October 1 freebie Monday

I have one for you today, the "Happy Yellow House". There is a lot of free crochet patterns listed and it's also a mailing list. She even states you can sell the completed item _BUT_ not the pattern itself. I love the name "Happy Yellow House". For a part of my childhood, my parents house was yellow. (Later it was formstone, but hey, that's Baltimore for you.)
http://www.happyyellowhouse.com/crochet.html

Another mailing list I like is "Knitting Daily". Yes, I did say "Knitting Daily". There's a few reasons why - sometimes it has crochet patterns/info and some of the things discussed about knitting can be used for crochet. For instance, Sandi Wiseheart did a column called "The Four Knitting Truths". It could be called sewing truths or crochet truths because it would fit those catagories, also. She explains how to measure yourself properly for a garment. If you're planning to make apparel, this advice is essential. There is also a later article dealing with lining a knitted bag. That info can be used to line a crocheted bag.
http://www.knittingdaily.com/about/

Suppose you feel like a quick to make pattern, something you could wear tomorrow or give as a gift - here's one for you - earrings.
Crafty Crafty - http://www.craftycrafty.tv/


_enjoy_

some more freebies

It's Monday (again) and almost the end of my busiest time of the month at work. So hopefully I will be posting a few more things this week.

However, it's Freebie Monday, so here we go:

You may (or may not) remember the "Blythe" dolls. The most distinctive thing about them (to me) were their large eyes. I vaguely remember one of my younger sisters having one. There's whole communities devoted to them. Here's a link to make a crochet cupcake hat for the doll. It could be adapted for a child or even an adult. Good thing my kids aren't little anymore;) Wait, maybe I'll make one to wear for Halloween at work;)

http://chezmichelle.vox.com/library/post/blythe-cupcake-hat---crochet-instructions.html?_c=feed-atom


You're probably thinking "I'm _way_ more sophisticated than _that_. Show me something I can use." and here's one for you - a tutorial on a beaded crochet bracelet. I think it looks pretty cool but I'm also the one thinking of wearing a cupcake hat.

Jewelry Making - http://jewelrymaking.craftgossip.com


For the more fashionable aware among you, here's something to look at - a pair of tall crocheted boots. Nope, not a pattern, but a finished pair by Ugg. It's about $120 and pretty cool but pricey (to me - especially since I hate wearing boots). I'm not endorsing them, but I'm sure some enterprising designer can figure out hot make a pair of crocheted boots.

Stylehive - Recent Bookmarks - http://www.stylehive.com


No, no kickbacks for me from any of these folks - just letting you know what's out there besides me.

The Queen of Soul

You should know who I am writing about here - unless you are totally unfamiliar with Aretha Franklin's work. If you are, get yourself busy and find out about her music. This blog will still be waiting for you when you come back.
You're back? okay, now we can go on.
M's Franklin is not only the Queen of Soul, not only the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but she is also a crocheter. Yup, that's what I said, a crocheter. According to the New York "Daily News" for September 9, 2007, that is one of M's Franklin's "hidden talents". I can't say I have ever seen her crocheted work, but I think it's pretty cool that Aretha Franklin is "one of us".
So when M's Franklin's tv miniseiries comes on ("Aretha: From These Roots") , you can bet I will be in front of the tv, crochet hook and yarn in my hands, happily crocheting away while it's playing. I don't know when it is supposed to be on, but I'll let you know when I find out. Nope, no kickbacks from M's Franklin or the tv station, but *wow* wouldn't I love to see Aretha's stash:)

freebie Monday

Some of you celebrate Halloween and would like to have some cool Halloween designs. Personally, I like November 1, one of the "Half Price Candy" holidays that occur about 5 times a year. But we're not here to talk about my Milky Way addiction, are we?

The link today
http://www.crochetmemories.com/newsletters/070912.html

is from Cylinda Matthews cool ezine, "The Crochet Corner"*. You may have seen M's Matthews work in some of the "Annie's Attic" publications or perhaps at your local craft store. She does great work with thread. You'll see the result of the work in the "Top Notch Ghost" that she uses to make a fridge magnet. You could easily attach a pin to the back and wear it on your clothes for Halloween.

There's even free Halloween recipes, just in case you were planning a party or maybe your kid (s) school was having a party. While you're visiting the site, check out the "crinoline girls". They are amazing.

If you are thinking about the cooler weather that happens around Halloween, you might want to check out this site:http://www.sweaterbabe.com/WordPressBlog/
You may know "Sweaterbabe"* from her book. If you subscribe to her newsletter (until September 30, 2007), you get a free crochet scarf pattern using the star stitch. Sweaterbabe alternates free crochet patterns with free knit patterns. Her newsletter is pretty cool, too. The star stitch featured is not quite the star stitch I remember using, but crochet stitches seem to have many different names.

_enjoy_

*the usual disclainer, nope, I get no kickbacks.

freebies

Today is Monday and what better way to start the week than with some freebies;)

Here's a website, Purple Kitty, that is restoring vintage crochet patterns. (They also have a sale going on, I have ordered from them and they do have fast service.*)
Their crocheted butterflies patterns are available as a downloda ($2.49) or for free at their website:

Click here: Butterflies in Crochet Book 272

I have never seen the book that the butterflies come from (there's a photo of it on the website) but it looks pretty cool.




Here's a freebie for you - the Interweave "Crochet" magazine.* Yes, it is a subscription form. But the first issue is yours to keep, you can cancel the subscription after that one. I decided to subscribe instead of trying to track it down in my area. It saves on time and gas. You can check it out here:
https://subscribe.pcspublink.com/magazine/Intw/subscribeForm.asp?track=JBN47&pub=CRCH&term=4

*no kickback received - you know the joke, I'd take it if they offered it

scientific study about buying yarn;)

Since I work in the medical field (medical records), I am very interested in the way the body works. Apparently there was a recent study done on women that showed there is a scientific reason for having a "yarn buying frenzy" when you (or I) enter a yarn shop. Sadly, they did not test this hypothesis on men, so I am left to wonder if women are more likely to suffer from this because women generally have a better sense of smell or does more research need to be done on this particular subject.
I was enlightened by this article and I hope you are, too;)

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A recent study indicated, that yarn and thread gives off certain pheromones that actually hypnotize women and cause them to purchase unreasonable amounts.

When stored in large quantities, in enclosed spaces, the pheromones, (in the yarn,) cause memory loss and induce the nesting syndrome, (similar to the one squirrels have, before the onset of winter, i.e. the storing of food,) therefore, perpetuating their species and not having a population loss due to their kind being cut into pieces and mixed with others.

Sound tests have also revealed, that these yarns, emit a very high-pitched sound, heard only by a select few, a breed of women known as "loomers." When played backwards on an LP, the sounds are heard as chants, "Buy me, loom me, and wind me into a ball ".

In order to overcome the so called "feeding frenzy effect," that these yarns cause, one must wear a face mask when entering a storage facility and use ear plugs, to avoid being pulled into their grip.

(One must laugh, however, at the sight of customers in a yarn store, with WW2 army gas masks and headphones!).

Studies have also indicated, that aliens have inhabited the earth, helping to spread the effects, that these yarns have on the human population. They are called "YARN STORE CLERKS".

It's also been experienced, that these same pheromones, cause a pathological need, to hide these yarn purchases, when taken home (or at least blend them into the existing stash.) When asked by a significant other if the yarn is new, the reply is, "I've had it for awhile."

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I didn't write this, but I _wish_ I did. I swiped it from somebody else's blog (yes, I asked permission and received it). She didn't know who wrote it either....

Author Unknown

achy breaky wrists

I can't believe it is September already. Of course, I generally spend the last part of every month pounding the keyboard for my job, so it makes crocheting not necessarily a fun thing to do. (I type every day at work, it's just there are time constraints at the end of the month, so it makes the pace a little more hectic.)

So here's what I do when my achy breaky wrists get too achy breaky. I am not a doctor and I do not play one on tv, so you will want to consult a doctor to see if any of these methods could be helpful to you.

I try to give my hands some time off from the repetitive stress, but that's _boring_;) I do wear a glove on my right hand (they sell them at the Lion Yarn Brand* site http://pages.e-yarn.com/6030/PictPage/1922238685.html) and it tends to work fairly well. I broke my right wrist playing wiffle ball when I was a little girl, so I think I might have a touch of arthritis in it. I've never tried a full arm splint.

I don't have the typical carpal tunnel syndrome symptons, (see this site for more info http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/carpal_tunnel/detail_carpal_tunnel.htm)
as it is my wrist that aches much more than my hand aches. My left hand (I'm a righty) gets achy and I do have tendonitis in both arms, but it's nothing like the right wrist.

I did carefully crochet a wrist rest and filled it with those little beads that are used for certain types of toys. That seems to work fairly well - but it disappeared from my desk at work. That did not make me a happy camper. So instead of crocheting another one, I cheated and found an old "Beanie Baby" - it's a lamb - and use that for support while typing at work. It's not the best solution, but I'm still considering alternatives. Maybe I'll just fill a stocking with birdseed and leave it at work, presumably it won't walk off.

I also stop what I am doing to stretch out my fingers and hand. I have tried "shaking" my hand but that doesn't seem to have much effect on the achiness. I work for a long term care pharmacy, so sometimes we get freebies such as "stress reducers" (for me it should be a nice cup of decaf Irish Breakfast, perhaps a brownie or turnover - well, you get the picture;)) and I can squeeze them to my heart's content. Unfortunately, they generally don't make it thru the first day with me, they must make the "stress reducers" cheap or I just have too much stress;)
Some other companies, such as Afflac, give them away when the representatives make presentations at a work site. If you can't find a goodie like that at work, you can try this website:
http://www.isokineticsinc.com/
I have a few things from them and they seem to work very well - when I remember to use them. It's recommended that after an hour of any sort of repetitive work, you take a break and use your hands in a different way. I try to remember to do this, but I'm not very good at it.

I have used the Clover soft touch hooks and they seem to work well. But I do like my Boyes, so I find myself going back to them all the time. I've tried the plastic grips that slip on the hooks and they seem to help with the smaller hooks. Thread work is difficult on my wrist.

I also use a hot pack or a cold pack on my wrist. This can be very helpful to block the pain quickly. I will also run hot water over my wrist for about 30 seconds if I'm at work and that works very fast. Sometimes I use ibuprofen or acetaminophen to ease the discomfort. Elevation of the arm is supposed to be helpful, but I never remember to do that.

Anyway, I hope this explains why I have been away and also what you might be able to do to relieve your own achy breaky hands.
It's time for the usual disclaimers:
* I do not get a kickback from any of the sites mentioned, but I would be happy to accept one.
Of course, I am not diagnosing any thing. You should check with your health care professional first before you try any of the suggestions.