Finished cap for granddaughter

Isn't this Cute?

 If only they had sent a side and back view.

The pattern came from Jolly Holidays eBook from Red Heart Yarn.  This is a free eBook, but I don't remember where it came from.  I also didn't use the cardboard or plastic for the bill.  I want it to be washable and cardboard isn't.

Easy-to-Crochet Petite-Brimmed Cap
By Sharon Mann
This easy crocheted cap is trendy and terrific! The brim has a piece of stiffening between its two layers so it’s sure to keep its shape. This hat is great for chilly weather or bad hair days.
Cap circumference at bottom edge: 18”
MATERIALS:
 Red Heart® Super Saver® (Art. E300) solid color 7 oz (198 g), 364 yd (333 m); multi color and print 5 oz (141 g), 244 yd (223 m),flecks 5 oz (141g), 260 yds (238 m) skeins): 1 skein 313 Aran
 Crochet hook, 5mm [US H-8]
 Heavy-weight interfacing or plastic for brim
 Stitch markers
 Yarn needle
GAUGE: 16 dc = 4”; 9 rows = 4”. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.
SPECIAL ABBREVIATION:
Fpdc = Front post double crochet (this stitch really confused me but all you do is put your hook through the post created by the double crochet stitch in the previous row)
INSTRUCTIONS:
CAP
Ch 4, slip st in first st to form ring.
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), work 7 dc in ring, slip st to top of beginning ch to join, place marker for beginning of round – 8 sts.
Round 2: Ch 3, 2 dc in same space, 3 dc in each st around, slip st in top of beginning ch – 24 sts.
Round 3: Ch 3, [(dc and Fpdc) in next st, dc in next 2 sts] 7 times, (dc and Fpdc) in next st, dc in last st, slip st in top of beginning ch – 32 sts; 8 Fpdc.
Round 4: Ch 4 (counts as dc and ch 1 here and throughout), skip next st, [(dc and Fpdc) in next st, ch 1, skip next st, dc in next st, ch 1, skip next st] 7 times, (dc and Fpdc) in next st, ch 1, skip next st, slip st in top of beginning ch – 40 sts.
Round 5: Ch 3, dc in ch-1 space, dc in next st, *(dc and Fpdc) in next st, [dc in ch-1 space, dc in next st] twice; repeat from * 6 more times, (dc and Fpdc) in next st, dc in ch-1 space st, slip st in top of beginning ch – 48 sts.
Round 6: Ch 4, skip next st, dc in next st, *ch 1, skip next st, (dc and Fpdc) in next st, [ch 1, skip next st, dc in next st] twice; repeat from * 6 more times, ch 1, skip next st, (dc and Fpdc) in next st, ch 1, skip next st, slip st in top of beginning ch – 56 sts.
Round 7: Ch 3, *[dc in ch-1 space, dc in next st] twice, (dc and Fpdc) in next st, dc in next ch-1 space, dc in next st; repeat from * 6 more times, [dc in ch-1 space, dc in next st] twice, (dc and Fpdc) in next st, dc in next ch-1 space, slip st in top of beginning ch – 64 sts.
Round 8: Ch 4, skip next st, *[dc in next st, ch 1, skip next st] twice, (dc and Fpdc) in next st, ch 1, skip next st, dc in next st, ch 1; repeat from * 6 more times, [dc in next st, ch 1, skip next st] twice, (dc and Fpdc) in next st, ch 1, skip next st, slip st in top of beginning ch – 72 sts.
Jolly Holidays eBook from Red Heart Yarn
Find more crochet and knitting patterns, yarn inspiration and creative ideas at www.redheart.com.
33
Round 9: Ch 3, *[dc in ch-1 space, dc in next st] 3 times, Fpdc in next Fpdc, dc in next ch-1 space, dc in next st; repeat from * 6 more times, [dc in ch-1 space, dc in next st] twice, Fpdc in next Fpdc, dc in next ch-1 space, slip st in top of beginning ch – 72 sts.
Round 10: Ch 4, skip next st, *[dc in next st, ch 1, skip next st] 3 times, Fpdc in next Fpdc, ch 1, skip next st, dc in next st, ch 1; repeat from * 6 more times, [dc in next st, ch 1, skip next st] 3 times, Fpdc in next Fpdc, ch 1, skip next st, slip st in top of beginning ch – 72 sts.
Rounds 11-15: Repeat Rounds 9-10, end with Round 9.
Round 16: Slip st in each st around.
Fasten off.
Brim
Top Side
Mark 22 sts on front of Cap on Round 16 for Brim.
Row 1: With right side facing, join yarn in first marked st, working in front loops only, sc in each next 22 sts.
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across, sc in back loops in next 4 sts on Cap – 26 sts.
Row 3: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across, sc in front loops in next 4 sts on Cap – 30 sts.
Row 4: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across, sc in back loop in next st on Cap – 31 sts.
Row 5: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across, sc in front loop in next st on Cap – 32 sts.
Row 6: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across, sc in back loop in next st on Cap – 33 sts.
Row 7: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across, sc in front loop in next st on Cap – 34 sts.
Fasten off.
Bottom Side
Row 1: With wrong side facing, join yarn on wrong side of Row 1 of Brim, sc in back loops of first 22 sts.
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across, sc in front loops in next 4 sts on Cap – 26 sts.
Row 3: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across, sc in back loops in next 4 sts on Cap – 30 sts.
Row 4: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across, sc in front loop in next st on Cap – 31 sts.
Row 5: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across, sc in back loop in next st on Cap – 32 sts.
Row 6: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across, sc in front loop in next st on Cap – 33 sts.
Row 7: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across, sc in back loop in next st on Cap – 34 sts.
Fasten off.
FINISHING
Using Brim as a template, cut a piece of interfacing or plastic to same dimensions. Slip piece in between layers of Brim and sew Brim

Sunspots?

Haven't been here for a few days because my wireless keeps dying on me.  Needless to say it really annoys me when this happens.

Anyway, I have finished my pink embroidery handkerchief and have moved on to my pillowcases.  As soon as I finish the sewing I'll be starting on the edging.

Does anyone else have a problem with Google invading our privacy?  I am seriously considering just abandoning anything with Google attached.  It might make it more difficult to accomplish some of my goals but selling my information is the same as selling ME and slavery has been outlawed in this country for more than a century.  Where will it stop?  Will Google sell my grandchildren's pictures to porn sites?  Will they sell my private information to terrorists?  Will they sell "me" to identity thieves?  I really have a problem with this whole program.

I may or may not be back.

When Did Winter Decide to Show Up?

This morning we woke up to rain and snow!  YESSSSS!!  This is the first moisture we have seen in 6 weeks.  If we are really lucky we will get enough to cover the ground for a few days and it will sink in deep enough to stave off the fire dangers we face every summer.  Still don't know why winter has been so long getting here this year.  My husband says it is El Nino, or the shift of our axis from those big earthquakes last year, or it is the Maya Calendar (tho I tell him that isn't supposed to show up until 12-21-12), or it is just the natural cycle of how the universe works.  I think it is the last one.

Speaking of the Maya Calendar End Of The World;  I am going to throw a party for this.  If the world is really going to end, it should happen with a party (or a wake, whichever you prefer).  Truthfully, I just want another reason to party at the end of the year!


Yesterday I didn't blog because I got wrapped up in "helping" my husband with some of his projects.  Won't tell you what they are because I am absolutely NO help at all.  I don't like to get dirty/greasy/oily/whatever.  My idea of homework is cleaning the house, sewing, decorating, etc.  Mechanical, electrical, what have you, are "Honey-do" jobs.  Okay, I am a female chauvinist.  Live with it.


We went out go dinner last night (first time in a while) and had really good Mexican.  Larry had Margaritas and I had coffee.  We have always had the agreement that one of us is a designated driver.  Usually it is me but that is all right.  I would rather get home in one piece.  We spent the evening visiting with family, first out with the brother-in-law and his family and then with my brother at his place.  It was a great visit with each.


Gotta go do some more chores and some walking.  Will put pictures of some of my projects when I get my camera working again.  Hope it is just dead batteries.  Ta-Ta for now.

Even At Home We Work

Hi, folks.  Playing with the camera and adding pictures of my finished and in-progress embroidery projects. 


The handkerchiefs are simple line stitches using one strand of floss on the pink one and two strands on the white one.  I have 6 handkerchiefs in this set and will be crocheting or tatting the edging.  I want to use the same color for the edging as I use to embroider them.  Need to find a really good site or store for #60 thread.


The Apron is yellow gingham with a cross stitch picture  centered on the front. This pattern came from the book Women's Day Celebrating Christmas, published in 1979.  This book has crafts, cooking, organization, songs, etc. regarding getting ready for Christmas.  I have used the recipes in this book for many events and made many of the projects on its' pages.  When you find something this useful, you keep it forever.


I have cut out the black slim skirt that I got out of a Woman's Day magazine years ago.  As soon as I can get back into town I will get the Zipper that I forgot Monday and will hopefully get it finished within the next week.


My husband is on his last day before his long change.  For those of us who are not in the mining industry or on the type of schedule that is used in our area, a long change is when there is seven days off between working days and going to nights.  The usual schedule around here is: work four nights, three days off, work three days, one day off (called the coffee break), work three nights have three days off, work four days and have seven days off.  Basically, the guys get a week off every month.  But they also work eleven and a half hours every shift.  Long shifts when it takes an hour to get to your job site.


Well, lots to do so I'll try to get back, if I can, while my husband is off.  No promises.  Usually he has projects that he wants my "help" with.  I love him but his projects are vastly different than mine.  Add that winter might actually  be finally arriving and his projects will probably include paint, nails, etc. that I only use when I absolutely have to.  Talk with you later.

Getting Caught Up

Wow, today I really got stuff done!  I finished my haircut cape and it is great.  Stays on and everything.I managed to get both of the crochet caps done for my daughter and granddaughter.  I found some poly/paper (and that is what it is called) at Home Depot and used it to copy a pattern for a skirt that I got several years ago from a pattern magazine.  The pieces of the skirt were printed on both sides of the sheet and I had to copy the pieces so I could cut the skirt out.  I will get it sewn up tomorrow. 


While I was out and about I stopped in at JoAnn's Fabric to get some oil for my sewing machine.  They have Simplicity patterns on sale for (are you ready for this?) 99 cents.  That's right I got two 1940's retro patterns for less than a buck each.  I have been looking for a blouse pattern with a front yoke for a couple of years.  It seemed all I could find were western cut shirts and blouses.  The patterns I got are #3688 and #4044.  Both have skirt, pants and jacket and #3688 has the blouse I have been looking for.  I can hardly wait to start making these outfits!


Along with finishing up some little projects with the sewing machine I am also looking into getting some flat sheets that have a nice pattern on them to use as backing for some quilt blocks that I am putting together.  It has to be easier to use something that already has the shape you are looking for and some of those sheets are nicer that my bedroom furniture.  I'll let you know how it goes.


At some point I will be able to put pictures in of the projects that I am working on.  Every day I learn a little bit more.  Talk with you all later.

Not so Lazy Day

Didn't get much of anything done the last few days.  Went with my husband to play winter greens at the golf club.  Walked the 9 holes that are set up.  It was a nice day except that the wind keeps blowing and it is a COLD wind this time of year.

Did a little bit of taking apart one of my tatted doilies because of a mistake.  Undoing those knots is TOUGH when you pull it too tight trying to undo it.

Did some more on my Wolf Family Cross Stitch.  I still need a magnifying glass on a floor stand so I can see the stitches.  The older I get the more my eyes don't like small stuff, but I love it.

Have my cape for haircuts ready to sew up and finish.  It will be done today, as will my husbands' work shirt and my table runner hems.  I will continue to work on my daughters' cap, my granddaughters' cap, my grandsons' slippers, my granddaughters' slippers, and my tablecloth.  If I spend 15-20 minutes on each project that I have started they will get done sooner than trying to do all of one project at a time.  And the easier projects will be done first and give me a sense of accomplishment that will keep me motivated to finish all the rest.

I am really looking forward to my birthday because I have told my husband that the only thing I want is the lamp/magnifier/direction holder that is at JoAnn's.  It is expensive but I believe it will work very well for my cross stitch projects (of which I have about 8 to finish).

Well, life (and my husband) tells me it is time to get breakfast going.  Be back later.

This has been a relatively good day.  My kitchen is all cleaned up, the vegie trays are all made, the baking is done, and I am a happy camper. 

I finished my granddaughter's cape, except for the frogs to keep it closed, and I am working on my daughter's cap.  I have to make one out of a yarn that is easier to work with because the yarn that Erin picked out is really difficult to see (it's really dark) and the pattern has a couple of directions that I need to play with to understand. But the yarn she picked out is so soft that once the cap is done it will be worth all of the trouble.  And yes, I mean that I made a cape for Jerrika and am making a cap for Erin.

The pillowcases I am working on are almost completely embroidered.  I am debating whether to use number 20 or 30 or 40 crochet thread and crochet the edging or just tat up some edging.  If I could find some colored thread in the fine sizes I would love to crochet it but since I only have white and ecru I guess I'll just flip a coin.

I have put aside the egg cartons and the shells that actually came out close to being half a shell.  They make good seed start containers and when you put them in the ground in the spring all you have to do is crack the shells and put the whole thing in the place you need it.  I also put all of my vegie waste in a container so I can dump it into a compost heap.  I have finally figured out how to do it.

Many more things to do before bed, so I'll write more tomorrow.

What happened

Ever have one of those days?  You know; you start doing something and it turns out you forgot that you had other things that absolutely HAD to be done.


I had to do grocery shopping yesterday (and house sit for a friend waiting for delivery of new furniture, which I forgot).  I got my groceries in the fridge, grabbed some breakfast, then had to run to my friends.  When I got home an hour later I completely forgot about the meat in the fridge.  I ended up remembering when I went to grab lunch.  Needless to say I got to spend about 3 hours vacuum sealing my meat.


With only the two of us food expenses are really high.  Most of the good meat comes at an extremely outrageous price.  So when it is in family packs or on sale I go crazy.  Then I just vacuum seal it and put it in the freezer.  This way I always have good meat to use, whether it is just the two of us or if the brother/sister and their kids come over. (Even thought they don't show up often.)


I also forgot that I wanted to post here.  This is a new thing for me so I may forget now and then until it becomes a habit.


Speaking of habits, I have a goal for this month.  I want to get into the habit of not using the dishwasher.  As I said, there are only the two of us so a dishwasher is not really necessary.  Maybe what I want to do is get in the habit of not having ANY dirty dishes around before I go to sleep at night.


One of the things that my Grandma always said:  If you go to bed with dirty dishes, you will never get a good nights sleep.  She was so right.  I left a couple of glasses in the living room last night and I slept very badly.  


Occasionally I will post some of Grandma J's "words of wisdom" (small letters are from her since she never thought she was brilliant).  My all time favorite saying from her is: "a stiff pecker has no conscience".  This from a little old Christian lady who was also a ranch wife, a line cook, a restaurant cook, a mother of 7 and a realist from the word go.


Thanks for letting me reminisce. 


Today is for getting my husband ready for work, so I will be making cookies, brownies, krispy squares, slicing vegies, pealing oranges, etc.  Also making sure his diggers are clean and packed. I do all of the knife kitchen work on the day after I buy groceries, about twice a month, so I only have to do it once and when it comes time to do his lunches even he can get it together easily.  All of the vegies, fruit, snacks, etc. are in zip-lock bags in baskets in the fridge so they can be easily grabbed and put in the lunch box.  The only thing that we make the day of work is the sandwich.  I never have gotten used to those sandwiches you buy that come wrapped is hermetically sealed plastic wrap.  Frozen is better.  Fresh is the best.


Have to get to baking so I'll be back later.

Ready for Today?

Didn't get as much done on my pillowcases as I would have liked.  Will work on it today.

Is anyone else reading George R. R. Martin's A Song of Fire & Ice series?  I am forcing myself to read A Game of Thrones again.  My husband has all of them and I have only read the first one.  Usually I will read anything but I really don't like these people.  They are all vicious and useless and totally immoral.  I may not be the perfect person, but you just don't treat people the way these characters treat each other.  Anyway, I am going to read all of them so Larry will stop teasing me.

I am also working on an afghan that will be a gift for Christmas.  It will be in Granny Squares and has a four-color scheme.  Hope it will look as good as I think it will.  It is very simply double crochet (which goes very fast).

The little storage container that I am making should be done tomorrow.  Figuring out how the top should be attached is giving me some problems.  It is crocheted in the round and looks really cute.  I used one of those Zap soup cups (Cleaned out really well, of course) as the form.  In fact it will be left in so anything that leaks will make the mess in the cup and be easier to clean.  The crochet part can just be thrown in the washing machine with sweaters, etc and it should be fine.

I am saving up small cans (tomato sauce, mushroom, soup, etc.) to use to start my garden this year.  Hopefully, I will be able to get it in and going before June is gone.  Last year we had rain for so long into the season that nothing got planted.  I was setting up my Square Foot garden and by the time the weather let me get out there with the cement mixer (electric), which I used to mix the soil, it was almost fall.  So this year is the one for food growth.  I look forward to canning up my vegies.  I remember doing that as a kid with my Mom and Grandma.

My Sister-in-law gave me some beautiful red fabric as a liner in the basket of goodies we got for Christmas.  I love it and plan to use it as a tablecloth just as soon as I find the contrast fabric I want to use as a backing.

Well, If I don't do it it won't get done so I'll sign off for now.

First Post

I had a stupid moment this morning.  I forgot how my sewing machine works!  When you don't use it, you do lose it.

I had to put the reflective tape on my husbands' new work shirt.  He is an underground miner and reflective tape on clothing is a safety requirement.  That is just one of the things I like about the company he works for.  Safety is the first requisite.  Gotta love it.

I was going through my various craft bins and have decided that it is time to finish up all of the projects I have that are only half finished.  The quilt for my granddaughter, the wall hanging for my nephew, the pillow for my sister-in-law, the pillowcases for my daughter.  You know,  all of the ones I lost interest in or just plain lost in my craft/office.  I have about 14 of them that I put aside for a few minutes and haven't gotten back to.  I'll try to put photos of the completed projects but I'm not really bright about that kind of thing.

Well, have a house to clean up and crafts to get done.