My friend Lynn Lundgren invited me to join her Tuesday night from 7:00-9:00 at Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro, at 3905 N. Lincoln Avenue, for their monthly knit night, Bistro Knits. It's a lovely group of gals, and they didn't shun me for crocheting -- on the contrary, they embraced me as one of their own, and two of the knitters even got up and stood behind me to watch me crochet because they want to learn. While I was there, I finished the turquoise shawl I was making for myself, and Sue, the benevolent hostess of Bistro Knits, announced that I'd finished my project and asked me to hold it up for the assembly to admire, at which time the lovely ladies clicked their knitting needles together repeatedly -- knitters' applause!! Do you love it?? I asked what I was to do if a knitter finished a project, being that I just have the one hook, and one of the girls generously suggested that I click my crochet hook on my scissors. Lovely!
Sue had four tables reserved on the left side of the pub area of the Bistro. Those tables quickly filled up. There were about a dozen ladies who attended the festivities Tuesday. There were pitchers of water and cups on the tables so the assembled could stay hydrated. Of course, if I'm crocheting in a bar, I must have a cocktail. And when in Dublin, do as the Dubliners, right? So I had a pint of Guinness. They have a nice menu, and I ordered the Fish and Chips, which are served with ramekins of malt vinegar, tartar sauce, and a delicious curry ketchup.
Everyone was very welcoming and friendly, and I'm definitely going to mark my calendar for May's Bistro Knits. I have to miss April's because I'm taking a figure drawing class -- I'm one of those creative types, don'tcha know!! But if you're available on the last Tuesday of the month, I suggest that you head on over to Mrs. Murphy's for Bistro Knits. You'll leave with a bunch of new friends!
As always, my angels, peace, love and yarn. I'll be back on Tuesday!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Prayer Shawl Ministry
A couple of years ago, I was at Hobby Lobby in Batavia and I learned of this movement called the Prayer Shawl Ministry. It's pretty awesome, really. It's very cathartic for the crafter and very comforting to the recipient. The shawls themselves represent comfort -- it's like the recipient is being hugged by the giver. The idea is that the stitcher prays for the recipient before beginning the shawl, then prays upon completion of the shawl, thus praying blessings INTO the shawl. Those blessings will be passed on to the recipient of the shawl. I made one for my Aunt Linda when my Uncle Ed passed away. There's really no need to get all organized about it. You don't need to join a club or sign anything. You can just do it yourself for people you know.
Prayer shawls don't only have to be used in cases of bereavement, though that's a really good time to receive one, believe me!! They can also be given to someone who's having health issues or someone who's just stressed out. They're also nice to give on happy occasions -- they can be used for birthdays, baby or wedding gifts, baptisms, confirmations, graduations, a remembrance of home for a kid going to college, seeing a long-lost friend -- any reason you might give someone a hug is a great reason to give that person a prayer shawl. The important thing is the prayers, blessings, and positive energy for the recipient that you stitch into that shawl.
For more information about the Prayer Shawl Ministry, you can click here.
Following is the pattern I used for the prayer shawl I gave to my aunt. It's easy, and the final product is really lovely.
3 Balls Homespun
Size K Crochet Hook
Finishing Needle
Ch 3.
Row 1: Work 2 hdc in 3rd ch from hook.
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as hdc and ch 1, here and throughout), turn, 2 hdc in 1st hdc, hdc in next hdc, ch 1, hdc in top of t-ch – 5 hdc and 2 ch-1 sps.
Row 3: Ch 3, turn, hdc in 1st ch-1 sp, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in each of next 2 hdc, ch 1, hdc in last ch-1 sp – 7 hdc and 2 ch-1 sps.
Row 4: Ch 3, turn, hdc in 1st ch-1 sp, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in each hdc across to last ch-1 sp, ch-1, hdc in last ch-1 sp – 9 hdc and 2 ch-1 sps.
Repeat Row 4, increasing 2 hdc every row as established, until piece measures 35 in. (89 cm) from beginning.
Fasten off.
FINISHIING
Weave in ends.
Prayer shawls don't only have to be used in cases of bereavement, though that's a really good time to receive one, believe me!! They can also be given to someone who's having health issues or someone who's just stressed out. They're also nice to give on happy occasions -- they can be used for birthdays, baby or wedding gifts, baptisms, confirmations, graduations, a remembrance of home for a kid going to college, seeing a long-lost friend -- any reason you might give someone a hug is a great reason to give that person a prayer shawl. The important thing is the prayers, blessings, and positive energy for the recipient that you stitch into that shawl.
For more information about the Prayer Shawl Ministry, you can click here.
Following is the pattern I used for the prayer shawl I gave to my aunt. It's easy, and the final product is really lovely.
3 Balls Homespun
Size K Crochet Hook
Finishing Needle
Ch 3.
Row 1: Work 2 hdc in 3rd ch from hook.
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as hdc and ch 1, here and throughout), turn, 2 hdc in 1st hdc, hdc in next hdc, ch 1, hdc in top of t-ch – 5 hdc and 2 ch-1 sps.
Row 3: Ch 3, turn, hdc in 1st ch-1 sp, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in each of next 2 hdc, ch 1, hdc in last ch-1 sp – 7 hdc and 2 ch-1 sps.
Row 4: Ch 3, turn, hdc in 1st ch-1 sp, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in each hdc across to last ch-1 sp, ch-1, hdc in last ch-1 sp – 9 hdc and 2 ch-1 sps.
Repeat Row 4, increasing 2 hdc every row as established, until piece measures 35 in. (89 cm) from beginning.
Fasten off.
FINISHIING
Weave in ends.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Summer Crochet Ideas
Lots of people think that crocheting is just a cold weather activity. This couldn't be further from the truth! If you think I'm making this up, Google "crochet bikini" (special message to my mom: please don't Google "crochet bikini". Some of the pictures might upset you!!).
You can crochet all sorts of stuff with sport weight or cotton yarn in the summer. You can make lightweight lacy tops, handbags, shopping bags, hats, shawls -- I just finished a GORGEOUS one in a beautiful shade of turquoise with an iridescent thread. And don't forget Amigurumi, the adorable Japanese crocheted stuffed toys. You can do a Google Image Search for that, Mom!
Did you know you can crochet jewelry? You can! I have several patterns for bracelets and necklaces, and just saw some cute crocheted earrings!
I also like to crochet dish cloths with Lilies and Cream yarn. They're easy, portable, and quick, and they will scrub egg and cheese off of your dishes without scratching. They're also durable -- my mom's got some from the late '70s, I believe.
So don't give up your crocheting just because the snow isn't flying. There's always something adorable you can make! Peace, love and yarn, everyone!
You can crochet all sorts of stuff with sport weight or cotton yarn in the summer. You can make lightweight lacy tops, handbags, shopping bags, hats, shawls -- I just finished a GORGEOUS one in a beautiful shade of turquoise with an iridescent thread. And don't forget Amigurumi, the adorable Japanese crocheted stuffed toys. You can do a Google Image Search for that, Mom!
Did you know you can crochet jewelry? You can! I have several patterns for bracelets and necklaces, and just saw some cute crocheted earrings!
I also like to crochet dish cloths with Lilies and Cream yarn. They're easy, portable, and quick, and they will scrub egg and cheese off of your dishes without scratching. They're also durable -- my mom's got some from the late '70s, I believe.
So don't give up your crocheting just because the snow isn't flying. There's always something adorable you can make! Peace, love and yarn, everyone!
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
I'm Ba-ack!!
I can't believe I haven't blogged since the end of January!! But between the opera season, the band, and many, many crochet projects, I simply haven't had the time! Now opera season is winding down, so I make my triumphant return to the blogosphere.
During my radio silence, my non-sexual co life partner Matt Dans threw a very successful cupcake auction benefit for DQMO at our favorite spot, The Glenwood, and I was asked to crochet cupcake hats to auction off. As most of you know, when people ask me if I can crochet something out of the ordinary, my usual response is, "Of course I can!" So I did a little research and came up with my own design. I did a vanilla one with pink frosting
and a chocolate one with sprinkle frosting.
They were very popular, and the adorable guy who won the chocolate one (I never did catch his name) kept enthusiastically presenting me to his friends as the girl who made his hat. Adorable!!
The Thursday night Stitch 'n' Bitch is still going on. I've gotten some new members, which is nice! I put up new fliers that are getting some attention -- probably because I used this picture.
I'm going to keep going all summer because there's awesome stuff you can crochet during the summer, which I'll go into in more detail in Thursday's post. And yes, I am going back to two posts a week on my blog. Tuesdays and Thursdays will be the days that I post.
Glory Chain is playing at the Glenwood next Monday, March 26, at 7:00 as part of Lifeline Theatre's Music and Stories series. Come check us out!
That's all the news for now -- I gotta go vote!! As always, dolls, Peace, Love and Yarn.
During my radio silence, my non-sexual co life partner Matt Dans threw a very successful cupcake auction benefit for DQMO at our favorite spot, The Glenwood, and I was asked to crochet cupcake hats to auction off. As most of you know, when people ask me if I can crochet something out of the ordinary, my usual response is, "Of course I can!" So I did a little research and came up with my own design. I did a vanilla one with pink frosting
and a chocolate one with sprinkle frosting.
They were very popular, and the adorable guy who won the chocolate one (I never did catch his name) kept enthusiastically presenting me to his friends as the girl who made his hat. Adorable!!
The Thursday night Stitch 'n' Bitch is still going on. I've gotten some new members, which is nice! I put up new fliers that are getting some attention -- probably because I used this picture.
I'm going to keep going all summer because there's awesome stuff you can crochet during the summer, which I'll go into in more detail in Thursday's post. And yes, I am going back to two posts a week on my blog. Tuesdays and Thursdays will be the days that I post.
Glory Chain is playing at the Glenwood next Monday, March 26, at 7:00 as part of Lifeline Theatre's Music and Stories series. Come check us out!
That's all the news for now -- I gotta go vote!! As always, dolls, Peace, Love and Yarn.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Shameless Self-Promotion!!
Last night I was at home, recovering from a particularly arduous meeting, when I received a text message alerting me that my friend John DiGilio had BURPed me. What in the world is a BURP, I asked myself as I popped a Godiva truffle in my mouth. It turns out that BURP is John's blog, "Bloggin' Up Rogers Park", and I am his most recent addition to Neighbors in the News!! What a nice surprise! John is a knitter who frequents the Evil Squirrel Knit Nights. I met him in December at the Craft War, and we ran into each other the next day and talked about ideas for future crafting events in Rogers Park. He's got some great ideas to make crafting accessible to our neigborhood. John's kind of awesome, and you should follow his blog. Not just because I'm in it. But I am. right here -- see?? (Yes, it's the same link as the one above -- I get a little childlike when I see my name in print!!) Thank you, John! It's nice to be recognized for doing cool stuff!
John also mentioned my band, the awesome Glory Chain, and our gig on Saturday, February 4, at 5:00 pm, at the Evil Squirrel Comic Book Shop. I'm really excited about this gig! We've got a lot of cool new material we've been working on, and we're helping Shawn King keep his doors open -- he's doing fabulous neighborhood outreach stuff and giving kids a safe place to hang out, which is invaluable in Rogers Park, and the economy has really cut into his profits, so we need to help him pay his rent! We'll be passing a hat at Saturday's gig, and we hope you'll all throw in some nice coin for Shawn and Evil Squirrel.
Also a reminder that next Saturday, February 11, 10:00 am -2:00 pm, Mary Wells, Molly Costello and I are hosting the Rogers Park Craft Show at 1505 W. Morse Avenue. There will be really cool stuff there, and you should bring wads of cash to buy it!!
That's all the news for now, dolls! I'll be back with another post on Thursday. Until then, as always, Peace, Love and Yarn!
John also mentioned my band, the awesome Glory Chain, and our gig on Saturday, February 4, at 5:00 pm, at the Evil Squirrel Comic Book Shop. I'm really excited about this gig! We've got a lot of cool new material we've been working on, and we're helping Shawn King keep his doors open -- he's doing fabulous neighborhood outreach stuff and giving kids a safe place to hang out, which is invaluable in Rogers Park, and the economy has really cut into his profits, so we need to help him pay his rent! We'll be passing a hat at Saturday's gig, and we hope you'll all throw in some nice coin for Shawn and Evil Squirrel.Also a reminder that next Saturday, February 11, 10:00 am -2:00 pm, Mary Wells, Molly Costello and I are hosting the Rogers Park Craft Show at 1505 W. Morse Avenue. There will be really cool stuff there, and you should bring wads of cash to buy it!!
That's all the news for now, dolls! I'll be back with another post on Thursday. Until then, as always, Peace, Love and Yarn!
Friday, January 27, 2012
Ruth's Hat, Mozart and Yarn
My dear friend Ruth Hoekwater, the owner of the Common Cup Cafe in Rogers Park, asked me if I could replicate a crocheted hat that she's had for a while that she LOVES and she wants more of in different colors. I had never successfully replicated a pattern from the actual garment, but if I can design and build a hat that looks like Party Pat from Cartoon Network (see below), I can do just about anything, now can't I??
So I took a look at the hat and decided that this was a dragon I could slay. It's a variation on my basic skullcap pattern, but the last five rows are shell-stitched. Cute!! I got some black yarn and started stitchin'. However, knowing that Ruth wanted the hat to be tight-fitting, and knowing that my hats tend to stretch, I used a G-sized hook. It came out child-sized. Oops! So I did it again with an H-sized hook. Closer, but not quite big enough to cover the head that holds Ruth's brilliant brain. So I began a third one with an I-sized hook.
Fast-forward to yesterday, the final Student Matinee of Mozart's "Magic Flute" at the Lyric. I had brought my black yarn and my I-sized hook to work on Ruth's hat in the Super Children's dressing room. One of the young ladies asked me if I'd make her a hat as a memento of the show. I said I didn't have any yarn that wasn't spoken for. She said she had yarn, so I agreed to make her a hat. I made the Ruth Hat pattern and it turned out quite nicely. The young lady really loved it, and she was overjoyed when she heard that it was the first of its kind from my hook. And then disaster struck. While I was away from the dressing room setting up a quick change, another young lady accidentally knocked my coffee over into my yarn bag. The yarn that got baptized with coffee? The black yarn for Ruth's hat!! After I threw a bit of a tantrum (far away from the sensitive ears of the girls I dress, of course) and the young lady apologized profusely -- it truly had been an accident and she felt awful -- I realized that the coffee wouldn't show on the black yarn, and that since Ruth was going to wear it at the Cafe, it would end up smelling like coffee anyway!! Crisis averted!! Or at least ameliorated!
A quick plug for my band, Glory Chain. We are playing next Saturday, 4 February, at 5:00 pm at the Evil Squirrel Comic Book Shop, 6928 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago.
Next, a quick plug for our Rogers Park Craft Show the following Saturday, 11 February, from 10:00-2:00 at the Many Peoples Church space, 1505 W. Morse Ave., Chicago.
And that's all the news for now, dolls! Until next time, as always, Peace, Love and Yarn!
So I took a look at the hat and decided that this was a dragon I could slay. It's a variation on my basic skullcap pattern, but the last five rows are shell-stitched. Cute!! I got some black yarn and started stitchin'. However, knowing that Ruth wanted the hat to be tight-fitting, and knowing that my hats tend to stretch, I used a G-sized hook. It came out child-sized. Oops! So I did it again with an H-sized hook. Closer, but not quite big enough to cover the head that holds Ruth's brilliant brain. So I began a third one with an I-sized hook.Fast-forward to yesterday, the final Student Matinee of Mozart's "Magic Flute" at the Lyric. I had brought my black yarn and my I-sized hook to work on Ruth's hat in the Super Children's dressing room. One of the young ladies asked me if I'd make her a hat as a memento of the show. I said I didn't have any yarn that wasn't spoken for. She said she had yarn, so I agreed to make her a hat. I made the Ruth Hat pattern and it turned out quite nicely. The young lady really loved it, and she was overjoyed when she heard that it was the first of its kind from my hook. And then disaster struck. While I was away from the dressing room setting up a quick change, another young lady accidentally knocked my coffee over into my yarn bag. The yarn that got baptized with coffee? The black yarn for Ruth's hat!! After I threw a bit of a tantrum (far away from the sensitive ears of the girls I dress, of course) and the young lady apologized profusely -- it truly had been an accident and she felt awful -- I realized that the coffee wouldn't show on the black yarn, and that since Ruth was going to wear it at the Cafe, it would end up smelling like coffee anyway!! Crisis averted!! Or at least ameliorated!
A quick plug for my band, Glory Chain. We are playing next Saturday, 4 February, at 5:00 pm at the Evil Squirrel Comic Book Shop, 6928 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago.
Next, a quick plug for our Rogers Park Craft Show the following Saturday, 11 February, from 10:00-2:00 at the Many Peoples Church space, 1505 W. Morse Ave., Chicago.
And that's all the news for now, dolls! Until next time, as always, Peace, Love and Yarn!
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Rogers Park Craft Show, or I Crochet in Hair Salons
Brothers and sisters, I apologize for my 9-day internet silence! I had trouble getting on Blogger last Thursday, last Sunday I was hanging with my mom and my caramel sister Mia all day, and I've been crazy busy with opera, band practice, and craft show preparations the rest of the week.
As mentioned in my last post, my friends Mary and Molly and I are planning a craft show to be held at Many Peoples Church, 1505 W. Morse Avenue, in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago. We'll be hawking our wares on Saturday, 11 February, from 10:00 am til 2:00 pm. There will be toys and cards and jewelry and pillows and scarves and all sorts of handmade delights!! I think there's room available for vendors, so if you or anyone you know is interested in selling awesome crafts, please get in touch with me.
So craft show preparations are underway. In addition to helping with tasks such as finding vendors, communicating with others who use the space, and organizing logistics, I have to make sure I have some items to sell! So I've been working on baby hats and dishcloths to add to the inventory I already have. I just bought a new pattern book yesterday, so hopefully I can add some new projects to my bag of tricks. There's a shopping bag pattern that I'm absolutely in love with, as well as some adorable baby bibs and pacifier fobs. Delicious!
I got my hair colored and cut by the inimitable Patrick Fuller last Tuesday. I'm always delighted with his work, but this time he truly outdid himself! The color is rich and has tons of depth and the style is sophisticated and urban. When he showed me the finished product, I declared that I looked like Ms. Karen Walker! While my color was processing, he directed me to sit in the chair with the best lighting so I could crochet with ease as the color did its job. He did this so I'd mention him in my blog. It worked. Patrick Fuller, Master Stylist, Robert Jeffrey Salon, 3434 N. Halsted. Chicago, IL. 60657. 773.525.8800. If I could make it glitter, I would. He's awesome!!
In other news, my dear friend Paul had a brain aneurysm this past Sunday morning. He's in a coma, but beginning to show some improvement. Monday they will begin tests to see how much damage he's sustained. Please keep him in your prayers. And, as always, my friends, peace, love and yarn!!
As mentioned in my last post, my friends Mary and Molly and I are planning a craft show to be held at Many Peoples Church, 1505 W. Morse Avenue, in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago. We'll be hawking our wares on Saturday, 11 February, from 10:00 am til 2:00 pm. There will be toys and cards and jewelry and pillows and scarves and all sorts of handmade delights!! I think there's room available for vendors, so if you or anyone you know is interested in selling awesome crafts, please get in touch with me.
So craft show preparations are underway. In addition to helping with tasks such as finding vendors, communicating with others who use the space, and organizing logistics, I have to make sure I have some items to sell! So I've been working on baby hats and dishcloths to add to the inventory I already have. I just bought a new pattern book yesterday, so hopefully I can add some new projects to my bag of tricks. There's a shopping bag pattern that I'm absolutely in love with, as well as some adorable baby bibs and pacifier fobs. Delicious!
I got my hair colored and cut by the inimitable Patrick Fuller last Tuesday. I'm always delighted with his work, but this time he truly outdid himself! The color is rich and has tons of depth and the style is sophisticated and urban. When he showed me the finished product, I declared that I looked like Ms. Karen Walker! While my color was processing, he directed me to sit in the chair with the best lighting so I could crochet with ease as the color did its job. He did this so I'd mention him in my blog. It worked. Patrick Fuller, Master Stylist, Robert Jeffrey Salon, 3434 N. Halsted. Chicago, IL. 60657. 773.525.8800. If I could make it glitter, I would. He's awesome!!
In other news, my dear friend Paul had a brain aneurysm this past Sunday morning. He's in a coma, but beginning to show some improvement. Monday they will begin tests to see how much damage he's sustained. Please keep him in your prayers. And, as always, my friends, peace, love and yarn!!
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