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5 Years Later

Cindy15 Comments

Today is a special milestone in my cancer journey. It’s been exactly 5 years since I was diagnosed with breast cancer. As long as I live, I will never forget that day. I was so scared. I didn’t know what to expect for my future. Would I live, would I lose my breast, would I die before seeing my grandchildren born? What treatment would I endure or what surgeries would I have to undergo? So many questions and really no answers for me that day.

What a dark and terrible day it was — March 10, 2008. I sit here and don’t even know what to write as I reflect back on that horrible day. I guess I can say with utter joy that today, March 10, 2013 is a glorious day. I am cancer free. I am alive. I have been so blessed to see two grandchildren born into my family. My health is good. My life while forever changed because of cancer, is better and I am stronger for having faced this deadly foe.

I am so thankful to God for allowing me this victory. They say that the 5-year mark after cancer is a good milestone. Most cancer, if its going to return, will have reoccurred by now. I am guardedly optimistic today. It is a good day. A good day to say thank you Lord for the life you have given me. Thank you everyone for your love and support all these years. And here’s to many more cancer-free yearly milestones in my life!

Plarn Gator Sling Bag

Cindy4 Comments


Here is my first crocodile stitch project using recycled plastic bags. I collected these plastic bags which are used for newspaper deliveries. I recycled about 40 bags for the Gator Sling Bag and cut them 1 inch wide using this plarn making tutorial to create plastic bag yarn.

Crocodile Stitch Sling Bag Pattern

J (6 mm) hook and H (5 mm) hook
40+ Plastic Newspaper Bags cut into Plarn about 1 inch wide
Fabric for lining
Magnetic clasp for closure

Sling Bag Purse measures 7-1/2 inches wide x 7-1/2 inches long with 30 inch strap

Crocodile Scale Stitch: Dc 5 stitches down first post of the 2-Dc base set, Ch 1, and then work 5 Dc up the 2nd Dc of the 2-Dc set.

Directions:
Row 1
With J hook, Ch 21 loosely.

Pink Creamy Toddler Booties

Cindy2 Comments

I think I’m addicted to crocheting baby booties. Here is the latest size I created. These pink creamy toddler booties are crocheted using one strand of pink worst weight yarn and white fingering Orlon held together. The two strands together create what I call a pink creamy look so I named the booties from this appearance. I crocheted these booties using my baby sock booties pattern.

With the two strands of yarn, they will fit a toddler about 1 year old or so. The finished size is 4-1/2 inches long by 2-1/2 inches wide. I hope you enjoy this pattern as much as I have.

Crocheted Loaf Pan Carrier

Cindy2 Comments

I thought I’d share my loaf pan carrier that I crocheted. I used the Crochet N More loaf tote pattern and did a few changes to fit my large loaf pan. A few people had commented on this pattern that it ran a bit small so I did a few modifications to make sure my loaf pan fit comfortably into the carrier tote.

I crocheted my loaf pan tote using two strands of Red Heart chunky yarn. The project used just under two skeins of RH Super Saver chunky yarn. I used two strands of Windsor colored yarn held together with a N (9 mm) crochet hook to work the pattern. I crocheted rows 2-12 of the pattern for a size of 5-3/4″ wide by 10-1/2″ long after row 12. After row 12 which is a repeat of row 6, I moved to row 14 and followed the patten thru row 16.

I used an H (5 mm) hook to work a single crochet (Sc) row around the top edge rather than doing the reverse Sc edging that the pattern called for. I did my edging row using just one strand of chunky yarn.

Cuffed Baby Sock Booties

Cindy14 Comments


Here are my crocheted baby booties that feature a cuffed top. I did a variation of the original slipper sock pattern by Sharon Klinsky that can be found on several different crochet sites.

There is a wonderful picture tutorial of the original pattern over at Coffee n’Crafts blog site that I found very useful to understand the pattern. Just use a single strand of worst weight yarn for baby booties that will fit a baby up to 6 months old. For a preemie sized newborn, I used a smaller crochet hook and some sport-fingering yarn. If you are wondering, the creme-colored preemie socks shown below have a different stitch look because I turned the toe portion inside out before adding the ribbed heel. By reversing the toe portion, it results in a horizontal stitch look rather than a circular pattern.

Cuffed Baby Sock Booties

Crocheted Baby Cuffed Sock Booties

Crochet hook: H (5 mm) hook

Yarn: 1 oz Worst Weight Yarn
Newborn to 6 months old 3-1/2″ long by 2″ wide (standing)
Preemie – Newborn size using sport yarn and a G hook is 2-1/2″ long by 1-1/2″ wide

Preemie Size Cuffed Baby Booties

Rnd 1
Ch 2, work 5 Sc in 2nd ch from hook. Don’t join as the toe section is worked in rounds without joining. Place a stitch marker at the beginning of each round.