Easy Lacy Shawl - Crochet Pattern

Easy Lacy Shawl
Yarn: Bulky weight (5) Used: 2 skeins Patons Rumor Colorway: Fern Heather
Total yardage: 168 yards
Hook: L

Motif: make 9 for small (work two extra motifs to go up every size, making sure there is always one more motif on top row than on bottom.)
Ch 4. Sl st to join in a loop.

Round 1: Ch1. 8 sc in loop. Slst in first sc to join.

Round 2: ( Ch 7. Sk next sc. 1 sc in next sc.) 3 times. Ch 7. sc in joining sl st of previous round. (4 loops, 4 scs.)

Round 3: Slst, catching both top loops of ch, in first 4 chs of first ch7 loop. Sc in top of ch7 loop. ( Ch9. Sc into middle of nect ch7 loop.) 3 times. Ch 9. sl st into first sc to join. (4 ch9 loops, 4 scs.)

Round 4: Ch 1. (11 sc in ch9 loop. 1 sc in scs.) 3 times. 11 sc in last ch9 loop. sc into ch1 to join. (48 sc)

Round 5: Ch 1. (1 sc in each of next 3 sc. Ch3. slst into same st (picot)) 15 times. 1 sc into each of next 2 sc and into sc of previous round. Picot. Slst into 1st sc. Fasten off.

To join motifs:
Follow pattern to first corner picot of second motif. Ch 1. Sc into corner picot of first motif. Ch 1. Slst to finish picot. Join net 3 picots and next corner picot in same way, following pattern. Continue with pattern to finish round.
Join 5 motifs in a strip.

For 6th motif, join in this way:
Work corner picot for 6th motif. Join next picot of 6th motif with picot of 2nd motif left of center. Join middle picot of 6th motif with joined corner picots of 1st and 2nd motifs. Join next two picots of sixth motif with next two picots of 1st motif.

For 7th-9th motif, join in this way:
Work corner picot for 7th motif. Join next picot of 7th motif with picot of 3rd motif left of center. Join middle picot of 7th motif with joined corners of 2nd and 3rd motifs. Join next picot of 7th motif with right of center picot of 2nd motif. Join next corner picot of 7th motif with center picot of 2nd motif and right corner picot of 6th motif. Join next 4 picots of 7th motif with corresponding pictos of 6th motif. Work to end of Round 5. Repeat for 8th and 9th motifs. (For 9th motif, join 1st corner picot with middle picot of 5 motif then continue joining following pattern. Weave in ends.

joining diagram (does not include edging or ties.)

Edging and ties:

Join yarn with a slip stitch into right corner picot of 1st motif. sc in picot. (Ch 3. Sc in next picot.) 5 times. Ch3. sc into 1st and 6th motif join. (Ch3. Sc in next picot) 7 times. Ch 3. Dc into 6th and 7th motif picot corner join. (Ch 3. Sc in next picot.) 3 times. Ch3. Dc into 7th and 8th motif picot corner join. (Ch3. Sc in next picot.) 3 times. Ch 3. Dc into 8th and 9th motif picot corner join. (Ch 3. Sc in next picot.) 7 times. Sc into 9th and 5th motif join. (Ch 3. Sc in next picot.) 8 times. Ch 3. Dc into 5th and 4th motif picot corner join. (Ch 3. Sc in next picot.) 3 times. Ch 3. Dc into 4th and 3rd motif picot corner join. (Ch 3. Sc in next picot.) 3 times. Ch 3. Dc into 3rd and 2nd motif picot corner join. (Ch 3. Sc in next picot.) 3 times. Ch 3. Dc into 2nd and 1st motif picot corner join. (Ch 3. Sc in next picot.) 3 times. Ch 3. Sl st into 1 sc. Ch 40. Fasten off and tie a square knot at the end. Join yarn into sc in opposite picot corner of 5th motif. Ch 40. Fasten off and tie a square knot at the end. Weave in all ends carefully.

Kellen's Mittens

Came up with these mittens after my son lost his second pair of store bought just this year.
Worked up in plain ol' Red Heart yarn with an H hook. All sc will be worked in flp only. sized for a three year old.
Round 1: 20 foundation chain (fdch). Join with a slst in bottom of first fdch. sc in first st.
R2: sc in flp around. (22 sts) ch 2
R3, 4, 5: fphdc around first st. hdc in second st. *fphdc around next st. hdc in next.* Repeat to end. Sc in sec ch and mark st as first in round.
R6, 7,8,9: sc in flp around. work evenly. (22 sts)
R 10 (increase round): work 2 sc in flp in last st of last round. sc in flp in first st of round. work 2 sc in flp in second st of round. work evenly to end. (24 sts)
R 11: work even
R 12: work increase round (26 sts)
R 13: work even to last 3 sts. ch 3 (working in thumb hole)
R14: new beg. st will be second of above ch 3. skip last three sts of round13 and first three sts of round 14. work sc in flp in next st. work evenly to end. (23 sts)
R15, 16, 17, 18: work evenly. at end of R18 do not work last two sts. lay work flat and mark sides of mittens.
R19 (decrease round): sc2tog last two sts of R18. sc in first st of R19. sc2tog next two sts. At the next marker decrease in the same manner. work to end. (19 sts)
R 20: work even
R 21: work dec. round (15 sts)
R22: work even
R 23: work dec round (11 sts)
R 24: sc2tog every two sts. (5 sts)
Leave a long tail to sew seam.
Thumb:
R1: join yarn with slst. Sc in same st as join. Mark as first st. 9 sc around opening. Do not join.
R2,3: work even.
R4: sc2tog. sc in next 2 sts. sc2tog. sc in next 3 sts. (7 sts)
R5: sc2tog three times. Leave a tail to sew seam.
work a "rope" of fch to attach to mittens to thread through sleeves of coat so mittens will not be lost anymore.

Old Photos and more Thanksgivings

My Great-Uncle Leon Viger, (pronounced vee-zshay), who lives up in Algonac, Michigan, sent me this picture of my great grandmother, Gladys Louise Jackson Viger, when she was about 10 years old, circa 1913. I think she is just adorable.



We finally had our last Thanksgiving celebration this last Sunday. My mother, her SO Steve, my sister, her BF Jake, my niece and nephew and my grandma all came over for yet another turkey dinner with all the trimmings. But it was darn good and we all had a nice time. I was exhausted by the time they left though. Took the kids to see Santa on Saturday also. And we'll be getting a tree soon. I can't wait to get that up. I put the Nativity set up last night and as I was ever so gently unwrapping the Baby Jesus, He fell out of the tissue paper, onto the ground and broke His leg. I stuck it back on with fabric tack glue, so I hope it holds. Anyway, that's all for now. I have a three year old who desperately wants my attention.

Innocent Victims of an Obama Presidency by Marcia Segelstein
The good news out of Election 2008 is that all the predictions that racism would ultimately prevent Barack Obama being elected did not come true.
There is, however, a tragic irony that may well also occur as a result of this election. James Kushiner, publisher of Touchstone: A Journal of Mere Christianity, writes about it on the magazine’s website:
“[W]hile blacks have risen from the indignities and injustice of slavery in which their bodies were sold and consumed as property, and have endured segregation and second-class citizen status and racial discrimination, and have now one of their own elected to the highest office in the land, this very president-elect, Barack Obama, will increase the death toll among black human beings if he fulfills his promise to enact a Freedom of Choice Act, which will serve as a firewall around Roe v. Wade, the Dred Scott decision of our times…Discrimination based on the color of one’s skin is not now the burning issue of our time…It’s that we’ve forgotten the value of human skin in the first place.”

This came to my attention this morning and I found it sadly true. The value of human skin. It sickens me that this and other moral issues were not taken into consideration by so many voters at this last election. It seemed the only thing people cared about was #1: money, and who could get them more of it, and #2: upsetting the status quo. Yes, it was past time for a black president, just as it is past time for a woman president. But neither of the choices hold the same moral standards as I do or place the same value on issues that I believe to be more pressing than gas prices and the stock exchange. The moral fibers that still have a loose grip on our society are quickly unraveling and we will soon be in a free fall that no man, black, white or purple, will be able to save us from. We must make a firm aboutface and return to the convictions of our forefathers, the steadfast faith that formed this great nation. God is the only safety net. He will catch us in His arms if we let Him. I pray that America will let Him.

My new hat!

1920’s Inspired Hat

Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun in Cream. 1 skein (6 oz, 185 yards)
hook: size 10 1/2 or K
gauge: 8 hdc in 8 rows = 3.5 inches

To Start: Ch 4 slst in first ch to form ring. Ch 2 (does not count as first stitch, here and throughout.)
Round 1: 8 hdc in ring, making sure to catch tail within sts. Join by slst in first hdc. Pull tail to tighten ring. Ch 2.
Round 2: 2 hdc in each st. Join by slst in first hdc. (16 hdc) ch 2
Round 3: 2 hdc in next st. *1hdc in next st. 2 hdc in next st.* Repeat * * to joining slst of R2. Hdc in that st. Join as before. (24 hdc) ch 2
Round 4: 1 hdc in next st. 2 hdc in next st. *1 hdc in each of next 2 st. 2 hdc in next st.* Repeat * * to joining slst of R3. hdc in that st. Join as before. (36 hdc) ch 2
Round 5: 1 hdc in each of next 2 st. 2 hdc in next st. *1 hdc in each of next 3 st. 2 hdc in next st.* Repeat * * to joining slst of R4. hdc in that st. Join as before. (54 hdc) ch2.
Round 6: 1 hdc in each of next 3 st. 2 hdc in next st. *1 hdc in each of next 4 st. 2 hdc in next st.* Repeat * * to joing slst of R5. hdc in that st. Join as before. (81 hdc) ch 2
Round 7-15: 1 hdc in each st. join as before. Ch 1. (Does not count as stitch, here & throughout.)
Round 16: 1 sc in each of next 7 st. hdc in each st to last 7 sts. Sc in last 7 sts. Join to first sc with slst. Ch 1 turn.
Row 17: (wrong side) 1 sc in each of next 7 sts. * hdc in each of next 4 sts. 2 hdc in next st.* Repeat * * to last 11 sts. Hdc in next 4 sts. Sc in last 7 sts. Join to first sc with slst. Ch 1 turn.
Row 18: (right side) Repeat Row 16.
Row 19: (WS) 1 sc in each of next 7 sts. *hdc in each of next 5 sts. 2 hdc in next st.* Repeat * * to last 12 sts. Hdc in next 5 sts. Sc in last 7 sts. Join as before. Ch 1 turn.
Row 20: (RS) Sc in first 7 sts. Inserting hook through yo part and front loop of st, 1 hdc in each of next 5 sts, 2 hdc in next st, *1 hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next st*. Repeat * * to last 11 sts. Hdc in next 4 sts. Sc in last 7 sts. Join as before. Do not chain, do not turn.
Row 21: Slst in next st and in each around. Join. Fasten off. Weave in ends.
For flower: I used the pattern on page 74 of the Sept/Oct issue of Crochet Today!, and didn’t fasten off or change colors. Pattern is for Flower Pin contained within Floral Cloche pattern.

Well that last post was very bleak. I'm still sick of hearing about the Divine Mr. O, but I'll just keep my head in the sand and continue crocheting and cooking and doing my own thing. Praying that the next four years will go by fast and that we as a collective whole will come to our senses by then.

Josh, Kellen and I have all been sick with a cold. Kellen the longest. His just doesn't seem to want to go away. Running nose and a bit of sneezing, which is not a good combo, let me tell you. I've been working on a long pointy hat for Josh. Got it mostly done and he decided the pointy part wasn't long enough, so he helped me frog it all and I started over, modifying the pattern as I go. I told him he better understand how much I love him. Bought the yarn for a sweater for Kellen also. Really pretty dusty green color, called Meadow. Lorenne wants a sweater, too.

Josh got an eleven pointer the afternoon of November 1. Lorenne, Kellen and Ian (my nephew who had spent the night) went out to see it in the morning. Ian didn't want to touch the deer at all, but then settled for the antlers. He made sure that I knew that he knew that the deer was dead. Kellen kept petting the deer's back with his finger tips and Lorenne just touched the antlers too. They didn't stay out there very long. But they weren't really afraid of it either. He's getting the hide tanned and ground all the meat into burger. I think he'll make jerky out of it.

Anyway, the wind has begun to howl around our house. I'm sure this will be a season long occurance until our pine trees get big enough. So in ten years we'll have one heck of a break. Not much else to report, we don't like a whole lot of excitement. Oh, having one of the three Thanksgiving meals here at our house. My mom, mom's boyfriend, sister, sister's boyfriend, neice, nephew, and grandma will be over the Sunday after T-day. I'm making the turkey, mashed potatoes, lemon pie, pecan pie, berry pie, and cranberry salad. I should probably start cleaning my house right now. See ya round...

Slightly depressed...

well, crap. That's really all I can say. CRAP!!! I did not awaken to happy news this morning. Mr. McCain is not our president-elect and I'm really not a very happy camper about it. But, I continue to tell myself that God's ways are not my ways. He has a plan which I cannot fathom and He alone knows what is in store for this great nation. I can only pray that Mr. Obama is the correct man for the job and that he will lead this nation to the best of his ability.
But, I am deeply afraid that our moral compass is completely broken. Our sights are set not on what we can do for each other, but what can be given to us. We are not unlike those spoiled heirs to massive fortunes who've no skill, no drive, no determination, who end up spending daddy's billions on idiotic ventures and then expect a pat on the head, or worse world-wide recognition, for their "accomplishments". Our ancestors fought for the freedoms we now squander, frittering it away like so much fluff. Because we did not expend the energy to build the country we've no idea how to keep it. And we will loose it, if we do not make a sharp aboutface and return to some standards. I cannot go on, I really am sick to my stomach with the thought of it all. Open your eyes and see what's coming at us full force.