Limbs

These mitts were designed specifically for the Fingerless Gloves Fanatics Group on Ravelry.

Limbs



Materials
Steel 2.20 mm Hook
1/2 ball of Trekking XXL Sock Weight yarn in 321
or 50 grams of sock weight yarn

Gauge: 29 hdc & 24 rows = 4"

Pattern Notes: Glove is worked cuff up. Ribbing is made flat then stitched together.
I recommend using plenty of stitch markers. I used one at in the first and last stitch of each row (moving them up as I went along), as well as at the outermost post stitches, but I would recommend anyone unfamiliar with making crochet cables to put them in the loops of each post stitch so you know which loops to NOT work into.

All post stitches are worked into previous post stitches and all post stitches should be raised on the right side.

Resources:
Double Crochet Foundation Chain
Double Crochet Foundation Chain Video (I crochet through the top two loops, however, not top and spine, yes it does make a difference)
Seamless Rounds
Finishing in the round

Abbreviations:
bpdc: back post double crochet
ch: chain
dc: double crochet
fpdc: front post double crochet
sk: skip
sl-st: slip stitch
st: stitch

Terms in capitals refer to previous row's stitches. For example, "fpdc in BPDC" means to front post double crochet around the previous row's back post double crochet stitch (which will look like a fpdc from the working side of the fabric).



Sizing: This pattern fits forearm (4 1/2" below wrist) at 6 1/2" and around knuckles at 7 7/8".

To make a larger size, DC Foundation Chain to fit (ending with an even number). Adjust row 5 (center the tree roots on front side) and thumbhole placement as neccesary.

RIGHT MITT
Leaving a tail of several inches to sew up ribbing, dc foundation chain 47 sts, ch 2, turn.

1. In second DC from hook, fpdc, (bpdc, fpdc) to last st, hdc in last st, ch 2, turn.

2. bpdc in FPDC (of previous row) , (fpdc, bpdc) to last st, hdc in last st, ch 2, turn.

3. fpdc in BPDC, (bpdc, fpdc) to last st, hdc in last st. ch 2, turn.

4. bpdc in FPDC, (fpdc, bpdc) to last st, hdc in last st, sl-st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

5. Being sure to skip the sl-st, hdc in first st, hdc 31, [sk 1, hdc, working in front of just-made hdc, fpdc in skipped st (BPDC of previous row) ] x2, fpdc, [sk 1, fpdc, working behind just-made fpdc, hdc in skipped st (FPDC of previous row)] x2, hdc to end, sl-st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

6. hdc to FPDC, sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, bpdc 3, skip 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc to end, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

7. hdc to BPDC, fpdc 5, hdc to end, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

8. hdc to FPDC, bpdc 5, hdc to end, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

9-24. Repeat rows 7 and 8.

25. hdc to st before first BPDC, sk 1, fpdc, working behind just-made fpdc, hdc in skipped st, fpdc 3, sk 1, hdc, working in front of just-made hdc, fpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

26. hdc to st before first FPDC, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc, bpdc 3, hdc sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

27. hdc to st before first BPDC, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, fpdc, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

28. hdc to st before first FPDC, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc, bpdc, hdc, sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

29. (Splitting Center Tree Trunk) hdc to st before first BPDC, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc 2, [fpdc, hdc, fpdc] in same st, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, working 2 hdc in last st, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

30. 2hdc in first st, hdc to first FPDC, bpdc, hdc 2, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc, sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, hdc 2, bpdc, hdc to end, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

31. hdc to st before first BPDC, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st,hdc 3, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, working 2 hdc in last st, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

32. (Splitting Center Tree Limbs Again) 2hdc in first st, hdc to st before first FPDC, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc 2, bpdc, hdc 2, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, (working in loops of last FPDC worked) hdc, (working in FPDC just worked) bpdc, hdc 3, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, (working in loops of last FPDC worked) hdc, (working in FPDC just worked) bpdc, hdc 2, bpdc, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

33. hdc to st before first BPDC, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, working 2 hdc in last st, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

34. (Drop Outside Limbs) 2hdc in first st, hdc to st before SECOND FPDC, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc 4, sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, hdc, sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

35. (Crossing Center Limbs) hdc to two sts before first BPDC, sk 2, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in each skipped st, hdc, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc 6, sk [BDPC and HDC], (working in next BPDC) fpdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped BPDC, hdc 6, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc, sk 1, hdc 2, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, working 2 hdc in last st, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

36. 2hdc in first st, hdc to st before first FPDC, [sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc 7,] x 2, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, hdc 6, sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

37. hdc to two sts before first BPDC, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc 6, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped BPDC, hdc 7, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, working 2 hdc in last st, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

38. (Remove Limb at Pinky, add Branch) 2hdc in first st, hdc to st before first FPDC, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, bpdc, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in last FPDC, hdc 6, sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, hdc 5, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc, (working in last FPDC) bpdc, hdc to end, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

39. hdc to st before first BPDC, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc 3, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc 3, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc 6, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc 4, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc 3, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, working 2 hdc in last st, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

40. 2hdc in first st, hdc to st before first FPDC, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc 5, sk 1, hdc (working behind), bpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

41. (Creating Thumbhole) hdc to 17 sts before last st, place st marker in next st (for thumbhole instructions), sk sts, sl st to last st, hdc in same st, sl st to first st of row, ch 1, turn. (If thumbhole is not big enough, create a chain before sl st to last st)

42. sc around, sl st to first st of row, fasten off.

THUMBHOLE

43. Attach yarn at st marker placed in row 41. hdc in st and around, working into the bottom of the 3 sts between thumb and index finger. sl st to first st, ch 1, turn.

44. sc around, sl st to first st, fasten off.



LEFT MITT

Leaving a tail of several inches to sew up ribbing, dc foundation chain 47 sts, ch 2, turn.

1. In second DC from hook, fpdc, (bpdc, fpdc) to last st, hdc in last st, ch 2, turn.

2. bpdc in FPDC (of previous row) , (fpdc, bpdc) to last st, hdc in last st, ch 2, turn.

3. fpdc in BPDC, (bpdc, fpdc) to last st, hdc in last st. ch 2, turn.

4. bpdc in FPDC, (fpdc, bpdc) to last st, hdc in last st, sl-st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

5. Being sure to skip the sl-st, hdc in first st, hdc 7, [sk 1, hdc, working in front of just-made hdc, fpdc in skipped st (BPDC of previous row) ] x2, fpdc, [sk 1, fpdc, working behind just-made fpdc, hdc in skipped st (FPDC of previous row)] x2, hdc to end, sl-st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

6. hdc to FPDC, sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, bpdc 3, skip 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc to end, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

7. hdc to BPDC, fpdc 5, hdc to end, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

8. hdc to FPDC, bpdc 5, hdc to end, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

9-24. Repeat rows 7 and 8.

25. hdc to st before first BPDC, sk 1, fpdc, working behind just-made fpdc, hdc in skipped st, fpdc 3, sk 1, hdc, working in front of just-made hdc, fpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

26. hdc to st before first FPDC, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc, bpdc 3, hdc sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

27. hdc to st before first BPDC, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, fpdc, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

28. hdc to st before first FPDC, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc, bpdc, hdc, sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

29. (Splitting Center Tree Trunk) 2hdc in first st, hdc to st before first BPDC, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc 2, [fpdc, hdc, fpdc] in same st, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

30. hdc to first FPDC, bpdc, hdc 2, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc, sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, hdc 2, bpdc, hdc to end, working 2 hdc in last st, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

31. 2hdc in first st, hdc to st before first BPDC, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st,hdc 3, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

32. (Splitting Center Tree Limbs Again) hdc to st before first FPDC, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc 2, bpdc, hdc 2, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, (working in loops of last FPDC worked) hdc, (working in FPDC just worked) bpdc, hdc 3, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, (working in loops of last FPDC worked) hdc, (working in FPDC just worked) bpdc, hdc 2, bpdc, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, working 2 hdc in last st, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

33. 2hdc in first st, hdc to st before first BPDC, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

34. (Drop Outside Limbs) hdc to st before SECOND FPDC, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc 4, sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, hdc, sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, working 2 hdc in last st, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

35. (crossing center limbs) 2hdc in first st, hdc to two sts before first BPDC, sk 2, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in each skipped st, hdc, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc 6, sk [BDPC and HDC], (working in next BPDC) fpdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped BPDC, hdc 6, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc, sk 1, hdc 2, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

36. hdc to st before first FPDC, [sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc 7,] x 2, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, hdc 6, sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, working 2 hdc in last st, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

37. 2hdc in first st, hdc to two sts before first BPDC, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc 6, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped BPDC, hdc 7, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

38. (Remove Limb at Pinky, Add Branches) hdc to st before SECOND FPDC, sk 1, bpdc, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in last FPDC, hdc 6, sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, hdc 5, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc, (working in last FPDC) bpdc, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, working 2 hdc in last st, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

39. 2hdc in first st, hdc to st before first BPDC, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc 3, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc 3, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc 6, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc 4, sk 1, fpdc, (working behind) hdc in skipped st, hdc 3, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working in front) fpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

40. hdc to st before first FPDC, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, hdc, (working behind) bpdc in skipped st, hdc 2, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc, sk 1, bpdc, (working in front) hdc in skipped st, hdc 5, sk 1, hdc (working behind), bpdc in skipped st, hdc to end, working 2 hdc in last st, sl st to first st of row, ch 2, turn.

41. (Creating Thumbhole) hdc 29 sts, place st marker in next st (for thumbhole instructions), skip 16 sts, sl st, hdc in same st, hdc to end, sl st to first st of row, ch 1, turn. (If thumbhole is not big enough, create a chain after skipping 17 sts)

42. sc around, sl st to first st of row, fasten off.

THUMBHOLE

43. Attach yarn at st marker placed in row 41. hdc in st and around, working into the bottom of the 3 sts between thumb and index finger. sl st to first st, ch 1, turn.

44. sc around, sl st to first st, fasten off.



OPTIONAL FINISHING
Embroider leaves in fall colors on branches.

Yarn Stormed!

Okay, so I don't know how many of my blog friends know about Yarn Storming. There's a group on Raverly, called Yarn Storming, which is an off shoot of the Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm group. Basically, they were formed to help out those who knit, crochet, or spin but were having a difficult time doing so in the present ecconomy. I fell into that category, and so SOMEONE nominated me to recieve a "stash busting yarn storming box of sunshine!" And it is! This box was filled with so much yarn.

As soon as I saw the box and saw who it was from, I grabbed my camera because I wanted to share my joy of unwrapping it with all of you!

Here's the box. It's big!


Top Layer....


Middle layer.... (See the adorable graphic by Lisa?)


Bottom layer...


All Layed Out...


Here's a breakdown of what I received:

I have NO idea what the blue unskeined yarn is. (What is that technically called before yarn is twisted into a hank, but after it's been... niddy noddy-ed?) I tried to see if my cat would attack it, since he's attacked merino, wool, and alpaca in the past, but he didn't. But he also didn't attack any of the merino, alpaca, or wool that IS in the box. I'm going to do a burn test, if I can ever find the yarn end!!! Id' love to know what it is. If the donator knows, please let me know!

5 balls of LB Landscapes = 275 yards
4 Balls Elann Lara = 508 yards
6 balls Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud = 2,640 yards
10 hanks Hacho Merino = 1,370 yards

I have no idea the yardage on the blue yarn, but it definitely puts me well over 5,000 yards of yarn!

I'm such a lucky girl! I can't even tell you all how greatful I am to the Yarn Stormers, and especially Nancy, who is the amazing organizer. I am more yarn rich than I ever have been! This weill help me get through quite awhile of lean-times. I never know just where my next job is, so I always worry about money and buying yarn is a HUGE treat for myself. (Seriously, I needed to buy a new hook today so fulfill a promise, and I agonized for over half an hour over spending the 2 dollars on a "luxury.") Thank you, thank you, thank you!


If you know anyone who could be nominated for a yarn storming, please email her at yarnstorming99 AT gmail DOT com.

PS. I also won a couple of giveaways lately and recieved a yarn birthday present, so I'm overwhelmed with fiber. I'll blog about those sometime soon.

Lover's Purse

I made this little purse for my niece's Christmas present. I stuffed it with little girly things - nail polish, bath fizzies, lip gloss, etc.




I love how it came out! I used the Solomon's knot / lover's knot for the lacy stitch pattern. I used futuregirl's Sew a Lining into a Crocheted Bag Tutorial to, well, sew the lining into the bag.
See how neatly it came out?:




The only thing I'd suggest would be to maybe add more stitches in cases where you're using bulky yarn. I noticed that where the the snaps were was facing a lot of pressure and separating from the bag, slightly. So I added some reinforcement stitching there.

I also used futuregirl's Tutorial on how to weave in the last end when working in rounds. Very seamless.

The ravelry project page is located

Slip Stitch Crochet & Fingerless Gloves

So, I saw this great way to make crocheted ribbing wile working horizontally. (Really, go check out the link. You won't believe it.)

David Burchall has worked out ribbing that is very effective and looks knitted. I've spent much of the day trying to figure it out before I found a tip in the Slip Stitch Crochet group on Ravelry. It's very important when making the iB stitches to hold the yarn BEHIND the hook, rather than in front as usual. After I got that, things really clicked! I've even moved from slip stitch crochet (SSC) to single crocheted ribbing using the same principle.

Another good idea is to use a hook with a sharp tip, not a blunt one. I'd like to try this technique with a larger hook size, as is recommended, but my large hooks are round on the end (as well as uncomfortable) and it makes it nearly impossible and frustrating as all get out to try to work into slip stitches.

I'm also a tight crocheter and so working into my stitches is rather difficult. But I'm trying hard to stay relaxed. Things really went better when I switched to a smaller hook with a pointy end. But I lost drape, I think.

Also, when working in the round, I cannot work in a spiral or it won't create ribbing. So tomorrow I'll swatch with joining and turning using the new method that Futuregirl invented. Stumbled upon? You decide.

I found that when you're working in ssc for the ribbing and then change to sc ribbing, your piece not only grows vertically, but also horizontally. This is perfect for my purposes!

And what are my purposes, you ask? I'm glad that you asked!

I'm designing fingerless gloves for my co-worker! I mentioned this long long ago. And now I'm finally getting off my butt and doing it. Uh, good thing since Christmas is in 6 days (not including today since I'm about to go to bed.)

A few nights ago, I realized that what was really holding me up was the size issue. I had used this sizing chart to help me figure out that her hands were a woman's large, but then I didn't really want to use any of the patterns I found online. My hand falls in the small range. I definitely can't use my hand as comparison! What if it didn't fit?

This schematic is much more helpful for people designing their on gloves. But before I saw that, I thought I'd do a ribbed glove so that there would be more of a chance of it fitting. In my head, I designed a glove that had a ribbed cuff and then ribbing running up the back of the hand with sc or linked dc for the palm and maybe some small edging at the top.

Well that's great, but I'm trying to make these be a one skein project! And ribbing is tricky in sc. If I did fpdc/bpdc then I don't think I'd be able to come close to using only one skein. And I did do a glove worked vertically before so I could do blo, but I find shaping to be a bit harder. So I went looking around. And then I found the ssc ribbing! Awesome. Tomorrow I'm going to try to get a larger pointer hook and I'll try to sneakily (or not) get a wrist measurement and lower hand measurement from said co-worker so I know if I'm in the right ballpark.

If all goes well, I'll take pictures of the swatches I worked on today and the finished project! I better get cracking, though. I've got one more crochet/sewing project to work on and I need to finish up another one before Christmas!

LAST DAY!

OMG, guys! It's the last day! I'm relieved. It was great until about half way through when I started to get really busy with concerts. I'll probably take the next week off from blogging so that I can finish with concerts. Hopefully when I return I'll have some yarning stuff to show off. Maybe even a new car!

Bill Engvall is very nice. His comedy wasn't all "red neck" jokes like Country Fried Videos. There was a lot of poop jokes, though! But he was extremely friendly and kind. I'm sure he'll be back next season!

Thank you to everyone who has joined me in the nablopomo quest! I've really enjoyed it and making and receiving comments was definitely helpful to keep me going! Rest up your fingers and get back to you crocheting! I'll be reading your blogs. :)

Family

This is one of my favorite pictures that I took of my sister, my niece, and my brother in law lifting my nephew at my Mom's wedding in October. I just love that you can't see anyone's face, but that there is a lot happening in the photo. The only thing that would make this shot better would be if you could see that my sister is pregnant. Michael is due in February!

That's all I've got for tonight, folks. Tonight was the Aaron Neville featuring Charles Neville concert. I met Charles' wife and kids. They were all very nice people. Bill Engvall tomorrow. Should I just bring my "sign" when I pick him up from the hotel tomorrow?

21 Things!

I was tagged by Laux, Diana and Aimee, I thought I'd do 21 things instead of seven! Here goes....

The Rules
1) Link to your tagger and list all these rules in your blog.
2) Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3) Tag 7 people at the end of your post by including links to their blogs
4) Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog

1. People think I'm being fake when I'm wishing them a happy holiday, etc. but really I'm just very enthusiastic and I MEAN it.
2. My dad used to stop me from crying as a baby by kissing the bridge of my nose (like so that either side of his lips were on either side of my nose - sideways like).
3. I will eat cranberry sauce out of the can. My little sister Kayla and I used to sometimes feed ourselves this way - by splitting a can of cranberry sauce.
4. I dropped out of high school when I was 16 to go to college.
5. I only drink mixed drinks with rum in them. I do not like any other alcoholic beverage, except Mike's and those kinds of drinks.
6. The only time I failed a test was a third grade math test. And I cried because I had to get my parents to sign it.
7. I never had a dog and I've always wanted one.
8. I started dancing when I was 3.
9. I had muscle spasms all down my spine when I was 14, permanently ending any thought of dancing professionally. (Dancing in a show, or becoming a dance teacher. Not becoming a ballerina.) That eventually led me into the backstage life of theater.
10. Tonight I worked on the B.B. King concert. He (aka his assistant) ordered 4 shrimp Chinese food dishes.
11. My favorite dishes growing up were a humpty dumpty plate and bowl that were purchased specially for me. I loved them and broke them. I wish I had them back.
12. I had a favorite knit blanket growing up. It was a circle and had pastel rainbow colors. I think made of triangles, rather than concentric rings. I used to pretend I was a princess with it wrapped around my shoulders.
13. My dad and my sister and I used buy cheap kites and take them flying, sometimes letting them free if they got high enough. We ruined and enjoyed many a plastic kite!
14. I played soccer for 5 years as a sweeper and eventually quit to spend more time dancing and acting. I was very good at serrupticiously body checking the taller girls. I was also good at booting a ball down the field, but couldn't score a goal. (The goal totally freaked me out!!)
15. I had my first panic attack on the first day of 3rd grade. I threw up three times and was still forced into going to school. I hadn't done my book report.
16. One of my most valuable possessions was a rock. I used to carry it in my right pant pocket. Many of my pants had a worn spot from where it would sit. I was heartbroken when I lost it.
17. When I was on painkillers for the muscle spasms, I wrote an email about butternut squash and Ben & Jerry's cherry garcia ice cream. It's one of the few things I remember from that 2 month period of my life.
18. Every night I sleep in fleece pants that I made when I was 14. They're big and baggy and are multi colored. I used to wear them to school and was known as "the girl with the pants." (I also had a pair of crushed velvet NEON green pants with black sequin trim that I'd wear to school.)
19. I grew my hair out for 5.5 years from chin to butt, then cut it off and donated it to locks of love. My head was much lighter, it improved my back pain!
20. My husband was (is) my first love.
21. I call my cat all kinds of silly names like, Dipstick, fartstick, purrpod, catter, stinkbutt, midnight louie, etc. I don't think he gets it.

'Night all! Tomorrow is an Aaron Neville concert!

As American as....

Yum! This apple pie was delicious. I made it this morning, cutting up cortland and macoun apples with some spices and taking a shortcut by using a premade pie crust. Very tasty and satisfying.

What are you thankful for? This year I didn't put enough emphasis on what I'm thankful for; I was too busy to comtemplate. But I think it's important. I'm going to work on figuring that out in the Christmas season.

Day Off

Today should have been a good day since I had it off, but I spent most of the day feeling grumpy, moody, and light headed. Ick. But I did get some important things done! I tidied up the living room a bit, talked to the doctor's office about Robin's surgery consulation appointment, was pre-approved for an auto loan (grr @ them for not calling me back LAST week!), folded and put away laundry from last week's expedition, went to the laundry, shopped for the apple pie I'm supposed to be bringing to Thanksgiving tomorrow (uh, note to self, get up an hour earlier to actually make the pie...), folded all the laundry while watching House and Bones, made myself feel pretty for tomorrow, and mixed the dry ingredients for the apple pie.

Of course I missed the time deadline for today's post, but I thought I'd post anyway, as the day isn't over yet.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll feel less emotional and we'll have a good time at my mother's house!

Surgery

So today after I went shopping for three hours for work (the grocery store was surprisingly NOT packed, thank Bob!), and spent another hour putting things away and getting ready to be out of the office for 2 days, I came home to find my husband sleeping. We had to leave for his ultrasound appointment; he'd been having bad stomach pains. Apparently he hadn't slept well last night (a common occurance) and got up and fed the cat and then ended up taking a nap for three hours!

At the ultrasound, the tech asked if he was feeling any pain in a specific spot, so I knew that there was something wrong and that she'd found it. I couldn't tell what she was pressing on, but I knew it was somewhere near the kidney since that's where she worked next.

We came home and chilled for a while and then Robin turned on his cell phone to make a phone call. He had a voicemail from his PCP (primary care physician) asking him to call her because the results from the ultrasound were in. Woah. Well then we definitely knew something was up.

It turns out that his gallbladder needs to be removed! Eep. I'm hoping that they had do the less invasive surgery, but looking it up, I think he might have to have the more intense surgery. That means longer recovery time. Neither of us gets sick/vacation time and this is the busiest time of year for both of us at work and personally. So we don't know what is going to happen. They're scheduling him for the next available appointment, so it's pretty important. I'm so greatful we have insurance, otherwise we just couldn't do it. I don't know how we're going to afford his time off from work; we're just recovering from him being out of work for several months while looking or a job after we moved here. I'm nervous, but glad that something is going to happen to make him feel better.

Shawl Update

I thought it was time to take a picture of my shawl. I've been working and working on it and I thought it would be good to do a little photo comparison!



This J. Knit's lace-a-licious is extremely elastic and full of dreamy, soft texture. I can't wait until it's time to block it.



When I had brought it into the yarn shop before, the one of the owners said it looked almost double-knit. But I don't know what that is. I assume it has something to do with how plush each stitch is.

Here's the post that has the photo from before. By looking at the pictures, it looks like I've done about 15 more rows on it since September. Each row takes about an hour, so I think that this is decent progress. Once I get started on some Christmas creating, I'm sure it'll get put aside for awhile, though.

Fingerless Gloves

Tonight I started looking at fingerless glove patterns for my friend witha skein of yarn I already have. I may pick up another skein of a different color and do a two-toned glove. We'll see...

Stress

Thank you to those who left me kind comments on my last post. I needed to hear that I had some people who didn't think I was crazy. :)

Tonight after work, I vegged out in front of the TV and then realized I should be working on something! So, I pulled out my shawl that I've been working on for forever and did about two rows of it while watching criminal justice programs. I don't feel like I'm ever going to finish it. I'm pretty sure that I'll spend the rest of my life crocheting it and it will never be big enough to wrap around me!

I should be starting on some Christmas present type things. Like the hand warmers I'm going to make one of my co-workers. And I might make my Meme a shawl (she's one of our secret santa picks!). But even though I have the yarn to make the gloves, I don't have a pattern idea. I should just look through Ravelry, but something keeps holding me back! Why? I don't know.

I wish I weren't such a procrastinator. I think that work and trying to find another car has been so stressful that I just can't put any energy into doing anything new. Last night I couldn't sleep. I felt my chest all tight and I coudln't get air or stay still because I just kept thinking about what I needed to get done today at work. I finally got up and filled a sheet of paper with everything that I needed to get done. And I actually did it! Except for some things relating the concerts. I decided that I could take ONE day off from that and just pick it up on Monday. I had major things happening tomorrow and next weekend that I hadn't started yet and needed to get cracking on. So I did those things. I finally got to sleep after making the list because I allowed it all to leave my head. I could allow myself to let it leave my head because I couldn't forget it since it was on paper.

Age Gap Realtionships

I just got into a big discusion over on Raverly about age gap relationships. I'm in one. A BIG one. And we work. I know not all of them do. But some do. And I hate that people think that none of them can and that they're all "sick" or "weird." It really hurts. And it brings up Years worth of hurt. It's not fair that people get to say that I'm sick and disgusting because my husband is older than me. We have a much more normal relationship than so many people that I see out in the world. We're healthy and happy with each other. Why should you get to pass judgment on that?

Would people make the same assumptions if I were dating a black man? An Asian man? Someone from Europe? Why because I'm married to an older man? What if I were gay? I know that some people don't think that that is morally right, but most people seem to be okay with it. So, what would the big deal be? Why is it a big deal when my husband is older?

Power imbalances happen in EVERY relationship! Not just age gap ones! People take advantage of other people in all kinds of relationships! Not just age gap ones! My husband is going to die before me! That could happen if he and I were the same age and he had a chronic illness! Or I could die because I could be hit by a bus! He's old. His lips are just as kissable as any other lips! They don't feel different! ARG.

Okay, I just needed to get that out. I wrote a HUGE post on Ravelry, but I needed to sound a little more rational there and not so crazy. It just pushes all my buttons and opens all my old wounds. They really haven't healed. They just haven't had salt rubbed in them in a while.

P P Party

Tonight after the show I went to a Pajamas and Pancake party with the cast! We had a blast, but now I must turn into bed. Work has been really draining. We're prepping for concerts which involves buying a tremedous quantity of beverages and food. $137.00 at BJ's for beverages and we're not done with shopping for those, yet!