Camp Loopy this year...

Waroo

This is a crochet pattern that I plan to make for one of the Camp Loopy groups. I chose one skein to use instead of three or four…I hope I won't regret it! I don't plan on making it as large as this..just something to wrap around my neck.

I only have one skein of this so that's the deal. It is for the 400 yard group.  This is Canon Hand Dyes in the color Wind in the Willows. It is a finer fingering weight so just hope I can make it work.

One of the beautiful Rhododendrons in my front yard. I wish they lasted longer. At least one bush will re-bloom this summer.

Anniversary Lace

This is the second pattern I am hoping to finish for Camp Loopy…in the colors below.

Universal Bamboo Pop.  I think they will be good to use…I do have more of the same yarn in other colors so I can add to it if I have to…don't get credit for the added yarn used, but that's okay as have enough in the other yarn to meet the criteria.

Love this Iris! It looks iridescent up close. I love Iris as they multiply quickly to help make your yard look lush and gorgeous!

I plan on adding these Azaleas to my plantings out front…I think.  I might add them out back. I live on a dead-end drive, so unless you are the UPS man, the USPS man, or the FEDEX lady, not too many people ever see my front yard.  I don't unless I'm driving in our out because my living room faces the back yard.

This is one of Pandia's Jewels Hand Dyed Yarns beautiful skeins. It is so beautiful in person. My photo doesn't capture the sparkle! Can't wait to finish Camp Loopy and find a pattern for this gem! I'm going to purchase a skein for my DSD.

My Shell Cottage Slide - to gift or not to gift?

But first a little eye candy!

This is the Rhododendron in my front garden area. It is next to the house so the shade makes it a late bloomer for here. I also have the pinkish white one that blooms first, and the peach one that blooms last. I have no clue as to why they do not bloom at the same time.

I'm probably a little more than half way with this scarf. It is taking me a LONG time because it is mostly single crochet.

I'm on my second skein, but since I am not going to make it quite as large as the pattern, I will be fine. Plus I have four more skeins if I need them

The stitch is so pretty, and the ridges give it such a lovely squishy feel.  I sure helps to have such a great yarn to use!

RILEY

He is starting to be a BIG boy now. Looks more like a Mastiff than Lab in this photo. Has that baggy loose skin. He is almost 7 months and weighs about 75 pounds…probably a tad less. Very stocky. He is so so cute with me, and in most ways behaves quite well. As he gets older and learns I'm top dog he tends to do as he is requested.  It is his older brother, Brodie, that's become somewhat stubborn and not coming when called.

This is the bulb that my Sister-In-Law gave me many years ago. I just take care of it and it gives me beautiful flowers every year…and they get larger each year, too! Creamy white with red speckles. Can't wait!

Another Iris is blooming! This is a regular Iris, but super beautiful.  I'm excited to see it in the coming years when it spreads and there are many such gorgeous flowers.

I need to decide if I am keeping the scarf, or giving it to someone this Christmas. Decisions, decisions, decisions!!!

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Cat's Crochet Decrease

I don't think I posted anything before about the way I decrease in crochet. I devised this years ago, but after people started making claims they invented the Air Crochet I was pretty loathe to post anything about it…but finally did recently on Ravelry. Might as well post it here so you can see how easy it is and use it. Just watch Interweave putting it in their magazine again and giving Doris Chan credit like before! 

Perhaps link back to here if you ever use and post in your blog? That would be nice, thank you.

THIS IS HOW I DECREASE

I have been doing this for years. I think it is easier that the “regular” way.

When I decrease I do a yarn over (this will be a dc decrease), go through the stitch indicated, pull up a loop. 

Next, you will go to the next stitch and pull up a loop.

Then I pull that second loop carefully through the first loop pulled up in the first stitch indicated.   

Now I have the amount of loops on the hook for a regular dc. I just continue with the dc.

 It makes it look like a regular dc, and you almost can't see the decrease. Then continue your stitches!

When I do it with sc it is about the same (and it looks the best of any of the stitches). I go through the loop indicated and pull up a loop, do the same on the next stitch, and then that last loop I pull through the first loop and now have only two loops on the hook. I yo and pull the yarn through the two loops on the hook.

You can use this for any stitch. However, the taller the stitch the larger the gap that shows, just like any decrease. Since MOST (not all) decreases are at the beginning or end of a pattern, this does work out quite nicely.

Try it! Let me know. So far people seem to love it.

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