Just in case you were worried about me, I wanted to tell you that I no longer have a constipated brain. I've found a great place to buy yarn (AC Moore) and I've managed to finish 2 hats and even created a new pattern. It's not much but it's a start.

I'm just about ready to send off 4 designs to Lark Books. I'm really looking forward to seeing how that pans out. Wouldn't it be fun if they actually did choose to publish them?

Oh, and one more thing. I just got back from the heart specialist and he is very happy to tell me not to come back. I'm OK. He actually is surprised. Lungers, (as he called me) usually have very bad heart problems due to the heart having to work so hard to pump blood to the lungs. But I'm not showing any signs of heart disease. Makes me a very happy hooker!

I want to know who'se been keeping this place a secret. I had never even heard of it until just recently and had no idea there was one anywhere in this state, let alone only a few miles from my house. Well, I was out and about today and decided to take a look. I am so in love with that place! I've never seen so much different yarn in my life. It's a good thing I didn't have any money or I would have spent every last penny in there. As it is I spent $39.00 that I didn't have to spend...I'll figure out which one of my medicines I can do without later. Just kidding, I won't do without the meds, but I really shouldn't have spent the money on yarn. I can't wait to get back there again and spend more money I don't have for more yarn I don't need. Who am I kidding? I always NEED yarn!

I wish I knew what my problem is. It never fails, if somone offers to pay me for a project all my creativity comes to a screaching halt! I'm so frustrated at this point I can't stand it. I can't even follow a pattern from start to finish. Not my own, and not anyone else's either. If I'm just crocheting cuz I love to crochet I can't put the hooks down, but if I'm crocheting cuz someone else wants me to, I can't make myself do it. I wonder if it has anything to do with trying to please someone else and not myself. Hmmmmm, maybe that's it. Or, maybe it's because when I'm just crocheting because I want to it's fun, but when I crochet for money it becomes a job and I hate to work! I hope I get over this soon because I want to get back to crocheting and not crofrogging!

Keep those ears nice and toasty when the winter winds start to blow. Seems like a long way off with all the 90 degree days we've had lately, but cold weather will be back before we know it. So why not get a head start fighting off the cold and try a headband for a change from a hat? I might even wear this one.

EAR COZY
copyright © 07/23/04 Dot Matthews

This is a headband intended to keep your ears warm in cold weather.
GAUGE: 6 rows=2 inches; 6 sts=2 inches.
Finished headband is 4" wide and 24" around.

Materials used:
K hook for foundation chain only
I hook, for remainder of project
WW yarn 3 oz approximately
small amount of boa for trim
large eyed needle for weaving in ends

NOTES:
1. Work in back loops only unless instructed to use both loops. The unworked loops will be used later in the pattern.
2. Do not join at end of rows, use a marker to indicate beginnings of rows.
3. Number in ( ) at end of rows indicate number of stitches in that row.

With K hook
ch 64, join to form a circle. Be careful not to twist chain.

Switch to I hook

ROW 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around. (64 sts)

ROW 2: sc in next st and in each st around. (64 sts)

ROW 3 thru ROW 10: repeat row 2. Using a sl st and work through both loops, join last st of row 10 to first st of row 10. (64 sts)

ROW 11: Turn, ch 3, sl st in 1st free loop of row 9, (ch 3, sl st in next st) around. Continue around, and around, and around following the spiral of the unworked loops, until you reach the foundation chain. Leave the loops of the foundation chain unworked. Fasten off and weave in ends.

TRIM:
Attach Boa yarn in both loops of any st of row 10, ch 2, (dc in next st) around, join in top of ch 2. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Repeat trim row on other side.
Attach Boa in any free loop of foundation ch, ch 2, (dc in next st) around. Fasten off and weave in ends.

VARIATION: Skip the trim and work (ch 3, sc in next st), in all unworked loops, including row 10 and foundation row.
 

I've been tagged by an editor of Lark Books. OMG I'm so excited. She is actually interested in some of my designs. This is unbelievable!


Here's what I saw on my tag board:

Terry Taylor » Dot, would you be interested in submitting some designs for a new crochet book published by Lark Books? terry@larkbooks.com

How casual was that? If I blinked, I would have missed it.

and I answered...

Dot » Thank you Terry! Yes, I think I would be interested in submitting some of my designs. I've emailed you.

Didn't I sound cool, calm, and not at all affected by this? It's a good thing I don't have a camcorder...nobody saw me running all over my bedroom, jumping up and down, yelling and doing a happy dance. Spike was impressed! Excited is not something I do very often!

OK, you know me too well, I wasn't running, jumping and yelling, but I did get a fluttery feeling in my insides. That's me excited!

I'll keep you all posted on the outcome of this. I MUST buy more yarn.

Hey Jeannie, this one's for you. I made these three ponchos using the same pattern. I left off the fringe cuz I don't particularly like fringe, but hey, put it there if you want it! Here's some pictures and a link to the pattern. Striped Poncho

This one's Kylie's, she's 8


This one's Krysten's, she's 5


And this one's Gracie's, she's 2

My button box is pretty sparse! I'm not very good at linking the buttons to the blogs, but I'm trying. I have thought of taking them off my blog because I don't want to offend anyone because their button is not here, but then I decided not to do that. I'm not offended when I visit a blog and I don't see my own button displayed there. Why should anyone else be offended if they visit me and don't see their button displayed here? Shouldn't be, that's for sure. Probably the only reason the button is not here is because I'm pretty doggone lazy when it comes to putting stuff on this site, especially if it involves any html coding. I soooo don't know how to do that. I want to at least have the buttons listed for all those in the web rings I belong to. I think that's a pretty good goal. Maybe I'll work on that tonight. Oh, one more thing about the buttons. If I have messed up the link to your site in any way. Please don't worry about upsetting me, just jump right in there and let me know. I'll fix it (if I can) and promise, no barking, or biting.

BUTTERFLY BEAUTY
copyright © 07/12/2004 Dot Matthews
a turban like skully

H hook will give a 23" hat
2 oz ww yarn
Number in ( ) at end of rows states number of stitches for that row.
Beginning ch 3 counts as 1st stitch. If you want to increase the length of the hat from crown to rim, repeat row 6.

Row 1: ch 4, 11 dc in 1st ch, join in 4th ch of beg ch. (12 sts)

Row 2: Ch 3, dc in same st as join, 2 dc in each st around. Join in top of ch 3. (24 sts)

Row 3: Ch 3, dc in same st as join, (dc in next st, 2 dc in next st) around. Join in top of ch 3. (36 sts)

Row 4: Ch 3, dc in same st as join, (dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st) around. Join in top of ch 3. (48 sts)

Row 5: Ch 3, dc in same st as join, (dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st) around. Join in top of ch 3. (60 sts)

Row 6: Ch 3, dc in next st, around, Join in top of ch 3. (60 sts)

Row 7: Repeat row 6.

NOTE: The next 4 rows make up a "butterfly stitch". Here's a tutorial with pictures. BUTTERFLY STITCH

Row 8: Ch 3, dc in next 24 sts, ch 10, sk 10 sts, dc in next 25 sts. Join to top of ch 3. (50 dc's and 10 chs) Note: Place a marker between the 5th and 6th skipped stitch on row 7, for stitch placement later in pattern.

Row 9: Repeat row 8.

Row 10: Repeat row 8.

Row 11: Ch 3, dc in next 24 sts, ch 5, insert hook in space marked on row 7, and draw up a loop around the chains of the previous 3 rows (see tutorial) and complete as a sc. ch 5, dc in next 25 sts. Join in top of ch 3.

Row 12: Ch 1, sl st in same st as join, (ch 1, sl st in next st) repeat to ch 5, sl st in each of next 10 chains, sl st in next st, (ch 1, sl st in next st) around. join in 1st sl st. Fasten off, weave in ends.

Yesterday, July 6, was my birthday and I spent several hours sitting in my car, in a parking deck, with a 2 year old, waiting, and waiting, and waiting...and later, I got to take my grandson to ball practice where I sat in the car and waited, and waited, and waited...and tonight, I get to go to the ball game and sit in the car and wait, and wait, and wait...I'm looking forward to it, in fact you might say, I can't wait!