The Shtick I Do!

Hookers? Well that's a term . . . umm . . . let me quote an expert here: " . . . the first printed crochet pattern appeared in a Dutch magazine early in the nineteenth century . . . As the appalling conditions of lace makers became known to the American women, they started to get interested in creating the work themselves rather than supporting the abusive practices of the lace making industry. In a book published at the time, a lace manufacturer admitted that he expected his workers to turn a few tricks on the side to make up for his not paying them a living wage. As Donna Kooler suggests in The Encyclopedia of Crochet , this may even explain how the word "hooker" came to have such wayward connotations. " ~ Debbie Stoller   Stitch 'n Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker Now since crochet has only been around for a little over 200 years ( * ) and no one really knows where it started we can pretty much only rely on what's been written. Knitting has bee...

This past weekend, my husband and I ventured across the Ohio River and went north-ish into Columbus. We'd been there before a couple years ago on a semi-second honeymoon. But that was only for a weekend as well. Nevertheless we had a blast both last time and this time. Have you ever been to the North Market ? I highly recommend you go. Go now. If now isn't good for you make it ASAP. The place is wonderful. But only if you're nerdy like we are. I love North Market! Food and fresh produce and salsas and sauces and ice cream ( omgwtfbbq ice cream ) and fresh meats and fish and baked goods and . . . oh my. I'm sorry I had to stop. I was getting all worked up. Another place we visited was the Book Loft . Let me tell you, if you've ever dreamed of going to an endless library of books this is the place. 32 rooms? It's ridiculous! And wonderful! It's wonderfully ridiculous! The picture on their main page is very misleading. Who'd think you could get 32 room...

I know, who in their right mind crochets a blanket in the summer? I have a confession to make: I have never claimed to be "right minded". There, now that that is out of the way, here is a pic of the blanket I finished a few days ago. (*gasp* it's not a dish cloth!) This is the one that I was working on with that HUGE crochet hook. I can't give you a size because it isn't stamped anywhere on the thing. But it's big. I used two strands of a worsted weight 4-ply yarn. One color that is carried throughout the piece is black, then the other colors alternate: green, purple, maroon. (I know it looks like it's red in the pic but I promise it's maroon) And the stripes are two different sizes, one is 5 rows wide (that's the slim row) and the other is 11 rows wide (that's the thick row). Pattern? Well I didn't follow a pattern and I'm not sure I can tell you one because of not knowing the hook size but I can tell you what I did and the s...

I am still making Dish Cloths! No, I'm not obsessive-compulsive about it. At least I don't think I am. Am I? Anyway . . . I'm still making them. I've decided that I'm going to make a BOX full of them. ( My hubby doesn't know this yet *eek* ) But if I can get a bunch made I can use them as gifts for anything! Someone's birthday sneaks up on me? BAM! Christmas smacks me in the back of the head (which it does all the time anyway)? BAM! Someone gets married and I need a quick gift? BAM! They get a dish cloth or 2. Well two since I'm making them in pairs. Who gets one dish cloth? I mean really. You buy them at Walmart and they come in pairs or complete sets. With matching aprons and kitchen curtains and rugs for the front of the stove and even bandannas for your dog! Well, maybe not bandannas for your dog, but you know what I mean. Right now I don't have a box to put them in so I'm using a gallon size Ziplock bag. Keeps them from getting mess...

Soda Tab Crochet Bracelet  When I see things like twist ties and soda can tabs I often wonder "What could I make with that?" Oh I know, I'm not the only crafter to think that way, as a matter of fact, most of us do! That's why the interwebs is full of awesome things we've made!  Soda can tabs have been made into all kinds of cool stuff. I've seen bras, belly dancing belts, headbands, bracelets and purses. This one is neat. Those colors are great, I love it. Even the strap is made from soda tabs. I don't think I have the patience to make something that involved. It's not that I couldn't come up with the tabs . . . I live on soda. I just keep finding all sorts of new things to make! So I jump from one project to another like a frog in a pond going from lily pad to lily pad. <ribbit> Currently I'm on the Soda Tab Bracelet lily pad. I've made several and one in particular I've worn for a few days now. It's a cu...