3 little pigs

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Rule 1: 3 kids = 3 guinea pigs (or or just plain pigs, as they are sometimes affectionately called.)

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Our kids asked if we could please, please, please enforce this rule in our house.
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Hmmmm.
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Who could possibly resist these precious, tiny critters? So yes, guinea pigs snuggled & sniffed their way into our hearts and taught our kids the important truths of caring for tiny creatures. Our pigs have since gone onto greener pastures, but the love of them still remains.

And so when I saw Nicki Trench's -- yes, super-cute -- book and saw her pattern for guinea pigs, well -- it was a must-make for me!
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Rule 2: Each child gets their own guinea pig. Check.

Rule 3: Mom gets utmost pleasure in crocheting these. Check.

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So I present to you:

Baby Chick, Nickel and Charles Lindbergh
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Rule 4: Super cute. Check.

daisy chatelaine

Yes. Daisies. One of my favorite flowers and when you place that vibrant blue sky in the background with these many tall hats of of soft, white petals...well, it's truly colors straight from heaven.

I have gotten emails requesting a tutorial for a crocheted chatelaine. Hmmm. What to do? So grabbing bits of crochet thread and a scrap of fabric, I put together this

Daisy Chatelaine.

There are 23 steps, which seems a bit time-consuming, but honestly! it goes rather quickly. And I have also included a diagram for the pattern at the end of this post (because yikes! -- these written directions can seem veeeeeeeerry confusing.....)

(edit: for Sunny who emailed [and others just like me who n.e.e.d. an actual visual demo on how to make this beginning loop] ----> Teresa does her usual excellent job at this here.)

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By not fastening off, you can continue with crocheting the cord to hang your chatelaine. I have seen many patterns for crocheting a cord -- but none as beautiful or versatile as Thata's. Here is her video showing her 'I-cord'.

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Motif diagram

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And my first time at drawing a crochet pattern....so, yes, you must bear with this 'raw' drawing (where you can already easily spot the whited-out areas where I goofed.)

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Okay. I am almost afraid to push the PUBLISH POST button --- just how many errors did I make in the directions??

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Eek. Oh, well. If you find any, you know where to reach me.

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Are you thinking of how many different fabrics you have & how many different crochet thread options are out there?.....

Enjoy the endless possibilities of crocheting your own chatelaine!

garment-envy

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How many times did Thomas Edison fail at making the lightbulb?

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Supposedly over 1000 times.

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And while he may in fact not be the official inventor of the lightbulb -- this is most evident---> he did not quit.

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So while I have failed over 1000 times in crocheting a garment for myself that is actually wearable (tossed in the back of my closet because it is so hideously mishapen does not count as wearable aaaaand thank goodness for this because Kris knows I not only suffer from garment-envy, but have a serious case of knitted-garment-envy....)

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...I am once again attempting to crochet a garment. This gorgeous pattern is the Curried Cable Jacket by Pricila Gomes from the Fall '09 issue of INTERWEAVE CROCHET.

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The jacket begins with the back bottom edge and is done in a FPdc & BPdc to give it a textured, and oh! so lovely rib pattern. And because the pattern also includes some crochet cables (something that I have not been able to do) I am apprehensive to see if my hook can/will follow these complex-to-me directions --->

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Hdc in next st, sk next 2 hdc, FPtr around

each of the next 2 hdc 2 rows below, working

in front of 2 FPtr just made, FPtr around first

skipped hdc 2 rows below, FPtr around 2nd skipped

hdc 2 rows below, hdc in next stitch.

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So far I just love how this is working up and hopefully this will not get frogged like the 1000 other times I have attempted to crochet a garment.

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Oh, give me cable strength.

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progress & meander

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Here's progress on the Pineapple Rose. Oooh. A lacy edge added to a pineapple rose seems to frame its simple floral beauty in a delicate, crocheted frame.

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If you only knew how much I love that. It's a look that just seems to spread warmth in my heart & hands.

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I had to 'frog' this next step of adding the white thread a few times.

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Ugh. It is proving to be a very difficult pattern to follow & I have seriously considered nixing the whole cotton-pickin' thing. And wouldn't you know it? -- it's my 10 yr. old son who gave me the much needed boost to continue with it---

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'No, Mom...don't even think about winding that thread back on the spool!'

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I had to laugh, but he's right. Sometimes I am my worst critic -- and I sabotage my efforts way before I should.

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I think I tend to meander. Meander = a winding path or course.

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Okay. That does describe me.

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So when I saw the Blue Meanders in the magazine, Decorative CROCHET (May 2001-Number 81) I just had to try to duplicate this lovely look.

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(...Nooooo. Too many projects going at once does not even resonate with me.....)

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Bruges lace has always intrigued me but the stitches always seemed so labor-intensive.

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And sheesh! They were. Just reading the written directions more than confused me, but everything made sense once I studied the diagram.

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Using Aunt Lydia Crochet Thread in OASIS and #5 steel hook, I will just keep meandering & meandering & meandering until this looks like a blue meandering piece of Bruges lace.

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pineapple rose garden & an exceptional finish

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And Spring arose on the garden fair,

Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;

And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast

rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.
—Percy Bysshe Shelley
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Such warm & wonderful thoughts as we begin our wintry thaw. And what better way to usher in the springtime than to crochet.......oh! I know......

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....a doily!

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Why, of course -- can't stray from the obvious.

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I am using this book:

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and crocheting the Pineapple Rose Garden topper.
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Size 10 crochet cotton and my size 5 steel hook.
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The topper begins with this pretty rose in variegated pink hues. And believe it or not, I am learning a lesson about tackling crochet projects rated as EXPERIENCED -- because these are something I would have never attempted before.
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Duh --take one step at a time. One teeny tiny direction at a time before rushing into the next stitch. Because you see before, I would always read the entire row and groan inwardly that there was no way I could ever understand this, much less attempt it with hook & thread.
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For example:
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Rnd 28: Slip st in next FPtr and around post next FPtr,

ch 4, work FPtr around each of next 5 sts

3 dc in next ch-2 sp, work FPtr around each of next 6 sts,

work Split FPtr, * work FPtr around each of next 6 sts,

3 dc in next ch-2 sp, work FPtr around each of next 6 sts,

work Split FPtr; repeat from * around; join with slip st

in fourth ch of beginning ch-4.

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What?!

In my previous life (ha) I would glance at the whole set of directions and k.n.o.w. there was no way I could ever crochet that row. But then the aha! moment came and I starte to read just one tiny section of the phrase -- worked it -- then moved onto the next phrase -- worked it -- and oila! progress & more importantly -->success!

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Yes, I know. Slower than most, but because I finally got that through my thick head, I actually completed for-experienced-only-crocheters EXCEPTIONAL doily!

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And the flowers -- from my husband for our 19th wedding anniversary. Perfect combination, don't you think?

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exceptional

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This is Mary Werst's Exceptional doily that I started awhile ago from this book. The dense-ness of the stitches is so totally unlike any doily that I have ever crocheted.
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I love that.
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And I also love this exceptional January snow that seems to intensify the sky with a blueness that is so vibrant & jewel-like.
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This is the view from our front yard -- yup, very blessed indeed.

And so thankful that so many years ago a lovely lady took the time during my lunch recess to teach me how to crochet doilies.

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I am using my # 7 steel crochet hook and my very, very favorite crochet thread, Aunt Lydia Bamboo Crochet Thread, size 10.

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My husband is under the very sad, mistaken notion that doily-love is only for grandmas from long, long ago & teases me that he is going to list me as 'Doily Dawn' in my obituary.

But don't worry -- I will properly educate him into becoming passionate about doilies strewn all over the house.

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Hmmm. I wonder what he'd think about a lovely crocheted edging on .... say... some of his clothing?

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I'm kidding, of course........

....but if anyone has the perfect pattern for masculine edgings, let me know.

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fudge brown chatelaine

Main Entry: chat·e·laine
Pronunciation: \ˈsha-tə-ˌlān\
Function: noun
Etymology: French châtelaine, feminine of châtelain
Date: 1845
a clasp or hook for a watch, purse, or bunch of keys

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Not only do I love the way the word 'chatelaine' just seems to roll off my tongue -- I also love the delicate image it conjurs up. Dainty & feminine. And serving a purpose.
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This fudge brown chatelaine will not be used as a clasp for keys, watch or purse, but rather it is to be used/worn as a simple pincushion.
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Using size 10 crochet thread I crocheted a basic granny square for the back of this chatelaine.

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And the top? A gorgeous flower granny square (this has to be my most favorite design for a granny square!)

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.(Addendum: it comes from one of my most favorite books: Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs by Edie Eckman)

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Yes. I just love, LOVE the petals on this.

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And to compliment the brown, I found scraps of cottonwood bandana fabric for the inside.

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I sewed up the sides and added a bit of poly-stuffing.

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And crocheted a simple cord so it can be worn around the neck & then encased the whole chatelaine with a seam of single crochet around the edge.

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Simple. Delicate. And very useful.