Did ya'll see how fast the last 2 weeks went? I can't get over it. Seems like my boys just picked Mom up from the airport and it was time to take her back again.

We took her to the airport yesterday so she can go to Las Vegas to my sisters house, where she will spend the Thanksgiving holidays. Then she's off to Arizona. She said she'll be back to see me next year. I miss her already. **sniff sniff** Uh, oh, tearing up now. on to something else.

Do you want to see a picture? Well, I don't care, you're going to anyway!

circa 1944     Beautiful at 16

2004 Still beautiful at 73

We had a wonderful visit. Did a little shopping and a whole lot of just doing nothing. She reads and I crochet. Oh, you already knew what I do.

Spike ADORED her. He brought all his toys to her and got her to play with him. You can see him there in the picture with her. He was trying to get her to stay. That was the first time he got up in the chair with her. He knew she was leaving and he tried his best to get her to stay.

I sent her home with a few of my originals, Lizzy and the Short Round Poncho, and the Seriphina shawl. The shawl isn't my pattern. I made her a water bottle bag and a matching wrist bag. Both bags are my originals but they didn't make it to paper. I would have given her more but she doesn't wear hats and she didn't have anymore room in her suitcases.

I wish she would have stayed longer. I miss her already. Hmm, said that already. Well, I do miss her. *sniff sniff* there goes the watery eyes again. Ending this now before I need a tissue. I already have a headache trying not to cry.

STYLIN' SANTA HAT
copyright © Dot Matthews 11/17/04

Adult size 22"
Rating: Intermediate

Materials: J hook; Caron Christmas Glitter, 2 oz white and 3 oz red (amounts are approximate)
Gauge: 6 hdc = 2 inches and 4 rows = 2 inches

NOTE 1: Abbreviations used can be found at the end of the pattern.
NOTE 2: ch 2 at beginning of rows does not count as a stitch.
NOTE 3: numbers in ( ) at end of rows indicates stitch count and is not instructing you to do anything.

ROW 1: WITH WHITE, (ch 4, dtr in 4th ch from hook) repeat 13 times. Join with sl st to first ch. Be careful not to twist the clusters (14 clusters)

ROW 2:
Step 1: ch 4, hold last loop of ea dtr on hook, 2 dtr in 4th ch from hook (3 loops on hook)

the chains referred to in step 2 are the chains in row 1.

Step 2: skip next 3 ch, hold last loop of ea dtr on hook, 3 dtr in next ch (6 loops on hook)
yo, draw thru all 6 loops on hook.
ch 1 to close cluster.

Step 3: ch 4, hold last loop of ea dtr on hook, 2 dtr in 4th ch from hook. (3 loops on hook)

Step 4: Hold last loop of ea dtr on hook, 3 dtr in same stitch as step 2. (6 loops on hook)

Step 5: skip next 3 ch, hold last loop of ea st on hook, 3 dtr in next ch (9 loops on hook)
yo, draw thru all 9 loops
ch 1 to close cluster.

Step 6: Ch 4, hold last loop of ea st on hook, 2 dtr in 4th ch from hook. (3 loops on hook)

Step 7: hold last loop of ea dtr on hook, 3 dtr in same st as step 5 (6 loops on hook)

Step 8: skip 3 ch, hold last loop of ea st on hook, 3 dtr in next ch. (9 loops on hook)
yo, draw thru all 9 loops
ch 1 to close cluster.

Repeat steps 3 thru step 8 around.

Step 9: ch 4, hold last st of ea dtr on hook, 2 dtr in 4th ch from hook. (3 loops on hook)
yo, draw thru all 3 loops. Join with a sl st in the first eye of the row. (You should have 14 eyes at the end of row 2)

ROW 3:
Step 1: ch 4, hold last loop of ea dtr on hook, 2 dtr in 4th ch from hook. (3 loops on hook)
yo, draw thru all 3 loops.
ch 1 to close cluster.

Step 2: ch 4, hold last loop of ea dtr on hook, 2 dtr in 4th ch from hook. (3 loops on hook)

Step 3: hold last loop of ea dtr on hook, 3 dtr in same eye as step 1. (6 loops on hook)

Step 4: hold last loop of ea dtr on hook, 3 dtr in next eye. (9 loops on hook)
yo, draw thru all 9 loops.

Repeat step 2 thru step 4 around.

End row with Repeat step 2 and step 3 (6 loops on hook)
yo, draw thru all 6 loops.
Join with sl st to first eye. (14 eyes in row)

ROW 4: ch 1, sc in same st as join, 3 sc around the next ch 4, (1 sc in next eye, 3 sc around next ch 4) around. Join with sl st in first sc. (56 sc)

Fasten off white.

ROW 5: ATTACH RED in any sc of row 4, ch 1, sc in same st you attached the red in. 1 sc in ea st around. (56 sc)

ROW 6: ch 2 1 hdc in same st as join, 1 hdc in ea st around. Join in first hdc. (56 hdc)

ROW 7 thru ROW 14: repeat row 6. (56 sc at end of ea row)

ROW 15: ch 2, hdc in same st as join, hdc in next 4 hdc, 2 hdc tog (yo pull up a loop in next st, pull up a loop in next st, yo, draw thru all 4 loops) around. Join in first hdc. (48 hdc)

ROW 16: ch 2, hdc in same st as join, 1 hdc in ea st around. Join in first hdc. (48 hdc)

ROW 17: repeat row 16.

ROW 18: Ch 2, 1 hdc in same st as join, 1 hdc in next 3 hdc, 2 hdc tog, (1 hdc in next 4 hdc, 2 hdc tog) around. Join in first hdc. (40 hdc)

ROW 19: ch 2, 1 hdc in same st as join, 1 hdc in ea st around. Join in first hdc. (40 hdc)

ROW 20: repeat row 19.

ROW 21: repeat row 19.

ROW 22: ch 2, 1 hdc in same st as join, 1 hdc in next 2 hdc, 2 hdc tog, (1 hdc in next 3 hdc, 2 hdc tog) around. Join in first hdc. (32 hdc)

ROW 23: ch 2, 1 hdc in same st as join, 1 hdc in ea st around. Join in first hdc. (32 hdc)

ROW 24: repeat row 23

ROW 25: repeat row 23

ROW 26: ch 2, 1 hdc in same st as join, 1 hdc in next hdc, 2 hdc tog, (1 hdc in next 2 hdc, 2 hdc tog) around. Join in first hdc. (24 hdc)

ROW 27: ch 2, 1 hdc in same st as join, 1 hdc in ea st around. Join in first hdc. (24 hdc)

ROW 28: repeat row 27

ROW 29: repeat row 27

ROW 30: repeat row 27

ROW 31: ch 2, 1 hdc in same st as join, 2 hdc tog, (1 hdc in next  hdc, 2 hdc tog) around. Join in first hdc. (16 hdc)

ROW 32: ch 2, 1 hdc in same st as join, 1 hdc in ea st around. Join in first hdc. (16 hdc)

ROW 33: repeat row 32

ROW 34: repeat row 32

ROW 35: repeat row 32

ROW 36: ch 2, 2 hdc tog, around. Join in first hdc. (8 hdc)

ROW 37: ch 2, 1 hdc in same st as join, 1 hdc in ea st around. Join in first hdc. (8 hdc)

ROW 38: ch 2, 2 hdc tog, around. Join in first hdc. (4 hdc)

Leave a long tail, fasten off red.

Make a pom pom with white and attach to top of hat. Weave in loose ends.

Turn up cuff.

Abbreviations used:
ch = chain
cluster = group of stitches all worked in the same stitch
dtr = double treble (wrap yarn around hook 3 times and work off loops 2 at a time)
ea = each
eye = chain 1 used to close cluster
hdc = half double crochet (wrap yarn around hook 1 time and work off loops 3 at a time)
sc = single crochet
sl st = slip stitch
tog = together
yo = yarn over

I've added a list of abbreviations used in the Flower Hat aka Lizzy hat and I also added a rating. I hope this will be helpful. I'm still learning about writing patterns and I forget to list abbreviations. Sorry, I'll try to do better in the future. I promise. 

I've had several emails from people having difficulty understanding row 6, so I put together a picture tutorial to see if that will help.

 

FLOWER PIN
copyright © 11/10/04 Dot Matthews

I just had to try my hand at making a flower and here's a picture of how it turned out. I didn't take pictures of this while it was developing, but you can make it in a wide range of sizes. Stop with just 2 layers or continue until you have it as large as you like. Change hook size and yarn and the size range is limitless. These are 5 layers and the pink one is 5 1/2 inches across and the white one is 5 inches across. Sew a pin on the back and you're good to go.

I don't have time right now to post the pattern, but I'll try to get it posted later today. I'm busy visiting with Mom and we've got some running around to do today. Isn't it amazing how life sometimes interferes with crocheting? I'm loving it!

 

My Mom's coming for a 2 week visit today and I'm so happy and nervous all at the same time. I haven't seen her in a very long time and I'm really looking forward to her visit. She's never, ever, visited in my home. She lives on the west coast and I live on the east coast and we neither one travel much.

She's 73 years old and she decided to visit her out of state children for awhile. She's spent the last few weeks with my sister in Nevada, and now she's flying in to visit me here in North Carolina. The plan is she will stay with me for 2 weeks and then fly back to my sister in Nevada for the holidays. Well, Thanksgiving anyway. I don't know about Christmas.

She's such a wonderful woman. Hard working and always doing things for other people. I'm so glad she finally decided to take some time for herself and just get away from it all.

I don't know if I'll get any crocheting done while she's here or not. I sure haven't gotten any done since I found out she is coming. I can't finish anything I start. I've got little dabs of this and that strewn all over the place. I really do need to get a grip and finish something.

I'll post more about her visit later.

I wish I had an original pattern for a flower I could post for everyone who has asked about one, but I just haven't done one that would work on the baby headband, so for those of you who've asked, I added a link on the baby poncho pattern to a 2 layered rose pattern that will work. I'll post it here too, since I'm already here.

TWO LAYERED ROSE

I received my first (as far as I know) fraudulent email yesterday. It was from CITI Bank telling me they needed to verify email address and I should fill out the social security number, bank account number and passwords on this email, and then click on the link to be taken to the site to verify that my email was working properly.

I'm a sucker, but I didn't fall for that. I recognized it right off the bat cuz, I DON'T BANK AT CITI BANK!

Do not ever respond to an email by following a link they offer you. I'm guilty of doing that most of the time, but this was different, so I did a google search for the Citi Bank site and I found a place to report the email fraud, and I turned it over to them.

Ya'll, please be careful. Do not respond to ANY emails like this. It's getting close to the holidays and the creeps will be coming out of the woodwork in droves.

*stepping down off soap box*

This is a recreation of one of my earlier patterns. I never posted it before because it is so close to the Very Berry pattern I decided not to post it, but Clare saw a picture of it in my photo albums and asked for the pattern. So, this one's for you Clare. It's not exactly like the picture you saw, but it's the best I can do. I hope it's to your liking.