tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21197050016146683472024-03-14T00:03:26.974-05:00Crochet by SiaThis blog has moved to sia.studio. Redirecting you in 5 seconds...Siahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06891915636286909811noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119705001614668347.post-35734799142258280402014-11-18T11:06:00.000-06:002014-11-18T11:19:42.474-06:00Mosaic Potholder/Washcloth PatternThis geometric potholder (or washcloth) has concentric half-squares on one side and stripes on the other. Make quick gifts while trying out a new crochet technique!<br />
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I designed this simple, free pattern to better show people the concepts of what I call mosaic crochet before they decide to purchase one of my patterns featuring this technique (<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/CrochetBySia?section_id=16351883&ref=shopsection_leftnav_1" target="_blank">click here to see them all</a>). I also include detailed videos to demonstrate the pattern techniques. Each video is linked in its location in the pattern, but you can also see the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOmFcHEnwM5aAlzVdvJh_ezW6JCawq61D" target="_blank">entire playlist here</a>. Try out the pattern, and let me know what you think!<br />
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<b>Gauge & Size</b><br />
Gauge is not critical in this pattern unless you want to make it a specific size. If you're using scrap yarn, I suggest using an appropriate hook size for your yarn thickness and allowing the potholder/washcloth to grow or shrink accordingly. Gauge is 12 stitches and 15-16 rows of sc = 4 inches square. The finished size is about 6 3/4 inches wide by about 5 1/2 inches long.<br />
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<b>Design Notes</b><br />
<i>Color work</i>: When changing yarn colors, loop in the new color as the last “pull through” of the previous stitch to create better color borders. Do not cut each color until the end. Every other row, we drop a color behind the work and pick up the new color from the previous rows. <br />
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<i>Blocking</i>: Blocking (according to your yarn type) is strongly encouraged as it makes for a much more professional-looking piece.<br />
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<i>Even Rows</i>: All of the even-numbered rows are return rows for a particular color, and can be simplified to this: ch 1 before first stitch, ch 3 across any ch-3 space, and sc in every sc or ht. The detailed instructions are still included as a double-check.<br />
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<b>Abbreviations and Special Stitches</b></div>
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The stitches in this pattern are fairly basic, except for the special half treble crochet (ht). The ht is how we make the vertical stripes in the pattern. We perform this stitch into stitches from previous rows. </div>
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As you make the pattern, you will chain stitch across areas where you are in the wrong color for two rows. Then, on the next row when you are in the “right” color, you work your ht into the stitches 3 rows below the current row (always working in front of the chains). The net effect is that the potholder will be the concentric half-squares on the front side and stripes on the back side. </div>
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<i>Why “half-treble”? I’ve never heard of that stitch.</i> When I first started working mosaic crochet, I used dc as other patterns suggested. I’ve found that those stitches are too short and thus cause curling. Triple/treble crochet is a bit too high, and half-treble was just right. Feel free to experiment with stitch height.</div>
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I created a video for how to make the Special Half-Treble Crochet (ht) stitch, which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9oNoywwc1U.</div>
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<i>Abbreviation = Stitch</i></div>
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ch = chain</div>
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ht = Special half-treble crochet (see video) – work in front of ch-3’s into the stitch 3 rows below. Yo twice, insert hook in stitch, yo and pull through, yo and pull through 2 loops, yo and pull through remaining 3 loops</div>
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sc = single crochet</div>
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sl st = slip stitch</div>
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st = stitch</div>
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yo = yarn over</div>
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Motif Graphic</div>
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This graphic is provided for those of you who work better with pictures than text, like me. Any square that is blank is simply a sc stitch. The ht stitches are worked into the sc’s 3 rows below the current row, and always worked in front of the chains of the in-between rows (watch the video). Row 1 starts at the bottom with Color A, which is grey in this graphic.</div>
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<b>Pattern</b></div>
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Beginning Chain: Ch 19 with the I hook. </div>
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Row 1: Using the H hook, sc in second ch from hook and across (18 sc). Ch 1, turn.</div>
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Row 2: Sc across. In last st, join <b>Color B</b> in last pull-through. Drop Color A, but do not cut as we will pick it up on future rows (here and throughout pattern). Ch 1, turn.</div>
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Row 3 (<a href="http://youtu.be/6Cy61mDONUo" target="_blank">watch video</a>): In Color B, sc 8, ch 3 and skip 2 st, sc 8. Ch 1, turn.</div>
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Row 4 (<a href="http://youtu.be/Z5MNLgUNA1Q" target="_blank">watch video</a>): Sc 8, ch 3 and skip 2 st, sc 8, changing to <b>Color A</b> in last pull-through (just pick it up from the lower rows, and make sure not to pull too tight). Ch 1, turn.</div>
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Row 5 (<a href="http://youtu.be/Kf6T17tp5gk" target="_blank">watch video for rows 5 and 6</a>): In Color A, sc 6, ch 3 and skip 2 st, ht 2, ch 3 and skip 2 st, sc 6. Ch 1, turn.</div>
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Row 6: Sc 6, ch 3 and skip 2 st, sc 2, ch 3 and skip 2 st, sc 6, picking up <b>Color B</b> in last st. Ch 1, turn.</div>
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<i>Note: Now that you have the hang of it, when you see “ch 3”, you will know to either skip 2 st or skip a previous ch 3. It won’t be written fully out, which should make it simpler for you to read the pattern also.</i></div>
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Row 7 (<a href="http://youtu.be/PbeYpSqfXuA" target="_blank">watch video for rows 7 and 8</a>): In Color B, sc 4, ch 3, ht 2, ch 3, ht 2, ch 3, sc 4. Ch 1, turn.</div>
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Row 8: Sc 4, ch 3, sc 2, ch 3, sc 2, ch 3, sc 4, picking up <b>Color A</b> in last st. Ch 1, turn.</div>
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Row 9 (<a href="http://youtu.be/Cm9YWtPYM5Y" target="_blank">watch video for rows 9 and 10</a>): In Color A, sc 2, ch 3, ht 2, ch 3, ht 2, ch 3, ht 2, ch 3, sc 2. Ch 1, turn.</div>
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Row 10: Sc 2, ch 3, sc 2, ch 3, sc 2, ch 3, sc 2, ch 3, sc 2, picking up <b>Color B</b> in last st. Ch 1, turn.</div>
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Row 11 (<a href="http://youtu.be/HswfEJ6eorM" target="_blank">watch video for rows 11 and 12</a>): In Color B, sc 2, ht 2, ch 3, ht 2, ch 3, ht 2, ch 3, ht 2, sc 2. Ch 1, turn.</div>
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Row 12: Sc 4, ch 3, sc 2, ch 3, sc 2, ch 3, sc 4, picking up <b>Color A</b> in last st. Ch 1, turn.</div>
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Row 13 (<a href="http://youtu.be/9bqxMiq_lZc" target="_blank">watch video for rows 13 and 14</a>): In Color A, sc 4, ht 2, ch 3, ht 2, ch 3, ht 2, sc 4. Ch 1, turn.</div>
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Row 14: Sc 6, ch 3, sc 2, ch 3, sc 6, picking up <b>Color B</b> in last st. Ch 1, turn.</div>
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Row 15 (<a href="http://youtu.be/fCbXcLCzZrM" target="_blank">watch video</a>): In Color B, sc 6, ht 2, ch 3, ht 2, sc 6. Ch 1, turn.</div>
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Row 16: Sc 8, ch 3, sc 8, picking up <b>Color A</b> in last st. Fasten off Color B. Ch 1, turn.</div>
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Row 17: In Color A, sc 8, ht 2, sc 8. Ch 1, turn.</div>
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Row 18: Sc across. Fasten off. Weave in all ends.</div>
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If desired, add a border of sc around the entire work (<a href="http://youtu.be/B-BB9Wn5TeI" target="_blank">watch video</a>). For the sides, use about one sc per row. I ended up using 3-4 sc per 4 rows as one per every row stretched out the sides too much. Sc 3 in each corner.</div>
Siahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06891915636286909811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119705001614668347.post-80090535806441713032014-11-09T20:40:00.000-06:002014-11-09T20:40:05.139-06:00Square Key Scarf Pattern Release!Another pattern release! I'm on a roll now. :) Check out the photos for my newest design, the square key unisex scarf. Unique Greek key motif on one side and stripes with texture on the other. And one super-cute canine model.<br />
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Pattern can be found on both <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/210457515/square-key-unisex-scarf-crochet-pattern" target="_blank">Etsy </a>and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/square-key-unisex-scarf" target="_blank">Ravelry</a>. Cheers!<br />
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<br />Siahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06891915636286909811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119705001614668347.post-1909124605371572322014-11-05T12:08:00.000-06:002014-11-05T12:08:42.541-06:00L.Y.L.A.S. Cowls Pattern Just Released!!<i><b>Love You Like A Sister...</b></i><br />
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The photos are finally in, so you can now check out my new L.Y.L.A.S. pattern! Grab a crochet friend for this fun project (or just make two if you don't have a best crochet friend). :)<br />
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You can find the pattern in my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/209868963/lylas-cowls-crochet-pattern" target="_blank">Etsy shop</a> and also on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lylas-cowls" target="_blank">Ravelry</a>. Enjoy!<br />
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<br />Siahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06891915636286909811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119705001614668347.post-845947058349269932014-10-02T13:18:00.000-05:002014-10-02T13:18:23.154-05:00It's Crochet Season!!The heat index might be 100 degrees here in New Orleans, but I realize the rest of the northern hemisphere "might" have started cooling off by now. I'm definitely seeing a pick up in crochet activity, so I figured it was time to get the yarn out of the attic, crank up the air conditioning, and start moving on some projects that have been hibernating during our 10-month long summer. All for you, my fans. You who live in cooler climates. Hopefully a few sales will help accommodate for my higher electric bill to satisfy the masses with more patterns. :)<br />
<br />
So, what do you guys want this season? Right now I'm working on a LYLAS cowl... yep, you heard right... Love You Like A Sister cowl. It's actually two interlocking cowls that you can work on with a friend or simply make 2 and share with your non-crocheting best friend like me. <br />
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THAT should be coming soon. But, what should come NEXT? Give me some ideas. I have a few, but I'd like the People to have a say. <br />
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Some ideas I'm contemplating right now:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Another man scarf. You guys seem to love these. Maybe there aren't enough in the marketplace. The new idea is more drapey, single-color, and light to show off a textured pattern.</li>
<li>Fleur de lis beanie hat using cables. I have yet to invent how this would actually work, but whatever will help my Saints, I will do...</li>
<li>Poop bag holder for my fellow dog-owners. I need some fun ideas for this though. No serious poop bag holders here.</li>
<li>Pillow cover with a textured scene, and eventually a complimentary set of squares that could be made into an afghan.</li>
</ul>
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Which ones do you love/hate? Any special requests? Special requests that get made will get a free copy of that pattern or any other in my etsy shop. :)</div>
Siahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06891915636286909811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119705001614668347.post-87837086294251494132014-06-09T11:41:00.000-05:002014-06-09T12:00:26.621-05:00Phone Cozy<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444241; line-height: 20px;">I had some leftover awesome-looking sari yarn and thought my </span><span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-image: none !important; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(89, 57, 170) !important; border-bottom-style: dotted !important; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; color: rgb(89, 57, 170) !important; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1px !important; position: static;">phone</span><span style="color: #444241; line-height: 20px;"> looked cold even though I live in New Orleans. Alas, my creativity led me to do something about both problems at once.</span></span></span></div>
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<b>Yarn:</b> I used Berocco Idol which is a variegated sari yarn. It is theoretically bulky, but I found that it worked up more like an aran weight or heavy worsted weight yarn. You can adjust the pattern to match your yarn weight (add/remove beginning chains and add/remove rows).<br />
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<b>Materials: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.790000915527344px;">Crochet hook size US H (5.0 mm) or appropriate size for your yarn, yarn needle (to weave in ends)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.790000915527344px;"><br /></span>
<strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.790000915527344px;">Abbreviations and Special Stitches</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.790000915527344px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.790000915527344px;">ch = Chain </span><br />
dc = Double crochet<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.790000915527344px;">hdc = Half double crochet</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.790000915527344px;">sc = Single crochet</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.790000915527344px;">sc2tog = Single crochet 2 together</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.790000915527344px;">sl st = Slip stitch</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.790000915527344px;">st = Stitch </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.790000915527344px;"><br /></span>
<b>Note</b>: Throughout pattern, the chains at the beginning of a row do not count as the first stitch.<br />
<br />
<u style="font-weight: bold;">Main Body</u> (worked in the round)<br />
Beginning chain: Ch 10.<br />
Row 1: Sc 2nd ch from hook and across (in back loops). Sc 3 more times in last ch. Rotate to work back across in the front loops to the beg ch. Sc 2 more times in the beg ch. (Net stitches: 4 total sc in the beginning and ending ch, and 2 sc on either side of each of the other ch for 24 total sc). Sl st to top of beginning sc.<br />
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in same st and around, sl st to top of beg sc (24 sc).<br />
<b>*** After row 2, test the size of your cozy by inserting your phone. If it is too big, start over with a smaller beg ch. If it is too small, start over with a larger beg ch.***</b><br />
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Row 3: Repeat row 2.<br />
Row 4: Ch 2, hdc in same st and around, sl st to top of beg hdc (24 hdc).<br />
Row 5: Repeat row 2.<br />
Row 6: Ch 3, dc in same st and around, sl st to top of beg dc (24 dc).<br />
Rows 7-14: Repeat rows 3-6 two times.<br />
Row 15: Repeat row 2. Do not fasten off - continue with Flap row 1...<br />
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<u style="font-weight: bold;">Flap</u> (worked flat)<br />
Flap row 1: Ch 1, sc in same st and next 9 st (10 sc). Ch 2, turn.<br />
Flap row 2: Hdc across (10 hdc). Ch 1, turn.<br />
Flap rows 3-6: Repeat rows 1-2 two times.<br />
Flap row 7: Sc across first 8 st then sc2tog in last 2 st (9 st). Ch 1, turn.<br />
Flap row 8: Sc across first 7 st then sc2tog in last 2 st (8 st). Ch 1, turn.<br />
Flap row 9: Sc across first 6 st then sc2tog in last 2 st (7 st). Ch 1, turn.<br />
Flap row 10: Sc across first 5 st then sc2tog in last 2 st (6 st). Ch 1, turn.<br />
Flap row 11: Sc across first 4 st then sc2tog in last 2 st (5 st). Ch 1, turn. <br />
Flap row 12: Sc across first 3 st then sc2tog in last 2 st (4 st). Ch 1, turn.<br />
Flap row 13: Sc across first 2 st then sc2tog in last 2 st (3 st). Ch 1, turn.<br />
Flap row 14: Sc in first st then sc2tog (2 st). Ch 1, turn.<br />
Flap row 15: Sc2tog. Do not fasten off. Make the wrap cord by chaining for about 1 yard. Fasten off. Keep end tail to tie off pom-pom.<br />
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<u style="font-weight: bold;">Pom-Pom</u> (See photos below)<br />
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<ol>
<li>You may want to practice with junk yarn first. Cut a piece of yarn at least 6 inches long and set aside. </li>
<li>Find an object whose circumference is a bit more than half of what you want the diameter of your pom-pom to be. Wrap yarn around it many times (20+) and then cut the end. </li>
<li>Carefully slip all the yarn off the object and use the previously cut yarn length to tie tightly across the middle of the loops. Knot one side then loop back and knot the other side too for insurance. </li>
<li>Now snip all the loops. You will have a scraggly looking pom-pom like the one below:</li>
<li>Trim all the ends EXCEPT the ends of your knot yarn until you have a nice, even pom-pom. </li>
<li>Tie the knot yarn to the tail of your wrap cord then weave in/trim all ends.</li>
</ol>
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Siahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06891915636286909811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119705001614668347.post-20514888348717411542014-01-29T10:41:00.000-06:002014-01-29T10:41:22.470-06:00Sneaux Day Activity: Pups in CupsIf you don't already know, we are in the midst of a sneaux-pacalypse in New Orleans. Thanks to facebook, I discovered one activity to keep our household busy - <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/chelseamarshall/21-mutts-muggin" target="_blank">Mutts Muggin</a>, or as I like to call it, Pups in Cups. Here is our attempt - it's much more difficult to achieve than it looks. :)<br />
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Happy Sneaux Day!<br />
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<br />Siahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06891915636286909811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119705001614668347.post-38631693555385718322014-01-26T14:50:00.000-06:002014-01-26T14:50:54.502-06:00New pattern release: Andras Man ScarfI just released the Andras man scarf pattern on both <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/177193047/andras-man-scarf-crochet-pattern" target="_blank">Etsy </a>and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/andras-man-scarf" target="_blank">Ravelry</a>. Here are the photos - and yes, that is my dad. I wanted to make him a special Christmas present that was stylish and represented our culture. I hope you enjoy it too!<br />
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<br />Siahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06891915636286909811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119705001614668347.post-17608835355384646892014-01-16T10:33:00.001-06:002014-01-16T10:33:57.387-06:00Resolutions UpdateWell, it's been two weeks since the start of the year, and it's time for an update. As you might recall, I made a lot of resolutions (see them <a href="http://siatex.blogspot.com/2014/01/2014-year-of-health-and-discovery.html" target="_blank">here</a>). I've already made some observations:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>1000 miles of fitness in a year isn't too difficult for an active person. This is good news because when you combine all of the resolutions I will need at least one winner so that I don't feel like a miserable failure. </li>
<li>No processed junk food is steering me in the right direction even though I've had one slip up thus far (and probably many more coming in the future). I think the key is to recognize when these happen and what the causes are. Slip up #1 was work stress. Maybe the solution is to not work. I guess that might cause some other problems though.</li>
<li>I really enjoy writing, however there is no way I would continue to write without this resolution. The problem is that "real life" gets in the way. I think I am most appreciative of this resolution as it's forcing me to prioritize some of my unstructured time toward something that I enjoy.</li>
<li>I really hate my disconnection resolution. Really. It's so hard! I'm failing miserably even though I really want to try. I can actually feel when I'm over-connecting and how it pulls away happiness, but I still do it like an addiction. Maybe the first step is recognizing you have a problem? If so, at least I have accomplished the first step. What's the next step? I could use some help here. :)</li>
</ul>
Siahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06891915636286909811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119705001614668347.post-54705798972078705562014-01-01T15:05:00.001-06:002014-01-01T15:07:31.611-06:002014: The year of Health and DiscoveryThis might be overkill, but I'm declaring some pretty big goals this year. Actually, the goals are more like the results of what I am hoping to establish as systems or routines for being a happier person. I don't want to say that my goal is to become a better person because that implies that I am not a good one. As a society, we are starting to drift further and further away from the things that make us happy humans, so my goals, or systems, are focused on getting back to what matters.<br />
<br />
Why systems and not just the goals? Because my friend Courtney recently shared an article that made some sense to me which essentially says we might be more successful if we establish systems rather than goals - you can find the article <a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/230333" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Data. So, I'm a data geek, and I love numbers and spreadsheets. I also want a nifty way to show people how I'm doing in achieving my goals (really systems but I have to make them into goals for everyone else to understand and track, and I'm not too intimidated by big goals after having done Ironman twice). So, at the risk of exposing myself as too much of a data nerd, <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AicoBxL4VFhAdFpSRUhJdjlOUTl6WGFlcC14c1VObEE&usp=sharing" target="_blank">here </a>is a Google spreadsheet that the whole world can view, and maybe even off-world beings if they have access to our interwebs, where you can track my progress on the big goals. I even opened it up for commenting, so have at it!<br />
<br />
And now, what you've been waiting for... here are my big goals (really systems):<br />
<br />
<b>HEALTH</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Complete 1,000 miles of fitness.</b> This can include running, walking, swimming, and maybe some biking though I will avoid using biking/cycling too much because then the goal would be too easy to game. My friend Rob just completed his 1,000 miles of running goal for 2013. I liked that idea, but I wanted to be inclusive of other sports. Again, my goal is more to establish a regular system of fitness where I am eager to achieve a daily/weekly goal of miles. This will be new to me because usually I use a specific race as an end goal for fitness. Now, I want to try to achieve fitness just for fitness' sake.</li>
<li><b>Don't eat processed junk food.</b> So, I'm not really going to track this one, but I generally want to get into the habit of not reaching for sweet or salty junk food that is processed. I really don't even like it that much, so why do I continue reaching for it? Because the food industry has made it addictive. If you read closely, you know there is a big loophole here, but I think it's a good one - I can still eat homemade junk food. This is great because I love baking, so I can still try my creations and be polite by eating other people's creations, and not deprive myself so much that I end up binging anytime the will power slips for a second (aka, I have a glass of wine).</li>
<li><b>Limit virtual connection time to make more time for real conversation and partaking of actual life. </b> I've become more and more concerned about the impact of us being ultra-connected. It looks like a few other folks are starting to recognize this and put it into better words. <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/sherry_turkle_alone_together.html" target="_blank">This </a>is an excellent video about how we are more connected yet more alone - yes, it's almost 20 minutes long, but I was pretty much glued to the screen after about 6 minutes (a bit of a slow lead up, but well worth it). So, how am I going to work toward this? I already downgraded my phone to an old-fashioned flip phone with no data. Strange, but true. I actually feel more free when I'm out of the house with no internet access. I still have my wireless iPad mini as a crutch, but I usually don't carry it. What else? Only check social media 3 times per day. When possible (depending on work issues), only check email 3 times per day. Start my day listing what I need to achieve before coming anywhere close to the interwebs and email. I had a bit of debate with myself about whether to put this goal in HEALTH or DISCOVERY. I ended up with HEALTH because I think it will help so much with mental and social happiness that the DISCOVERY benefits will just feel like gravy.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>DISCOVERY</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Write for 1 solid hour per week.</b> You are witnessing the result of most of the first hour of this goal. How does it feel to be a part of the madness? Anyway, I've always wanted to experiment more with writing, and I've read several articles/blogs that mention a key part of being a writer is just getting the words out - and, a simple, achievable way to do that is to simply require yourself to write every day. I'm not trying to quit my day job, so I'm going to start out with just one solid hour per week, and see how that makes me feel through the year. The writing does not have to be toward any particular purpose (like blogging), but can be anything - stream of conscious, stories, work-related, etc. As long as I am close to constant-writing during that block of time.</li>
<li><b>Release at least 1 crochet pattern per month on Ravelry and Etsy.</b> For a couple of years now, I've been selling patterns though not very seriously. As I released a few more and opened my Etsy shop, I realized that this hobby could actually contribute more to my income which is great because I actually love all the aspects of this small business (like social media marketing, etc.). The primary limit of this area of potential is simply the number of patterns that I have available. So, by releasing at least one pattern per month, I can gradually grow this business while keeping it enjoyable. Oh, and writing patterns does not count as writing time - it's much more mathematical and spacial conception applied to paper, not creative writing.</li>
</ul>
<div>
So there you have it. My big, fat Greek-American goals for the year 2014. Let me know what you think. Cheers and Happy New year!</div>
Siahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06891915636286909811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119705001614668347.post-26708198636090034662013-12-02T08:10:00.000-06:002013-12-02T08:10:45.258-06:00Hellas Cowl Pattern ReleaseI'm super excited about the release for this pattern - the thicker yarn and cowl design make it quicker and easier than the Hellas Scarf. You can find it on both <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hellas-cowl" target="_blank">Ravelry </a>and <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/171457750/hellas-cowl-crochet-pattern" target="_blank">Etsy</a>. Also, I made a video tutorial for the one special stitch which can be found <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9oNoywwc1U" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<br />Siahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06891915636286909811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119705001614668347.post-81405062053664683552013-11-21T08:36:00.001-06:002013-11-21T08:36:51.787-06:00The Fifth and Sixth Hats of Christmas<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(click <a href="http://siatex.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-12-hats-of-christmas.html" target="_blank">here </a>for the intro post on my Twelve Hats of Christmas)</span></span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For the Fifth Hat of Christmas I truly crocheted for me... more than 5 colorful rings...</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">I finally found a good use for my Noro Silk Garden - it's been sitting in my stash for over 3 years! </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Ravelry project notes: </span></span><span style="background-color: white;">I modified the beginning chain to only 78 stitches. I also modified the last few rows (top of hat) to make it more oblong rather than circular (crocheted together in front and back area more than sides).</span></span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For the Sixth Hat of Christmas I truly crocheted for me... one hat a laying...</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">I say "a laying" because this hat is a bit floppy so it takes some work to get the bill to sit properly. I tried felting a bit, but got tired before it did much. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Ravelry project notes: </span></span><span style="background-color: white;">This is a really cute pattern. The smaller stitches made it take a bit longer, but it’s an easy pattern - basically just a bunch of double crochet and some single crochet.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This yarn is theoretically DK, but actually probably a bit thinner. It lays and drapes well, which I’m not sure is good for a hat pattern, but I like how it’s low-profile.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I added one more row of double crochet, but I don’t think it was necessary in hindsight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I needed to block this a lot as it curls - I think more for the yarn and looser stitch. I need to re-block the brim a bit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">FYI, yarn amounts are only approximate. My battery died on my scale. I used 2 strands for the flower.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><b><u>My Hat Queue Status</u></b><br />* subject to change based on my whim</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><br style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /></span></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><a href="http://www.yarnspirations.com/pattern/crochet/womens-peaked-cap" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Women's Peaked Cap</a> - done!</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Felted Fedora from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Color-Book-Felted-Crochet/dp/1580113818/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Color Book of Felted Crochet</a> - done!</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><a href="http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2012/09/crochet-owl-hat-pattern-in-newborn.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Crochet Owl Hat</a> for a toddler... or maybe an adult like me because it's so cute - adult done!</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><a href="http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2013/01/crochet-puppy-hat-pattern.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Puppy Hat</a> for 6-9 month old - done!</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Cap with flower (<a href="http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1005/w1/29-210-24_Cap.pdf" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">pdf</a>) - done!</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><a href="http://www.knittingdaily.com/media/p/13973.aspx" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Slanting Stitches hat</a> (photo is bad, but it looks cute when you roll up the brim) - done!</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.crochetme.com/media/p/114112.aspx" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Audrey's Lace Cap</a></li>
<li style="color: #333333; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lacey Newsboy Cap (I have no idea the real name - this is a Japanese pattern from this <a href="http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/product/4834726606/" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">book</a>)</span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Puff Stitch Newsboy (ditto on the name - from this other Japanese crochet <a href="http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/4834726177" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">book</a>)</span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Relax Ramie Hat (<a href="http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1103/4w/27-G723H_Relax_Ramie_Hat.pdf" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">pdf</a>)</span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tsubaki Cotton Hat (<a href="http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1103/1w/210-38_Tsubaki_Cotton_Hat.pdf" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">pdf</a>)</span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Girly-style hat (<a href="http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1005/w2/28-G741C_Girly-style_hat.pdf" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">pdf</a>)</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Maybes</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">
<ul style="line-height: 1.4; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/princess-bun-hat" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Princess Leia Bun Hat</a> (Ravelry link, sorry for non-ravelers)</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.crochetme.com/media/p/115469.aspx" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Campus Field Cap</a> </span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fan Lace Beanie (I have no idea the real name - this is a Japanese pattern from this <a href="http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/product/4834726606/" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">book</a>)</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fan puff stitch and flower cloche (ditto on the name - from this other Japanese crochet <a href="http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/4834726177" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">book</a>)</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wildlife motif hat (<a href="http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1305/213ss-06_Wild_Life_Motif_Hat.pdf" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">pdf</a>)</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pompom beanie (<a href="http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1112/1w/210-195-hat_Pompom_Beanie.pdf" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">pdf</a>)</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dolce Lino casquette (<a href="http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1303/211s-5_Dolce_Lino_Casquette.pdf" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">pdf</a>)</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Platinum Kirakira cotton casquette (<a href="http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1105/4w/27-556C_Platinum_Kirakira_Cotton_Casquette.pdf" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">pdf</a>)</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Hat" (<a href="http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1306/213ss-38_Hats.pdf" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">pdf</a>)</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/granny-squares-braided-cap" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Granny squares braided beanie</a> (Ravelry link, sorry for non-ravelers)</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.yarnspirations.com/pattern/crochet/elegant-hat" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Elegant hat</a></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Please post links to any crocheted hats you think I should make in the comments!</span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
Siahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06891915636286909811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119705001614668347.post-16605464259929178022013-11-20T14:21:00.000-06:002014-11-07T12:03:58.087-06:00Vieux Carré Towel<span style="font-family: inherit;">New pattern released on <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/170026785/vieux-carre-towel-crochet-pattern" target="_blank">Etsy </a>and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vieux-carre-towel" target="_blank">Ravelry</a>!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 25px;">The Vieux Carré, or Old Square, is the original French name of the French Quarter in New Orleans. This towel was inspired by intricate old world details and luxury. The outer edging mimics picot stitches and fleur de lis. Set out a few of these in your guest bathroom when entertaining, or use pair it with bath products in a sumptuous gift basket.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 25px;">This crochet pattern is written for the fingertip towel size, and instructions are included for how to modify for hand or bath towel size. Includes 3 photo tutorials for special stitches. Appropriate for a beginner who is confident in basic stitches and wants to try some new stitch motifs.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 25px;"><br /></span></span>
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">**NEW**</span> </b>You can now get patterns for this towel, the Spa washcloth and bath mitt, AND the Luxe washcloth and bath mitt in one discounted pattern pack. Check it out <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/205361505/bath-collection-3-crochet-patterns-for" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDoYOqWGkunRs145ivKrCNfG-ymwRC-5DWhBf8HDbrMaK15mUfNTYYzQS1m3JRm28fe3bx2UoLfu7sjR9yxJoOOSIOlhJrm-mNLH6E8pBlpdXNoWR4Vk0hIueeXukUvrcjf6EBiNMfw/s1600/IMG_7561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDoYOqWGkunRs145ivKrCNfG-ymwRC-5DWhBf8HDbrMaK15mUfNTYYzQS1m3JRm28fe3bx2UoLfu7sjR9yxJoOOSIOlhJrm-mNLH6E8pBlpdXNoWR4Vk0hIueeXukUvrcjf6EBiNMfw/s400/IMG_7561.JPG" height="400" width="293" /></a></div>
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Siahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06891915636286909811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119705001614668347.post-27544203149662286542013-11-13T06:30:00.000-06:002013-11-13T06:30:05.718-06:00Team Colors Earflap Hat Pattern Release & Embroidery TipsRepresent your school!! I just released the Team Colors Earflap hat on <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/CrochetBySia" target="_blank">Etsy </a>and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/sia-karamalegos" target="_blank">Ravelry</a>.<br />
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It uses half-double crochet and single crochet for an easy
work-up. Note that this pattern is for
the base hat, NOT for the embroidery representing any particular team. So, this blog post describes how I added my team
embroidery so that you can get ideas on how you can customize your hat.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcF3F1UlkRIp24xP750rM-2n7GmzE-w6A799EAM9CsCAM6iq9A1sv9WdacgEKEK6wnl_TnUWlXMko72GehUf0SqqDVMwK4hNP1_dyqrPpv64o5mElKKGzz0xP743gSSkcibjgcylOAg/s1600/aggie1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcF3F1UlkRIp24xP750rM-2n7GmzE-w6A799EAM9CsCAM6iq9A1sv9WdacgEKEK6wnl_TnUWlXMko72GehUf0SqqDVMwK4hNP1_dyqrPpv64o5mElKKGzz0xP743gSSkcibjgcylOAg/s400/aggie1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tgDx56L61lAmlLwJkawb2d-HDknB-UpoMgFqCzo13jsMq7fsqpCa0W48Anny-gpZnMcyn1-v0DB_gnqHBZ6FnqeiAL5jTRMxFyuugNtFO7rpRcoWUvCjK_cB6uQ5Jtr18c93OzcK4g/s1600/aggie3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tgDx56L61lAmlLwJkawb2d-HDknB-UpoMgFqCzo13jsMq7fsqpCa0W48Anny-gpZnMcyn1-v0DB_gnqHBZ6FnqeiAL5jTRMxFyuugNtFO7rpRcoWUvCjK_cB6uQ5Jtr18c93OzcK4g/s400/aggie3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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First, I found an image that I wanted to use and printed it out. I reduced the size by making a copy and reducing it by using the copier setting (old school style). Next, I used a thin, translucent paper to trace the image. Actually, I used parchment paper, like the kind for cooking since I don't have fancy tracing paper or that special temporary fabric used for embroidery.</div>
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Let me take a time out to note that embroidering on crochet is an imperfect art. The spaces between stitches can distort stitches. I found that making a good image worked better by only embroidering the outline rather than filling it in. For the embroidery masters out there, please chime in with tips. My guess is sewing some fabric to the back of the forehead flap may make an improved embroidery "canvas".</div>
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Back to the instructions... I cut out my traced image (keeping some border space) and placed it on top of the forehead flap where I wanted the final image to go and temporarily pinned it there. Next, I used back stitch to embroider the outline of my design.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HcSSTGTY36HKqRCxvwgRsbD61tryAosLbTJmwOa88CT3B8CvA74D8bSKdJOuHZmIUzAcKXLEeifMr_i3O6o28Jrr99VW_TaUtw898y0r0VULmcL5MX5H3FbqgWOjOIRg1qGf9YuL1w/s1600/01b0ec9bf1048239465dc306056a05ec10b4864aa3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HcSSTGTY36HKqRCxvwgRsbD61tryAosLbTJmwOa88CT3B8CvA74D8bSKdJOuHZmIUzAcKXLEeifMr_i3O6o28Jrr99VW_TaUtw898y0r0VULmcL5MX5H3FbqgWOjOIRg1qGf9YuL1w/s320/01b0ec9bf1048239465dc306056a05ec10b4864aa3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Finally, I carefully removed the tracing (parchment in my case) paper in small bits to ensure that I didn't distort any of the stitches. I tested filling in the outline at this point but was not successful in producing something that I liked, so I kept it as an outline. </div>
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I'd love to see your own results or hear your tips!</div>
Siahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06891915636286909811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119705001614668347.post-72046290862159685522013-11-07T07:16:00.000-06:002013-11-07T07:16:30.206-06:00The Third and Fourth Hats of Christmas<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For the Third Hat of Christmas I truly crocheted for me... a hat for the play pen...</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This was actually my second hat from this designer - I learned that I needed to tighten my gauge a bit when I accidentally made an owl hat that fit myself instead of my friend's toddler. As they say, we learn from our mistakes. Here is the Puppy Hat with some bonus photos of the Puppy Hat on a Puppy.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgclmv3JkNc_-B31D0TkmXiqjZgbU86_IzH4OLO-DF3cN01GxprsRToyhwSFqOMBRa8ntk5hiGN7TACT3pVg-1topyGQ-tKzTIMfUGUh-LRr9E9wq24Wzwu4_tYH-5K98eozf1u3nwMsw/s1600/01c0fba510e2e3a2cb95835449d180232291fe0773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></a><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSZBa0mORojjlSmpdU-SCJ6VUeCJgx0AdZWk8823LR7zJcRNjinPncjUb40CWR41wpxv5J4URzgz9DhuyxmZxFaPv-dGRL1K3dTudvYzkKsbXw1FI57u02PsjecFsz5776qgH2W7lTA/s1600/013b45afc8a5fec9a357eaea57c75066f2945d7aa8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN501eE3WAxLZla6IeXItCxmpvXkc1kM0JtepSIgmO-pBBuZzIczWVPOhh1iABukoHu90UGD_i1qr9DJ9cWhJplTYUs0ub0S_zxeNiZIxzse1Peup1bbUFw6WJKOafXYXLLLw4nnh0aQ/s1600/015a8efb4c36aeb48203b41764a758e4e86e5f4e30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN501eE3WAxLZla6IeXItCxmpvXkc1kM0JtepSIgmO-pBBuZzIczWVPOhh1iABukoHu90UGD_i1qr9DJ9cWhJplTYUs0ub0S_zxeNiZIxzse1Peup1bbUFw6WJKOafXYXLLLw4nnh0aQ/s200/015a8efb4c36aeb48203b41764a758e4e86e5f4e30.jpg" width="148" /></a><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSZBa0mORojjlSmpdU-SCJ6VUeCJgx0AdZWk8823LR7zJcRNjinPncjUb40CWR41wpxv5J4URzgz9DhuyxmZxFaPv-dGRL1K3dTudvYzkKsbXw1FI57u02PsjecFsz5776qgH2W7lTA/s200/013b45afc8a5fec9a357eaea57c75066f2945d7aa8.jpg" width="148" /><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgclmv3JkNc_-B31D0TkmXiqjZgbU86_IzH4OLO-DF3cN01GxprsRToyhwSFqOMBRa8ntk5hiGN7TACT3pVg-1topyGQ-tKzTIMfUGUh-LRr9E9wq24Wzwu4_tYH-5K98eozf1u3nwMsw/s200/01c0fba510e2e3a2cb95835449d180232291fe0773.jpg" width="148" /> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/SiaTex/crochet-puppy-hat-pattern" target="_blank">Ravelry Project Notes</a>: <span style="background-color: white;">I had to go down one hook size to get approximate gauge. I also consciously tightened up a bit. I made an extra round on the nose, and also stuffed it with yarn scraps before sewing it on. Cute hat.</span></span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For the Fourth Hat of Christmas I truly crocheted for me... one big bird...</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Alas, the aforementioned giant owl hat theoretically for a toddler. I may have found my new Mardi Gras hat. :) Oopsie...</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-1oKMQCl8vYU5NxBp-hYzDlKPQXkLfYBQRaJj6T3SP7LV4sV1lQIMdKRZuTlm-RRXO545w4jX9H2eUMcCtOOc6SWmz8Ec2Ju9Vefxckf1tUxZRtyR5O6e0tJfsk-IfJ3rgfgrdATpw/s1600/01861e45d89b11264cb8a55050b61df4de49402076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-1oKMQCl8vYU5NxBp-hYzDlKPQXkLfYBQRaJj6T3SP7LV4sV1lQIMdKRZuTlm-RRXO545w4jX9H2eUMcCtOOc6SWmz8Ec2Ju9Vefxckf1tUxZRtyR5O6e0tJfsk-IfJ3rgfgrdATpw/s200/01861e45d89b11264cb8a55050b61df4de49402076.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5e_V-oeDZFciUXieiRr2pawwaPQEIeUIjzUxPzwCiCF8npwJT0emfylOCSD_TLboThJuyHrqWRlRfLY9fU-pyJkp2xFISNUYqLN9EvrboWx97lMs5uTp1zlg6AKARCsGoLBhrQwrsA/s1600/011794ab8d3cfbfced5dcc4a290ed5852546bb7b5e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5e_V-oeDZFciUXieiRr2pawwaPQEIeUIjzUxPzwCiCF8npwJT0emfylOCSD_TLboThJuyHrqWRlRfLY9fU-pyJkp2xFISNUYqLN9EvrboWx97lMs5uTp1zlg6AKARCsGoLBhrQwrsA/s200/011794ab8d3cfbfced5dcc4a290ed5852546bb7b5e.jpg" width="150" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/SiaTex/crochet-owl-hat-newborn-adult" target="_blank">Ravelry Project Notes</a>: <span style="background-color: white;">So, my gauge was off, but I was too lazy to pay attention until it was too late. Poor me. Stuck with a really cute owl hat that was supposed to be for a child that now happens to fit me. :)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I fixed my gauge in the same designer’s puppy pattern by going down to a G hook and purposely crocheting with a bit more tension. I love her designs.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><u>My Hat Queue Status</u></b><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">* subject to change based on my whim</span></span><br />
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.yarnspirations.com/pattern/crochet/womens-peaked-cap" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Women's Peaked Cap</a> - done!</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Felted Fedora from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Color-Book-Felted-Crochet/dp/1580113818/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Color Book of Felted Crochet</a> - done!</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2012/09/crochet-owl-hat-pattern-in-newborn.html" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Crochet Owl Hat</a> for a toddler... or maybe an adult like me because it's so cute - adult done!</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2013/01/crochet-puppy-hat-pattern.html" target="_blank">Puppy Hat</a> for 6-9 month old - done!</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cap with flower (<a href="http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1005/w1/29-210-24_Cap.pdf" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">pdf</a>)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.crochetme.com/media/p/114112.aspx" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Audrey's Lace Cap</span></a></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lacey Newsboy Cap (I have no idea the real name - this is a Japanese pattern from this <a href="http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/product/4834726606/" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">book</a>)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Puff Stitch Newsboy (ditto on the name - from this other Japanese crochet <a href="http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/4834726177" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">book</a>)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.knittingdaily.com/media/p/13973.aspx" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Slanting Stitches hat</a> (photo is bad, but it looks cute when you roll up the brim)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Relax Ramie Hat (<a href="http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1103/4w/27-G723H_Relax_Ramie_Hat.pdf" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">pdf</a>)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tsubaki Cotton Hat (<a href="http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1103/1w/210-38_Tsubaki_Cotton_Hat.pdf" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">pdf</a>)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Girly-style hat (<a href="http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1005/w2/28-G741C_Girly-style_hat.pdf" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">pdf</a>)</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Maybes</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">
<ul style="line-height: 1.4; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/princess-bun-hat" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Princess Leia Bun Hat</a> (Ravelry link, sorry for non-ravelers)</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.crochetme.com/media/p/115469.aspx" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Campus Field Cap</a> </span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fan Lace Beanie (I have no idea the real name - this is a Japanese pattern from this <a href="http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/product/4834726606/" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">book</a>)</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fan puff stitch and flower cloche (ditto on the name - from this other Japanese crochet <a href="http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/4834726177" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">book</a>)</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wildlife motif hat (<a href="http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1305/213ss-06_Wild_Life_Motif_Hat.pdf" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">pdf</a>)</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pompom beanie (<a href="http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1112/1w/210-195-hat_Pompom_Beanie.pdf" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">pdf</a>)</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dolce Lino casquette (<a href="http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1303/211s-5_Dolce_Lino_Casquette.pdf" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">pdf</a>)</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Platinum Kirakira cotton casquette (<a href="http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1105/4w/27-556C_Platinum_Kirakira_Cotton_Casquette.pdf" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">pdf</a>)</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Hat" (<a href="http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1306/213ss-38_Hats.pdf" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">pdf</a>)</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/granny-squares-braided-cap" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Granny squares braided beanie</a> (Ravelry link, sorry for non-ravelers)</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.yarnspirations.com/pattern/crochet/elegant-hat" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Elegant hat</span></a></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Please post links to any crocheted hats you think I should make in the comments!</span></div>
</div>
Siahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06891915636286909811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119705001614668347.post-4728356613384595722013-11-01T15:19:00.001-05:002013-11-06T15:05:49.739-06:00The First and Second Hats of Christmas<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">For the First Hat of Christmas I truly crocheted for me... a quick and easy project under an oak tree...</span></b><br />
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The results are in, and I'm 1 for 2. The peaked hat came out cute, and it was quick and easy:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzppGblbdUfkBy5wb9nhtwlnKIRarsI5neayRsIw4ICC0Ejh-Tfr3n0yxPCn44YZnIFkQXA_ifPz7m0pamn4aL5bFl2tbH14fwTkJ__FnAKO5d-LvqiEKpq4W6BCQw52d91p4ebjzyAg/s1600/IMG_0075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzppGblbdUfkBy5wb9nhtwlnKIRarsI5neayRsIw4ICC0Ejh-Tfr3n0yxPCn44YZnIFkQXA_ifPz7m0pamn4aL5bFl2tbH14fwTkJ__FnAKO5d-LvqiEKpq4W6BCQw52d91p4ebjzyAg/s200/IMG_0075.JPG" width="164" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZ_0BKiMFbJCXv0c4Ae0wUa1tBPeRQAL_KyOvUfupEqH_ctP_fWcQ_-Z1ttadDptjdBk9AYV1D5fR_vcGwluXyRXLG73JU9Ip6YJDzgkRx8FOgsf9deTkQ-pUVONd_fB9HWGsm0xYvA/s1600/IMG_0076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZ_0BKiMFbJCXv0c4Ae0wUa1tBPeRQAL_KyOvUfupEqH_ctP_fWcQ_-Z1ttadDptjdBk9AYV1D5fR_vcGwluXyRXLG73JU9Ip6YJDzgkRx8FOgsf9deTkQ-pUVONd_fB9HWGsm0xYvA/s200/IMG_0076.JPG" width="190" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/SiaTex/womens-peaked-cap" target="_blank">Ravelry Project notes</a>: <span style="background-color: white;">Cute and quick hat. I had no problem with sizing. My natural tension fit the size of my head. I did have to redo the brim though. I assumed I would need to tighten up a bit, but that was clearly the wrong assumption as it made the brim curl and stick to my forehead rather than stick out like a real brim. Instead, I loosened up a bit more than natural and it came out fine. Love it!</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">For the Second Hat of Christmas I truly crocheted for me... a felted fedora that I really do not love...</span></b><br />
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Yeah, so this originally came out more like a top hat until I manipulated it into a salvageable cowboy hat. I was a little freaked out before the felting, but it shrank up fine after about an hour of agitation... talk about a workout! I don't like the hat so much, but it was fun exploring felting, and I'm sure this won't be my last felting project.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9VLcUwtI2BRh18PYFu7yHwrAMSnhMzKuOXWZVtz05m_kKJiY9hdNEZlvHYmo5mrdupxyluerEoKsj4o1wV3FIV9eazYZt7k2lFpIxPGdN3ZyzIGMTFGwJ6BpvN8CMy1nHnUTm4OUDg/s1600/IMG_0080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9VLcUwtI2BRh18PYFu7yHwrAMSnhMzKuOXWZVtz05m_kKJiY9hdNEZlvHYmo5mrdupxyluerEoKsj4o1wV3FIV9eazYZt7k2lFpIxPGdN3ZyzIGMTFGwJ6BpvN8CMy1nHnUTm4OUDg/s200/IMG_0080.JPG" width="143" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SD03uuFNkUORtKhBehSdUQsMDwleaJ0SPGcs3TU0pfjwCJD3awW5JWr1BQNEjEWefY4nGIT2PE-Gi6-nrCsZUMKh9p-GK2EbQ7_mJAYcOXggkq8xbLknCTbNVXMOYzEX4k0gTb8sJA/s1600/IMG_0081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SD03uuFNkUORtKhBehSdUQsMDwleaJ0SPGcs3TU0pfjwCJD3awW5JWr1BQNEjEWefY4nGIT2PE-Gi6-nrCsZUMKh9p-GK2EbQ7_mJAYcOXggkq8xbLknCTbNVXMOYzEX4k0gTb8sJA/s200/IMG_0081.JPG" width="142" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBzkoMFZskfALUCRfLfExdtzrbKtympeJ6NGdce-lLOX3KQnqKKdUQvw7T0MVaArDhq6QYqA6-x6lBjMDociSi7NiEHhsnU_RUYUYj-leo0z6tX378Xm81ndiJBBgg6QtEw2TCHj0_A/s1600/IMG_0073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBzkoMFZskfALUCRfLfExdtzrbKtympeJ6NGdce-lLOX3KQnqKKdUQvw7T0MVaArDhq6QYqA6-x6lBjMDociSi7NiEHhsnU_RUYUYj-leo0z6tX378Xm81ndiJBBgg6QtEw2TCHj0_A/s200/IMG_0073.JPG" width="195" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/SiaTex/fedora" target="_blank">Ravelry Project Notes</a>: <span style="background-color: white;">So, this was supposed to be a felted fedora. It originally came out more like a top hat, but I was able to manipulate the crown a bit to make it shorter and look more like a cowboy hat. It’s all different colors because I kept running out of yarn. So, it wasn’t the greatest project, but I do like how felting comes out so I might try felting out a bit more. The higher difficulty is only because of the work involved in agitating for a hard felt.</span></span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">My Hat Queue Status</span></u></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">* subject to change based on my whim</span><br />
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.yarnspirations.com/pattern/crochet/womens-peaked-cap" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Women's Peaked Cap</a> - done!</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Felted Fedora from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Color-Book-Felted-Crochet/dp/1580113818/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Color Book of Felted Crochet</a> - done!</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2012/09/crochet-owl-hat-pattern-in-newborn.html" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Crochet Owl Hat</a> for a toddler... or maybe an adult like me because it's so cute</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cap with flower (<a href="http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1005/w1/29-210-24_Cap.pdf" target="_blank">pdf</a>)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.crochetme.com/media/p/114112.aspx" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Audrey's Lace Cap</span></a></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lacey Newsboy Cap (I have no idea the real name - this is a Japanese pattern from this <a href="http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/product/4834726606/" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">book</a>)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Puff Stitch Newsboy (ditto on the name - from this other Japanese crochet <a href="http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/4834726177" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">book</a>)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.knittingdaily.com/media/p/13973.aspx" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Slanting Stitches hat</a> (photo is bad, but it looks cute when you roll up the brim)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Relax Ramie Hat (<a href="http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1103/4w/27-G723H_Relax_Ramie_Hat.pdf" target="_blank">pdf</a>)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tsubaki Cotton Hat (<a href="http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1103/1w/210-38_Tsubaki_Cotton_Hat.pdf" target="_blank">pdf</a>)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Girly-style hat (<a href="http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1005/w2/28-G741C_Girly-style_hat.pdf" target="_blank">pdf</a>)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">TBD</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Maybes</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">
<ul style="line-height: 1.4; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/princess-bun-hat" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Princess Leia Bun Hat</a> (Ravelry link, sorry for non-ravelers)</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.crochetme.com/media/p/115469.aspx" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Campus Field Cap</a> </span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fan Lace Beanie (I have no idea the real name - this is a Japanese pattern from this <a href="http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/product/4834726606/" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">book</a>)</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fan puff stitch and flower cloche (ditto on the name - from this other Japanese crochet <a href="http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/4834726177" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">book</a>)</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wildlife motif hat (<a href="http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1305/213ss-06_Wild_Life_Motif_Hat.pdf" target="_blank">pdf</a>)</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pompom beanie (<a href="http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1112/1w/210-195-hat_Pompom_Beanie.pdf" target="_blank">pdf</a>)</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dolce Lino casquette (<a href="http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1303/211s-5_Dolce_Lino_Casquette.pdf" target="_blank">pdf</a>)</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Platinum Kirakira cotton casquette (<a href="http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1105/4w/27-556C_Platinum_Kirakira_Cotton_Casquette.pdf" target="_blank">pdf</a>)</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Hat" (<a href="http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1306/213ss-38_Hats.pdf" target="_blank">pdf</a>)</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/granny-squares-braided-cap" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Granny squares braided beanie</a> (Ravelry link, sorry for non-ravelers)</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.yarnspirations.com/pattern/crochet/elegant-hat" style="color: #cc6699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Elegant hat</span></a></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Please post links to any crocheted hats you think I should make in the comments!</span></div>
</div>
<br />Siahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06891915636286909811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119705001614668347.post-36781611184685139022013-10-29T13:09:00.003-05:002013-11-06T15:05:59.319-06:00The 12 Hats of ChristmasAs some of you may know, I'm an avid triathlete. Well, was an avid triathlete. You see, I did Ironman Texas in May and haven't quite gotten the itch to be "avid" since then. In the meantime, I need another endurance sport to pursue, so I have chosen crochet hat-making.<br />
<br />
While this may be no true marathon, it will probably take about 26.2 hours to finish all 12 hats I intend to make in this challenge and may even come with some chaffage. Hopefully not. I can't imagine yarn chaffage would be good. <br />
<br />
Without further ado, let the race begin...<br />
<br />
<b><u>My Hat Queue Status</u></b><br />
* subject to change based on my whim, though I'm definitely open to suggestions from fans and friends<br />
** sorry for the lack of pictures - I'm trying to follow copyright rules so I will post photos of my own projects when they are done - in the meantime, you can check out the official photos at the links below<br />
<ol>
<li><a href="http://www.yarnspirations.com/pattern/crochet/womens-peaked-cap" target="_blank">Women's Peaked Cap</a></li>
<li>Felted Fedora from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Color-Book-Felted-Crochet/dp/1580113818/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top" target="_blank">The Color Book of Felted Crochet</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2012/09/crochet-owl-hat-pattern-in-newborn.html" target="_blank">Crochet Owl Hat</a> for a toddler... or maybe an adult like me because it's so cute</li>
<li><a href="http://www.crochetme.com/media/p/115469.aspx" target="_blank">Campus Field Cap</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.crochetme.com/media/p/114112.aspx" target="_blank">Audrey's Lace Cap</a></li>
<li>Lacey Newsboy Cap (I have no idea the real name - this is a Japanese pattern from this <a href="http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/product/4834726606/" target="_blank">book</a>)</li>
<li>Puff Stitch Newsboy (ditto on the name - from this other Japanese crochet <a href="http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/4834726177" target="_blank">book</a>)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.knittingdaily.com/media/p/13973.aspx" target="_blank">Slanting Stitches hat</a> (photo is bad, but it looks cute when you roll up the brim)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/princess-bun-hat" target="_blank">Princess Leia Bun Hat</a> (Ravelry link, sorry for non-ravelers)</li>
<li>Another TBD baby animal hat</li>
<li>TBD</li>
<li>TBD</li>
</ol>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Maybes</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Fan Lace Beanie (I have no idea the real name - this is a Japanese pattern from this <a href="http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/product/4834726606/" target="_blank">book</a>)</li>
<li>Fan puff stitch and flower cloche (ditto on the name - from this other Japanese crochet <a href="http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/4834726177" target="_blank">book</a>)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/granny-squares-braided-cap" target="_blank">Granny squares braided beanie</a> (Ravelry link, sorry for non-ravelers)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.yarnspirations.com/pattern/crochet/elegant-hat" target="_blank">Elegant hat</a></li>
</ul>
<div>
Please post links to any crocheted hats you think I should make in the comments!</div>
</div>
Siahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06891915636286909811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119705001614668347.post-68439370568447133902013-02-13T09:31:00.001-06:002013-02-13T09:37:52.187-06:00Designing Pineapple Crochet Cuffs<br />
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While brainstorming new crochet cuff/bracelet ideas, I
thought, why not use the classic pineapple pattern? I love crochet pineapples, but I never had a
good use for them other than doilies, and, let’s face it, you can have too many
doilies. This is probably not a
brilliant idea, but I thought it was pretty cool, and wanted to share with the
rest of you crafters.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://siatex.blogspot.com/2013/02/pineapple-wrist-cuff-1.html"><img height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZTjw1bJT6TslQccZpIiJtf1uM5C5oZL_47_g0dWcourNPrS_ycGtBpPryBNksQkgvKhApaHvKNtlPzB-HVYN-RqJeMhpPFByqwqqu5C9p_TBWN2tdao0Jt2954-ZFIk1Ne-SrtNrYA/s288/IMG_7546.JPG" width="288" /></a><a href="http://siatex.blogspot.com/2013/02/pineapple-wrist-cuff-2.html"><img height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhea4OGmhzAnL-CJfWHgg8DMfCMeWZUYUq3JZBKooLEz_Ir9aqyb7yz6JutdqKI9J6g20HHTjZkmMcRa_SwP7QO56l2TTc3LxlxHKv8my2OX6WfsIGub1_SmmCSKO564pAhHUyoGXdNhQ/s288/IMG_7542.JPG" width="157" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
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I’ve posted two patterns on my blog so far – the purple
bracelet is <a href="http://siatex.blogspot.com/2013/02/pineapple-wrist-cuff-1.html" target="_blank">Pineapple Cuff #1</a>, and the teal one is <a href="http://siatex.blogspot.com/2013/02/pineapple-wrist-cuff-2.html" target="_blank">Pineapple Cuff #2</a>. You can use these patterns as a start, or
easily come up with your own. Here are a
few tips that I discovered in the process of making those two cuffs:<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>Patterns with more open space might be more flattering on
the wrist. For example, I prefer the
<a href="http://siatex.blogspot.com/2013/02/pineapple-wrist-cuff-1.html" target="_blank">purple cuff</a>, but before I made them, I thought I would like the <a href="http://siatex.blogspot.com/2013/02/pineapple-wrist-cuff-2.html" target="_blank">other one</a> more.</li>
<li>You can either do one repeat of your pineapple pattern and
add extra stitches to either side (like my <a href="http://siatex.blogspot.com/2013/02/pineapple-wrist-cuff-1.html" target="_blank">purple one</a>), or you can do 2 repeats
if they are narrow enough (like the <a href="http://siatex.blogspot.com/2013/02/pineapple-wrist-cuff-2.html" target="_blank">teal one</a>). </li>
<li>To make the work wide enough to fit your wrist, you can add
stitches before and after the pineapple pattern like the <a href="http://siatex.blogspot.com/2013/02/pineapple-wrist-cuff-1.html" target="_blank">purple cuff</a>, or you
can work only the pineapple pattern, then turn the work sideways and keep
adding rows to each side until it is wide enough.</li>
<li>No matter which pattern you use – make sure you lightly
steam the work before adding buttons to lightly block it. These lacey patterns can get really wobbly –
don’t be lazy, steam your work and it will look 100% better!</li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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For closures, I’m a big fan of pearl buttons. These patterns are generally long (making a
wide cuff), so I would use at least 3 buttons per cuff. If you have other ideas on closures, please
share!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I would love to see where you crafty people take this idea –
please share your photos and ideas.</div>
<a href="http://siatex.blogspot.com/2013/02/pineapple-wrist-cuff-1.html"><img height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZt8mgW6Yy1dXboFcZ5JSangF2pmar0y_4UCVH0o2SlFa_-hiycfjoy5NxQ5KxxqDBNr-8OjNDkEroUZ-Y9g5e_DVDWE0UfeGh75h6tcQYL3ZhquKw81upHp6XfFWz_oKe9JYFQs2SQ/s288/IMG_7544.JPG" width="230" /></a><a href="http://siatex.blogspot.com/2013/02/pineapple-wrist-cuff-2.html"><img height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Pp1qr4rFgMDLD7s-ZYh7TqoAZk-zJEo5tH4at1Z4z8w4zEe6MAMiSSHj04SaA0afMqI96GnkRDI5Cu9qc5igzMGu4NPQ9hd1TVIIDElTXDXbsL1ne2dJo9umvUXZxAbl13x3HJMUdw/s288/IMG_7540.JPG" width="230" /></a>Siahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06891915636286909811noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119705001614668347.post-449555931893215962013-02-13T09:31:00.000-06:002016-11-24T22:44:39.003-06:00Pineapple Wrist Cuff #2<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">For ideas on ways to design your own unique pineapple cuffs from your favorite pineapple patterns, see this post: <a href="http://siatex.blogspot.com/2013/02/designing-pineapple-crochet-cuffs.html" target="_blank"><b>Designing</b> </a></span><b><a href="http://siatex.blogspot.com/2013/02/designing-pineapple-crochet-cuffs.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #444444;">Pineapple Crochet Cuffs</span></a><o:p></o:p></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Want to support independent designers? Consider purchasing a </i><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/494297743/pineapple-wrist-cuff-or-bracelet-crochet?ref=shop_home_active_1" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">printer-friendly (pdf) version of this pattern on Etsy</a><i> for a nominal amount. Or, bump up to a <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/480815718/set-of-3-vintage-crochet-bracelet?ref=shop_home_feat_2">3-pattern pack</a> for crochet bracelets! </i>💗</span><br />
<br /></div>
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Note: <i>Don’t skip the blocking!</i> It’s as simple as lightly steaming the work. It takes less than one minute, and it will fix all those wavy/wobbly issues. I promise!</div>
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<a href="http://siatex.blogspot.com/2013/02/designing-pineapple-crochet-cuffs.html" target="_blank"><img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhea4OGmhzAnL-CJfWHgg8DMfCMeWZUYUq3JZBKooLEz_Ir9aqyb7yz6JutdqKI9J6g20HHTjZkmMcRa_SwP7QO56l2TTc3LxlxHKv8my2OX6WfsIGub1_SmmCSKO564pAhHUyoGXdNhQ/s400/IMG_7542.JPG" width="292" /></a><br />
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<b>Yarn</b>: I used J&P Coats Royale Fashion Crochet (Size 3), less than one skein.</div>
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<b>Materials</b>: Crochet hook size US C (2.5mm), small yarn needle to weave in ends and sew on buttons, buttons (3 or more).</div>
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<b>Gauge and size</b>: Gauge is not critical as the size is adjusted by adding or subtracting side border rows. Start by working the first two rows. If the work is too small, you can continue. If the cuff is already too large, then you will have to tighten your stitches either (smaller hook, smaller yarn). My version after adding the border is a curved 6.5 inches at the wrist, and wider on the part further up the arm. My wrist is about 6 inches in diameter.</div>
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<strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Abbreviations and Special Stitches</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">ch = Chain </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">sc = Single crochet</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">hdc = Half double crochet</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">dc = Double crochet</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">sl st = Slip stitch</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">st = Stitch</span><br />
fan = 2 dc, 1 ch, 2 dc all in one stitch<br />
<br />
<b>Pattern</b><br />
<a href="http://siatex.blogspot.com/2013/02/designing-pineapple-crochet-cuffs.html" target="_blank"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzI-TdJl8mkhTHDligfJ248cX2SBW9ZhVzSBD8fIWtIZ9C6hyAnDX8e96qT5xu_Z75stlW7uuV0j1q1jObWoYvb2OO2yZ69QuqkstSLL-N0G9baOyovd2Rc5IwixVCPjeFU5rAryBvw/s400/IMG_7541.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
Beginning chain: Ch
38.<br />
<br />
Row 1: Sc in 2<sup>nd</sup>
ch from hook. *(Ch 3, skip 3, sc, skip
4, 9 dc in next stitch, skip 4, sc, ch 3, skip 3, sc), repeat from * once. Turn.<br />
<br />
Row 2: Ch 3, 2 dc in top of same sc, (ch 1, dc) in
top of each previous dc (9 total), ch 1, fan in center sc stitch, (ch 1, dc) in
top of each previous dc (9 total), ch 1, 3 dc in last sc. Turn.<br />
<br />
Row 3: Ch 3, 2 dc in
top of same dc, ch 1, skip the first dc of the pineapple and *(sc in next ch-1
space, ch 3), repeat from *6 times, sc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, fan in ch-1
space of previous fan, ch 1, skip the first dc of the pineapple and *(sc in
next ch-1 space, ch 3), repeat from *6 times, sc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, 3 dc
in top of last dc. Turn.<br />
<br />
Row 4: Ch 3, 2 dc in
top of same dc, ch 1, *(sc in ch-3 space, ch 3), repeat from * 5 times, sc in
last ch-3 space, ch 1, fan in ch-1 space of previous fan, ch 1, *(sc in ch-3
space, ch 3), repeat from * 5 times, sc in last ch-3 space, ch 1, 3 dc in top
of last dc. Turn.<br />
<br />
Row 5: Repeat Row 4
except that the number of repeats will be reduced by 1 for each pineapple.<br />
<br />
Row 6: Repeat Row 4
except that the number of repeats will be reduced by 2 for each pineapple.<br />
<br />
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Row 7: Ch 3, (dc, ch
1, 2 dc) all in same first st, ch 1, *(sc in ch-3 space, ch 3), repeat from * 2
times, sc in last ch-3 space, ch 1. In
ch-1 space of previous fan, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc). Ch 1, *(sc in ch-3 space, ch 3), repeat from
* 2 times, sc in last ch-3 space, ch 1, fan in top of last st. Turn.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Row 8: Ch 3, fan in
ch-1 space of previous fan, ch 1, *(sc in ch-3 space, ch 3), repeat from *
once, sc in last ch-3 space, ch 1, fan in ch-1 space of previous super-fan, ch
1, fan in next ch-1 space of super-fan.
Ch 1, *(sc in ch-3 space, ch 3), repeat from * once, sc in last ch-3
space, ch 1, fan in ch-1 space of previous fan, dc in last st. Turn.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Row 9: Ch 3, 2 dc in
same st, fan in ch-1 space of previous fan, ch 1, sc in ch-3 space, ch 3, sc in
ch-3 space, ch 1, fan, ch 1, fan, ch 1, fan, ch 1, sc in ch-3 space, ch 3, sc
in ch-3 space, ch 1, fan, 3 dc in last st.
Turn.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Row 10: Ch 3 (counts
as 1<sup>st</sup> dc of fan), fan in first st, ch 1, fan, ch 1, sc in ch-3
space, ch 1, fan, ch 1. All in next ch-1
space of center fan: 2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc,
ch 1, 2 dc. Ch 1, sc in ch-3 space, ch
1, fan, ch 1, fan in last st. Turn.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Row 11: Ch 1, sc in
first st, *(ch 3, sc in next ch-1 space) all the way across. Sc two more times in last st to create a
corner and start the border on the sides and bottom. Do not turn.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Border</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Side 1: Rotate the
work 90 degrees so that you can now continue crocheting sc evenly along this
side edge. When you get to the end, ch
1, turn, and crochet the next row. The
side might be uneven so use various stitches (sl st, sc, hdc, dc) to even out
the height (i.e., in valleys use taller stitches and on hills use shorter
stitches). When you get to the end,
turn, 2 sc, make a button hole (ch and skip stitches according to the size of
your button), sc to middle, make a button hole, sc to almost the end, make
another button hole, sc to end. Add 2-3
more sc in last stitch to create a corner.
Do not turn.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bottom: Rotate the
work 90 degrees so you can now continue crocheting sc evenly along this bottom
edge. Add 2-3 more sc in last stitch to
create a corner. Do not turn.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Side 2: Rotate the
work 90 degrees so that you can now continue crocheting sc evenly along this
side edge. When you get to the end, ch
1, turn, and crochet the next row. The
side might be uneven so use various stitches (sl st, sc, hdc, dc) to even out
the height (i.e., in valleys use taller stitches and on hills use shorter
stitches). When you get to the end,
turn, and continue adding rows until the cuff is large enough for your
wrist. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fasten off, leaving a long tail to sew the buttons on with. Steam/lightly block before adding buttons.</div>
<a href="http://siatex.blogspot.com/2013/02/designing-pineapple-crochet-cuffs.html" target="_blank"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Pp1qr4rFgMDLD7s-ZYh7TqoAZk-zJEo5tH4at1Z4z8w4zEe6MAMiSSHj04SaA0afMqI96GnkRDI5Cu9qc5igzMGu4NPQ9hd1TVIIDElTXDXbsL1ne2dJo9umvUXZxAbl13x3HJMUdw/s400/IMG_7540.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />Siahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06891915636286909811noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119705001614668347.post-81906607887360309282013-02-13T09:11:00.001-06:002016-11-24T22:45:05.024-06:00Pineapple Wrist Cuff #1<span style="font-family: inherit;">For ideas on ways to design your own unique pineapple cuffs
from your favorite pineapple patterns, see this post: </span><a href="http://siatex.blogspot.com/2013/02/designing-pineapple-crochet-cuffs.html" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank"><b>Designing</b>
</a><b style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://siatex.blogspot.com/2013/02/designing-pineapple-crochet-cuffs.html" target="_blank">Pineapple Crochet Cuffs</a></b><br />
<br />
<i style="font-size: x-large;">New! Now available in a <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/480815718/set-of-3-vintage-crochet-bracelet?ref=shop_home_feat_2">3-pattern pack</a> for crochet bracelets!</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Click <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pineapple-wrist-cuff-1" target="_blank">here </a>to buy this pattern on Ravelry.<br />Click <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/169221574/pineapple-wrist-cuff-crochet-pattern" target="_blank">here </a>to buy this pattern on Etsy.</span><br />
Only want free patterns? Here are two other bracelets which are free: <a href="http://siatex.blogspot.com/2013/02/pineapple-wrist-cuff-2.html" target="_blank">Pineapple Wrist Cuff #2</a> and <a href="http://siatex.blogspot.com/2011/11/craft-bazaar-bracelet-antique-lace.html" target="_blank">Craft Bazaar Antique Lace</a>.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 25px;">While brainstorming new crochet cuff/bracelet ideas, I thought, why not use the classic pineapple pattern? I love crochet pineapples, but I never had a good use for them other than doilies, and, let’s face it, you can have too many doilies. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 25px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 25px;">Pattern uses size 3 thread, and requires 3 buttons (pearl suggested). Size is adjusted by adding or subtracting the basic crochet stitches at the beginning and end of each row or by extending side borders at the end. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 25px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 25px;">For troubleshooting or feedback, please contact me directly!</span></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Note: Don’t skip the
blocking! It’s as simple as lightly
steaming the work. It takes less than
one minute, and it will fix all those wavy/wobbly issues. I promise!</span></i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://siatex.blogspot.com/2013/02/designing-pineapple-crochet-cuffs.html" target="_blank"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZTjw1bJT6TslQccZpIiJtf1uM5C5oZL_47_g0dWcourNPrS_ycGtBpPryBNksQkgvKhApaHvKNtlPzB-HVYN-RqJeMhpPFByqwqqu5C9p_TBWN2tdao0Jt2954-ZFIk1Ne-SrtNrYA/s400/IMG_7546.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://siatex.blogspot.com/2013/02/designing-pineapple-crochet-cuffs.html" target="_blank"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNqEEW42ozHowy4-ydGr8TaA-5dMYzJRABfLQ2HIhbU8tNBIVOzEFs3f1kAk0W4Nx_rjBJ7ttX_-SRLh2RM7EoOlonR5V7WfY9iUzy-ZMrofpFMTTFdlFfwjQx-JEdt405OYYLvfLuw/s400/IMG_7545.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://siatex.blogspot.com/2013/02/designing-pineapple-crochet-cuffs.html" target="_blank"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZt8mgW6Yy1dXboFcZ5JSangF2pmar0y_4UCVH0o2SlFa_-hiycfjoy5NxQ5KxxqDBNr-8OjNDkEroUZ-Y9g5e_DVDWE0UfeGh75h6tcQYL3ZhquKw81upHp6XfFWz_oKe9JYFQs2SQ/s400/IMG_7544.JPG" width="400" /></a>Siahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06891915636286909811noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119705001614668347.post-1012159219138960632012-12-02T14:10:00.001-06:002012-12-02T14:13:20.040-06:00NOLA Christmas BasketsOne great advantage of living in New Orleans and having all your relatives elsewhere is that you can make super easy and pretty cheap gift baskets with various New Orleans/Louisiana/Creole type products. Here is a basket I made which is easily customizable with your own preferences:<br />
<br />
<img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDh7yKqVieQYQ3gaFyvjq7Ytze6gDCRYtS02vLv_BEgqkOCe3MarzQ88cAtxY6lLkYdo6FcSdDfqa3rofbD9aWsOoC9ZnU91_uCyIn4Oz-CeHb6Dfn9Znlu-4jlERui4-ehqEs54iJWw/s400/photo.JPG" width="299" /><br />
<br />
<b>"Ingredients" all from Rouses:</b><br />
$2.79 Slap Ya Mama spice mix<br />
$1.39 French Market beignet mix (small, and not shown - I used CDM beignet mix in that basket)<br />
$1.29 Shrimp Fry<br />
$5.99 Community Coffee<br />
$1.39 Jambalaya rice mix<br />
$0.79 Crab Boil<br />
$1.29 Creole-style red beans<br />
$0.89 Crystal hot sauce<br />
$0.99 Zapp's chips<br />
<br />
<b>Basket Kit</b><br />
$4.99 from World Market<br />
<br />
<b>Total Cost</b> = $21.80<br />
<br />
I wrote "Joyeux Noel" on the tag as well as the English version, and attempted to draw a fleur de lis. I also bought a few tea towels with "Gumbo" and "Bread Pudding" written on them, but that's just extras. :) Note: I don't even use most of these products, but I wanted to give my family a good cross-section of the homemade food options. Maybe some of you can use these ideas. :)Siahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06891915636286909811noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119705001614668347.post-27827235085277462502012-11-23T08:11:00.001-06:002013-11-13T13:16:14.256-06:00A tribute to GreeceFor Thanksgiving this year, I am grateful that I'm finally finishing this design project. I started on this journey when I made my father the <a href="http://www.spudandchloe.com/patterns/aztec-scarf/" target="_blank">Aztec Scarf</a> by Amy O'Neill Houck (you can find my version <a href="http://siatex.blogspot.com/2010/12/finally-i-can-share-my-crafty-christmas.html" target="_blank">here</a>). The double-sided design was so interesting to me that I started to wonder whether I could create any interesting patterns using the same technique. I had already been playing with the idea of incorporating the Greek key or other Greek-inspired designs into one of my patterns. This technique proved to be a winner. <br />
<br />
Here is the finished project. You can buy the pattern in my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/CrochetBySia" target="_blank">Etsy </a>shop or on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/sia-karamalegos" target="_blank">Ravelry</a>.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibm_lqJ96_WHhxiYsZf_0cDm2-_aDKEZtNfZn00SbyJiVBrLPX7Pgodf4vcvneIYERtWUqSqd25pk_7BNOh5dsEm8K0G03E3UCuu8dmS0yytLdrCus-etl66-puYcFM1HNudqRoS6OZw/s1600/hellas15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibm_lqJ96_WHhxiYsZf_0cDm2-_aDKEZtNfZn00SbyJiVBrLPX7Pgodf4vcvneIYERtWUqSqd25pk_7BNOh5dsEm8K0G03E3UCuu8dmS0yytLdrCus-etl66-puYcFM1HNudqRoS6OZw/s320/hellas15.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Siahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06891915636286909811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119705001614668347.post-27556626578676405332012-10-27T19:52:00.000-05:002012-10-27T19:59:31.432-05:00My thoughts on Lance Armstrong<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve been thinking about Lance Armstrong for a while
now. When the USADA report was finally
made public, I think at least I was in shock.
I was also distracted. Or maybe
easily distracted by the follies of presidential politics and other world news. It’s easy to not face a difficult situation
when you can joke about binders full of women.
It’s avoidance. I’ve been
avoiding facing the situation head-on because it’s hard for me to process both
intellectually and emotionally. I’m
ready to face it now.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, Lance Armstrong is or was one of my heroes. It’s not really clear anymore. The jury is still out. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First off, I’m struggling with a new dimension in the field
of good versus bad. You see, we used to say
good and bad is not always black or white, but some shade of grey. That analogy doesn’t work anymore. I think we’ve either discovered a new color
wheel or a 4<sup>th</sup> dimension where you can be in more than one place at one
time. I’m trying to understand how a
person can be so wholly wrong in one area of life and so wholly good in another. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t believe in weighing one area of his life versus
another. One man’s gain does not justify
another man’s suffering. The ends do not
justify the means. However, I wonder
some if part of his relentlessness in the fight against cancer was due to a
deep-seated guilt, maybe not even on a conscious level, of the pain that he
caused other people in the world of cycling.
Would we have had some of the great strides in patient support and
erasing the stigmas of cancer if it weren’t for Lance’s ego, Lance’s cycling
success, Lance’s celebrity appeal, and possibly Lance’s internal guilt?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Team doping Lance and LIVESTRONG Lance sound like two
completely different people, but they are one and the same. I’m not angry at him, but I am deeply
sad. Deeply sad about what will become
of his legacy, what his children and family have to deal with right now, what
all the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/12/sports/cycling/for-armstrong-teammate-vande-velde-cycling-passion-gave-way-to-corruption.html?smid=fb-share" target="_blank">cyclists who felt pressured to dope</a> or maintained silence for so many
years have to deal with.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Long-term, hopefully Lance will open up to talk about what
happened. I truly want to understand how
he got to the point where he was not only using performance enhancing drugs,
but pushing his teammates to as well. I
don’t want to know in order to blame anyone else. I want to know to better understand the human
psyche and how we make mistakes like this.
Was it a “tyranny of incrementalism”?
One of my business school professors, Stephen Kaufman, used this phrase
to describe how good people slowly, in small increments, start moving away from
their moral centers until all of a sudden they are at the center of a massive
Enron-like scandal. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of my favorite
lectures in business school was on a very similar topic – Clayton Christensen told
us about his own experience in wrestling with a decision that could compromise
his personal integrity. He was on his
university’s basketball team, and they made it to the championship tournament
which was scheduled for Sunday. For him,
Sunday is the Sabbath and he committed to not play basketball on Sundays. It was a difficult choice with pressure from
his coach and team, but he came to the conclusion that maintaining his
commitment was more important than a single game. Maintaining that line in the sand was a tough
decision at the time, but I bet it made all the rest of his decisions
easier. He has since written a book
aptly entitled <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062102419/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0062102419&linkCode=as2&tag=crobysia-20%22" target="_blank">How Will You Measure Your Life?</a> and you can read more about it in
this <a href="http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/7007.html" target="_blank">HBS Working Knowledge article</a>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How many of us are certain that we would draw the line
somewhere before we end up crossing it?
I definitely race on Sundays.
What do I definitely not do? It’s
easy to say now that I definitely don’t dope, but I recognize that there has to
be several steps before we get to that point, one of which is being close
enough to have a shot at winning (something I don’t have which also makes any
decision leading up to doping easier for me).
It’s easy for us to pretend like we would never be doping ringleaders,
but are we really sure that we would say no when asked to try it the first
time? To say no when we’re about to
start the Tour de France? To say no to
an organized scheme with doctors? To say
no when some of our new teammates ask questions? At what point does it become easy to exit
once you enter the tyranny of incrementalism?
Never.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe Lance has a fixed mindset. If you haven’t read Carol Dweck’s book about
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345472322/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0345472322&linkCode=as2&tag=crobysia-20" target="_blank">Mindset</a>, you should. It has a great
chapter on sports and the mindset of a champion. I actually read it in relation to my work in
public education, but it is also so very relevant to how we approach both sports
and personal integrity. In our culture, we
are so caught up in the idea of natural talent that the pressure moves those
with a fixed mindset to do anything to not appear like they are failures. I have a hard time believing this is the case
with Lance because even though I know now that he doped, I also know that he is
an incredibly hard worker, and he sustained success over such a long period of
time (albeit unfairly). I can’t imagine
someone working that hard who believes that we have finite abilities
pre-destined by our genetic background.
But maybe it had some role in pushing him into doping if he couldn’t
bear to lose to other dopers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do I think anyone can draw the line and still achieve success
in the area of their chosen passion? It
looks like the answer is no, at least not in the face of a brutally unforgiving
sport with officials turning the other way when the majority of its athletes
were taking performance-enhancing drugs.
One new hero is the cyclist that wouldn’t compromise his values (I
forgot his name, which is like a sad reinforcing joke). The NY Times ran an article a week or so ago about him – he didn’t cave to the pressure, but he also wasn’t able to follow
his passion. He quit cycling. Once we have gone down the wrong path, can we
pull back and start to make the change for good? I think the answer is yes, even though the
road would be rough. I look at baseball
and see athletes who eventually started freely admitting that they took PEDs
and know that they were wrong. The
weight was lifted, people were able to move on, and (hopefully) improvements
were made to detect abusers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s not my place to judge – I will leave that to God. But I continue to feel sad for the teammates,
for the sport, for Lance and his family, for LIVESTRONG, and for people
suffering from cancer. Just reading
about the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/11/sports/cycling/from-former-teammates-words-tinged-with-regret.html" target="_blank">regret in his teammates’ statements</a> makes me feel sad. I do forgive Lance, but I’m also not one of
those suffering the most. I’m not a part
of any of those people I just listed. My
only hope is that the victims will get catharsis, that LIVESTRONG will continue
to provide a great service to cancer patients and will continue to have legions
of supporters, that the sport of cycling will be cleaned up, and that the
ecosystem that allowed this to happen will no longer exist.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/P_YV4i6-REOdD65Os4t47lP7CIHHGL232s-joznFKbo?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNrltsThID98HAyK8gswfCLIG5EwWr1_h_7JhUlq-IL6pXahDssA_Tv0BzcE24e6hdOiLAZ1RjIX93iSK9es7zMW0odpWjAxB9ZDqvTtzZeT11jG_TNszA9MIS-XvsWGBZAp4qb_u-w/s400/Me%2520n%2520Lance.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Lance and me at the Florida Ironman 70.3 race in Haines City, FL - I raised money for LIVESTRONG in memory of my cousin and fellow namesake Aspasia who lost her fight to cancer last year. Lance met and took pictures with all of us who raised at least $1500 for LIVESTRONG. He was patient, engaging, and grateful.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please note that comments are moderated. This means dissent is allowed but crazy talk
isn’t.</div>
<br />Siahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06891915636286909811noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119705001614668347.post-35514416702100005142011-11-11T10:04:00.001-06:002012-12-02T14:13:41.311-06:00Missing GreeceI welcome the weather changes and pulling out all the scarves and boots for the winter season, but I find myself missing Greece. It's the little experiences I miss like rambling down a mountain and climbing over boulders to get to this gorgeous beach on the island of Ikaria...<br />
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/EKLOYa6Ikr9WMfsjcvLSVK2kAFhiX54SkCljGjo36dY?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="300" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-tIgmmvouiqU/Tr1EDuXQSNI/AAAAAAAAAlo/sfWR4iKJAkg/s640/IMG_0800.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
And finding goats in the most interesting places (village of Amalou)...<br />
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/aTwMYrNm51OVZAgsZbdi9a2kAFhiX54SkCljGjo36dY?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="300" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--1s63c3GVf8/Tr1F8mrWF2I/AAAAAAAAAl0/cqZ4_lZkDhU/s640/IMG_0662.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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And coming across kitty roadblocks in sleepy villages...<br />
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/l4sfeCTO-lgHCAkHONIzz62kAFhiX54SkCljGjo36dY?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="300" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rDii-OS7RGU/Tr1GtUXqsWI/AAAAAAAAAmM/MJr0vSZwaDI/s400/IMG_0709.JPG" width="400" /></a>Siahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06891915636286909811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119705001614668347.post-64389528237606895972011-11-06T17:25:00.013-06:002016-11-24T22:45:14.079-06:00Craft Bazaar Bracelet: Antique Lace<i style="font-size: x-large;">Want to support independent designers? Consider purchasing a </i><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/480809816/vintage-flower-crochet-bracelet-pattern" style="font-size: x-large; font-style: italic;" target="_blank">printer-friendly (pdf) version of this pattern</a><i style="font-size: x-large;"> for a nominal amount. </i><i style="font-size: x-large;">Or, bump up to a <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/480815718/set-of-3-vintage-crochet-bracelet?ref=shop_home_feat_2">3-pattern pack</a> for crochet bracelets!</i><i style="font-size: x-large;"> </i><span style="font-size: large;">💗</span><br />
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I'm back at it! My friend is participating in her school's craft bazaar, so I was inspired to create a few new patterns. For those of you who are looking for patterns you can use to earn a few bucks, feel free to use these for your own craft bazaars as long as you give my blog credit.<br />
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<img height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwEiPtSyX9J4XLiFUb00xmUO0yO7EFlOlVa6jXE1rVI0OwsDXmV6BITAwVyBKkwYKwAfloArgMFio_EHcBI9DxwXAvbDC4Ufl5wE9XnfBkKWolkiLV69UZIXHtczqVyXAlhoaUgTu4A/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></div>
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For these bracelets, I was inspired by the Blueprint Crochet <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/julie-cuff" target="_blank">Julie Cuff</a> that I made last year as a Christmas present - I thought why not make a whole series of these using crochet flowers and lace edgings? Here is the pattern for my first lace crochet bracelet - I would love to see your interpretations! Please let me know if you find any errors in the pattern. I know a diagram a la Japanese crochet would be easier to follow, but hey it's a free pattern.<br />
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<strong>Yarn and notions</strong>: I used J&P Coats Fashion Crochet Thread (Royale), size 3. Pearl button, about size 1/4 in.<br />
<strong>Materials</strong>: US size C (2.5 mm) crochet hook, and smaller yarn needle to weave in ends and join the button.<br />
<strong>Gauge and size</strong>: Gauge is not important for this pattern. Measure the size of your wrist with measuring tape - make sure you stop slightly greater than half your wrist size from the center of your flower to the end of the strap you are making. See pattern for details.<br />
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<strong>Abbreviations</strong> (American terms)<br />
ch = Chain <br />
dc = Double crochet<br />
sc = Single crochet<br />
sl st = Slip stitch<br />
sp = Space (as in a chain space)<br />
st = Stitch<br />
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<strong>Pattern</strong><br />
<u>Flower and first strap</u><br />
Beginning chain: Ch 4, join with a sl st to beginning ch.<br />
Row 1: *Ch 3, dc three times in ring, ch 3, sc in ring, repeat from * 3 more times to make 4 petals. Do not turn.<br />
Row 2: *Ch 4, skip all stiches in petal, sc in top of sc (on the other side of the first petal), repeat from * 3 more times. We just made 4 chain spaces that will be the base for the next row of petals. Do not turn.<br />
Row 3: *Sc in next ch-4 space, ch 3, dc six times in same space, ch 3, sc in same space, repeat from * 3 more times to make 4 larger petals. Do not turn.<br />
Row 4: Similar to Row 2, we will make base chains that we can then build our bracelet straps from. These base chains will be attached on either side of the petals, and also in the middle of the petal, but on the back side of course. *Ch 3, go behind the petal to sc in the middle of the ch sp from Row 2 (halfway through the 6 dc's), ch 3, sc between the 2 sc's on the other side of the petal, repeat from * 3 more times. Do not turn.<br />
Row 5: Sc four times in next sp, *sc in next sp, ch 3, sc in same sp, ch 3, sc in next sp, ch 3, sc in same sp**. Sc four times in next sp, sc four times in next sp. Repeat from * to ** once, sc four times in final sp, sl st to beg sc. Do not turn.<br />
Row 6: Sl st in next 4 sc, sl st to sp, ch 1, sc, *ch 3, sc in next sp, repeat from * once, sl st to next sc, TURN.<br />
Row 7: Ch 1, sc in next sc, * ch 3, sc in sp, repeat from * once, ch 3, sl st in last sc, TURN.<br />
Row 8: Sl st to sp, ch 1, sc in same sp, * ch 3, sc in next sp, repeat from * once, sl st to last sc, TURN.<br />
Rows 9-12: Repeat rows 7 and 8 two more times.<br />
Row 13: Sl st to sc, sl st to sp, ch 1, sc in sp, ch 3, sc in next sp, sl st to final sc, TURN.<br />
Row 14: Ch 1, sc in sc, sc in sp, ch 3, sc in same sp, sc in last sc, TURN.<br />
Repeat row 14 until strap is a little more than half the diameter of your wrist when you measure it from the middle of the flower. <br />
Fasten off, leaving a longer tail to join the button. Join button not at the very tip, but about 1 row from the tip.<br />
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<u>Second strap</u><br />
With flower facing you and first strap hanging down, join thread/yarn on top of last sc before the spaces begin for the second strap. Sl st to sp, ch 1, sc, *ch 3, sc in next sp, repeat from * once, sl st to next sc, TURN.<br />
Repeat rows 7-14, and then repeat 14 until strap is long enough fit comfortably on your wrist when you use one of the existing lace holes to button it.<br />
Fasten off, weave in ends.Siahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06891915636286909811noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119705001614668347.post-61233246939482561052011-10-01T12:28:00.000-05:002012-12-02T14:13:57.413-06:00New Orleans=Not Crochet FriendlyIt's been a while since my last update. I've moved from a chilly northern Dallas to the tropical south of New Orleans. Okay, so it's not so much further south, but for some reason I can't fathom wearing scarfs and other beloved crochet-friendly projects except for maybe 15 days out of the year. So, I'm looking for heat-friendlier patterns. <br />
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My first project in this mission will be <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/aero-tunisian-filet-lace-wrap">Vashti Braha's Aero Tunisian Filet Lace Wrap</a> (for non-Ravelers, you can also find it <a href="http://www.shop.designingvashti.com/main.sc">here</a>). I have a general fear of wraps - I'm not trying to look like a grandma before my time. Heck, I already act like one with the crochet and gardening. But, I think this one will be nice, and I just niftily happen to have some Handmaiden Sea Silk in a gorgeous earthy/ocean tone:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30531720@N08/5148754220/" title="IMG_5671 by aspasia_athena, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5671" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/5148754220_6692786212.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Wish me luck!Siahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06891915636286909811noreply@blogger.com0