Wake us when it's Summer

It's July.

It's 15 degrees outside, peeing with rain, has been all day, not expected to get any better for the foreseeable future.

This is what the girls think of it:

ThisClose!

DH and I went for a walk today,

from Beaumont Quay around to Landermere (only about a mile each way). Very nice it was, too. Sunny with a cooling breeze, lots of shorebirds to see, no one else around.

But the best bit was on the way back, about 100 yards from the car.
A baby bunny on the footpath -


Close -


Very close -


This close!!!


It had no fear of us at all. It was so tiny - we were probably the very first
what-the-heck-is-that?s it had ever seen.

Eventually instinct kicked in and it decided it probably shouldn't be hanging around us and scurried off into the bushes.

Late Snow

Surprise! Another Snowflake Monday post - just when you'd given up hope.

Nothing new here - these are flakes I've blogged about before. The left-hand one is by Noel Nevins. If you're already a member of CrochetSnowflakes you can access the pattern, otherwise, sorry, but no one's moderating the group at the moment so you wouldn't be able to join. And the right-hand one is from LA Thread Tree Trims leaflet 2836.

Peace Granny

UPDATE - 10 Aug 16: OMG! We have a video tutorial! Thank you Nadia of YARNutopia!
UPDATE - 14 Aug 12: NOW WITH CHART!!
The fabulous Isabelle (FilACroche on Ravelry) set about making a chart for her own use - clever girl! - and then very generously allowed me to post it here for everyone!
UPDATE - 17 May 12: Having trouble with the RVS in round 7? Try the "longhand" version posted here. 
UPDATE - 29 May 11: a schematic for rounds 1 and 2 has been added - the stitches are shown "flat" for clarity but you'll be working in the round. I hope it helps with that fiddly round 2!

Some time back a member of Crochet Partners posted that she was looking for a peace symbol granny square pattern. Somehow it caught my imagination, and this was the result.

Seeing the picture of it now, I think the square would benefit from a wider border, but at the time I was just trying to knock something up quickly to fill a need. It came out 10" for me (I crochet loosely) but it would be a simple thing to add rounds to bring it up to any size you like.

Peace Sign Granny Square
(American Notation)

Worsted weight - Colours A and B
H hook

FL= front loop
BL = back loop
RVS =
Reverse V-stitch: work 2dctog, skipping 1 st btw first and second dc. Click here for more details.

Changing colours: with last 2 loops of dc still on hook, drop first colour and complete stitch with second colour. Carry colours across the back of the work, catching under a stitch if they get a bit long, or work completely over them throughout.

With A: Ch 4 and join to form a ring (or use a Magic Ring).

Rnd 1) ch 1, work 12 sc in ring, join with slst in FL of beg sc.

Rnd 2) ch 3, dc in nxt st, dc in FL of next st. With B (first colour change - see note above): dc in back loop (BL) of same st, 2 dc in nxt st, dc in nxt st, dc in BL of same st. With A: dc in FL of same st, dc in nxt st, dc in FL of nxt st. With B: dc in BL of same st. With A: dc in FL of same st, dc in nxt st, dc in FL of nxt st. With B: dc in BL of same st. With A: dc in FL of same st, dc in nxt st, dc in FL of nxt st. With B: dc in BL of same st, dc in same st (both loops), 2 dc in nxt st, dc in BL of same st as beg ch3, join with slst to beg ch3. = 24 dc

Click here for the full-size picture

Rnd 3) With A: Ch 3, (dc in nxt st) x 2. With B: (2 dc in nxt st) x 5. *With A: (dc in nxt st) x 3. With B: (2 dc in nxt st). Rpt from * once. With A: (dc in nxt st) x 3. With B: (2 dc in nxt st) x 5, join with slst to beg ch3. = 36 dc

Rnd 4) With A: Ch 3, (dc in nxt st) x 2. With B: (2 dc in nxt st, dc in nxt 2 st) x 3, 2 dc in nxt st. *With A: (dc in nxt st) x 3. With B: (2 dc in nxt st) x 2. Rpt from * once. With A: (dc in nxt st) x 3. With B: (2 dc in nxt st, dc in nxt 2 st) x 3, 2 dc in nxt st, join with slst to beg ch3. = 48 dc

Rnd 5) With A: Ch 3, (dc in nxt st) x 2. With B: (2 dc in nxt st, dc in nxt 3 st) x 3, 2 dc in nxt st, dc in nxt st. *With A: (dc in nxt st) x 3. With B: 2 dc in nxt st, dc in nxt 2 st, 2 dc in nxt st. Rpt from * once. With A: (dc in nxt st) x 3. With B: (2 dc in nxt st, dc in nxt 3 st) x 3, 2 dc in nxt st, dc in nxt st, join with slst to beg ch3. = 60 dc

Rnd 6) With A: ch 3, dc in nxt 3 st, (2 dc in nxt st, dc in nxt 4 st) x 11, 2 dc in nxt st, join with slst to beg ch3. Finish off A. = 72 dc

Rnd 7) NB. You will be starting and finishing this round above the first stitch of the upright arm of the peace sign, i.e. partway along a side, not at a corner. With B: sc in beg ch3 of prev rnd, ch 2, (sk st, sc in nxt st, ch 2) x 3, *sk st, RVS, ch 2, (dc in same st, ch 2) x 2, RVS starting in same st, (ch 2, sk st, sc in nxt st) x 6, ch 2, rpt from * around, join with slst to beg sc. = 40 ch2 sp

Rnd 8) slst into ch2 sp, ch1, 2 sc in sp, *3 sc in nxt sp, 2 hdc in nxt sp, 3 hdc in nxt sp, 2 dc in nxt sp, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in nxt sp, 2 dc in nxt sp, 3 hdc in nxt sp, 2 hdc in nxt sp, 3 sc in nxt sp, 2 sc in nxt sp, rpt from * around, join with slst to beg sc. = 112 st, 4 ch1 sp

Rnd 9) ch1, sc in same st and in ea st around, working 3 sc in ea ch1 sp. Join with slst to beg sc. Finish off. = 124 sc

Copyright © 2008, Judy M Kerr. All Rights Reserved.
Errors? Problems? Please email me.

Ta da! Isabelle/FilACroche's chart -

If you do try this pattern I'd love to see pictures!

ETA: See an afghan made with this square here.

It's the Real Thing

Proud as I am of the lovely ornamental apple tree in the front garden, I now have a "real" apple tree in the back garden.


Okay, it's a bit of a glorified stick at the moment but it's a Worcester Pearmain - absolutely delicious apples - and we spotted it, crammed in a tub with a load of other plastic-wrapped fruit trees, at our local supermarket, price £4.99/$10. Not the most auspicious start, but it had a few leaves on it so we thought we'd give it a chance.


These pics were taken 2 weeks ago but it's still putting out new blossoms. Will we actually get fruit this year? I would have said not a chance but it's been doing so well I'm just tempted to hope.
Update 27/6/08: The one little applet I had on the tree, that I intended to take a picture of to share with you, fell off. Next year!

That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it

I realise that you must all be very concerned about the fact that I haven't been making any Snowflake Monday posts for a while (meh, humour me). Here it is, a third of the way through the year, and I've only made 9 snowflakes. What ever could the matter be??

Well, mainly it's the fault of this little tadpole here:
No, not me you idiot! At my age?? This little girl (yes, apparently it's a girl) is on her way to becoming our first grandchild. Early October.

So, naturally, I've been crocheting baby stuff like a mad thing since we got the news in February. Snowflakes will just have to wait their turn. Here are the results of my efforts so far:













Heirloom Baby Blanket and Crocheted Hat and Jacket for Baby (the mittens and booties are my design)














Baby, It's Cold Outside (BICO) and Shining Star baby blanket from 50 Sensational Crocheted Afghans and Throws (WIP).

In addition, I've made another pair of booties, a BICO for another mum-to-be and seven chicken potholders.
Okay, so the chickens are nothing to do with babies. But they're cute.

I even have one as my avatar on Ravelry and Flickr.

Apple Tree Redux

I thought you might appreciate a more spring-like view of the ornamental apple tree than my Easter Day offering. The apples are gone now (so is the snow) and the lovely pink blossoms are starting to open.



The apples might make nice jelly, I haven't tried. But they stay on the tree all winter and look so pretty when everything else is grey. By late February/early March they've softened up enough for the blackbirds to eat. Then, mid-April, just before the flowers come out, I remove about half a carrier bag-full of apples.

FGX Update

The squares have been flying thick and fast in the CrochetPartners Friendship Granny Exchange, so I'm ready to give another update.

Received:

No pattern info for any of these I'm afraid, although Little Miss Colourful there is a basic granny and The Blues is a basic granny with the first two rounds worked in 3dc-popcorns.
Update 14/6/08 - The lovely CPer who made the purple/variegated square for me paid my blog a little visit and left a message to say that it's a Camellia Square designed by Karen Whooley. It was a free pattern on her now defunct website Crochet Legacy. I had to go back to a 2001 page on the Wayback Machine to find it! Where would us pattern addicts be without the Wayback Machine?!

Sent:

Clockwise from top-left: 1) HDC Mitred Square. 2) Nine-Patch Granny (I'm hoping to find the time to write up a pattern soon). 3) #23 from LA 99 Granny Squares to Crochet #3078. 4) Corner Puffs Motif (adapted).

Easter Greetings from sunny Dovercourt Bay

We rarely get snow here, so this is a treat! Well, for me anyway.

A low-key Snowflake Monday

This is my latest snowflake for Snowflake Monday. This is #14 from ASN Crocheted Snowflakes book 1025(25).

I'm not being very productive in the SF department this year. Perhaps because I made so many last year. And because I don't need quite so many this year so I'm not feeling pressured (yet) to crank them out.

FGX Update

Well, I finally got around to editing all my Friendship Granny Exchange photos, so it’s time for another update (with lots of pattern links, woohoo!).

Here's some I’ve received:


1) Basic Granny. 2) Basic Granny. 3) Basic Granny combining an eyelash yarn and plain DK. 4) Basic Granny. 5) I’m sure I’ve seen this pattern somewhere but I can’t find it now (anyone?). 6) A Pumpkin Square! - guess when I got this one. 7) Sunshine Jewel. 8) Friendship Jewel. 9) This is another one where I’m sure I’ve seen something like it but…

And here’s some I’ve sent:


1) This one was for “Dragonpuck”, a dragon and hockey fan. My own design, a fiery puck. Yeah, it is, trust me. 2) Pretty Patchwork (from 101 Granny Squares, Carol Alexander, 2004). 3) Square Flower. 4) Cat Tracks. 5) Christina’s Favorite. 6) Easy Daisy Granny. 7) #42 from Crochet Primer Vol. 64 (Bucilla, 1972). 8) Penguin Square (the pattern used to be available in crochetroo's Etsy shop but I can only find readymade items at the moment. Maybe she'll list the pattern again sometime).
9) Sweet Dreams (adapted).

BTW, I used Picasa to make these mosaics. So easy!

I’ve received 21 squares so far. I need 50 for the blanket I want to make with them - basically a single-bed topper with a wide border to hang down the sides. I may even incorporate a row of my own squares in the border.

If you are one of the people who sent me these squares thank you, thank you, thank you! I am loving this exchange! If you don’t see yours here yet I will post another update when I have a few more squares together.

Snowflake Monday

Yoohoo! Sus! Lookie, lookie.


It's Monday.











                         There are snowflakes.








It must be




Actually, these two were ready for last Monday but we had such lovely weather that DH just went out for the day (I only work Tue-Fri). So no blogging.

The first SF is the one previously seen in it's voodoo stage. Both of these patterns can be found in ASN Crocheted Snowflakes Book 1025(25).

Saturday Sky

Saturday Sky, winter tree and Felixstowe

DH spent ALL of last night being very sick. Gastroenteritis - I'll let you fill in the blanks.

So, as we were clearly not going to be going shopping in Colchester today I figured I'd use my unexpected free time (between making cups of tea, re-filling hot water bottles and making appropriate sympathetic noises) to post my first Saturday Sky in quite some time.

You make my day!

All you fantastic bloggers out there - you really do make my day. I could spend, well, forever just snooping here and there, happily flitting from one intriguing/delightful/informative blog to the next.

And, apparently, this little old blog of mine makes Sus' day, 'coz she's selected it for one of her ten "You Make My Day" Awards. I'm well chuffed!


So now I get to share ten of my favourite bloggers with you all. Lord knows I visit and enjoy many more than that but if I have to limit myself to ten, well, here goes:

Back at ya, Sus! - and Alice, Annie, Crystal, Drew, Ernest, Laurie and Shula. You guys are the greatest!

And in the Rest In Peace section (sob!), the blogs that belonged to Scott and funny thing really used to make my day - miss you!!

Oh, yeah...

Way back in the mists of time (ok, 7 months ago) I didn't so much promise as imply that I would be posting some more games.

Flood It - courtesy of LabPixies.

The object of the game is to "flood" the field with a single colour within 25 tries. Starting from the top left-hand corner, click on a colour that matches the most adjoining squares to maximise the area of that colour. Continue until (hopefully) all the squares are the same colour.

Hope it was worth the wait!

My, my - Mitred Square!

So, here's what happened...

                                  (made with Red Heart Strata "Cherry Berry")

...Someone in one of the (many) online crochet groups I belong to posted a link to a mitered/mitred square pattern worked in single crochet. I liked the look of it so I gave it a try. Very nice... but perhaps a bit too solid. I needed something a bit softer. I tried using a larger hook but it lost the nice stitch definition. Hmm, I wonder what half-double crochets would be like?

Those of you who have worked with HDC's know that they have a tendency to "lean" - that is, the top of the stitch appears to be slightly to the right of the stitch rather than sitting directly on top of it. I took advantage of this to allow for a 4 hdc corner. Normally an even number wouldn't work, because you wouldn't have a "corner" stitch to work your next corner into, if you get my drift. But because of the lean, the 2nd hdc of the previous row's corner angles into the middle, so that's the stitch you work your next 4 hdcs into.

One of the things you'll need to be aware of is that, as a result of this corner business, the even-numbered rows will have a different number of stitches either side of the corner, so you'll have to watch your stitch count. What's she on about?? Don't worry, I've given stitch counts for the first 7 rows. Hopefully all will become clear.

Half-Double Crochet (HDC) Mitred Square
(American Notation)

Use whatever yarn and hook combination works for you. I used WW and an H/5mm hook, and 14 rows was just under 7".

Don't forget to work a stitch into the turning chains. They're easy to miss as the hdc next to them leans into them.


Row 1 - ch3, in 3rd ch from hook work 3 hdc (remaining ch2 at beginning counts as a hdc).
    = 4 hdc

Row 2 - ch2, turn (counts as a hdc throughout), 4 hdc in nxt st (corner made), hdc in nxt 2 st.
    = 1 hdc, 4hdc corner, 2 hdc

Row 3 - ch2, turn, hdc in nxt 2 st, 4 hdc in nxt st, hdc in nxt 3 st.
    = 3 hdc, 4hdc corner, 3 hdc

Row 4 - ch2, turn, hdc in nxt 3 st, 4 hdc in nxt st, hdc in nxt 5 st.
    = 4 hdc, 4hdc corner, 5 hdc

Row 5 - ch2, turn, hdc in nxt 5 st, 4 hdc in nxt st, hdc in nxt 6 st.
    = 6 hdc, 4hdc corner, 6 hdc

Row 6 - ch2, turn, hdc in nxt 6 st, 4 hdc in nxt st, hdc in nxt 8 st.
    = 7 hdc, 4hdc corner, 8 hdc

Row 7 - ch2, turn, hdc in nxt 8 st, 4 hdc in nxt st, hdc in nxt 9 st.
    = 9 hdc, 4hdc corner, 9 hdc

Can you see the pattern forming? Even-numbered rows have one less stitch to the right of the corner than to the left of the corner; odd-numbered rows have the same number of stitches on both sides.

To continue:
- ch2, turn, hdc in ea st to corner, hdc in nxt st (i.e. 1st st of corner), 4 hdc in nxt st (i.e. 2nd st of corner), hdc in ea st to end.
Repeat the above until the square is the required size.

If your square is the size you want it at the end of an even-numbered row, skip the turning chain (i.e. don't work the last hdc into that st) and finish off - you'll then have an even number of stitches on both sides.

I worked a border of sc around my squares to finished them off. Not necessary, but I like the look. Work 1 sc in each hdc , 3 sc at the corners and work an equal number of stitches evenly along the other two sides of the square.

Copyright © 2008, Judy M Kerr.
All Rights Reserved.

Struggling? Feel free to email me.

Snowflake Monday+2

(i.e. Snowflake Wednesday - better late than never)


This little guy is called Crystal Snowflake and is from a book called I-know-not-what. I just have a copy of it that someone gave me (copyright? ¿que?).

This one, on the other hand, is online - it's #8 and it's here.

And here is one still at the Voodoo stage, as my friend Sus puts it. This is Snowflake No.12 from ASN Crocheted Snowflakes, book 1025(25).

Roi Ankhkara Kwabena, 1956 - 2008

Roi Ankhkara Kwabena - poet, story-teller, musician, educator, cultural anthropologist/activist and my dear, dear friend - crossed over 9 January 2008, after several months of illness.

He leaves behind a precious wife and a beautiful little girl about to turn two - as well as a wealth of poetry, music, inspiration, empowerment and loving memories.


Official Site

Commissioned Poetry

Cultural Literacy

Re-Evaluate

Literature of the Caribbean: Kwabena

Available publications and music

May the ancestors be pleased with his efforts.

Happy 2008!

Welcome to my first post of 2008. I hope there will be many more (and I'm sure you hope they'll be at least moderately interesting. No promises).

Here's a link to my inaugural 2008 post on the No-End-In-Sight Ripple-Along blog. I started this ripple afghan on New Year's Day, 2007.


True, not much progress, but you all know what a busy year I had (come on, I moaned about it enough!). Anyway, I'm going to switch this computer off now and go do some work on it.

Have a Great
Two-Double"O"-Eight!

Last Post in 2007

Hi! I hope you've all had enjoyable holidays.

Things are starting to return to some sort of normal now. I've actually managed to make a couple of snowflakes today (pictured pre-blocking) (both from books, sorry - click here for all my posts with links to online patterns).















Halfway through the first one I realised today was Monday (you lose track of these things when you've been off a while), so these are officially my first Snowflake Monday flakes towards my 2008 total. I'm not aiming for 51 this year but I already know I'm going to need at least 25.

Wishing you all a Very

What Christmas Ornament Are You?

You Are a Snowman

Friendly and fun, you enjoy bringing holiday cheer to everyone you know!

What Christmas Ornament Are You?

This is brilliant, 'coz I just LOVE snowmen!

Anda con Dios

So long Preacher Boy, I'm gonna miss you!

Been back 7 weeks...

...and haven't posted since Week 1. Figured I'd better post something before the month was out!

I've been busy. In case you hadn't noticed, Christmas is only 27 days away.

If you're a "crafty" person you know how manic the last few weeks before the Big Day can be. No matter how many times I've said "I must start earlier next year", I always end up running out of hours in the day in which to crochet/stitch/bake all the little goodies I want make for everybody. I've had to whittle my list down - if you don't get a hand-made giftie from me this year it's because you've been bumped to next year. Sorry. I did think of you.

There's been a distinct lack of Snowflake Monday posts on my part, but rest assured I have been flaking. I've made 53 snowflakes so far this year. Beat my "51 Flakes by Christmas" deadline by 3 weeks! I've still got a few more to make. Most of them will be given away but I have put a few aside for ME. Come the 1st I'll be hanging them in the front room window. Can't wait!

Despite my mounting pre-Crimble panic I did set aside some time today to take part in Just This Day. Did anyone else here join in?

I really hope I can find some time to post again before Christmas but if I don't manage it... I wish the Handiwork Fairies visit you in the night and finish all your gift projects so you can relax and enjoy the rest of the Holiday Season!

Been back a week...

...and I'm only now getting around to blogging. Blame jet-lag, unpacking, laundry, faltering attempts to get back to the normal routine. We're both still really tired and the weather's been decidely autumnal (read grey and wet) since we've been back, which doesn't help.

But we had a great time. It was so nice to see my step-dad and the new lady in his life. Well, not so new - they've been seeing each other for over a year now and they're getting married on 4 December! In Hawaii. Nice one! And I've seen the dress - it's lovely! Can you tell I'm pleased and excited?

I wish I could show you the beautiful autumn colours we saw as we drove over Stevens Pass to eastern Washington. Yellows, golds, intense oranges, and the reds were simply amazing. Sadly, no pictures of that bit - they wouldn't have done it justice anyway.

And to top it off it snowed! Ok, only for about 5 minutes, but hey, snow in September. I was thrilled! I love snow. I grew up in Canada - sue me.

This is the only "mountain scenery" picture I've got, taken in Winthrop at about 7am. It was cold. But it was great to be there.


















For now, back to the ironing.