Reach out and touch*

Click: {{{cyber hugz}}}

Addendum:

I composed this post Tuesday morning but I wasn't able to post it at the time because we received a call to say a friend was in hospital...
Curiouser and curiouser.

*"Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)" - Diana Ross

Good news and bad news

The good news is I've managed to crochet a snowflake this week. Two, in fact.

The bad news is I can't show them to you.

Yep, simplysnowflakes is having another Natural Snowflake contest, and this is our inspiration:

So, next week guys. If it's any compensation, there'll be another new pattern for y'all. :-)

We have games!

Well, one game so far, courtesy of LabPixies.

Reasonably intuitive - click on the first box and a green ball appears. Clicking again will change it to red, then blue, then pink. Repeat for all four boxes to choose your colour sequence, then click the "?". The black star score shows correct hits, the white star shows right colours in the wrong places.

Enjoy!

No-Flake Monday

I know - all last week you were wriggling with anticipation at seeing my latest SM flake today and I've let you down. I am so sorry.

I tend to work on my flakes at the weekend but on Thursday I came across the news that the Knitting Heretic's husband is ill...

so I had to make some angels for them pronto. (It's my way.)















They could really use some words of encouragement and maybe a little financial help right now so please pay a visit to .

Thank you.

Boring Post

This is SSSS #7.

It's nice.

Haven't really got a lot more to say than that.

Gosh, this is a boring post.

Wanna see a picture of our new cat pen? No, not really, thank you?... Tough.



















Here it is before DH installed a few perching shelves. Access is through an open window in the utility room.

The girls have always been indoor cats. This was one of the requirements of the rescue centre we got them from and also the only practical option as we used to live upstairs in a block of maisonettes. When we moved here we promised them a pen so they could enjoy some fresh air and a spot of bird watching.

If you look closely you can see Beastie sitting on the (temporary) table and Tinkle mooching around on the ground at the back. The next morning I opened the window for them before I did anything else - now if I don't do it first thing, or dare to close it during the day, they kick up a fuss. On the other hand, it took Sasha 6 days to work up the nerve to go out in it, bless her little timid heart.

FGX Update

Time again to show off the latest lovely squares I've received as part of the Crochet Partners Friendship Granny Exchange (FGX). Where I've been able to locate the pattern online I've added the link.

Clockwise from top left:

Amber Waves from Texas, USA;

hot pink and peacock variegated from Nebraska, USA;

Friendship Jewel 7" from Pennsylvania, USA;

cream/pink/cream from Arizona, USA;

4-Patch Granny from Texas, USA (similar pattern here);

eight-petal flower square from Wisconsin, USA.




And I've sent out:

Off-Kilter Granny to New York, USA;

Amber Waves to Pennsylvania, USA;

Frilly Flower to Ontario, Canada;

Circle of Friends to Illinois, USA;

Heart Square to Ohio, USA;

Chain Link Granny (my design based on an afghan I saw, pattern to follow) to Arizona, USA.




If you've sent me a square and you don't see it here, don't worry - when I get another half-dozen or so I'll post more pics.

Fresh Snow

In an earlier Snowflake Monday post I showed off my competition winning snowflake design (yes, in a field of two - ok, ok, moving on). As promised, here is the pattern. Since first working this flake I've redesigned the centre slightly.

Crystal Snowflake
(American notation)

Picot = work stated number of chains, slst in furthest chain from hook.

Rnd 1) Ch2, 6sc in 2nd ch from hk, join w slst to top of beg sc.

Rnd 2) Working in bl only: ch1, sc in same st, ch2, sc in same st, (sc, ch2, sc) in ea sc around, join w slst to top of beg sc.

Rnd 3) Slst into ch2-sp, ch3, dc in same sp, ch7, (2dc in nxt ch2-sp, ch7) around, join w slst to top of beg ch3.

Rnd 4) *Ch3, 5ch-picot, 6ch-picot, 8ch-picot, 6ch-picot, slst in base of prev 6ch-picot, 5ch-picot, slst in base of prev 5ch-picot, ch3, slst in nxt dc, ch4, tr in same dc, hdc in ch7 loop, tr in nxt dc, ch4, slst in same dc, rep from * around, working last tr and ch4 in same dc as beg ch3.

Copyright © 2007, Judy M Kerr. All Rights Reserved.

Please let me know if I've messed this up anywhere.



ETA: There's another pattern here if you're interested.

Snowflake...

...Monday


This is pattern #6 from the simplysnowflakes Snowflake Signup.

The first round called for 24sc in a 6ch ring, then in the next round you had to work a stitch in each of these stitches. Tight! Too tight, in fact, so I worked 12sc instead and then 2sc in sc between each cluster instead of 3sc in all.

I don't think it made any appreciable difference. Except to my eyesight.

Saturday Sky with Lighthouse - Part 2

The Low Lighthouse in Harwich, with the High Lighthouse in the background.

Ships approaching the harbour in the 1800's would align the lights of these two lighthouses to steer a safe course up the channel. Over time the channel shifted and these lights became redundant in 1863, replaced by the Leading Lights further west along the shore in Dovercourt.



The Low Lighthouse is now the home of the Harwich Maritime Museum.

Want some lime with that?

What Your Favorite Color Green Says About You:

Balanced --- Relaxed --- Flexible
Compassionate --- Philosophical --- Humble
Loyal --- Inventive --- Unique

What Does Your Favorite Color Say About You?

Melting Snow

SSSS #5

This snowflake picture was not taken on my customary blue background because a) it didn't fit - even made with #20 cotton this sucker is 8½" across and b) I don't like it and I'm not keeping it. It's blocked but not stiffened and I haven't even cut the thread - I just airbrushed it out of the photo.

That is the one slight drawback with these sorts of sign-ups - you sometimes have to make things you don't like in order to get the next pattern. Still, this is the first one I've really disliked so I can't complain.

But I can recycle my thread.

Too wet for snow

It is chucking it down outside. Typical Bank Holiday weather. Don't let the little sun in the corner fool you - no sun to be seen here!

But fear not - despite the title, I have got a snowflake. In fact, it's the ~winning~ snowflake in the first simplysnowflakes Homepage Contest. Woohoo!

Ok, in the interest of full disclosure I feel I have to mention that, although several people expressed an interest in taking up the challenge, in the end there was only one other entry.

But I won.

Here's the real snowflake we had to "copy". How did I do?








I will be posting the pattern for this flake soon as. Mind you, it took me a month to post my granny square pattern, so I wouldn't hold my breath.


Last but not least, here's my simplysnowflakes Snowflake Signup (SSSS) #4. I know where this one came from but in order to get a pattern you have to complete the previous one and there are some in the group who haven't gotten this far yet, so I'm not tellin'.

I'm It!

Good Lord, I've been tagged.

And while my tagger was "totally excited" about having been tagged, my immediate reaction was panic. What if I have to answer some really embarrassing question/s? What if I can't think of anything? How long is this going to take? Oh, the pressure! I was relieved when I saw that it was the "7 Random Facts" meme but then Wave of Panic #2 - I don't think I know 7 bloggers to tag... All of which probably says something really sad about my personality {sigh}.

Anyway, I've had some chocolate to settle my nerves - deep breath, here goes:

The Meme

Those tagged must list 7 random facts about themselves. They also need to write in their blogs the rules of the game, which are pretty simple--you list your 7 facts, then list 7 people you are tagging. Then you leave them comments letting them know they've been tagged.

Here are my 7 random facts:

1) I can wiggle my eyes. Jiggle them back and forth really fast. Looks like I'm having a seizure. I've only met one other person who can do this (or, at least, only one other person who's admitted to it).

2) I've had one broken bone and two cuts that required stitches.

3) I don't like being with more than one person at a time.

4) I can count to 10 in 13 different languages.

5) I've been married 3 times. Third time's the charm - I've been with DH longer than all my other relationships put together.

6) I inherited the ability to tell fortunes from my maternal grandmother. I use tarot cards but she used ordinary playing cards (and read coffee grounds).

7) *** Censored ***

7) I have a tendency to be too forthcoming with personal information.

The seven people I am tagging are:

Ah.

Sus? She tagged me!
Tina? She's currently "between blogs".
Scott? He's in the middle of a major move.
Umm...
{sigh}

Little and Large

Today's Snowflake Monday offering is the #3 signup flake from simplysnowflakes. I don't know where the pattern is from so if you want it you'll have to join!

This doily...

is from a German bi-monthly magazine called Häkel-Träume, which I think translates as Dream Crochet (US/CD subscription info here - can't find any for the UK). My aunt sent it to me a while back and I sent her this as a thankyou.

1 of 3

I made three snowflakes this past week but I can only show you one.

This is simplysnowflakes' Snowflake Signup #2. The pattern can be found online here.








The other two were worked up for a contest at simplysnowflakes. We were given a photograph of a real snowflake and asked to design a matching crocheted flake. The winner gets their SF posted on the group's homepage. All the entries have to be in by next Monday so hopefully I'll be able to post the pictures (and a pattern!) the following week.

Super Seraphina

I've just completed my first Seraphina Shawl. I love this pattern! It was a bit confusing at first but the pictures are a great help. Once I got my head around the repeats I was away.

This one is for my aunt. I inherited my mum's stash and decided to use some of it (there's tons!) to make something for each member of the family. The problem is that there's mostly only one or two balls of each yarn, so I've been making scarves. I had six 50g balls of this yarn so I thought I could get away with a shawl. Well, it was just barely enough - it seemed to be worsted weight but it worked up like chunky and I had to use a K hook. In the end, one ball did only two rows. Thank goodness for blocking, which added a few inches.

The very next morning I started this one:

I found the mohair at a charity shop in Rickmansworth - £1.99/$3.94 for about 400g. Yes!

When that one is done I'm going to make one with this ball of Sirdar YoYo. Can't wait to see the colour changes.

Another bargain - the 400g balls sell for about £16.50/$32.69 but I got this one off of eBay for £10.50/$20.80 delivered. Like I need more yarn, yeah.

Flake and Faith

I've signed up for simplysnowflakes' Snowflake Signup (try saying that quickly five times). You have to make and post a picture of each flake before you are sent the pattern for the next - this is SF#1.

I didn't think I'd like it all that much when I first saw the picture that accompanied the pattern but now that I've made my own I think it's really quite cute and it's certainly easy to make.

Right, that's the flake, now the faith. You have been warned.

If you've been with me a while you'll know that one of my favourite bloggers is the man formerly known as "Preacher Boy". I've linked to several of his posts in the past, basically with the injunction Read.This.Or.Else.

Backtrack a moment - the other day I visited Beliefnet and on the home page was a brief survey, "Which is more important: having faith or doing good?" I chose doing good and fully expected to see that I was not in the majority. But I was quite surprised to see just how not in the majority I was. At the time doing good scored only 33%. I huffed a bit and then moved on.

So today I visited PB's new blog A Place to Be Yourself and came across this gem (I just love when these connection things* happen). Now, I am a firm believer in the power and necessity of prayer, but faith without works just isn't going to cut it when you've got someone in your face who's suffering. And PB so beautifully and honestly points out why. His "Uncle Jerry" post ties into the same theme.

If you want/need a Spiritual Slap-Upside-The-Head I suggest you read his blog regularly. Catch him while you can - he's moving on. I just pray he'll keep on blogging!

*Coincidence is just another name for God.

Off-Kilter Granny

At last! The pattern you've all been waiting for. This is my first (and quite probably only) original design. I hope the instructions make sense. If you do find any mistakes please email me.

Off-Kilter Granny
(American notation)

Update 23/6/07 - corrected DK hook size and added mm sizes

WW / H-5mm hook = approx. 7",
DK / G-4.25mm hook = approx. 6"

Special stitch - htr (half-treble):
YO twice, insert hook in stitch indicated. YO, draw through two loops. YO, draw through remaining
3 loops.

(You'll be working a standard granny square for the first 3 rounds, with ch1 btw the 3dc shells and ch3 in the corners.)

Ch5, join w slst to form ring.

Rnd 1 - ch3, 2dc in ring, ch3, [3dc in ring, ch3] x3, ending slst to 3rd ch of beg 3ch.

Rnd 2 - slst in ch3 sp, ch3, [2dc, ch3, 3dc] in same sp, ch1, *[3dc, ch3, 3dc] in nxt ch3 sp, ch1, repeat from * around, ending slst to 3rd ch of beg 3ch.

Rnd 3 - slst in ch3 sp, ch3, [2dc, ch3, 3dc] in same sp, ch1, 3dc in nxt ch1 sp, ch1, *[3dc, ch3, 3dc] in nxt ch3 sp, ch1, 3dc in nxt ch1 sp, ch1, repeat from * around, ending slst to 3rd ch of beg 3ch.

Rnd 4 - slst to centre ch of corner 3ch, ch5, tr in same ch, *ch4, htr in nxt ch1 sp, ch4, dc in nxt ch1 sp, ch4, [hdc, ch3, tr] in centre ch of corner 3ch, repeat from * around, ending slst in 2nd ch of beg 5ch.

Rnd 5 - ch3, [3dc, ch2, 2dc] in ch3 sp (corner made), *[dc in nxt st, 4dc in ch4 sp] x3, dc in nxt st, work corner, repeat from * around, ending slst in 3rd ch of beg 3ch. Finish off.
Copyright © 2007, Judy M Kerr. All Rights Reserved.

SFM

(Snowflake Monday, but you knew that already.)

Hmm... no.

But it was Noel's original free pattern* and I had to try it to complete the set. Doesn't help that halfway through the last round I ran out of the #20 cotton I'd been using and the only other #20 I had was a decidedly dingier white.

*I called up her website on the Wayback Machine but I couldn't for the life of me find a link to this pattern. If anyone remembers the actual url please let me know. The website is still worth a visit, though. Stacks of info and links to other snowflakes.

Didya miss me?

I sure missed you.

We helped get MFD moved in on Monday (what a job!), M went home yesterday (she stayed one more night with us rather than sleep on the floor surrounded by boxes), and I've got my pc back! Hooray!!

No snowflake this week I'm afraid. I was too busy "attending" to M and trying to get this done in time:

As it was, I only finished it this morning. But if I had managed to give it to her on Monday she'd just have lost it in all the clutter.










Once I catch up with everything here I'm hoping to post my Off-Kilter Granny instructions. But right now I'm off to read my 683 emails. I'm not joking.