Thursday, January 29, 2015

Bug Story and One More Hat

Hello!  I have a story for you.  I took this photo a bit ago of my wonderful African Violet that consistently produces these eye-popping blooms for me.  I didn't see the "visitor" until I downloaded the photo to my computer and looked at it.. do you see it?  With our unseasonable warm weather, we're having a "bug problem".  They call them "Stink Bugs".  Night before last Kristi gave me a mint Oreo and after I ate it I took a drink of ice water that I keep in an insulated stainless steel mug on the table next to my easy chair.  There was something in my mouth, which I thought was a bit of Oreo and so I chewed on it.. but hmmm.. it had an odd texture... so I evacuated the item (I thought that sounded more ladylike than "spit") into my hand.. whence I was HORRIFIED to see, that I'd been chewing on a.. STINK BUG!  EWWW.. run to kitchen.. evacuated my mouth into the sink.. washing out my mouth.. making all kinds of horrified noises.. blech.. argh!!  Husband comes from the back of the house and I tell him what happened and what is his response?  Concern?  Worry?  Oh no.. he launched into the most raucous laughing fit that I've seen in all our years together.  Sheesh.


On to more pleasant topics of conversation.. I finished my 4th baby hat for Taci's "Hats for Brazil" project.  It's my favorite so far.. I used the KnitPicks "Marshmallow" organic, unbleached cotton.  AND, I used the little cotton skeins of Drops "Safran to make the flower.


I designed my own pattern that I'm happy with.  Using a G hook and worsted weight yarn -  You begin with a double crochet circle and then I start making continuous loop 3 dc shells until it's the right size.  About 10 circles of the shells.  

Baby Hat With Shells for Newborn - by Teresa Kasner

Row 1: Make a magic circle, ch 1 in circle, 7 sc, sl st to first sc, (7 stitches

Row 2: Ch 2, dc into same stitch, 2 dc in each stitch around, sl st to top of first ch 2   (14 dc)

Row 3:  dc into same stitch, 2 dc around, sl st into first ch 2 (28 stitches).  

Row 4:  Ch 2, 2 dc into NEXT stitch, *dc in next, 2dc in next* around, sl st into first ch 2.  (42 st) 

NOW.. ch 1, skip 1 st, 3 dc into next st, sk st, sc into next st, sk st and 3 dc shell, just keep going around in continuous shell rounds until you have 10 rows or the hat seems the right size.. do last shell at the point where you see the "row joins" of the crown.  I ended with a half double crochet and a single crochet and finish off.  (10 or 12 rows of shells)

Does anyone want to test this pattern for me?  Please let me know if it works or if I've written it totally wrong.


Now.. these are rather addicting as you can get one done in a few hours.  :-)  If you want to make some and send them to me, let me know and I'll give you my address.  I will then get them to Taci - we're meeting for lunch in February before she leaves for Brazil.  And also to celebrate Taci and Gracie's birthdays!



I made up the flower too.  Magic circle, ch 1, 8 sc around, join, finish off, add another color, slip st into first stitch, ch 2, do 1 dc, 1 triple crochet, 1 dc, ch 2, sl st into same stitch - sl st into next, repeat in all 8 stitches and you should have 8 petals. - finish off.  Any takers to test this flower?


These are coming up in one of my huge pots.  I wonder what they are?  :-)


My peace lily bloomed.  This is extra special as I got this plant from my Dad's funeral, so it's like my Dad is saying hello to me when it blooms.  I can't believe he passed away a little over 11 years ago.  He was a very loved, gentle, kind man.  


We're having another sunny day.. it's 44 deg F out.. so not super warm, but definitely pretty outside.  We plan to go out to lunch again.. it's what you do when you're retired.  :-)  ((hugs)), Teresa :-) 

26 comments:

  1. Your hats are adorable . . . your stink bug is not :)

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  2. Teresa How Horrible Bug in mouth AHhhhh! My hubby would of laughed too.
    Rosezeeta.

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  3. I think I'd like to make some hats Teresa, when would you need them to get to you by ?
    Sorry about the bug -yuck- but I think is have laughed too! Sorry!!

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  4. Love the flowers and the hats. I'm still smiling, but horrified, by your stink bug story. Hey girls! My birthday is in February too! How I wish I were lunching with you all. I miss you girls. Think of me, okay?
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  5. Oh my gosh...I hate those nasty bugs!!!! I feel for you! Love the hats. My favorite one is the cream one with the lovely pink flower :)

    Shan

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  6. That is too funny about the bug! Poor Teresa. I remember once when I was a kid reading that everyone swallows several spiders while asleep during their lifetime. I tried to sleep with my mouth shut after that! The hats are so lovely. Thanks for sharing your pattern. Your flowers are all looking great. I wonder if the ones in the big pot coming up are hyacinths? That's what mine look like when they're first sprouting.

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  7. I hate those bugs! I am sure you do too!!

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  8. Icky bug!!!!
    Yes we do go out to lunch. Now that we are retired!

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  9. Dear Friend, you told the story so well, I HAD to laugh, too, but also was duly horrified! EWWW! I managed to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner out today, so I must be better and really retired : ) Today would have been Louis's 70th b'day! The hats are very sweet....did you type what size of hook to use? I will have to go back to reread the pattern and see if I missed it. xx

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  10. The baby hats look great with the flowers on them (I am falling in love with the marshmallow yarn you've shown on your blog several times--the color is divine)! Love your African violets--beautiful. My hubby would have laughed too---just like yours did :)
    Blessings,
    Aimee

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  11. I saw your post on fb about the bug. EWWWW! I haven't eating a bug, but I have woken up in the night to my cat sipping water out of my cup on my night table. I started to use a lid after that!
    I love the hats! So cute! And I love that your Dad's plant flowered to say hello! I feel the same way about the roses I dug up and replanted at my house, after my Dad passed.
    We are way too warm here! I am not ready for Spring!
    XO Kris

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  12. oh my goodness...at least ya didn't swallow the bug!!! At least you ate chocolate first!!!! I like your hats!! Let me know when the lunch is. My birthday is Feb as well!!!! Oh dear me!!! I have two friends I grew up with and we are meeting up mid Feb to celebrate. Fun times!!!! Take care my friend!! x**x

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  13. Omg Teresa! I can't believe you almost eat a bug... I would've gone crazy ... I'm so excited about your hats!,, they are sooooo very adorable. I will test your pattern and will make a hat this weekend. I will let you know how it went. I am soooooooo EXCITED ! Thanks my friend :)

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  14. Oh my, Teresa. You had me in fits of laughter, too. Sorry about that! Stink bugs and June bugs were a part of my life growing up in the south. I didn't like either one of them, but the stink bugs definitely have a very weird smell. Ugh! I can't believe you chewed on it. Ick! :) Good going on the hats. Best wishes, Tammy

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  15. Stink bugs sound pretty horrid and very inedible Teresa! The hats really look great and will be so well received. It was interesting re your comment on my blog re primula...over here primula tends to be used as a blanket name for all types as it means first spring flower. There are polyanthus varieties (which are hybrids and have all the wonderful colours)and primroses which are the more natural/country found ones.. there are also cowslips which are wild primula. Have a great weekend x

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  16. I have to admit I did laugh too, I have never heard of a stink bug before. You are doing a marvellous job with the hats they are beautiful, I love the flower embellishment.

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  17. Eek, I hope the horror of chewing a bug has faded a little by now. Maybe lunch will help. The hats are lovely, well done you. I'm guessing hyacinths in the pot as well. Wishing you both a really good weekend. CJ xx

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  18. OMG! Yuk Yuk! I didn't laugh, just cringed. The hats are adorable. Suzy x

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  19. I'm about to start your hat as soon as I write this and will send you a pic when its done. I'll probably use our 8ply so the hat will be a bit smaller than yours. I usually have to tweak US patterns so they'll work with our yarn but for this one I'll make it as the pattern is written. Postage from Australia to you might be a bit expensive so I'll donate my hat to a charity I support here. I'm sorry but I also had to giggle about you and that bug - how horrible though. Its like finding half a worm in an apple you're eating !! Have a good weekend. xox

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  20. I'm so sorry Teresa, but I'm with Dayle on this one. While reading your tale of "woe is me, uck! I chewed a bug!" I had my hand over my mouth and started laughing, lol. I know, I know, it is NOT funny if you are the unlucky one to have this happen, but we all can imagine how we would react just like you. I guess I would have gone in and drank a bottle of mouthwash to try to sanitize my mouth since doing it with bleach would not have been the answer. Poor girl. Every fall we have that stink bug thing going on, and then for years it was those bugs similar to ladybugs, only I call them "bitch bugs" cause they like to bite.Someone told me they came from China, (well don't all our bug problems come from there?). My laundry room had them hibernating in the 4 corners of the room and I would vacuum them up with the hose attachment only to find that doing that made the sweeper stink. A person couldn't sit and watch tv and one would buzz in the lampshade and drive ya crazy, much like a fly that got in the house. Your hats are cute, and good for you with finding time to donate time, materials and effort to a friend for her cause. There are so many people in need. Hope you enjoyed your meal. I enjoy eating out, but love to cook......of course then you have a mess to clean up, lol Hope you didn't find any bugs!
    Susanne :)

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  21. Aw Teresa..I did laugh (sorry)..but what is a Stink Bug..I don't think I've heard of them..I don't think we have them in England do we?your little hats are lovely,I'm going to have a go.stay safe.x Unax.

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  22. That's Awful!! you poor thing I hope that you have recovered haha Anyways I love your hats and I will give them a try this weekend because I had already decided that it's going to be a hat making weekend for me, I will be sending them direct to Taci, have a great weekend. :)

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  23. I am definitely going to try out your pattern. I have only made one knit hat and I need to get going on another one. I will try your pattern this afternoon after I get home from a funeral. Not a fun day.
    Hugs,Meredith

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  24. THAT hat is adorable! I need to make one, PRONTO!

    Stink bugs. Ugh! We have them here in Virginia! They seem to be especially prevalent in the Fall. If I leave our sliding door open for the dogs to come and go, those nasty bugs find their way indoors and lurk on the backs of my drapes. They never die, I swear! They can lurk for the entire winter season! Snug as a bug in a rug! Yuck! And if I ever found one in my mouth, I would be worse than what you described! Your dance and shudders...I do that if there's just one in my house! I hear they can give off an awful odor when threatened. I have yet to experience that. I suppose that's where they get their name...thank goodness, I haven't had to endure that experience with them. I'm off to take a closer look at your pattern. Thanks for sharing it!

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  25. Oh my yuk re the bug!!!! Your hats are sweet. Hugs Anne x

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  26. Ohh noooooo that's horrible!! Accidentally eating bugs is the WORST!

    I've got an African Violet too although I didn't know the name. I near so much from you! I'll be on the look out for stink bugs, although the cats eat any bugs/spiders they can find :-)

    Your hats are adorable. I could pattern test but wouldn't be til at least tomorrow but maybe later. Will give it a go anyway though!

    Your bulbs look like crocuses to me but I'm not 100% on that. Ahhh we share a peace lily too! I look forward to a flower on mine x

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