ACaffeinatedMom

Ravenclaw third year!

2011-12-28T11:07:00.001-07:00

I am so excited, sorting was today in the HPKCHC and I am thrilled to be a Ravenclaw third year, as well as a professor in Detention this term! We have some wonderful badges to be won, so see you all in Detention!

Back to knitting Squares for KnitASquare!

Remember the children at Christmas

2011-12-20T11:10:00.001-07:00

As we put the finishing touches on our Christmas gifts and rush around doing last-minute holiday shopping, let's take a moment and remember the children in South Africa who won't be getting a visit from Santa, who won't be receiving a tree full of gifts. Many will be lucky to have another year of health and life. Help Knit A Square to put a blanket around a child and give the gift of love and warmth. Send a square, or send a donation. Every little bit helps. Http://www.knit-a-square.com.

Knitty knitty

2011-10-21T14:55:00.001-06:00

So I've started a project to knit a lot of hats for one of our kiddo's school groups (ambiguity intentional). I have almost four completed, and need to be done by the first week of December. Shouldn't be a problem, right? Well a bit of monotony does set in, and then there are the quickie things to make for Halloween, and finishing costumes, and getting started on Christmas gifts for the fam, and the "oooh shiny!" moments that come when you see a new yarn or the perfect pattern you didn't even know you were looking for until you saw it.... So no, it won't be a problem, but it may be a huge exercise in self-restraint! (she says as she gets back to the Tardis wristwarmers....)

Good bye Steve Jobs

2011-10-06T07:48:00.001-06:00

A technological icon has left this world, and we can never thank him enough for his brilliance. He revolutionized the way we communicate, and as an employee of a major telecom firm, I appreciate all he has done for us. Thanks for changing the world, Steve. Rest in peace.

Sandy's podcast on pwrnradio

2011-07-25T10:48:00.000-06:00

Here is an awesome podcast interview that Sandy gave -- have a listen! I just love listening to her compassion and drive!

Knit A Square - Knit A Squillion challenge!

2011-07-25T10:26:00.000-06:00

Help us warm even more AIDS orphans in South Africa, and join us in our Knit A Squillion challenge! The goal is to send 1.2 Million squares to South Africa by July 2012 - the number may seem daunting, but check out Sandy's math, and it's definitely doable!

Help keep the children warm - knit or crochet a square today! Be a part of the solution!

As Kalai posted --

Here is what you need to do:

First download this flyer: http://www.knit-a-square.com/knit-a-squillion.html which explains the challenge.

Then, we need every person connected with KasCare, knit-a-square, the Square Circle forum, Ravelry, Facebook ,Twitter, and who knows about our work with the orphaned and vulnerable children of South Africa, to:

1. To each knit or crochet 60 squares within the year ourselves
2. To Invite five other friends or family members to knit or crochet 25 squares
3. To ask each of those five people to invite one other person
4. To introduce the knit-a-square program to your local schools, churches and communities
5. To introduce the knit-a-square program to your local retirement village
6. To invite people in our small business, company or organisation to the knit-a-squillion
7. To start a knitting group
8. To write about knit-a-squillion on your favourite knitting and crochet blogs
9. To send the flyer you have downloaded to all your friends and family and ask them to pass it on to all their friends and family.
10. Add a link to the flyer on your personal facebook page

Let's start a viral movement!

Knit A Square presentation

2011-07-15T17:35:00.001-06:00

I just had a two-day training session on professional presentation skills for work, and the course culminated with us delivering a presentation on whatever topic we chose. I chose Knit-A-Square, and thought I did fairly well. It was over 34 minutes in length, way over what I thought it would be! The instructor recorded us and gave us the DVDs, but I'm not sure I want to watch myself, never mind post the video online.

Sharing the plight of the AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children, the hard work that Sandy McDonald, Ronda Lowry and their families all have done and continue to do, and the pictures of the sweet faces of the children, just helped re-affirm my commitment to KAS!

Please help keep an AIDS orphan warm - Knit A Square!

I love Ravelry!

2011-07-10T21:55:00.001-06:00

Can I just tell you how much I love Ravelry? There's a great article on it, and I have to agree totally.

http://www.slate.com/id/2298584/pagenum/all/#p2

Happy New Year 2011!

2011-01-02T14:17:00.001-07:00

Happy New Year everybody! It's been a crazy couple of months here, dealing with escalating anxiety and depression issues with one of our kiddos. But we're still here in one piece, and I know we are blessed with our family, our health and our love for each other.

It's hard not to go into the details, but for privacy's sake, I need to keep things vague. We are thankful for our close family and friends' prayers. Nuff said.

Knit A Square continues to grow and always needs funds from its volunteers to run and help the AIDS orphans. Won't you consider making a donation? Either one time or recurring, every penny helps, just as every square helps on the ground. Visit their website http://www.knit-a-square.com to click on a Paypal button and help us keep the children warm in South Africa.

Please also join the forum there and connect with the knitters and crocheters around the world who are making and sending squares to the poorest of the poor and helping, one blanket at a time. You truly meet angels there, quietly doing the Lord's work.

Count your blessings, be thankful for how much you truly have, and please help keep the AIDS orphans warm, however you can.

God bless us all!

Knit A Square at our school's holiday bazaar today

2010-12-04T07:43:00.000-07:00

My son and I are off to our school's holiday bazaar this morning, where we have a booth for our Square Circle Knitting & Crochet Club! We're selling mini KAS square ornaments for $2 to help raise money for our club's postage fees this year. Every ornament sold will have a Knit A Square business card attached. :)

We also have handouts - cards and rulers - to spread the word about Knit A Square!

We have a spot for folks to have a go - knit or crochet a row, and we'll be working on squares all day long as well.

Praying we spread the word to new folks who haven't yet heard about Knit A Square, and that they tell their friends, and so on! Wish us luck!

Ok I have to run now, finish my hair before it dries in this crazy condition - need to be presentable and proud in my KAS shirt, to represent! :-) Sorry for all the exclamations, but I'm very excited!!!

Mini KAS Square Ornaments to fund raise our postage

2010-11-13T14:59:00.002-07:00

Today I loaded my Mini KAS Square Ornament to Ravelry, my first pattern I've listed there! I'm hoping that other KASers can use it for fundraising, gift-giving, awareness-raising, all the good stuff that can help KAS!

I started some of our knitting club kids making them two weeks ago, and they are doing great. We're going to sell them for $2 each at the school's holiday bazaar in a few weeks. If we sell 30, we'll cover the cost to ship one box of 8" squares to South Africa. I've made a bunch, and Mrs. M, our teacher sponsor, is making some, too. We have 14 pre-orders from teachers - it's so exciting!

Christmas countdown 48 days!

2010-11-07T08:33:00.001-07:00

I just downloaded a Christmas countdown app, and there are 48 days left! 48 days to knit and crochet gifts, not to mention cleaning, decorating, shopping, baking, cooking - its overwhelming.

All I have to say is thank Heaven for FlyLady! Check out her Holiday Control Journal at http://www.flylady.org. After several years I'm embarrassingly still just a sporadic FlyBaby, but her routines work. I love the Thanksgiving menu mailer, too. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail, and that's the truth! Ok, so much for the FlyCommercial - just check it out, you'll be so glad you did, I promise!

Happy Sunday, hope you are enjoying the extra hour that comes with the time change. Me, not so much - I can never seem to sleep in when I could, so of course I was up and at 'em at 6-ish with our Little Lady this morning. No problem, we're enjoying a leisurely morning cuddling under afghans to stay warm in the chilly hours. Rugrats marathon via the Wii-flex it is! [Netflicks through the Wii]

I stabbed two fingers on my right hand at the Home Depot on Friday, love the nasty staples on the packaging. We had a broken water pipe in the playroom's baseboard heating (boiler system), and luckily the fourth plumber we called was able to see us that afternoon, and we had to break concrete to expose the pipe so he could replace it. My husband did an amazing job excavating it, and by late afternoon we had heat again on the main floor, and for way less money than we feared. Thank you, Jesus!!!

So I'm working on Christmas gifts that I have less than 48 days to complete and wrap, even fewer if I want to ship any out East, and my fingers are still pretty sore holding the crochet hook. I have squares to make for Knit A Square, and finger puppets and small dolls to knit for the AIDS orphans in South Africa as well. It'll all get done, I just need to skip some sleep, lol!

So there you have it - one over-stretched working mom trying to make some home made gifts full of love outside of working hours, balancing work and three kids and a husband, plus cub scouts, kempo karate, and possibly cheerleading again. Here's praying we survive the season without too many meltdowns and nervous breakdowns.

Happy Sunday!!!

Online amigurumi pattern generator

2010-10-05T22:11:00.001-06:00

Oh my I think I may have died and gone to heaven -- check this out:

http://www.knittink.com/amigurumi/

An amigurumi pattern generator. I'll have to be trying this out someday soon!

KAS summer square challenge results

2010-10-02T09:18:00.001-06:00

I realized I didn't post our summer results for knit a square - an amazing 20,000 squares! I was able to make my 200 square goal, now I just need to come up with the postage to send them to South Africa. I'm so proud of all the members who helped. What an awesome job!

crochet your own frog closure link

2010-09-28T21:21:00.001-06:00

Found a great tutorial today- how to crochet your own frog closure. I'm going to make some of these for sure!

http://crochetbyfaye.blogspot.com/2009/05/do-you-frog.html

2010-08-15T09:03:00.001-06:00

Tweeted by Sandy McDonald of Knit A Square this morning:
The big square blitz! http://flic.kr/p/8stSsU
Flickr • 8/15/10 8:43 AM

I'm up to 177 personally, trying to make 200 by end of August. If I do two a day I'll make it.

40,069 squares needed!

2010-08-01T09:05:00.001-06:00

15,831 squares made, 40,069 to go by end of Aug for http://www.knit-a-square.com Every 8" square helps! Knit or crochet one today!

I've made 158 so far, and my personal goal is to make 42 by end of August. I can do it if I hunker down and only spend free time on squares and no other projects.

Here we go!!! Strong to the finish!!!

152 squares for Knit A Square

2010-07-24T17:55:00.001-06:00

We have posted over 14,000 squares for Knit A Square so far, and I've made 152 that I've been saving up to ship and try to do one each day to meet the 55,900 squares need by end of August. The number is daunting, but I believe that God will make a way where there is no way, as a good friend once taught me.

http://www.knit-a-square.com

I'm also working on a wedding gift for my brother and his bride for their August wedding, so that's taking up some of my time outside of work, as well. I feel guilty not spending 100% of my free time on squares, but I have to get this gift done in time. I'll do a big reveal but after the wedding, just in case!

Seems I can't ever have just one or two projects going. Besides memorial squares I promised to make, I'm also making a Refreshing Afghan for Bopchie in lapghan size to bring to her during our road trip visit.

I've also started an attic24 Lucy-inspired granny stripes lapghan for us here, meaning probably just for me. But it will probably find a different home, seems they always do.

Then there's the cheerleader ami I started last year for M., washcloths I've planned to do, and Christmas gifts to start on. The navy and white scarves I have to redo and more to make so we all 5 have one for football games this fall. Oh and the Every Way Wrap I started for myself in Impeccable cadet blue.

Pretty sure there's more waiting patiently in bags in my office. I'm just a WIP factory! Better update my Ravelry notebook so I don't forget anything.

Oh yes, and my first pair of socks as well....

Mandela day today - what will YOU do??

2010-07-18T12:48:00.000-06:00

It's Mandela day today - "On Mandela Day people are called to devote just 67 minutes of their time to changing the world for the better, in a small gesture of solidarity with humanity, and in a small step towards a continuous, global movement for good. "

I'm supporting http://www.knit-a-square.com/ by making more squares to keep AIDS orphans warm in South Africa.

What will YOU do today?? http://www.nelsonmandela.org/

Gramma Cookie's Solid Granny Square for KAS

2010-06-27T16:21:00.007-06:00

My father's mother was known as Gramma Cookie, and she passed away about 12 years ago. She was a nurse, and she also sewed and crocheted. She wasn't around when Knit A Square was formed, but I know that she would have sent a square or two to South Africa to help the AIDS orphans and vulnerable children there.

This granny square design is in her honor, with the sample square done in her favorite color, purple. I'll add a step by step photo tutorial later. This one works up really quickly - you can bang out a few of these a day, if you have the time.

Love you and miss you, Gramma Cookie! XXXOOO

Gramma Cookie's Solid Granny Square

See the free pattern at the KnitASquare forum.

You can personalize the pattern by alternating stripes of color around, or even using different variegated colors to make it super colorful. You could also switch up the stitches each round by switching between dc, hdc, and sc. I would not make any stitches longer than dc, to keep it tight and warm for Knit A Square.

Square 122 done

2010-06-26T09:14:00.001-06:00

Just finished my square #122. we're doing an Avatar the Last Airbender-a-thon this weekend, getting ready for the new movie on Fri.

Tues night M and I will do a Twilight-a-thon and I'm rereading the saga books for the Eclipse premiere on Weds. Seeing it on XD, at least twice on Weds. Yes, I'm taking a vacation day for Twi-Day :)

Can I ever do one thing at a time?! Multi-tasking is in my nature I guess. Watching Avatar, reading Twilight, knitting squares, and yes now I'm blogging lol!

Happy Saturday!

Squares progress 9,636

2010-06-25T21:02:00.001-06:00

The men and women of KAS are amazing - they've reported 9,636 squares made so far towards our 55,900 goal by end of August. That's 364 until we hit 10,000 - so exciting!

Whether we hit the goal or not, there will be a lot of blankets wrapped around such needy children, and we can all be proud of being part of that.

I'm working on #122 now, and hope to make more over the weekend. Go KASers! :)

Squares of hope

2010-06-21T23:10:00.001-06:00

We are over 8,000 squares towards our 55,900 square goal for Knit a Square. I have 119 and another on my needles now. I can't seem to get them done fast enough.

The lovely folk in my ravelry bakers dozen group are sending 8" squares for KAS instead of the 12" we send to the member of the month - I figured that's at least 12 more for the children in South Africa!

Is is totally pathetic that I can't wait for vacation the end of July, so I can knit squares around the clock?!

Squares and socks

2010-06-13T22:29:00.001-06:00

I volunteered to help keep the KAS tally for Sandy's call for 55,900 squares Jun thru Aug. It's so exciting to see the numbers grow day by day! All the KASers are just amazing in their response to the call. Over 3,600 so far!

My shoulder was hurting from crocheting too many squares recently, so I took a bit of a break and started my first pair of socks. Well, started again - I wasn't in love with the free pattern from the store, so I've been in search of one to use, frogging the first cuff several times.

I settled on the Universal toe-up sock formula by Amy Swenson on Knitty.com, and ended up restarting the toe twice. Sigh... First it didn't look right, then it was too loose. I mismeasured my swatch gauge. Hey, at least I made a swatch!

So far I have 3" done! It's self striping Patons Kroy socks jacquards in fern rose jacquard colorway. 75% wool/25% nylon. Making 1" cuff anklets so I can wear them in the warmer weather. Who knows, if I can get the hang of it, I may be making everyone socks for Christmas. ;)

Oh and I made two squares today as well, feeling guilty that I only have 113 done so far lol!

KAS: We desperately need just squares . . .

2010-06-01T09:49:00.000-06:00

The call has gone out, KAS needs 55,900 squares over the next three months, and we can do it!

See Sandy's post detailing where the blankets are committed to going. We are all energized and already at it, and I'm helping to keep the tally.

Let's go KAS!

KAS business/calling card

2010-05-19T12:53:00.000-06:00

Ok folks, we have a new resource available -- a printable business/calling card! Sandy tweaked my idea and has incorporated the KASCare logo, and it's in hi-def images and just beautiful. I've uploaded an image of it on my page.

She will post it on the main KAS page under resources, but in the meantime, if you would like a copy of the .pdf, please just email me here and I will forward it out to you. It is two cards across by five cards down, so 10 in all on the page, with cutting lines so you don't need to have business card stock to print and use them. They are beautiful in color, but equally lovely in black and white, if you don't have a color printer. Or if you do, you could print just one page, and bring it to a local copy shop to print color copies and maybe save some of your color print ink.

Print up a bunch and bring them to your local yarn shops, drop them around town during your errand runs, hand them out to anyone you meet, and especially keep a stash in your knitting/crochet bag so when people ask what you are making as you happily knit/crochet squares, you can hand them a card and they can come check it out! :-)

Women of Faith - Denver CO

2010-05-17T11:52:00.002-06:00

Tunisian Squares

2010-05-10T19:44:00.001-06:00

I'm working some tunisian squares now, and doing my own simple alphabet pattern, 8" square.

Yarn: worsted
Hook: size K

Chain 29; first stitch is not counted, and last stitch is TKS to maintain smooth edges.
Rows 1-4: TPS across and return. (I prefer Arnie & Kim's Purl)
Rows 5-25: 4 TPS, TKS across (work pattern), last 4 stitches TPS, very last stitch TKS.
Rows 26-28: TPS across and return.
Row 29: Pick up stitch as if to purl, YO and slip stitch, across to end. FO, leaving a 36" tail.

So far I have "A" done. I'm thinking I'll do some A, B, C, that they can pepper in among other squares when they sew blankets together. I'll post the finished (and tested!) patterns on the KAS Forum.

April challenge update

2010-04-18T20:01:00.001-06:00

13 squares and 3 hats done so far. I took some time to work on a Lucy-inspired color stripe crochet bag for S.'s art teacher, and a dishcloth and dishtowel that I ran out of cotton on. Back to the challenge!

5/10/10: ETA I finished strong with 32 squares and 5 hats, so exceeded my goals by a wee two squares. Yay! Not sure I'll be able to duplicate the effort any time soon, but one never knows. :-)

txtngcanwait

2010-04-07T16:50:00.003-06:00

April KAS Challenge - two down, and a finger sweater

2010-04-07T11:28:00.001-06:00

Ok, two squares down for the April KAS challenge -- a couple nice pinky squares -- and 28 squares/5 hats to go. The one on the left is a Cat Tracks square by Drew Emborsky, The Crochet Dude. The one on the right is a plain-jane hdc square.

I also whipped up a quick finger sweater (thanks to Yarn Pixie's pattern!), as some of my Red Heart Super Saver is creating a bit of yarn burn on my left index finger while crocheting...

Knit A Square April Challenge!

2010-04-06T10:29:00.002-06:00

The Knit A Square April challenge is here -- to challenge yourself and set a goal and work in a race against yourself. Just coming off of the Ravelympics (and taking a bit of a break from marathon crocheting hats and squares), I'm getting back into challenge mode, and I'm afraid I'm already behind! :-( That's ok, I've pledged 30 squares, one for each day in April, and 5 hats, one for each week in April. I can tell now that it's going to be more crochet than knitted squares, as I can do those much faster. I'll be crocheting and knitting all weekend, I can tell.

I'm just wrapping up a Sheldon Turtle for KJ, so am taking turns between finishing her shell, and working on squares. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!

On another KAS note, we started up our third and final term of the Square Circle knitting and crochet club at the school last week. We have 17 children signed up -- half of them are returning again and have been with us from our first and second 7-week sessions! It's so heartening to watch them learn and grow, and watch their skills develop and especially their beaming faces as they turn in their finished squares. Even the teachers and parents are making squares, which is just amazing. We have a wonderful community, and we're so blessed to have them involved with KAS.

Have a happy Tuesday!!! :-)

Twi-madness

2010-03-10T17:42:00.001-07:00

Well it's starting again. That certain bit of Twi-madness that comes over you in the final weeks before a movie premiere or DVD release.

For those of us with our heads in the sand (or without teenage girls at home), the Twilight Saga New Moon DVD release is coming - at 12:01 AM on March 20, to be exact. Yes, I've pre-ordered my copy. Yes, I'll buy more than one - different collector's editions, you know.

Like I txtd our teenager today -- U. Me. Way too many tweens up after bedtime. 10pm fri 3/19 release party. B there r b square.

Yes I'm a TwiMom, and proud of it!!!

Knitting Anywhere for Knit A Square!

2010-03-09T09:02:00.000-07:00

Had to share - I submitted a "knitting anywhere" picture on the KnitASquare site and it's been posted :0)

Ravelympics casting on

2010-02-15T17:47:00.001-07:00

Well silly me, I managed to inconvenience our 15-yr-old enough to take my picture during the Opening Ceremonies/Mass Cast on, but neglected to post it! Getting old really stinks, I'll tell you. Anyhoo, here I am casting on the red/white/blue/TeamUSA hat for KAS, with my constant companion on my lap, our poochita Kari, as well as my overloaded knitting bag and my ready-and-waiting stash (also viewable behind my chair). Notice the new Knit-A-Square shirt that arrived on Thursday, just in time.

Go Team KAS! :-)

Molly Weasley housecoat sweater

2010-02-13T11:48:00.001-07:00

I finished my first sweater -- admittedly, it's an acquired taste, inspired by Molly Weasley's housecoat that she wears in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. You can see her in it when Ron, Fred, and George rescue Harry and break him out of his room at Privet Drive in the beginning of the movie. I've seen some patterns for the sleeves online, and was searching for a thrift store robe that I could attach them to if I ever made them, and then I ran across a pattern at ravelry.com for this sweater by Shellie Cain, and knew this was the one.

Of course, I'm forbidden to wear it outside of our home, per my husband and eldest daughter. ;-) The sleeves are actually a bit drafty around the forearm, due to the open crochetwork. I may have to make a second version with an inner sleeve attached... hmmmm....

Anyway, here it is, in all its Molly Weasley glory! :-)

Ravelympics finished items

2010-02-13T11:39:00.002-07:00

Well, I finished two double-double crocheted hats during the opening ceremonies, and then I started a go-over. That one may take a while!

I have to say, I LOVE THIS HAT PATTERN by Kathy North!!! It's very quick and easy, and oh so warm. The variations are endless -- you can change the size by increasing or decreasing, or changing hook size. You can change the color pattern by using solids, or only one color, or variegated or ombre colorways by themselves or with solids. The choices are endless. Thank you, Kathy North!!!

Red, white, and blue in honor of team USA

This one is made with Red Heart Mexicana colorway, plus red and Windsor blue as well.

Ravelympics/KASlympics ravatars for TeamKAS

2010-02-10T08:45:00.003-07:00

Here are the ravatars for our Ravelympics/KASlympics TeamKas members, courtesy of my teenage daughter M.:

Alison:

bellalou:

Dawn:

Diane:

Jeni:

Jeanne:

EricaTheGreat:

Erica:

Sue:

squareaday:

Rona:

Kyla:

jow1306:

SassySean:

smbarr:

ramblinroo:

RhondaH:

Squares Squares and More Squares

2010-02-07T12:56:00.000-07:00

The December challenge at Knit-A-Square was to make red squares, in remembrance of World AIDS Day. I pledged five, and here they are:

Saint Theresa’s Prayer

2010-01-18T10:22:00.001-07:00

I was reading through Kathi Lipp's blog today, and she has this posted on December 31, 2009. It was just what I needed, of course -- funny how the Lord brings you just what you need, exactly when you need it, if you'll only open your eyes/ears/heart to it! :-) I printed it out and hung it next to my monitor, where I'll see it every day.

Saint Theresa's Prayer

May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be confident knowing you are a child of God.

Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

.It is there for each and every one of us.

Ravelympics

2010-01-13T14:00:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! I just came across the Ravelympics group over on ravelry.com, where fingers will be flying during the winter olympics starting in 30 days – anyone want to get a Team KAS together, so we can join hands (and hooks and needles) around the world making squares while watching the olympics? :-) I've posted this to the KAS group on ravelry, and the KAS forums as well.

Mini KAS Square Ornament - Free Pattern

2009-12-15T09:37:00.005-07:00

Mini KAS Square Ornament - Free Pattern

(pattern only, tutorial below)

US size 8 knitting needles

US size G crochet hook

Worsted weight yarn (used Red Heart Super Saver, it holds its shape well)

Cast on 10

Row 1 through 4: Knit

Row 5: K2, P6, K2

Row 6: Knit

Row 7: K2, P6, K2

Row 8: Knit

Row 9: K2, P6, K2

Row 10: Knit

Row 11: K2, P6, K2

Row 12 through 15: Knit

Row 16: Bind off but leave last loop on the needle. Slip loop from needle to crochet hook.

Chain 21.

Form a loop with the chain, and slip stitch into the base of the chain to close the loop.

Finish off, cut yarn, weave in ends.

Enjoy!

***Mini KAS Square Ornament TUTORIAL***

US size 8 knitting needles
US size G crochet hook
Worsted weight yarn (used Red Heart Super Saver, it holds its shape well)

Cast on 10

Row 1 through 4: Knit

Row 5: K2, P6, K2
Row 6: Knit
Row 7: K2, P6, K2
Row 8: Knit
Row 9: K2, P6, K2
Row 10: Knit
Row 11: K2, P6, K2

Row 12 through 15: Knit

Bind off but leave last loop on needle.

Slip loop from needle to crochet hook.

Chain 21.
Form a loop with the chain, and slip stitch into the base of the chain to close the loop.

Finish off, cut yarn, weave in ends.

Enjoy!

http://knit-a-square.com to help surround AIDS orphans in southern Africa with love!

My Ravelry bunnies

2009-11-13T14:51:00.001-07:00

I'm excited that Ravelry featured a photo of some amigurumi I made, a bunny wedding cake topper that I did for a friend's wedding this summer. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/amigurumi-bunny-wedding-cake-topper Mine's at the top, by rondaletts. Had to share :-)

Our Square Circle has begun!

2009-11-07T14:37:00.001-07:00

Well, we started our Square Circle club at the elementary school a few weeks ago, and even though our second meeting was snowed out, the kids are doing great. We have 13 that signed up, and we are teaching them to crochet first. A few are struggling a bit, and they just may be our instinctual knitters. :-) So happy that they'll be making squares to send to Knit A Square, and helping to make a difference, one square at a time.

If you haven't checked it out yet, please do -- http://www.knit-a-square.com

Have a lovely weekend, wherever you are! :-)

Balloon Festival

2009-09-07T09:21:00.001-06:00

We got up this morning at o-dark-thirty and picked up M.'s boyfriend to go to the Colorado Balloon Festival. They hold it every Labor Day weekend, and we try to go every year. It was a nice, brisk morning, about 53 degrees, and the skies were crystal clear and the winds were nowhere to be seen -- perfect weather for a balloon launch! Of course, right after the first wave, both K. and S. had to go to the bathroom, and since there were no portapotties to be found (thanks City budget cuts!), we headed off to the car, and made our way home. Just as well, Kari was waiting for us patiently in her crate. It was a nice morning - here are a few of the pics, I'll load them up on our shutterfly family site.

I know I take the same pictures of the same balloons every year, but they're just so amazingly colorful and beautiful, I just can't help myself! :-)

KNIT A SQUARE for AIDS orphans in South Africa!!!

2009-08-14T10:31:00.001-06:00

There are an estimated 1.4 million orphans in South Africa, many of them as a result of losing their parents to HIV AIDS. The number is growing - over 500 children a day become orphans. This is a terrible and mostly unrecognised human tragedy.

Knit-a-square.com has been recently set up to ask the knitters and crocheters of the world to send an 8 x 8" (20 x 20cm) square or more to specified charities in South Africa, and soon Zimbabwe, where they will be made up into blankets for these children.

The orphans live in terrible poverty. They need love, shelter, food, education and warmth. Many charities are working hard to provide the first four. The knitters and crocheters of the world can provide the last.

For more information on Knit-a-Square, check out the Official Site www.knit-a-square.com

Japanese Amigurumi Books

2009-08-05T08:31:00.000-06:00

Ok so have I told you that I am absolutely smitten with Japanese amigurumi patterns?! I had first bought Amigurumi Collection 6 from Saucy Louise in Okinawa, and as a birthday present to myself, I've bought five more (Dad's birthday money helped to fund my latest shipment!). The diagrams are easy enough to follow, once you understand the Japanese writing -- had to google that one, lol. I would love to have a translation of all the step-by-step instructions that go along with. I was looking at Japanese dictionaries at Borders yesterday, and they are quite thick and pricey, maybe next time...

So far, I've made a ladybug, dinosaur, and squirrel from #6, and K. wanted a purple chihuahua out of Ami Ami Dogs 2, so I finished that one last week.

The legs are jointed, so the pup can stand, sit, or lie down, and K. just loves that.

The squirrel is our dog Kari's. :-)

My goal is to make one of everything in each of the Japanese books, we'll see if I can pull that one off, Julie/Julia Project-style! In between everything else I've got going, of course...

Knitting and Crocheting for Charity

2009-07-31T11:25:00.001-06:00

I have been blessed with so much in my lifetime. Sure my family struggles sometimes like everyone else does, but overall, we have so much more than many others do in the world. I'm working on some charity projects, and I'm hoping to encourage others to do so, as well. If everyone gives a little of their time and talent, the world would be a better place. Come on, we all have yarns we bought and didn't end up using, wasting away in our stashes -- they could be used to make preemie blankets for newborns in the NICU in the hospitals, or hats for the needy who will really need them this winter, or simple knit or crochet squares that will be made into blankets to warm the abandoned children in Africa.

I've found Stitches from the Heart and His Hands Ministry thanks to the generous folks at the Lion Brand Yarn website, charity search page. While looking for some knit and crochet hat patterns, I found Knit-A-Square. Coincidence? I think not! God works in mysterious ways. We just need to listen to Him.

Check them out, or Google for other charities that call to you, search your heart, and take the time to make a small difference. Even one person can help change the world! :-)

Waiting impatiently for Julie & Julia!

2009-07-29T08:32:00.000-06:00

I'm almost done reading Julie & Julia, the book by Julie Powell that's based on her blog. I'm exhausted in the morning from staying up late in the night pressing on! I admire her guts and tenacity to cook her way through Mastering the Art of French Cooking. It's something I'd never have the nerve to do myself. I thought for a moment about doing something similar with Martha Stewart's Cookies, and then Martha Stewart's Cupcakes came in the mail from The Good Cook and omigosh, there are recipes in there to die for! Maybe I'll get up the nerve someday. We'll definitely have to try some of them out, as M. has to bake every week for the football player she'll be assigned - another one to fatten up this year, lol.

I cannot WAIT for this movie to come out on August 7th! I know it won't be a literal translation from the book and blog, but it will be close. Close enough to smell the eau de potage parmentier wafting from the movie screen.... yum!!! Love you, Julie!

KARI OUR NEW TOY FOX TERRIER!

2009-06-23T07:14:00.001-06:00

Our Father's Day gift this year was a 9 month old toy fox terrier named Kari. She's a bundle of energy and very good with our three kiddos.

Yes, I've already started crocheting for her - working on a bed for her crate, as well as a sweater for the chilly mornings. I also have patterns for bones and toys that I want to make for her.

The kids are already planning Halloween costumes, lol!

Cakes for tea time

2009-05-17T14:27:00.001-06:00

I saw LionBrandYarn's pattern for frosted donuts a couple of months ago, and knew I had to make some for KJ's tea set. She also wanted me to make a piece of cake, and when I was googling for a pattern, I came across these patterns for mini cake sachets - so I made one, added a bottom, stuffed it, and voila -- a two-tiered pink icing topped cake. Of course, KJ wants all the cakes on the site, so Mom's back to work on those... I'm still looking for a good pattern to crochet a slice of cake, but I might end up giving it a go on my own... Yummy!

Lucy's crochet bags

2009-05-17T14:21:00.000-06:00

One of my very favorite blogs to visit is Lucy's at Attic24. I love her love of color, and she has amazing patterns that she has posted for us crochet-aholics. I had to make her crochet bag for myself, and our youngest KJ wanted one in pink and purple (have I told you they are her very favorite colors yet?!), so here are both.

Some schmuzzies are peeking out of KJ's bag, those little devils ;-)

Mew

2009-05-17T14:17:00.000-06:00

Our son S. just turned 9 years old, and his gift choice was for Mom to make him Mew. Of course, he wants me to make him EVERY Pokemon, but I asked him to prioritize please! Thanks so much to Biz for sharing her pattern!

Gotta make 'em all!

Hello Kitty!

2009-05-17T14:10:00.000-06:00

Here's my first Hello Kitty for little KJ! I love the blog patterns posted by Armina, I'll be making probably every one she has on her blog.

Dinosaur

2009-05-17T14:07:00.001-06:00

Made this dinosaur for my little guy S. He was the second pattern I tried from the Amigurumi vol. 6 book I bought online from saucylouise over in Japan, when I bought my Hamanaka Raku Raku hooks. He's larger than I thought he would be, but S. loves him!

Widget

2009-05-17T14:03:00.000-06:00

I finished Widget at the end of April, she's more an ami pattern than Wubbzy was. I've started Walden, but have put him on the back burner for some other projects that have come up. My dh laughs at me and mostly rolls his eyes, because I can't seem to just work on one thing at a time, I always seem to have several going at the same time!

Grumpies

2009-04-18T15:28:00.001-06:00

A grumpie for my grumpy gal M...

Free pattern at suncatchereyes.com

Creepy Cute Crochet - robot

2009-04-18T15:19:00.000-06:00

After the Twi-DVD release night, I went back to Borders and picked up the few ami books they had there. One was Creepy Cute Crochet by Christen Haden. The figures are cute, though my heads turn out way smaller than the photos -- I must be doing something wrong. Well, little lady K. wanted Mommy to make her the robot, so here he is. I did fudge the head and widened it a bit, and it fit in the helmet way better.

Knock off imitation marshmallows!

2009-04-18T15:10:00.001-06:00

Ok so I did get to make some, but not as many as I had hoped for the kiddos. Three chicks and six bunnies aren't too bad -- I sent one to my Executive Director as an Easter treat for her, lol. Chick pattern and bunny pattern. Thanks for posting. Make bunches for next Easter! They are quick, fun and oh so yummy! Maybe I'll get to make the felted nest next year, one for K. and one for myself -- I'll have to hide mine away from her, of course! :-)

Easter amis

2009-04-18T14:27:00.001-06:00

I wanted to make special Easter amis for each of our kiddos, I had grand visions of making lots and lots of eggs, chicks, knock off imitation marshmallow chicks and bunnies -- and it just never happened. :-( Maybe I should start now, for next year -- after I get through this year's birthday and Christmas presents first! A hooker's job is never done, I'll tell ya! lol

Ok, K. got the traditional Easter bunny ami, made with Hobby Lobby's "I Love This Yarn!" so it's nice and soft. Here's the pattern - thanks to Britainy at craftymummy2two for sharing! Her arms and legs were tough to do, being so thin, but at least I didn't have to stuff them! I'm happy how she turned out, she's very cute and K. loves her.

S. wanted a blue bird when he saw the yellow one I had made, so here he is, perched on the Death Star shelf in his room. Someday, I'll finish the trench lines on the Death Star and post those pics - what I really did this Spring break! But that's another story.... And the pattern is here. Thanks to Hannah for sharing it!

For M., being a teenager, I wanted to make her something more edgy, so found this pattern for an Urbis - love it! Of course, now I have to do a pink and purple one for K.! It's on my list!!! Here's the pattern, and thanks to funkyflower for sharing it!

I might have to make her a cheerleader Urbis -- I'm still in search of the perfect pattern to make a cheer critter in her school colors...

Amigurumi World - eggs and chicks

2009-04-18T14:24:00.000-06:00

For Easter, I made some eggs and chicks from "Amigurumi World," as well as some knock off imitation marshmallow chicks and bunnies (see separate post above), and some plain eggs. K. appropriated them all, of course!

Amigurumi World = 2 new amis

2009-04-18T14:21:00.001-06:00

I made two more amis from "Amigurumi World - Seriously Cute Ami," pink bunny and a purple turtle for K. Did I mention that purple is her favorite color? She still wants me to make all the rest from that book, and oh yes all the animals from the other three books I just picked up at Borders, so she will be keeping me busy for just a bit!

All My Ami - to date

2009-03-24T11:06:00.001-06:00

A friend asked how many ami I've done so far, and I had trouble trying to count them in my head, so here they are all pictured here, minus the 7 Cub Scout Bear heads in progress, the 5 schmuzzies for Scotty, and my large project that I can't post yet, but safe to say it's almost 60, in less than 2 months. Yes, I'm ami-sessed! :-)

In the immortal words of Jack Skellington, "Confound it all, I love it though!"

Seriously Cute Ami

2009-03-24T11:04:00.001-06:00

At the Twilight DVD release party, M. and I were waiting impatienly and reading some books while we were there eavesdropping on the Twilight quiz that the other revelers were participating in. I found the book "Seriously Cute Amigurumi," and had to buy it. The turtle is for our son S., and the mouse and baby lion are for K. She has since requested that I make all of them, the babies and mommies and daddies too. I'm still trying to get my Cub Scout Bears done for our May meeting, so we're in negotiations!

Gnomes

2009-03-24T11:02:00.001-06:00

Mr. and Mrs. Gnome are done, thanks to the pattern I bought at Roxycraft.com. Mine are taller and not as squat as the sample photo that comes with the pattern, not sure why. They're cute though, and of course little K. has claimed them, and I'll need to make myself another pair!

Bella has hair!

2009-03-24T10:59:00.000-06:00

So our daughter M. and I went to the Borders DVD release party for Twilight -- and that inspired me to finally try putting hair on Bella - it's a bit thin, though I used 2 skeins of floss, it's long so I will probably redo it and use 4 skeins next time. Also crocheted her a head band, as she wore one in most scenes to keep from looking like cousin It with the extra hairpiece she had.

The Executor

2009-03-14T13:01:00.001-06:00

Ok, the Pack's pinewood derby race was today, so now I can reveal The Car! Our son S. designed it after Darth Vader's Star Dreadnought Destroyer - The Executor - as seen in Star Wars Episodes V and VI, and combined with a speed swoop pinewood derby car design. It weighed in at 5.0 ounces, and consistently ran in speeds in the 2.3 second range. He won 1st place in our Bear Den out of 9 cars racing, and 7th out of the top 15 of the Pack (top 3 from each Den raced in the finals). Congratulations to S., and thank Heaven it's DONE until next year!

Leprechaun Hat

2009-03-14T12:51:00.001-06:00

Here are the leprechaun hats I crocheted for myself and for our youngest, I also made one for our son. Modified Debbie's pattern a little, as the last row on the crown wasn't working right for me, and I think they turned out cute! I've since added some more shamrocks to mine - the more, the merrier!

Stitches From the Heart

2009-03-06T19:33:00.001-07:00

Thanks to the LionBrand email newsletter sent out today, I'm a proud new member of Stitches From the Heart, an organization created to provide knit, quilted and crochet hats, booties, blankets and sweaters for babies through toddlers, to hospitals around the country. Check out their website, and see how you can help, too! It's a very worthy cause. Babies have always been near and dear to my heart.

I'm taking a break from the ami's to make some preemie baby hats and booties, once I finish my cub scout bears, that is!

Edward Cullen

2009-03-06T19:17:00.000-07:00

"Look after my heart, I've left it with you."

Ok, I will be the first to admit that I am a hopeless Twimom. I had to make an Edward, and although I want to add more detail to his pea coat and style his hair a bit more, he turned out ok, thanks to the human patterns at GeekCentralStation.

Yes, Bella is next -- I finally finished my first large project-which-shall-be-nameless (for now), and hope to get Bella started this weekend. Then of course I'll have to make Alice and Jasper, Rosalie and Emmett, Esme and Carlisle, not to mention Jacob and the other werewolves, and can't forget Charlie and Renee... I hope to make a set for our teenager, as she's as Twicrazy as I am (though she won't admit it). We are counting down the days until the DVD release, so we can pick up our reserve copies! :-)

We're also working on our car for our Cub Scout Pack's pinewood derby, so I have to step away from my crochet for a bit and finish up the car with our son. Weigh-in is Thursday. I'll post pictures after the race next Saturday.

3/14/09 Update: Bella is made, she's just bald right now until I sew her hair on...

Master Yoda

2009-03-06T19:09:00.000-07:00

"Judge me by my size, do you? And well you should not, for my ally is the Force."

Master Yoda was next, again thanks to Sami at her GeekCentralStation blog. I still have to make his cane out of sculpey, but it's on my list of things to do!

I admit, I bought her patterns for the Rebel heroes, as well as the pirate. They're on my list of things to do! I have to make a set of Rebels for myself, as well as for our son, since we're going to redecorate his room, Star Wars-style, complete with the Death Star all over his wall. Will post pics of that, when we get it going!

Latte

2009-03-06T18:58:00.000-07:00

I found this pattern for a latte at Harugurumi's blog, and I had to make myself one! Of course, our youngest kiddo has since claimed it, and it's now a cup of hot cocoa. Yes, she's pestering me to make some mini marshmallows to put on top. :-)

Blue Totoro

2009-03-01T14:58:00.000-07:00

When I found the totoro patterns, this one caught my son's eye first, and I told him I'd have to wait a bit to get it started, as it's so large. I actually got him done in one day, pretty much one sitting over the weekend. I just get so engrossed in them, I want to push on to get them done, no matter how sore my right hand and shoulder get!

He lives in his room now along with white totoro, pikachu, and torchic, far away from little sister's greedy hands. Thanks again to Heavens Hellcat for posting the patterns! Our little guy loves them!

Grizzella the Bear

2009-03-01T14:57:00.000-07:00

Here is a bear I made for my husband. Her name is Grizzella, and she's dressed in our winter guard's uniform this year. Used the same free amigurumi bear pattern at LionBrand.com, that I'm using for the Cub Scout Bears.

Rosie

2009-03-01T14:55:00.000-07:00

Ok so our youngest saw the Fellowship figures, and she wanted one too, so I made her Sam's wife Rosie, dressed in purple, which is our little angel's favorite color. The hair isn't exactly as in the movie, but I couldn't leave her bald! :-)

Lord of the Rings

2009-03-01T10:48:00.001-07:00

I found free patterns for The Lord of the Rings figures by Sami Resendes at her blog, GeekCentralStation, and so started the Fellowship of the Ring figures. Unfortunately, my other projects have delayed my finishing them so far -- I have nine little baldies waiting for hair, clothes, and accessories! As soon as my other project are done, I can get back to them! I'll post more individual pictures at my flickr site, which right now is having technical difficulties...

Schmuzzies

2009-03-01T10:32:00.000-07:00

Our youngest loves "The Upside Down Show" on Nick, which only runs at 9pm and 9:30pm here in Colorado, so we've recorded all the shows thanks to Comcast's DVDR box. They have these little dust-bunny-like creatures called schmuzzies. I made these four for our little angel, modifying a dust bunny pattern at LionBrand.com. She loves them!

Cub Scout Bears

2009-03-01T10:11:00.000-07:00

So then I got the brilliant idea to make bears for our Cub Scout Bear den scouts -- we have 12 scouts, so that will be 12 for them, then one for me of course, and one for my husband who's an assistant den leader, and then one for our other new assistant den leader, and then our youngest angel asked for one.... so that's at least 16... and 5 are done so far! They've been put on hold until I finish up my other project, which should be done soon. The Cub Scout Bears need to be done by first Monday in May, which shouldn't be a problem... (famous last words, I know!) Used the free pattern for amigurumi bear at LionBrand.com.

Torchic

2009-03-01T10:03:00.000-07:00

I made Torchic for our son, the pokemon master. Thanks Biz for posting the pattern! He's requested that I make Charizard next, so it's on the list of amis to do after my current major project! More on that in a bit...

Jack Skellington

2009-03-01T09:56:00.001-07:00

Jack Skellington was for our youngest daughter - she is a major Jack fan. I found the pattern and she insisted that I make it for her right away. Thanks to April Draven for posting the pattern!

Pikachu

2009-02-27T14:06:00.000-07:00

Pikachu was next, for my son -- he's a total Pokemon freak. Thank you Bizzy Crochet for creating and sharing the pattern!

My First Amigurumi

2009-02-27T14:00:00.001-07:00

My first amigurumi - panda bear and totoro. First I made the panda bear from a free pattern on LionBrand.com, and then I found a pattern for the totoro online here by Heavens Hellcat, so I made the small white totoro for my son, and then little sister wanted one in purple, so that one had to be next.

Welcome!

2009-02-23T07:45:00.001-07:00

Hello and welcome to my blog! Figured I'd create one to post pictures of my amigurumi, a little hobby I've become totally obsessed with for the past month and a half or so.

For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, amigurumi is the Japanese art of crocheting little figures, usually animals and such. You can google it. :-)

Enjoy!