Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Coasters Are a Must!

Tuesday, May 7th, 2013

Coasters Are A Must

We are having a family reunion, on Independence Day
They are all coming to my house, much to my dismay

I dearly love them all, but thoughtless they can be
On my antique furniture, they leave their cup of tea

All their beverages leave an unsightly watermark
I am making Coasters, so at them I will not bark

Not just one, but many, such as the Pinwheel Lace
The Lacy Diamond, The Pineapple, I must keep up the pace!

Aroma Therapy Spiral Lace, and the Olde Time Apple too
Sunny Sunflower, Pastel Blossoms, I love them all, don’t you?


My mom will set her coffee cup on the Spring Pineapple Butterfly
It is worth the extra effort to keep my furniture nice and dry.

Personally, I pick for myself the Patriotic Kitchen Set
It will be my way of keeping my table tops from getting wet

So think ahead and crochet up some protection for yourself
Or you may find some watermarks upon your bookcase shelf

~Y~Y~Y~Y~Y~Y~Y~Y~Y~

Written by: Lindy Hicks for crochetmemories.com

April 10, 2013

We’re talking filet… (Part 2)

Sunday, November 18th, 2012

Continuing…

With filet there are other stitches one can incorporate for a more complex and interesting design. For instance one of the other more common stitches in filet is the lacet. Lacets remind me of rattan or lattice work and add beauty to your work.

Winter Wonderland Runner

While the concept of lacets is easy, they require 2 rows alternately worked. And they can start with either row, just as long as you alternate between the rows.

Lacets worked on a foundation of open mesh:
      Dc in next dc, ch 3, sc in next dc, ch 3, dc in next dc

Lacets worked on a foundation of solid mesh:
      Dc in next dc, ch 3, sk next 2 dc, sc in next dc, ch 3, sk next 2 dc, dc in next dc

Starting with the alternate lacet row worked over a foundation of open mesh:
      Dc in next dc, ch 5, sk next dc, dc in next dc

Starting with the alternate lacet row worked over a foundation of solid mesh:
      Dc in next dc, ch 5, sk next 5 dc, dc in next dc

Lacets worked over a lacet row:
      Dc in next dc, ch 5, dc in next dc

The alternate row of lacets worked over a lacet row:
      Dc in next dc, ch 3, sc in next ch 5 sp, dc in next dc

As I said above, there are variables to filet crochet which include working a dc, ch 1, dc – as in yarn baby blankets. To create more of a square in the filet, adjustments need to be made for yarn and/or hook sizes.

More next month!

We’re talking filet… (Part 1)

Thursday, November 1st, 2012

Not meat or fish, but crochet! I love filet crochet and remember many years ago my first attempt at working filet designs shown in vintage magazines. With a small legend and understanding of basic stitches; chains and double crochet, I began work and what unfolded was not just an intricate piece in crochet, but a story.


Filet is relatively easy once you understand the concept. Much like mosaics, you simply create a picture by filling in the squares, or as in this case, the mesh/grids. The mesh in itself is nothing more than dc and chs. Once the foundation chain is laid, you work an open mesh with double crochet and ch 2 sps. The double crochet is worked into every 3rd foundation ch (or beg ch).

On the 2nd row, you work a dc into each dc with a ch 2 between. Like I say, this is basic for most filet patterns. There are variables just like anything else.

To create the picture, you fill in the squares or open mesh with (2 dc) worked over the ch 2 sps.

But as simple as it sounds there are some ground rules.

First, not all squares or mesh are composed of 4 stitches as it might seem at first, but 3 sts. At the end of the row, you work an additional stitch to complete the grid. It would look something like this:

4 dc = 1 solid mesh: (4 dc)
1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc = 1 open mesh: (4 sts)
7 dc = 2 solid mesh: (7 dc)
1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc = 2 open mesh: (7 sts)

In other words, the last stitch at the end of the mesh also serves as the first st of the next mesh. As a wall in your home is shared by two rooms – the one on one side of the wall and the other on the other side of the wall – the mesh on each side of the double crochet, share the double crochet between them.

Second, when working in rows you can not always read your chart from left to right. In other words, when working on the right side of your work, you’d be reading left to right, but when working back, you now must read the chart from right to left or you’d end with an abstract – which you might prefer! 

A good way to indicate which way to read the chart is to draw arrows. When reading the chart from left to right, draw an arrow on the left side of the chart pointing to the right and then on the next row up, draw another arrow on the right side of the chart pointing to the left. At a glance, you’ll always know which way to read the chart and keep your work on course.

In the next few weeks I’ll add more information in regard to filet from variables, advance filet stitches, how to work beyond the basic square or rectangle shape and more!

Stop, read, and count

Sunday, September 23rd, 2012

Remember learning about “stop, drop, and roll?” It seems that we could also benefit from stop, read, and count. It simply means that if you’re working a pattern and all of a sudden, it’s not making sense or the count is off then:

    Stop! Do not continue, because by continuing the problem will only worsen.

    Read. Re-read the instructions to ensure you read it correctly.

I’ve often found that people overlook the small, but oh-so important words when crocheting. Words like “in” and “skip.” Sometimes crocheters think they know what’s in the instruction and start off on a course they think is right, only to find out they should have “read” what was actually in the instruction.

    Count. Count the stitches to see if you’re off, but not only in the row or round you incurred problems, but the previous rows/rounds too. By missing something in a previous round, it will throw off the current round.

_____________

Check the pattern instructions to see if it’s correct before taking time to contact the designer or editor. For instance below are two rounds – the first to give you a count so we can check if the next round is accurate.

Example Instruction

    Rnd 2) Working in back lps only this rnd; ch 3; * dc in next dc; rep from * around; join with a sl st to first dc: 42 dc.

    Rnd 3) Beg shell in joining see special sts, sk next 2 dc; * shell in next dc see special sts, sk next 2 dc; rep from * around; join with a sl st to first dc: 14 shells.

How to determine if the pattern is correct

With rnd 2, we end with 42 dc so when we begin rnd 3, we can easily check if the 14 shell count is correct.

    1: Determine the number of stitches used in the pattern repeat.

    2: Start from the asterisk instead of the beginning of the rnd.

    3: Count how many stitches the repeat spans:

    * shell in next dc, skip next 2 dc;

    (The shell is worked in 1 stitch – skipping next 2 dc spans over 2 more stitches. Now total the number of stitches the repeat spans; 1 plus 2 = 3.)

    4: Divide the total number of stitches you ended with from the previous rnd; 42 by the number of stitches the pattern repeat spans in the current rnd; 3.

    42 divided by 3 = 14.

So with a little math you can easily determine if the instructions are correct. If you end up with more or fewer shells check the instructions to see what you missed – in this case it would have been the sk next 2 dc. Did you only skip 1 dc, or 3?

My Hiatus

Wednesday, September 12th, 2012

Hiatus to me means not only a break, but also a period of rest and relaxation. Far from it! Though I took a hiatus from “designing” and from publishing a monthly newsletter, I really didn’t take that much-needed rest. Instead, I felt myself pulled, after some consideration, toward building a complete new website. In fact, I felt a new-found and much-needed purpose in life. Yes I love to design and I love all aspects of Crochet Memories but even when we love our work, sometimes it still becomes a “job!”

The first part of my “hiatus” was searching for just the right template. I found one I liked but as soon as I uploaded the files online, it looked nothing like what my dinosaur HTML editor conveyed! Yikes! So back in search for another, easier designed template. I couldn’t find one I liked well and then tried to “redo” my existing design. No go! They say the third time’s a charm – and it was. I fell in love with the simplicity of the template I chose.

After getting the template, came the job of reworking the pages – but wait, if I was going to go with another shopping cart, I first needed to find it, set it up and begin entering products.

Well as you can imagine, my hiatus became a full time job, but with purpose. I worked long hours and it took me about 3 months from start to finish. Oh wait – it’s still not finished. Wink, wink! But it will – I promise!

Say, if you haven’t signed up for my newsletter now is probably the right time. I just finished designing what I call the Loopy Loops Coaster – it’s a fun project with almost a slide-show presentation how-to. If you’re stumped by the instruction – just check out the pictures for clarification.

Okay, so that brings me to another point; and would love your feedback. I have tons of free patterns but I’ve neglected, due to time constraints, adding those to the free patterns pages. I hope to have some time in the near future to get caught up on all the little things that have been put on the back burner. But I’m a bit stumped as to how to link them.

Let me explain. Now while free patterns are a courtesy of the designer and/or company involved in publishing them, it doesn’t mean they’re free to grab and post on eBay, Etsy, Ravelry, someone else’s blog, for money or for free. Because I seem to have problems from time to time with people thinking that what’s mine is theirs, I decided I’m publishing all patterns in PDF format. Will it stop people – probably not but hopefully it’ll make it a bit more difficult to take them.

Another reason for doing this is the amount of work. Some are familiar with HTML, PHP, CSS, and XML etc. etc, but have any of you who don’t do website pages looked at the “wrong side” of the page you’re viewing? There’s a ton of code! In making a small pattern appear as it does on the “right side” a ton of code has to go onto the page. That’s more time I’d rather be spending designing more patterns – free or otherwise.

I‘d love to hear feedback…

A site redesign and I’m head over heels in work…

Friday, August 3rd, 2012

I can’t believe the last time I posted was before Mother’s Day. But then again, it’s not every day one decides to launch into a whole new site redesign. With over a thousand pages, my work seems tedious and cut out. In June, I started looking for a new template and picked one I liked, but it was difficult to edit using my dinosaur HTML editor. And my poor dinosaur editor will not work with newer versions of IE. So what looked good on my editor looked terrible when uploaded. I was working in the dark!

After another stab using a modified version of what I’m currently using, I found a template I liked well. At this point, I have about 2/3 to 3/4 of the pattern pages and menus reformatted but I still have a ways to go.

So there you have it - if the site seems stagnant and unattended, it is in design only. But I assure you, I’m right here at my computer most days working away and the site is still open and ready for business.

My goal now is to have the site ready to launch by the third week of August. Not all pages will be set up under the new format yet, but once the patterns are up and directed to the new shopping cart, I’m launching.

Wet Oatmeal Kisses

Sunday, April 1st, 2012

Each year as Mother’s Day approaches I’m reminded of this poem that always brings me to tears. As my children have long since left home, it hits harder with each passing year. Love you little ones while you can and cherish these years before they’re long gone only to fade into memories of the past.


“Wet Oatmeal Kisses……”

The baby is teething. The children are fighting.
Your husband just called and said,
“Eat dinner without me.”
One of these days you’ll explode and shout to the kids,
“Why don’t you grow up and act your age?”
……And they will.

OR: “You guys get outside and find yourselves something to do.
And don’t slam the door!”……
And they don’t.

You’ll straighten their bedrooms all neat and tidy;
toys displayed on the shelf, hangers in the closet, animals caged.
You’ll yell, “Now I want it to stay this way!”
…….And it will.

You will prepare a perfect dinner with a cake
with no finger traces in the icing and you’ll say:
“Now THIS is a meal for company.”
……And you’ll eat it alone.

No more plastic tablecloths stained with spaghetti.
No more dandelion bouquets.
No more wet, knotted shoelaces or rubber bands for ponytails.

Imagine. A lipstick with a point. No babysitter for New Year’s Eve,
washing clothes only once a week,
no PTA meetings or silly school plays.
No carpools, blaring stereos or forgotten lunch money.

No more Christmas presents made of library paste and toothpicks.
No more wet oatmeal kisses.
No more tooth fairy. No more giggles in the dark,
scraped knees to kiss or sticky fingers to clean.

Only a voice asking: “Why don’t you grow up?”

And the silence echoes: “I did.”

Easter Holiday Decorating…

Monday, February 27th, 2012

I’ve always loved the holidays and enjoyed decorating, crafting, and cooking for each. As I’ve gotten older though I have to admit – I didn’t even decorate for Valentines at all – guess I have to step up my game and decorate for St. Patrick’s and Easter.

Of course Easter is one of my favorites for decorating and crafting. When the kids were young, I would often make sugar eggs. It’s like packing wet sand in a pail and then turning the pail upside down to dislodge your piece of art…very carefully of course!

Making sugar eggs is much like that using a special egg mold and tinted sugar. Once the eggs are ready to remove from their mold the fun begins; decorating the inside! Half the fun is choosing the pieces you’ll need to create the desired scene. Care is taken in securely placing each piece to the inside bottom of the egg half using royal frosting. Then “glue” the egg halves together using royal frosting and piping trim and flowers for the final touch!

Each of the panoramic Easter eggs I’ve designed in crochet take me back not only to those early days when my kids were young, but further back to my own childhood. I just loved peeking in the peep hole to see the scene nestled securely inside!

Let’s decorate for Easter; here are some fun free patterns you can make for you and your family!

Free Bunny Door Knob Cover
Free Lace Egg Basket
Free Easter Crochet-a-Long/Mystery
Free ‘Lil Lamb “Steelwool Holder”
Free Fridige Easter Basket
Free Multi-Easter Eggs
Free Filet Cross Easter Egg Cover
Free Easter Bunny Napkin Ring
Free Ribbon Plaid Cross Bookmark
Free Gangly Easter Chick Fridgie
Free Easter Bunny Fridgie
Free Easter Bunny Fridgie
Free Butterfly Bookmark

stealing hits home

Sunday, February 12th, 2012

Nope, I’m not talking baseball. I’m talking pattern theft. In fact, I’m tired of being vague, so here are the facts!

1) Crafty_Critters@yahoogroups.com is the group involved.
2) teryll_2000@yahoo.com The owner of this email is the person who shared within this group
3) She shared two patterns - and this is a repeat offense - the first time I’m aware of 25 of my most popular patterns were shared taking literally hundreds of dollars of revenue away.

I want one, just one person who steals patterns to come forth and say they’d like to work for free. I doubt one of them would. In fact, money means so much to these people they are willing to steal inexpensive patterns for the purpose of pleasure. It’s not like they’re stealing bread and milk to feed their hungry children and it’s not like this is something they need in order to survive. Yet, they have the audacity to steal patterns and think they are above the law and those little inconvenient words that say; “copyright…” have no meaning to them. It’s just words.

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again; I can’t help but wonder what kind of families these people come from. Did their parents teach them to steal. And what kind of example are they setting for their children. Stealing is stealing plain and simple. Only the law put emphasis on the amount of the theft and determine if it’s petty or grand. To me it’s grand because it represents hours and hours of hard work and time and money to take a ball of thread and an antique steel hook handed down to me from my mom to create and put this pattern online and keep it online. So you’re not just stealing a pattern, you’re stealing my time, my money, my work, my talent and my income.

As simple as introducing a new color and…

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

It changes the entire perspective of a design. Take for instance the Wedding Lace Doily. I designed it with white in mind; symbolic for a traditional wedding and then added all the elements I associate with a wedding. Pearls, hearts, double interlocking bands to represent two hearts now linked together forever.

When Jewel sent a picture of the Wedding Lace Doily worked in rose and white, it transformed the doily into a whole new piece! I love how the interlocking rings now stand out and add drama to the piece. The curves stand out and then tying the rose bands with rose hearts and a matching center – it just balanced the piece perfectly!

It could still be used for a wedding – using the wedding colors, but how about an anniversary or Valentine’s, or Sweetheart’s Day, or Mother’s day… the list goes on! Thank you for sharing with us Jewel and showing us an entire new element to an old design.