~ Hi everybody! ~

(Hi Dr. Nick!) 

Got back from the campground yesterday and jeez, I'm so tired.  Vince and I took our grandsons William and James with us and from the moment we got there, it was go, go, go.  James is constantly moving - he wears me out just looking at him. 

There was swimming:

mini golf playing:

bike riding (accident from bike riding too fast):

and of course, we must of took at least 50 million golf cart rides.

Here's the boys with Ronald McDonald - I think James is trying to beat him up:

 
I never sleep well at the campground, so in the morning I have around 2 hours to crochet in peace before everyone else gets up.  I don't crochet constantly - sometimes I just look around and enjoy the silence.  This is a baby blanket that I started working on:

I've also been working on another baby blanket, but it seems like it's taking forever. 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Look at this big-a** crochet hook.  It's an XXL (22mm) - I bought it from 'Art Yarn Yummies' on Etsy.  I'm been thinking about crocheting a rug for my craft room so I needed a really large hook. 

Well, that's it for now.  I hope everyone is enjoying their day.  :)

~ Two on Tuesday, a ? and a doily ~

Two things that make me smile:

* glazed doughnuts

* street performers - while walking along the Annapolis harbor, we saw a young man playing the guitar, and 2 young girls singing.  The were pretty good too.  The girls told us that their name is 'The Bobbles' and we could find them on Facebook.  Here is the link:

http://www.facebook.com/dlys.hooksandyarns?sk=wall#!/TheBobbles

~~~~~~~~~~~

 (I added the polymer clay handle)

Question for anyone who has the 'Sharp Crochet Hook' - how is it for you?  Does it glide through the fabric smoothly for you?  I don't know if it's just me or what, but I can't seem to get it to work right for me.  I need both hands to get it to go through the fabric.  I've tried 3 different times and I got so frustrated I just put it down.  What am I doing wrong?  Is there a trick to using this?  I hope I didn't waste my money. 

p.s.  I'm trying to crochet a border on flannel fabric.

~~~~~~~~~~~  



(pay no attention to the worn out, 27 year old carpet)

I crocheted this little tiny doily.  It only measures 6".  I had meant to make it bigger, but I got tired of working it.  It now hangs over the edge of a small shelf in my craft room.  I crocheted it with size 3 thread and a size 1 hook.  :) 

~ in effect today ~

Effective today, 'The Crochet Way' has merged into the 'Did you make that?' blog.  I hope you will join us there to share all of your craft works.

If you have 'The Crochet Way' picture linked on your blog, could you
please replace it with the 'Did you make that?' picture and link? You can find
the picture over on the right sidebar. Thank you very much and I hope
everyone is having a great day. :) 

~ date to Annapolis ~

Richie picked up the boys early yesterday, so Vince and I decided to go on a 'date'.  We decided on dinner and then on to the Annapolis harbor to see the 'Bounty' ship that was docked there.  We have passed by this Double T Diner so many times and have never stopped, but this time we did. 

We walked in the door and the first thing I saw was the dessert display - good Lord, I thought I was gonna die - cheesecakes galore and all kinds of other fancy looking desserts.  We were shown to our table before I drooled over the display too much.  At the table was one of those small jukeboxes - we decided not to play any songs because there was a TV playing just a little over my head and we wanted to hear each other talk. 

I ordered the baby fried shrimp and Vince had the blackened fried chicken breast.  The portions were so large that we both ended up having to bring half of our dinners home with us.  Normally Vince eats all of his dinner and then helps me eat mine.  The food was nice and tasty, but kind of expensive - and frankly, the waitress really wasn't all that good - she was only nice to us when she brought us the check.  I'm not sure that we'll go there again.

Back out on the road again - we saw this sign while waiting for a red light.  I thought it was funny.  (Look at the 2nd sign.)

 
We parked the SUV in a parking garage and walked a couple blocks to the harbor.  It was such a pretty day out - low 80's with a breeze.  Lot's of people around, but not too crowded.  This is what we came to see - the 'Bounty' ship:

We had to stand back a good distance just to get it all in the picture.  I also took pictures of the signs giving the information about it - I knew I wouldn't be able to remember it all.

We had wanted to take the tour of the ship, but we got there too late.  A little side note:  I'm afraid of the water, so on the drive to get here I told Vince that if there was any sign that the ship was going to sink and that we were going to drown, he had to strangle me first.  He quickly responded with 'Well, ok - I might enjoy that'.  He's so funny.  :)

After looking at the ship for a little while we walked around and ended up at a side entrance to the US Naval Academy.  We walked through to see what we could see, but nothing was going on.  Kind of disappointing.

We left the Academy and started walking along the shops around the harbor.  We only looked through the windows - we didn't buy anything.  I can only imagine how expensive everything would be.  

Now let's go back in time a little - 33 years ago when I was 17 and we were first dating, we were walking along these same shops when Vince reached over a fence and picked a rose for me.  Here is that same rose bush today.  Hard to believe that it's still there. 

The owner of this property has got to be the longest hold-out I've ever heard of.  It's pretty strange to be walking along a row of shops and then bam - a pretty fenced in yard - and then back to the shops.  So it goes - shop, shop, shop, shop, shop, yard, shop, shop, shop, shop, shop.  Strange.

We had a great evening - we'll have to do it again sometime.  :)       



~ Z ~

Z = zig zag

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZDhtp4-xyQ

 

Well, that's it for the 'ABC's of Crochet'.  I enjoyed figuring out and finding things that would go with each letter.  I hope you enjoyed it too.  Now back to our regularly scheduled programs.  :) 

~ Sunshine Award ~

I have been honored by 4 lovely ladies who have awarded my blog the 'Sunshine Award'.  They are:

*  Melissa of 'Lazy Daisy Crochet'

*  Homeschooljewelrymom of 'Stitches, Scraps and Sparkles in the Sun'

*  Beck of 'Beck to Vintage'         and

*  Laydilyke of 'Crochetapy'

Thank you very much ladies - I appreciate the honor.

Now the rules state that I have to answer these questions and then pass the award on to 10 blogs that I enjoy reading.

1.  Favorite animal:  dogs
2.  Favorite number:  7 
3.  Favorite non alcoholic drink:  coffee 
4.  Facebook or Twitter: neither
5.  My passion:  family & crochet 
6.  Getting or giving:   I'm gonna be honest here - I like both
7.  Favorite pattern:  round ripple blanket 

8.  Favorite day of the week:   Tuesday - NCIS is on
9.  Favorite flower:  sunflower
10. Favorite country:  USA

Now for the 10 blogs I'd like to pass this award on to:

1.  Uta of 'Paper, Wool and Yarn'
2.  Vikki of 'By HOOKS 4U'
3.  Charlotte of 'Charlotte's Web'
4.  Holly Louise of 'Crafty Holly Louise'
5.  K of 'Aurora Blythe'
6.  Niki of 'Butternut Street'
7.  Mary of 'Crocheting the Day Away'  - (she has some really good news to share)
8.  Neicee of 'INSOMNIAC with a hook'
9.  Robert of 'Men Crochet 2'
10. Stephanie of 'Simply Crochet and Other Crafts' 

If anyone does not accept blog awards - that's ok - I just wanted to let you know that I enjoy reading your blog.  :)

~ Y ~

Y = yarn



~ X ~

X = x-stitch (also know as the cross-stitch)

http://www.crochetcabana.com/stitches/stitches-x-stitch.htm



~ W ~

W = wiggles

http://hooksandyarns.blogspot.com/2011/09/wiggles-preemie-baby-blankie.html

http://hooksandyarns.blogspot.com/2011/09/round-wiggly-pillow.html

http://hooksandyarns.blogspot.com/2012/06/wiggles-celebration-bunting.html

http://hooksandyarns.blogspot.com/2012/01/wiggles-triangle.html

http://hooksandyarns.blogspot.com/2011/10/wiggles-square-for-sibol.html



~ V ~

V = variegated



~ Blog stuff ~

Hi everyone.  Just popping in to let ya'll know that I've started a second blog - it's called 'Dly's crafts and stuff'.  I only have one post so far, but I would love it if you could drop by for a visit.  Now don't worry, I'm keeping my crochet blog too - I just wanted to keep things organized.  I'm like that - a place for everything, and everything in it's place. 

I also need to let ya'll know that on the 17th of June, 'The Crochet Way' blog will merge into the 'Did you make that?' blog.  If you have 'The Crochet Way' picture linked on your blog, could you please replace it with the 'Did you make that?' picture and link?  You can find the picture over there on the right sidebar.  Thank you very much and I hope everyone is having a great day.  :)  

~ U ~

U = Urban Turban

http://jemknit.blogspot.com/2010/11/urban-turban.html

note:  I worked this pattern and for the 1st row you ch 13, dc in the 4th ch from the hook, dc in each ch across.  Ch 3, turn.  (counting the 1st 3 chs, you will end up with 11 sts) 



~ T ~

T = threads



~ S ~

S = scarf

http://hooksandyarns.blogspot.com/2011/11/childs-gingerbread-boy-scarf.html



~ a new linky blog ~

Hi everyone.  I've created a new crafty linky blog for all to enjoy.  Whether it's crochet, knit, plastic canvas, scrapbooking, baking, cooking, jewelry making, sewing, quilting, mosaic work, woodwork, pretty garden designs, anything really - if you made it, show it off.  :)

http://crafts-didyoumakethat.blogspot.com/

~~~~~~~
Let me know how you feel about there being another linky blog - if it's too much, or if it's ok.  Thanks.  :)   

~ R ~

R = round ripple

http://www.angelfire.com/tx5/angelcrafts/patterns/roundripple.html



~ wiggles celebration bunting ~

Materials:

- 4-ply worsted weight acrylic

   - small amounts of any color you would like

- I crochet hook

- small pony beads

- assorted fabric scraps

- fabric glue

- buttons

- Sharpie markers

Size:  4 1/2" x 5 1/2" (not including the chain tail)

Note:  I crochet tight so you may need to adjust the size of your crochet hook

Directions:

Row 1:  Ch 19, dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in each ch across.  Turn.  (17 sts)

Row 2:  Ch 4 (counts as 1st dc and ch 1), skip next dc, dc in next dc.  *ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next dc.  Repeat from * 6 more times.  Ch 1, skip next dc, dc in top of ch 3.  Turn.

Row 3:  Ch 3, dc in each ch-1 space and dc across.  Dc in top of ch 3.  Turn.

Row 4:  Ch 2, dc in next dc (counts as a decrease), dc in each dc across, dc last dc and ch 3 together.  Turn.

Rows 5 - 10:  Ch 2, dc in next dc (counts as a decrease), dc in each dc across, dc last 2 dc together.  Turn.

Row 11:  Ch 2, dc next 2 dc together.  Ch 11, end off.

For wiggles:

Join any color (from the back) with a sl st around the turning ch-3 of Row 2, ch 3, 3 dc around the same st.  *Turn piece counter-clockwise, 4 dc around the next dc (this will be a little tricky, but it can be done). 

Turn piece clockwise, 4 dc around the next dc (again, this will be a little tricky). Repeat from * across to complete the wiggles. End off.

- cut out a triangle shaped piece of fabric and glue to the front of the bunting piece.  Add stitch marks with the Sharpie marker.

- glue on buttons

- add small pony beads to the ch-11 tail.

For hanging chain:

Ch 20, sc across the top of 1st bunting piece, * ch 5, sc across the top of the next piece.  Repeat from * for however many bunting pieces you have.  At the end, ch 20 and end off.

***Debi Y's pattern***


~ Q ~

Q = 'Quick and Easy Coasters'

http://www.handcraftingwithlove.net/yarn/pat-coaster.html



~ P ~

P = poncho

http://www.freepatterns.com/detail.html?code=FC00813&cat_id=340



~ a little fairy garden ~

Susanne of 'Forget-Me-Not' posted about a friend of hers who created a fairy garden in her yard - and she also gave a link to a blogger who creates fairy gardens.  When I saw those, I just knew that I had to try it.  (My Vince and I are in the process of painting the back steps and cleaning up the patio, so please excuse all the mess.) 

I started with a large pot that we had a tomato plant in last year.  I cleaned up the dirt, patted it down and then searched around for a 'house'.  Found this little clay pot, drew on a door and a window with a Sharpie marker, and added a large flat rock for a roof - (it kind of reminds me of 'The Flintstones) - and then added rocks for a walkway to the door.  Another rock with a door drawn on is the dog house for the fairy's tiny best friend.  4 little trees were added and then blue glass gems were used to outline the gardens.  I still need to find a little fairy figurine to complete the garden and I'm thinking maybe a few more small plants of some sort. 

I think it's kind of cute and I had fun creating it - I'll definitely be making some more.  Thanks Susanne!  :)

~ O ~

O = open-shell stitch

http://www.french-knots.com/shell-crochet-stitch-and-open-shell-crochet/



~ N ~

N = novelty yarn



~ square in a square ~

Materials:
- 4-ply worsted weight acrylic (I used Loops & Threads Impeccable)
   - yellow
   - soft white
- J hook

Size:  5 1/2"

Note:  I crochet tight so you may need to adjust the size of your crochet hook

Directions:
Rnd 1:  With yellow ch 4, 2 dc in 4th ch from hook, ch 2, (3 dc, ch 2) 3 times in same ch.  Join with a sl st to top of beginning ch 3.

Rnd 2:  Sl st over to corner ch-2 space, (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same space, ch 1.  *(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next corner ch-2 space, ch 1.  Repeat from * 2 more times.  Join as before.

Rnd 3:  Ch 1, sc in same st as joining, sc in next 2 dc, (sc, ch 2, sc) in corner ch-2 space, sc in next 3 dc, ch 5, skip ch-1 space.  *sc in next 3 dc, (sc, ch 2, sc) in corner ch-2 space, sc in next 3 dc, ch 5, skip ch-1 space.  Repeat from * 2 more times.  Join with a sl st to 1st sc.  End off.

Rnd 4:  Join soft white with a sl st to any ch-5 space, (ch 3, 3 dc, ch 2, 4 dc) in same space, ch 2, sc in corner ch-2 space, ch 2.  *(4 dc, ch 2, 4 dc) in next ch-5 space, ch 2, sc in corner ch-2 space, ch 2.  Repeat from * 2 more times.  Join with a sl st to top of beginning ch 3.

Rnd 5:  Ch 3, dc in next 3 dc, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner ch-2 space, dc in next 4 dc, ch 2, dc in next sc, ch 2.  *dc in next 4 dc, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner ch-2 space, dc in next 4 dc, ch 2, dc in next sc, ch 2.  Repeat from * 2 more times.  Join as before.

Rnd 6:  Ch 1, sc in same st as joining, sc in each dc and ch around with (sc, ch 2, sc) in each corner ch-2 space.  Join with a sl st to 1st sc.  End off.

***Debi Y's pattern*** 

~ M ~

M = mustache

http://www.louiesloops.com/2011/09/i-mustache-you-question.html