And all through the house.....

Night Before Christmas for Crocheters
Twas the Night before Christmas (for crocheters)
If you've used this poem in the past, the info is CROCHETERS CHRISTMAS EVE, Original knit version by Nancy Massaroni, 2003, rewritten (crochet version) by Dee Stanziano, 2006. If you use this poem, please give Nancy Massaroni and Dee Staniziano authors credit.




CROCHETERS´ NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

~ Nancy Massaroni adapted by Dee Stanziano ("Crocheting with Dee")

`Twas the night before Christmas and all around me
There was unfinished crocheting not under the tree,
The stockings weren´t hung by the chimney with care
`Cause the heels and the toes had not a stitch there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
But I had not finished the caps for their heads.
Dad was asleep-he was no help at all.
And the sweater for him was 6´´ too small.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I put down my hook to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash.
Tripped over my yarn and fell down in my stash.

The tangle of yarn that lay deep as the snow
Reminded me how far I still had to go.
When out on the lawn I heard such a noise,
I was sure it would wake up both Dad and the boys.

And although I was tired-my brain a bit thick,
I knew in a moment that it must be St Nick.
Yet what I heard left me very perplex-ed
For nothing I heard was what I expect-ed.

"Move Rowan! Move Patons! Move Koigu and Clover!
Move Shelridge! Move Starmore! Move Spinrite! Move over!
Lopi, don´t circle around, just stand there in line.
Pay attention you sheep and you´ll work out just fine!

I know this is hard as it´s just your first year
But I´d hate to go back to 8 tiny reindeer."
I peered over the sill. What I saw was amazing:
Eight wooly sheep on my lawn all a-grazing!

And then in a twinkle, I heard at the door
Santa´s big boots stomping on the porch floor.
I rose from my knees and got back on my feet.
As I turned around, St Nick I did meet.

He was dressed all in wool from his heat to his toe
And his clothes were hand crochet from above to below.
A bright Fair Isle sweater he wore on his back.
And his toys were all stuffed in an Aran crochet sack.

His hat was a wonder of bobbles and lace
A beautiful frame for his rosy red face.
The scarf on his neck could have stretched for a mile,
And the socks peeking over his boots were Argyle.

On the back of his mitts was an intricate cable.
And suddenly on one I spotted a small label:
"S.C." in duplicate on the cuff.
So I asked, "Hey, Nick, did YOU crochet all this stuff?"

He proudly replied, "Ho, ho, ho, yes I did.
I learned how to crochet when I was just a kid."
He was chubby and plump, a well dressed old man,
And I laughed to myself, for I´d thought up a plan.

I flashed him a grin and jumped up in the air,
And the next thing he knew, he was tied to a chair.
He spoke not a word, but looked down in his lap
Where I had laid my crochet hook and yarn for a cap.

He began then to crochet, first one cap then 2-
For the first time I thought I might really get through.
He put heels in the stockings and toes in some socks,
While I sat back drinking a scotch on the rocks.

Quickly like magic his hooks they flew,
Good Grief! He was finished by two!
He sprang for his sleigh when I let him go free,
And over his shoulder he looked back at me.
I heard him explain as he sailed past the moon,
"Next year, start your crocheting sometime around JUNE!"

and now the end is near...

oh wait, this isn't Frank Sinatra singing "My Way". It's just it's the end of the year and it seems like this year sped by.

Here's a few things I learned this year: Charity work is good, but don't pick a lot of different charities to crochet for because you probably won't have the time - just saying.

In my part of the world, the economy hasn't "recovered" from the "recession". I put quotes around those words because although the media seems to think there has been a complete recovery, it hasn't happened here (yet?) and I know more than a few people who live in different parts of the US that say pretty much the same thing.  So I need to work on my (huge) stash and also swap/sell/whatever the yarn I probably won't use. I have 3 skeins of beautiful bulky autumn varigated yarn. It's gorgeous. But it's wool and the likelihood of my using it is between slim and none. Wool makes my throat and sinuses clog up and that doesn't make for an enjoyable crochet project for me. Why did I buy it? It was gorgeous and I hadn't connected the dots between the watery eyes and my use of wool. (I bet you thought I was going to say "it was on sale";)) But don't worry, I have plenty of yarn.
That if I really plan to make some Christmas gifts or ornaments, the time to start is _now_...well, actually after I get thru the few projects I didn't finish for 2011.And yes, I got projects that go back a few years that aren't finished, unfortunately.

but it's a quiet night, I'm in my jammies so I'm not going to beat myself up about this anymore. I finish what I can, that's all I can do. I want to have more fun with my crochet instead of trying to rush through a project to start a new one. I think my wrist would also appreciate it. It gets pretty bad at work and sometimes (_eeek_) I don't want to crochet when I get home. I know, sounds crazy.

So I want to wish everybody a Happy New Year, I hope the New Year brings you all you could possibly want and to enjoy your crocheting.

Happy New Year

FM 1/12/09

Hello again. I'm back with your weekly dose of free crochet patterns. Here you go:

It's not _that_ cold here today, but according to the Weather Channel, it will be pretty cold (for the MD area) this weekend. So here are some crocheted polar bears that should feel right at home in my neck of the woods.
http://marthas-tatting-blog.blogspot.com/2008/12/time-out-for-crochet-polar-bear.html

And now for something completely different, a mini mokona
http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/mini_mokona

Apparently you can use tiny crocheted sweaters to cover your keys so they don't scratch up your purse's contents - or as an ornament. Here are two tiny sweater patterns.
http://joy-paka-tavish-sadie-indy.blogspot.com/2009/01/homage-to-melissa-mall.html
and two:
http://crochetuncut.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=74&Itemid=&ed=10
Of course, talking about the cold means it's time for mittens
http://www.abc-knitting-patterns.com/1008.html

Perhaps you're not in a cold area. So here's a pin cushion pattern for you.
http://www.10000greatideas.com/idea.php?idea=1228&sid=4

Another cute preemie hat pattern:
http://debscrafts55.blogspot.com/2008/04/bumpy-preemie-hat-crochet-pattern.html


And Moonglow has two coaster patterns this time - a shamrock coaster
http://www.orble.com/free-proud-to-be-irish-coaster-crochet-pattern/
and a Valentine's coaster
http://www.orble.com/free-love-me-do-coaster-crochet-pattern/

And Maggie Weldon is giving away some of her wonderful crochet patterns available as a download:
http://www.maggiescrochet.com/free-crochet-patterns-c-33.html

And in case you won't be able to make it to Washington, DC for the inauguration, you could always make your own President Obama - courtesy of Lion Brand Yarn.
http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/80658AD.html?noImages=
and you could probably modify the Senator McCain finger puppet to look like Vice President Biden
http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/80657AD.html?noImages=

As usual, I get no paybacks for listing these items. The economy is tough and it's hard for a hooker out here;)
_enjoy_

the Masters class

Quite a few folks asked me to post the ins and outs of the Master of Basic Crochet Stitches class, so I thought I'd do that today, since I am exhausted from mopping the kitchen floor yesterday (yeah, really, and it's a small kitchen. And no, Craig didn't know I was doing that.)

I had kicked the idea around of taking the class for quite some time. First I was like "hey, what can they teach _me_?" alternating with "suppose I'm _not_ good enough?" But gradually my curiosity regarding the class got the better of me and I decided I could learn something new from taking the class - maybe an easier/better way of doing things. So I wrote the check and filled out the application and waited.

The form I got was probably 4 pages long, front and back. I was supposed to do the required number of swatches with the directions given to me. The materials are specified - smooth light colored yarn so it's easier to see the stitches. I used the Red Heart Super Savers in white, eggshell, mint green and light purple. I had to get sports yarn, so I chose Lion Brand MicroSpun for that project. I also had to get (*gasp*) cotton thread, size 10 to use for a filet project

There are other requirements besides yarns and threads. I had to get some 3 ring binders to use to contain the portfolio I was creating. I also purchased those acrylic see thru sheets (some people use them for recipes or patterns) and blank tags, like those used for a yard sale. I would crochet and number the swatch and put down all the requested info - type of yarn used, hook, etc. I decided to get two storage boxes to store the yarn and the swatches plus some of the books I used for help. You can use any book you choose, but you have to reference what you used. This is where all the experience I had doing term papers in high school came in handy;) (finally). There are instructions given for some of the swatches but not all.

I started off making the "easy" swatches first - the single and double crochet ones - and labeling them. I tackled the filet crochet piece last. And I didn't do such a hot job on it. As Bendy Carter explained to me, I was doing "shadow filet" - not the normal two double crochets in the space but only one. The piece sort of looked like the display piece, but not exactly. (There were no instructions given for this piece. I enlarged the photo at work to figure out what I needed to do.)
I had to redo that piece. I wasn't thrilled about it, but now I had some new toys - the Boye interchangable steel hook set. I had looked for the Comfort Grip Clover steel hooks, but they didn't have the size I needed. My second attempt at thread with a steel hook came out much better.

I also had trouble with the gauge. I can make items to gauge, done it many times, but I can't seem to put the explanation into words. It doesn't make sense, but there you are. I also had trouble with cables. They just didn't pop out enough.

M's Carter emailed me as well as phoned me. (I couldn't seem to email her except thru one email provider, the other never reached her.) She went over what I did correctly and what I needed to correct. I corrected the necessary items and sent them back to be judged. I have to admit, I was nervous about it. You either pass or fail, there is no refund on the money (and of course not the time) spent. So I was _thrilled_ when I finally got the news that I had passed.

Now keep in mind this is just my experience with the class. It's probably been updated and modified since I took it. I had a year to complete it and though a year seems long, it really isn't because of course other things like life get in the way. So I'd advise if you're going to do this class, commit to making the time for it - whether it's an evening a week or whatever time you can squeeze out along the way. You probably are more organized than I am, but I really needed to make myself crochet the swatches and answer questions on a regular basis.

The swatch part is easy compared to the questions - what if you did this or that, how would that change the look of the swatch, that sort of thing. I scribbled notes as I went along and kept them in the same place I kept my supplies. When I had the notes to about five of the swatches, I used a word processing program to transcribe my notes. I wanted whoever was going to judge the swatches and the answers to be able to read what I had written.

When I was finished to my satisfaction, I set three 3 ring binders up for my portfolio and divided the swatches into sections. I relabeled the swatches with the proper information. If I could have figured out a way to type the swatch info and attach it, I would haved done that. I set up a table of contents for each binder and included a bibliography for the books I used. I also made sure I put all the labels for the yarn that I used in a separate holder (it's in the directions). I cross referenced this with the name of the yarn and what swatches were made from each particular yarn or thread. I intended to present an organized portfolio to the judge.

I was fortunate because M's Carter corrected me. You can just be rejected without any hope of trying to correct what you have done wrong, so I was certainly happy that didn't happen to me. But it was a concern of mine and I'd advise anyone who would take the class to take the time to found the directions to the letter on how the portfolio should be set up. When I took the class, you couldn't ask any questions about what was expected or any pattern advice. I don't know if that has changed or not, but sometimes I felt as if I was wandering around stubbing my toes in the dark. When I felt like that, I would put it away for a little while and try not to stress over it. I'd pour over magazines and books and of course, the online crochet groups trying to figure out what to do next. I never got any specific advice as such, but sometimes a nugget of knowledge would come my way without me asking the question. It is said that when the student is ready, the teacher appears and that must have been the case for me.

I hope this clears up any questions about the class. As I have said, I started mine in 2007 and it has probably been changed by this time. If you have any general questions about the course, I'll be happy to answer them if I can. I don't know if CGOA has changed its stance on answering questions regarding the course, but you can certainly try them for information.

Remember, mileage may vary. What works for you may not work for me and vice versa.

well...

No FM today. I am preparing for major surgery and I find I don't have the concentration to check links and sites today. I probably will not be here for at least 2 weeks (about 4 days in the hospital to start with) and obviously there won't be any FM or anything else posted here.
I will be trying to get a lot of crocheting done, depending on how I feel. I'm putting together a project bag so I won't have to search the house for the yarn of the pattern. I also have the new Bendy Carter book, a novel this time "Dying to Crochet". I have been holding off reading it until after surgery but it looks _good_. 10 projects in it (okay, I did take a peek at the projects. I'm not _that_ disciplined.)
I am very lucky to have my loving husband, Craig, to take care of me during this time of recovery. I am the luckiest woman in the world to have him as my beloved. I don't want to send him through out the house saying "I want the fuzzy pink yarn, no, not that fuzzy pink yarn, the _other_ fuzzy pink yarn. No, the _other_ other_ fuzzy pink yarn" He's a sweetie, but I would think that would qualify as spousal abuse.
At any rate, check out some of the old listings and some of the sites listed and hopefully, see you in about 2 weeks.