Tunisian Crochet Projects

Here are two projects I did this year. The first is a lap robe done in Tunisian crochet -- the "scrapanator" pattern. The second is a scarf done from a pattern I found in an old issue of Interweave Crochet. It turned out gorgeous. Everyone loved it. Once I got the beading figured out it was awesome.

I'm currently working on another scrapanator afghan, a neckwarmer and a scarf. I also have a pattern for some fingerless gloves I want to try.

Trapping Season

Trapping season started Saturday but things kept coming up which prevented us from setting traps that day. We actually set yesterday, three traps across the road and my weasel box. This year I tried a lure that obviously had glands and other goodies in it. When we set, it was about 72 degrees. Whew! But my record holds firm. We went out this morning to check our traps. Nothing had bothered the dirt sets, but something had been caught in my weasel box -- a snake! We never expected that in a million years. I know one thing, though, the lure I used sure is attractive to rodent preditors. The snake was still alive, but I don't know how. It dipped down to 40 degrees last night. We are hoping he dies, because he is crushed in two places in the trap. We'll go back a little later. We will also take something that we can chop his head off with in case he is still alive. I have no idea what kind of snake this is -- other than it is attracted to mice! It's a drab brown color with white stipes all along it.

More Autumn Activities

Well, we have been busy around here. Hubby and son have been dyeing and waxing our traps. Trapping season starts November 7. We also bought a pumpkin and they carved it. I really liked the design that dear son picked out.

Fall Activities

We went out to the cabin last week and spent several days there, enjoying it before closing up for the winter. On Saturday we got to go to Huntersville Traditions Day, which was great. Lots of old time things to see and experience. Tuesday and Wednesday hubby worked on our yard. He weeded my roses and dug out the dead bushes, making room to move one in. He also got the landscaping cleaned up around our fish pond. I'm trying to finish up an afghan and will start on a new project.

My Family

My Mom drug us out at the end of July to have pictures taken, and this is what we got!

Quiet Afternoon

Here are two scarves I've made. They are red, white and blue because we are making them for veterans. They will be given out at Christmas at a veterans' home. The other pic is the sign my hubby made for his lockshop. There are little hooks over the word "closed" where he hangs his "open" signs when he's open.

Family Cabin

This is our family camp. It is located near Minnehaha Springs, WV, in the Monongahela National Forest in Pocahontas Co. My grandparents bought it in August 1971 and I was born in November. So I have literally been going out there all my life. I feel more at home there than I do where I've grown up and spent most of my life. It was originally an old farmhouse, and I believe the people ran a general store and gas station from this location, just a few yards off camera on the right. This was taken in late fall, maybe even at Thanksgiving, so it isn't looking as lovely as it is most of the year. I hate the forsythia in the foreground :( The original part of the building is the tall part. There is a little sloping roof on the backside, that was added by the owner who sold it to my grandparents. You can't see the chimney, it's behind the tree, but the owner also built the chimney. It is a lovely stonework fireplace. We have since added a pellet stove, because the oil stove my grandparents added quick working (it was older than dirt so it was to be expected.) My husband and a friend put the pretty green metal roof on it two summers ago.

Hubby and I got to go out there last week, and it was good. I was able to sit around and not go anywhere for two days. We did get up early both days to go out fishing, but didn't catch anything but the ones that were too small to keep. The first day we were going to go back out in the evening but it came a storm. By the next evening we were going to be leaving the next morning so there was no point, we wouldn't have been able to cook them. I guess we could have brought them home, I just thought of that. Duh!

We will be going back the first weekend of October to winterize the place, then hopefully going up for the week of Thanksgiving to get in some trapping. We have antifreeze dirt this year so we should get something! Our son is really looking forward to that.

Crochet Ministry update

We got a few more donations to the stillborn ministry, and I wanted to post them here. I'm currently putting together a letter to send out to area pastors and hopefully get some more people lined up to help crochet more. It's too much for six people to do, and I'm hoping to line up at least twenty all together.

Another Set

Another set of donations for the crochet ministry. Another lady did the blankets and I crocheted the gowns. Got to get them delivered today!

Updates

I thought I'd post an updated pic of our puppy (not much of a puppy any more!) He still has some growing to do. He's just a little over six months old. Also, a couple weeks ago I posted that hubby found a lizard nest in his compost pile and accidentally killed the mother. We took most of the eggs and put them in a tub with compost. I really didn't expect them to survive, but hubby checked on them today and discovered that we had baby lizards! So we took them outside and turned them loose in the garden. I'm very happy that they survived, because it was completely unintentional that we disturbed the nest and killed the mother. So I'm doing the happy dance!!

Third Set

This blanket was in a shell pattern. Now I'm working on my fourth.

More Preemie Items

This set is in yellow worsted weight yarn. The blanket pattern was a thermal weave.

Crochet Ministry

A few weeks ago a gentleman contacted me after finding a notice online about my crochet group. He needs crocheters to make gowns and blankets for stillborn babies. These items are donated to a local hospital and provided to parents free of charge to dress up their little angel. I was touched as he told me about this ministry and that they became aware of the need after experiencing a stillbirth in their family. I could tell this was close to his heart, and I wanted to help. My ladies have responded enthusiastically and the gentleman has provided the yarn, we just provide the labor. The gown is only six inches long, and ties are needed in the back for ease of dressing the fragile little body. I have been very pleased to be able to help out in this way, that something I enjoy doing can have such a meaningful application. This was my first set I made.

Tunisian Lace

My favorite stitch is the Tunisian lace. It is so light, open and airy. Very soft and dainty. It makes a perfect spring shawl or throw. These pictures are of a shawl (blue) and a baby blanket (purple). The last picture is an up close pic of the lace stitch detail.

Around the House

I love stuffed animals, especially mice and sheep. I have loved mice since I was a little girl. I even had pet mice in high school. I convinced my parents to buy me a mouse at a pet store. I would pick it up, let it run in my hand and on my arm. The most fun was while the mouse was in the palm of my hand I would flip my hand over and it would cling there, it's little tail going around in circles. In a couple of weeks my mouse seemed to be gaining weight. It was soon obvious by the lumps that she was expecting. This really bummed out my brother. He had gotten a gerbil the same day I got a mouse. Well, we put a barrel in the cage, and started putting toilet paper tubes and cotten in there so she could make her nest. She had that barrel stuffed full. One evening, after watching her expectantly for a couple weeks, I saw her running around her cage and she was skinny! I started pulling the cotton out of the barrel to get a look at them, and then I had a lucid moment -- hey, mothers are protective! So I got a little stick and starting pulling the cotton out with that, and sure enough, she attacked the stick. But I did get a glance at the tiny little pink things wiggling around. When the babies came out, they were adorable! Tiny little mice. I do have to say that about two weeks later, early one morning, my Mom discovered little pink things in my brother's gerbil cage, and that was one morning she had no trouble getting him out of bed. Anyway, I digress....

So, I have this little mouse, and hubby uses him to harrass me while I'm crocheting. The mouse is always wanting whatever it is I am making. So I found a little jacket and hat patterns and made my mouse an outfit (see above)

This morning hubby was turning the compost pile and unearthed a lizard's nest. Unfortunately he killed the female. So we have taken the eggs and put them in compost in a container and are trying to incubate them. We are hoping they will hatch, but since we have no idea what we are doing I'm not holding my breath. We are at least trying, though. We weren't sure if the male would care for them or not. Both the male and female were in the next, but the male scampered away. I am hoping we can get them to hatch, it would be a great experience for our son.

Scrap-a-nator Completed!

I'm done. I had put it aside twice to work on other projects with deadlines. I used a hook that was larger than called for, so the stitches are more pronounced. I will try it again with the right sized hook, because hubby finally made it for me. My son said he liked it, but wanted one in blue, so I'll have to work on that :)

Custom Made Afghan Hooks

My hubby works with wood, and when I couldn't find an afghan hook locally, he made me one. He is in the process of making me a hook in every size. He would be happy to make anyone a hook, to custom specifications. If you need a hook a certain length, he can do it. Just email me for details. His prices are very reasonable.

Tunisian Double Crochet stitch

I'm posting this for my crochet students who missed last workshop! Hope this helps.

Scrap-A-nator TCAL

In the Tunisian Crochet yahoogroup I belong to we are doing a quick Tunisian Crochet A Long (TCAL) and our moderator is calling the pattern a Scrap-A-nator -- this is to use up your stash of leftover yarn from other projects. Well, since I'm just starting I don't have scraps so I bought some skeins just for the project. I didn't get to start on it until Saturday, because I was working on a shawl for a graduation gift. I frogged it and started over probably five times until I got the right amount of chain stitches to make the first second row come out right. So this is my start on the project. I've only been able to work on it a short time. We were busy most of the day Saturday, didn't get home until 10:30pm, then had church Sunday and a fellowship at a friend's house Sunday evening, and we didn't get home until after 10pm. Today I've been doing dishes and laundry all morning. I have two commitee meetings this evening. Maybe tomorrow I'll get to work on it in earnest!

Sheep and Wool Activities

Bradley wasn't COMPLETELY bored on our trip. Of course, it was hard to tear him away from the alpacas to get him to try some new things. He tried his had at drop-spindling. He started out doing very well, but the first time the wool snapped, he got frustrated with it and it went down hill from there. I'm not sure what wool they were using. I gave my hand a try at it, and I had done it several years before, and when my wool snapped it just wouldn't grab back on to itself so you could reattach it. Hubby, who has actually spun some yarn on a drop spindle, also had trouble with it. I think we will have Bradley try again with some Shetland wool, because that is what hubby has always used.

The other thing he wanted to do was make a tye-dye hat. He got to do that and was happy as a clam. He didn't seem to want anything to buy at the show, but I picked up a tee shirt with an alpaca on it that said "hum! hum!" That's the sound they make, and that little Cecilia Winsome was doing it the entire weekend. So I think Bradley liked the shirt.

Great Lakes Fiber Festival

I'm not sure we had the money, but we went to the Great Lakes Sheep and Wool Festival this weekend. I am really wanting to learn to spin and I desperately want to crochet something with some natural fiber. We took a tent and camped out. We arrived Friday evening, set up, then went out and attempted to find 5 letterboxes in a nearby park. Well, the trails are extensive. We found one, and I tried to determine from the clues to the other ones if there was another nearby. We think we found the location, but there was no box that we could find. The brick was there, but we didn't see a box. It was getting late at that point, so we went back and found one that was right by the parking lot. We went back to the tent and rested, and once it cooled off some we went to sleep.

There was lots to see the next day. All the vendors were set up. There was a sheep and angora goat show going on and a judging of wool. There were lots of fleece and roving for sale. Lots of traveling spinning wheels, tabletop looms. Many people where plying their wares: knitted items, felted items, woodcrafts, woven goods. There was even a potter. Some people had soaps and lotions. There were also activities for the kids. What Bradley enjoyed the most was the alpacas.

I had thought that llamas and alpacas were the same, but they aren't. Alpacas are smaller and basically raised for their wool. Llamas are larger and used as pack animals. Alpacas are not strong enough to use as pack animals. They make a "hum, hum" sound when concerned or nervous. One alpaca farmer had three young alpacas at the show. They were 8 months old and had just been taken from their mothers three weeks before. They had never been away from the farm. The little female was "hum, humming" all day. They learned real quick how far away was arm's reach and they would stand in the center of the pen when people came around. The gentleman would occasionally go in the pen and move one over to the rail so it could be petted. Everyone wants to touch and alpaca. They are a very lovely animal, and so entertaining to watch.

Another alpaca farmer came on Sunday and brough his one-day-old baby and his mother to the fair. It was simply precious. So tiny. He was unsteady on his feet, but not real timid. When he was asleep Bradley managed to pet him.

So our son now wants an alpaca. I have to admit, they are a very endearing animal, and I wouldn't mind having some, but having an alpaca farm is something in the very distant future.

It was a bit of a long drive for the heat we are experiencing, especially since we have no air conditioning in the car, but we enjoyed ourselves.

I really appreciated the gentleman with the three young alpacas. He would kid around with Bradley, answer his questions, and put him to work. I know it made Bradley feel 10 feet tall to help out. He enjoyed learning more about alpacas, especially "snerts." He did get to witness one. A "snert" is a termed coined by this gentleman to describe what an alpaca does -- it sneezes and farts at the same time. It would be great to get a picture of that....

So, maybe next year we'll get to go again and catch up with the Winsome Alpacas.

Bradley and the Ducks

At the Highland Games the sheepherder demonstrated his dogs by herding ducks around kids standing by cones. My son got to stand by a cone. He is wearing the light blue shirt with the jean shorts. The gentleman said that the dogs really like working with the ducks.

Ranger and his Ball

Ranger finally got over his shyness about the ball and now he loves to play with it. This is just to show you how he is growing!

Lazy Day

Well, I'm home alone. I dropped hubby off for drill on Thursday morning, then my Mother and brother went to our cabin in the woods and took my son. They left on Friday. Hubby's drill started off at the armory, but moved out to Kanawha State Forest. He anticipated being in the forest all day alone on Friday, guarding the gear. He found out Wednesday evening, after church, that drill had changed from Thursday-Sunday to Wednesday-Sunday, with Friday off for most of them. So, hubby would have to work Friday to make up for missing Wednesday. He called me Thursday evening to let me know where in the forest he was and suggested I come out to keep him company. Since I knew he probably wouldn't have any meals on Friday, I wanted to bring him something really nice. I decided on KFC, but didn't know what time they opened. I left at 9:30am to drop off Avon orders and work out at Curves. It was just about 11:00 when I was done with all that, and swung by KFC before heading home. Once I was home I hurriedly showered and packed. I discovered that taking a puppy on a car trip is a lot like taking a baby with you. Only this baby didn't have a diaper bag to make carrying things easier! It was 1pm by the time I arrived at the forest location. Hubby was glad for the lunch. I left the leftovers with him so he'd have something to snack on later. I left about 5pm. It was hot and humid, so the visit was a little miserable for me. I certainly appreciated the air conditioning when I got home. I think Ranger did too.

I didn't feel great the rest of the evening. My knees were really bothering me and I had a headache. I finally broke down and took some advil. I just watched tv and worked on my shawl the rest of the evening.

Today I went to a yard sale at the middle school and got some good deals. Picked up some jeans and shorts for my son. I got a scrapbook and a cute little Boyd's Bear that has a honey pot and on it says "I'm stuck on you." I thought it was cute and went along with my "nickname." I went to Kmart and paid on my layaway (a family cabin tent, this should be awesome to camp out in!) and found some Twilight bookmarks. I also found a big ring. I don't usually like big rings. I've always had small hands, and big rings look gaudy in my opinion, but I loved the design and color of this one. I think I needed some purchases like this because I'm feeling so lonely this weekend :(

For dinner I picked up an order of coconut chicken (yum yum) and I ran out of yarn for the shawl I was making. This one is for me, so it's no biggy. I've ordered some more, and a couple of neat crochet books I think will be nice. The one is "Wraps to Throws" where the patterns are used as a wrap and a throw. Sounds just like my kind of item.

The pictures above are two other shawls I've done. The purple one is a lace pattern and I made it for my niece. The brown shades one is the very first shawl I did in Tunisian. Everyone loves the shades.

Ranger Bit by a Ball

We bought Ranger a ball, and it was a bit big for him but we thought he'd still have fun with it, and he would certainly grow into it. We had him out one day introducing him to the ball, but it "bit" him and he was shy of it for some time after that....

Tunisian Crochet

My grandmother was crocheting all the time. She learned from a neighbor, a gentleman, she had grown up knowing. She taught me how to make a chain, and how to do the single crochet and double crochet stitches, but I didn't do the stitches too well, wasn't interested in practicing and it got boring just making chains. A few years ago I tried taking it up again when I learned about the prayer shawl ministries that had sprung up. The problem was, I kept picking up stitches on one end of the project. When I asked my grandmother what the problem was, she told me, and I asked how to fix it she told me "count." Well, this is one reason I dropped piano lessons, I hate counting! So I dropped crochet too. Instead, I bought a prayer shawl loom, but my hubby promptly confiscated it, tried starting a sweater, and it's still on my loom today!!

Well, in doing some research online I came across something called Tunisian Crochet. What caught my attention was that the person explained it had been known by other names through the years, Afghan Stitch and one that really stood out to me -- Shepherd's Knitting. Well, I love sheep and would love to be a shepherdess, so this caught my interest. I found an online group for Tunisian Crochet, joined, did a crochet-a-long to get my feet wet and now I'm hooked! I have found three Tunisian Crochet shawl patterns online, have only done two so far. The one is a lace pattern and I use Boucle yarn for it and it turns out really soft, dainty and lovely! The shawl pictured above in green is done in the lace pattern. The other shawl is a combination of knit, purl and reverse stitches. The raised bumps are the purl stitch, and the rows across that stand out are the reverse stitch. The knit stitches are worked between the purl stitches alternately.

I bought an afghan pattern, but I have a couple more lace shawls I want to make before I give it a try. I will certainly post a pic if I get it done!

Herding Demonstration

The man with the dogs explained to us that you begin training the dogs without any animals. You teach them the commands. He said that to start out herding it is best to use ducks, and his dogs love working the ducks. The dog in this video is Chip. I love to watch the dogs work. You can see the determination and the commitment to the job at hand. A dog is a wonderful and amazing animal. These dogs are working dogs, and they are happiest when they are doing their job. It's like playing to them. They would sooner go herd a duck or a sheep than to play ball or lie around all day. This is what I'd like to teach Ranger how to do. Hubby isn't really keen on ducks, so I wonder if he could herd quail?

Highland Games

My family is Scottish. My great-grandmother was a Kincaid. I can tell you, we certainly have the Scottish temperament! Hubby also has some Scottish in his family from his mother's side, but "Knorr" is Norwegian. We love getting up to the Highland Games in Bridgeport, WV every year. I love the sheep ;) Hubby loves the sheep dogs. Next year we will be going as representatives of Clan Kincaid. I have a cross stitch crest and a cross stitch clan badge I want to do and frame to help decorate our tent. Mom is working on banners and table cloths. Hubby will have to come up with flag poles. I'm very excited about it. I will have to get a sash so my brother and I can march in the parade with our banner.

We got to see sheep herding dog demonstrations, a border collie agility expo, shetland sheep and a heilan coo (Highland Cow). I bought some roving off the lady with the sheep and hope to get some spinning done.

Alpaca Shearing Day

Hubby was away at drill this weekend, so my sister and I took a drive out to a local alpaca farm where they were shearing their llamas. You could buy the fleece or order yarn. It was very interesting, and we both decided we have to come back with our kids some day.
Shorn llamas look pretty pathetic. My sister and I both thought of the Pixar animated short "Boundin'" that was on the Incredibles DVD. Shorn llamas look like the body of a deer or overgrown sheep with shaggy wool leg warmers with the head and neck of an ostrich with bangs.
I didn't manage to get any fleece. The one I wanted was reserved for the llama rancher's wife. I did get signed up for a spinning class, though. The lady that was demonstrating spinning seemed interested in my loom. I will have to get a pic so maybe she call tell me what kind I have and how I can work it.
I have one pound of sliver coopworth sheep roving, and I hope to get some more roving or fleece at the Bridgeport Highland Games on May 2. Of course, hubby still has to make me a spinning wheel....

Bottle Dance

After Ranger's morning potty visit, he gets his bottle. We are trying to ween him off of it, but he LOVES his bottle....

New Puppy

We now have an Australian Shepherd puppy. His name is Ranger. He is nine weeks old. We got him on Sunday and he's already grown noticeably! We look forward to taking him to our cabin for Easter.

I recorded a short video of him playing with his toy fox.