Braided-look edging

This simple little edging gives a great, sturdy, gender neutral finish to any project. It's especially nice to firm up the edges on patterns that have a tendency to stretch at odd angles.

I've only worked this pattern around the edges of blankets and like items, where it can be worked in the round without turning. You can use any two colors of yarn and appropriate hook.

With color #1 join anywhere on your piece. Chain 2, hdc in each stitch around. Put three hdc in the corners and at other points that stick out from the body of the piece, like you'd have in a chevron blanket. Join with a slip stitch to the back loop at the top of your starting Ch2.

Continuing with color #1, chain 1, sc in the back loop of each hdc. Once again, use three stitches at all corners. Slip stitch as normal to the starting Ch1. Cut yarn and weave in ends.

Hdc and Sc in back loop complete

Join with color #2 in the back loop of any hdc (the exact same place you did your sc stitches). Slip stitch in the back loop of each hdc stitch. It will appear as though you're slip stitching on the post of the sc, but without looking so crowded! Use only one stitch on the corners, as there's only one space to put them in. Slip stitch under your first slip stitch to join the round. Pull the join very tight so it about disappears. Cut yarn, pull to the back of your work and weave in.

Insert your hook as shown. The stars indicate where the following stitches are placed.

I hope you enjoy this pattern! Please post comments and photos back to the ravelry page!

Emerald Scarf

Emerald Adult Scarf

This pattern was designed to coordinate with Emerald Baby Hat and Booties (also available at www.daknit.com) for a parent and baby set.

Equipment:         P (11.5mm), starting chains ONLY

                            L (8.0mm)

                            Tapestry needle

Yarn:                   Worsted, approx. 4oz plus small amount for border trimming.

Stitches:               Chain (ch)

                             Single Crochet (sc)

                             Double Crochet (dc)

                             Shell (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc in same)

Guage:                 Not important, see fabric note below.

Please note that I crochet VERY tightly. The goal is to get a loose, open fabric. If you crochet loosely, you may want to use a smaller hook for the same effect.

All turning chains count as first stitch in that row.

For a complete scarf, you’ll make TWO half scarves and join.

Foundation- Using P hook, Ch 20.

Row 1: Switch to L hook (you’ll use this size throughout the remainder of the pattern). sc in second ch from hook, and in each stitch across. (19 stitches). Ch 3 and turn.

Row 2: dc in next sc, skip one sc, shell (see above) in next sc, skip one sc, one dc in each of the next three sc, skip one sc, shell in next, skip one, dc in each of the next three sc, skip one, shell in next sc, dc in each of last two sc on previous row. Ch 3, turn.

Row 3: dc in next stitch, shell in ch space of previous shell, one dc in each of the three dc in previous row, shell in ch space of previous shell, one dc in each of the three dc in previous row, shell in ch space of previous shell, dc in dc, dc in turning chain of previous row. Ch 3, turn.

Row 4+: repeat row 3 to HALF of desired scarf length.

Border:

Row 1: Dc in same st as turning chain. Skip next dc, shell in ch space of previous shell, skip one dc, shell in next dc, skip one. Shell in ch space of previous shell, skip one dc, shell in next dc, skip one dc. Shell in ch space of previous shell, skip one dc, two dc in turning chain of previous row. Ch 3 and turn.

Row 2: 6 dc in ch space of each shell across. Tie off, weave in ends.

For a complete scarf, Make TWO. Join along Foundation Chains.

From Work to Home

This upcoming weekend marks a significant change for me, for the family and for the company. I will be hiring my replacement and "retiring" to Homemaker. It was somewhat unexpected. Yet, as AG continues to grow and develop, we are all becoming aware that she needs to be exposed to more than just the office!

I think I have been more ready for this than I could have realized. The guilt of containing an active and inquisitive one-year-old has been immense. Tension among the family has grown as we all struggle with limited resources to achieve lofty goals. And, life has seemed rather bland with Sweetie and I involved in all the same events; we aren't stimulating each other much.

Yet, work for the past year especially, has been incredible in so many ways. One skill I did not have previously, is a presence of mind under stress. I have discovered how essential it is that I have all my "ducks in a row" before venturing into uncertain territory. Most importantly, I am learning how to set boundaries.

AG has no idea how amazing life is about to get for her. We have been fortunate to join a play group most weeks. With time less pressed I expect to be able to include her in more of my daily tasks and projects. Planting flowers? Sure we can spend time letting you play with the trowel and learning all the coordination that comes along with digging! Even now, she surprises me with the skills she can grasp after one or two repetitions. I can't fathom how quickly she is going to blossom when she can explore and experiment freely.

Certain enjoyable aspects of our lives have taken a back seat-many are in the nosebleed section-and I am looking forward to bringing them back to the forefront. Decorating, good cooking, gardening, and other creative outlets have been severely lacking. Sweetie and I both have deep creative tendencies. No matter how important the job, there will come a time that you must satisfy the soul. With this opportunity, that time has come.

And sleep... never before motherhood did I appreciate sleep. Enjoy it? Maybe. Appreciate its value? Not a chance. AG and I may take more than our share of naps together the first few weeks we are home.

While the needs of a toddler (not so much a baby anymore!), family, and home will take significant portions of energy, I am looking forward to exploring new skills and personality developments free of constraints.

Here's to transplanting home!

Sacred Mama's

There are small clusters of women in the world who make life bearable for one another. Often we call them friends, confidants, or simply "The Girls".

I knew breastfeeding AG would be satisfactory as far as health and nutrition. I knew that many women found the experience to be highly rewarding emotionally and hoped that would be true for us. I had no idea it would lead me to a group of women who I can trust with this little piece of my soul that lives outside my body!

 

So much of motherhood in the media and the "outside" world is portrayed as superficial and pretentious. I had expected to find much of the same in a small meeting room in the basement of the local hospital. It didn't matter at the time; I had a three week old baby, I was in pain, sleep deprived, rather alone* and terrified. I needed help even if it did come with superficial nonsense.

 

Instead I found a room full of women who just two weeks prior had bawled together over exactly what I was going through. They had taken off the mask and exposed themselves to reality, together. Since then more mothers, with even younger babies, have joined in and yet the sense of raw and sometimes brutal reality has not left us. Motherhood is hard. Breastfeeding is hard. Together it's a little less hard.

 

These women, and of course their beautiful children, have become a huge portion of my "village". I look forward to seeing updates about the kiddos and life in general. I relish our time together. There is absolutely no way for me to share with them how very much they mean in my life. All I can do is to continue to try being a supportive and real part of their's.

Ladies, you are the very best!

*Sweetie deserves credit here. He has never left my side. At this point he was doing not only his job but my job as well. Plus, two of our employees also had brand new babies so lives were crazy all around. He was doing everything possible to hold it together and did very well, considering all he was up against.

Altogether now!

It has been an embarassing length of time since this poor blog has had attention... but what better place to share my beautiful girl with the world?!

That's right. She is here, she is thriving and she is about to be on the move! Meet AG!

Next week we will celebrate seven months of life with our little one who, by the way, is not so little anymore. Part of me misses the days when she slept easily, laid still and fit in my lap... but I do honestly enjoy these days so much more. They are full of gummy and toothy grins, curiosity, dramatic advancements, and the very beginning of consciously returning our love. It is exhausting making sure any and every pen, pencil, stapler, clipboard, paper and phone cord is out of reach when I have her at work with me, but it is amazing to watch her interract with all the different objects and even more, to see her get SO EXCITED to get the opening of a water bottle to her mouth!

Now begins the time of seeing life in all its magic and majesty, with the maturity to really appreciate what I am experiencing!

ETA: Apparently this never published as it was directed to do... five weeks later, the sentiments are true even if the timing is off!

Feelin' Ready!

Such a short time ago, I was in a constant state of mild panic... We had lots of baby clothes but not much else to speak of. The nursery was still white and smelled like a dive bar. Nowhere for her to sleep. No way to get her home.

I can recall each gift we received, and appreciate every single one of them immensely! For many families, having a baby is extremely expensive. We are blessed with an amazing extended family that, from half a nation away, has supported us emotionally and financially.
We did "register" for shower gifts*, but only a few of the gifts we received were from the list. Some of the ones that I can already tell will be ingrained into our daily lives and memories of this time are things that have been passed down, made or purchased second-hand. Every single blanket, book and toy we have fits into those categories, most of the clothes too. I can't imagine providing all brand new things to a child; items with no value other than what they cost at the store. My daughter will be surrounded by tangible evidence of a loving family!

Somewhere along the line her room was painted, a theme chosen (then replaced with another and implemented), new carpet installed, furniture bought and assembled, and stuff arranged... I can't even say when we really went from "only have clothes" to "ready for a baby!"

I am sure, the first couple weeks after we bring her home we are going to feel nowhere near prepared for the adventure we've begun, but for now I think it's as good as it gets!

*I understand that if you can get on the "I'm having a baby" advertising lists, there are many samples, freebies and coupons to be had. We haven't gotten much of that, and I suspect it's because we didn't do a traditional baby registry. Instead we used the Amazon baby registry. It was incredibly convenient since I could add items from other sites and only manage one registry, but I think it caused us to miss out on a few deals as well. If I was to do it over again, I'd probably create the lists at the various store websites and link them to Amazon as well in the hopes of getting the best of both worlds.

Ant Bait

It's spring... even in the Midwest!

And with spring, always seems to come ants. Those little "sugar ants" that pester the house incessantly until they randomly disappear mid-summer or you hire an exterminator.

I'm not patient enough to just wait the little boogers out. But I'm even less fond of waiting around so I can pay a bug man to come squirt nasty chemicals in my home. So, I make my own ant bait I'm comfortable using around the dog and baby-to-be. It's easy, cheap and I don't have to make a special trip to the store!

All you need is equal parts really hot water, Borax, and white sugar. Dissolve the Borax and sugar in the water, and pour into an ant-accessible container* in an area with high ant traffic.

The first few times I did this, I made way too much. Aim for about a tablespoon or so of each and make a second batch if needed. To be honest, I never actually measure. You want enough sugar to attract them, enough Borax to kill them, and just enough water that it's potent but it doesn't get so solid they can just walk across the top (yep, that's experience talking). I shoot for the consistency of Elmer's Glue.

I forget how the borax works (dehydration?), but I know they generally have enough time to make it back to the nest  before they keel over. You'll know some are making it back when you suddenly get a flood of ants in the area. DON'T STOP THEM. You want them to come gather as much of your bait as they can and take it back to kill the whole nest. Some will drown in your bait and that's ok; I consider it a form of instant gratification. There are plenty more who will get the job done. :)   Within a day or two, not only will you not see ants in that area, but there's a good chance you will have killed that year's nest and not have to deal with them again until next spring. Take that, bug man!




*Be smart about the containers of bait you put within reach of pets and kids. The ingredients are safe to have around the house, but no one should be eating it! Things like soda/beer bottles with a narrow "mouth" can be tipped on their sides without the bait spilling out or fingers/tongues getting in. You could also carefully poke holes into the sides (not the top; the ants might not get back out) of a margarine style container and keep the lid on. If all else fails, put the bait somewhere the pets/kids can't reach and exercise a little patience in the name of safety. I promise, the ants will find it eventually!