More recently, I found instructions for the Tunisian Knit stitch in a stitch dictionary I'd gotten. The resulting fabric is such a neat knit-like look, without all the trouble of actually having to knit. The only problem was, the instructions provided in that particular book were not very clear. I tried and tried and tried, but just couldn't figure out quite where to place my hook to get the neat chained-stitch effect.
This week's Crochet Me newsletter features a tutorial on the Tunisian stitch, including a diagram of Tunisian Knit showing exactly where the hook goes. I tried it out and, whaddaya know, it worked exactly like it's supposed to! I can totally see this as a cuff to a sweater or a mitten. Maybe I'll start a pair of mittens for myself, now that the winter weather has actually arrived in Sioux Falls with a half inch of snow dusting the ground. Or maybe I should complete some of the UFOs cluttering up the top of my piano first ...
Head is worked from the nose to the back of the head.
I found this pattern a bit complicated to describe, but it's a simple granny-square design, worked into a triangle.
Follow basic afghan instructions through Round 12.
On a whim the other day, I picked up 
Sadly, with our camera still busted, I couldn't take a photograph of it. This poor-quality substitute will have to do (it's what happened when I put the sweater into my scanner). The orange bow is not meant to stay, but is keeping the shoulder flap together until I get around to sewing the buttons in place. That will be sometime after I find my button stash, or I break down and buy some more. While I wish I had a better photo to share with you, at least this does show off the stitch pattern pretty well. You'll have to use your imagination for the rest of it. You can click on the image to see a bigger version.
Today, I'm all excited about one of my long-time UFOs becoming an FO. I've been working for months on a lacy sweater for my daughter. Finally, a couple of days ago, I realized that I would never finish it and I frogged the thing. For those non-yarn-users, that means ripping out the stitches, because "rip it" sounds so much like "ribbit," or so I've been told. I started a new project that I'd made once before ... sort of.
Remember 
This week, I decided to make the pattern again, only as a shirt rather than a dress, and big enough to fit my daughter. I had to frog almost the entire project after I was just about finished with it because I'd miscalculated the shells (the bottom ruffly part) the first time. It was frustrating, but I think the end result is well worth the extra work. After tying in the ends, I had her try it on one last time for photos. She hasn't taken it off yet. 
Round 1: With A, ch 1, sc in back loop of ea chain in A across. Turn and sc in remaining loops of A across. (60 sts)
Row 21: Bsl in ea of first 5 sc, ch 3, skip ch 2 space, Bsl in ea of last 5 sc. Turn.
In B: Wrap yarn around finger to form two-stranded ring. In ring, make 3 sc along back edge. Leaving a loop of both strands, turn and work 3 sc along front edge. Tie off, leaving several inches on one end. Pull one strand from each side to shape button. Pull loops together and wrap with remaining length of yarn to stabilize shank. Weave in ends. Attach button in center front of body, up 6-8 rows from the bottom.
I have this theory that I can crochet socks. It's probably inspired by a book I got for my birthday, aptly named You Can Crochet Socks. Except, darned if I can't (no pun intended). 
is worked in the honeycomb stitch, so bits of 
Now that winter is almost gone, I'm finally getting some pictures of the thermal gear I made for my family this winter. Here is the set I made for Adam. It uses the honeycomb stitch (I've also heard it called the "thermal stitch") which produces a double-layered fabric for extra insulation. This also provides better protection against the wind than standard knit or crochet. Have I mentioned how strong the wind gets here? I'll have to tell that story in a minute. The embellishment is double crochet through the front and back posts with a second layer of single crochet on the inside to keep the thermal and wind-blocking properties. The back of the muff is a double layer of single crochet through the back loop only, stitched in a circle around the edge of the front panel.
As for my South Dakota wind story: One afternoon, shortly after we moved here, we were coming out of Panera after lunch. The wind was blowing so hard, I actually had to press into it to walk. Adam was walking a few paces in front of me and our daughter was between us. Each time she picked her foot up to take another step I worried that the wind would just pick her up and blow her away like the queue of potential nannies in the movie version of Mary Poppins. I called out to Adam (several times before he heard me) to please take her hand and hold tightly. He turned his head slightly to take her hand and the wind whipped his glasses from his face. Like the iconic scene of a man chasing his hat, reaching down to retrieve it only to have the wind send it a few feet farther on, he had to follow his glasses across the parking lot, daughter in tow, before he was able to reclaim them. He set them back on the bridge of his nose and quipped, "And they call Chicago the Windy City!"
I finished her about a month ago. I think she turned out pretty cute.
Box
Wrapping
Bow
