Let’s decorate!

Yesterday I promised more options for the basket weave square.  I am going to start with the Simple Crochet Flower.  For the Simple Crochet Flower you will need approximately 50 inches of yarn per flower and an I hook.  If you want to be able to tie the crochet flowers to your afghan square, leave your beginning and ending yarn tails about 7 inches long.  If you would rather not have the bows on the other side of your square, you can whipstitch the flowers to your afghan square.

Simple Crochet Flower

ch 4, join to form ring. 

ch 1, sc in ring, (ch 4, sc in ring) 4 times, ch 4, join to beg ch 1.  Bind off. 

 

For the Spoolie Flowers, you will need approximately 40 inches of yarn and the pink Knifty Knitter Spool Loom plus a tapestry needle.  You will be wrapping the end with 5 pegs.  If you want to be able to tie your loom flowers to the afghan square, leave your beginning and ending yarn tails about 7 inches long. 

Spoolie Flowers

Using the end of the Spool Knitter with 5 pegs, hold the loom so that one peg is at the top (the pegs should resemble a star shape).   

The top most peg will be peg 3 for this pattern.  It is easiest to thread your working yarn onto a tapestry needle at this point.  Leaving a 7 inch tail, take your working yarn between pegs 1 and 5.  Wrap the yarn around peg 3 from left to right. 

Take your working yarn across the center and wrap around peg 1 from right to left.

Cross the center again and wrap peg 4 from left to right.  Cross to peg 2 and wrap the peg from left to right. 

Cross to peg 5 and wrap from right to left. 

Repeat these steps one more time.  There should be 2 loops on all pegs. 

Pull the working yarn down through the center of the loops on peg 3.  (Be careful not to pierce the loops with your needle) 

Take your working yarn under the petals and bring the working yarn up through the center of the loops on peg 5. 

Take the yarn back down through the loops on peg 2.  Take your working yarn under the petals again and bring it back up through the loops on peg 4.  Pull the working yarn down through the center of the loops on peg 1. 

Now you will weave the working yarn over and under the loops on the peg, going around the center twice.  This will give a nice circle outline to the center of the flower. 

Sew the working yarn through the bottom of the flower’s center. 

Remove the flower from the Spool Knitter by picking the loops over the pegs. 

    

Embroidery Options

Finally, I have some additional embroidery options for you.  I have drawn up a few templates that you can use to embroider your afghan squares instead of the flowers, if you so choose.  These are rather small designs and would be best worked in embroidery floss, rather than yarn.  I would work the outline in backstitch and the eyes with french knots.  Also, feel free to use these little sketches however you would like.  You can use them for other embroidery projects, or for notecards, or whatever strikes your fancy.  I hope you like them :o)

 Download Embroidery Sketches

 Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

A block with options…

Today kicks off the second Project Afghan/Lapghan class over at the Loom Class Group on Yahoo. The pattern is Flowers in my Baskets. It is a simple basketweave pattern decorated with flowers. The pattern describes how to embellish the square with embroidery. Not everyone enjoys embroidery so I wanted to talk about a few other options for this square. The first and simplest option would be to leave the square undecorated. 

As you can see, this square looks nice without the embroidery. However, if you are feeling like doing a little decorating, there are a few options. You can follow the pattern and embroider on your square.

    

The drawback with this option (in my opinion) is that the embroidery creates a right side and a wrong side for the block. This picture shows how the back will look after embroidering.

I am thinking the wrong side could be left as it is or decorated by adding some pretty felt shapes or squares.

Another option for this block would be to make Loom Blooms with the spool knitter and tie them on to your square. I really like how this turns out.

    

I love this option because both sides of the square are adorable. I’ve tied the loom blooms on the square with double knots. Then I made a bow and double tied that too. They should be quite secure.  This is how it looks on the other side.

    

A final suggestion would be some Simple Crochet Flowers. These can be attached with the same method as the Loom Blooms and so both sides of the square would be attractive with this option too.  I will have pictures of the crochet flowers for you tomorrow. 

For an afghan that needs to be less feminine, the block could be embroidered with sunbursts, stars, leaves, etc. - or just left undecorated.

Tomorrow I will post the instructions for the Simple Crocheted Flowers and the Loom Blooms so we’ll see you then Have a great day!

Quilly- Nilly

I’ve been trying my hand at quilling.  It is a pretty fun paper craft.  You can learn how to make some of the basic shapes used in quilling here.  Anyway, here are my first attempts at quilling:

                         

                                     

                                  

 

It’s a pretty fun craft and I think I will definitely be playing around with it once in awhile.  Have a great day! 

Mmmm for the Month - March Edition

Look at that. I waited to the very last day of the month to give the mmmm for the month. It’s been pretty busy around here. But here I am with something delicious to share Also, I changed the title to Mmmm for the Month. It makes more sense to me since I have been doing one of these each month since January. So without further ado:

Cheesecake Brownies

1 brownie mix, plus ingredients needed to make brownies

8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened

1 egg

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

 

Prepare the brownie mix as directed. Spread in greased pan. Combine cream cheese, egg, vanilla and sugar. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the brownie mix. Drag a knife through the batter to swirl if desired. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes, then at 300 for 15 minutes. Cheesecake brownies are done when a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool completely. Store any left overs in the refrigerator.

 

My boys really like this one. Even the finicky boy who doesn’t care for cream cheese (or much of anything else for that matter) Anyway, I hope you like the recipe! Have a great day!

A little photo story…

Found on the cupboard this morning after the kids were delivered to school:

Can you tell what is inside?

Gahhhhhh!!!!

What Easter brought…

Happy Easter everyone : )

I hope that you have a wonderful day and that your family can be close by.

I was able to finish my Center Heart Square.  I chose it as a companion square to the February afghan block on the Ravelry CAL.  Here it is:

And we had one other Easter ’surprise’:

We have been fighting strep throat over here.  Everyone has been on antibiotics since last Sunday.  Apparently my littlest peep didn’t respond to the antibiotics.  So she broke out in this yucky rash yesterday.  She had to get an injection today.  Poor baby :(  Well, hopefully she will be able to get rid of the strep now.

Have a wonderful Easter and Spring Break!

What’s up?

Things have been pretty busy around here.  The boys are nearing the end of third quarter at school and my oldest is buried under a pile of late work.  Asthma and ADHD, plus the fact that I made them quit holding him in from every single recess to work on classwork he wasn’t able to finish, have resulted in a large accumulation.  So we are in the scramble to get as much as possible in so that he can at least earn some points.  And hopefully not flunk ;)  The good news is that we were finally able to get them to reduce his classwork.  Yay!  I am so, so, so, so happy!!!  90% of what is sitting around here is unfinished classwork.  Not homework.  So, unlike other students in his class, he sits in a desk all day and then comes home to be stuck to the table all night.  I am hoping that the new 504 makes that a thing of the past.  Maybe he’ll finally be able to keep up and even have time to go play with friends in the neighborhood.

On the downside, we have been fighting step throat all week.  I was super sick on Monday and Tuesday.  I felt like I had been run over by a truck.  And my throat hurt so badly.  Then the boys developed sore throats on Wednesday night.  Now, I am worried that my littlest may have it too.  Between prescriptions and co-pays, strep throat has already cost us almost $100.00.  Yikes!  And now we need to take at least one more kiddo to the doctor.  Can you imagine the cost if we didn’t have insurance?  Crazy.

Other bits of interest:  My blogger issue has somehow been fixed!  I am able to leave comments on the blogger blogs that I like to visit again.  I really missed being able to drop in a comment here and there.  I am glad it is fixed.  On the other hand, I guess I can join the thread on Ravelry about blog scrapers now.  I have had at least five scrapes on my content now.  Several of the offenders have been suspended due to breach of acceptable use (which I hope is due to scraping my content) but one remains and I can’t find any contact information so that I can report it.  I don’t know why it annoys me.  I guess it’s because it’s just plain stealing.  If someone asked me if they could use my content, I might say yes.  But to just come copy my posts, word for word - it feels like a violation.  And it’s rude.  Why don’t they write their own posts?  Anyway…

In spite of the strep throat, I have accomplished a little bit.   I got my pattern typed up for the afghan class that Robin and I are working on for the Loom Class group.  I finally finished my Ice Cream Sundae Hat from Robin’s fabulous Strawberry Sundae Delight pattern.  And I completed my CAL square for the 2008 12″ Crochet Block-a-Month CAL group on Ravelry.  This months pattern was Cygnus.  It was a pretty nice pattern and easy to work up.  So far, I think my favorite block was January’s Dreamcatcher.   I love how lacy it looks.  I did learn a new technique for February’s block though.  It’s a great feeling when you learn something new ;o)  Here are my blocks so far:

         

Dreamcatcher                                      Cross My Heart

            

Cygnus                                                Mandala

In addition to the three blocks that we have done for the CAL, I have done one Mandala as a filler square and I started the Center Heart Square last night.  Don’t you just love Ravelry?!!  I probably would have never found these patterns and the more than 50 stashed in my queue without Ravelry.  Not to mention the dozens I printed out and will make one day.  Maybe when I’m a little old lady…  Have a great day!

Learn to Knit Cables on Looms - An Interview with Isela Phelps

I recently had the fabulous opportunity to interview Isela Phelps, loom knit designer and author of the new booklet, Learn to Knit Cables on Looms. Isela’s new booklet is a beautiful, glossy, soft-cover booklet with 9 brilliant designs that will take you on an exciting cabling journey. Inside the booklet, you will find helpful directions on making cables, including photographed visual aids. Cables can bring beauty and sophistication to your projects and Learn to Knit Cables on Looms is definitely an important addition to any loom knitter’s library. This booklet has a little something in it for everyone, whether you prefer socks, afghans, or purses and bags. I was trying to narrow down to one favorite project and just couldn’t choose between the Fairamay Shawl on page 12 and the Jamie’s Mitts on page 14. I think I am going to have to make them both. See how wonderful they are?

Here are some thoughts Isela shared in the interview about cables, her new booklet, and designing:

I love the look of cables, but have been afraid to try them. What advice or recommendations can you give to those of us who are just starting to try cables?

My number one recommendation is the following: take it slow. At first, it is going to be difficult and the instructions are going to read extremely bizarre, but they work. As you keep practicing, your cables would look better and better. In the famous words of Dory, (from Pixar’s movie Nemo) “Just keep swimming” or in our case, cabling.

(For a little extra motivation, maybe hum Dory’s song while you work on your cables)

The projects in the booklet are all written for large gauge looms like the Knifty Knitters. Do you have a favorite gauge for cables?

Cables look great on any stitch gauge, they look great knitted with thin yarns and with chunky ones too. They are just lovable!

The book has a really nice variety of projects in it. Do you have a favorite type of project to use cables in?

Socks. Oops, I said it again. Socks are my ultimate favorite project and I try to incorporate cables into them all the time.

You have so many lovely designs. What do you like most about designing?

Working out a challenge. For example, the earflap hat in the booklet. I had this idea in my head for this hat, I sketched it out and it looked great, until it came time to knit. I came to a road block when I had to decrease for the crown. I wanted the cable to continue up with the crown shaping which meant that the cable had to decrease too to go along with the shaping. I sat for a few afternoons writing, drawing, knitting, frogging but when everything was done, I felt extreme satisfaction!

Way to go Isela! It’s a very pretty hat. If you don’t have the booklet yet, here is the lovely Cion Earflap Hat featured on page 26 in the booklet:

Inquiring minds want to know - Where do you find the time to bring us such fabulous designs?

I really don’t have much free time. I am a person that has to be busy 24 hours a day and I try to squeeze all my activities into the 18 that I am awake although I book the entire 24. I sleep very little and when I am awake, I work as fast as I can (or as little as possible) on chores around the house, then I take care of my kiddos, while taking care of the kiddos, I drag my knitting, or my books around, so while they play I am either knitting or researching. If I don’t have my nose in a book, or my hands occupied with my knitting, I am at the computer. Much of my success, if I may call it that, has to do a lot with a supportive hubby. He is there for me and for the kids whenever we need him. The guy even goes to pick up cable needles and stitch markers for me from the yarn shop when I am on a tight deadline! So there you have it, my secret… it is Sam. I take some of his hours of his day and put them into mine.

I have the clean as little as possible down pat. I wonder if I can borrow Sam?

Finally, a lot of work goes into a project like this. What is one thing you would like to tell us about creating this booklet?

This booklet has been one of my most favorite projects to work on in my “looming career”. I was able to research and play around with a concept that has had me intrigued since childhood. Although I am very good at creating cables on needles, I wanted to bring that world into the loom knitting community and American School of Needlework allowed me to do that by providing me with this opportunity. Cables may look complicated but they are not, it is simple knitting with a few twists and turns that shape an ordinary project into something extraordinary. I sometimes think of cables as a person’s life. We are thrown little obstacles in our lives but each one of those obstacles polishes/shapes us into something better. I hope that the booklet helps others become enamored with cables and, like me, that they may take every chance they get to throw a little twist in their knits!

Wow! That’s a really neat way to look at things! Thank you Isela for this chance to visit with you and learn more about you and your new booklet! It’s been delightful!

Thank you Jenny, for having me on your blog and for hosting the tour of my little booklet.

Anytime, Isela! Thanks for sharing your talents with us and inspiring us.

So, if you don’t already have your copy of Learn to Knit Cables on Looms, hop on over to Decor Accents, Inc and grab one! Have a great day!

Bizarre Blogger

Blogger is giving me trouble.  For the last several weeks, I encounter a strange bug (?) when I leave comments on blogger.  It also happens when one of my best friends leaves a comment.  My name gets tacked on to her comment.  So it will say <best friend> and Jenny S  said:  and then the comment.  So weird!  And Blogger does not have a very straight forward help service.  So, I finally cancelled my Blogger account.  After all, I only signed up for it so I could leave comments on Blogger blogs.  But, then I wondered if I could create a new account and the problem might be left behind with the old account.  Hey, I’m optimistic!  Well, now I can’t even access comments at all.  I get this error:  bX-6ffx55   Alright, there has to be a solution, right?  So I even joined the Blogger Help Group.  Well, I must have stumped them because I got no response.  Anyone else having this problem?  Or better yet, anyone know how to resolve something like this?  I’m all ears…  Have a great night!

Fifteen!

15 what?  It could be the number of minutes my crazy boys were late today.  (Argh!!!)  It could be the number of multiplication sheets that my ADHD son has accumulated.  Maybe it is the number of spelling papers he is behind.  Actually, it is the number of minutes he cried last night when I gave him one of the multiplication sheets to work on.  Sigh.  Just 3 more months to summer.  Just three more months to summer.  Just 3 more months to summer…   While I repeat this soothing phrase, here’s a little snapshot of ADHD as this household experiences it:

Current list of Make-up Work:

1 Science Worksheet

1 Health Packet

2 Mountain Language (whatever that is) Sheets

2 Art Projects

2 Cursive Practices

5 Vocabulary Assignments

5 Math Quizes

7 Spelling Lessons

5 Spelling Worksheets

3 Math Tests

15 Multiplication Drills

plus whatever is in the four huge books in his backpack

and who knows how many book reports.  (we have only had time for 1 this year)

So how does a person get this far behind?  Maybe we just aren’t doing our best?  Well, of the previous list, the 7 spelling lists and 5 vocabulary assignments are actual homework.  The rest is class work that is not getting done so they send it home with him.  Why does that matter?  Because every 504 meeting, I ask that his classwork be reduced to a more achievable level for someone with moderate to severe ADHD.  And I am always told that he can do this.  Shuh!  Whatever!  Every year (K-4th) we end the school year with a stack of papers like the list above or larger.  And it’s always class work that didn’t get finished at school.  Oy vey!  Do you hear something?  It’s the sound of me beating my head on the desk.  Oh, don’t worry.  That big stack of homework papers is cushioning the blows…

Now, I hate to be negative.  I don’t usually tell anyone about this.  Except my hubby.  But by this time each school year, I am burned out.  Tired.  Ready to give up.  And feeling a bit down.  In my son’s 504, the ADHD impact is only listed as limiting Learning.  The truth is, school is hard.  Home life is hard.  Church is hard.  Family gatherings are hard.  Public outings are hard.  It’s all hard, hard, hard.  And it hits the whole family.  Guess how many times we have been to the local library in the last year.  Zero.  Too embarrassing.  How often do we take the kids to movies, restaurants, etc.  Very seldom.  Grocery stores are not such a good idea with the hyper troup.  Guess how many times my boys have run off to play with the neighborhood kids - oh, let’s say just this year.  None.  Oldest does homework all night long with only 15 minute intervals between.  Not long enough to engage a friend to play.  Scouting doesn’t seem to be happening this time around.  I don’t think he will get his wolf badge.  And the other boys are impacted too.  My Tanny-man has been slipping in spelling.  And my Tris has three speech therapy packets waiting.  Anyone know a good cloning service?  Or maybe a good place to run away - preferably somewhere homework is outlawed.  No?  Sigh.  Okay, some little angry kid just threw crackers at me and needs a time out.  Looks like ‘me’ time is over…