Crochet and You - An Introduction to Crochet

CROCHET AND YOU
An Introduction to Crochet

Crochet is a wonderful thing. There is nothing like sitting down with a glass of wine or a cup of coffee and taking something as simple as yarn and weaving it into something wonderful. That makes you a creator. You are basically turning a very long strand of fiber into something glorious. I have had friends, that do not crochet, just marvel at how they looked at the skein of yarn that sat dutifully by my side and watched it slowly evolve into a beautiful scarf or afghan or sweater... Well, you get my drift. Sometimes we overlook how great that really is. All the while, I am chatting away or watching a movie and barely even looking down. Even knowing how to make one single stitch can turn into something beautiful, especially given the fact that crochet is wonderful at designing lacy items.

You can choose how much or how little you invest in it. You can buy a small cheap ball of acrylic yarn and a plastic hook or you can go all out on fancy yarn (the possibilites here are endless) and bamboo hooks. It all really depends on what you want to do with it. Do you want to make doilies? Afghans? Sweaters? Socks? Some people want to do it for one specific purpose, such as making blankets. Others, including myself, want to make anything and everything.

The granny square once looked at as something tired and old, now has so many new possibilities. People are designing all different shapes and sizes and not just using them as a typical afghan square. I have seen them sewn together to make purses, scarves, table runners, anything you can really imagine. One of my favorite quick projects involving the granny square is making an afghan out of basically one huge square instead of sewing a bunch of smaller ones together.

Crochet is a form of therapy. It can be a mindless or mindful thing, depending on the project and difficulty. You can crochet away mindlessly and happily as you watch t.v. or your children's sports, plays, and whatnot or it can be mindful when you want to drone out the hustle and bustle that modern living has come to be. Multitasking is a way of everyday life and what better way to unwind than to sit down and focus 100% on your crochet project? You can unlock your creative spirit by doing some freeform crochet, where you just take your yarn and hook with no pattern and see where it leads you. Many relate it to painting, with the crochet hook being equivalent to the brush and the yarn equivalent to the paint.

The main stitches in crochet are single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, and triple (or treble) crochet. There are others, but those are the most common. You can come up with many different pattern combinations just by using those in different variations. You might use a thin yarn and make chains a lot when your object is going to be lacy or use bulky yarn and regular stitches when it is going to be more solid.

You can add embelishments to items and my personal favorite of late is crocheting with beads. I made a few simple patterns for crocheting with beads and they are the Beaded Headband, the V-stitch Headband, and the Quick and Easy Beaded Coaster.

Another popular idea is crocheting with graphs or even cross stitching onto a finished item. There is a special crochet stitch which makes cross stitching onto it an especially good idea, and it is called the Afghan stitch. You use a special hook (it looks like an especially long crochet hook) and it produces stitches that are more square, which makes the cross stitched graph more accurate. Regular single crochet stitches tend to be a tad wider than they are tall.

Once you have acquired a hook and some yarn, I would recommend snuggling up in a big comfy chair with a tall glass of wine and try a basic pattern. One of the worst things you could do is start off with a project that is too daunting and end up frustrated. I would recommend a basic square item such as a dishcloth or scarf.

Personalized Home and Garden Decor

So I was checking out ways for customizing your home and garden and I came across http://www.mailboxandbeyond.com/. They offer customized mailboxes (Victorian, column, mail slots, secure locking, post mount, Whitehall, and assorted wall mount) address plaques/house numbers (all different shapes and sizes such as oval, round, estate, petite, holiday, and even Disney and Harley Davidson) personalized doormats and the like. A lot of items have free shipping as well. I, personally, am a sucker for free shipping.

For the mailboxes, you can get custom painted animals, flowers or scenes. Same goes with doorbells. There are grapes, frogs, flowers, boats and more. I tend to go with themes for things (such as apples in my kitchen) so this would be perfect for that!

BBQ Veggies

Just gathering some ideas for veggies on the grill:

ASPARAGUS
Grilled Asparagus - Crispy not mushy!
Prosciuitto-Wrapped Asparagus

BRUSSEL SPROUTS
Grilled Brussel Sprouts

CABBAGE
Grilled Cabbage

CORN
Southwest Corn on the Cob

EGGPLANT
Grilled Eggplant - Breaded
Grilled Eggplant Parmesan

JICAMA
Jicama Slaw - Great on burgers

MIXED VEGGIES
Veggie Ribbons - Zucchini and Squash
Veggie Panini

ONIONS
BBQ Onions
Beer/Cola Onions
Vidalia Onions on the Grill

POTATOES
Grilled Potato Skins
Sweet Potatoes
Potato Salad
Garlic and Dill Grilled Potatoes
Potato Chips
Chili Oil Potatoes

SQUASH
Grilled Squash

ZUCCHINI
Grilled Zucchini
Stuffed Zucchini

NIN Chart 34 x 15

Double Knitting

I just came across some double knitting patterns. I can't believe I haven't sooner! What a time saver. If I could learn how to do this it would save time and hassle sewing pieces together in items such as scarves, potholders, etc.

Tutorials - Basic Instructions for Double Knitting and Double Knitting

Heart Coaster

Heart Coaster [Ravel-It!]

Materials:
Lion Brand Micro Spun (green and pink)
Size 7 needles
Heart Chart (optional)

Techniques Used:
KG - Knit green (i.e. K3G means knit 3 green)
PG - Purl green (i.e. P3G means purl 3 green)
KP - Knit Pink (i.e. K3P means knit 3 pink)
PP - Purl Pink (i.e. P3P means purl 3 pink)
G - Green
P - Pink
SC - Single crochet
CO - Cast on
BO - Bind off
Intarsia

Gauge: 9 stitches and 13 rows in 2 inches of stockinette

With G, CO 20.
1. Knit across.
2. Purl across.
3. K9G, K2P, K9G
4. P8G, P4P, P8G
5. K7G, K6P, K7 G
6. P6G, P8P, P6G
7. K5G, K10P, K5G
8. P4G, P12P, P4G
9. K3G, K14P, K3G
10. P2G, P16P, P2G
11. K2G, K16P, K2G
12. Repeat Row 10.
13. Repeat Row 11.
14. Repeat Row 10.
15. K3G, K6P, K2G, K6P, K3G
16. P4G, P4P, P4G, P4P, P4G
17. Repeat Row 1.
18. Repeat Row 2. BO.

Make 2 and place wrong sides together and sew together or SC around outer edge in pink. (The edge in the pic is a tad messy, I will upload a new one shortly!)

Please let me know if there are any errors.

Ideas for Charts

Just trying to keep track of some ideas to use charted pictures in knit/crochet:

Dishcloth
Scarf (end design)
Potholder
Pillow
Bag
Afghan Square
Ipod Case

Heart Chart (20 x 18)

[Ravel-It!]

20 stitches x 18 rows

Mashed Turnips!?

I was eating thanksgiving dinner with family last year and was eating some sort of mashed vegetable that was yellow-ish and delicious! I found out they were turnips. I had never had them before (that I am aware of) and I thought they were delicious. They are high in vitamin C as well! The smallest turnip I could find at the store was quite large, so I had to boil it for a while, then cube it, then boil until done (about 20-30 min). Then I used a potato masher on them and added salt, pepper, sugar and margarine for flavor. Mmm!

Dr. Andrew Weil Rocks!

If you haven't heard of Andrew Weil, you should definitely check him out. He is an MD who focuses on a more holistic approach to being healthy. He advises you about vitamins, healthy eating (anti-inflammatory) and a plethora of other lifestyle issues. I personally have listened to his guided imagery and breathing audio tapes, and they have really helped me.

How To Clean A Comb/Brush

I don't know about you, but I tease my hair and always end up with dried up hairspray on my comb. It's a specialty comb so I don't want to just keep buying new ones as I had always done before. A few tips passed down to me to try:

1. Take 2 brushes/combs and GENTLY brush together with shampoo to work out some of that gunk. Rinse under warm water.
2. Take an old toothbrush and GENTLY scrub it. It could take a little more work, but will give it a good clean.
3. Soak it in a glass of vinegar.
4. Add some bleach to water and soak it for an hour.
5. Wash the comb with heavy items, such as towels. (Sounds a lil risky if you ask me though.)

Alas, if you routinely give it a quick clean and remove hair then it will save a lot of hassle in the long run! *ducks head*

True Blood Releases

It's coming! May 19, 2009 the first Season will be out on DVD! I can't wait. Nothing like pausing and recaping all those juicy scenes we love so much. The newest Charlaine Harris book will come shortly before that, on May 5, 2009. I've already pre-ordered mine! *drool*

Adding Another Blog

Hey all. Decided to try out a few more blogs I think. I am going to be working on a listing of legitimate work at home jobs and possibly one for reviewing books/movies.

It's that time again... Spring cleaning

The time we all (at least I know I do) love to dread! Here is a good site for 10 spring cleaning tips. So get those mops, rubber gloves, srubbers, and all the other cleaning goodies that are stowed away and covered in dust mites! (Yay)

Best Homemade Icing EVER!!

I wanted to make a cake and icing from scratch and although I haven't come across any cake recipes that are worth drooling over, I came across an easy-to-do delicious icing recipe on Allrecipes. Super easy and very yummy!

buttons Buttons BUTTONS

I guess it is all the new rage lately! I am seeing tons of crafts and articles featuring these cute, useful embellishments. Here is a way to doll them up some.

I Wanna Do Real Bad Things With You

A new age vampire soap opera!

SPOILER ALERT!

Okay, I am totally, completely and irrevocably addicted to HBO's new series True Blood. It is based off of the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire series written by Charlaine Harris. The show starts off by introducing Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic barmaid working at Merlotte's Bar and Grill and living in Bon Temps, Louisiana. Sookie has basically been a social outcast due to the fact that she has this telepathic "disability" where she is constantly overwhelmed by people's thoughts. People know there is something "wrong" with Sookie, but they just brush her off as crazy rather than acknowledge that she is telepathic.

Sookie has a lady-loving brother named Jason Stackhouse, another main character of the show. Jason gets in over his head when his lady "friends" start dying off by a serial killer who targets women who have had sex with vampires (also known as Fangbangers).




Next would be the sexily dead vampire, Bill Compton, a 173-year-old vampire. He takes up residence in a house across the cemetery from Sookie as the last living heir of the property. He comes into Merlotte's and Sookie happens to overhear some drainer's thoughts of doing real bad things to Bill. She comes to his rescue and it is the beginning of a complicated and drama-filled relationship.


We can't forget the sexy sheriff of Area Five. He is Bill's superior, and takes a special interest in Sookie after discovering her "disability." He was a viking before being turned over 1,000 years ago. He is self-serving (as a vampire ought to be!) and devious, and will stop at nothing to get his way. His self-preserving ways have helped him survive this long and attain his position of power.


You are also introduced to Tara. She is Sookie's best friend. Allan Ball (director) changed her character from the books, and she is a sassy woman who takes shit from no one. Tara had a rough childhood with an alcoholic mother and is in love with Jason, who doesn't seem to realize it as he is so busy with all his other women.



Last (and certainly not least) is Sam, the lovable owner of Merlottes and Sookie's boss. Sam is a shapeshifter who turns into a collie. He watches over Sookie and also has a real thing for her. He also tends up in a complicated relationship with Tara.




The show was a hit, getting a higher rating than Soprano's did, and we know that Anna Paquin (Sookie) has signed a contract for 7 years! The show led me to read the series, and I am just as in love with that. Allan is basing the series loosely off of the books and so far it has stayed pretty close. Season two is slated for June 14, 2009!

One Skein Patterns (Crochet)

One Skein Patterns

Feeling a little ADD? Here are some quick projects to get your mojo movin!

V-Stitch Headband

V-Stitch Headband [Ravel-It!]

Difficulty: Easy

Materials: Small amount of WW cotton (2 oz. or less), H Hook, approximately 26 6mm beads

Note: You can add or subtract from the beginning chain to make it longer or shorter, as long as it is a multiple of 3. I made the chain, then sl st it together and made sure it fit my head before continuing.

Special Stitch: V-Stitch. dc, ch 1, dc in same space. http://www.anniesattic.com/crochet/content.html?content_id=21

prestring about 26 beads (may wanna do a few extra just to be sure)

Ch 78, sl st to form a ring (make sure it doesn't get twisted)

Row 1: ch 3. pull 1 bead up to hook, ch 1. dc in the same st as the ch 3. sk 2 st. *1 dc in next stitch. pull 1 bead up to hook, ch 1. dc in same space as last dc. skip 2 st.* repeat from * across. sl st to top of beg ch 3.

weave in ends.

Super Thick Potholder

[Ravel-It!]


Wool Ease Thick and Quick (Charcoal is used in the picture)
K Hook

Ch 2. Join with a sl st to form a ring
Round 1: Ch 1. Work 9 hdc in ring. Join with a sl st to top of beginning ch 1. (10 sc)
Round 2. Ch 2. Hdc in the same st as beginning ch 2. 2 hdc in each st around. Join with a sl st to top of beginning ch 2. (20 hdc)
Round 3: Ch 2. Hdc in the same st as beginning ch 2. Hdc in next st. *2 hdc in next st. hdc in next st.* Repeat from * around. Join with a sl st to top of beginning ch 2. (30 hdc)
Round 4: Ch 2. Hdc in the same st as beginning ch 2. Hdc in next 2 st. *2 hdc in next st. Hdc in next 2 st.* Repeat from * around. Join with a sl st to top of beginning ch 2. (42 hdc)
Round 5: Ch 2. Hdc in the same st as beginning ch 2. Hdc in the next 3 st. *2 hdc in next st. Hdc in the next 3 st.* Repeat from * around, ending with 2 hdc in last 2 st. (52 hdc)

Tie off and weave in ends.

Please let me know if you see any errors in the pattern.