The Tunisian Entrelac Stitch

The first picture is fresh off the hook! And all I can say is goody goody gum drops! I have wanted to learn the Etrelac st for so long, so I grabbed a big breath of confidence, did some on line research and here it is!

I found the information on 2 sites. One site being easier for me to understand, so that will be the first link supplied. Site one. Site 2.

Below is a picture of my first ever dish cloth I made this week. I was informed that making your own dish cloths in cotton are far better than the bought one's in the shop. Firstly they can be squeezed out easier with very little water left in them, secondly you just wash them and re-use them over and over again!

The internet is full of on line patterns for free. The more ridges in the cloth the better they scrub too. I just made the above cloth free hand (no pattern) with front post and back post dc (US). I really thought the entrelac stitch would make a great looking dish cloth too, so that is another reason I learned that st.

I finished playing around with the Entrelac st above and made it into a dish cloth.

Below are some great links for dish cloths.

http://www.buttonspecialties.com/pdfs/FireBlossomDishcloth.pdf
http://www.peaches-creme.com/ladder_stitch_crocheted_dishcloth.htm
http://cocoacream.wordpress.com/2007/09/11/textured-stripes-dishcloth/
http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns/cotton_chenille_crochetwcloth.html
dish cloth mania lotshttp://dishandwashclothmania.com/cloths-crochet/
http://www.freepatterns.com/list.html?parent_cat_id=2&usage=&criteria=dishcloth
Includes recycled plarn in the centre for a scrubbie.http://www.myrecycledbags.com/2008/07/03/sunshine-dishcloth-with-scrubbie/
http://cityofcrochet.blogspot.com/2006/10/crazy-cloth.html

Pattern Book Dish Cloths.http://www.bernat.com/patternbook.php?PBS=530160http://www.ericas.com/needlework/books/dishcloths.htm

Hope you have enjoyed my little adventure here.

I think you can now call me a crochet groupie

It is now Sunday evening, I have the reached the end of a week-end, full of being with and crocheting along with crochet buddie's. I'm a member of 2 crochet groups in Victoria, Australia. One of them is local and the other is a bit further out from me, but covers the State of Victoria.

Saturday saw me at the meet up with the local Mornington Peninsula group, which meet's about 15 minute's away from where I live and on the Sunday I met up with the Crochet Lovers Victoria group, which met at an almost central location on the outskirt's of Melbourne in a lovely park. The weather was perfect which did see me a little bit wind burned though.

So I think I can officially be called a crochet groupie now.

I did take some picture's, but I have not asked their permission to post them as yet. So you may see a photo or 2 in this post eventually.

I will also point out that if it were not for Ravelry, I would not have met or been involved with any local crocheter's.

Crochet at a Fast Pace

I'm becoming a real crochet groupie now. I've been involved in a couple of swaps, met up with some local groups, follow crochet blogs from around the world and now something very new.

Have you seen the word KAL or CAL? Well they are short for knit along or crochet along.

It's where more than one person is making the same item at the same time and you share your progress, ask questions and finally the finished items are shared.

So I entered my first CAL, it was to make the Seraphina Shawl. I've never made a shawl before and I'm also looking for winter warmers for the market this year.

I made this shawl in 2 nights of serious crochet time. Once I had the pattern established in my head, it made the making of it so much quicker.

This is the yarn I chose because I had lot's of it. It goes from thick to thin to lacey.

I thought I would add some plain yarn as well, to make crocheting with the crazy yarn a little easier.

This is a progress shot.

And here it is finished, not sure if I will add the tassel's as yet.

It's a lovely warm shawl too.

Now this is a pineapple scarf I have had my eye on for a while to make.

It's simply, pineapple on pineapple to the length you want it.

I over crocheted the first and last pineapple to give it some more flair'. I'm not really sure if I like it though. I created something similar last year, with the pineapple's on the ends and (US) dc in between the pineapples.

My Puppie's Are Ready To Go

My puppies are old enough to leave their Mother now, except for one whom I have named Rev. Rev can't be sold, from the day he was born I was very concerened for him. I stayed up with his Mother all night watching and checking each pup as they were born and I did not expect a 5th to be born, so off I went to bed and after a few hours my Hubby woke me to tell me there was a 5th puppy! When I checked him out he was cold, if only I had been there upon his birth I could have used a few simple techniques to assist him, this may have decreased the brain damage he seems to have due to lack of oxygen. I also used some small scale's twice a day to ensure he was putting on weight, which he was. I named him Rev, because when he began to walk, it was in reverse. Straight to the vet I went with him and I was told all we can do is wait and see how he develops. He can now walk forward, with his head a little lop sided, but he is learning to compensate for the difference in his balance. I never get emotionally attached to the puppies I have bred, but little Rev is a different case completely and who could not fall in love with this little face below!

These are his 4 siblings. 2 males and 2 females. I also used these picture's for the add I put in the trading post and the phone has been ringing off the hook! I did not expect such a response so early, but I have had to put off the buyers for another few days until I get their first vaccination. I also price my puppies at a good price, priced to sell, I don't hang out for that extra few dollars I know I could get.

I have given them a good start in life, of course with the help of their Mother, actually she has done most of the work. I just try to keep them clean, out of harms way and fed. They now eat wet and dry food. Feeding time is hilarious. The picture below was a week earlier than the above picture's. It's amazing just how quick they develop and grow. Little Rev is the crooked one in the picture, he get's in for his fair share, his disability is not stopping him at all!