muscovy duck, anyway?”
“They’re the big ones with the nubbly faces that live in the park.”
“Ugly suckers.”
“Hey, that’s no way to talk about your Christmas present!”
“Well, I wouldn’t want to meet one down a dark alley at night, is all I’m sayin’.”
“Wrawk.”

Photo by original uploader Steevven1 at en.wikipedia and used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Generic license with my thanks.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T01:00:00.000-08:00

I have a little gift for everyone. A new post will be made every day from now 'til Twelfth Night. Have a blessed and peaceful holiday and a prosperous New Year!

The 12 Days of Christmas, Northern California Style

On the first day of Christmas my True Love sent to me...

An egret in a western red cedar.

“Hey, where’s my pear tree?”

“You don’t even like pears.”

“Wrawk.”

Photo by Len Blumin of Mill Valley, California, United States and reshared under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license with my sincere thanks .

Stocking Shopping

2011-12-15T15:35:00.000-08:00

I realized again this Christmas that many women end up filling their own stockings for whatever reason. I find this kind of sad, not in the pathetic sense but in the sense that it's too bad that they have to find their own little goodies. After all, the surprise is part of the fun, right?

So I thought it would be nice to put together a guide to small gifts for grown-up women. I intend this post to be a kind of work in progress - I'll add things as I think of them and then repost next winter for maximum helpfulness.

So here we go, broken down into categories.

General Interest

Gift Cards - always fit in the stocking and always fit the recipient, assuming you don't give a Harbor Freight card to a lady that's not into power tools. Think of what stores she frequents, and I DON'T mean the grocery store. Book stores, craft stores, and her favorite coffee shop are good choices.
Lip stuff - gifting makeup can be tricky. But you can probably make a pretty good guess at what she likes. Does she wear lipstick or lip gloss? Then a tinted gloss or clear sparkle gloss might be good. If she's outdoors a lot a SPF chapstick is a good choice. If she's into natural stuff Burt's Bees or a local-made beeswax balm are a good choice.
Beverages - no, not a bottle of beer, unless you're positive that's what she wants. Fancy tea, gourmet coffee or cocoa mix are usually welcomed by their respective fanciers.
Flashlight or booklight - really handy for anyone. I like to have an LED flashlight on my keychain, not only for finding my way in the dark, but for finding things in my purse/computer bag/carry-on. MagLite makes the mini and micro sizes that are great and the Sapphire light is also a nifty light.
Pocket knife/multi tool - if she doesn't have one she probably doesn't know she needs it...yet. Find a small model that includes a scissors.
Chemical handwarmers - my brilliant idea of the year last year. If you live in a place that's even remotely cold it can be nice to have a set of handwarmers handy just in case.

For Crafters:

Scissors - you can never have too many. New embroidery scissors or clever travel scissors are good stocking-sized choices.
Marking pens/pencils/Sharpies - pens run out, they hide, they get left in the other bag. More are always welcome.
Measuring tape - using a cloth tape means it needs to be replaced every couple of years anyway due to stretching. A smallish metal tape is nice for some applications, but sometimes the flexible tape is a necessity. Also useful for many crafters is a really nice straight edge/ruler like this stainless steel one.
Craft gloves - repetitive motion becomes an issue at some point for almost every crafter. Having a pair on hand can be a lifesaver.
Notepads - like the pens, they have a tendency to wander and are consumable. Don't get ones that say Grocery List or Things to Do unless you know she won't take it as a hint and make you sleep on the couch.

Knitters
If you have a knitter to buy for, you're lucky. They need all manner of nifty things that will fit in stockings.

Luxury needles - like these super sweet carbon-fibre DPNs. Or some pretty wooden needles.
Cable needles - mine have a tendency to escape into the wild and are never seen again.
Yarn needles - maybe I'm just bad at owning needles.
Fancy yarns - get her something she wouldn't get for herself, like a ball of qiviut/silk blend. Or if she's a sock knitter get her something she would get for herself - sock yarn! (Remember that it takes 100 grams of fingering weight yarn to make a pair of socks. Most sock yarns come in either 50 gram or 100 gram balls.)
Row counter - this is where my partner came up a winner last year. I had been using polyhedral dice to keep track of my patterns. (I'm such a geek.) Being able to tote my counter along with my project is a huge improvement!
Stitch markers - pretty stitch markers abound, on Etsy and elsewhere. (Example search of Etsy.)

Crocheters
Mostly the same as knitters, but I'll note the differences as they're kind of important.

Fancy hooks - pretty wood hooks, ergonomic hooks, light up hooks...all fun and a little different.
Yarn needles - same as above.
Fancy yarn - crocheting takes around 30% more yarn than knitting, so keep this in mind when purchasing.
Row counter - I never used one for crocheting, but I also never had one before. I'm guessing it's as handy for hooking as it is for needling.
Stitch markers - similarly useful, but crocheting stitch markers must be removable/openable.

Cross-Stitchers/Needleworkers

Needles - this is getting to be a theme. In this case you might have to ask what kind she uses - take notes!
Travel scissors/snips - I really like these ones, and TSA has never given them a second look.
Luxury thread/floss packs - DMC Light Effects are fun, as are hand dyed flosses.
Magnetic needle keeper - either for the table or on a necklace or brooch. Until I got one of these I just parked the needle in my shirt...you can guess how happy that made the people who wanted to hug me!

Not Dead Yet

2011-05-23T18:36:00.000-07:00

I'm deep in several projects right now: two about to be published crochet patterns and another in the design stage, some nifty needlecases up on Etsy, and a novel that is moving right along thanks to obsession, the nice ladies and gents on Rav, and Dr. Wicked's awesome Write or Die program.

Placing Beads on Sock Yarn

2011-04-30T12:30:00.000-07:00

The May techniques for Sock Knitters Anonymous are beads and texture. And even more exciting is the Mock (mystery sock) which also includes beads!

Here's a simple method to get the beads onto the yarn without having to tear your hair out, aka forcing yarn through the eye of a beading needle. All you need is some sewing thread and a needle with an eye that will pass through your beads. I prefer a small-gauge tapestry needle for this task, though a sewing sharp will also work. (In the photos my beads are strung on yarn for visibility. If you use thread this will all be much easier. Also I haven't wound my yarn yet.)

Step 1: Wind your yarn into cakes or balls if necessary and string your beads onto a length of sewing thread, leaving the needle on the thread. It is okay to knot the far end of the thread (or use a bead) to keep the beads from escaping.

Step 2: Loop the working end of your sock yarn ONCE around the sewing thread, doubling both fibers back on themselves. Your work should look like this:

Step 3: Thread the needle back through the first bead, being careful not to split the thread (this is where the tapestry needle makes it a bit easier).

Step 4: Slide the bead down to the loop of yarn.

Step 5: Tug the bead a little to pop it over the junction.

Step 6: Pull the yarn tail free of the bead. Voilà, you have a bead right where you want it!

Once you have the steps down you can do several beads at once limited only by the length of your needle. Good luck and enjoy your beaded socks!

I Can't Decide!

2010-12-31T10:03:00.000-08:00

Stephanie Flynn at Rossiter Designs is giving away some really nice Celtic cross-stitch designs in January. They're all so beautiful I had an awful time deciding which one I'd like the most. I finally settled on the Celtic Sampler; I really love the knotwork.

If you'd like to enter as well the rules are posted here on Stephanie's blog.

You say potato, I say YARN BOWL!

2010-12-30T16:05:00.000-08:00

I was having my morning browse at Craftgossip and found this awesome fabric bowl. Of course, the first thing that sprang to my mind was, "Hey, that would make an awesome yarn bowl!" (The second was that it would make a cool washable bread basket for the dinner table.)

The tutorial by Jennifer is available at Sew, Mama, Sew! I'm going to whip out my fabric scraps and try it right away since I already have the sewing machine set up for ornament finishing. (Finishing is the wrong word for it. I'm never gonna be finished.) One of these would be really cute filled with pinecones for Christmas. Or gelt at Hanukkah. Easter eggs, Valentines candies, apples in the fall...I can see it now. I'm going to end up with about a hundred of these.

I also have a nifty idea for a variation: I'm going to get some little sew-on snaps and do snap-together corners instead of sewn. This will have a couple of advantages: they'll be easier to wash and iron and they'll be able to store flat; a particular advantage for the seasonal bowls I'm sure to make. I'll post pics (sort of, the Canon is still sickly) and let y'all know how the snaps turn out!

PS - I just realized since the pattern uses heavy interfacing I could foundation quilt or crazy quilt the top layer. Somebody stop me!

PPS - The snaps will also allow you to use the corners as a yarn guide without being tied to the bowl. Genius!

In the New Year: Trying this Again

2010-12-30T15:17:00.000-08:00

I am unlocking the blog for two reasons. One, I want a place to stash my knitting and crocheting pictures and musings and this is a good place to do it. Two, I want my patterns to be available to the crocheting public.

Here's the deal. Comments are on, but they are being moderated. Abusive comments will be deleted with extreme prejudice and without response. I welcome reasoned debate and grammatical quibbling. If you find a mistake in a pattern please comment or email or both.

(Speaking of mistakes in patterns - there seems to be a mistake in the Kaleidoscope Beret. I'll find it and fix it as soon as I have a spare moment to pick up a hook.)

Thank you all for your support and have a very happy New Year!

Randomness

2010-06-14T08:21:00.000-07:00

I just realized that I haven't even been keeping up with once a month posts. So here's my update, in no particular order.

1. Google analytics is really frelling annoying today. It's made Ravelry unusable and is probably going to make this post shorter than usual. I'm not even sure of what I need to do to make it stop. I did run malware/virus scans and nothing came up.

2. I'm back into the RP swing on Star Pirates. I really enjoy RPing with that crew. Collaborative writing is a kick in the pants, both in the sense of being a lot of fun, and in the sense that it gets me motivated to actually write (and even more importantly, edit).

3. I want to knit. This is inconvenient because I'm supposed to be putting a crochet blanket together for Leah's birthday (Saturday), I have a shawl half-finished (Converted Shipwreck), and I have a really cool idea for another shawl/throw. I think I need to work out a reward system with myself.

4. I have an essay sketched out on late Victorian action adventure movies. I promise It won't turn out to be a rant, I'm a better writer than that. (Okay, maybe a little rant. Just a skosh.)

5. I'm gonna shoot somebody at google analytics with a dirty sock gun. This isn't funny.

6. I will add links to this post once I get the google problem sorted out.

*wanders off grumbling*

ETA: I finally got google analytics sorted out. I ended up having to install NoScript. It makes things a tidge slower, but it's totally worth it.

Dumbest Thing Said By a TV Sportscaster Today

2010-03-21T21:33:00.000-07:00

NHL Network reporter to Teemu Selanne: So I suppose you're aware of all 600 goals you've scored.

No, dumbass, they were a complete surprise to him. In fact, they didn't tell him about it until after he scored the 600th one tonight so they wouldn't spoil the surprise party the other Ducks players had all planned for him. Oy vey.

Congrats, Teemu. Go drink your champagne.

(I'm contemplating making this a recurring theme, but 1) I don't want to be known as that crazy chick making fun of retired athletes and 2) it's too much like shooting fish in a barrel.)

WIPs (writing style)

2010-03-08T12:54:00.000-08:00

I don't even want to talk about the stalled fiber projects I have hanging around. I do, however, want to get some of my thoughts about what I'm writing organized.

The horror story I wrote a couple of weeks ago is still sitting. I have character backgrounds in my head, and a rough idea of some story to go forward on. I don't think it's book-quality work, however I think it may be weird enough and engaging enough for a web serial. Watch this space for details. (My life is a funny thing. I was contacted last week by one of the people that I based a minor character on. He was even weirder than the story. Go figure.)

I don't write much fantasy anymore. Certainly not the sword and sorcery type that I loved when I was younger. I don't read much of it either unless it's mixed into a volume of short stories. It's possible that The Unschooled Wizard was the last fantasy book I read, unless you count Conan. Now that I think about it The Unschooled Wizard and Conan fit into the same subgenre of fantasy, a subgenre to which I would also add Jennifer Roberson's Sword Dancer series.

But the two fantasy stories I have bouncing around in my head don't fit into that category. One is a oddball combination of Shadowrun (post-awakening magical world without the anarchy) and coming-of-age that would probably fit best as a Young Adult novel, though I am trying to avoid angst in favor of more interesting conflicts. The other is...well, it's not fully formed yet, but it's a feminist take on the old prince marries girl stories. No, strike that -- not feminist, humanist. I want to write a fairy tale where the main characters have enough good sense to be disagreeable at times, and to fight the roles they're being forced into.

Romeo Falling is as it has been -- constantly in the back of my mind. It's a sort of incorporeal worry stone; I take it out and run it through my mind to distract myself from being worried or stressed. The title, which it has borne for almost ten years, has to go. It in no way describes what's happening. What's falling is Carly, the main character, and I don't know that she ever really hits bottom (though she repeatedly thinks she does). I dislike (due to overuse) the phrase "down the rabbit hole" and I'd rather think of freefall in space, though that metaphor for what's happening to Carly falls apart quickly. The most frustrating thing about that story, though, is that I have the entire thing outlined, which is usually the hard part for me. It's the writing that's proving problematic.

And that brings me to the work that I'm avoiding now by writing this blog post. ~~I have never written a hard science fiction story.~~ Correction, "Cold Dawn" is clearly hard SF, even if it happens to be 40K style. Cyberpunk has been more my thing, and borderline SF/fantasy. Psychers appeal to me, as do netrunners. I haven't the faintest idea how to write an alien. As of this story I'm trying anyway. What's more, I'm throwing the whole book of hard SF issues into it: FTL travel, colonization of other planets by humans, first contact, wars...you name it, it wants to be there. The work in this one will be the research. I have to decide which rules to bend to make it plausible, I have to map out alien psychologies. On top of all that -- wait for it -- I have three groups of characters I want to follow. It's a Game Master's nightmare and I'm doing it to myself. (Though it can't possibly be as bad as having a character set on a suicide for which an entire audience wants to lynch you because they blame the GM. At least I hope it won't be that bad.) Oh, and I need a linguist, because I sure as hell am not going to be able to make up convincing alien names. Maybe I'll just make 'em all speak Portuguese.

Okay, enough avoidance. My brain has wandered off to a planet that Terra has colonized for farming, and my fingers are cold from typing in front of a draft. I'll write if I find work...or if I find a plausible story in this drek.

Cheers,
M

Quote of the Day

2010-02-15T20:30:00.000-08:00

Almost anything carried to its logical extreme becomes depressing, if not carcinogenic.
~Ursula K. LeGuin in the introduction to The Left Hand of Darkness

Pattern: Kaleidoscope Beret

2010-01-23T17:23:00.000-08:00

This is an adaptation of a pattern from one of my favorite crochet blogs: Yarncrazy Crochet World. I love Chris's block patterns; they are beautiful, complex works of art. I have swatched Kaleidoscope Blossom a couple of times now and this time it wanted to be a hat. (This may have been influenced by the fact that I've been wanting a beret/tam/slouch type hat for a while now.)

The pattern is basically the same through round 7; I removed the color changes and the dimensional petals. Those directions are reposted here with her permission. The rest of the pattern is of my own devising.

Note: 3 January 2011 - Round 7 had an extra stitch that made the entire count come out incorrect. I have edited the pattern.

Kaleidoscope Beret

Supplies:
Approximately 3 oz. worsted weight #4 yarn (Pictured is Red Heart Super Saver in Medium Purple)
H (5.0) crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge

Gauge:
1st 3 rounds in pattern = approximately 2.5"

Size:
Women's Medium (approximately 21-22")

Special Stitches:
Sc Dec (single crochet decrease): Insert hook in stitch and pull up a loop, insert hook in next stitch and pull up loop, yo and pull through all 3 loops on hook, sc dec made.
Dc Dec (double crochet decrease): Insert hook in stitch and pull up a loop, insert hook in next stitch and pull up loop, yo and pull through all 3 loops on hook, dc dec made.

Pattern:

Ch. 4, join with sl st to form ring OR begin with Magic Loop technique.

Round 1: Ch 1, 12 sc in ring, join with sl st in first sc.

Round 2: Ch 1, sc in same st. (Ch 3, sk next sc, sc in next sc) 5 times. Ch. 3, join with sl st in first sc. (6 ch-3 sp)

Round 3: 5 sc in each ch-3 sp around. Join with sl st in first sc. (30 sc)

Round 4: Sl st in next 2 sc (this should put you in center sc of the 5 sc group). Ch 1, sc in same st. (Ch 4, sk next 4 sc, sc in next sc) 5 times. Ch. 4, join with sl st in first sc. (6 ch-4 sp)

Round 5: (Sc, 2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc, sc) in each ch-4 sp around. Join with sl st in first sc.

Round 6: Ch 4. *In next ch-3 sp (dc, ch 1) 5 times. Dc between next two sc, ch 1. Repeat from * 5 times. Join with sl st in 3rd ch of beginning ch-4.

Round 7: Sc in first ch-1 sp. Working in ch-1 sp between dcs, 2 dc in next ch-1 sp, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp) twice, 2 dc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next ch-1 sp. (Sc in next ch 1 sp, 2 dc in next ch-1 sp, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp) twice, 2 dc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next ch-1 sp) 5 times. Join with sl st in first sc.

Round 8: Sl st in next 4 dc. (Sc dec over next 2 dc, ch 6, sk next 6 st, trc between next 2 sc, ch 6, sk next 6 st) 6 times. Join with sl st in first sc. (12 ch-6 sp)

Round 9: Ch 2 (does not count as dc, now and throughout). 9 dc in each ch-6 sp around. Join with sl st in first dc. (108 dc)

Round 10: Sl st in next 2 dc (this should put you at the center of the 9-dc group). (Sc in next dc, ch 5, sk next 4 dc, dc between next 2 dc, ch 5, sk next 4 st) 12 times. Join with sl st to first sc. (24 ch-5 sp)

Round 11: Ch 2, 5 dc in each ch-5 sp around. (120 dc)

Round 12: Sl st in next dc, ch 2. Working in back loops only dc in same st and next 2 st, (dc dec over next 2 dc, dc in next 3 dc) around to last 2 st, dc dec over last 2 st. Join with sl st in first dc. (96 dc)

Round 13: Ch 2, dc in same st and next 3 st, (dc dec over next 2 dc, dc in next 4 dc) around to last 2 st, dc dec over last 2 st. Join with sl st in first dc. (80 dc)

Round 14: Ch 2, dc in same st and next 2 st, (dc dec over next 2 dc, dc in next 3 dc) around to last 2 st, dc dec over last 2 st. Join with sl st in first dc. (64 dc)

Round 15: Ch 2, dc same st and in each dc around. Join with sl st in first dc.

Round 16: Begin ribbing. Ch 2, fpdc in first dc, (bpdc in next dc, fpdc in next dc) around, ending with bpdc. Join with sl st in first dc.

Round 17-18: Ch 2, (fpdc around fpdc, bpdc around bpdc) around. Join with sl st in first dc. At end of round 18 finish off. Weave in thread ends.

More photos:

Pattern: Firefly Hat

2010-01-23T14:56:00.000-08:00

This is a pretty little winter hat I designed for my friend Firefly, who lives in Wisconsin and has cold ears right about now. It's being modeled in the photos by the lovely and talented Mr. Octo.

Firefly Hat

Supplies:
Approximately 3 oz (135 yd.) Bulky #5 Yarn (Pictured is Lion Brand Jiffy in True Red)
K (10.5) crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge

Gauge:
4" = 13 sc & 15 rows

Size:
Women's Medium (approximately 21-22")

Special Stitches:
Dec (decrease): Insert hook in stitch and pull up a loop, insert hook in next stitch and pull up loop, yo and pull through all 3 loops on hook, dec made.

Pattern:

Round 1: Magic Ring, ch 1, 6 sc in ring, join with sl st in beg sc.
OR
Round 1: Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook, join with sl st in beg sc.

Round 2: Ch 1, sc in same sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc around, 2 sc in last sc, join. (9 sc)

Round 3: Ch 1, sc in same sc and next sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc around, 2 sc in last sc, join. (12 sc)

Round 4: Ch 1, sc in same sc and next 2 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc around, 2 sc in last sc, join. (15 sc)

Round 5: Ch 1, sc in same sc and next 3 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc around, 2 sc in last sc, join. (18 sc)

Round 6: Ch 1, sc in same sc and next 4 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 5 sc around, 2 sc in last sc, join. (21 sc)

Round 7: Ch 1, sc in same sc and next 5 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 6 sc around, 2 sc in last sc, join. (24 sc)

Round 8: Ch 1, sc in same sc and next 6 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 7 sc around, 2 sc in last sc, join. (27 sc)

Round 9: Ch 1, sc in same sc and next 7 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 8 sc around, 2 sc in last sc, join. (30 sc)

Round 10: Ch 1, sc in same sc and next 3 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc around, 2 sc in last sc, join. (36 sc)

Round 11: Ch 1, sc in same sc and next 4 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 5 sc around, 2 sc in last sc, join. (42 sc)

Round 12: Ch 1, sc in same sc and next 12 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 13 sc around, 2 sc in last sc, join. (45 sc)

Round 13: Ch 1, sc in same sc and next 13 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 14 sc around, 2 sc in last sc, join. (48 sc)

Round 14: Ch 1, sc in same sc and next 14 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 15 sc around, 2 sc in last sc, join. (51 sc)

Round 15: Ch 1, sc in same sc and next 15 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 16 sc around, 2 sc in last sc, join. (54 sc)

Round 16: Ch 1, sc in same sc and next 16 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 17 sc around, 2 sc in last sc, join. (57 sc)

Round 17: Ch 1, sc in same sc and next 17 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 18 sc around, 2 sc in last sc, join. (60 sc)

Rounds 18-26: Ch 1, sc in same st and each sc around, join. (60 sc)

Note: The rest of the stitches are worked in the back loops only. This produces the texture around the band of the hat.

Rounds 27-28: Working in BL, ch 1, sc in same st and each sc around, join. (60 sc)

Fasten off after round 28.

Placing Left Earflap :

Row 1: In 8th st from center back join with sc, sc in next 12 sc, turn. (12 sc)

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in first sc and next 11 sc, turn. (12 sc)

Row 3: Ch 1, dec in first 2 sc, sc in next 8 sc, dec in last 2 sc, turn. (10 sc)

Row 4: Ch 1, sc in first sc and next 9 sc, turn. (10 sc)

Row 5: Ch 1, dec in first 2 sc, sc in next 6 sc, dec in last 2 sc, turn. (8 sc)

Row 6: Ch 1, sc in first sc and next 7 sc, turn. (8 sc)

Row 7: Ch 1, dec in first 2 sc, sc in next 4 sc, dec in last 2 sc, turn. (6 sc)

Row 8: Ch 1, sc in first sc and next 5 sc, turn. (6 sc)

Row 9: Ch 1, dec in first 2 sc, sc in next 2 sc, dec in last 2 sc, turn. (4 sc)

Row 10: Ch 1, sc in first sc and next 3 sc, fasten off. (4 sc)

Placing Right Earflap :

Row 1: In 18th st from left earflap join with sc, sc in next 12 sc, turn. (12 sc)

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in first sc and next 11 sc, turn. (12 sc)

Row 3: Ch 1, dec in first 2 sc, sc in next 8 sc, dec in last 2 sc, turn. (10 sc)

Row 4: Ch 1, sc in first sc and next 9 sc, turn. (10 sc)

Row 5: Ch 1, dec in first 2 sc, sc in next 6 sc, dec in last 2 sc, turn. (8 sc)

Row 6: Ch 1, sc in first sc and next 7 sc, turn. (8 sc)

Row 7: Ch 1, dec in first 2 sc, sc in next 4 sc, dec in last 2 sc, turn. (6 sc)

Row 8: Ch 1, sc in first sc and next 5 sc, turn. (6 sc)

Row 9: Ch 1, dec in first 2 sc, sc in next 2 sc, dec in last 2 sc, turn. (4 sc)

Row 10: Ch 1, sc in first sc and next 3 sc, fasten off. (4 sc)

Edging:

Join with sc in BL of first sc at center back. Sc in BL of each sc up to earflap, working dec in corner of earflap join. Continue sc around earflap, woring 1 sc in end of each row and 2 sc in corner sp. Sc across bottom of earflap, 2 sc in corner sp, 1 sc in end of each row. Work dec in corner as before.

Sl st in BL of sc around front of hat. Work edging on second earflap as before, sc in BL of last sc, join with sl st to first sc, fasten off.

Weave in ends and block gently to fit.

Christmas Angels

2009-12-03T13:38:00.000-08:00

This is not the post I was going to write today. I was going to post up a scarf pattern. But then something happened that I wanted to share.

A couple of nights ago there was a posting on Freecycle for assorted knitting and crochet supplies. Having been broke for a while now, and With Christmas fast approaching, I thought I'd see what she had and wrote a (rather silly) little email telling her that I'd take it off her hands. She agreed with the caveat that anything I didn't want would be posted on Freecycle.

So yesterday I took off into a lovely fall day, walking up to Concord and then taking BART to Rockridge, which is just south of Berkeley. I crocheted on my poinsettia afghan on the train and wandered a bit when I got off. I was only a little bit lost, but wandering in that part of town is quite nice. (I was the lady in denim, sneakers, and a funky purple crochet hat if anyone saw me.)

The bag was smaller than I'd hoped (I think we all hope for that motherlode of cast-off yarn) but I was still grateful for the walk and the day and if nothing else the knitting needles would have cost more than my train ticket. I managed to resist peeking and crocheted all the way back to Concord, idly listening to the engineers in the next seat talking about landslide damage to a house.

When I got home I opened the bags and found the aforementioned knitting needles, a couple of WIPs, and some interesting yarn and notions that may well date back to the 60's. I felt like I'd been handed a little piece of someone's life.

I was most intrigued by this doodad, the "Crazy Daisy Winder for Finer Handweaving" which was in its original box but sadly had no instructions at all.

I couldn't for the life of me think of what it was for. When I think of a "winder" I think ball-winder, possibly because I want one. Turning the knurled knob in the center caused rays to extend from the raised flutes on the disc, which was delightfully arcane but didn't elucidate the gadget's use. So I did what any sane woman would do: I asked Ravelry, specifically the Thrifty Knitters group. If anyone knew what to do with this device it would be them.

Now I'm going to take you on a little flashback. When I was a child my paternal grandmother had a bedroom that my younger sister and I slept in when we visited her. (She also had a statue of Michelangelo's David in her front parlor, but that's another story altogether.) The room held a pair of twin beds and a mirrored dresser, and the coverlets on those beds were made of looped yarn daisies. They were visually fascinating, even my mother didn't know how they were made (I remember asking her once a long time ago) but we'd always assumed they were handmade by either Grandma Velasquez or her own mother; Great-grandma Maestas being a great crocheter.

Grandma V and her youngest daughter, my Aunt Beverly, were killed in a horrific crash in Mexico on New Years of 1993. Grandma had been widowed in the Fifties and Bev had been divorced for years so they often traveled together. This time they'd gone to the Yucatan for Christmas. I was sixteen years old at the time.

I can only assume that my Aunt Karen or Uncle Jim inherited those bedspreads. Certainly I'd not seen nor thought of them in years until last week when I was avoiding my Christmas crocheting by flipping through patterns on Ravelry. I suddenly had the idea that now that I'm getting rather thoroughly grounded in yarn arts I should figure out how to recreate those daisies that were on our beds at Grandmas and perhaps make something for the children that never knew their great-grandmother. Me being me, I eventually went back to my hooking and promptly forgot all about it.

You see where this is going, don't you? I, of course, am oblivious. When the other Ravelers told me what my mysterious "winder" is for it hit me upside the head like a Mack truck. You guessed it. It's for making those daisies.

I stared at the reply to my post (the thread is here if you have a Rav account) in shock for a moment and then broke into ragged, tearing sobs. I'm sure if anyone could have heard me it would have sounded like my heart was breaking. I just couldn't stop. In fact, it's been hours and numerous cups of tea later and I'm still tearing up as I write this. There is just no way to put into words the feelings I'm having: joy and sorrow, grief and hope, love and gratitude and awe in the mysteries of the universe that none of us will solve this side of the veil.

All I can say is this: thank you to Nancy for passing along these treasures to me. I will love them and use them as if they were from my own family. And to Grandma and Bev...I love you.

And to anyone reading this: God and Goddess bless all of you these holidays and for the whole year through.

Love,
Maria

Free Pattern: Seamless Wristwarmers

2009-11-28T11:10:00.000-08:00

Seamless Wristwarmers

Supplies:
Approximately 3 oz. worsted weight yarn
J hook or hook needed to obtain gauge

Gauge: 2" = 6 st and 4 rows in dc
Note: I am a tension freak. I usually have to go up 2 hook sizes on commercial patterns. If you are an "average" tension you will want an H hook.

Size: Men's small or women's medium. These have a little bit of wrist shaping to help them stay up. For a larger size just chain until long enough to fit around the wearer's forearm.

Pattern:

Ch 26, join with slst in first ch, taking care not to twist.

Round 1: ch 2 (does not count as st throughout), dc in same ch and each ch around, join. (26 dc)

Round 2-4: ch 2, dc in same st and each st around, join. (26 dc)

Round 5-6: ch 2, dc in same st, dc dec, dc in each st, join. (24 dc)

Round 7-9: ch 2, dc in same st and each st around, join.

Round 10-13 (thumbhole rows): ch 2, dc in each st around, do not join, turn.

Round 14: ch 2, dc in same st, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 20 st, 2 dc in next st, dc in remaining st, join with sl st to first dc. (26 dc)

Round 15: ch 2, dc in same st, dc in next 11 st, 2 dc in next st, dc in remaining st, join. (27 dc)

Round 16: ch 1, sc in same st and all st around, join, finish off.

Repeat for second glove.

The fine print:
Copyright 2009, Maria Velasquez-McKeeth. Please don't publish, sell or copy this pattern; link back to my blog if you wish to share it with the world. You may print a copy for your own use or to share with a non-internet enabled friend as long as you don't charge for it.

You are free to do as you wish with the completed items. If you choose to offer them for sale please let me know how you do with them. I would love to receive pictures of your completed work and hear about any changes you've made.

As with anything I've published please let me know right away if I've made a mistake or you have a problem with the instructions. I'll get back to you with corrections or help as soon as humanly possible.

Quote of the Day

2009-11-07T07:25:00.001-08:00

Writing is the flip side of sex, it's good only when it's over.
~Hunter S. Thompson

Word.