X's and O's

copyright © 09/06/04 Dot Matthews

Materials:
J hook
ww yarn 2 - 3 ozs.

Note 1: beginning chain does not count as a stitch
Note 2: when joining, skip the beginning chain and join in first real stitch
Note 3: numbers in (  ) at end of rows depicts number of stitches for that row

ROW 1: ch 4, 12 dc's in 1st st. (12 sts)

ROW 2: ch 3, 2 dc in same st as join, 2 dc in each st around. join in first dc. (24 sts)

ROW 3:  ch 3, 2 dc in same st as join, 1 dc in next st next st, (2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next st) around. Join in first dc. (36 sts)

ROW 4: ch 3, 2 dc in same st as join, 1 dc in next 2 sts, (2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 2 sts) around. Join in 1st dc. (48 sts)

ROW 5: ch 3, 2 dc in same st as join, 1 dc in next 3 sts, (2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 3 sts) around. Join in 1st dc. (60 sts)

ROW 6: Ch 3, dc in same st as join, dc in st to the right of the join (that's in the last dc of the previous row) sk next dc, dc in next st, dc in skipped st (that's the stitch you just skipped - this forms a crossed dc ), now working forward again, (sk next dc, dc in next st, dc in skipped st) around. Join in 1st dc. (30 crossed stitch groups)

ROW 7: ch 1, sc in same st as join, 1 sc in next st and in each st around. Join in first sc. (60 sts)

ROW 8: Repeat row 7 (60 sts)

ROW 9: ch 1, sc in same st as join, ch 3, (sk 3 sts, sc in next st, ch 3) around. Join in 1st sc. (15 ch-3 spaces)

ROW 10: ch 1, sc in same st as join, 3 sc in next ch-3 space (sc in next st, 3 sc in next ch-3 space) around. Join in 1st sc. (60 sts)

ROW 11: ch 1, sc in same st as join, 1 sc in next st and in each st around. Join in first sc. (60 sts)

ROW 12: repeat row 6. (30 crossed stitch groups)

ROW 13: ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in next st and in each st around. Join in frist sc. (60 sts)

ROW 14: repeat row 13. (60 sts)

ROW 15: ch 1, sc in same st as join, ch 3 (sk 3, sc in next st ch 3) around. Join in first sc. (15 ch-3 spaces)

ROW 16: ch 1, sc in same st as join, 3 sc in next ch-3 space (sc in next st, 3 sc in next ch-3 space) around. Join in 1st sc. (60 sts)

I don't know if you're interested or not, but I do have another blog where I post just my patterns. It's a lot easier to find a pattern if you're looking for something in particular. The front page always stays the same except when I add new patterns to the site. Then I add a picture of the new hat with a link to the pattern. Go on, check it out. It's called Patterns by Dot. Yes, I know, I have no imagination at all.

I made it to the retirement party yesterday and she had quite a turnout. I'm so happy for her, she's been wanting to retire for a long time and now she's finally done it. She loved the gift and it looked really cute on her. She said she can use it in her travels to Europe. She's from Poland and plans to visit her homeland now that she has time to spend with family and friends. Good luck, Eva. I am glad I got to know you.

PUFF N STUFF
a bucket hat
copyright © 08/29/04 Dot Matthews

K hook
ww yarn
gauge: 6 rows sc = 2" and 7 sc stitches = 2"

Specialty St:
PUFF ST: (yo, insert hook in designated st, yo draw up a loop) 4 times. there will be 9 loops on hook. Now yo, draw through all 9 loops. Puff Stitch made.

Note 1: do not join rows unless instructed to do so.
Note 2: use a marker to indicate the beginning stitch of the row, move the marker as you complete the row.
Note 3: the beginning ch 3 counts as the first dc
Note 4: numbers in ( ) at end of rows indicates number of stitches for the row.

ROW 1: ch 2, 12 sc in 1st sc. (12 sts)

ROW 2: 2 sc in each st around. (24 sts)
don't forget to place a marker in the first stitch

ROW 3: 1 sc in each st around (24 sts)

ROW: 4: (2 sc in 1st st, 1 sc in next st) around (36 sts)

ROW 5: 1 sc in ea st around (36 sts)

ROW 6: (2 sc in 1st st, 1 sc in next 2 sts) around (48 sts)

ROW 7: 1 sc in ea st around (48 sts)

ROW 8: (2 sc in 1st st, 1 sc in next 3 sts) around (60 sts)

ROW 9: 1 sc in ea st around (60 sts)

ROW 10: repeat row 9 (60 sts)

ROW 11: repeat row 9 (60 sts)

ROW 12: repeat row 9 (60 sts)

ROW 13: repeat row 9 (60 sts)

ROW 14: repeat row 9 (60 sts)

ROW 15: repeat row 9 (60 sts)

ROW 16: sc in each st around, join with a sl st to first sc. (60 sts)

ROW 17: ch 3, puff st in next st, (dc in next st, puff st in next st) around, join in beg ch 3. (30 puff sts and 30 dc)

ROW 18: ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in ea st around, join in 1st sc. (60 sts)

ROW 19: ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, (sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st) join in 1st st. (75 sts)

ROW 20: ch 1, TURN, work in back loops only for this round, 1 sc in ea st around, join in 1sc (75 sts)

ROW 21: ch 3, TURN, Puff st in next st (dc in next st, puff st in next) around to last 2 sts, sk 1 st, puff st in last st. Join in beg ch 3. (37 puffs and 37 dc)

ROW 22: ch 1, sc in ea st around, join in 1st sc. (74 sts)

ROW 23: repeat row 22 (74 sts)

ROW 24: ch 3, puff st in next st, (dc in next st, puff st in next) around. join in top of beg ch 3. (37 puffs and 37 dc's)

ROW 25: ch 1, reverse sc around, join in first st. (74 sts) Fasten off and weave in ends

copyright © 08/27/04 Dot Matthews

Materials
4 oz ww yarn
I hook

Specialty St:
PUFF ST: (yo, insert hook in designated st, yo draw up a loop) 3 times. there will be 7 loops on hook. Now yo, draw through 6 loops, yo draw through remaining 2 loops. Puff Stitch made.

Note 1: pattern is worked with every other stitch a puff stitch, example=dc, puff, dc, puff, dc, puff.
Note 2: numbers at the end of the row in ( ) indicate number of stitches for the row.
Note 3: beginning ch 3 counts as first dc

ROW 1: Ch 4, 11 dc in 1st ch, join in 3rd chain. (12 sts)

ROW 2: Ch 3, puff st in same st as join, (dc and puff st in next st) around. Join in top of beg ch. (24 sts-12 puff st and 12 dc) Note: refer to specialty stitch instructions at beginning of pattern to see how to make a puff stitch

ROW 3: ch 3, puff st in same st as join, (dc in next st, puff st and dc in next st, puff st in next st, dc and puff st in next st,) around. Join in top of beg ch. (36 sts - 18 puff sts and 18 dc)

ROW 4: ch 3, puff st in same st as join, (dc in next st, puff st in next st, dc and puff st in next st) around. (48 sts - 24 puff sts and 24 dc)

ROW 5: ch 3, puff st in same st as join. dc in next st, puff st in next st, dc in next st.
Puff st and dc in next st, puff st in next st, dc in next st, puff st in next st.
(dc and puff st in next st, dc in next st, puff st in next st, dc in next st.
puff st and dc in next st, puff st in next, dc in next st, puff st in next st.) around. join in top of beg ch.
(60 sts - 30 puffs and 30 dc)

ROW 6: ch 3, puff st in next st, (dc in next st, puff st in next st) around. Join in top of beg ch 3.
(60 sts - 30 puffs and 30 dc)

ROW 7: repeat row 6

ROW 8: repeat row 6

next row is a decrease row

ROW 9: ch 3, puff st in next st, dc in next st,
sk next st, puff st in next st, dc in next st, puff st in next st,
(sk next st, dc in next st, puff st in next st, dc in next st,
sk next st, puff st in next st, dc in next st, puff st in next st) around, ending with puff st in last st, remember to keep every other stitch a puff stitch. Join in top of beg ch 3.  (46 sts - 23 puffs and 23 dc)

ROW 10: ch 3, puff st in next st, (dc in next st, puff st in next st) around. Join in top of beg ch 3. (46 sts - 23 puffs and 23 dc)

ROW 11: ch 3, puff st in same st as join, (dc and puff st in next st) around. Join in top of beg ch 3. (92 sts - 46 puffs and 46 dc)

ROW 12: ch 3, puff st in next st, (dc in next st, puff st in next st) 4 times, *dc and puff st in next st, (dc in next st, puff st in next st )5 times, * repeat from * around, ending with dc and puff st in next st, (dc in next st, puff st in next st) 2 times. Join in top of beg ch 3. (100 sts - 50 puffs and 50 dc) Fasten off and weave in ends.

I made this Ear Cozy and fuzzy scarf as a retirement gift for my friend and coworker, Eva. She's retiring at the end of this month after threatening to do so for many years.

The Ear Cozy is made with Lion Brand Jiffy, Quick & Easy Mohair Look Yarn (what a mouthfull), trimmed in 1 strand each of Lion Brand Fun Fur in Lava (a black and white verigated) and White. The fuzzy scarf is made holding 3 strands of the fun fur together and single crocheting over 5 stitches until it's as long as I wanted.

I'm looking forward to attending her party and seeing my friends again.

On my outing to A. C. Moore the other day, I stopped by Walmart and purchased 3 large plastic bins so I could sort my yarn and get it organized and out of the bags and out of my way. BIG JOKE! I filled those bins, added them to my other 4 full bins, and I still have enough yarn to fill 3 or 4 or more. I have one tall kitchen garbage bag filled with 8 oz skeins of white, nothing but white. I have another bag filled with the Christmas yarn, red, green, and white, with the silver or gold thread running through it, and I have 1 large bin and 1 huge laundry basket filled with nothing but blue. I still have an assortment of other yarns just laying around on my "craft table", you know the one I was going to clean off a couple months ago. It never happened. It grew taller. I'm trying to dig my way out...I promise you, I'm crocheting as fast as I can.

It must be evil, because when I walk thru the doors, my eyes instantly glaze over, my feet rush me straight to the yarn, my arms start reaching, and my hands start grabbing. I must be under some evil influence, don't you think? Why else would I act like that. I do not have YAS. I don't!

My husband is so going to kill me. I spent $84.00, and I wanted to spend more. No, wait...I'm not married. Oh, what a relief. Never mind then, it doesn't matter if I spent like a maniac. There's no one to stop me.

My site, along with another, has been chosen by Sutty Girl as her choice for "Site of the Week". Thank you Sutty, I am honored to be chosen by you.

I stopped worrying about trying to come up with patterns and went back to working on chemo caps and what do you suppose happened. I finished 9 hats and created 3 new patterns. I've only posted 2 so far but I'll get the other one posted soon.  All in all, not bad for 3 days work.