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.
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.
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.
YouTube for Amigurumi Hair:
https://youtu.be/pYuLD0mUfuo
PDF download is 50% off through Halloween: La Llorona Hand Puppet Crochet Pattern
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