Well it’s been a hot minute since I posted. However I am not letting the grass grow under my feet over here! Haha!
I finished two hats….
Custom order #1.Custom order #2.
I finished this cowl and am working on a tutorial for it.
The yarn for the cowl is a lovely cotton from Made In America Yarns. One of their lines called Florafil. It’s so light and fluffy for a bulky cotton! Love it.
The Be “Squared “ CAL is gaining speed! We have 11 squares under our belt now!
And here’s a sneak peak at my first go at designing a shawl!
It should be going out to testers soon! So exciting!!
It’s cloudy and misty again today in Texas. Duke and I traipsed off on our walk anyway. He found himself in a predicament! Caught in the netting off the hay bales! He is so silly sometimes 😂🤣😂
So recently on a trip to Colorado to help my Dad, I got sick. I am always tired and have limited energy. Of course I know that being in my mid fifties is totally part of that!
I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia shortly after I returned to work, after my oldest daughter was born. Now there was not a lot of research back then. Mostly we were all told it was in our head.
Dad had a procedure on a Friday and I was in the emergency room by that Saturday. Of course because it all started with high fever, tightness in my chest and uncontrollable shakes, I was a Covid risk. I was given a thorough work over with chest X-ray and c t scan and blood work and the dreaded stick up my nose to my brain. Thankfully negative !
Some of the blood work though got me thinking it’s time to lose some weight gained after quitting smoking, and being home after retiring from the beauty shop.
I met a lady in Joann’s who had a sweet little service dog with her. We stroke up a conversation about how one obtains a service dog and what qualifies. She mentioned fibromyalgia. Well, I thought I knew quite a bit about it. However there has been a great deal more research done. There is now a test which is quite expensive. Dolores, the lady in Joann’s, mentioned a book. I ordered it from Amazon and it was waiting for me when I got home.
I have started the protocol set out by this doctor. It has been a difficult week, with severe headaches and nausea and vomiting. I believe the worst was from coming off of caffeine and sugar. I am feeling better today and am getting the hang of how to cook differently.
Spinach and feta omelette with avocado and strawberries.Beef stroganoff and salad with creamy homemade dressing.
I am struggling to get in enough water. And have to remember to eat several times a day to satisfy my blood sugar. But I have already lost 8 pounds! So not a bad start 🙂
I will have more about my journey. And I welcome any others who are fibro-warriors to leave me a comment and let me know what works for you!
So I had a great visit with the neighbor while visiting my Dad here in Colorado. She is so good to him by always sending over treats and cooked meals.
I know she is a crafter but this is the first time we have gotten to sit and work on something.
She has a blanket her grandmother made all the kids for their weddings. She is wanting to make one for her daughter as well. Of course, it is a vintage pattern.
So we got started with her reading the stitches she saw in the finished piece, and me trying to reproduce it.
Turns out we did a really good job! She found the closet pattern to it online and is now making some as well!
The closet pattern we could find is a Vintage Rose Afghan by McCalls circa 1978 or so.
I plan to do one of these as well, when my wip pile and Christmas projects are done!
Approx. 74 ounces of #4 Worsted Weight Yarn H or 5mm size crochet hook
Approx. finished size is 59′ x 75′Gauge: 25 Stitches = 7 inches in Single Crochet
You choose your colors! This can be a totally scrappy project, and would be so fun that way!
Here are the written instructions for the first two squares of the CAL. Please check back often for more details! I hop you enjoy this CAL and
I can’t wait to see what everyone makes!
Square One: Single Crochet: Insert hook into stitch, draw up a loop, yarn over hook and pull through both hoops on the hook.
Chain 26 loosely, Single Crochet in the 2nd Chain from the hook, and all the way across. Ch 1 and Turn.
Single Crochet all the way across each row, doing a chain 1 and turn at the end of each row.
Work until piece measures, 7 inches by 7 inches.
Here you can continue with the same color or change to a different color, or use the color you will be joining with, it’s your choice!
***This is a finishing row and will be repeated on every square.
Be sure the right side of the work is facing you.
3 single crochet in corner, 25 single crochet across side ,3 single crochet in corner, repeat around square, with a total of 112 single crochet around.
Right Handed
Left Handed
Square Two: Half Double Crochet: Yarn over hook, insert hook into stitch, draw up a loop, yarn over, pull through all three loops on the hook.
Chain 27 loosely, Half Double Crochet in 3rd chain from the hook and in each chain across. Chain 2 and turn.
Half Double Crochet in each half double crochet across.
Repeat this row until piece measures 7 inches by 7 inches.
I have started my secret knitting projects for Christmas. Yes I should I should have started sooner, but….
It took me a bit to find and get the yarn for them with the slower mail chain and less people in working in the warehouses. I am using bulky weight acrylic for these, to make them easy to care for.
This is also a slower process for me because I struggle with reading and understanding the patterns. I have had dyslexia my whole life. I don’t worry about it or talk about it much. It’s just something I have compensated for in my own ways.
When I was little my mom read with me every night no matter what. She was relentless! She and my Daddy moved once when I was younger so I could go to a school with a new reading program. It was a self motivated system with a type of phonics. I loved being able to pick the next story!
Now I have to read the pattern aloud to my husband who, even though he doesn’t know “the lingo” is very patient, he will look at me and say “ that’s not what it says “. That’s usually where it will stick and I can go on with the project
I will post more pictures of my secret knitting after Christmas 🎄
