Carol's Crochet Place: April 2009

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Teatime in Spring Placemat Set

This is my first designed project. I wanted to create something in Spring Colors for a Crochet Exchange I am in. I made a set of 2 placemats, 2 coasters, 2 napkin rings and a centerpiece. The pattern is listed below. Please let me know if you have any questions or the pattern is not clear. It is the first pattern I have ever written.

Teatime in Spring

Gauge-Not important to over all project. You can adjust to fit your needs.

Materials-
Lily Sugar ‘n Cream 4 ply cotton in Lavender Ice (or color of your choice)
H hook.

Placemat –

Ch 40
Row 1 – DC in 3rd chain from hook and each chain across (38 DC) Ch 4 (counts as DC & ch 1 throughout) Turn
Row 2- DC in 2nd DC, ch 1, *skip DC, DC in next DC, ch 1*, repeat from * to *, DC in last DC. Ch 3, turn
Row 3- DC in first ch 1 sp, *ch 1, sk DC, DC in next ch 1 sp*. Repeat * to * across to last sp & DC. DC in last ch sp and top of ch 3 (this was the ch 4 from row 1) Chain 4 turn.

Repeat row 2 & 3 for pattern ending with row 2 for as wide as you want your placemat.

Last row, DC in each DC & ch space across.

Finish off. Weave in ends

Centerpiece-

Centerpiece is made the same as the placemat. I made the following changes to mine. I made it a few rows wider than the placemats. At the end of the last row, I did a border of DC all the way around (3 DC in corners) and then another row of *sc, sk dc, 3dc in next dc, sk dc, sc* around with 3 Dc in each corner.

Coaster-

Start with magic circle.

If you do not know how to do magic circle, here is a tutorial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLuSVyKvoUg

Row 1-Ch 4, (counts as DC +ch 1) DC, ch 1 in circle 13 times. End with ch 1, sl st in 3rd ch of ch 4. (14 DC, 14 sp) Ch 4 TURN
Row 2- *DC in next DC, Ch 1, DC in ch 1 sp,* Repeat around join with sl st to 3rd ch of ch 4– 28 DC Ch 3 TURN
Row 3 – DC in each dc & ch sp around. Join with sl st to top of ch 3. (56 DC)

Finish off weave in ends.

Napkin rings-

Ch 18
Row 1- DC in 3rd ch from hook and each ch across. Ch 4 Turn

Row 2- DC in 2nd DC *ch 1, sk DC, DC in next DC* across to end. Ch 3 Turn

Row 3. DC in 2nd DC and each DC & ch sp across. At end of row, bring the opposite end over and join the 2 ends with slip stitch over all 3 rows to form a ring. (or use the stitch of your choice)

My First Court Date

I attended my first court appearance as the citing officer. The guy pleaded not guilty to parking in an access aisle. I had photos showing he was parked in an access aisle next to a marked & signed handicap spot.

He was a class A jerk. He kept interupting the judge, he brought copies of building codes and said they were the ORS (Oregon Revised Statutes). He brought pictures that purposely excluded the handicap marking. When the judge found him guilty, and before the judge could tell him what the fine was going to be (he was going to reduce it to $190) the defandant said "I appeal". So the judge told him he would make it worth his time and leave it the base fine of $360. The "gentleman" kept mouthing off and when he found out the fee to appeal was a NON-refundable $270, he got more upset and a deputy had to be called. Finally he said he was not going to appeal, the judge reduced the fine to $190 and the guy left! What a first court appearance!! Should make all the rest a cake walk!!

Another first

For the first time ever, I made an afghan out of squares. I was always so nervous about putting them together and thought the seams had to be "invisible." Once I realized they don't, I decided to give it a try. I have been in several exchanges and received many r/w/b squares. I added a few and a dear friend sent me some pineapples, and here is the finished product.

completed with border

Friday, April 10, 2009

Too Many Projects, not enough Time

I am feeling stressed today. There are SO many projects I want to do. I just got a new book with designs by Doris Chan. All of them are GORGEOUS. There just does not seem to be enough time to make the things I want to make for ME. I am so envious of those who can knit/crochet FAST and get so many projects done!! I know I am slower because of the arthritis in my wrist combined with the tendonitis. But I truly do not see those things changing. I think it is just a part of getting old. It is a situation I am learning to live with.

The second anniversary meeting of our local CGOA group, Always in Stitches, meets tomorrow. We are doing some fun things, raffles & door prizes. A group free form project. I enjoy getting together with these gals monthly. Online groups are really great, but I enjoy the fact-to-face meetings also.

I am in an international exchange this month. (Scotland!) I am designing a Tea Time in Spring set that includes, placemats, a centerpiece, coaster and napkin rings. I will post pictures and pattern when I get it completed!

OK, break over, back to crocheting! :-)