Stretchy Boot Cuffs topped with Scallops

Even with all the boot cuff patterns available, I couldn't find what I wanted so I designed something myself .

Here is the pattern:

BOOT CUFF
sizes in brackets [1,2,3,4] - youth small, youth large, adult small, adult large
     Ribbing:
Ch 11
Row 1 - sc in second chain from hook, sc in each stitch. Turn. (10 sc st)
Row 2 - ch 1, sc in blo (back loops only) of each sc from previous row except the last sc should be through both front and back loops. Count to make sure you did not miss the first or last stitch which can be hidden sometimes. Turn. (10 sc st)
Repeat row 2 [30, 36, 42, 48] times, or the number of rows necessary to stretch around your leg at the point where the top of your boot comes to, but keep in mind you need a number divisible by 6 for the scallops at the top to come out evenly.
Now place the ends together and slip stitch through back loops only of the end rows. Turn the cuff inside out and decide which side you prefer. (10 sl st)

     Pattern:
Row 1 - ch 1 and sc in the end of each row going around the cuff and sl st into the first sc. Do not turn. You should have [32,36,40,44] sc st
Row 2 - ch 3 (counts as dc) and 2 more dc in same st, *sk 2 and 3 dc in third st* repeat from * to * until end of row. You will have [10,11,12,13] 3dc sets, also known as granny stitches
Row 3 - ch 3 and 2 dc in same space. *sk 3 and 3dc in the next space* repeat from * to * until you reach the end of the row.
Row 4 - repeat row 3
Row 5 - scallops - ch 1, *sk 3, 5 dc in next space, sk 3, sc in next space* repeat from * to * around and finish off. You should have [5,6,7,8] scallops

Crochet a newsboy slouchy hat: free pattern

Finished

I wanted to crochet a slouchy hat with a buttoned visor that started with a flower in the center, but I couldn't find just the right pattern, so I mixed a few patterns to create this:

Step One: Pick out at least 2 colors of 4 ply/worsted/medium weight yarn. I used Canon Simply Soft, mostly, and a 5.25 mm hook.

Step Two: I created the flower following the first 5 rows of Melinda Miller's design for the Charming 6" Square found here: Charming 6" Flower.

Row 6: Then I worked a round of double crochet with an increase in every fourth stitch for a total of 60 stitches. By the way, if you want a beanie instead of a slouchy hat, skip this row. 

Step Three: I then continued following the instructions for row seven of the pipeline pattern found here: Mountain Pipeline Hat by Schachenmeyr Yarns that is featured in a great video tutorial by Mikey from the Crochet Crowd found here.  

The pattern refers to a diagram, so I have written it out how I did it, if you would rather not decipher the diagram.  I added the instructions for the visor, too. If you are only alternating two colors, you don't need to cut your yarn and finish off after each 2 rows of the pattern, just switch yarns in the slip stitch at the end of the round. Here is a method for changing colors that I like: Sewrella.com

US Crochet terms
ch=chain, sc=single crochet, sp=space, st=stitch, sl st=slip stitch, beg=beginning, dc=double crochet, hdc=half double crochet, yo=yarn over,
finish=break yarn and pull through the stitch and weave in the ends,
sc2tog=yo, in sert hook in st, yo and pull back through stitch, insert hook into next stitch, yo and pull back through, 3 loop son hook, yo and pull through all 3 loops

• Row 7: *(ch 1, sc in next st, chain 3, skip 1 st, sc) Repeat from * all the way around. sl st into beg ch1 space and finish off - or if you are only using two colors, you don't need to cut it, just switch colors [40 sc, 20 ch 3 spaces]
• Row 8: Change color by attaching new color yarn to any ch1 sp, ch 3 (counts as beg dc), 2 more dc in same space, shell created. *(sc in ch3 sp, 3 dc in ch1 sp) Repeat from * all the way around and sl st into the top of the beg dc [20 shells, 20 sc]
• Row 9: ch1, sc in same st, *(ch2, skip 2 st, sc in top of 3rd dc of shell, ch 4, sc in next st) Repeat from * all the way around, sl st into beg ch2 sp, finish off [20 ch4 sp, 20 ch2 sp]
• Row 10: Change color sl st into any ch2 sp, ch 3 (counts as beg dc) and 3 more dc in same ch2 sp *(sc in ch4 sp, 4dc in ch2 sp) Repeat from * all around, sl st into beg dc [20 fans, 20sc]
• Row 11: ch1, sc in same st, *(ch3, skip 2 st, sc in top of 4th dc of shell, ch 4, sc in next st) Repeat from * all the way around, sl st into beg ch3 sp, finish off [20 ch4 sp, 20 ch3 sp]
• Row 12: Change color sl st into any ch3 sp, ch 3 (counts as beg dc) and 3 more dc in same ch3 sp *(sc in ch4 sp, 4dc in ch3 sp) Repeat from * all around, sl st into beg dc [20 fans, 20sc]
• Repeat rows 11 and 12 until the hat reaches 6 - 8 inches/16 - 20 cm from center crown to outer edge, longer will be more slouchy/baggy/floppy.  I continued the pattern through row 21 which measured 7.5 inches (19 cm). Switch colors after a row 11 pattern only. End with a round of the row 12 pattern. 

• Row 22: we are decreasing as follows: ch 1, sc in same st, *(ch2, skip 3 st, sc in top of 4th dc of shell, ch 4, sc in next st) Repeat from * all the way around, sl st into beg ch2 sp, finish off [20 ch4 sp, 20 ch2 sp]
• Row 23: we continue decreasing: Change color, sl st into the ch2 sp nearest the part you want in the back center, ch 3 (counts as beg dc), 2 more dc in same space. *(sc in ch4 sp, 3 dc in ch2 sp) Repeat from * all the way around and sl st into the top of the beg dc [20 shells, 20 sc]
• Row 24: ch1, sc in same st and in the next 14 st (4 shells), *(sc, sc2tog) Repeat from * for next 60 st (12 shells and sc st between) sc in remaining 15 st (4 shells and sc st between), sl st into beg ch1 [72 sc]. Finish off and weave in (tidy) the ends.

• Brim: Row 1: Change color, sc in each stitch around, sl st into your first sc and ch1. Row 2: Chain 8, turn the chain over and sc into the bump or hump on the back of the chain in the second chain from hook and next 7 chains. sc2tog into the next two stitches of row 24 of your hat. Row 3: Turn (do not ch 1) and sc into the back loop only of 7 of the 8 sc stitches of the previous row. Sc in both loops for the last sc into the 8th stitch.  Row 4: turn work, ch 1, sc into the back loop only of the 8 stitches, sc2tog into the next two stitches of row 24 of your hat. Repeat row 3 and 4 until you get back to where you started. Cut the yarn leaving a long tail of yarn and sew the end row to the beginning row of the brim.

• Visor Row 1; Fold hat in half and place a stitch marker where you want the front center to be, I put my center in the middle of the sc2tog rows from row 24 before the brim. Count 20 stitches from the center on each side and attach more stitch markers. Start at the stitch marker on the right end (unless you are left handed) and ch1, then 1 hdc in next 18 st around almost up to the center stitch marker then sc2tog 2 times then 1 hdc in each of the next 18 stitches to the last stitch marker [38 st]. 
• Visor Rows 2-8; Chain one, turn and work 1 hdc in each st all the way around to the stitch marker [18 hdc]. Repeat this row six more times. You can change colors if you want stripes. Finish off. Remove stitch markers, except the center stitch marker.  Using buttons, yarn needle and yarn, sew each corner of the visor to the hat at the desired location. Weave in all your ends and you are finished. 
• 
  

I will post more pictures soon. 

I think these are by far the best bible videos I have found online.

Bible Videos

Here they are on YouTube in chronological order.

My new Bag Lady

Since we are moving, (read: massive de-cluttering) I decided I needed a new Bag Lady for the new place. Isn't she a doll!
These are easy to make. Find a suitable sized stuffed animal or doll wearing a dress. Cut off the bottom half of the doll, remove some stuffing and re-sew the body closed. Remove stitching on the back or side of the dress to make a "pocket" to put the grocery bags in. If the dress isn't long enough, add a ruffle, or two. Near the bottom, sew a ribbon around the dress, sew along each edge to form as a casing. Pull the elastic through the casing by pinning it to a safety pin and pushing it through. Gather it in tight, leaving an opening about 4 to 6 centimeters across (1 1/2 - 2 inches). Tie another piece of string or ribbon around her neck to hang her up somewhere convenient.
There! Now you have a handy and adorable place to store grocery bags.

Tomato Planter - 20 liter or 5 gallon bucket

The problem with the Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter is that the tomato is planted in the drainage hole and something about water dripping down the plant causes the plant to suffer. Maybe it is the water itself or maybe the fertilizer residue in the water. I don't know, but this year I tried something different and it is working out great.

I used a 20 liter (aka 5 gallon) bucket painted to protect the plastic from UV light which makes it brittle and makes it crack easily. I painted some leaves for fun. I cut a 6 cm square hole (approximately) about 8 cm from the bottom on three sides. The fourth side I left because I hang these from my awning and one side doesn't get enough light. I drilled a few small (5 mm) holes in the bottom for drainage.

I started filling it with a good quality potting soil - I prefer SuperSoil -  just a few centimeters. Then I inserted my tomato starts, root ball first, through the holes (from the outside of the bucket). I cut a piece of filter to fit over the holes, 10 to 15 cm square. I got the filters from Home Depot, they are usually used in vent registers.  I cut a slit halfway across in the middle and slid it over the stem of each tomato start and taped it in place with duct tape (on the inside of the bucket). I added some more potting soil, mixed in some fertilizer granules, and filled it to a few centimeters from the top.

To hang it I used some leftover electrical wire and wrapped it around the bucket under the rim. I didn't want to rely on the plastic to hold the bucket handles because they can get brittle even if they are painted, especially in the desert sun here in the southwest. This particular bucket was a kitty litter container and came with a plastic handle so I made a handle from the wire and attached it to the wire I just wrapped around the bucket.  I hung it from some S-hooks and Taa-daa! All done.

Aside from an attack of tomato worms or horned caterpillars, whatever you call them; they have done very well. We didn't even get red spider mites this year, maybe because they are so high off the ground.

Neighbor gift idea: wrapping paper for the holidays

The holidays can be lots of fun,

even with all the work to be done...

We want to please our family and friends we know

We're hoping we don't spend too much dough.

Then every gift we've carefully selected,

we've wrapped to ensure our surprise is protected.

We wouldn't want you to run out of that,

so here's something to help say,

“It's a wrap!”