More on dreamcatchers

This one has the outer loops spaced 1.5" apart. Not only does it look better, it uses less thread. I've ordered some feathers to use on the next ones.

Finally one I can sell

Dream Catchers

I wanted to create some dream catchers. It was harder than I thought it would be and I hate learning curves. No. 1 in the photo is actually my second try. I destroyed the actual 1st. I went to bed after I finished No. 1. Before going to sleep, I invisioned how to make the dream catchers. I thought about each movement I would make. Then, I did it all again and continued doing it until I felt I had it right. The next day I started in on the others. There was still a slight learning curve getting my technique right.

It all depends on your tension as you go around the circle. Oh, and I used a big eyed needle to weave the web.
place I found the tutorial

More about crocheting by measurements rather than stitch count

As most of the people who have followed my blogs [BettyAtkins was "The Old Hooker"], I crochet with measurements, not stitch counts. I have two granddaughters who learned to crochet this way. One is 19 and the other 20. They have been crocheting since they were around 12-13. The 19 yr old came by the other day wearing a really cute hat that has a finished design of rows of hdc that bulges out and one row that sinks in to create an indentation... think of the design of a pumpkin. I was amazed that she was at the stage of designing already. That may be because I taught the eldest g-daughter and she taught the younger one.

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Yarn Snob

My parents went through the great depression before WWII. I suppose it was for this reason that we didn’t spend hard earned money for something as ordinary as yarn to make hats and scarves for winter. After all, especially for us kids, they would get lost before spring.

So, I grew up crocheting with the cheapest yarn Mama could find. The one exception was mercerized cotton for doilies and lace for trims and bedspreads. Those items would be handed down to the next generation. Mama always bought her yarn at the Five & Dime. The Five & Dime was a lot like the 99 cent store today.

When I had children of my own, I followed suit and looked for the lowest priced acrylic yarn I could find. It was usually on sale. Fifty-nine cents a skein was a real find.
Now that I am crocheting professionally, I find myself getting more and more taken with the finer yarns. If I use acrylic, now, it has to be by a good company. Mostly I have gotten into Alpaca’s and high mountain wools. Just recently I bought cashmere. I could barely believe that I actually did it! Cashmere is the greatest yarn to work with and soft just doesn’t describe it well enough.

Gerard Dougray

Gotta love those Scotsmen!!! If I was just 40 years younger!!!!

Can't Crochet

Oh Boy. Lots of changes. First off, my wrist gave out from all the crocheting I was doing. Doctor made me stop. Of course depression stepped in. I stopped blogging. Now, I have 'patterns only' for sale on Etsy. I have been trying other crafts; leather accessories, hair crowns with silk flowers and other accessories. Nothing satisfying. I dearly loved crochet. I sound like I am really feeling sorry for myself, don't I? Maybe writing about it will help, we'll see.

wow, great blog featuring my shop  by Millie and Kristina from hiip://2CrochetHooks.etsy.com

http://www.2crochethooks.com/1/post/2012/03/celebrate-crochet-month-introducing-stubbornwoman-betty-atkins.html

Guild-Signatory Agents and Agencies

Guild-Signatory Agents and Agencies:

'via Blog this'

Fiction Submission Guidelines for Elizabeth Pomada

Fiction Submission Guidelines for Elizabeth Pomada:

'via Blog this'

The Hump Stitch

A Stubborn Woman: Hump Stitch

Hump Stitch

Lots of crocheters have no idea what the hump is. The term camel crochet is copyrighted, but hump and camel are the same thing. At the top of the stitch there are the two loops you can readily see. Just under these is a single strand. To crochet using the hump, you slip the hook under the two loops on top, inserting the hook from behind the loops, then swing the hoop away from you and you have captured the single strand. YO and crochet as you normally would. The two top loops now face the finished side of your crochet and look like knitting.

Crocodile or Alligator Crochet Stitch Pattern

 I just had to try this as I had never heard of it before. As I worked it, I realized it was a stitch my Mother had used on the ruffled skirts of the 'Bed Dolls' that were popular back in the 1950's. So, it is a stitch that's been around for awhile, but going under a new name.

I show the front and back. I didn't block it so it would look pretty, because I lost interest. I do have to say it is a completely easy pattern to do and if you do like it and want to try making a scarf, you can go to the link below and visit :

biStitchual: Hooking & Needling Fun! 

 http://bistitchual.blogspot.com/2011/03/crocodile-stitch-scarf-pattern.html

There you will find the pattern for the scarf and her notes about how to do the stitch. (Her pictures are better,  too.)

 On another but similar note, today I found my mother's Afghan hook, which goes by another name, too. Today you know it as the Tunisian hook.

"A rose by another name would still smell as sweet."

I used the hat with a twist pattern, but left out the twist. Now this is a pattern for sale on my stubbornwoman site. Click the link to go there. http://www.etsy.com/listing/78824065/ribbed-newsboy-hat-with-lined-brim-no-81

Here are some more samples of hats using the same pattern, but with small alterations	The brim of the newsboy is turned up and held with a gold color metal button.	I love the colors. All the yarn I had left was the pale salmon pink, so I dyed the finished hat with koolaid.

The Old Hooker: Using measurements rather than counting Stitches.

The Old Hooker: Using measurements rather than counting Stitches.: " This is the original pattern using a worsted weight yarn in wool Same pattern using bulky yarn in wool, but left out the twist This ..."

Using measurements rather than counting Stitches.

 This is the original pattern using a worsted weight yarn in wool

 Same pattern using bulky yarn in wool, but left out the twist
This one will have fewer rounds and fewer stitches

 Same pattern using a sport weight yarn in wool
I have more stitches per round and more rounds

Here I used a smaller yarn in cashmere
Wow. Many many rounds in this one.

However, all of the hats would start the twist at 3" and the diameter of the crown would be 8". The total length of the hats would all be 8" as well and all of the hats will fit the same size head.

Next Project for the Blog

I have the germ of an idea of how to spend this year. It all began with the purchase of ergonomic crochet hooks to protect my wrist and the loss of my PC data. I had to re write my most popular pattern for 6 customers. I didn't have the correct yarn, so I went down one size.

After working it all out, I crocheted a hat in a smaller yarn, then another in a larger yarn. Interesting. The way I write my patterns, it works out.

Instead of crocheting to a number of stitches per row or round, I crochet to a size of diameter of opening and length of crown. With this technique, it really doesn't matter which size yarn I use!

So... this year, I am going to work it all out on my blog as a looonnnngggg tutorial.

Seventy?

Hard to believe I will be 70 years old this month, but know what? I look forward to the next decade. This is me on Mother's Day, 2011.

Yarn Swift

I have used many things as a substitute for a yarn swift, but this is as good as an extra pair of hands. It is actually designed to hold food over a candle flame to keep it hot at banquets.

I just turned it upside down. The sloping sides will fit most open skeins.

Trying my Hand on Crocheted Necklaces

This is my first try with this technique. I did it mainly to prove to my grandson that I could do it.

Done in cotton thread. You can see it in my shop here:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/76434679/crochet-floral-necklace-in-pink-lt-green

 As you can see, I am crocheting again, but keeping to wool and acrylics. This photo is taken in natural light from a window facing north. One of my favorite yarns in mulberry wool with multi color accents and an accent of white.

I wanted to do an Architectural hat. Has terraces on top and a leaf on the side that is crocheted as part of the hat, not added on.

you can see it in my shop here:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/76635429/wool-crochet-cloche-boutique-hat

Going with the same theme, Architectural, terraces, I chose a tangerine acrylic and a wide band of the multicolor acrylic yarn used above.The tassel and flower are add-on's.

I really love this one!

You can see it in my shop here:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/76638934/cloche-tangerine-acrylic-crochet.
  
Sheepishly, I admit, I never read the camera manual. My Kodak has a setting for manual exposure, the one thing I was mad about not having! Sheesh, after owning and using it for 6 months!!!!