Is it really October already?  I'm such a bad blogger.  I think of things to blog about all the time, I just never get a round tuit.  Remember those?

I've more or less put the knitting aside for the time being.  I have enough frustration in my life without going out and creating more.  I have two crochet projects going at the same time which is pretty amazing considering I don't multitask very well.  I started Nancy's Wave Scarf in a yellow and white sport yarn and yet another baby blanket for a friend.  I can't locate the pattern for the scarf, but did find the link to the stitch it's based on here.  The baby blanket pattern I found at Lionbrand and it's called "All Season Throw."

I'm fighting arthritis so I can't crochet for long periods of time like I used to.  I did manage to get about 9 rows done on the baby blanket on Sunday which was a perfect crochet day; overcast, dark and cool.  I'm not even close to being ready for wintery weather but plan to visit my sister in Arizona later this month which will still have beautiful days and cool nights.  AND she has a heated pool!

I know I should be thinking about getting the links updated and getting some holiday patterns up, and honestly I have thought about it.  Really.  I shall make every endeavor to "get with it,"  "get it in gear," and light a fire under my motivation and provide you with more FREE CROCHET LINKS!!   Yay me.  Now, where are those matches?

I have decided (a while ago) that I needed to teach myself to knit. Now don't get all crazy, I have not turned my back on crochet.  It will always be my first crafty choice!  But I need to learn something new.  I've been practicing and have had quite a few frustrating moments.  One thing I absolutely have to learn soon is how to fix mistakes!  Crochet is so easy to fix.  Rip and do over.  I can't count the number of times I have ripped out rows of knitting to fix a mistake and having it still not look right.  Picking up a stitch?  Yah, tried that. 

I finally managed, after umpteen attempts to finish a little purse with a long strap that is perfect for a wallet, cell phone and keys and leaves my hands free. 

I have two left thumbs so when I saw I would need to use 4 needles to make socks my mind just shut down.  I cannot fathom using 4 of anything at the same time.  I'd hurt myself or someone else for sure.  Crochet has enough counting, and knitting has even more.  It's not a "mindless" activity in the evening.  Unless of course it's a simple stitch that continues row after row.

I'm frustrated and it takes me a while to learn something new so I try not to get discouraged.  Like any craft, practice makes perfect.  Or in my case, practice till you pull your hair out and put it away. I know there are others out there who are talented enough to do crochet and knit.  Share your secrets wouldja? 

Yes, I turned 50 today.  Set off the fireworks, strike up the band and fill your cups!  Just make sure I get to bed by 9pm. 

I am now eligible for AARP.  I'm too young to get the senior discount at Dennys and too old to be carded.  Which would do wonders for my ego by the way.  That is, if I could find it.  I'm sure it's somewhere in the couch with the loose change and food crumbs.

50 hasn't been as difficult as I thought or freaked out about.  Probably because I've been practicing it in my mind for months. 

I remember when we had to get up and turn a knob to change the channel on the tv.  I remember having my very own transistor radio.  I remember when girls were not allowed to wear pants to school.  I had my appendix taken out when I was 7.  I experienced a big earthquake when I was 12.  I remember my first french kiss when I was 14 (and wanted to gag).  I have had 3 husbands, given birth to 2 children, had a foster child and 2 step children.  There has been a dog or dogs in my life since I was born.  Cats most of the time.  I have 5 grandchildren ranging in age from 18 months to 12 years old.

I've forgotten pretty much everything else.  God loves fools and idiots.  And me. And I'm thankful for all of my experiences to date and those still to come. 

I guess I've evolved and changed over the years, much like crochet.  It's all good.

Happy Birthday to me.

Little House in the Suburbs

I am so excited to have found this great place to visit on the web!!!

There are so many wonderful, educational, humorous, entertaining, and resourceful articles that you just can’t take it all in with one sitting.  I subscribed to the feed so I can at least keep up with the current goings on while I peruse the rest of the site at my leisure. 

This has so much more than crochet patterns and crafty how-to’s.  A lot of us are trying to be more self sufficient and environmentally conscious and Little House in the Suburbs has so many fantabulous ideas, how to do it’s, step by step tutorials, pictures and last but not least, a healthy dash of humor to boot.

I love this site.  I look forward to seeing how it (and the author’s) progress – including a much publicized brouhaha (I had to look up that spelling!)  about keeping goats in a city.  As a side note, I’ve been reading quite a bit lately in the local news about how chickens are making a comeback to the backyards of city dwellers. 

If you want to grab a free crochet pattern, learn how to make a compost bin, disguise your front yard food garden with flowers to keep code enforcement officials (or HOA Nazis) in the dark,  craft projects, recipes, make your own cleaning and beauty products and much, much more drop what you’re doing and go there now!!  Do I sound like a commercial?  Don’t take my word for it.  Go there and see for yourself!!  It rocks big time! http://www.littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/   Really.  Go now.  You’ll love it.

"Craftydeb.com – Not always cute and cuddly"

That is the title to this amazing amigurumi crawling site.  And I do mean crawling.  And slithering.  And wiggling, flying, sailing, chirping, farm animals and more! 

The pdf downloadable patterns (you'll need Adobe Acrobat) are totally unique and great for all ages, male or female.  If you're into monsters, rockets,  or (sorry Deb) absolutely CUTE and Cuddly stuffies, you'll find them. 

In addition to the paid patterns there are free patterns, one of which is Buster Bunny in case you're planning for Easter. 

Another plus are the tutorials.  One that I hadn't seen yet is the "magic ring."  There are so many eye pleasing pictures of the creatures and the site is super easy to navigate.  I like that there isn't too much clutter to try and get through before you find the goodies. 

Craftydeb.com is like watching a new cartoon with faces you recognize, and surprising new ones you'll enjoy meeting for the first time.

Call me what you will.  Since I spend so much time online searching for free crochet patterns I thought it would be a logical next step to start writing reviews of the different sites and blogs I come across.  These are my own personal opinions and will be honest and candid.  If you have or know of a site you'd like to see here, let me know.

One of the first points I want to make is that it's great to get all the free patterns you can, but there is something to be said for "you get what you pay for."  Not that free patterns are of inferior quality by any means, but in order to increase your crochet skills and create gifts for all the ones you love, you will eventually have to pay for a pattern, or book of patterns. And let's face it, crochet designers deserve credit for their sweat and tears.  Most, if not all, have free patterns they generously donate.  If not for those, this website would not exist.

Having said that, I will include in these reviews every type of crochet site I think appropriate for mycrochetsite.com.  This will include established designers to the hobby crocheter yet to be published.  I hope you'll enjoy these as much as I enjoy my most enjoyable distraction online – the hunt for crochet patterns.

Here's my rating system. 

=  like it

= so so

= phooey

Better late than never, right?  I recently discovered the website Stumble Upon.  Now I can waste even more time getting distracted and ending up who knows where!  Actually I have found this site allows me to stay on track a bit better when I'm searching for crochet patterns for you all.  I'm also seeing other websites I have an interest in and have discovered a treasure trove of inspiration to do more than I possibly have time or stash for.

I have only touched the tip of the iceberg so to speak but have already located crochet sites that I haven't seen before.  I've been working on an update on free patterns, as I do all the time, and should be getting ready to send that out in the next week or so. (Depending on how distracted I get!)

If you haven't tried Stumble Upon, it allows you to choose what content you are interested in and then instead of doing a search engine query, you just click on the Stumble It button in your toolbar and you are taken to sites that interest you.  There is also an option to let Stumble Upon know what you do not care for so that content will not come up again.  There is a friend feature that I haven't quite figured out.  If you already know about this site, and apparently I am the last to know, please leave me a comment on what you think about it!  And if you want to look me up as a friend I use the name krisfish.

Happy Stumbling!!

I sent out the latest update yesterday to everyone who has signed up and decided to extend the giveaway until Sunday, Feb. 1st.  That gives everyone the weekend to enter and look at the 41 newest links posted to the web site.

I have a question as well.  Does anyone have issues with arthritis and how do you overcome them and continue to crochet?  I'd love to get some tips and advice!!

Go ahead and leave a comment so you can be entered into the giveaway!!

I made a neck warmer from this pattern in a gold worsted weight yarn.  It worked up fairly quickly and I was pleased with the results.  I intended to give it to someone as a gift, and it was basically refused.  Some twenty somethings are picky about what kind of crochet they wear so with only slight hurt feelings, I took it back.

Because it was made as a gift I have decided to by golly gift it!  So, here at My Crochet Site we are having a giveaway.  Everyone likes free stuff right?   I will keep the giveaway open until next Friday which is January 30^th.  All you have to do to enter is to leave a comment on this blog.  Easy easy and then some more easy right?  Personally I like easy and I like free!  I'll announce the lucky winner on Monday Feb. 2, 2009.  Good Luck!

I am a thrifty person.  I don't go out and spend on things I don't need very often.  But when I do, I spend it on the grandkids or on yarn.  Last week my husband took me out to a movie which was nice on many levels as we had not been to a movie theater in a couple of years at least.  We saw Gran Torino by the way – good flick.  Afterwards we were driving by Hobby Lobby and husband says he needs to stop by there to look for a new pot for his office bonsai tree.  Being the dutiful wife I agreed that we should absolutely stop and have a look around.  Now really, he should have known better.  If I'm going in to a store with yarn I will at least look.  And touch – I have to touch.  Wouldn't you?

I found some yarn on sale (my favorite-sale yarn) and as soon as I touched it I knew I had to have it.  It's made in Turkey with a label of Yarn Bee.  It's a lofty bulky type, perfect for a scarf.  After making so many gifts for Christmas for everyone else I decided this would be the perfect project as a gift to me!  I made a scarf and I just love it.  I'd wear it all the time if I could.  It's so soft and ya know, touchable.  Yum!

I did not use a pattern.  After looking around I decided to keep it simple and work it up in a double crochet.  I think I started with a foundation of 13 and then eye balled the length. 

I took a picture.  Actually I took a bunch of pictures and decided to edit it to take out my face and most of my not so lovely bathroom walls.  I hate having my picture taken in the first place because I never take a good one and besides I needed make up and to lose about 30 pounds, neither of which was going to happen today!

Stay tuned – I'm planning a giveaway soon!