Guild-Signatory Agents and Agencies

Guild-Signatory Agents and Agencies:

'via Blog this'

Fiction Submission Guidelines for Elizabeth Pomada

Fiction Submission Guidelines for Elizabeth Pomada:

'via Blog this'

The Hump Stitch

A Stubborn Woman: Hump Stitch

Crocodile or Alligator Crochet Stitch Pattern

 I just had to try this as I had never heard of it before. As I worked it, I realized it was a stitch my Mother had used on the ruffled skirts of the 'Bed Dolls' that were popular back in the 1950's. So, it is a stitch that's been around for awhile, but going under a new name.

I show the front and back. I didn't block it so it would look pretty, because I lost interest. I do have to say it is a completely easy pattern to do and if you do like it and want to try making a scarf, you can go to the link below and visit :

biStitchual: Hooking & Needling Fun! 

 http://bistitchual.blogspot.com/2011/03/crocodile-stitch-scarf-pattern.html

There you will find the pattern for the scarf and her notes about how to do the stitch. (Her pictures are better,  too.)

 On another but similar note, today I found my mother's Afghan hook, which goes by another name, too. Today you know it as the Tunisian hook.

"A rose by another name would still smell as sweet."

I used the hat with a twist pattern, but left out the twist. Now this is a pattern for sale on my stubbornwoman site. Click the link to go there. http://www.etsy.com/listing/78824065/ribbed-newsboy-hat-with-lined-brim-no-81

Here are some more samples of hats using the same pattern, but with small alterations	The brim of the newsboy is turned up and held with a gold color metal button.	I love the colors. All the yarn I had left was the pale salmon pink, so I dyed the finished hat with koolaid.

Using measurements rather than counting Stitches.

 This is the original pattern using a worsted weight yarn in wool

 Same pattern using bulky yarn in wool, but left out the twist
This one will have fewer rounds and fewer stitches

 Same pattern using a sport weight yarn in wool
I have more stitches per round and more rounds

Here I used a smaller yarn in cashmere
Wow. Many many rounds in this one.

However, all of the hats would start the twist at 3" and the diameter of the crown would be 8". The total length of the hats would all be 8" as well and all of the hats will fit the same size head.

Next Project for the Blog

I have the germ of an idea of how to spend this year. It all began with the purchase of ergonomic crochet hooks to protect my wrist and the loss of my PC data. I had to re write my most popular pattern for 6 customers. I didn't have the correct yarn, so I went down one size.

After working it all out, I crocheted a hat in a smaller yarn, then another in a larger yarn. Interesting. The way I write my patterns, it works out.

Instead of crocheting to a number of stitches per row or round, I crochet to a size of diameter of opening and length of crown. With this technique, it really doesn't matter which size yarn I use!

So... this year, I am going to work it all out on my blog as a looonnnngggg tutorial.

Seventy?

Hard to believe I will be 70 years old this month, but know what? I look forward to the next decade. This is me on Mother's Day, 2011.

Yarn Swift

I have used many things as a substitute for a yarn swift, but this is as good as an extra pair of hands. It is actually designed to hold food over a candle flame to keep it hot at banquets.

I just turned it upside down. The sloping sides will fit most open skeins.

Trying my Hand on Crocheted Necklaces

This is my first try with this technique. I did it mainly to prove to my grandson that I could do it.

Done in cotton thread. You can see it in my shop here:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/76434679/crochet-floral-necklace-in-pink-lt-green

 As you can see, I am crocheting again, but keeping to wool and acrylics. This photo is taken in natural light from a window facing north. One of my favorite yarns in mulberry wool with multi color accents and an accent of white.

I wanted to do an Architectural hat. Has terraces on top and a leaf on the side that is crocheted as part of the hat, not added on.

you can see it in my shop here:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/76635429/wool-crochet-cloche-boutique-hat

Going with the same theme, Architectural, terraces, I chose a tangerine acrylic and a wide band of the multicolor acrylic yarn used above.The tassel and flower are add-on's.

I really love this one!

You can see it in my shop here:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/76638934/cloche-tangerine-acrylic-crochet.
  
Sheepishly, I admit, I never read the camera manual. My Kodak has a setting for manual exposure, the one thing I was mad about not having! Sheesh, after owning and using it for 6 months!!!!

When the Pup Wants to Play Ball

When the Pup wants to play ball and I want to watch TV, I have to crochet. I've had him since he was 8 wks. old, so he knows that when I crochet he is to leave me alone. Last night, I made this. I didn't have anything in mind, just crocheting and watching the TV.

Doing some crochet again

Fun Hat

Started doing some crochet again. As long as I keep it simple and use soft yarn, I'm OK.

I didn't list this one in my shop.

Google has changed

Everyone  has been complaining of lower views, slower sales. The following link may be just the info you need

http://www.etsy.com/teams/7722/business-topics/discuss/8523243/page/47/?post_id=91674287&prior_page=1

Update on wrists

For those who missed it, crocheting with the raffia ribbon was tough on my arthrytic  wrist. I love the results, but the process is hard. I will crochet with the raffia again, but not every day like I did before.



Instead, I've been making these:

Instead, I've been making these

Pattern template I used

Crochet Rafia Pattern


PDF Pattern #1 Rayon Raffia Brimmed Hat. I decided this is the easiest hat to start with. It uses sc, dc, hdc and reverse sc. The hat is crocheted in the round.

I give instructions on finishing, joining yarn and making it in small, medium and large. The photos show the hat from the top to the end of the brim. Click here to purchase for $6.50

What? You thought this was a hat site? It is....

Template used

Photos show rose with/without varnish

click photo to zoom

Doesn't this look like chocolate?

Until my wrist heals, I can't crochet any hats, so for now, it is accessories. I love leather, but so far, the best I can do are flowers.

Click to see larger

While my wrist heals (after making the blue basket -- I should have waited!)
I cut out some leather roses and have started working with them.

The caramel colored one is thin leather with a hard glossy finish. It wouldn't take moulding. The brown one is softer and thicker, so it moulded perfectly.

I found the instructions on how to make these online at http://abigailscraftshowto.com/2010/04/how-to-make-moulded-leather-flowers/
They are fun to make if you like flowers. I used the same pattern to make two felt flowers.

Leather accessories are now sold on
http://bettyatkins.etsy.com

A jewel of a basket

  I'm starting to really get this. When using sc, the patterns I have using hdc or dc just don't work. Patterns meaning hat patterns. it is a whole new world and new techniques. Even the way I hold the hook is different.

These little baskets end up being very stiff, so they are perfect for holding trinkets or just putting on a shelf to admire.

 I am really having fun... can you tell?

I can barely wait to make another one, but must use restraint as it is really hard on my wrist.

My second Love -- Baskets

I have always been drawn to baskets. I have wanted to make them but have never had the opportunity nor the resources. Since I started crocheting with raffia ribbon, the idea that I could crochet one has kept turning up. So, I tried it out. Here is a photo of my efforts... photos? maybe.

What really matters

My mother and I lived together for over 50 years. When her mother died, Mama kept the things that meant a great deal to her. One of these was Grandma's sewing table. Inside the table were all of the notions she had used or kept over the years. When it was my mom's turn to leave I invited my children to come get what they wanted, but I kept the sewing table.

Now the table holds a mishmash of notions from all three of us. If I need something, I can usually find it in there. Today while rummaging through it I found 6 thimbles. I know which are mine as I never worked in fields, so my fingers are smaller than theirs. There was even a tiny thimble I used as a child. It could have been saved by either one of them. Grandma's quilting thimble is the largest and the oldest.






Above is a photo of Mama taken in 1949.

I am showing only 4 of the thimbles because I am using the others to make a moulded leather flower. The tiny one is mine.

What would you like?

This blog is new, only 3 months old. What would you like to read about? I will try my best to accommodate your interests, but I do need some input if this blog is going to help you.

Crochet Rayon Raffia Bowler Hat adjustable by theoldhooker on Etsy

Crochet Rayon Raffia Bowler Hat adjustable by theoldhooker on Etsy: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Why?

I can sell tons of patterns on my sister site on Etsy (http://stubbornwoman.etsy.com), I sell lots of custom hats on my oldhooker etsy site (http://theoldhooker.etsy.com)but I can't 'give' away the finished hats I have listed? I don't understand this. The custom hats cost just the same, so it can't be that my prices are too high. It has to be a marketing matter. I market all the time... so what gives?

Look at me, I'm pretty nice. At least it looks like I am. Help this old grannie! Buy a hat! PLEASE! Use the code TOH2011 and get 30% off.