The cat is out of the bag

My husband and his friend are opening their own plumbing company. They obtained a business license and tax id number a few months ago, when the company they worked for was sold. The Reno division of that company was soon closed and the possibility of closing the office here became a real concern. It’s still up in the air as to what will happen to it. A few weeks ago my husband’s partner passed the test for his Contractors License, less than two weeks later the corporation that had purchased the company the guys were working for found out and fired them both. Needless to say, the last week or so has been an exciting scramble to pull together the final pieces of their company and get it up and running. I have every confidence in my husband and know he and his partner will build a successful and prosperous business. Congratulations and Good Luck, gentlemen!

Finally a decent picture!

I whined a little about the quality of my pictures, so my roomate Dave took a few more for me. This close up came out pretty good. I'm happy now.

HMB Contest Prize

I made a necklace today for the Heartmade Blessings squares contest. The contest is currently under way. This necklace will be one of the prizes that will be awarded.

This is a lousy picture, I had to use my cell phone, my digital camera was dead. I'm charging it and will try to take some better pictures later. The stones are Unakite chips (a green and reddish-pink colored stone) and the pendant is a yarn cutter. I love the gold leaves, I might have to make some earrings out of the leftovers. :)

Inspired by Heartmade Blessings

I designed this square for Heartmade Blessings a couple of years ago. I designed it with the Operation Purple Heart program in mind. This program collects squares in combinations of Red, White and Blue or Purple and White (or Red and White for Canada). The blankets assembled from these squares are given to the surviving parents or spouse of our fallen solders.

Shield of Honor 12" Square Version 1

Designed by Mindy Hobgood

I hook or size needed for gauge.


Worsted weight yarn: use two shades of the same color.


Stitch Guide:


FPdc - yo, insert hook from front to back around post of stitch indicated, yo and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), (yo and draw through 2 loops on hook) twice.,br>


Note- all dc's are done in back loops only throughout.


Starting with darker color, ch 5, sl st to form ring.


Round 1: Ch 3, 23 dc in ring, sl st in top of beg ch 3.


Round 2: Change to lighter color, ch 3, 3 dc in next st (corner made), dc in next st, FPdc in next 3 sts on previous row, (dc in next st, 3 dc in next st, dc in next st, FPdc in next 3 sts on previous row) 3 times, end sl st in top of ch 3.


Round 3: Ch 3, dc in next st, 3 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts, FPdc in next 3 sts on previous row, (dc in next 2 sts, 3 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts, FPdc in next 3 sts on previous row) 3 times, end sl st in top of ch 3.

Round 4: Ch 3, dc in next 2 sts, 5 dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts, FPdc in next 3 sts on previous row, (dc in next 3 sts, 5 dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts, FPdc in next 3 sts on previous row) 3 times, end sl st in top of ch 3.


Round 5: Ch 3, dc in next 4 sts, 5 dc in next st, dc in next 5 sts, FPdc in next 3 sts on previous row, (dc in next 5 sts, 5 dc in next st, dc in next 5 sts, FPdc in next 3 sts on previous row) 3 times, end sl st in top of ch 3.


Round 6: Working in back loops only, sl st in each st to corner st. Ch 3, 4 dc in same st, dc in next 5 st, sk next st, FPdc around next dc on prev row {1st dc to the right of 1st FPdc}, FPdc around 1st FPdc, dc in same st, FPdc around next FPdc, dc in next FPdc, FPdc around same st, FPdc in next dc, (sk next st, dc in next 5 sts, 5 dc in next st, dc in next 5 sts, sk next st, FPdc around next dc on prev row {1st dc to the right of 1st FPdc}, FPdc around 1st FPdc, dc in same st, FPdc around next FPdc, dc in next FPdc, FPdc around same st, FPdc in next dc) 3 times, sk next st, dc in next 5 sts - covering sl sts, end sl st in top of ch 3.


Round 7: Ch 3, dc in next st, 5 dc in next st, dc in next 6 st, sk next st, FPdc around 1st FPdc on prev row, FPdc around next FPdc, dc in same st, dc in next st, FPdc around next FPdc, dc in next st, dc in next FPdc, FPdc around same st, FPdc in next FPdc, (sk next st, dc in next 6 sts, 5 dc in next st, dc in next 6 sts, sk next st, FPdc around next FPdc on prev row, FPdc around next FPdc, dc in same st, dc in next st, FPdc around next FPdc, dc in next st, dc in next FPdc, FPdc around same st, FPdc in next FPdc) 3 times, sk next st, dc in next 4 sts, end sl st in top of ch 3.


Round 8: Ch 3, dc in next 3 sts, 5 dc in next st, dc in next 7 st, sk next st, FPdc around 1st FPdc on prev row, FPdc around next FPdc, dc in same st, dc in next 2 sts, FPdc around next FPdc, dc in next 2 sts, dc in next FPdc, FPdc around same st, FPdc in next FPdc, (sk next st, dc in next 7 sts, 5 dc in next st, dc in next 7 sts, sk next st, FPdc around next FPdc on prev row, FPdc around next FPdc, dc in same st, dc in next 2 sts, FPdc around next FPdc, dc in next 2 sts, dc in next FPdc, FPdc around same st, FPdc in next FPdc) 3 times, sk next st, dc in next 3 sts, end sl st in top of ch 3.


Round 9: Ch 3, dc in next 5 sts, 5 dc in next st, dc in next 8 st, sk next st, FPdc around 1st FPdc on prev row, FPdc around next FPdc, dc in same st, dc in next 3 sts, FPdc around next FPdc, dc in next 3 sts, dc in next FPdc, FPdc around same st, FPdc in next FPdc, (sk next st, dc in next 8 sts, 5 dc in next st, dc in next 8 sts, sk next st, FPdc around next FPdc on prev row, FPdc around next FPdc, dc in same st, dc in next 3 sts, FPdc around next FPdc, dc in next 3 sts, dc in next FPdc, FPdc around same st, FPdc in next FPdc) 3 times, sk next st, dc in next 2 sts, end sl st in top of ch 3.


Round 10: Change to darker color, ch 3, dc in each st around, with 5 dc in each corner st, end sl st in top of ch 3.

Shield of Honor Version 2

Here is an alternate version of the Shield of Honor square. I wasn't happy with my first version, so I came up with this one. Then I thought others might like the first version so I decided to keep them both.

Shield of Honor 12" Square Version 2

Designed by Mindy Hobgood


I hook or size needed for gauge.


Worsted weight yarn: use two shades of the same color.



Stitch Guide:


FPdc - yo, insert hook from front to back around post of stitch indicated, yo and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), (yo and draw through 2 loops on hook) twice.


Cluster stitch - *yo, insert hook in stitch indicated, yo and pull up a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook; repeat from * 2 times more, yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook.



Starting with darker color, ch 5, sl st to form ring.


Round 1: Ch 3, 23 dc in ring, sl st in top of beg ch 3.


Round 2: Note - dc's are done in back loops only on this round. Change to lighter color, ch 3, 3 dc in next st (corner made), dc in next st, FPdc in next 3 sts on previous row, (dc in next st, 3 dc in next st, dc in next st, FPdc in next 3 sts on previous row) 3 times, end sl st in top of ch 3.


Round 3: Ch 3, dc in next st, 3 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts, FPdc in next 3 sts on previous row, (dc in next 2 sts, 3 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts, FPdc in next 3 sts on previous row) 3 times, end sl st in top of ch 3.


Round 4: Ch 3, dc in next 2 sts, 5 dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts, FPdc in next 3 sts on previous row, (dc in next 3 sts, 5 dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts, FPdc in next 3 sts on previous row) 3 times, end sl st in top of ch 3.


Round 5: Note - dc's and sl sts are done in back loops only on this round. Sl st in each st to corner st. Ch 3, 4 dc in same st, dc in next 4 st, sk next st, FPdc around first FPdc on prev row, dc in same st, FPdc around next FPdc, dc in next FPdc, FPdc around same st, (sk next st, dc in next 4 sts, 5 dc in next st, dc in next 4 sts, sk next st, FPdc around first FPdc on prev row, dc in same st, FPdc around next FPdc, dc in next FPdc, FPdc around same st,) 3 times, sk next st, dc in next 4 sts covering sl sts, end sl st in top of ch 3.


Round 6: Ch 3, dc in next st, 5 dc in next st, dc in next 5 st, sk next st, FPdc around first FPdc on prev row, dc in same st, dc in next st, FPdc around next FPdc, dc in next st, dc in next FPdc, FPdc around same st, (sk next st, dc in next 5 sts, 5 dc in next st, dc in next 5 sts, sk next st, FPdc around first FPdc on prev row, dc in same st, dc in next st, FPdc around next FPdc, dc in next st, dc in next FPdc, FPdc around same st,) 3 times, sk next st, dc in next 3 sts, end sl st in top of ch 3.


Round 7: Ch 3, dc in next 3 sts, 5 dc in next st, dc in next 6 st, sk next st, FPdc around first FPdc on prev row, dc in same st, dc in next 2 sts, FPdc around next FPdc, dc in next 2 sts, dc in next FPdc, FPdc around same st, (sk next st, dc in next 6 sts, 5 dc in next st, dc in next 6 sts, sk next st, FPdc around first FPdc on prev row, dc in same st, dc in next 2 sts, FPdc around next FPdc, dc in next 2 sts, dc in next FPdc, FPdc around same st,) 3 times, sk next st, dc in next 2 sts, end sl st in top of ch 3.


Round 8: Note - dc's are done in back loops only on this round. Change to darker color, ch 3, dc in each st around, with 5 dc in each corner st, end sl st in top of ch 3.


Round 9: Change to lighter color, ch 3, (yo, insert hook into same st, pull up a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook) repeat once, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook, beginning cluster made. *Ch 1, sk next st, (cluster st in next st, ch 1 sk next st,) repeat to corner, 5 dc in corner st,* repeat from * each side, end ch 1 sl st into beg cluster.


Round 10: Change to darker color, ch 3, dc in each st and each ch 1 sp around, with 5 dc in each corner, end sl st in top of ch 3.

Help, I have no thumbs!

Dinner with Mike and Nikki was fun, we had a great time and the food was awesome. Mike's Aunt and Uncle celebrated their Anniversary with us as well, so it was one big party!

Here is what I accomplished on my gloves over the weekend:

Yes, they still need the thumbs knitted in.

Now we're really gonna party!

Congratulations Mike!!!

!!!Happy Birthday Nikki!!!

Hey Ya'll! Just a quick shout out to my dear friend Nikki! Have a great day. Can't wait for dinner tomorrow, it's going to be so much fun. We're going to a really neat fondue restaurant. Its.So.Very.Good.

HMB Ghan for Karen

Here is the completed comfortghan for my friend Karen. I used the "Flat Braid" joining method by Priscilla Hewett. The edging is from "50 Crocheted Afghan Borders" by Jean Leinhauser. I don't remember what number it was, but I did modify it a little bit. Here's another link for it: http://www.anniesattic.com/detail.html?prod_id=19213 . I love this book, it has some really great borders that I want to try.