♥ Back again! ♥

I really don't know where the time goes! All I know is that now it seems like all I get done is working. I enjoyed reading back over the last 10 years of my blog and realized so many things have changed since I last posted here. I once had a job that allowed me stay home safe when we had bad snow storms. That changed about 5 years ago when our department at the university "merged" with another and suddenly "emergency personnel" took on a new meaning--mainly they didn't care how bad a blizzard we were having, I was required to drive to work anyhow. They did not care that I was risking my life (literally!) driving over two mountain ranges because someone forgot their work email password and the university was closed due to inclement weather. It took a while, but about two years ago I changed departments and I am no longer required to come in during closings. NICE!

I still have my Etsy shop, but I'm getting ready to close it at the end of the year. I cannot compete with the mass -produced "crap" they now allow on Etsy. And don't get me started on all the fees! They now charge ME for another fee on the shipping fees, even though I don't make a dime off shipping. Ridiculous! I loved Etsy when it first started and it was all about handmade but it started going down hill a few years ago when I noticed people were selling mass-produced, not handmade (and they didn't even bother to change the photos--they used the stock photos they bought it from!) WOW. Nope, time to go.

I am still creating, but will be selling on my own website. Details coming soon! :)

So what new items have I been adding to my shop? Glad you asked....

tea cozies!

crochet-edge pillow cases!

key rings!

more diabetic medical alert bracelets!

bookmarks!

embroidered tea towels!

bangle charm bracelets!

more tea infusers!

letter openers!

Alright, let's see if I can keep up the blogging again!

Keep on crafting!

Sheri

♥ Friday Flickr Inspirations: Crochet-Edged Pillowcases ♥

by thornberry

by rose hip

by You Go Girl

by solgrim

by gotthebutton

by Ruby & Fox

by twobutterflies

CROCHET: Daisy Pillow Case & Sheet

This free pattern and photo originally published by Clark's O.N.T. in Floral Insertions and Floral Edgings, Book 263, in 1949.

Materials:

J. & P. Coats or Clark's O.N.T. Best Six Cord Mercerized Crochet, Size 30: Small Ball: J. & P. Coats--6 balls of White and 3 balls each of Dark Yellow (No. 43) and Bright Nile Green (No. 26-B) OR Clark's O.N.T.--9 balls of White and 4 balls each of Dark Yellow (No. 43) and Bright Nile Green (No. 26-B), OR Big Ball: J. & P. Coats--4 balls of White and 2 balls each of Dark Yellow (No. 43) and Bright Nile Green (No. 26-B)

Steel Crochet Hook No. 10.

A peachy pink colored sheet and pillow case.

Edging--First Daisy . . .Starting at center with White, ch 8. Join with sl st to form ring.

1st rnd: 18 sc in ring. Sl st in first sc.

2nd rnd: Sc in same place as sl st, * ch 12, sc in next 3 sc. Repeat from * around, ending with sc in last 2 sc, sl st in first sc.

3rd rnd: Working over 4 strands of White, make 20 sc in each loop around (6 petals). Join and break off.

Center . . . Starting at center with Yellow, ch 1 loosely; ch 3 more.

1st rnd: Make 17 dc in 4th ch from hook. Sl st in top of starting chain.

2nd rnd: Ch 1 and make sc in each st around. Sl st in first sc. Break off. Sew Center in place.

Second Daisy . . . Work as for First Daisy until 2nd rnd is completed.

3rd rnd: Working over 4 strands make 10 sc in first loop, sl st in tip of any petal on First Daisy, 10 sc in same loop on Second Daisy and complete as for First Daisy.

Make necessary number of daisies to go along top edge of sheet, joining each to previous one as Second Daisy was joined to First Daisy, having 2 petals free on each side of joining.

Heading . . . 1st row: Attach Bright Nile Green to tip of second free petal preceding joining on First Daisy, * ch 7, sc in tip of next petal, holding back on hook the last loop of each tr make 2 tr in 2nd sc following joining of petals, thread over and draw through all loops on hook (cluster made), ch 5, working behind cluster just completed make a 2 tr cluster in 2nd sc preceding same joining, sc in tip of next free petal. Repeat from * across, ending with ch 7, sc in tip of 2nd free petal on last daisy. Ch 7, turn.

2nd row: * Dc in next sp, ch 3, dc in next sc, ch 3, (make a 2 tr cluster in next cluster) twice; ch 3, dc in next sc, ch 3. Repeat from * across. Break off.

Insertion . . . Work as for this Edging making Heading on both long sides. Work matching Edging and Insertion for pillow case. Baste sheet insertion 6 1/2 inches in from upper edge of sheet and sew neatly in place. Baste pillow case insertion 6 1/2 inches in from edge of pillow case and sew neatly in place.

Sew corresponding edgings in place.

Crochet: Forget-me-not-edging

Pattern and photo originally published by Clark's O.N.T. in Floral Insertions and Floral Edgings, Book 263, in 1949.

Materials:

J. & P. Coats Tatting-Crochet, Size 70, Blue (No. 8), and Hunter's Green (No. 48), and
J. & P. Coats or Clark's O.N.T. Six Strand Embroidery Floss, 2 Skeins of Yellow (No. 9).
Steel Crochet Hook No. 14.

Edging--Forget-Me-Not . . .Starting at center of Flower with Blue, ch 1 loosely, ch 4 more in the usual manner. * Holding back on hook the last loop of each tr make 2 tr in 5th ch from hook, thread over and draw through all loops on hook (cluster), ch 4, sl st in same place as last tr was made (petal); ch 4, make a 2 tr cluster in same place as last cluster was made, ch 4, sl st in same place (another petal). Make 2 more petals (Forget-Me-Not completed). Ch 20. Repeat from * until piece measures 1 1/4 times the length desired. With 3 strands of Six Strand make a French knot (5 times over needle) in center of each Forget-Me-Not.

Heading . . . 1st row: With Green make 10 sc, ch 3 and 10 sc over each ch 15 across. Turn.

2nd row: Sl st in next 5 sc, * ch 9, sc in next ch 3 loop, ch 9, skip 5 sc, tr in next sc, skip 4 sc on next loop, tr in next sc. Repeat from * across, ending with ch 5, skip 5 sc, tr in next sc. Ch 4, turn.

3rd row: In next sp make (dc, ch 1) twice, ** dc in next sc, ch 1, * in next sp make (dc, ch 1) 4 times. Repeat from * once more. Repeat from ** across. Break off.

Insertion . . . Work as for this Edging No. until the necessary number of flowers is completed. Attach Blue to center of last flower, * ch 15, sc in center of next flower. Repeat from * across. Break off.

Now with Green, work Heading as for Edging working on both sides of flowers. Make more flowers as necessary and tack them in place as illustrated with French knots.

Crochet: Rose Edging Pattern

This edging pattern and photo originally published by Clark's O.N.T. in Floral Insertions and Floral Edgings, Book 263, in 1949.

Materials:

J. & P. Coats Tatting-Crochet, Size 70, Rose (No. 46) and Bright Nile Green (No. 26-B) . . . Steel Crochet Hook No. 14.

Edging--Rose . . . Starting at center with Rose, ch 8. Join with sl st to form ring.

1st rnd: 20 sc in ring. Sl st in first sc.

2nd rnd: Ch 1, sc in same place as sl st, * ch 5, skip 3 sc, sc in next sc. Repeat from * around, ending with sl st in first sc.

3rd rnd: In each loop around make sc, half dc, 5 dc, half dc and sc. Sl st in next sc on previous rnd.

4th rnd: * Ch 7, sc in next sc on 2nd rnd. Repeat from * around.

5th rnd: In each loop around make sc, half dc, 7 dc, half dc and sc. Join and break off.

Leaf . . . Starting at tip with Green, ch 15.

1st row: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across to within last ch, 3 sc in last ch (this is tip of Leaf), sc in each ch along opposite side of starting chain, sc in same place as last sc. Mark last sc for base of Leaf. Hereafter pick up only the back loop of each sc. Do not turn but work sc in each sc to within 3 sc from center sc at tip of Leaf. Ch 1, turn.

2nd Row: Sc in each sc to within marked sc, 3 sc in marked sc, sc in each sc on other side to within 3 sc from center sc at tip of Leaf. Ch 1, turn.

3rd and 4th Rows: Sc in each sc to within center sc of 3 sc group, 3 sc in next sc, sc in each sc on other side to within last 3 sts. Ch 1, turn.

5th Row: Same as 3rd row, making sc, ch 7 and sc in center sc of sc group at base of Leaf.

6th Row: Sc in back loop of each sc to within ch 7 loop, in loop make (3 sc, ch 5) 3 times and 3 sc; sc in back loop of each sc across to within last 3 sts. Break off. Make necessary number of roses and leaves, and tack together in alternate order, having a rose at both ends.

Heading . . . 1st row: Attach Green to center st of 2nd free petal on Rose, ch 8, sc in center st of next free petal, * ch 5, sc in next free picot on Leaf, ch 2, sc in next free picot, ch 5, tr in center sc on side of Leaf, ch 5, dc in center of next free petal on next Rose, ch 5, sc in center of next free petal on Rose. Repeat from * across, ending with sc in center of next petal. Ch 5, turn.

2nd Row: * Dc in ch 5 sp, ch 2, dc in next dc, ch 2, dc in next ch 5 sp, ch 2, dc in next tr, ch 2, dc in next ch 5 sp, ( ch 2, dc in next sc) twice; ch 2, dc in next ch 5 sp, ch 2, dc in next sc, ch 2. Repeat from * across, ending with dc in last ch 5 sp, ch 2, dc in 3rd st of turning ch 8. Break off.

Insertion . . . Work as for Edging No. EI-283, making Heading on both long sides and being careful to have the same number of spaces.