Computer and addiction

In this tech age every one is hooked to computers and this is what will happen one day
You Know you are Addicted to the Internet When...

· You step out of your room and realize that your parents have moved, and you don't have a clue when it happened.

· Your wife drapes a blond wig over your monitor to remind you of what she looks like.

· All of your friends have an @ in their names.

· Your dog has its own home page.

· You can't call your mother... she doesn't have a modem.

· You wake up at 3 a.m. to go to the bathroom and stop and check your e-mail on the way back to bed.

· You buy a Captain Kirk chair with a built-in keyboard and mouse.

· You get a new suit that says, "This best viewed with Netscape 4.01 or higher."

· The last girl you asked out was only a jpeg.

· Your wife says communication is important in a marriage... so you buy another computer and install a second phone line so the two of you can chat. 
By Arsen Vladimirsky from Chicago IL USA.         

Various yarns

Yarn Recommendations for Beginner-Level Crochet

Please note that many people get confused between yarns and thread that are used to do crochet. Giving you the various types of yarns. Please note that the acrylic yarn is the cheapest but it is not suitable for doing doilies or coasters in crochet as acrylic yarn is not suitable to heat.When acrylic yarn is dipped in water it tends to be heavy and it can creat allergies to the skin. Cotton is the prferred thread for doilies. The yarn manufactures mix more than 2 yarns and give you blend of yarns. Hence when you are buying a yarn please read the label if it is suitable for crochet. Many manufacturers provide you the gauge for knitting and crochet. Hence my experience has taught that I should use thin yarns for crochet.Hope this is useful 

 

• Yarn Texture: Choose a smooth yarn rather than a textured yarn; for your first several projects, avoid eyelash yarns, which can be frustrating to work with.
• Yarn Color: Choose light yarn rather than dark; it can be challenging to see your stitches when you work with yarns in dark colors.
• Yarn vs Crochet Thread: Yarn is easier to work with than crochet thread is. If you want to work projects like doilies and lace tablecloths, don't let that discourage you; I've known crocheters who've jumped right into working with thread from the beginning. If you don't have a strong preference, I do recommend starting with yarn.
• Yarn Weights: Yarn comes in a variety of weights. For your first practice swatches, I recommend using yarn that is at least a worsted weight; if you prefer to try a bulky weight yarn, that would be an equally good choice. To check the weight of the yarn you are buying, just read the label. Choose yarn that is labeled with "4" or higher as specified by the Craft Yarn Council's weight standards.
• Wool Yarn: Wool is an excellent choice for practicing your crochet stitches. It's a resilient fiber, and is forgiving of mistakes. If you do make a mistake, most wool yarns are easy to unravel and re-use. If wool is available to you, and within your price range, and you aren't allergic to it, I recommend using wool to start out with.
• Cotton Yarn: Cotton is an inelastic fiber, which makes it slightly more of a challenge to crochet with than wool is. However, cotton isn't so difficult to work with that I'd tell you to steer clear of it all together. If you're learning to crochet during the summer time, when the heat makes it unpleasant to work with wool, cotton yarn is a great choice.
• Acrylic Yarn: Acrylic yarn is an acceptable choice for beginners, although some of the cheapest acrylics can be especially challenging to crochet with. If you're on a super-tight budget, don't let that deter you; it's what most crocheters are using.
  
  Overall, acrylic is a popular fiber with crochet enthusiasts; acrylic is widely available, it comes in a variety of colors, and it is usually one of the more affordable choices for yarn.
  
  Acrylic yarn is what I learned to crochet with. I don't mind telling you that nowadays it isn't my favorite fiber. It has its place, but, in hindsight, I wish I had learned about natural fibers sooner; I really wish that I hadn't spent so much time crocheting with the cheapest of cheap acrylics.

Hopefully these suggestions will help you get started. In the future, if you are planning to crochet a project using a pattern, your pattern will often specify exactly which yarn you should use. In that case, I recommend that you go with the pattern designer's suggestion, at least until you have enough experience to understand how to successfully substitute yarns.

source: http://crochet.about.com/od/learntocrochet/a/Beginner-Crochet-Yarn.htm

Abbreviations for crochrting

Once you start to learn to do crocheting , one must also know the abbreviations that are used for Crocheting

 beg.............................begin(ning)
Bl(s)...........................back loops
ch(s)...........................chain(s)
Cl(s)...........................cluster(s)
dc...............................double crochet
dec.............................decrease
dtrc............................double triple crochet
fig..............................figure
Fl(s)...........................front loop(s)
hdc.............................half double crochet
lp(s)............................loop(s)
patt.............................pattern
prev............................previous
rem.............................remain(ing)
rep..............................repeat(ing)
rnd(s)..........................round(s)
sc................................single crochet
sk................................skip
sl.................................slip
sl st(s)..........................slip stitch(es)
sp(s)............................space(s)
st(s).............................stitch(es)
sp(s)............................space(s)
st(s).............................stitch(es)
tog...............................together
tr trc............................triple triple crochet
trc...............................triple crochet
YO..............................Yarn Over

* An asterick is used to mark the beginning of a portion of instructions to be worked more than once, "rep from * twice more" means after working the instructions following the asterick twice more means (3 times in all).

+ this identifies a portion of the pattern that will be repeated again later in the same row or round.

~ the number after this symbol at the end of row or round indicates the number of stitches you should have when row or round is completed.

( ) Parentheses are used to enclose instructions which should be worked the exzct number of times specified immediately following the parentheses, such as "( 2 sc in next dc, sc in next dc) twice." They are also used to set off and clarify a group of stitches that are to be worked all into the same space or stitch, such as " in next corner sp work (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc)."

[ ] Brackets and ( ) Parentheses are also used to provide additional information to clarify instructions.

Join- join with sl st unless otherwise specified.

 

Some old timers used a different name for basic stitchs. this is encountered when we try to read some old vintage patterns. Giving you the new names that are being followed now

Double crochet = today's single crochet
Half treble = today's half-double crochet
treble = today's double crochet
Double treble = today's treble crochet
Long treble = today's double-treble crochet

Leaf

Just got this pista green yarn from Pradhan embroidery. Used size 4 mm hook and crocheted this leaf pattern .The original pattern is a glass mat of 12 cm but mine turned into an eight inch placement mat. I used the Laura knitting cotton yarn, the design turned out to be a good placement mat. This was my first attempt to follow a chart and to do a mesh design.

another view

Grapes in oil

Grapes in oil Cooking food with olive oil is not the only way to lower cholesterol levels; grape seed oil is a flavorsome alternative with added health benefits. Grape seed oil is high in antioxidants, vitamin E, and has the ability to raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels and lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels like that of olive oil. The effect is due to the oil’s poly- and monounsaturated fat content. Also, the slight nutty flavor of this oil complements other foods such as salads, breads, and vegetables.

By Julie Johnson from Jefferson USA.                                    

# D Purple doily big

I had a lot of purple color cotton yarns and wanted to put it into good use.So took out my 6mm pony hook and randomly started to crochet. It is my own creation and did not follow any pattern.
It is 16 inches across and looks lovely.

another view

 

Crochet and numbers

Twelve is a magic numberfor motifs stitched in crochet.It is divisible by 2,3,4 and 6. It makes it easy to divide your increases into evenly spaced groups to forms various shapes like triangle, hexagons and squares.

Sixteen is another number that is associated in crochet.it is divisible by 2,4 and 8

Eighteen is also another number that can be divisible with 2,3,6,and 9

Hence when you are increasing or decresing we normally follow this calculations

Granny square - multi

I felt that I had to clear my left over yarns from my stash and hence pulled out the small balls. Finally I started to crochet a granny square using this. You can see that the colors appear from all quarters. It looks great and the feel is comfortable.

 

# D-28 Doily bulk purple

One more color . This time it is purple. The size is 14 inchess across and can be used as doily, mat or telephone mat

 Product: crochet doily
Code: # D-28 doily bulk purple
Cost : RS: 900 + shipping

# D23 - peach

I liked this peach color yarn from Oswal. It is a cotton yarn and thought I would make a cute doily. Hence completed this nice project. I have yet to master the cluster part, as the lasr row you can see some curls. Now I can see a cute doily that can be a useful coaster. Sharing the same with you.
HAPPY NEW YEAR