Fifteen Years Ago...(now 17......) Valentine's Day

Continuing (somewhat) the Story of Us, which I started a while back. Part 1 can be found here. 

Going through all of our boxes of stuff (and stuff and stuff and even more stuff) has really brought back a lot of memories. We just went through one of our boxes of photos where we found....Wait, what? What do you mean? You know. It's a box where you used to keep pictures before you could just store them on your phone. You see, there was a time when pictures had to be processed from actual film (google it) and phones only made calls and "texting" was something someone with a speech impediment said when giving a mic check. 

The time was 1998 and it was a glorious time of technological advancement when a newfangled thing called the "World Wide Web" was just finding its legs and more and more people were getting "cellular telephones" that worked on some sort of digital network, whatever that black magic voodoo means. All I know is that it meant I could send a numerical page to my friends (probably 55378008) from anywhere and not wait until I got to a landline phone, although I could not receive pages since I was lame and didn't have a beeper. (DUDE. Just google it already!)

It was a time when two college kids had met and fallen in love and were excitedly nervous about having their first Valentine's Day together since this was a super special holiday and being seen together on this day meant that we were really and for true A Couple and completely and totally in wuuuuuv with each other.

Ugh! The pressure! What do I get him? What does he like? He likes me, obviously, so he must like things that I like since we have SO.MUCH.IN.COMMON. It's crazy how alike we are. I mean, he likes Star Wars and *I* like Star Wars. He likes spicy food and *I* like spicy food. It's like we are the same person!! So, I'm sure he is into crafty stuff, too, since I am and he's like me and, I KNOW!!! OH. Such a perfect gift!!!!

****************************************

Giving a glimpse of my first Valentine's Day with My Mister, here's the first (and quite possibly the best) Valentine's gift I gave him. 

Now, it's not the best gift I ever gave him based on artistic merit or anything. It's just that I'm pretty lousy at giving Valentine's Day presents. To see what I mean, and for a wee bit of insight into our Valentine's Days through the years, head on over to Artistic Expressions by Elisabeth blog where I was a guest blogger for her Valentine's Day series.  

Much love to all!

 

E-mail made it to our list of memories....geez. We're old.

Four Months

Four LOOOOOOONG months. That’s how long it’s been since my last blog post (!!) and how long it’s been since our stuff has been making the long journey from Australia back home to us on the East Coast. And today, that journey finally ends. FINALLY. In other words, I GET MY YARN STASH BACK TODAY!!!! If that’s not cause for celebration, I don’t know what is.

I had fully intended to blog during our trip back home- documenting our various travels and the yarn stores I visited along the way. However, starting with SweetPea catching a bad cold during our first stop in Guam, things kinda went downhill from there. We were like chain smokers, except with sicknesses, and I don’t mean plain ol’ colds, either. After we all caught SweePea’s cold, I was treated with an urgent care visit in Hawaii (for a doctor’s note saying I was healthy enough to fly….now there’s a fun story that goes with that….) where I found that I had ALSO had developed shingles. (!!) And that was just the beginning, finally culminating with Little Mister and I getting the flu last month. After that, I implemented a lock down for the kids and I. We had our groceries delivered and were true hermits and didn’t leave the house for weeks, except for doctor’s appointments of which there were quite a few.

Thankfully, that means that we have actually been well for about 4 weeks now, 2 of which My Mister was out of town, leaving me a neurotic mess hoping and praying we didn’t get sick while he was gone. Four straight weeks of not sneezing, coughing, runny noses, screaming babies, ERs, MRIs or CAT scans. There were still a couple urgent care visits, though. However, those were a result of SweetPea’s proclivity for sticking beans up her nose rather than snot coming out of it.

After traveling for nearly a month, visiting family and friends along the way, we were in a hotel for a month and a half until we found a house- our Christmas present. We moved in on Christmas Eve and had fun unpacking all our stuff that had been in storage for the past 3 years. It’s quite odd, actually. Seeing evidence of My Mister’s and my life pre-kids and all the memories that come with it, and then seeing our kids playing with these things that predate them by many years. It brought up some important questions, actually. Questions like, why the heck did we have a Blue’s Clues doll, anyway?

We celebrated Christmas a few days later because we were determined to have a Christmas tree and to make some happy memories with our kids. Seeing their ecstatic faces with the tree lit and all the presents for them was priceless. We were actually blessed with 4 sickness free days at that time and that was indeed a Christmas miracle.

Being well these last few weeks has been a true blessing. I was so close to losing my mind cool there if I got sick again. Oddly enough, I got the worst of all the sicknesses, including nearly a week of a 104 (40 C) fever while we were still in the hotel, and weird neurological stuff- like my legs giving out in the middle of the night when I went to pick up a crying kiddo- that may possibly be another bout of Lymes disease. Oh, there’s another fun story there, too! So, so fun.

And now, finally, today we get our stuff back from Australia. We get to have our house filled with memories from the past 3 years. The kids get their toys again. I get my kitchen back. (I’m so thankful to a very nice gal from church- someone I had never met- who has loaned me a set of pots and pans so I could cook these past 6 weeks. People can be so awesome sometimes!) And I finally, FINALLY get my yarn back.

Actually, funny enough, our stuff was delayed a bit because of said yarn. You see, when the Aussie movers packed it up, they labeled it “Wool,” which is the Aussie way of saying “yarn.” After a few boxes of wool, it then became, “WOOL!!” So, we got a nice email from US customs asking what these 9 boxes of wool were and if it was “directly from an animal” which made me laugh and laugh. Although I wanted to say, “It’s still on the animal…you did feed and water our flock, didn’t you?” I wisely decided to hold my tongue since I’m pretty sure US Customs folks don’t have senses of humor. Aussie ones sure don’t. They made us destroy our fake ficus tree when our stuff first arrived there 3 years ago. It was a FAKE tree, Australia. Thanks a lot! Now my house is ficus less!

The movers should be here shortly and I’m going to take the kids to a Fiber Friends get together, which brings me full circle to my first few weeks in Australia. You see, that same woman who started the Fibre Friends group in Australia lives not too far from me out here and has invited me to her newest group out here. She’s been one of the biggest blessings since moving back, actually. More on that later. I promise.

For now, I’s gots ta go. But, I promise it won’t be 4 months until my next post! As a matter of fact, I’m going to do a guest Valentine’s post for Libby….stay tuned….

Moving On Up...

The movers are here. (!!!) THE MOVERS ARE HERE!!

Did I set aside enough yarn and clothes and yarn and toys and yarn to last us at least 2-3 months? I think I need to take some more yarn before they pack it all away.

DON’T TAKE MY YARN FROM ME! *SNARL SPIT HISS*

Will the kids transition easily? Of course they will, what am I thinking? They will think they just got the mother load of Christmas presents when they open up all the boxes with their toys on the other side. Kids are dumb.

Were we organized enough this time around to avoid all the snarling, hissing, and spitting that occurred last time? ORGANIZED??? HA! Just who’s blog do you think you are reading? Although, My Mister is super organized. That’s good. He’s probably thought of things that I didn’t think of. He’s amazing like that. I like him. I hope he likes me, too. DON’T LEAVE ME! I’ve got yarn! Though, that may not be as enticing for him as it is for me…. Hmmmm…. I’VE GOT YARN!!!!!

Yep, that should do it. 

The movers just took a look at my vacuum packed stash and asked who the knitter is and then said, “I bet it’s not him!” WHAT? Just how racist can you be??? I AM A CROCHETER, NOT A KNITTER! I mean, yes I can knit now, BUT STILL! 

It’s ok, Gege. It’s ok. Just hold on for a couple more days until they are all done with the packing and it will be ok. Remember your mantra! “I am a woman, not just a mindless eating machine. Fish are friends, BUT YARN IS BETTER!”

Better pack some more yarn….

Erin's Hug: Free Pattern

I love Australia. I truly do. It’s so much more than gigantic (and sometimes miniscule) things that can kill you with their brains (and teeth and poison). And, it’s so much larger than people realize- just about the same size as the contiguous United States. (So, for those of you who told me that such and such was going to be on tour in Australia so I should just pop on over to see it….it’s like saying, “Hey! You should drive to New York from Albuquerque this weekend so you can see Les Miserables!”)

In other words, it ain’t gonna happen. And study some geography, yo.

It’s also farther away than many people realize. It’s quite literally on the other side of the world from the US and, regardless of what that amazingly awesome and annoying Disney ride tells you, it is NOT a small world after all. It took us 36 hours of travel time to get to our home in Australia from the east coast of the States. 36 hours. With a two month old newborn and a new mother who was trying desperately to hold on to her sanity while not ripping off everybody’s head because they had slept in the past 2 months and she HAD NOT SLEPT AND I’M GOING TO DIE.

*HEAVY HYPERVENTILATION*

Ok. I’m better now. Just a little PTSD. No big whoop.

When we first moved here, I started crocheting like a mad woman. Well…a slightly deranged woman. I bought yarn like a mad woman. You can never have enough yarn…it makes for a great insulator for the padded room.

One of the first things I made was this gorgeous purple scarf. 

LOVE LOVE LOVE PURPLE. And this scarf, too.

I may or may not have twirled around and pranced like a ballerina with it. I'll never tell.

It’s basically the South Bay Shawlette hacked into a scarf. A very long and wide, lacy scarf of awesomeness.

And then I made it in a bright, vivacious red lace because I loved it- I especially loved the repetitive nature of the stitches. It was nice to have something simple to work on when the rest of my life was full of hecticness. 

VIVACIOUS. The scarf ain't bad, either. Hee!

It’s the whole, “on the other side of the world” thing that has been the toughest for us. Little Mister was the first grandchild on both sides of our families and has met his grandparents 3 times. I’m so thankful we were able to go back when he was 9 months old because that was the first, and only, time my dad got to meet him. He passed 4 months later. When you’re faced with the mortality of your loved ones, especially your parents, the other side of the world is NOT where you want to be.

We were not there for other major trials, tribulations and joys, either. Major surgeries and hospitalizations, more deaths (my grandmother passed a week or two after SweetPea was born), as well as life (our sweet niece, who just turned two and who we have only met once).

I was able to spend some time with friends and family in Arizona and New Mexico a couple times, which was great. Though, I missed my other friends and family on the east coast terribly and can’t believe it’s been 3 years since we last saw each other. My dear BFF Lyteyz tried to visit me in NM while I was there for my dad’s funeral but things were just too hectic.

She so wished she could be there for me- a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, a hug to let me know I wasn’t alone. She was faced with her own stressors during this time. She and her family were trying to come to terms with the fact that her own father was going to leave them soon. Stage 4 melanoma is nobody’s friend.

I am so thankful for my other BFF Ronda during this time- she let me and Little Mister crash at her place for the 3 (4?) weeks we were there and even helped Lyteyz send her “hug” to me via a beautiful bouquet of flowers sent to Ronda’s house as a surprise.

It was sometime around here that I started working on my third lacy scarf. Ever since I first made the purple one, I had wanted it in this amazing, bright blue and had the perfect yarn for it in my ever expanding stash. 

This is pre-blocking...blocking is A MUST with this shawl.

I started working on it and it made me happy. I couldn’t wait to wear it, especially since I wore my red one with everything. As I was working on it, I kept thinking of Lyteyz. Every single time I picked it up, her face would pop up into my mind. It was a little creepy, actually. GET OUT OF MY HEAD, LYTEYZ! I can’t hear the other voices!

And then, March rolled around and my beautiful SweetPea was born. And then my grandmother passed. And then April rolled around and I so wished I could have been there for Lyteyz when she let me know the day the Lord finally called her dad home.

And then I knew. I knew why this scarf had Lyteyz written all over it. It was big and beautiful and yet light and airy. Something you can wrap yourself up in and yet not be overwhelmed with. It was a perfect hug.

Since I couldn’t be there for her during her very difficult time, I knew that this scarf was destined to give her the hug that I couldn’t give in person.

So, I’m sharing it here with you. Maybe you need a hug or know someone who needs a hug. Maybe you have a gigantic stash that you need to work through and your husband needs a hug as he weeps for joy that it’s slowly but surely going down.

It’s a super simple pattern- more of a recipe, really. I didn’t add an edging to it since it’s so very lacy and I wanted it simple. (That and lace weight yarn is so flippin’ tiny. Any therapeutic value this project had would have been for naught if I tried to single crochet all the way around it. I’m getting anxiety now just thinking about it.)

Without further ado, here’s Erin’s Hug, from me to you. 

My beautiful BFF, Lyteyz. Bet you can't guess how she got that handle.

Erin's Hug

What you need:

880 yards lace weight yarn  

• (I used 2 skeins of KnitPicks Gloss for the red one and 2 skeins of KnitPicks Shadow Tonal (unfortunately discontinued (!!!) ) for the blue one. KnitPicks, and their sales, may or may not be part of the reason my closets are filled to the brim with yarn. And why My Mister weeps for joy. The purple one is a mystery wool from a cone gifted to me when I first moved to Australia. I love Aussies. They give me yarn.)

4.5mm crochet hook 

• (It’s labeled as a G hook, but I have 3 different G hooks- 4mm, 4.25mm, and 4.5mm. Just use whichever one you have.)

Note:

1. Ch4 counts as dc, ch1
2. Ch3 counts as dc
3. I cannot stress enough how important blocking is to this project. Once you are done crocheting it, it will look like an ugly pile of poo. But, once you block it, BAM! The lace comes out and you will be amazed at how much it grows, both horizontally and vertically. Blocking: it’s a good thing.
4. After blocking, this was about 18" x 80". KnitPicks lace yarns are a heavier lace weight, so the red and blue ones ended up slightly larger than the purple one, which was a much finer lace weight. If you are using a finer lace weight and desire a really wide stole/scarf, add another repeat (8 stitches).

Special stitches:

Small-V: 

• At beginning of row: (ch4, dc) in first dc 
• At end of row: (dc, ch1, dc) in last dc

Large-V: (dc, ch3, dc) in indicated stitch

What you do:

Worked in a multiple of 8+10

Chain 82

Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook and on down. (81sc) (Conversely, you can do 81fsc if you so wish and follow from there)


Row 2: Ch3, dc next sc. Ch1, skip 2 sc, Large-V in next sc. *Ch1, skip 2 sc, dc in next 3 sc. Ch1, skip 2 sc, Large-V in next sc. Repeat from * until last 2 sc. Ch1, Dc in last 2 sc. Turn

Row 3: Ch4, skip next (dc, ch1), 7dc in ch3 sp. *Ch1, skip next (ch1, dc), dc in next dc (middle dc of 3-dc group). Ch 1, skip next (dc, ch1), 7dc in ch3 sp. Repeat from * until last 2dc. Ch1, dc in top of ch3. Turn

Row 4: Small-V in first dc. Ch1, skip next (ch1, 2 dc), dc in next 3 dc. *Ch1, skip next (2 dc, ch1), Large-V in next dc. Ch1, skip next (ch1, 2 dc), dc in next 3 dc. Repeat from* to last dc. Ch1, Small-V in 3rd ch of ch4. Turn

Row 5: Ch3, 3dc in ch1 sp. Ch1, skip next (ch1, dc), dc in next dc (middle dc of 3-dc group). *Ch 1, skip next (dc, ch1), 7dc in ch3 sp. Ch1, skip next (ch1, dc), dc in next dc. Repeat from * until last Small V. ch1, 3 dc in ch1sp, dc in last dc.

Row 6: Ch3, dc next dc. Ch1, skip next (2 dc, ch1), Large-V in next dc. *Ch1, skip next (ch1, 2 dc), dc in next 3 dc. Ch1, skip next (2 dc, ch1), Large-V in next dc. Repeat from * until last 4 dc. Ch1, skip next (ch1, 2dc), dc in last 2 dc. Turn.

Repeat rows 3-6, ending on a row 6, until you are just about out of yarn.

Last row: Ch1, sc in first 2 dc, *sc in ch1 space, sc next dc, 1sc in ch3 sp, sc next dc, sc in ch1 space, sc in next 3 dc. Repeat from * on down. (81sc)




(If you end on a row 4, make sure to sc in every dc and ch1 spaces, and ONLY 1sc in the ch3 spaces.)

Bind off and weave in ends. Give yourself a hug.


Copyright 2014 Gege Crochet. All rights reserved. Pattern available for personal use only- please don't sell it- that's just not cool. You can sell, FO, though. Hug as many people as you like. Just please don't post this pattern anywhere- you can provide a link back to here, though.

I'm Coming Out of the (Yarn) Closet

This past year has been a very healing one for me. Even though I didn’t blog (almost at all) during this time, I truly have been busy growing as a person, a wife, a mother, and even a crocheter. I really had a lot of time to reflect on myself- find who I am, if you will.

I had to search in some really deep, dark, dirty places, actually. But now that most of my yarn is in vacuum storage bags, the closet(s) and under the bed(s) aren’t so bad anymore. I’ve been on a yarn diet for a while now, so I have not been adding to my monstrous stash. **My husband categorically rejects this fabricated and disillusioned statement**  (Although, I may or may not have been ordering and shipping to my sister’s house….because of the move and all…not because I’m trying to hide my purchases. Nope. Not that.)

As I was going through my stash and trying to consolidate it and shrink wrap it in ways where I could actually close the closet doors, I truly couldn’t help but start (and even finish!) many (many, many) projects. 

One: my own design; Two: from Doris Chan. I've got a lot to learn

PONCHOS! Both made from Aussie yarn

For my dear BFF, lyteyz: Erin's Hug...pattern coming in the next post or two....

Many hats made for the Beanie Festival....but I kinda sorta never turned them in.....

Made the one she's modeling for a friend. Not 5 seconds after taking that pic, SweetPea barfed all over it. IF I CAN'T HAVE IT, NO ONE CAN!

I put it on her, first. Then he said, "I want a cape with a hat!!" Yes....that's what it is, my love...a cape with a hat.

For a baby shower, a newborn baby, my baby's room, and my baby sister.

The only problem was that, though I love crochet, I just felt it in my bones that some of this yarn wasn’t meant to be crocheted. Some of that yarn felt different from the other yarns. Like it didn’t quite belong.

I, being the very attuned and sensitive person that I am, wanted to make sure that all my yarn was happy, no matter what they felt like. So, I started joking with my friends. And watching videos on youtube. And looking at pictures on Ravelry. Which turned into looking at patterns on Ravelry.

And I figured that it was time to face the truth. I couldn’t ignore it anymore and I knew that I wouldn’t be true to myself, or to my yarn, if I didn’t explore this side of me.

So, here it is.

You guys. My name is Gege, and I am bistitchual. 

I AM A KNITTER NOW! However, GegeCrochet-n-Knit just doesn't have that great a ring to it, ya know?

** This is her Mister and I both typed and approved the above statement