Today is National Stress Awareness Day. We all have stress in our lives to some degree, some more than others. Maybe there’s a new baby in the house. Could be you’re dreading the holidays, either because of a lack of funds or you don’t want the family drama. Maybe your relationship with your significant other isn’t going too well right now. The economy isn’t in the best place right now, and the elections take a toll on some people’s well being.
Crocheters know that our craft provides an excellent stress relief, as does knitting, painting, weaving, or any other craft. It keeps our hands and minds occupied on creating beauty rather than worrying about our troubles. I have always joked that crocheting is much cheaper than a therapist and more productive.
Even so, sometimes our hands need a break from the repetitive motions, so today I have several coloring pages for you to enjoy.
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Remember how special you felt as a child when someone gave out candy in those little white Halloween bags? I have created a PDF that you can download to make those bags at home and fill with candy.
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The response to the Horse Butt Ornament has been overwhelming! I just couldn’t resist turning them into unicorns, so I got out my scrap basket and played around with colors to use the same pattern to create a Unicorn Butt Ornament. Using white or rainbow yarn as the MC and adding different kinds of tails will allow you to create so many different unicorns for your Christmas tree. Instead of a boring bow, how about a unicorn to decorate your Christmas gifts?
Materials:
Worsted weight yarn:
30 yards MC (white or rainbow)
10 yards CC (gold or rainbow)
Size G (4.0 mm) crochet hook
Ribbon
Gauge: 9 sc = 2″, 9 rows = 2″
Directions:
Rnd 1: With MC yarn, ch 2 (or magic ring), 10 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Do not join. Work in continuous rnds throughout.
Rnd 2: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (15 sc).
Rnd 3: *Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (20 sc).
Rnd 4: *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (25 sc).
Rnds 5-11: Sc in each st.
Rnd 12: *Dec over next 2 sts, sc in next 3 sts,* repeat around (20 sc).
Rnds 13-14: Sc in each st.
Rnd 15: *Dec over next 2 sts, sc in next 3 sts,* repeat around (16 sc).
Rnds 16-18: Sc in each st. Join with sl st at end of Rnd 18. Fasten off MC.
Rnd 19: Join CC, sc in each st.
Rnd 20: Sc in each st.
Rnd 21: Lay flat and sc through both sides. 2 sc in first st, sc across, 2 sc in last st (10 sc).
Use CC yarn to embroider line between legs from bottom up to Rnd 12.
Tail:
Cut 6 pieces of yarn 8” long (10” for braid, 12” for curly tail) and fold in half. Insert hook into top center of Rnd 1. Pull yarn through st, then pull ends of yarn through center lp. Pull tight.
Add a bow to the tail for decoration.
Cut a piece of ribbon approximately 12” long and fold. Pull through top of unicorn butt and tie off for hanger.
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Wow! It has been a rollercoaster ride for the past few years with My Fingers Fly. I just hit a milestone in my design journey – 300 published patterns! I would like to thank everyone who has supported me, encouraged me, and yes, pointed out my occasional mistake. You have all made me a better designer with your ongoing support.
As a token of my appreciation, I’m having a special sale. Take $3.00 off any pattern or ebook in my Ravelry shop. With so many designs that are $1.99 or $2.99, that means you can get a free pattern or two. You could also apply that $3.00 to one of the premium patterns for a super bargain.
The Unicorn Christmas Stocking is my 300th pattern. It would be a super low price of 99 cents when using the coupon. Can’t you just see it hanging from your mantle?
Use code 3HUNDRED to get $3.00 off any purchase from my Ravelry shop for 24 hours only.
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Hey! Thought you’d like to try Ibotta, a cash back rewards app that I use to make real money every time I shop for groceries, online purchases, and more! Just use my referral code “eugysjd” at registration. Sign up at → https://ibotta.onelink.me/iUfE/8cc13c64?friend_code=eugysjd
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Last week we went back to San Antonio for a conference for my husband’s job. We stayed at the historic Menger Hotel, so I was really hoping for a supernatural experience. The Menger is said to be haunted by as many as 40-50 different spirits, including some famous dignitaries. The Menger Bar is where Teddy Roosevelt recruited his Rough Riders in 1898 in preparation for the Spanish-American War, although at the time they were called Teddy’s Terrors. Roosevelt is occasionally still spotted sitting at a table in the bar, just as he did on his recruiting visits. One poor janitor got locked into the bar after closing one night. He saw Teddy sitting at the bar and was so frightened he tried to leave, but he found that he had been locked in. He made so much noise, the night watchman came and unlocked the door for him. The janitor quit his job soon after.
Menger Hotel
Another famous guest who still refuses to leave is Richard King, the founder of the King Ranch. He was staying at the Menger in his own personal suite at the time of his death, and the suite still contains the bed in which he died. Residents have reported a red orb rotating above the bed.
Although I personally did not experience anything supernatural, one of my husband’s colleagues experienced lights turning on and off in her suite and the television changing channels by itself. Another coworker said the doorknobs in his suite kept rattling as though someone (or something) was trying to get in.
Dias de Los Muertos Alter at Menger Hotel
The haunted Menger hotel in October, so close to Halloween and Dias de los Muertos – what else could I make this week other than La Llorona? Have you heard her story? There are many versions of the story dating back hundreds of years. Maria was born in Mexico to a peasant family, but her beauty caught the attention of a wealthy man who married her. After the birth of their two children, his eyes began to wander to other women. She takes her children to the river and drowns them, then drowns herself. However, she is refused entry into heaven until she brings her children with her. She has since been wandering the afterlife searching for her children, crying out, “Mis hijos.” Mexican children (and Mexican-American children) grow up worried that La Llorona will take them if they misbehave.
La Llorona Hand Puppet
Materials:
Worsted weight yarn:
100 yards white
60 yards black
5 yards light gray (or light tan)
Size G (4.0 mm) crochet hook
Yarn needle
Measures approximately 8” wide by 8.5” tall.
Gauge: 5 sc = 1”, 5 rows = 1”
Directions:
BACK:
Row 1: Ch 21, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in next 19 ch (20 sc).
Rows 2-4: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st.
Row 5: Ch 1, turn, working in BLO, sc in each st.
Rows 6-8: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st (both lps).
Row 9: Ch 1, turn, working in BLO, sc in each st.
Rows 10-12: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st (both lps).
Row 13: Ch 1, turn, working in BLO, sc in each st.
Rows 14-16: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st (both lps).
Row 17: Ch 1, turn, working in BLO, sc in each st.
Rows 18-20: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st (both lps). Ch 11 at end of Row 20.
Row 21: Sc in 2nd ch, sc in next 9 ch, sc in next 20 sc, fsc 10 times (40 sc).
Rows 22-27: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st. Fasten off white.
Row 28: Turn, attach black yarn in 13th st. Sc in this st and in next 15 sts (16 sc).
Rows 29-36: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st.
Rows 37-41: Ch 1, turn, dec over first 2 sts, sc across, dec over last 2 sts (6 sc at end of Row 41). Fasten off black after Row 41 leaving 9” length for sewing.
FRONT:
Repeat Rows 1-27 of Back.
Row 28: Turn, attach light gray yarn in FLO of 13th st. Working in FLO, sc in this st and in next 15 sts (16 sc).
Rows 29-32: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st.
Row 33: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 7 sts, in next st work 4 hdc in same st, pull up lp in last st, insert hook in first st, pull lp through (modified
popcorn st for nose).
Rows 34-36: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st.
Rows 37-41: Ch 1, turn, dec over first 2 sts, sc across, dec over last 2 sts (6 sc at end of Row 41). Fasten off light gray yarn after Row 41
leaving 9” length for sewing.
EYES: (Make 2)
With black yarn, ch 2 (or magic ring), 6 sc in 2nd ch. Join with sl st. Fasten off leaving 9” length for sewing. Sew eyes to Rows 34-35
approximately 4 sts apart. Use excess yarn to straight st 2-3 black lines coming from bottoms of eyes.
MOUTH:
With black yarn, ch 4, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, 3 sc in next ch. Working on opposite side of beg ch, sc in next ch, 2 sc in last ch (8 sc).
Join with sl st. Fasten off black yarn leaving 6” length for sewing. Sew mouth centered under nose.
With right sides together, sew front and back together. Be sure the remaining lps of Rows 5, 9, 13, 17, and 28 are on the right sides.
COLLAR:
Turn puppet upside down. Join white yarn in front lp of Row 28. Using remaining front lps, *sc, sk 1 st, 5 dc in next st, sk 1 st,* repeat
across.
RUFFLES:
Join white yarn in front lp of Rnd 17. Using remaining front lps, *sc, sk 1 st, 5 dc in next st, sk 1 st,* repeat across front and back. Join with
sl st. Fasten off.
Repeat on front lps of Rnds 5, 9, and 13.
HAIR:
Cut black and white yarn approximately 12” long. Fold 2 strands of yarn in half, insert hook into back of head cap, pull yarn through st, pull
both pieces of yarn through loop, pull tight. Repeat until back of head and seam between front and back of head are filled.
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Get 50% off new colors added to clearance. 
