Wow, so much for being here all the time.  What a nasty procrastinator I am.  😈  Anyway, I'm back again.  No promises, just gonna do the best I can.

I'll be crocheting up some gr8 newborn boy things, as I just found out I'm gonna be a nana again.  My oldest daughter is having a boy around the end of May 2017.  I can't wait.

Here's the pattern for My Reading Pillow. 

READING PILLOW

MATERIALS:

7 oz. Main (body) 4 ply yarn - {this is a guesstimate as I used a 5 oz skein of Mexicana & needed a touch more for my bottom}

3 oz Contrast 4 ply yarn - {this is a guesstimate as I used a Black leftover yarn} 

Sz. 7 Hook {4.5 mm} or whatever you need for gauge

Stuffing

Either a Yarn Needle or Sz. G 6 {4.00 mm} Hook for attaching pieces.

NOTE: I crochet tightly—so please check your gauge

GAUGE:  4 dc = 1 inch & 2 rows = 1 inch

FINISHED SIZE:  14” tall x 2 ½” tapering 11” wide

DIRECTIONS

Body

Chain 41

Row 1:  Sc in second chain from hook and each chain across, turn {40 sc}

Row 2:  Chain 1 - dc across, turn {40 dc}

{Now working in back loops throughout until otherwise noted}

Rows 3 – 7:  Chain 1 - dc (in back loop) across, turn {40 dc}

{Start of decrease - in first 2 & last 2 stitches}

Row 8:  Chain 1 - decrease - dc across {36 st} - decrease, turn {38 dc}

Rows 9 – 24:  Chain 1 - repeat row 8 until only 4 dc remain, turn

CHART OF ROWS

rw - sts	rw - sts	rw - sts	rw - sts	rw - sts
9 - 36	10 - 34	11 - 32	12 - 30	13 - 28
14 - 24	15 - 22	16 - 20	17 - 18	18 -16
19 - 14	20 - 12	21 -10	22 - 8	23 - 6
24 - 4

Rows 25 – 29:  Chain 1 - dc across, turn {4 dc}

{Start of increase - 2 dc in first & last stitches}

Row 30:  Chain 1 - increase - dc across - increase, turn {6 dc}

Rows 31 – 47:  Chain 1 - repeat row 30 until you have 40 dc, turn {8 dc}

CHART OF ROWS

rw - sts	rw - sts	rw - sts	rw - sts	rw - sts
32-10	33-12	34-14	35-16	36-18
37-20	38-22	39-24	40-26	41-28
42-30	43-32	44-34	45-36	46-38
47-40

Rows 48 - 52:    Chain 1 - dc across, turn   {40 dc}

{Now stop working in back loops}

Row 53:   Chain 1 - dc across, turn   {40 dc}

Row 54:   Chain 1 - sc across, DO NOT TURN  {40 sc}

In last stitch of row 54 add 2 sc {so there should be 3 sc in ea corner when done}.  {1^st sc counts as last in 104 of side {center sc doesn’t count} & 3^rd sc counts as 1^st sc on next side}

Now going up/down the side - sc {I had 104}, REMEMBER: center sc in corner doesn’t count.  Sc across the bottom {40 sc} - sc up/down side {same amount as 1^st side}.  The last stitch should be the corner, so only put 2 sc {as you already have 1 from beginning of row 54}, sl st into that 1^st sc.  Fasten off & weave in ends.

Sides {Make 2}

Chain 21

Row 1:  Sc in second chain from hook and each chain across, turn {20 sc}

Row 2:  Chain 1 - dc across, turn {20 dc}

{Now working in back loops throughout until otherwise noted}

Rows 3 – 7:  Chain 1 - dc (in back loop) across, turn {20 dc}

{Start of decrease - in first 2 & last 2 stitches}

Row 8:  Chain 1 - decrease - dc across {16 st} - decrease, turn {18 dc}

Row 9:  Chain 1 - dc across, turn {18 dc}

Rows 10 – 25:  Chain 1 - repeat rows 8 & 9 until only 2 dc remain, turn

CHART OF ROWS

rows - stitches	row - stitches	row - stitches	row - stitches
10 & 11 = 16	12 & 13 = 14	14 & 15 = 12	16 & 17 = 10
18 & 19 =   8	20 & 21 =   6	22 & 23 =   4	24 & 25 =  2

Rows 26:  Chain 1 - dc across, turn  

Rows 27:  Chain 1 - dc across, DO NOT turn 

{My pillow has 29 Rows – I made an error}

DO NOT put 3 sc in last stitch of row 27 {there should be 3 sc in ea corner only on the bottom}.  {1^st sc counts as last in 104 of side {center sc doesn’t count} & 3^rd sc counts as 1^st sc on next side}

Now going up/down the side - sc {I had 52}, REMEMBER: center sc in corner doesn’t count.  Sc across the bottom {20 sc} – 3 sc in last stitch - sc up/down side {same amount as 1^st side}.  And 2 sc across the top {this rounds the top}.  Fasten off & weave in ends.

Bottom {Not working in back loop}

Chain 21

Row 1:  Sc in second chain from hook and each chain across, turn {20 sc}

Row 2 - 26:  Chain 1 - dc across, turn {20 dc}

Row 27:  Chain 1 - dc across, DO NOT turn {20 dc}

In last stitch of row 27 add 2 sc {so there should be 3 sc in ea corner when done}.  {1^st sc counts as last in 40 of side {center sc doesn’t count} & 3^rd sc counts as 1^st sc on next side}  Now going up/down the side - sc {I had 40}, REMEMBER: center sc in corner doesn’t count.  Sc across the bottom {20 sc} - sc up/down side {same amount as 1^st side}.  The last stitch should be the corner, so only put 2 sc {as you already have 1 from beginning of row 27}, sl st into that 1^st sc.  Fasten off & weave in ends.

OK.  On all 4 pieces, {body, sides, & bottom}, Join contrast yarn with sl st in any corner.  Sc in same st as joining and all remaining sc – remembering to put 3 sc in each corner, except last corner do 2 sc and sl st into 1^st sc there.  Fasten off & weave in ends.

ASSEMEBLY – 2 WAYS

1. Sew together using yarn needle and contrast yarn. Leave an opening to stuff to desired thickness, then sew open hole. Fasten off & weave in ends.

2. 2.  START WITH A SIDE & MAIN BODY.  With smaller hook, Join with sl st into st after corner center. chain 1 & sc in same st & all remaining sts going through both pieces.  When you get to the bottom {corner}, in the center corner st, add the bottom. Go thru all 3 pieces on the corner st.  Go along the long side of the bottom & body – sc thru both pieces.  Again at the corner center st, attach 2^nd side going thru all 3 pieces.  Then sc going thru both side & body until you reach the bottom corner center & go thru all 3 pieces – then sc across bottom long side {body & bottom}, then across bottom short side {side & bottom} always going thru both.  Fasten off & weave in ends.  One side of side & bottom will be open for stuffing.  Stuff to desired thickness.  Then, sl st into corner of open end & sc in same st and all remaining sts including corner remembering to go thru both pieces.  Sl st into next st.  Fasten off & weave in ends. 

NOTE:  Be careful how much you stuff your pillow, you want to be able to shape it to use it.  I stuffed mine a bit too much and will be removing some}. 

Enjoy

Ramblings of a Crazy woman - about life, crocheting & reading

I can't believe I have left this blog (my sane place), alone for so long. Over 4 years. WOW!!! Well, hopefully I will come here and update on what's happening in my life weekly. I'd like to say every day, but I'm realistic enough to know I won't. I'm a procrastinator, perfectionist, with ADHD. Squirrel!!! :-) Sorry, had to do that.

So what's going on. Health sucks. I have ADHD, Bi-Polar depression, diabetes 2, under-active thyroid, asthma (with the beginnings of COPD), (yeah, and I still smoke), gerd, lychen planus (rash similar to eczema & psoriasis), & severe arthritis. I take meds for most but not all. I take Aderall for ADHD, I don't take my meds for bi-polar, (let's not get into that), glimeperide for diabetes, levothyroxine for thyroid, singulair for breathing, omeprazole for gerd, loratadine for my itch, and oxycodone when I can't stand the pain anymore (cause I don't want to become addicted), from my arthritis. My ADHD, diabetes, thyroid (only took them 7 years to listen to me), asthma & gerd are under control with the meds. I gave up the bi-polar meds because they made me fat & sweat like a pig. I mean really, 30 below outside & I was wearing tank tops and a sweater for a coat. Now the lychen planus was and still is a bitch. According to all info online, it's caused from Hepatitis C or liver problems. Which I have & never had neither of. So, I researched. Let me just say, I'm good at that. :-) Some information I found said it could be an allergy to metal. Now that's metal inside the body and bloodstream. Well hey, one month after breaking out from this, I had a knee replacement. BINGO. There's my problem. But it took me 6 years to figure that out, & in the meantime, I had an inter-stem (which is an electrode & pacemaker battery in my ass) to control my bladder. Yeah, yeah laugh it up, but the laughs on you cause it works. Both of these items are metal. Titanium to be exact. I was put on steroids, (again making me fat), & they didn't work. I did "light therapy", didn't work either. So, I started taking Coricidin for the allergy & created my own lotion to help heal & ease the itch. (I'll add the recipe at the end for anyone interested in making it). Plus I was going tanning at the gym (stronger than light therapy). With all 3 together I was in control. The money got so tight, I had to give up tanning & gym, & I could no longer afford allergy pills. Those suckers are $30 - $40 per month. So my rash came back with a vengeance. I begged & pleaded with my doctor to get per-approval for allergy meds, took him 2 years. But I still need the tanning and that's not happening anytime soon. I use almond oil after a shower (without drying off), before I lotion up. That seems to help some, but I still look like I have a contagious disease & rash. It's not contagious. AS for my arthritis, let's just say some days I want to roll over & die. Goddess, it sux getting old.


 Moving on, :-) I love to read. A Lot!!! I used to buy paperbacks & belonged to paperback swap, but then I got a Nook. I loved it, but it was too small. So I got a Nook HD, which ended up frozen and instead of replacing it, because the books were expensive. When my HD froze, I freaked and hubby bought me an ASUS Tablet. But I still needed to be able to read. So, I bought a Kindle DX. Now the DX is 9.7" tall, (which makes me love it), and it's just a reader. It holds 3500 books, I almost have that many to read not counting what I have already read that's in my archives. :-) They don't make this anymore, but they do sell battery replacements, which I did buy one recently. But Kindle is awesome. So many authors in my genre (Nook doesn't have them all), and FREE books. I love FREE!!! :-) My favorite genre is paranormal, (preferably with sex in it no YA for me), Aliens, I like some BDSM, Bad Boys, Step-brothers, Bikers, and some Billionaire. I do read some YA, some Cowboy, some paranormal comedy, some horror, & of course my regulars from years ago. Like James Patterson, Patricia Cornwell, Sue Grafton, John Sandford, & Yasmine Galenorm. I'll leave some reviews sometimes on books I've read. (One to follow).


 Now crocheting is not all that easy anymore because of my arthritis, but I still make things now and then. I learned (and created) my own tricks to making things. Like, I finally finished (had to redo some), the granny square afghan I started making for my daughter, Tiffany, about 10 years ago. I know, procrastinator. :-) First you need to weave ends in immediately. Don't wait til the end, cause you'll just get irritated. I did. When I finished, I found some of the weaved in ends coming undone. So, I used Liquid Stitch to seal them. I will use the liquid stitch whenever I think I'll need it. I love this stuff. It goes on white, but fades to clear when dry. Just don't use a lot of it, cause it stiffens the area. I also crochet tight. Can't help it, I just do. When making anything & I mean anything, always check your gage. So many times I didn't and ended up with things either much smaller or much to big. Because not everyone crochets the same. Also, make sure to buy extra yarn for your project. It's better to have too much than not enough. You can always use the extra yarn towards something else, trade it with other crocheters, or sell it on eBay or Craigs list. I prefer making clothing in threads, like # 3, 5, & 8, and fine yarns, (# 1 & 2) for myself. I like sport & baby yarn # 3 for afghan and some things, and # 4, worsted weight for afghans, hats, gloves, mittens, scarfs, and odds & ends. I DO NOT like any thicker yarns at all. I can't crochet well, or for long periods with # 10 thread, as it hurts my hands & eye strain. But I still use it for some things. Any thread thinner, forget it too hard for me now. Because I don't like the heavier wight yarns, I have to adjust a lot of any projects I want to make. I mean there's lots of patterns of items (mostly clothing) that I wish to make but I hate the feeling and heaviness of ww yarn. So, don't be afraid to experiment on adjusting, cause it's well worth it. Join some of the Yahoo Groups for crocheting. A lot of those people (ladies mostly, but some men), are really helpful if you get stuck. When I'm making odds & ends items, like my tablet holders, (pattern later), and my reading pillow, (pattern later today, I need to rewrite it so I can read it & take a picture), I won't always rip out when I find a mistake. I work it in somehow, See I have a habit of listening to my MP3 when I crochet. I also am always in a hurry to get my project finished. So, I will lose or add stitches sometimes. If it's not a big notice, when I go around the outside of the item to shape it, or just finish it, I will use stitches to fix it. That way no one can see my mistake but me if I look really really close.


OK, so that's it for now, I'll come back later with patterns, as I have a doctors appointment in a few. I will leave a book review of a book (it's actually a series, & I've read all 5), I've recently read & loved. Twisted Eventide Series by L. M. Adams

Snow-Covered-Moon-Twisted-Eventide

Review: