Tag: Travel

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Texas Flag Christmas Tree Ornament

texas flag ornament

Since I was a little girl watching the Sonny & Cher Show on TV, I have wanted to see her in concert. Dreams do come true – I got to see an amazing show last week in Houston. Her songs brought back so many memories, especially when she did her tribute to Sonny including video of them performing together. At 73 years old, she is an inspiration to women everywhere. She said she has never believed in saying no, and that philosophy has guided her very successful career. For those who think they’re too old or can’t do it, she says, “What is your granny doing at 73?”

Cher

Nile Rodgers & Chic

They took me back in time to the disco era with “Le Freak,” “We are Family,” and many others. Kimberly Davis’s vocal prowess is something you have to see in person!

Texas Flag/Yellow Rose Christmas Tree Ornament

This ornament is my last Christmas pattern for this year, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Add a yellow rose in the middle, or leave it without – either way it’s a must for every Texas Christmas tree.

flag ornament on tree.jpg

Finished ornament measures approximately 4” wide x 2.5” tall

Materials: Sport weight yarn – small amounts of red, blue, white, yellow Size G (4.00 mm) crochet hook Yarn needle Felt for backing Metallic cord, approximately 16”

 Directions: FLAG: Row 1: With red yarn, ch 13, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in next 11 ch (12 sc).  Rows 2-6: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st.  Rows 7-12: With white yarn, ch 1, turn, sc in each st. Fasten off white.

Row 1: Turn on side and work 1 sc in each row end with blue yarn (12 sc).  Rows 2-6: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st. Do not fasten off.  For edging, ch 1, turn, sc in each st around with 2 sc in each corner, changing colors as needed.

Embroider star with white yarn or sew on star applique.

ROSE:  With yellow yarn, ch 20, 3 dc in 4th ch from hook, *sc in next ch, 3 dc in next ch,* repeat across. Rolling from the center, stitch in place as you roll. Sew to center of flag. Weave in all ends.

flag ornament.jpg
PDF download available at: Texas Flag Ornament Crochet Pattern 

More Christmas Ideas

Melted Snowman Ornament

Christmas in July Blog Hop

Moose Ornament

Crown Ornament

Fox Christmas Ornament

Steer Skull Ornament

Free “Handmade with Love” Gift Tags

 

Texas Horned Lizard (Horny Toads)

horny toad ebook small.png

This year’s hottest crochet pattern was the Horny Toad Plush Toy, which is available in paperback format along with the Horny Toad Hat and Horny Toad Coin Purse.

Beer Hat Crochet Pattern

beer hat staged.jpg

For your New Year’s party, here’s the perfect hat! Don’t tell anyone – I made one for the white elephant gift exchange. If you use an Addi knitting machine, there’s also a pattern for beer socks.

Beer Hat Crochet Pattern

 

 

It has been a wonderful year, and I’m looking forward to more good things to come in 2020. Hoping everyone has a wonderful holiday season and a successful new year.

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Manchester, NH – CGOA Chain Link Conference – Elf Gift Bag Crochet Pattern

Christmas Elf Gift Bag Crochet Pattern

I recently had the opportunity to visit Manchester for the first time. All my preconceived ideas of New England came true! It’s such a beautiful city, full of history. I only wish I could have stayed longer. The people, the food, the weather – everything was lovely!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kP27RNyGrKk&t=49s

Chain Link Conference 2019

I can’t believe that I’ve been crocheting for most of my life but only found out about the Crochet Guild of America a few years ago. The conference was so much fun – meeting other crocheters from around the world, seeing their creations, hearing their ideas for new projects. Talk about idea overload! I may not sleep for a month with all the designs floating around in my head. One of the classes I took was Irish crochet, and I have so many ideas for future projects. For anyone who wants to learn, Susan Lowman does beautiful work, and she explains everything so well. My class piece isn’t finished yet, but hopefully this weekend I can get to it.

To thank all the wonderful people I met and learned from, My Fingers Fly is offering free shipping on t-shirts and leggings for crocheters. Just use code CGOA by July 31, 2019. https://www.myfingersfly.com/collections/t-shirts

This week’s free pattern is another Christmas in July theme. These little elf gift bags are so cute and versatile.

 

Materials:

Small amounts of worsted yarn – ivory, brown or black, red or green.

Crochet hook size H

Small pom poms, google eyes, 2 jingle bells

Directions:

Rnd 1: With ivory 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 (18 sc).

Rnd 4: 1 sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat (24 sc).

Rnd 5: 1 sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat (30 sc).

Rnd 6: 1 sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat (36 sc).

Rnds 7-13: Work even. Finish off ivory. Turn.

Rnd 14-15: With black (or brown) yarn, loop st in each st around. Join with sl st. Fasten off.

Rnds 16: Ch1, turn. Attach desired color for hat. Work even on 36 sc. Do not join.

Rnds 17-18: Work even on 36 sc.

Rnd 19: Dec, sc in next 4 sc, repeat (30 sc).

Rnds 20-21: Work even.

Rnd 22: Dec, sc in next 3 sc, repeat (24 sc).

Rnds 23-24: Work even. Join.

Rnd 25: Sc, ch 1, skip 1 sc, repeat. Join. Fasten off.  

Drawstring: Using same color yarn as hat, make a chain 12″ long and knot both ends. Pull through loops made in Rnd 22 of hat.

Ears: (Make 2)

With ivory yarn, ch 9, 3 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 dc in each of next 2 ch, hdc next ch, sc next ch, sl st next ch, ch 1, sl st in this ch. (This makes point of ear.) Working down opposite side of starting ch, sl st next ch, sc next ch, hdc next ch, 1 dc in each of next 2 ch, 3 dc last ch. Join with sl st to beg ch-3. Sew one ear to each side of face from Rnds 9-13.

Glue on google eyes and pom pom for nose. Embroidery with straight stitch in pink or red for mouth. Sew a jingle bell to each side of drawstring.

Decorate hat as you wish with pom poms, rick rack, etc. You can sc Rnd 16 of hat with eyelash or bulky yarn to make a fringe. For the elf in the picture with the red hat, I used Yarn Bee Cameo Bulky in white.

This pattern is also available printed on note card at https://www.etsy.com/MyFingersFly/listing/574255967/christmas-elf-goody-bags-crochet-pattern?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1563564900966

or as a PDF download at https://www.etsy.com/listing/640459076/christmas-elf-goody-bag-crochet-pattern?ref=listing_published_alert

To purchase the Christmas Goody Bag paperback book, please visit my Amazon page at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1549546732

More Christmas Ideas

Bearded Elf Christmas Ornament Crochet Pattern

Christmas in July Blog Hop

Texas Flag Christmas Tree Ornament

Moose Ornament

Crown Ornament

Fox Christmas Ornament

This weekend I will be catching up on housework (and crochet) and resting a bit before we’re off to Houston next week to see Queen and The Rolling Stones. Hopefully I can get my Adam Lambert and Brian May dolls finished before we leave.

Pattern testers are always wanted. Join my Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/pg/myfingersfly/groups/?ref=page_internal

Happy crocheting!

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New York Trip, Lion Yarn Studio – Free Father’s Day Pattern

Fish towel

During the nearly 10 years that I lived in Queens, NY in the 80s, most of my yarn shopping was at Nelson Yarns in Ridgewood. Several years ago, I took my daughter to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade and drove down Fresh Pond Road, but Nelson Yarns was no longer there. Fortunately, I found out that Lion Brand has a studio in Chelsea, so I jumped at the chance to accompany my husband on a business trip to New Jersey. For eight years, I commuted from Queens to Midtown on the subway, but riding NJ Transit trains was a new experience for me. We stayed at the Courtyard Marriott in Woodbridge, NJ, and the staff was amazing, as usual. Not knowing how far the train station was from the hotel, I took an Uber on Monday and took note of the streets along the way. Since it was only a 5-minute drive, I decided to walk on Tuesday. The weather was beautiful, and I thoroughly enjoyed the walk down Main Street.

As usual, Penn Station is a hive of activity with commuters rushing to catch their trains or enjoying a meal or coffee while they wait. There are shops that sell souvenirs, magazines, clothing, cell phone accessories, and so much more. Street musicians perform for tips, filling the area with their music.

Violinist in Penn Station

On my last trip to New York, the new buildings in the World Trade Center had not yet started. This week I was fortunate to be able to visit the new Freedom Tower and the Oculus. Another treat was lunch with some family members who I had not seen in many years.

Lion Yarn Studio is located on 15th Street in Chelsea, an unassuming little shop with an amazing window display. Inside, they sell Lion Brand products including yarn, hooks, and notions. Their “On The Table” display provides free patterns for Lion yarns. Classes and workshops of all types and for all skill levels are offered on weekends and in the evenings. It’s definitely a stop you’ll want to add to your itinerary if you’re planning a trip to New York. My next trip to the area will be to the Lion Yarn Outlet in New Jersey, but I will have to remember to take an empty suitcase with me to hold all the yarn I’m going to buy!

For our last dinner in Woodbridge, we tried a local restaurant, Miller’s Ale House. We don’t drink beer, but the food was excellent, and so was the service. I look forward to trying more of their menu if I’m ever in Woodbridge again.

Pork Osso Buco

For the Father’s Day Friday Freebie, I chose a fish-shaped dish towel that I designed for my father last year to use when he barbeques.

PDF available at
https://www.myfingersfly.com/products/fish-dish-towel-crochet-pattern

Fish Dish Towel

Materials:

Sugar ‘n Cream Cotton yarn – 1 oz MC (If you want to use a separate color for the tail and fins, you need 0.7 oz MC and 0.3 oz CC.)

Size G crochet hook

Yarn needle

1 ½” plastic ring

Towel measures approximately 11” x 7” (not incuding ring).

Directions:

BODY: Row 1: Work 5 sc through ring. Ch 1, turn.

Rows 2-6: Work 2 hdc in 1st st, hdc across to last st, 2 hdc in last st. Ch 1, turn. (16 hdc at end of Row 6).

Rows 7-10: Work 2 hdc in 1st st, hdc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (19 hdc at end of Row 10).

Rows 11-20: Work even in hdc. Ch 1, turn.

Rows 21-27: Dec, hdc across to last 2 st, dec. Ch 1, turn. (5 hdc at end of Row 27).

TAIL: (If using contrasting colors, change colors here.)

Row 1: 2 hdc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (10 hdc)

Row 2: *Hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next st,* repeat across. Ch 1, turn. (15 hdc)

Row 3: *Hdc in next 2 sts, 2 hdc in next st,* repeat across. Ch 1, turn. (20 hdc)

Row 4: Hdc across. Fasten off.

LARGE FIN:

Row 1: Attach yarn at end of Row 11 of body. Make 12 sc evenly spaced across top of fish.

Row 2: Dec over 1st 2 sts, sc across. Ch 1, turn. (11 sc).

Row 3: Sc across to last 2 sts, dec over last 2 sts. Ch 1, turn. (10 sc).

Row 4: Repeat Row 2 (9 sc).

Row 5: Repeat Row 3 (8 sc).

Row 6: Hdc in each of next 3 sts, sc in each of next 3 sts, sl st in each of last 2 sts. Fasten off.

SMALL FIN: On bottom of fish, attach yarn at opposite end of row where the top fin ends. Ch 2, 2 dc, 2 hdc, and 2 sc evenly spaced across ends of rows. Sl st. Fasten off.

More Fish Patterns

National Zoo & Aquarium Month Blog Hop, Day 1 World Reef Awareness Day

 

Ebook Update –

Unicorn Crochet Patterns Ebook has a new pattern – Unicorn Waist Bag (Fanny Pack)

 

National Unicorn Day 2021 – Free Unicorn Fanny Pack Crochet Pattern

Zoo Blog Hop Day 13 – Mystical, Magical Unicorns!

Flag Day Pattern

Also available for Addi Express Knitting Machine https://www.myfingersfly.com/products/thin-blue-line-afghan-pattern-for-addi-pro-thin-red-line-afghan-pattern-for-addi-pro

Thin Blue Line Afghan Addi Express Pattern

Happy Father’s Day ** Happy Flag Day ** Happy Birthday Army ** Happy Crocheting