Snowflake Necklace

 Snowflake Necklace

 

Pattern by Mum Made Me

PDF with tutorial pics available as free download on Ravelry

Materials

- <1 skein crochet thread (I used Aunt Lydia's "denim" quick crochet)

-  1.75mm (US 4, UK 2) steel crochet hook

- beads (optional)

Stitches used (US terminology used)

Ch - chain

Ss - slip stitch

Sc - single crochet

Dc - double crochet

Tc - triple crochet

Qc - quadruple crochet

Please note: If you are using beads they will need to be put on the thread in the opposite order you want them added to the necklace (diagram in PDF) before making your slip knot and beginning chain, sliding them down the thread as you work, until needed.  As you come to the ch 5 sp that will have the bead (indicated with an *), proceed as follows in place of ch 5: ch 2. Bring bead up thread to crochet hook. Ch 3. Continue with pattern. 

Ch 61

Row 1 - Skip 2 ch. Sc in next 2. DC in next 2. Tc in next 2. Leave remaining ch unworked. Center row created

Row 2 - Turn. Ch 6. Skip 2 tc and 1st dc. Sc in 2nd dc. Ch 4. Skip 2 sc. Sc in tip of center row. Ch 5. Sc in same st. Ch 4. Skip 2 sc. Sc in 1st dc. Ch 4

Row 3 - Skip dc, skip 2 tc, skip 2 ch. Turn. Join with ss to 3rd ch. (sc, ch 1, 2 dc, ch 5*, 2 dc, ch 1, sc) in each ch sp around.  *(or ch 2, bring up bead, ch 3) in all but last ch 5 sp as desired
Row 4 - Turn. Ch 17. Skip 2 ch. Sc in next 2. Dc in next 2. Tc in next 2. Qc in next 2. Leave remaining ch unworked. Center row created

Row 5 - Turn. Ch 6. Skip 2 qc. Sc in 1st tc. Ch 4. Skip tc and dc. Sc in 2nd dc. Ch 4. Skip 2 sc. Sc in tip of center row. Ch 5. Sc in same st. Ch 4. Skip 2 sc. Sc in 1st dc. Ch 4. Skip dc and tc. Sc in 2nd tc. Ch 4

Row 6 - Turn. Join with ss to 3rd ch. (sc, ch 1, 2 dc, ch 2, join with ss to last ch 5 sp of previous motif, ch 2, 2 dc, ch 1, sc) in 1st ch 4 sp. (sc, ch 1, 2 dc, ch 5*, 2 dc, ch 1, sc) in each remaining ch sp around. *(or ch 2, bring up bead, ch 3) in all but first and last ch 5 sp as desired

Row 7 - Turn. Ch 15. Repeat rnd 1

Row 8 - Repeat row 2

Row 9 - Repeat row 6, using (ch 2, bring up bead, ch 3) to add beads in all but first ch 5 sp as desired Ch 50. Turn. Ss across to beginning ch. Fasten off and sew in ends

If you make this project and are on Ravelry please go to the following link http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/snowflake-necklace, click "hook it"at the top right of the page, and add your own pictures as you finish

 

This pattern is for personal use only and is not to be sold or redistributed. You are welcome to sell 

items made from this pattern, but do not claim it as your own design. Please credit http://www.facebook.com/mummademe and  http://www.ravelry.com/stores/mum­made­me in any publications ©MumMadeMe2012

Getting back into the swing of things

With all of the hiccups life has thrown at me lately, I have not crocheted anything in quite a while.  The other day, in one of the crochet groups I'm in, a pattern designer needed a new pattern tested.  I really miss crocheting, so I thought I'd give it a go!  So here it is - the first thing I've crocheted in a long time - the Sunny Days skirt, by Lily Girl Creations.  The testers were given free reign to do any colour combinations we wanted, so this is what I came up with.  Eventually I'll be finding a better ribbon that matches the flowers, but this will do for now 

 

 

This pattern is available on Ravelry for $4.99 and comes with instructions for ages 6 months - 10 years (although, some friends and I really wish there was an adult pattern too!).  It can be worked up in a couple of days, less if you just rally through it.  What's more, the designer Sarah was very helpful and quick to respond with any questions, which I greatly appreciated!  All in all, it was a great testing experience, and a nice way to get back into the swing of things.  Hopefully this will just be the first of many projects to come!



Nana Potatoes

I first tried this about a year ago when I went to my boyfriend's grandparents' house for dinner.  I loved it from bite one!!  I asked Grandma P where she got the recipe and she said that a friend had given it to her.  Of course, I asked if I could have a copy!  And now I'd like to share it with you.  And just for the record, this goes really well with Guess & By Gosh!

Nana Potatoes

from Grandma P's friend

You will need:

2 lbs frozen hash browns

Salt and pepper, to taste
1x10 oz. can Cream of Chicken soup
1/2 c. chopped onion
2 c. grated cheese
8 oz. sour cream (about 1 small container)
2 c. crushed Corn Flakes or crumbs (I even used crushed Cheerios!)
1/2 c. butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350° c.  Combine first 6 ingredients in a bowl and mix well.  Place mixture in a 9x13 baking dish that has been sprayed with Pam (or lightly greased).  Mix Corn Flakes with melted butter and spread on top of potato mixture.  Bake for 45 mins. 

This recipe freezes well before or after baking.  Just remember, if freezing before baking, you need to work quickly so the hash browns don't thaw too much.  If cooking from frozen cook at 350°c for 1 hour.





With Love - A "granny heart" graph (by Anna) converted to a written pattern

Hello all!  A while ago I saw a really cool looking chart being discussed in one of the crochet groups I'm in.  A couple of people weren't quite sure how to work it, and my curiosity was piqued.  I had actually never followed a chart before but for some reason, I just had to try this one. 

My "With Love" granny heart

It.  Was.  Great.  I'm in love with charts now!  But it got me thinking that maybe there are others who are missing out on some great projects, simply because they don't know how to read a chart.  I decided to find the creator of this particular chart and ask if I could convert it into a written pattern.

Guess what!  She said yes  :-D  *insert happy dance*  If this works out right, I might try to make chart conversions a regular feature on here  :-D  That's if I can find more awesome charts that don't already have written instructions to go with it....

Now on to the pattern.  The original chart by Anna can be found on her blog (in Hungarian with a few English translations) or on Ravelry.  If you make this I'd love to see it!  Go "hook it" on Ravelry, or post a link to your pic on the comments here.  I love your chart, Anna, and thank you so much for allowing me to do this!

The chart calls for 16 g cotton yarn and a 3.5 mm hook, but it works well with almost any yarn and corresponding hook size.  So - without further ado - I present:

With Love

a Granny Heart pattern

 



Terms used (American terminology)
Yo - yarn over
Ch - chain
Ss - slip stitch
Sc - single crochet (insert hook, yo, pull up loop, yo, pull through both loops)
Dc - double crochet (yo, insert hook, yo, pull up loop, {yo, pull through 2 loops} twice)
Dc2tog - double crochet 2 together (yo, insert hook, yo, pull up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops, yo, insert hook into next st, yo, pull up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops, yo, pull through remaining 3 loops)
ch 1 sp - the space created by a chain 1 stitch
3 dc sp - the space in between 2 sets of 3 dc

Main square
Ch 3. Ss to beg ch to form ring (or use magic circle)
Rnd 1 - Ch 2 (counts as dc now and throughout pattern). 2 dc in ring. Ch 1. {3 dc in ring. Ch 1} 3 times. Ss to beg ch 2 to join. (12 dc)
Rnd 2 - Ch 2. 2 dc in last ch 1 sp. {(3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch 1 sp.}3 times. (3 dc, ch 1) in same ch 1 sp as beg ch 2.  Ss to beg ch 2 to join (24 dc)
Rnd 3 - Ch 2. 2 dc in last ch 1 sp.  3 dc in next 3 dc sp. {(3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch 1 sp. 3 dc in next 3 dc sp}3 times, (3 dc, ch 1) in same ch 1 sp as beg ch 2. Ss to beg ch 2 to join (36 dc) 
Rnd 4 - Ch 2. 2 dc in last ch 1 sp.  3 dc in each 3 dc sp across. {(3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch 1 sp. 3 dc in each 3 dc sp across}3 times, (3 dc, ch 1) in same ch 1 sp as beg ch 2. Ss to beg ch 2 to join (48 dc)
Rnd 5 - Ch 2. 2 dc in last ch 1 sp.  3 dc in each 3 dc sp across. {(3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch 1 sp. 3 dc in each 3 dc sp across}3 times, (3 dc, ch 1) in same ch 1 sp as beg ch 2. Ss to beg ch 2 to join (60 dc)
Rnd 6 - Ch 2. 2 dc in last ch 1 sp.  3 dc in each 3 dc sp across. {(3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch 1 sp. 3 dc in each 3 dc sp across}3 times, (3 dc, ch 1) in same ch 1 sp as beg ch 2. Ss to beg ch 2 to join (72 dc)

The rest of the pattern is worked in rows until written otherwise

 



Top left "bump"
Row 1 - Ch 2. 3 dc in next 3 dc sp and each 3 dc sp across.  Dc in ch 1 sp. (17 dc)
Row 2 - Ch 2. Turn. 2 dc in same sp. 3 dc in each 3 dc sp across, including last sp between 3 dc and beg ch 2  (18 dc)
Row 3 - Ch 2. 3 dc in next 3 dc sp and each 3 dc sp across. Dc in last dc (17 dc)
Row 4 - Ch 2. 3 dc in next 3 dc sp and each 3 dc sp across. Dc in last dc (14 dc)
Row 5 - Ch 2. 3 dc in next 3 dc sp and each 3 dc sp across. Dc in last dc (11 dc)
Row 6 - Ch 2. 3 dc in next 3 dc sp and each 3 dc sp across. Dc in last dc. Fasten off & cut (8 dc)

Top right "bump"
With RS facing, and Top left "bump" positioned at top left, join yarn with ss to right-most ch 1 sp of main square.  Repeat instructions for Top left "bump".  DO NOT CUT YARN

Boarder (worked in rounds)
Rnd 1 - Ch 1. Sc evenly around, working 2 sc when going down the side of a dc or ch 2, and work 2 sc in ch 1 sp at bottom of main square. Ss to ch 1 to join (97 sc)
Rnd 2 - working in between sts around - Ch 2. Dc in next 3. 2 dc in next. {dc in next 2. 2 dc in next} 3 times. Dc in next 3. Dc2tog. Dc in next 3. 2 dc in next. {dc in next 2. 2 dc in next} 3 times. Dc in next 7. 2 dc in next. {dc in next 2. 2 dc in next} 3 times. Dc in next 17. (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in bottom 2 sc sp. Dc in next 17. 2 dc in next. {dc in next 2. 2 dc in next} 3 times. Dc in next 3. Ss to beg ch 2 to join.  Fasten off and sew in ends (117 dc)

Have fun, and HAPPY HOOKING

Baby Steps - Going back to work after a year...

As some of you may know, I've been a SAHM (stay-at-home-mom) for the last year or so.  As those same people probably know, the last year hasn't really been the best (at ALL - for info, see a previous post: An Update and A Thank You) and we're working through a pretty rough patch right now.  No work, no car, no money, no life, staying at my dad's house (thank you so much, daddy!), haven't been seeing my daughter very much (at ALL - and that's a WHOLE 'nother story!)...you get the idea.  Well, finally, the first step to smoothing things out is here!  :-D

A couple of days ago (Tuesday) I had an interview at 7-11.  The manager interviewing me (who's name is Lisa) was really nice, told me I had a very good resume (which made me feel SO awesome to hear!) and I just thought it generally went really well.  She said that she'd be running a security check that day, making up her mind on who to hire that night, and calling the next day to let me know.  Let me tell you, I didn't leave the phone's side at all yesterday (Wednesday), waiting to hear if I'd gotten the job or not!  The phone call didn't come yesterday, so I was a little worried, thinking maybe I hadn't been hired...and then this morning....RING, RING!  It was Lisa!

I'm so happy to say that my security check was perfect and I got the job!  I go in next Tuesday (the 16th) for paperwork and computer stuff  :-D  That being said, I'd like to stop for a sec to send out a HUGE thank you to my Aunty Jo for telling me about the position and for putting in a good word for me.  I'm sure she's a big part of why I got it.  Thank You Aunty!  <3 

It's only part time, but part time is better than no time.  That just gives me more incentive to bust my butt off and earn full time hours!  And to be honest - I actually kinda like working in a convenience store, so I don't think that will be too hard.  So now, I wait for Tuesday to come.  While I still have a lot of other bugs to work out and changes to make in my life, as they said in What About Bob? (a movie and quote that my Granny and I just LOVE) - Baby Steps!

Here's to the next baby step, and all those to follow

"Guess & By Gosh" Porkchops

While looking through cookbooks at my dad's house, I came across one from the local volunteer fire department.  In it I found a recipe of my Nana's (who passed away when I was 5, but I still have fond memories of her) called "Guess & By Gosh".  It's very simple, but very tastey - so I wanted to share with you all

Guess & By Gosh

by Vivian Whitehead

You will need:

4 med. sized pork chops

2x10 oz. cans Cream of Chicken soup

1/4 c. chopped onion

1/4 tsp. poultry seasoning

1/2 tsp. chili powder

1x10 oz. can water

Salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 350° c.  Brown pork chops in frying pan.  Mix together all remaining ingredients in a bowl.  Place pork chops in casserole dish.  Pour mixture over meat and bake for 30-45 mins. Serve over rice (or with Nana Potatoes!)