My experience - I can stay quiet no longer.

First, if you are offended by this, I do not apologize.  This is my experience and I will not apologize for it.  You do not have to read it.  

Twenty years ago, I was pregnant with my son.  I was unemployed, living in a home of a friend who was kind to help me out.  I had no insurance, but was on state run Medicaid.   I had no idea what I was going to do about my life.  I was in the middle of a divorce and losing custody of my daughter.  I was scared.

I filled out all the paperwork to have a tubal ligation when I gave birth to my son, because I knew I could not afford to care for me, let alone the child I was carrying, and I had lost my daughter.  I just didn't want to risk having to give up another child -- even if it was what was best for them.

Before I gave birth to my son, Roe v. Wade was overturned.  I lived in Louisiana at the time, and they immediately passed a state law banning abortions -- but added all kinds of contraception stuff to the law.

I gave birth extremely early Saturday morning at LSU Medical Center in Shreveport, LA.  Because I had my child on a weekend, and tubal ligations were considered "elective" surgery, I was put on a two-year waiting list for this surgery.  I was devestated.

I went to the Health Department for my check up, and they said they could offer me contraception if I knew what I wanted, but they could not discuss it with me -- the new law had dramatically affected how they operated.   I am allergic to the pill, and my partner and the father of my son was allergic to latex.   I didn't know if there was another option, so I left with no hope.

Eventually, my son's dad and I married (for financial and insurance reasons) and I was able to get the surgery.

WARNING!   Below is MY Opinion based upon my experience.

Whether my lifestyle was right or wrong isn't the problem.  A two-year waiting list for a surgery to prevent more children specific for women on state aid.   How does this HELP our country?   A health department that cannot explain contraception -- that works specifically with our nation's poorest population -- how does this HELP our country?

Personal beliefs, personal attitudes, religious beliefs and different moralities are exactly that PERSONAL.  It is not the place of our government to legislate morality.  In the 1890s it was common for women to have 10 or more babies, and common to die giving birth.  These women worked in factories beside their children.   They were treated inhumanely.  It was illegal to discuss birth control.   It was illegal for women to have a right to say I don't want any more children.   This affected every single woman that did not have the wealth to ignore the government's stand.   The wealthy women went to Europe and chose what to do with their own bodies.   The poor had no choice.

Why is there a desire of some in this country to go back to that way of life??

In Memory of Roberta Ruth Gill

I recently had a request my from my Aunt Dorothy.  Could I make some dishcloths like her mother, my Grandmother, Roberta Gill used to make?  She is down to her last one, and really likes them.  Of course, my grandmother taught me how to crochet, and I love my aunt very much, so of course I said yes.  I put all other work aside, and purchased some Perle Cotton #3 and some Perle Cotton #5.  

I searched for patterns and found very few of them that are dishcloths made from Perle Cotton.   Most are now made using Crafter's Cotton -- Handicrafter Cotton, Peaches and Cream, etc.  So, I made one similar to my grandmother's pattern, and I made one in Granny square fashion, but I really wanted to do something fun!

So, I started just designing my own patterns.  I am not sure if anyone else will like them, or even if my Aunt will like them, but I am glad that I can be a little creative.   I have decided to offer all of these dishcloth patterns for free....  So, as soon as each has been tested, they will be added here!

Back to my hook~

Reading Crochet Charts by Catarina

Hi!

My name is Catarina and today will go thru our first lesson on how to read Crochet Charts.

I don’t know what is the easiest way to start this as I have never been taught this. I just got used to reading them on my own, as most of the crochet patterns in Portuguese magazine come with a chart.

But let’s start with the symbols. Every chart comes with a legend so you know what it represents, but they are kind of universal and here they are:

Crochet Chart Symbols

Sometimes you may find a chart online that doesn’t have a legend or that the symbols are a bit different from the list above. Well that is a problem that arises when the pattern does not include it's own legend. Sometimes you can read them; sometimes you can’t. So far it has just happened for me once that I couldn’t follow a pattern in chart form.

Please don’t get overwhelmed with all these symbols, you don’t really need to know them by heart, as you can always go back to your legend and see what they mean.

So let’s do a pattern reading from a simple chart, this time from a granny square, as I think almost everyone know how to do them or at least understands their construction.

So, as you can see this chart has a legend, and the stitches used for this pattern are chain, double crochet and slip stitch.

In this case we know that granny square starts from middle, but sometimes you don’t know how the pattern you are going to do is suppose to work out, but there are some small things that will help you. Some patterns have a small arrow indicating the pattern first stitch, and other’s have numbers in rows (like this one), indicating what is that row so you just have to look for row 1. But, mainly you just have to look at the symbols – here you can see were the top of the double crochet is, so its easy to see what direction the work is done.

Let’s start then, with the reading of the chart. We start in middle, and...

Start with: 4 ch joined with sl st.

Row 1 is written in black: ch 5, *dc 3, ch 2* 3 times, dc 2 and join with sl st in the 3^rd chain from beginning of the row

Row 2 (in red): ch 5, *dc 3, ch1, dc 3, ch 2* 3 times, dc 2 and join with sl st in the 3^rd chain from beginning of the row.

So carry on by yourself, leave a comment if you have some doubt and see you next week for lesson # 2.

Hugs,

Catarina

Catarina Yarn Craft

Catarina Yarn Craft

Eternity Cowl

Every once in awhile, people come along and really bring me down.  They are all me, me, me.  I spoke to a wise 90 year old lady from Louisiana last year, and she said that when was nursing the nurses all called those folks "Mimi", because they only think, "me, me, me".  I had gotten real frustrated with the Mimi's in my world and really struggled to see the light of the world -- the love that lifts everyone up.
Then I met an amazing woman who still today inspires me all the time.  Through her, I came to know the greatest group of ladies I do believe I have ever been blessed to know.... Thank you Jam!!!!   Their love and support for each other inspired this design.   Therefore, I have decided that the only right way to handle this pattern is to offer the light that inspired it to the world.   This pattern will ALWAYS be free for anyone to use.

May the light of love be brighter in everyone's life!

Special note to the group:  You know who you are.  Thank you for bringing the light of love back into my life!

Eternity cowl

Materials:

Any Sport or DK weight yarn

H ( 5 mm) crochet hook

Yarn needle for weaving in ends

Abbreviations:

Ch chain

sl st slip stitch

sc single crochet

hdc hdc

dc double crochet

Special stitches

Solomon's Knot (SK)

*Draw up a loop on the hook (approximately 1 inch), ch 1, sc in loop drawn up. Graphic instructions can be found at http://creations-by-valorie.blogspot.com/2012/01/solomons-knot.html

Note: different patterns use different sizes of loops; this pattern specifically uses loops that are approximately 1 inch.

{I found it useful to use an S crochet hook or Large Knitting needle for setting the size of the loop for consistency until I got used to the sizing of the loops, but consistency is not required for a lovely looking scarf.}

SK, SK loop: 2 SK stitches worked together in a row
*Draw up a loop on the hook (approximately 1 inch), ch 1, sc in loop drawn up. Draw up a loop on the hook (approximately 1 inch), ch 1, sc in loop drawn up.

Ch 108. Join with sl stitch (you can ensure a ½ twist to make it a mobius for one look, or leave it straight for another).
Row 1: ch1, sc in joining ch, *sc in next ch, repeat around (108 sc normal /216 sc mobius) join with sl st.

Row 2: ch 1 sc in joining stitch, SK, SK, skip 3 stitch, sc in next sc, repeat around and join with sl in beg sc.

Row 3: sl st up to the top of the [SK,SK] loop (you will need 3 maybe 4 slip stitches to get through the long loop of the SK, ch1, sc in same stitch, SK, SK, sc in next sc in the middle of the next [SK, SK] loop, repeat around (54 SK, SK loops) join with sl in beg sc

Row 4 - _: repeat Row 3 until item is the size you want (I really liked 5 rows, but make it like YOU like it)!

Notes:  You can use any size hook you wish, it will just change the size.   You can also add stitches by adding multiples of 4 to make it long.   Another variation would be to skip the sc initial row; however, I would recommend understanding the stitch pattern and familiarity before trying this.  

©2012 Creations By Valorie

You have permission to sell Any item made using this pattern. (It would be nice to site where you got

the pattern).  You do not have permission to sell this pattern as your own.  Please link to this pattern in order to share it electronically.

Solomon's Knot

I have heard so many people say that they could never get the Solomon's knot (SK) to work.   I have been asked for a photo explanation so folks could match up their work to see if they were doing it right.   So, this is my attempt to help folks learn how to do Solomon's Knot!

These images are from a recent design, so i will be showing two Solomon's knots together in series (I call it a SK, SK loop).

Starting point (just completed a sc)

Pull up a loop (a long loop)

yarn over

pull up a loop

Insert hook into long loop (two strands behind the hook, one strand on top of hook)

yarn over

Pull up a loop (should have two loops on hook)

 yarn over

Pull up a loop (this completes a Solomon's Knot (SK))

Just completing 1st Solomons Knot, we pull up another long loop

yarn over

pull up a loop 

Insert hook in large loop (again two strands under hook, 1 strand on top of hook)

yarn over

Pull up a loop (resulting in two loops on hook)

yarn over

pull up a loop (You have now completed a second Solomon's knot)

Insert hook into sc in the middle of  the next SK,SK loop

yarn over

pull up a loop

yarn over

pull up a loop (you are back where you started at a completed sc)

This photo just shows how the single crochet stitches are going into the middle of the SK,SK loop and what an SK, SK loop looks like.

Welcome to my world of insanity.

Today was a bit crazy - Ripped out the hood for a hooded cowl twice.  And managed to get two new patterns posted in the store.  I think I have bitten off more than this girl can handle.

I am organizing a CAL -- that has been voted to be postponed *or at least I think so*.  I have a contest going on at my Facebook page, Creations by Valorie; and I am organizing a charity auction for Cranio Care Bears on I Love to Crochet, and I am organizing a drive for hats, blankets and toys for Cranio Care Bears.  Tomorrow is a shopping spree.  I have to finish this hooded scarf and get as much as I can done on the newest mobius wrap pattern.

I also signed up at  http://www.sparkpeople.com  to try to lose 50+ pounds by Dec 31st (what was I thinking?)

In addition to all this, I have a house that needs cleaned from top to bottom, and I need to find a paying job that can support us and my husband may lose his job any day.

I am not sure I am UP to the challenges I put in front of myself right now.   Well back to the hooded cowl, and hopefully I won't have to frog it again!

Hexagon Crochet Along CAL

We will be soon starting this CAL.

This link has the pattern and instructions: http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2008/11/hexagon-crochet.html

You can use any colors and any worsted weight yarn you want, but I would not recommend mixing weights of yarns.

I will most likely be using Vanna's Choice (only because I have so much of it).

I need feedback, one hexagon each week, or one step each week???  What would you prefer?   Or should I offer both as options?

This will be postponed, but not for long.   February 15th we will start this CAL.  So mark your calendars and budget your yarn!