Free Pattern continues

Now that the color change is under control we can proceed. Alternating the two colors: I made 7 rows with the second color (C2) and 6 with main color, and continued with MC for 14 rows, or so.

Just don't forget to mark the end of the row, or the first stitch, otherwise you will have hard time figuring out where is the beginning of the row, unless, of course, you tend to do your own thing, just like me, then it doesn't really matter, does it?

Ok, then I made another set of alternating colors, and finished off two rows before the row where the slots for the "handle" is going to be done. But that will be another post, since I need to do some work now.

The pictures show the first set of rows, the middle part, and the edging and the cord with beads.

Oh, and a picture of one side of my desk. Don't you just love those piles of paper, and I have to print and clear about the same amount more, if only someone would have ordered TONER for the printer.

Someone (the one who was supposed to order it) just smugly told me "you just have to wait" GGGGRRRRRRRRR.

Free Pattern - Crocheted Bag color change

Insert hook to next stitch loops, pull yarn thru, drop the first color and yo with new color, pull the new color thru the two loops. Continue with the new color.

If this is not clear enough, you could check about.com for instructions.

Free Pattern - Crocheted Draw Bag

The pictures show the bottom of the bag:


Here is the beginning of the free pattern for a crocheted bag:

Materials: 2 - 3.5 oz (100g) Red Heart Cotton Twist, in color of your choice, I used turquoise (MC)
1 - 3.5 oz (100g) Red Heart Cotton Twist, in another color of your choice, I used
olive green (C2), and not the whole skein.

Second color is optional, of course.
Size 4.5 mm crochet hook
8 wooden beads with large hole
1 sheet plastic canvas, (or ready cut round plastic canvas,)
cut a piece in about 6" diam.
Size 4.5 mm crochet hook (size 7 US, or Size G or H depending on your gauge)
darning needle
row marker: a string of different color, or paper clip, or something else to
mark your rows, since we do not join rounds, unless otherwise told
Gauge: 8 rows sc is 2" (In my humble opinion this isn't too important, as long as you cut the


canvas after the bottoms are done.
Stitches: ch, sc, sl

Bottom, make 2

Using MC

Chain 2,
make 8 sc on the second ch from the hook.
Row 2: 2 sc in each sc (16 sc) do not join
Row 3: 1 sc, 2sc in next sc, 1 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat to marker (24 sc)
Row 4: 2 sc, 2sc in next sc, 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat to marker (32 sc )
Row 5: 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat to marker (40 )
Row 5: 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat to marker (48)
Row 6: 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat to marker (56)
Row 7: 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat to marker (64)
Row 8: 7 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 7 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat to marker (72)
Row 9: 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat to marker (80)
Row 10: sc in each sc to end. Cut yarn, leaving long enough tail to weave in later.

Make second bottom part the same way.

Do not cut the yarn on the second bottom part, but use the yarn to stitch the bottoms together, using sc and stitching on back loops. When you are half way thru, insert the canvas inside. Close the bottom. This might be a bit tricky, but if I could do it, you could do it too.



Next row: using both loops of the stitch, sc in each stitch, for about 5 rows

Now comes the color change part and I will post pictures on the next post to show how to change color, I hope the pictures are clear enough.

This is the finished bag:

More instructions coming soon

Jacket is done

The picture does not show the niceness of this spring jacket. I have to start wearing it immediately, before the weather gets too warm. Isn't that a shame.

The free pattern writing is very difficult, for me, so I thought I just start with little bit at a time.

That will be my next post, later today.

Friday, yippee

I'll be working on a free pattern this weekend.
I finished one pocket for the jacket, and the other pocket is on its way.
I had a stomach flu yesterday, for one dang day. Started in the middle of the night, and continued until last night. Today is a little bit better day.
I missed the miserable rainy day yesterday, what a pity. I was sleeping most of the day.

Spring Jacket

Finally, all the pieces, the bigger ones, are done. Except the button band. Oh, and I have to do the assembly and blocking and then keep my fingers crossed that it fits.

Find That Water

The book came today: Julia Cameron's "Finding Water". Does this mean that I have to read it, or do I put in on the shelf and hope to be able to read it one day. Right now I am not too pleased with myself. I have not done my morning pages, as per Julia Cameron's "Artist's Way" book tells you to do.

I am still not sure who or what I am.

In less than two weeks I will be walking by the river, which is in the picture.

Monday Snow pictures

Here are some pictures I took on my way home from work. Not too much snow left in our area.

Monday snow

It's been a week, and nothing exciting has happened, really.
I started some morning and evening pages, and did quite well, until Saturday and
Sunday. This morning I wrote the time and the date, and five words.

I am still working on the spring jacket. The first sleeve is on the needles, but heaven knows
when the whole thing is done. I had a brilliant idea this morning, on the way to work, to make a cable button band, with button holes and all. that means some thinking from my part, since, of course, I don't have a dang pattern to do that. I have to chart it myself. Crap.

I was not going to mention anything about my project I was working on last week, but I give you a hint: it's going to be a free pattern, but everyone must be patient. I am not a pattern writer, so it's going to take a while. At least this week.

The books that I ordered last week from Amazon.com have not arrived, so I have to read the books I have on hand; and the one right now is the organizing book.

It is such a pleasure when I find something immediately, like a roll of sewing thread that I needed yesterday. I knew I had seen it many times in the past few days. So of course I went to get it, where I "knew" it was, but was not. It was in front of me on the table where I had my
project. To see or not to see? I need new glasses.

My Clones Lace book is still missing. I keep looking for something else, but from the corner of my eye I peek if that book would show up, since I am "not looking" for it. I think I have to check if Amazon has it, and order it, just to find my own one. This mess that I have in my stash room is costing me too much money.

Oh, the snow? Yes, it's snowing now. But "they" promised it will change to rain later on.

First Week

Let's see how long this is going to last. I did my morning pages after I arrived to work. Well, I slept in, and had to rush. So there was no time to write anything at home. I arrived 15 minutes early, after all.
I also did some "evening pages" after reading some pages from "The Artist's Way" last night.
Yesterday's Simple Abundance was about "how do I look". I did look fairly rotten yesterday, at times, because I felt rotten. I must start feeling better about myself, so maybe I would look better.
I left the book at home, and feel that I should call my hubby (I called) and ask what is the theme for today in the SA book. I have a sketch book, knitting, and The Artist's Way book with me, as well as the note book, where I write my "evening and morning pages".

Today's quote is "accepting yourself as you are today". How do I do that? Nothing is clear for me today. In other words, I should accept the fact that I am disorganized and alive.


While looking for my valuable books, including "Clones Lace" I found, on the bookshelf, "the right to write" by Julia Cameron. I am still looking for my rights.



This bag has nothing to do with what I am doing right now, other than it's another thing that I can't find.



Shame on me, to be such a disorganized individual. There must be a book somewhere that tells me how to organize my stuff. I do have one, called something like "organizing for creative people" close enough.



OMG, I took a peek in the pages...I found the book in Amazon, and I got

shivers and my heart started racing. Someone can come and organize me first.

Artist Way

You should know that every once in a while I act logically, and even think logically.
I have a filing cabinet that has doors, opening to two shelves, and three pull out drawers.
I have my art supplies in the cabinet part. Brushes, paints, pencils, sketch books, etc.
On my way home from work I decided to check in that cabinet, and sure enough, both Julia Cameron's books were there: "The Artist's Way" (paperback) and "Walking in this World" (hardcover!). The Artist's Way book is full of stickers, I am sure I have tried to study what is in it. Logic has worked, at least once in my life. or twice now.

I could not cancel my order from Amazon, it's already being prepared for shipment. Some lucky person is going to get the AW book from me. The workbook stays with me, as well as the "Finding Water".


Allright then, I will now go and read some of my interesting books. First the Simple Abundance and then Artist's Way, oh, and knit some.

I wish I found things easily

I spent a good hour yesterday, looking for a book by Julia Cameron. It's the "Artist Way".
I have had it for years, and I even bought another book by her, something to do with walking.
That one is somewhere safe, too.
What did I do today? First I checked the library listings, but all the copies are waiting for someone, or at least they are not available right now. Then I called a surplus bookstore, but the lady has not called back yet.
What did I do then? I went surfing in Amazon, and the water was high, and inviting, and I ordered three books. "Finding Water", "Artist Way", and "Artist Way Workbook". by the time I'll get home, I am sure my "Artist Way" has found itself in a visible place. No problem, I am sure I can find someone who has a birthday coming up, and wants the book. This is ONLY, if my own copy shows up.

A friend of mine sent me a book "Simple Abundance" and I am now reading it one day at a time.
The book is at home, so I can't tell what I read yesterday. I have not read today's entry yet.

I found it!

First, on Thursday I received two books from Amazon.com. One was Jenny Dowde's Freeformations and the other was ... oops, I forgot, that means I have to go and look, just a sec.

Yes, it was Yarn stash ideas.

On Friday, I received a beautiful ATC from my friend Janet. She is a master making these cards, but she's also a master with her paintings.


Here is the card:


And this morning, regardless of the stupid fact that I slept until 10:30,

I found the box my hubby and I have been looking for two weeks.

In the box I have yarn, bought from WOOLCO, if anyone remembers that store. One skein cost $1.89, which wasn't too expensive even then. This must be over 20 years ago. I know, because I had not met my now-hubby yet. I bought it when my mom visited me before I met him. Yeeeaaa, so the yarn must be 20 years old. Woolco closed its doors, in Canada, in the early 90's.

My mom made about 45 - 4" squares and I had made 5, different ones. I had also started something from a pattern that appeared in Vogue knitting, 1993. I must have thought that the squares didn't make anything nice.

I need to go grocery shopping, but I would like to stay at home and PLAN, I am good at planning, what to do with this treasure.
So, what, if my hand still hurts. I can plan, can I?

I still have to find a ball of size 20 red Opera thread, and the Clones Lace book. I need to look for something else, and those two will show up. I was looking for the book, when I found the yarn.
It works every time.

Right hand crochets IC

After a visit to my doc and took some antibiotics, my right hand is doing much better. And to see how it was doing, I knitted a few rows on my jacket. Just a few, like 4 or 5. I am at the sleeve, so there are not that many stitches as in the back part.

This morning, out of the blue, I decided that I need to do some Irish crochet, and my first project would be a maple leaf. There is a pattern in "Clones Lace"- book, which I have. I have made one maple leaf before, but I want to make another one, with smaller thread. I used size 10 thread, and now will be brave and use maybe 20, ouch. If I can find the red size 20 thread in my stash. I know I have it, in Opera. Isn't this just too much, I am constantly searching for something that I have, but have hard time finding. This is the blessing of being utterly disorganized.

This is what I did before, and want to make another one. I do need the pattern to get the same effect. I know how to make leaves, but this new idea is for a special project, and I would like to make it perfectly.

I asked my hubby to look for the book, since I didn't find it this morning. I found the other Irish Crochet book, "Irish Crochet Technique and Projects" by The Priscilla Publishing Co. but there is no pattern for a maple leaf. I am keeping my fingers crossed that he finds it.

My hand didn't mind the crochet hook, when I tested it this morning. Knitting seems to be more straining than crocheting. I didn't crochet for years, well sometimes I did, but when knitting started hurting, I switched to crocheting. Now I do both depending on the hands. Sheesh. I should insure my hands.

********************************************

Update:

I finished the maple leaf, without the pattern:

My right hand

And I am not talking about any persons here, talking about my hand.
I am right-handed, I do have left hand, too, but that is the assistant to my right hand.
The other night I must have slept in an awkward position, because when I woke up in the
morning, my right hand, around the thumb was sore like a sob. Sob as in sobbing, not the
other meaning.

Have you ever tried to close your bra, if you wear one, when the tendon around your thumb is
sprained? Have you ever held the toothbrush in your left hand when brushing your teeth, if you are right-handed. I would ask left-handed same question, in reverse, but if I do that, I won't see the keyboard....

Did you know that teeth are good tools? I was able to open an Advil bottle with my teeth, piece of cake. However, trying to open a jam jar to get jam on my toast bread, is another story. The lid is just too tight and holding the jar under my arm isn't a good idea, don't ask.

I think that the two Advils I took this morning, made my brain a bit impaired. When I got out of my car this morning (this is at work), I put the office key in my LEFT pocket, my bags and jacket on my left arm, holding, carefully, my travel mug, with coffee, in my RIGHT hand.
I had to unlock the door, of course, and it was a beautiful sight to see me getting the key from my pocket, holding the coffee mug and trying not to spill any coffee anywhere.

Yesterday I was talking about knitting and trying to finish the jacket, that I started a few weeks ago. Well, I tried to knit last night, and please do not tell anybody, but the movement made my hand even worse.

I wish I knew how to knit the funny way, where one throws the yarn over the needle. I would think that my right hand would not have so much work to do, when knitting two sts. together.
Maybe I am wrong, and since I am wrong in different matters, way too often, I will leave knitting for now, until my hand is all better. kiss kiss.

Birthday

My son's MIL had a birthday yesterday. We went to Mandarin restaurant to have some Chinese food. I was very careful with my eating because I didn't want to feel stuffed afterwards.


I was good.


The waiters came to bring a little cake with a candle for the birthday girl, but they had a mistake in who had the big day, and gave the cake to our granddaughter. She looked stunned, and kept saying, quietly, 'it's nana's birthday', but she did blow out the candle. We had a good laugh, and the picture is of our granddaughter, still baffled about the birthday cake.

I've been working on my vest, now a jacket, and have finished the back and both front pieces, and working now on the sleeves. I started that a few weeks ago, and stopped to do other things, but now am determined to finish it.

What a morning

This was the sight from the bus stop on my street this morning. I also had to cross the road at this part. Well, I didn't, I walked a bit away from the lake.

Waited for the bus for 30 minutes, and got a seat. But then I decided to take another bus, but got a seat there, too. I was just getting my knitting out of my bag, when I got a phone call; don't go to work, the building has no power. Off the bus, wait for another one to take me back home. By this time I didn't worry about the water and slush on the street, my feet were soaking wet already. I went to the mall and met a co-worker and my hubby there. He brought me a pair of dry shoes and socks. We had a coffee, chatted and left for home.