Thursday, January 21, 2010

Ravelry

Today I thought I would share a resource that I have found very helpful. It's called "ravelry".

Ravelry is a website where a bunch of people share patterns and pictures of their knit and crochet projects. The best part is there are tons of free patterns. To visit the site click HERE. Often when I want to try a project I will go on to ravelry and print off a pattern. They also have reviews of different kinds of yarn. My friend Michelle introduced me to this site a while back and I love it!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Hand Warmer Pattern


Simple Hand Warmer Gloves
***note: You can just follow the childrens pattern and use a larger hook size to make a larger set for women and men.***

Materials:

*1 skein any Worsted or Medium Weight yarn.

*Crochet Hook Size 5mm or 6 mm

*Yarn Needle

*Scissors

Remember to mark your rounds ! Since this pattern works in a
continuous round, it is crucial to mark the beginning of your next
round. I use a safety pin, but you could use another color of thread
or a special marker.


Pattern for Men


With H hook loosely ch-28 then join at first chain to form a loop
Round 1: dc in next 28 sts to marker (28 dc)
2 dc in next 12 sts, dc decrease, dc in next 12 sts, dc decrease (26 dc)
3 dc in next in next 26 sts to marker (26 dc)
4-10 hdc in next 26 sts. (make sure you mark each round)
11 dc in next 12 sts, 2dc in next st, 2 dc in next st., dc in next 12 (28)
12 sc next 28 sts (28 sc)
13 in next 14 sts, skip the next 8 sts, dc in back of next st, dc next 12 sts. (26 dc)
14 hdc to marker (26 hdc)
15 sc to marker, sl st, darn loose ends (26).

Pattern for Women

With H hook loosely ch-28 then join at first chain to form a loop
Round 1: dc in next 28 sts to marker (28 dc)
2 dc in next 12 sts, dc decrease, dc in next 12 sts, dc decrease (26 dc)
3 dc in next in next 26 sts to marker (26 dc)
4-10 hdc in next 26 sts. (make sure you mark each round)
11 dc in next 12 sts, 2dc in next st, 2 dc in next st., dc in next 12 (28)
12 sc next 28 sts (28 sc)
13 in next 14 sts, skip the next 8 sts, dc in back of next st, dc next 12 sts. (26 dc)
14 hdc to marker (26 hdc)
15 sc to marker, sl st, darn loose ends (26).

Pattern for Children

With H hook loosely ch-20 then join at first chain to form a loop
Round 1: dc in next 20 sts to marker (20)
2. dc in next 8 sts, dc decrease, dc in next 8 sts, dc decrease (18)
3. dc in next in next 18 sts to marker (18)
4-10. hdc in next 18 sts. (make sure you mark each round)
11. dc next 8 sts, 2dc in next st, 2 dc in next st., dc in next 8 (20)
12. sc next 20 sts (20).
13.dc in next 10 sts, skip next 5 sts, dc in back of next st, dc next 5 sts (15)
14. hdc to marker (15)
15. Sc to mark, sl st, darn loose ends (15)

Crocheting Hints

Here are some hints that I think are helpful for beginners :)

Chain- yarn over, pull through loop on hook

Single crochet (sc)– insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull through stitch, yarn over, pull through both loops on hook

Single crochet decrease (sc dec) or (sc2tog) – insert hook, yarn over, draw up a loop, insert hook in next stitch, yarn over, draw through all loops on hook

Half-double crochet (hdc)– yarn over hook, insert hook in next stitch,
yarn over, draw up a loop, yarn over, draw through all three loops on hook

Half-double crochet decrease (hdc dec) or (hdc2tog) - yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, draw up loop, insert hook in next stitch, yarn over, draw up loop
(you will have four loops on hook), yarn over, draw through all
loops on hook .

Double crochet (dc)– yarn over, insert hook in stitch, yarn over, draw
up loop, yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, draw through
last two loops

Double crochet decrease (dc dec) or (dc2tog) – yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, draw loop through, yarn over, draw through two loops on hook, yarn over, insert hook in next stitch, yarn over, draw up loop (you will have four loops on hook), yarn over, draw through two loops, yarn over, draw through remaining loops

Slip stitch (sl st) – insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull through both loops on hook

*When a pattern calls for “ repeat * to * 4 times ”: This actually
means to do what is inside the stars (* *) first and then repeat what
you have just done 4 more times. Therefore, you actually do what is
inside the stars 5 times. Every pattern is different but the ones I have e-mailed to you I am following this rule.

*Remember to mark your rounds . . . Since a few pattern s I have sent work in a
continuous round, it is crucial to mark the beginning of your next
round. I use a safety pin, but you could use another color of year
or a special marker.

*I have found the best way to make a smaller size hat/glove or whatever you are crocheting is to use a smaller hook. For example if a pattern calls for a 11, 10 and 6 for a hat use a 10,9 and 5 and you will end up with a smaller hat! I love how simple it is :)

*I have knitted the patterns I sent to you with a variety of different kinds of yarn. Don't feel like you have to use the one called for in the pattern. If I use a thinner yarn for a hat I double it up...meaning you are working with 2 strings of yarn vs 1. That way your hat ends up nice and thick. My theory is use what you got!!

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Pen Pal Details :)

There are a bunch of groups interested in having pen pals. Hooray! Here is what I need from each group interested. Please e-mail (Do not leave as a comment!) the following info on each YW wanting to participate...

Name:
Address:
Age:

I'm asking that you get me this info by Monday January 18th. I figure most of you will be able to get this info on Sunday. I will pair the girls according to age. I'm going to send out a letter to each girl participating with their pen pals info and something cute. Why? Because I love cute things and who doesn't love mail :) Let me know if you have any questions!

Friday, January 15, 2010

Penpals

Jennifer South from Idaho wrote me with this request "I have at least 3 Laurels and 1 Mia Maid who would love to be a pen pal with one of the girls from one of the wards involved with our "little" service project. Do you think any of the women would be interested in asking their YW if they would like to have a pen pal from Idaho?".

Anyone interested? I know when I was a Beehive I had a few pen pals and loved it. I think it's a fabulous idea and will make the girls feel more united! Let me know if you have YW who wants to do this. It's always fun getting to know new people.

Thanks!

Melinda

Pictures



Star, Idaho





Peachtree City, Georgia




CALDWELL, IDAHO





LUFKIN, TEXAS




HIGHLAND, CALIFORNIA



CLAREMORE, OKLAHOMA





VENTURE, CALIFORNIA




MENAN, IDAHO



BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS




BATTLEGROUND, WASHINGTON







UNITED KINGDOM, ENGLAND




TUCSON, ARIZONA




Project Memebers :)

Hey gals! I had 3 different people e-mail with the name "Heart to Heart" for this project. I like and I'm going to stick with it. If you want to call your project something else in your ward that is fine. I will update this list as we go. Check back to see the changes...

*Melinda Beachell & Michelle Weinberger from the Battleground Ward (Battleground, Washington)

*Tara Curtis from the Continental Ranch Ward (Tucson, Arizona)

*Sharon Wood from the ? Ward (Springs South Africa)

*Barbie Williams from the Highland 1st Ward (Highland, California)

*Shannon from the ? Ward ( ?, Florida)

*Wendy Jenson from the ? Ward (?)

*Amber Garvin from Chubbuck 3rd Ward (Chubbuck Idaho)

*Dawn Russo from the ? Ward (Claremore, Oklahoma)

*Janna Streibel from the Marsing 1st Ward (Caldwell, Idaho)

*Marye Eby from the Pilgrim's Landing 3rd Ward (Lehi, UT)

*Shelly Hawley from the Stockdale Ward (Bakersfield, California)

*Traci Pankratz From the Bitburg Military Ward (Germany)

*Vikki Playforth from the ? Ward (United Kingdom, England)

*Mary Pugh from the Weston 2nd Ward (Boston, Massachusetts)

*Allena Allread from the Warrenton Ward (Warrenton, Missouri)

*Julie Bradford from the Cedar Hills 14th Ward (Cedar Hills, UT)

*Coreen Phipps from the Copper Canon Ward (Surprise, Arizona)

*Jennifer South from the Menan 3rd Ward (Menan, Idaho)

*Debbie Orosco from the Ventura 2nd Ward (Ventura, California)

*Jullie Olenslager & Ginger Thompson from the Thayne 1st Ward (Thayne, Wyoming)

*Janell Horrocks from the Nehalem Ward (Vancouver, Washington)

*Beth Adams from Marysville 6th Ward (Seattle, Washington)

*Sunshine Seekins & Roselle Pliego from the 1st Ward (Lufkin, Texas)

*DaNeil Bybee, Myra Leatherman & Darlene Petersen from the 8th ward, Soda Springs, Idaho

*Julie Schock from the Whitewater Ward (Peachtree City, Georgia)

*Stacey Laney from the springfield 5th ward ward (Springfield, Missouri)

*Heather Rodebush from the Smithfield Branch (Smithfield, Virginia)

*Michelle Smith from the ? ward (Spanish Fork, Utah)

*Meagan Branch from the Bothwell Ward (Tremonton, Utah)

*Denyce Udink from the Star 3rd Ward (Star, Idaho)

*Rebecca Winspear from the ? Ward (Boise, Idaho)

*Racheal Collins from the ? Ward (?, ?)


THANKS!!!

Melinda