The Treasures Of My Heart

Avocado's and crocheting

2012-02-29T13:46:00.000-06:00

Last night for supper, I wasn't feeling very hungry so I fixed up some leftovers for Nick and cut myself up an avocado that I'd bought that night and ate it for supper. We had stopped by Walmart to pick up some egg rolls (boy! I can't wait until I can make my own- they're so much tastier!) to go with our leftover sweet and sour chicken.

I enjoyed every bite of the avocado. It wasn't as ripe as I like them to be but it was the best one out of the bunch that I bought. Afterwards, I thought about the seed and figured I would sprout it. So, I grabbed some toothpicks and poked them in the seed and stuck it in a jar. It took me forever to figure out where to put the toothpicks and still have it submerged in the water.

Let it sit overnight and then thought I'd check out some more links because I still wasn't happy with how it was in the jar. Then I found this link and loved it! All the other sites showed the toothpicks poked in the lower half of the seed, which did not submerge it quite right.

The way I have it now is how I wanted it to be. I can't wait to see what happens to it in a few weeks. I'll be sure to post up some progress pictures. Speaking of sprouting things, the next thing I want to do is grow a sweet potato vine. Nick's grandma told me about the one she started when she first got married (doesn't have it anymore) but was telling me about how pretty it was.

I haven't been blogging much because I've just not been feeling good. I've had a bad case of allergies and just feeling miserable! My eyes are nose are itchy and I just feel so tired. In fact, I went back to sleep after Nick left this morning at around 5:15 and slept in until 11! I've never slept in that long before. Usually I wake up around 7 or 8 at the latest! But I feel rested finally.

Last week, my sinuses were really bothering me so I boiled up a cup of clove tea to drink and made some extra and steamed my face in it. I can't believe the difference I felt. So much better. Clove tea is excellent for sinus headache and relief, though for Nick he claims he gets a headache from the smell of cloves. But he also gets a headache from the smell of garlic cooking. Not me! The smell just makes me hungry! lol

I think I'm going to make some more clove tea tonight (if Nick can stand the smell) and steam my face in the rest. Clove tea also helps insomnia and since I slept in so late today, I'm going to need some help falling asleep tonight!

I finished the Cambridge Watchcap finally and planning to make two more. One for Nick and one for the friend's son who I made the first one for.

I have also been working on the crochet prayer shawl I started last month. I just added some gold to the blue and like how it's turning out so far. I had four skeins of the homespun yarn (given to me) and thought I'd need it all, but according to the pattern, I only need it to measure 60 inches from point to point and I'm already at 50 inches. Though it does seem too small. I haven't done much else knitting in awhile and just have really slowed down.

I guess I have been doing a few dish cloths on the side though. I hope to participate in a swap soon!

Well, until next time!

"His" Cloth

2012-02-23T11:07:00.000-06:00

Finished the "his" cloth yesterday and working on the "hers" this week along with the multiple other projects I've got started. It sometimes seems like I get so many projects started but never finished, but they do all eventually get done!

I don't know what I think of the cloth yet, but I have to remind myself it was my first try at reading a knitting chart. It wasn't until I got to row 42 that it finally clicked and I finally understood the "KEY".

I got a package in the mail today from a Ravelry friend. We swapped a dish cloth with each other.

Here is what she sent me. I love it all! The colors are my favorite. Even the fabric she used to wrap the items in are lovely. I'm not sure what I might sew with them. But you know I'll be posting up pictures to show when I get it done! lol

I'm almost done with the Cambridge watch cap. I'm at 8 inches now. Two more inches until the decrease which I'm sure will go fast. I plan on working on it this afternoon.

All that's left of the big sudsy sack order is tying up the loose ends and attaching the tags. I printed up some tags with my sheep logo on it and care instructions on the back to go with each one.

I've been having sneezing fits with my allergies today but other than that it's a wonderful day so far!

I can hear my beloved outside with his blacksmith tools hammering away. Think I'll go see what projects he's working on.

until next time.
be well.

Bird house dish cloths

2012-02-19T13:43:00.000-06:00

I thought I was going to be doing a lot of sitting around this weekend on a bus trip I went on with Nick. Turns out there wasn't much time for sitting but on the way there and on the way back and a bit in between I managed to knit two light blue bird house dish cloths. That made me happy! I did not want to lug around any other project that I was working on since I knew I would not be able to complete the hat for example. (until I get some size 6 dpn's)

I'm thrilled that I got two done. The only thing is that I was planning on making the birdhouse and the hummingbird for a set and while on the bus I dropped the pattern and didn't realize that I was looking at the wrong pattern until I was a third done! Oops! So, that's how I ended up with two dish cloths of the same color and design.

Here they are. I still have to block them and tie up the loose ends.

Ballband dish cloth pics

2012-02-16T10:44:00.003-06:00

I was trying to find a nice bright variegated yarn to make a dish cloth with and found one called Psychedelic. It did knit up differently than how I thought it would turn out but I liked the end result.

Front and back view shown.

It did take me quite a long time to make but the end result was worth it. The person I sent it to said she liked it.

Most dish cloths I make are around 7 inches square and this one was almost 10! It was larger than I thought it would be, but before I did the last set it was shorter than I wanted it to be, so I couldn't really help the size it turned out.

I think I might make some more this weekend. Get a nice stash collected, put some in my etsy shop and save for future swaps.

I've been working on the knitted hat for a friend and finally making some progress. After a couple hours of working on it last night, it finally measured an inch! If I hadn't messed up on EVERY round...

That was kind of disappointing, because I really wanted to get it done last night. But the main goal is to complete it before my yarn order comes in and since it did not arrive today, technically I have another day to work and finish the hat. :-)

This weekend, I'm hoping to knit up either the sudsy sacks or several dish cloths or both.

I'm anxious to start knitting a set of these for my etsy shop.

One of the things that I can't decide is whether or not I should sell regular cotton items in my etsy shop or just focus on things made with hemp and organic cotton.

Thoughts anyone?

Open weaved wash cloth and granny's favorite

2012-02-14T20:27:00.000-06:00

It took me from this morning until this evening to finish the Diagonal square dish cloth. I obviously didn't work on it all day long but every chance I got, I did. I like the pattern, but you know what? It doesn't look that much different than the other one I posted on my blog before. All that extra work for nothing! lol

I think I'll just stick to my old pattern. If I block my dish cloths, I can maneuver the ends to come out looking more square anyhow. On this new pattern, you knit every other row. I'm not quite sure what good that does, but slow me down. It seemed to take me twice as long to make.

Then, this evening when I got done with the diagonal square cloth (pictures will post tomorrow!) I crocheted a 6 inch square cloth and a 3 1/2 inch facial scrubber in less than 30 minutes. I can't help but think I ought to crochet more often! Plus my fingers don't hurt the way they do with knitting.

My hands are so sore! Well, I should say my fingers are. I've poked holes in many of them. And this weather is making my hands crack. I've tried Jergens Intensive care which works but not that good since I wash my hands throughout the day. It constantly gets washed off! I put on lotion before bed which helps but as soon as my day starts and the hand washing continues, my hands start hurting again!
I did like Silicone Glove by Avon since it stays on even throughout hand washing but the scent of it hurts my head and stomach. I can't take strong smelling perfume, soap or lotion.

If anyone can suggest some lotion that works, I'd be forever grateful!

Knitting socks on a 9 inch length circular needle

2012-02-14T10:52:00.000-06:00

Here is a progress picture of the sock I'm working on.

I casted on 60 stitches and did a ribbed cuff for an inch or so. I didn't have my tape measure so I couldn't measure it exactly. Now, I'm just knitting the rest in stockinette. The only thing is I'm not sure how to decrease it. Will I need double pointed needles to finish it? No problem if I do...

It's taking a long time and I'm going to take a break from it so I can finish up some other projects.

I had my sock lesson yesterday or learning two socks at one time on one long circular needle and the lesson went well. I was surprised at how much I remembered even though I haven't touched it for over a year. They are coming along slowly too. If only the holes in my fingers would heal faster! I could knit more! lol

Be well.

Dish cloths pics

2012-02-14T10:48:00.000-06:00

Here is a cro-hooked dish cloth I made for a ravelry friend. I only wish I had taken a picture of the front since it's a different look. Oh well, I'll have to make another one up soon!

I'll post up pictures of the last one I did after the other lady gets it. I want it to be a surprise!

Grandma's Favorite dish cloth with pointy corners.

2012-02-14T07:26:00.000-06:00

I was trying to knit up some more dish cloths for my etsy shop and having a hard time trying to decide which pattern to try next. I had just bought a really cool pattern on ravelry but not knowing how to read a chart was stopping me.

So, I thought I'd knit up a Moss stitch cloth but that turned out badly. So, I decided to make another "Grandma's Favorite" cloth up. I really like this pattern for its simplicity but I never cared for the way the corners looked.

I went to one of my favorite sites, "Ravelry" and googled the pattern and found a really cool one.

It's called Garter Stitch cloth with pointy corners. The author has fixed the "corner" issues I was having. You may have to sign up with Ravelry to view the pattern. And why not? They are a great community! So, I've got this working up my needles and can't wait to get it done. I've been blessed with three etsy sales this week and desperately need to get more items made.

I was having a hard time deciding whether or not I wanted to have only organic cotton items in my shop but as Nick pointed out, "Isn't this supposed to be fun?" Well, yes... "And don't you have fun making all kinds of things?" Yes! I do as a matter of fact! Thank you hubby for pointing the way! lol

On a side note, I received the check I was waiting for, so I can make up my three dozen sudsy sacks. I'm hoping the yarn will come by the end of this week but my goal is to get at least three dish cloths made, two hats and half a pair of socks done before I get the yarn. Because once the yarn comes in, I'll be doing nothing but crocheting up sudsy sacks! :-)

Life is great!

I'll be sure to post a picture of this cloth when I get it done. So far, it's looking better than any version of Grandma's Favorite Dish cloth pattern I've ever made.

be well.

Packing up

2012-02-13T05:59:00.000-06:00

I may be a procrastinator in some ways but this weekend I committed myself to making a dish cloth for a swap I joined and finished it last night as I wanted to. It actually felt good to accomplish this goal because it helped me realize that if I put my focus on one thing I can get it done.

I have also been working hard at finishing projects I've started and slowly but surely it getting done.

I was surprised last night with two orders from my etsy store! I need to get busy making new items to fill the empty spaces. I ordered a new wash cloth pattern yesterday and excited to try "reading" a chart for the first time. I've never used a pattern like this before but I'm up for the challenge! I also noticed that there aren't any cloths on etsy with these patterns (for the time being) and hoping that I will stand out and be able to make a few sales.

I stayed up later than usual last night weaving in all the loose ends of the dish cloths that are shipping out this week.

I'm a little nervous about the dish cloth swap and hoping the person likes the cloth I made for her.

If the weather co-operates today I'll be having my second sock lesson on making two at the same time. I'm excited. I like the shorter circular needle sock project I started but I can tell already that I'm going to love making two at once. I'll be sure to start with some lighter colored yarn this time. I'll try to remember to post up some progress pictures this time. They'll just be tube styled slouch socks for this pair but it will still be fun to see it all come together.

We just got a printer and I'm looking forward to mailing out some very old letters I have been promising for awhile. I feel a little bad that I'm cheating by typing it out, but if you have seen my handwriting these days, you will jump for joy that you'll be able to read my letter for once! So, if you've been waiting for a letter from me, know that it's on its way!

off to weigh packages at the post office so I can print my own postage labels. How cool is that? No offense to the post office, but some people there don't know how to correctly charge me for shipping packages. I hope those that I've mailed some to recently get their stuff okay.

Until next time

Tube socks, dish cloths and hats

2012-02-11T20:46:00.000-06:00

Last week I picked up a size 1 Hiya Hiya 9 inch length circular from the local yarn store. (lys) and started on a pair of tube socks. It is such a difference knitting with these tiny knitting needles. The tips are less than 2 inches long! It's like knitting with tiny toothpicks! In fact, I wanted to get the wooden version but was worried that I might snap the tips right off, since my tension can be tight.

It is quite tedious, but I am liking it so far. I've got about 3 inches done on it so far. I've been mainly knitting socks on size 4 needles so using such tiny ones makes it hard to see the progress quicker. I'm thinking of getting another set so I can "knit two socks at once". The needles were only $7.50 which was a lot lower than I was expecting. I figured it would be around $20!

I picked out some dish cloth yarn for a swap that I'm working on this weekend. I wanted a nice rich bold purple and all they had was "orchid" which is similar to lavender. So, while out on a bus trip with Nick, I managed to go to the yarn store and found an even better color of yarn. I won't say what color it is, cause I want it to be a surprise. I just hope she likes it as much as I do. I really wish I thought to get an extra skein of this color so I could make myself a dish cloth with it. :-) Maybe I can find some online to order eventually.

A friend of mine was telling me about getting some yarn to make a hat. I offered to knit it for him. Which made me remember I had some Nature Spun Sport in dark grey that I bought on sale last year. Wasn't sure what I'd ever do with it, but couldn't pass up a sale! So, I found several hat patterns I liked on ravelry and posted them on my pinterest board so I could show Nick later. And also the friend. They ended up both picking the same pattern as their favorite.

Cambridge Watch Cap

It's not a hard pattern but it sure takes getting used to knitting through the back loop. I've had to start over a couple of times because I wasn't paying attention when knitting it and put a purl in the wrong place. I think it's fixed but I may have dropped a stitch somewhere. I'm making the first hat for Nick so I can practice this pattern, but honestly, I'm about ready to rip it out and just do a regular knit stitch. I'm not even 100% sure it will fit Nick's head so I kind of just wanted an easy pattern to try out. There may not even be enough yardage to make the hat!

One of the things I find tricky when picking out a pattern is when it says something like: "Will fit a head between 21-23 inches" Are they saying the finished hat is let's say 20 inches and that it will stretch to fit a 21-23 inch head. Or are they saying that the finished hat is 21-23 inches and will fit a larger head. Nick measures 24 1/2 inches. The pattern called for size 6 needles, so I thought I'd use a size 7 and see how well it fits. Because the yarn is so dark, it's hard to tell if I got all the dropped stitches, so yes, I think I will just plan to rip it out and start over. Possibly find another pattern that is similar to the Cambridge one but with regular ribbing.

I was somewhat surprised that the ribbing was so much smaller on the size 7 needles than on the 8's that I used on another hat.

I finally got the check from the place in Kansas and will place the order on Monday for the yarn. Once it comes in (hopefully soon!) I'll be busy making sudsy sacks.

I WILL get the dish cloth done by tomorrow. And hoping to make some good progress on these hats and socks.

I'm excited because Monday (if the weather co-operates) I'm going to be having a sock knitting lesson and try to learn again how to make two socks at one time on one long circular needle toe up style. I told my friend I just wanted to try tube socks for my first one and I think it will go so much smoother than trying to learn the whole heel and gusset way.

I like knowing that I CAN make a regular pair of socks with the heel, gusset and all that on double pointed needles, but I also really like the idea of making a couple pairs of tube socks for friends with hard to measure feet. So far, I've been lucky in that if the socks don't fit me, they fit Nick, but trying to make a pair of socks for someone else far away has been a challenge. I tend to make them too big.

I was excited to learn that it wasn't the sock yarn that was keeping my socks from staying in the ribbed shape but my problem instead was that I was using too big of needles. So, far these tube socks I started yesterday are staying in the right shape. I just can't wait until they are done to try on and see how well they work.

Well, off to find another hat pattern and get some work done!

until next time!

Finally finished socks! (well almost) :-)

2012-02-07T12:21:00.000-06:00

Decided to finish the socks before the helmet liner. Can't you see how I'm avoiding this!? lol

I had just two rows left on my knitted socks when I happened to count my stitches and see that I had an odd number. Thinking I had dropped a stitch, I took out a couple rows. It got worse. I don't know what I did wrong. I should have been counting my stitches all along. So, then I got this bright idea to remove the needles completely. NEVER AGAIN!!! First off, It kept unraveling on me. Secondly, I couldn't figure out where to put them back in. I thought I was going to have to start completely over, which in the past, I would have just chucked it across the room and started over. But knowing how long it took me to figure it out, I just found the area as best as I could and inserted the needles in. It's probably not exactly, but it works.

I managed to slip the needles back on. Which of course, meant I put them on backwards, so not only did I have to then knit the right number of stitches but also switch the stitches back and forth. Talk about messing with your head! I finally got it all figured out and now just have to weave in those dreaded ends!

here are the socks: I don't plan to ever make another like it! so, enjoy the picture! lol

Can you tell which ones were made on straight needles and which ones were made on dpn's?

By the way, the pattern is found here. Next time, if I ever do make these again, they will be made much much shorter.

Lunch is ready. "Baked" potatoes in the crock pot. Just pierce with fork. (about 6 medium). Rub with butter. Set in crock pot on high for 3 hours. Yum!

Two steps forward, one step back

2012-02-07T10:37:00.000-06:00

I'm sure it doesn't make any sense. I'm trying to get rid of yarn. So what do I do? I buy more!

I can't seem to pass up a good sale so when I saw some cotton yarn on sale last week I stocked up on some favorite colors. I just joined a dish cloth swap group and I have to have yarn to make them with! lol

It's not that I think it's "wrong" to have a yarn stash. I just don't necessarily need to have three cupboards full of yarn I'll use someday. I'd rather have a drawer full that I am using on a daily basis.

Sometime today when I can get more motivated, I'm planning on dragging out ALL my craft supplies and laying them on the bed and sorting through them. All of it. I know I have a bunch of patterns I'll never use and plan to pass them along. Sell some on etsy, maybe. But somehow or another, it will leave my house by the end of the month. That's my goal.

My other goal is to complete projects I've started. I know. I know. I keep saying that I won't start another project until I've finished with one already started or promised (which is just as bad) And what do I do? I go and start a whole new project. I just get tired of the same old project. Which is why I love dish cloths. I can complete one in about 2 hours if I don't take any breaks. Really huge projects just don't get done.

However, I had a few revelations yesterday. And a few twists in my goal planning. First, I'm really going to make an effort to complete something I've started. I won't say I won't start anything new, but when I just don't feel like working on that project that's been sitting for awhile. I just won't knit. We'll see how long that lasts! lol

That's sort of what happened yesterday with the purple socks. I wanted them to get done but I wasn't in the mood at all to finish them. But I didn't allow myself to do any other project but that. So, the next thing I knew, I was working on the socks and now I only have a few more rows until I'm done. YAY!!!

Next on my list, is a helmet liner. They changed the pattern and it's had me stumped even though I'm sure I could figure it out. I hate it when things change. I like simple stuff. In between making some new dish cloths for my latest swap project, I WILL WORK ON THE HELMET LINER. It seems so tedious on the super tiny needles and hard to manage stretchy yarn, but if I can remember who is going to, maybe I will stay concentrated better.

Speaking of which, I'm going to drag it out and work on it for at least 30 minutes.

Bad sewing day

2012-02-07T09:52:00.000-06:00

Ever have a bad sewing day? I got this crazy idea to sew another crochet hook case up and am not happy with the way it turned out at all.

First off, I shouldn't have been lazy and tried to sew it with the white thread. I should have used black. But then, it would have looked nicer on one side but not the other. Or maybe I should have gotten some tan thread. Of course, our store doesn't seem to carry any colors but black or white...

Then, I tried to sew a nice slinky material together on top of the khaki material. So, no matter what it shifted. Perhaps if I had some pins, it would have stayed together better. The ties turned out badly too. They were supposed to have flowers in the middle. Even though I measured it first, it still managed to shift and cut off half the images.

Oh well. It definitely wouldn't win any ribbons in the county fair, but it works. lol

Dish Cloth Swap

2012-02-07T09:43:00.000-06:00

I recently joined some neat groups over at Ravelry and one of them was a Dish Cloth swap group. I mailed a lady a knitted butterfly cloth in hot blue and a nylon net pot scrubber and got this in the mail today:

I just signed up for another swap and I can't wait to see what comes next! I'll have my whole kitchen outfitted with new cloths before too long. Yay!

Cro-hooking and sudsy sacks

2012-02-05T13:02:00.000-06:00

I bought some cotton yarn yesterday at Pamida's. They were having a sale of Sugar and Cream yarn, 4 skeins for $5. Not bad! Cheaper than Walmart. I bought some red, black, white, light blue and hot pink. I didn't realized I had picked out 5 skeins but oh well. So, I guess that last ball was more than what I pay for at our Walmart but I'm really not pleased with the yarn selection there as well as the colors. They seem dull and of poor quality even though it's the same brand.

A friend of mine told me that when you get yarn at Walmart it's like you are getting what was the first batch of the yarn from the company. It's not always consistent in color, there are more knots in it, wasn't dried properly, etc. Then, when you buy it at a place like Michael's or Hobby Lobby then that is the second and third run from the batch. They've worked out the problems better. But when you buy from the lys then, they have perfected the batch more and that's why you pay more for it. It makes sense even if it's not true. lol

Yesterday I got to go to one of my favorite stores called Elher's Variety store. It reminds me of a store I used to go to when I was a kid in Texas. They have a little bit of this and that. They have a craft room where they sell bolts of material, embroidery floss, yarn, iron on transfers, embroidery kits, and so much more! It was there that I found a tatting shuttle! I've been wanting to learn to tat forever and decided this was the year I would teach myself. I have no idea how to do it yet, but I have the shuttle finally! Now to get the thread and get started...

I also picked up a set of iron on transfers. I've been wanting to embroider some flour sack tea towels for a long time. They are pretty! They have the days of the week on them and contain birds for the design. I'm anxious to get started. They even sold some nick thick higher quality (than I've seen in a long time) tea towels, but I did not get any. I'm wishing I did! They were just the right size too! I didn't get them because they were imported and I found some locally made in the USA. I just don't like them because they are the wrong size. Too big! And they don't seem as nice as thick as the imported ones, which totally surprised me! But I will use the USA ones anyways and be happy with them. :-)

I started cro-hooking a dish cloth today to send to a lady in the RAK group I joined on Ravelry. I hope she likes them! I'm having fun making them. I will probably knit one or two as well. I love the look and feel of a cro-hooked cloth but I'm not as fast as I'd like to be yet and the process is going so slow!

I made a wish list on the RAK group I'm in and was super thrilled to see that someone has blessed me with the pattern I've been wanting for awhile. It's called Citrus slices. I only wish I had thought to buy some orange yarn yesterday. Oh well, this will be my motivation to get the red dish cloths done before I buy more yarn. Not sure how long that idea will last but we'll see. lol

On a happy note, I was contacted by a lady in Canada that wanted to buy some sudsy sacks from me for her holistic health studio that she owns. Then, I remembered that another store in Kansas had said that they wanted to buy some from me. I hadn't heard from them in awhile so I contacted them and they too wanted to buy some. So, as soon as I get paid for them, I'll be ordering some yarn from Thoughtful Gems Crafts. I'm anxious to get started making them.

I started knitting a striped prayer shawl a few weeks ago. It's two different colors of pink and is coming along nicely so far. It's right at about 20 inches. So, I'm a third of the way done. I can't help but think though that this should be made for a child/teen so I may not make it full size. I'll just have to measure it when I get done with the first two skeins.

I also started a blue crocheted prayer shawl. One of my friends from the prayer shawl group got me started on a new pattern and I'm excited to be making it. I've always wanted to crochet a shawl but never could figure out any of the patterns for them. It is working up fast! I'm hoping to get it done soon too.

I finished the Patons Grace mercerized cotton cloth and love how it turned out. Pictures later! The only thing I can't stand is that my wooden needles turned blue from using the yarn! That's never happened before and was a bit disappointing.

Other than that, I've got a few miscellaneous dish cloths started and a few other small projects going on my other needles. I have been wanting to sew up some more crochet hook cases and crayon rolls but haven't a really hard time getting motivated on it. Perhaps later this week, I'll feel up to it. The thought makes me nervous but I'm not sure why.

I'm going to be cleaning out ALL my craft supplies this week and plan to post some items for sale this week or next. Patterns and leaflets mainly.

Well, until next time!

Knitting Paradise

2012-02-02T10:09:00.000-06:00

I found another cool knitting group yesterday. Knitting Paradise. I love it!

I like to search the forums for people looking for patterns. It's fun searching for things for other people.

I've spent way too much time on there but it's fun!

Patons Grace 100% mercerized cotton

2012-01-30T09:20:00.000-06:00

I recently bought some Patons Grace 100% mercerized cotton yarn at the lys. I got two balls for under $3! I always thought that mercerized cotton wouldn't make good dish cloth/towels, but was told they would be fine. So, I've got a cloth started on my size 6 needles. The yarn is so soft and nice to work with.

I've been in a knitting slump lately and when I saw that yarn I thought it was just the perfect thing to make to brighten up my kitchen and life. Then, I got crazy and bought a bunch of Plymouth Encore for another prayer shawl but that's another story! lol

I'll be sure to post up finished pictures of the dish cloth and towel when I get it done. I just wanted something easy and simple so I decided to knit it in garter stitch.

The good news is that the last bag of yarn was picked up today and my hoarding stash is getting bare. I still have some skeins that I'm holding on to, "might use someday" but in all reality, once I've got some postage money saved up, I'll be mailing them out to ravelry folks. I found some neat groups that I've recently joined like, "Random Acts of Kindness". You can post up your wishes and read others and send them things. I love it! If you haven't discovered ravelry yet, you're missing out!

One particular group I joined that I like is Swap/One. They have an open dish cloths swap and it's just as plain and basic as you can get. No commitments for the entire year or month. If you want to trade a dish cloth, you just post it and then someone writes back. Sometimes within minutes. :-) I love the "open" idea. I would love to be able to commit to a long term one, but know that it's highly unlikely that I will ever get to.

Well, off to declutter the camper. It's taking a long time to see any progress, but maybe one day I'll open my eyes and be shocked! lol

Progress picture:

How to make cherry cobbler in your crockpot

2012-01-30T07:36:00.001-06:00

Last week cake mix was on sale for 60 cents a box, so I picked up a box of yellow cake mix and a can of cherry pie filling. I saw a dessert recipe in my "Fix it and Forget It" crock pot book and just had to try it.

It was so easy to make.

First, you spray the inside of your crock pot. Then, you dump in a can of cherry pie filling. I believe it was a 20 or so ounce can. Some variation recipes even said to use two cans, but I just used one.

Then, I melted a stick of butter (1/2 cup) and drizzled it over the cake mix that I had poured in a bowl. Just the dry cake mix. Nothing more added. I stirred it all together until it started to clump.

Then, with my hands, I sprinkled the cake mix/butter mixture over the pie filling. Put the lid on and walked away. For 4 hours. On low. Next time I'll make it on High for 2 hours. The smell was more than I could handle for 4 long torturous hours! :-)

After that, we spooned it up and ate it. Yum! Later that night, I ate some with some Blue bell ice cream and boy was that delicious! You could have added walnuts but I was out.

Variations- Try apple pie filling, peach or blueberry. You can also add in a can of crushed pineapple. My neighbor makes something similar in her oven with blueberries and pineapple. Yes, you can make this recipe in your oven as well, but bake for only 30-45 minutes on 350 degrees. Just keep an eye on it since all ovens heat differently.

Kind of hard to see, but here it is baking:

What's left:

Next dessert to try in my crock pot book is hot fudge cake. Oh, that sounds yummy too!

You tube

2012-01-27T19:55:00.000-06:00

The video I posted on my "how to make a pot scrubber" has been "unlisted" and I'm wondering if anyone's ever been able to view it. I don't know why I didn't think to make it public for all to see.

It is now, so hopefully if you've had trouble figuring out how to connect the strips, you'll be able to see how.

In fact, tomorrow, if the sun is shining I'm going to make a new better video with colored strips since at the time all I had were black strips. Terrible, I know! lol

I was trying to crochet a flower today and could not figure it out. I had to rip it out twice and ask a crochet buddy for help. Then, the third time I started to figure it out a little better. I thought, "I should make a tutorial on how to do this!" I'm sure if I had trouble with it, then other people have too.

So, I'm going to start adding you tube video tutorials to my blog postings.

This weekend I'm going to be working on my newest prayer shawl. I bought some hot pink and light pink yarn to use. I'm making it striped and so far I really like how it's turning out. The only thing is that I'm going to need two more skeins to finish it, but the local yarn store has plenty of those colors in stock.

Other than that, I'll also be working on some "UFO's" laying around and hoping to make some progress on the tube sock. I'd really really like to get it done but so not into it right now.

Well, until next time!

Etsy to sell or not to sell

2012-01-26T06:12:00.000-06:00

After taking numerous photos yesterday of my latest dish cloth.

I happened to visit my etsy shop this morning and was horrified that the color in this dish cloth did not match the color in my round scalloped dish cloth. I don't know why I didn't notice it before. They were made with the same yarn but they look like two different shades!

The problem is that one was taken outside and the other inside. We haven't had too many nice days when the sun is shining to take the latest one outside. I think the real color is a shade in between the two! Not to mention the fact, that every computer monitor is different so what you're seeing may not be what I'm seeing. Some people wouldn't mind. To them, just knowing it is organic cotton and not dyed is enough. Yes, that's right, this yarn fascinates me because the cotton grows naturally in this color. No dyes of any kind were used! Others might be upset if it's not the color they perceive it to be.

That's the main reason I am thinking of closing down my etsy shop.

Also, how can I capture the softness of this cloth? I can't. No picture can show just how silky soft it is. You have to be able to see it for yourself. Touch it.

So, for the time being, I'm not going to list any new things in my shop. I may even put it on hold for awhile.

Food PANtrie - Solar Food Dryer and Sprouter

2012-01-26T05:57:00.001-06:00

Last year I was at a friend of mine's house and I admired her hanging food drying rack. To my surprise she offered it to me. I was super thrilled! I had seen these in catalogs and dreamed of buying one but never did.

I used it some to dry some plantain leaves which I ended up giving to my pet rabbit at the time for a crunchy snack. She loved it! I miss her.

Other than that, it hasn't gotten much use until recently. After making a batch of homemade egg noodles, I needed some place to put them other than all over the camper! I used to have a dedicated noodle rack but found that as they dried, they fell of the holder. Imagine my disappointment to find noodles all over the floor when I came home instead of on the holder where I left them! Plus it takes up more space AND it's only good for one thing, noodle drying. I rarely keep a kitchen gadget that has only one purpose.

Anyways, I remembered the dryer and got it out. At first I couldn't figure out where best to hang it but then realized the only place to hang it inside was on the shower rod. A strange place to dry noodles but it works. In the summer time, I'll hang it on the clothesline pole.

One of the reasons I like it so much is because of its cover. The last one I had that I bought at an Asian store did was just netting all around and there was no cover. I always worried about birds flying overhead! lol Though I never had anything ruined by the birds.

I'm also looking forward to using it if we ever get a lofted cabin. The cover will protect it from any dust. I like the small holes in the trays. Hanging racks I've had in the past had huge two inch spaces in the non-removable trays which made the food fall out.

Another reason I like it is that the trays are removable. I just load it up and then stick it back in. It's designed to grow wheat grass in but I have yet to do that. The thought of eating grass doesn't sound appealing. I once smelled wheat grass powder and about lost my lunch. Though I'm sure some of you may like the smell of freshly cut grass. Not me!

My most favorite thing about it is that it folds down and can be stored in a small amount of space.

Hoarding yarn- a thing of the past

2012-01-24T07:30:00.000-06:00

Awhile back, I asked a friend to be a mentor to me. One of the things I told her I needed help with was dealing with constant clutter. I explained to her that my home is constantly a mess and that I needed help with getting rid of some stuff, but not sure where to start. I do desire a clean orderly home. Just not there yet.

She responded by asking me, if I was trusting in God.
Trusting God and not worrying about having enough.
Trusting God and being willing to let go because He is in charge.
Trusting God and not worrying about the future.

To be honest, when I first read that, I thought, "Why, that's not what this is about at all!? Not to say I was offended in the least bit, but felt that she was way off in this line of thinking. It kind of surprised me because it wasn't the response I thought she was going to give at all.

And then one day (I'm not sure what led to it) I got to thinking about what Nick has told me in the past about buying yarn as I need it rather than just keeping it all "in case I might use it someday". I like the idea of having a specific project in mind and going to the store and buying the materials for it on a project by project basis.

I think that's one reason I have such a hard time not completing a project I start. It's because I don't have a goal in mind to begin with. That I don't really know what it is that I want to make so when I get around to making it, I'm not happy with it and either let it sit or rip it out and start over.

I realized when I became completely honest with myself that I WAS hoarding the yarn because I WASN'T trusting that there would be enough later. Oh, I'd believe it a little bit because I always like to share whatever yarn I get with others, but there would still be that part of me that would hold on to a ridiculous amount JUST IN CASE something came up and I couldn't get more later.

All the while forgetting about Nick's promise to me- That I will always have something to knit. In the back of my head, I always thought, "Well, what if I can't?"

"Just in case" is not trusting.

So, yesterday I went through my yarn stash again. Each skein I picked up, I asked myself, not "do I need/want this?" but "Am I keeping this simply because I'm not trusting God that I'll have the chance to get more later?" and found that my stash went way down to one small bag. And most of what I kept is just the yarn to finish a project that I've already started. Which is going to happen by the way. This is the year to finish all my started projects. :-)

Update-After I mailed out several packages yesterday I was feeling bummed because I wanted to get some yarn to make my next prayer shawl with but was out of money. I had already promised the yarn I sorted through to others and wasn't about to be an Indian giver. Besides the fact, that the yarn wasn't the right type to make prayer shawls with.

Prayer shawl making is my one exception to the rule about not starting another project until I'm done with the old. People are counting on me to make these shawls. I do however make sure I only make one shawl at a time and not have several going at once.

After knitting club, a friend gave me three walmart bags full of yarn. All suitable for prayer shawl making. I was thrilled!

I thank "C" for her godly wisdom to point out these things to me.

And sitting by the door ready to go out is two piles of yarn ready to bless others with.

Homespun yarn

2012-01-24T06:43:00.001-06:00

Awhile back, I blogged about homespun yarn and how much I disliked it. Then, I was at a friend's house and watched her daughter crochet some of that yarn with such ease. No difficulty at all! I was shocked! She wasn't having any of the same troubles and problems I had with it.

So, when I found out that another friend was giving away some skeins of it, I jumped at the chance. I wasn't sure if she still had any left since I wasn't there when she offered it the first time. I emailed her and she said she still had some left. Yay!

I think my problem with it bunching and squeaking was due to the fact that I used the wrong size needles. I was trying to knit a shawl with it at the time and I didn't have any needles with me. The pair I borrowed must have been a smaller size needle than the pattern called for. A size 8 instead of a size 13. I would imagine that would make a big difference!

Also, my friend's daughter was crocheting with it, not knitting it. So, yesterday when I got the yarn, I grabbed a "K" size hook (which is what the label recommended) and started crocheting a prayer shawl with it. So far, it works up great! No problems at all!

I feel bad for misjudging the yarn! lol

Also, I was told that the yarn was banned from our prayer shawl group because it disintegrated while being worn by someone in a rainstorm. And the thought occurred to me. Perhaps it hadn't been washed first. I know when yarn fibers such as that type are washed, that little pieces of the fibers get washed away. Or in this case, stuck to the skin.

If this yarn is so bad, then why are they still making it? So, I'm willing to give it another chance.

The color I am using now is called "Golden" and it's such a lovely yellow shade.

I'll be sure to post pictures of the prayer shawl when I get it done.

I'm using a pattern I found in my copy of Crochet World April 2011. Rose Garden shawl. The original pattern called for Caron simply soft yarn which I realize is not as bulky as this yarn, but I'm using a size "K" hook instead of a size "M". It doesn't appear to be too large. (yet) Time will tell. lol

I had a few revelations as to why I hoard yarn but will talk about it in another post.

P.S. Even though I don't mind "recycling" this yarn (using free yarn) I doubt I'd ever spend any money on it. It costs $7 a skein and if I'm going to spend that much I'd rather have Plymouth Encore. My favorite brand!

until next time!

Knitted towel dimensions

2012-01-20T18:53:00.000-06:00

I got some dk cotton yarn from a friend and thought I would knit myself up a kitchen towel with it. At first, I couldn't decide if I wanted to knit a hanging towel or just a regular one. I once knit a towel using seed stitch for a friend and like how it turned out, but can't remember how I made it!

I think I will not make one that hangs, because I'm wanting it specifically for drying my dishes with. I'm not impressed with any of the store bought towels. They don't seem to actually dry my dishes, just smears them and leaves little fuzzies everywhere!

Here are some patterns I'm considering . I like the dimensions of the second one and I'm pretty sure that it is similar to the sage green one I made for a friend.

Gridded Towel
Bumpy Towel 11 by 15 inches

well, off to try a pattern or two out!

until next time!

Crochet magic heart potholder

2012-01-19T08:17:00.002-06:00

Some of you have been asking about where to find the crochet magic heart potholder pattern. So, here is the link for it.

I might have to try it myself later. Looks cute!