Since we are three months away from Election Day, I thought I would try something different this month. My newest designs are gnomes of the two major U.S. political parties. Based on the number of downloads of these two patterns over the next three months, I will make a prediction for the Presidential election on November 2.
The designs are easy to crochet using worsted weight yarn – a Republican Elephant Gnome and a Democrat Donkey Gnome. Each design gives instructions for vertical stripes and horizontal stripes on the hat.
The patterns are also available at Ravelry and My Fingers Fly, along with Kindle on Amazon. Show your support for your political party by crocheting the corresponding gnome. Make a few for friends. Please post photos of your gnomes to Instagram. I would love to see your finished gnomes!
August Sales
This week’s 50% specials on Etsy based on the National Day Calendar:
In addition to the political party gnomes, the Halloween Gnome Crochet Pattern is now available. This little cutie is so much fun to make – use your own color scheme and embellishments to make this a truly unique item for your Halloween decor. As always, I would love to see your gnomes on Instagram.
Coming Attractions
Stay tuned for more great Halloween patterns coming in August and a Halloween Crochet Pattern Ebook to be published in early September. More half price sales for the month of August will include Bowling Day, Aviation Day, Dog Day, and many more.
In the meantime, try to stay cool, stay safe, and happy crocheting!
This week I had the opportunity to visit Atlanta, Georgia, a city I’ve driven through and flown into many times but never had the opportunity to explore. It was a short trip with only one full day of sightseeing, but it was well worth it. To accompany me on the trip, I created Peachy Queen, an adorable little amigurumi doll.
Downtown Atlanta
Finished measures approximately 5 tall (including crown) by 6” wide (including arms).
Materials:
Worsted weight yarn
1.5 oz. peach
A few yards yellow
1 yard red
Crochet hook size G
Safety eyes
Fiberfil
Directions:
BODY:
Rnd 1: With peach yarn, ch 2. Sc 6 in second ch from hook. Do not join.
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc (12 sc).
Rnd 3: *1 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc,* repeat around (18 sc).
Rnd 4: *1 sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat around (24 sc).
Rnd 5: *1 sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat around (30 sc).
Rnd 6: *1 sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc,* repeat around (36 sc).
Rnd 7: *1 sc in next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc,* repeat around (41 sc).
Rnds 8-14: Sc in each st.
Rnd 15: *Dec, sc in next 5 sc,* repeat around (36 sc).
Rnd 16: *Dec, sc in next 4 sc,* repeat around (30 sc).
Rnd 17: *Dec, sc in next 3 sc,* repeat around (24 sc).
Insert safety eyes at Rnd 12 approximately 5 sts apart. Embroider mouth in red. Stuff firmly.
Rnd 18: *Dec, sc in next 2 sc,* repeat around (18 sc).
Rnd 19: *Dec, sc in next sc,* repeat around (12 sc). Finish stuffing.
Rnd 20: Dec around (6 sc). Join with sl st. Fasten off peach leaving 6” length for sewing. Gather remaining 6 sts and pull tightly to close.
LEGS: (Make 2)
Rnd 1: With peach yarn, ch 2. Sc 6 in second ch from hook. Do not join.
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc (12 sc).
Rnd 3: *1 sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc,* repeat around (15 sc).
Rnd 4: Sc in each st.
Rnd 5: *Dec, sc in next 3 sc *, repeat around (12 sc).
Rnds 6-8: Sc in each st. Join with sl st. Fasten off leaving 12” length for sewing.
ARMS: (Make 2)
Rnd 1: With peach yarn, ch 2. Sc 6 in second ch from hook. Do not join.
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc (12 sc).
Rnd 3: Sc in each st.
Rnd 4: *Dec, sc in next 2 sc *, repeat around (9 sc).
Rnds 5-6: Sc in each st. Join with sl st. Fasten off leaving 12” length for sewing.
Stuff arms and legs firmly and sew to body.
CROWN:
Rnd 1: With yellow yarn, ch 42, sc in 2nd ch and each ch to last ch, 3 sc in last ch. Working on opposite side of starting ch (mark 1st st), sc in each ch. Join with sl st in marked st.
Rnd 2: Ch 1, *sc, sk 2 sts, (3 dc, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch, 3 dc) in next st, sk 2 sts,* repeat around, sl st in top of 1st sc. Fasten off leaving 12” length for sewing. Sew crown to top of head.
We spent the day in Centennial Olympic Park and the surrounding downtown area and quickly discovered there is too much to be covered in a single day.
The Skyview Ferris Wheel wasn’t running, so I’ll definitely have to come back one day to ride that. The park is beautiful with its fountains and magnolia trees. The history of the city is documented by various statues and plaques. To make the day even better, the weather was perfect – 72 degrees and sunny.
CNN Center, Georgia Aquarium, National Center for Civil and Human Rights are all on the list for my next trip to Atlanta.
Mural at Twin Smokers BBQ
All that walking made me hungry, so I stopped at Twin Smoker BBQ to get a taste of Atlanta style barbeque. Being born and raised in Texas, I skilled over the Texas smoked portion of their menu and decided to try their pulled pork sandwich. I spent two years living in North Carolina and was not impressed with their pulled pork or their vinegar-based BBQ sauce, but I went for it anyway. Wow! This was 100 times better than I anticipated – big chunks of smoked pork butt on a bun with onions and home-style dill pickles. The potato salad was probably the best I have ever had (sorry Texas) – quartered red potatoes with just a little mayo. Too bad I couldn’t eat it all. Of course, my drink was southern sweet tea.
The only disappointment was that they didn’t have peach pie for dessert.
To help walk off that superb lunch, I took a tour of the World of Coca-Cola and shopped in the Coke store. My husband practically lives on Coke, so I had to get him some souvenirs.
I had planned a trip to New World Arts & Crafts, but unfortunately, I didn’t research it ahead of time. Because it’s a wholesale craft mall, prior registration is required, so that will also have to wait until my next trip to Georgia.
Back home in San Antonio, I’m looking forward to the weekend and trying to decide what my next pattern will be. In the meantime, today is National Endangered Species Day, a great time to try your hand at one of the patterns in my Endangered Species crochet book. All patterns are available separately as well at http://www.myfingersfly.com, and the book is available in paperback form at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1090946961.
