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Every now and then you just have to give it up for the creative people out there! This is one of those moments. It's a good thing I didn't have liquid in my mouth when I saw this picture. I really had a good laugh from this one!

Copyright: Spindles and Spices on Blogspot

Check out her blog: http://spindlesandspices.blogspot.com/

Carrot Cake TP Cosy

Materials:
small amount of aran/off white worsted weight yarn
small amount of tan, reddish brown, or other appropriate color worsted weight yarn
scrap amounts of green and orange worsted weight yarn for carrots
g hook
tapestry needle
washable fabric glue if desired

Stitches and abbreviations:
beg=beginning
flo=front loop only
blo=back loop only
hdc=half double crochet
fpdc=front post double crochet
beg popcorn=ch 3, 4 dc in same st, remove hook from loop and insert from front to back through 1st dc, with 1st dc on hook insert hook back through loop, pull loop through first dc, ch 1.
popcorn=5 dc in indicated st, remove hook from loop and insert from front to back through 1st dc, with 1st dc on hook insert hook back through loop, pull loop through first dc, ch 1.

Notes: ch 2 counts as hdc, ch 3 counts as dc.

TOP
With aran, ch 3.
Rnd 1: 8 hdc in 3rd ch from hook, join with sl st in top of beg ch 2 (9 hdc).
Rnd 2: Ch 2, hdc in same st, 2 hdc in each remaining st, join with sl st in top of beg ch 2 (18 hdc).
Rnd 3: Ch 2, 2 hdc in next st, (hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next st) repeat around, join with sl st in top of beg ch 2 (27 hdc).
Rnd 4: Ch 2, hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next st, (hdc in next 2 sts, 2 hdc in next st) repeat around, join with sl st in top of beg ch 2 (36 hdc).
Rnd 5: Ch 2, hdc in next 2 sts, 2 hdc in next st, (hdc in next 3 sts, 2 hdc in next st) repeat around, join with sl st in top of beg ch 2 (45 hdc).
Rnd 6: Ch 2, hdc in next 3 sts, 2 hdc in next st, (hdc in next 4 sts, 2 hdc in next st) repeat around, join with sl st in top of beg ch 2 (54 hdc).
Rnd 7: beg popcorn in flo of first st, sc in flo of next st, (popcorn in flo of next st, sc in flo of next st) repeat around, join with sl st in beg popcorn, fasten off (27 popcorn, 27 sc).

CAKE/SIDES:
With tan/brown, join with sl st in any back loop of rnd 7 of top.
Rnd 8: Ch 3, dc in blo of each remaining st, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3. (54 dc).
Rnd 9-19: Ch 3, (fpdc around next st, dc in next st) repeat around, ending with a fpdc, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3 (27 dc, 27 fpdc).
Rnd 20: ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st in 1st sc, fasten off (54 sc).

WHIP CREAM:
With aran, ch 15. hdc in 3rd ch from hook, 2hdc in each remaining st, fasten off leaving long tail for sewing. Arrange whip cream in a spiral and sew across bottom to hold shape. Sew whip cream to center of top.

CARROTS (make 8):
With orange, ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 2 sts, hdc in next st, fasten off. For stem, attach a 3" piece of green yarn to one loop in the side of the last hdc made as you would when attaching fringe (fold the yarn in half, pull the loop through, insert the loose ends through, then pull tight). Trim stem and fray/separate strands with a tapestry needle. Sew or use fabric glue too attach carrots as shown in picture. To make it easier, arrange carrots as they will lay once attached, then pin them if sewing or pick them up one by one and glue them into place.

What I've Been Up To

I love to crochet, but who doesn't need a small break now and then? I've done a little bit of sewing and most recently, made some soap.

Here is a Halloween ragdoll I desperately need to finish! Her name is Gorgona, inspired by Greek Mythology (check out this if you want to know more http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorgon). It's almost October now! EEk. The fabric she is laying on will be her dress. I have had a lot of fun making her and will actually keep her. Me, keep something I made? Wow.


And some dragonfly soap. It's unscented, except for the dried lavender I added, but it DOES have a bit of a soap smell. I am giving away these two on Crochetville, one each to two different people. If you are interested, please go to the Giveaway thread under "A Little Something Different" to express your interest.

Settling In

It was a long drive! We had to make a few stops along the way, but I don't think my son Ben minded at all. We found an awesome rest stop in Illinois!


Now that we're here Ben can play outside, in weather not nearly as hot as Missouri. Ohio is about 20 degrees cooler. Just not looking forward to the winters. Ben says, "Bye, going to Wal-Mart to get milk!" (I kid you not.)


One good thing about the nice weather here, I don't mind getting down on the pavement to do a little bit of "art." Ben likes Sponge Bob, though we never watch the show, so I drew him a little something.


Chalk-Eater Max (our pup)!

Moving is...

I hate moving. I hate packing. I hate unpacking. We just moved over 800 miles from Missouri to Ohio. However, I am glad we moved, because things will be better for us in the long run (better already in fact). We just have a lot of job searching to do. >.< But it won't take long. :)

Just A Note...

I recently put the comments on my blog on moderation, because I was receiving a lot of spam... some of which apparently contained links to innappropriate websites. So, I'm sorry. I will try to remember to come in and approve messages promptly. :)

Monkey Soda Can Cozy

Note: Many people have asked me what an adjustable loop is. It is a method used to eliminate the gap in the center of your work that is sometimes created when working in the round. It is also known as the magic ring. June Gilbank of Planet June has an excellent tutorial. http://www.planetjune.com/blog/magic-ring-for-amigurumi/ If you are not comfortable with the method, please feel free to replace adjustable loop with: ch 2, sc # specified in 2nd ch from hook for single crochet in the round OR ch 4, dc # specified in 4th ch from hook for double crochet in the round (the beginning ch 3 would count as your 1st dc).

Materials:
1.5 oz brown worsted weight cotton
small amount tan worsted weight cotton
small amount black embroidery floss or yarn
H hook
F hook
2 buttons
tapestry needle

Cozy:
With H hook and brown cotton, make an adjustable loop.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in loop, pull loop taut. (6sc)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12sc)
Rnd 3: (sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) repeat around. (18sc)
Rnd 4: (sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) repeat around. (24sc)
Rnd 5: (sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st) repeat around. (30sc)
Rnds 6-24: sc in each st around, sl st in next st at end of rnd 24 (30sc each rnd).
Rnd 25: rev sc around, fasten off and weave in ends.

Ears (make 2):
With F hook and brown cotton, ch 2.
Row 1: 6sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 1, turn. (6sc)
Row 2: 2 sc in each st across, fasten off leaving long tail for sewing. (12sc)

Eyes (make 2):
With F hook and tan cotton, make an adjustable loop.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in loop, pull loop taut. (6sc)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12sc)
Rnd 3: (sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) repeat around, sl st in next st, fasten off leaving long tail for sewing. (18sc)


Mouth:With F hook and tan cotton, ch 9.
Rnd 1: 2 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 6 sts, 3 sc in next st, working on opposite side of foundation ch sc across. (18sc)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in next 2 sts, sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next 3 sts, sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st, sl st in next st, fasten off leaving long tail for sewing. (24sc)

Finishing: Sew buttons on centers of eyes. Sew mouth and nose on mouth piece. Sew on ears on either side of cozy on rnds 14-17 (if you lay it flat it is easier to determine where to sew ears). Sew mouth centered between ears on rnds 10-13. Sew eyes on rnds 15-21.