Friday, March 30, 2007

Too late for Easter preparation?

Thank you so much for all who left me kind comments on my doily and great tips for losing weight!!! *hugs* I hope you will forgive me for not replying to each of your comments... I'll repay you for trying to be a better blogger with more frequent posts, would that work? :)
Anyway, I decided not to worry too much about greatly reducing the amount and types of food I eat... Instead I choose to eat sensibly and a little less than I usually eat, and also I forgive myself if I eat a bit of sugary or greasy stuff. This way, I don't get angry, and it saves everyone around me!!! :D I still walk - not every morning but almost, and I started to see the effect of it... just really little around my waist, but it makes me so happy. :) I feel that I have a little more energy, and pushing around a heavy shopping cart (Shopping carts here are a lot bigger than the ones they use in Japan!) in grocery stores is not as annoying as it used to be because I can think of it as just additional calorie-burning exercise! I'll continue to walk in the morning and hopefully start seeing actual weight loss soon.

*****

I am trying to find if there is anything I want to crochet for Easter. Easter is right around the corner so I need a quick project. As I always do when I look for free crochet patterns, I visited Crochet Pattern Central to find some cute Easter projects, and there they were! :) I think I'm going to try this, and... these are great too! I also fell in love with Crystal's Egg bunny babies. :) I'm probably not going to have time to make these bunnies, but some of you might like to try. ;)
There are so much I want to do and so little time!

*****

By the way... LOTS of things are going on at Stitch Diva Studios... including the exciting Stunt Stitching opportunity! Check out the latest newsletter. ;)

Monday, March 26, 2007

A doily

I finished a doily!!! :)


* Click for a larger view *

The pattern is from a Japanese book one of my crafty Japanese friends sent to me from Japan more than a year ago. I made a couple of mistakes, but I don't know where they are now. :D I really just can't see the stitches well anymore when I crochet with thread... :(
I still LOVE thread crochet though because really, crochet stitches are whole lot prettier when done with thread.

I feel like crocheting/knitting, but I just don't know what to make next... I recently bought a bunch of sport weight acrylic yarn without a plan, and they are still in a box sitting in the living room. I still don't know what to do with them...

*****

I really need to lose about 30 lbs (I am now back to my pregnancy weight without being pregnant!) and strengthen my muscle so I started walking last week. I also watch what I eat, but I've been having a hard time staying happy. :(
I feel so tired for the rest of the day after walking approx. 2.5 miles in the morning, and I get angry for not being able to eat like I want. :D
Yesterday, Hubby went and bought a dozen of donuts, and that made me so mad that I haven't talked to him since. :D It's just not fair he can eat whatever he wants and he never gains weight!!! :(

To those who sit and work for hours everyday, but manage to stay fit - PLEASE share with me your secret. ;D I'm serious! Just email me, ok? :D

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Butterfly pattern

**********
Crocheted Butterfly
~ This pattern is for personal & non-commercial use only ~


Materials
* Small amount of yarn or thread
* A crochet hook in suggested size for the yarn/thread you are using.

Gauge
Not important

Stitch Note
tr = treble crochet

Butterfly
Ch 3, sl st in 1st ch to form a ring.
Note: 1 round completes the butterfly. All of the stitches on Rnd 1 is worked in the ch-3 ring, and stitches need to be pushed toward the beg of the rnd as you crochet.
Rnd 1: * ch 3, 2 tr, ch 3, sl st **, [ch 2, dc, ch 2, sl st] twice, rep from * to ** once, [ch 4, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and next 2 ch, sl st] twice.
Fasten off.

Yarn ends can be used to attach the butterfly onto various things.
**********

The above pattern was tested only by me once so if you notice any errors, please let me know. I hope you enjoy my pattern! :)


Your support will help me keep offering free patterns.
Thank you and happy stitching!

Sunday, March 04, 2007

Improved patterns

Hiya. :)
Today I did what I have been thinking about doing for a long time already.....
I revised the two simple patterns I wrote in the past!
I have learned a lot since I first wrote them, and I believe they are much better now. :)

... So here they are!

* Dishwashing Tawashi    New photo!!!
http://chiescrochetandknitting.blogspot.com/2004/11/my-tawashi.html


I still have lots of people visit this page everyday, and I'm really thankful for that. :) I made a small change on this pattern, and also I made one today with a different color combination. Hope you like it. :)

* Skateboarder's Beanie
http://chiescrochetandknitting.blogspot.com/2005/11/very-simple-skateboarder-beanie.html


This beanie is comfy and very easy to make. Hubby loves it. :)