More Finished Items (With where to find patterns)

So I have been busy. I have finished 2 pairs of fingerless mitts that can be found at: http://creativeyarn.blogspot.com/2009/11/diagonal-eyelet-hand-warmers-free.html really nice pattern. Very easy and quick.

They turned out nice. One set is mine (mine, mine, mine). Anyone who knows me, knows that I don't have very much of things that I have made. I give away most of the things that I make. I finished the 2nd generation of the Secret Message Scarf. It is longer and lays a little flatter and the raised areas are more noticeable. It is very easy and I enjoyed making it.

I made a catnip mouse. I plan on making more....I have one note for the pattern: lock cats up when you bring out the catnip! My cats could not wait for me to finish it! The pattern can be found at: http://media.wendyknits.net/knit/mousepat4.htm

I also finished another Triangular Prayer shawl....it can be found at: http://www.debbiemacomber.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=nnp&pageID=196 It is a very simple pattern and can be worked on anywhere. I have already given it away to someone who needed it more than I can ever express. My friend is modeling it.

I am working on a "Athena Smoke Ring" and a "Sydney Stashbusting Snake" and many other things. So we will see what is finished next. Have a good weekend!

Started Toe up Socks

I noticed something about myself. While I enjoy being around friends, I like small get togethers. More because I can hear what people are saying. I am hearing impaired and I have never really liked big parties with lots of noise. I like the smaller get togethers. As such, I enjoy being by myself. I love to read and knit and crochet and cross stitch. I have things sitting out that I am working on and want to finish. Going to have to see what I get finished next, especially since I started working on a toe up sock. I started with a sock for my middle daughter. More because she is easier to get to come and let me fit her. I think once I have hers finished the other two will be easier to fit. We will see. Middle DD is so excited about the socks she is funny. My husband loves her enthusiasm and said, "Mom is making me love socks!"

Secret Message Scarf......I Love You Version 2

Secret Message Scarf….I Love You
Cast on 20
Row Pattern
1-10. Knit all rows
11. K5, P10, K5
12. Knit across
13–20. Repeat 11 & 12
21. K8, P4, K8
22. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
23. K8, P4, K8
24. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
25. K across
26. K5, P10, K5
27. K across
28. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
29. K8, P4, P8
30. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
31. K8, P4, P8
32. K5, P10, K5
33. K across
34. K5, P10, K5
35. K across
36. K5, P10, K5
37. K across
38. K5, P10, K5
39. K across
40. K5, P10, K5
41. K across
42. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
43. K8, P4, K8
44. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
45. K8, P4, K8
46. K5, P10, K5
47. K across
48. K5, P10, K5
49. K8, P4, K8
50. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
51. K8, P4, K8
52. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
53. K8, P4, K8
54. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
55. K across
56. K5, P10, K5
57. K across
58. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
59. K8, P4, K8
60. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
61. K8, P4, K8
62. K5, P10, K5
63. K across
64. K5, P10, K5
65. K8, P4, K8
66. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
67. K8, P4, K8
68. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
69. K across
70. K5, P10, K5
71. K across
72. K5, P10, K5
73. K across
74. K5, P10, K5
75. K8, P4, K8
76. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
77. K8, P4, K8
78. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
79. K8, P4, K8
80. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
81. K across
82. K5, P10, K5
83. K across
84. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
85. K8, P4, K8
86. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
87. K8, P4, K8
88. K5, p3, k4, p3, k5
89. K8, p4, k8
90. K5, p10, k5
91. K across
92. K5, p10, k5
93. K8, p4, k8
94. K5, p3, k4, p3, k5
95. K8, P4, K8
96. K5, p3, k4, p3, k5
97. K8, p4, k8
98. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
99. K across
100. K5, P10, K5
101. K across
102. K5, P10, K5
103. K across
104. K5, P10, K5
105. K8, p4, k8
106. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
107. K8, P4, K8
108. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
109. K across
110. K5, P10, K5
111. K across
112. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
113. K8, P4, K8
114. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
115. K8, P4, K8
116. K5, p10, k5
117. K across
118. K5, p10, k5
119. K8, P4, K8
120. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
121. K8, P4, K8
122. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
123. K across
124. K5, P10, K5
125. K across
126. K5, p3, k4, p3, k5
127. K8, p4, k8
128. K5, p3, k4, p3, k5
129. K8, p4, k8
130. K5, p3, k4, p3, k5
131. K8, p4, k8
132. K5, P10, K5
133. K across
134. K5, p10, k5
135. K across
136. K5, p10, k5
137. K across
138. K5, p3, k4, p3, k5
139. K8, P4, k8
140. K5, p3, k4, p3, k5
141. K8, p4, k8
142. K5, P10, K5
143. K across
144. K5, P10, K5
145. K across
146. K5, p10, k5
147. K across
148. K5, P10, K5
149. K across
150. K5, p10, K5
151. K across
152. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
153. K8, P4, K8
154. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
155. K8, P4, K8
156. K5, P3, K4, P3, K5
157. K8, P4, K8
158. K5, p10, K5
159. K across
160. K5, P10, K5
161. K8, P4, K8
162. K5, p3, k4, p3, k5
163. K8, p4, k8
164. k5, p3, k4, p3, k5
165. K across
166. K5, p10, k5
167. K across
168. K5, p3, k4, p3, k5
169. K8, p4, k8
170. k5, p3, k4, p3, k5
171. K8, p4, k8
172. k5, p3, k4, p3, k5
173. k8, p4, k8
174. k5, p10, k5
175. K across
176. k5, p10, k5
177. K8, p4, k8
178. k5, p3, k4, p3, k5
179. k8, p4, k8
180. k5, p3, k4, p3, k5
181. k8, p4, k8
182. k5, p3, k4, p3, k5
183. K across
184. K5, p10, k5
185. K across
186. k5, p10, k5
187. K across
188. k5, p10, k5
189. k8, p4, k8
190. k5, p3, k4, p3, k5
191. K8, p4, k8
192. K5, p3, k4, p3, k5
193. k8, p4, k8
194. k5, p3, k4, p3, k5
195. K across
196. k5, p10, k5
197. K across
198. k5, p3, k4, p3, k5
199. k8, p4, k8
200. k5, p3, k4, p3, k5
201. k8, p4, k8
202. k5, p3, k4, p3, k5
203. k8, p4, k8
204. K5, p10, k5
205. K across
206. k5, p10, k5
207. k8, p4, k8
208. k5, p3, k4, p3, k5
209. k8, p4, k8
210. k4, p3, k4, p3, k5
211. k8, p4, k8
212. k4, p3, k4, p3, k5
213. K across
214. k5, p10, k5
215. K across
216. K5, p10, k5
217. K across
218. K5, p10, k5
219. K8, p4, k8
220. k5, p3, k4, p3, k5
221. K8, p4, k8
222. k5, p3, k4, p3, k5
223. K across
224. K5, p10, k5
225. K across
226. K5, p3, k4, p3, k5
227. K8, p4, k8
228. K5, p3, k4, p3, k5
229. K8, p4, k8
230. K5, p10, k5
231. K across
232. K5, p10, k5
233. K8, p4, k8
234. K5, p3, k4, p3, k5
235. k8, p4, k8
236. k5, p3, k4, p3, k5
237. k8, p4, k8
238. k5, p3, k4, p3, 5
239. K across
240. K5, p10, k5
241. K across
242. K5, p10, k5
243. K across
244. K5, p10, k5
245. K across
246. K5, p10, k5
247. K across
248-257. Knit all rows.
Bind Off.

This should be longer.

Copyright....Mary Hofacre And Caren Everett....If you want to sell this we only ask that you give us credit and give a donation to a Food Pantry.

Finished the Scarf, but not sure about the results...

Okay, so I finished all the written parts of the pattern. But it comes up short. 23 inches only....too short.

I am thinking the ends could be stitched together to make a cowl for little girls and guys. Safe for them to wear on the school playground and they get the secret message to wear.

The other solutions....knit the pattern 2 or 3 more times....this would make it 46 inches on the second go around, a little longer and still nice, or 69 on the third go around. Could try something else. Will play with some colors also.

Maybe making the message section larger....Going back to drawing board. But I am going to make it longer and see what happens. Still give the pattern a shot and let me know what you think.

Errata on Secret Message Scarf

So I have made some corrections and I am not that far into the knitting.

My first change is that the cast on is 20 and you change all k3 to k5 and all k7 to k9.

The second change is that Row 49-52.

Row 49 repeats row 33
Row 50 repeats row 32
Row 51 repeats row 33
Row 52 repeats row 32.

As I find more I will continue to post more corrections.

Also, you can stay with co 16 if you are using larger needles and yarn.

I am presently using US size 8 needles with worsted weight yarn.

Secret Message Scarf - I Love You

My friend Caren Everett and I were once approached by a man who told us that during wartime, knitters would put secret messages in their knitting with Morse Code. We thought that would be interesting. To make a scarf or an afghan or squares that could be something like a dishcloth or put together to make something else. So we started looking at quotes and other things and decided to start with a scarf with "I Love You" in Morse Code. Now we haven't knit this ourselves, we just wrote it up today and would love for people to try it out and let us know if you find an error that we can correct. We will also be making one (each) and this is also how we are sharing it (since I have the handwritten copy). Caren and I are not good at charts (yet), but this may be our start. If you want to make one (or several to sell, we ask that you don't take credit for the pattern and make a donation to one of our favorite charities....a Food Pantry! Thanks for any help you give us. Mary and Caren.

Secret Message Scarf: “I Love You”
By Mary Hofacre and Caren Everett

NOTE:Use any needle/yarn combination you would like. Also, please note that this may look better in solid colors, allowing the raised areas to show up.

Errata is in bold....Change Cast on from 16 to 20. Change all K3 to K5 and all K7 to K9. You can leave as is or make the change it just makes it a little wider. When you have finsihed, it will only be 23 inches long. You can sew the ends together and make this a cowl or circular scarf. Or Repeat rows 17 through 129 with a break in between to create a longer scarf....you can repeat 2 or 3 times.

Cast on 16.
Row 1 – 5 Knit all rows
Row 6: K3, P10, K3
Row 7: K across
Row 8 – 15: repeat rows 6 and 7
Row 16: repeat row 6
Row 17: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 18: k7, p2, k7
Row 19: K across
Row 20: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 21: k7, p2, k7
Row 22 – 28: Repeat Rows 6 & 7
Row 29: k7, p2, k7
Row 30: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 31: k across
Row 32: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 33: k7, p2, k7
Row 34: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 35: k7, p2, k7
Row 36: k3, p10, k3
Row 37: k7, p2, k7
Row 38: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 39: k across
Row 40: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 41: k7, p2, k7
Row 42: k3, p10, k3
Row 43: Knit across
Row 44-47: Repeat 32 – 35
Row 48: k3, p10, k3
Row 49 repeats row 33
Row 50 repeats row 32
Row 51 repeats row 33
Row 52 repeats row 32
Row 53: Knit across
Row 54-57: Repeat 32-35
Row 58-59: Repeat 42-43
Row 60: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 61: k7, p2, k7
Row 62: k3, p10, k3
Row 63: k7, p2, k7
Row 64: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 65: k across
Row 66: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 67: k7, p2, k7
Row 68: k3, p10, k3
Row 69: k7, p2, k7
Row 70: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 71: k7, p2, k7
Row 72: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 73: k across
Row 74: k3, p10, k3
Row 75: k7, p2, k7
Row 76: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 77: k across
Row 78: k3, p10, k3
Row 79: k across
Row 80: k3, p10, k3
Row 81: k across
Row 82: k3, p10, k3
Row 83: k7, p2, k7
Row 84: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 85: k7, p2, k7
Row 86: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 87: k across
Row 88: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 89: k7, p2, k7
Row 90: k3, p10, k3
Row 91: k7, p2, k7
Row 92: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 93: k7, p2, k7
Row 94: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 95: k7, p2, k7
Row 96: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 97: k7, p2, k7
Row 98: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 99: k7, p2, k7
Row 100: k3, p10, k3
Row 101: k across
Row 102: k3, p10, k3
Row 103: k across
Row 104: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 105: k7, p2, k7
Row 106: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 107: k7, p2, k7
Row 108: k3, p10, k3
Row 109: k7, p2, k7
Row 110: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 111: k7, p2, k7
Row 112: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 113: k across
Row 114: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 115: k7, p2, k7
Row 116: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 117: k7, p2, k7
Row 118: k3, p10, k3
Row 119: k across
Row 120: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 121: k7, p2, k7
Row 122: k3, p10, k3
Row 123: k7, p2, k7
Row 124: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 125: k across
Row 126: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 127: k7, p2, k7
Row 128: k3, p4, k2, p4, k3
Row 129: k7, p2, k7
Row 130: k3, p10, k3
Row 131: k across
Row 132-141: repeat rows 6 and 7
Row 142 – 146: k across
Cast off.

Add Fringe if desired
Copyright Hofacre/Everett 4-10-12
Please do not sell this or claim as your own. But you may make and sell, giving us credit for the design, if you make donations to a Food Pantry.

k = knit
p = purl

Spring Break 2012

Spring Break came into our lives. We stayed at home and took day trips. One day we went to the store and went shopping. We bought clothes for the girls. I also renewed all our memberships....YMCA, Zoos, Musesums. We use them a lot!

Tuesday, we had some play time with friends. The afternoon, we took the girls down to the zoo. My husband took them into the zoo and I ran errands. Easter Bunny errands. I also took my Dad his new scarf. He loves it. Wednesday, I worked on laundry in the morning and took the girls back to the zoo in the afternoon. They were having a special show. My girls wanted to see the show, but we were sent to the wrong place by the young man on the gate. We did meet up with friends who also came to see the show and were sent to the wrong place also! We did have a good time and I got some nice photos of the flowers blooming all over the zoo!

Thursday, I did some shopping for Easter. I am making a ham and some other things to take down to my father-in-law's house for Easter. I needed to shop and the girls wanted to have a pj day. They love having pj days. They rested up for Friday.

Friday was a big day for them. We went to COSI and the zoo in Columbus, OH. COSI I met a very wonderful woman and her family. They are from Cincinnati area. We talked about school and how kids sometimes don't have all the good things other kids have. We talked about traffic and driving and occupations and how some co-workers can make a job great or He double toothpicks on earth. We also talked about how we expect kids to respect us and our rules. It was a nice time in the lines at the museum. I took the girls to lunch at Five Guys. Five Guys is a really nice burger joint where the burgers are so very good and you fill up and don't need to eat for the rest of the day (at least that was how I felt). My girls love to go to Five Guys and all of them will eat a burger from there! Then we went to the Columbus Zoo. They participated in the scavenger hunt and got some treats from the Paws and Claws. I could tell they were getting tired because we had a lot of crying that night! After we left the zoo, we stopped at McDonald's on Sawmill that has a play area. (On an aside, I love play areas....my children love play areas and it is sad that play areas are going to go away). After that, we drove home. My girls were so tired they fell asleep on the way home and then went straight to bed and fell fast asleep!

Today, we just spent more time at home. Then went to the YMCA to have some water time....them in a pool, me in a hot tub. It has been a good Spring Break.

Photos

Houdini's grave site. Flowers everywhere. We even hung a bird feeder in the tree near his grave site. The girls like this and as the spring (or is it summer) continues we will continue to add flowers everywhere.
I took the girls back to the zoo today. This was on the way out. It had just started to drizzle turning to a hard rain once we got to the car.
The zoo is in bloom. Tulips everywhere. Every color and just gorgeous!
My husband and I took the girls to the zoo. I dropped them at the zoo on Tuesday and they wandered around. But to get home, we had to take a very long off interstate route, because it would have taken us longer to get home if we had taken the interstate.

More digging

My middle daughter has been very quiet following the death of Houdini. She hasn't cried openly and she hasn't said she misses him. But daily, she has gone out to the flowers, pulled some up and put them on the grave. I promised the girls that we were going to get some flowers to put on the grave. That is what we did today. We stopped at the Lowe's on the way home from the zoo (girl time with Daddy, while Mommy shops for Easter present). We picked out a lot of flowers. Since it was getting dark, I didn't take photos, but will tomorrow (if it isn't raining). We made a mound on the cat's grave and placed 3 flowers (pink, blue and purple) on the grave and several around the grave and more in the yard. We are going to put some more dirt in the front yard and some mulch and then more flowers on Mother's day. So we are just beginning.

It was all a big joke......

Twelve Years ago, I married my best friend. It hasn't always been easy, but he is my partner and my friend and my husband. We tell people that it was all a big joke and has lasted 12 years. We also state that we have a contract to be together for 50 years and then we will renegotiate for another 10. Happy Anniversary, Bill! I love you very much.

Also, Happy Belated Birthday to my sister, Missy, my cousin, Susan, and my Aunt Eileen and Happy Birthday to my cousin Nick!