Playing Catch Up!

Well, we are still under the weather, but in a different fashion. The pink eye has finally left us but we have come down with a nasty cold, so, sadly, we are still under quarantine. I've been so sick, and then with sick kiddos to care for it's been quite challenging. I just haven't been up to doing anything by the time I get to sit down in the evenings. 

Today, I just decided that life has to go on, sick or not we have to get moving a little more. So, here's the first post of several to update everyone on all that's happened since the last time I really posted. 

*****The Dance Recital*****

It was so wonderful! B danced her little tush off! She was a little diva and loved every moment of it. By the time we left she was asking when she would get to go on stage and do that again! It was SO GREAT!

B after Rehearsal

E after Rehearsal

L after Rehearsal

B and E enjoying the fountain after Rehearsal

L being "Captain America" on the other side of the fountain!

My beautiful girl after the Recital!

Walking with PaPa (My Daddy) after Recital

What a wonderful Mother's Day Weekend! I got to see my mom, even though she didn't get to stay for Sunday. It was great to see her and get to hug her neck! I got a great surprise and one of my best friends came into town for B's recital and came over to hang out for a while afterward!

Thank you to all of you who came to support our little dancer! She was so proud to perform for you all!

Quarantine....

with 3 toddlers is the pits! My crew has pink eye this week so we are trapped at home. I am exhausted! John doesn't have any sick time left until the end of June so I'm the only one who can touch the children at all, and they are VERY NEEDY!!

We have been up through the night with children terrified because their eyes won't open...even though we've talked it over that their eyes may seal shut in the night and not to worry we can wash them with a cloth. Then we have those moments of "Just hold me, Mommy" that are so precious and sweet....followed by "That's my Mommy! Get away from her!" and a fist fight!

Anyway, Long story short, Mommy is about ready to take a vacation, and she may very well do just that as soon as this round of antibiotics is done! I can't tell you how many times I've called out "Please don't vanquish your brother! You will want to play with him tomorrow!" 

All you fellow crochet people and lovely mom's out there please say a prayer for me today! We have 5 more days to go because this started on Saturday and we couldn't see the Dr until Monday afternoon. :(  So next Monday will end our very long quarantine.

 

Family Day...

So it's been one of those weeks where I have so much going on that by the time I sit down at the end of the day I am...and I know...this even sounds foreign to me...but I promise it's true...I am actually too tired to even crochet!!  I don't know what to do with myself.

I haven't made a blog post on Love in the Stitches in well over a week, I'm worried you guys are going to think I forgot you. I promise I didn't......I did forget my name once...and my children's names several times, but you guys...never! LOL

All joking aside this is what my weekend holds. Let's start with the beginning...L sat in something that he's allergic to and has a rash on his tush. I can't seem to get it to go away so I took his itchy little bottom to the Dr today for some special cream. Also, little B is coughing up a lung and has a sore throat, so she needed to see the Dr as well. So, we went to the Dr this morning first thing. On the way home, we stopped to pick up Kristin and run by the grocery store because I needed a few things for the birthday party that I am hostessing for one of my best friends tonight. The children decided to have a melt down on the way to the store which always results in them not having the privilege of going in, so Kris went in and then I went in after she was done.

After dropping off her groceries we had to make one more stop for a Birthday gift and then take her home. On the way home I needed to run through the drive through at the drug store and pick up L's cream and B's medicine so I went to CVS, but the line was so long in the drive through that I just unloaded the brood and went in....L proceeded to throw a tantrum in the floor of the store because I wouldn't open his candy right then. (keep in mind that he is 2 and it's nearly 1:30 at the time and he's hungry and tired...he is usually a really well behaved child) but still, we don't reward tantrums so his candy treat was placed back on the shelf and the others got candy while he did not. Now that WAS an uproar. Anyway, we were gone from the house from 8:45 this morning until 2:30 and now I'm trying to get these kiddos down for nap. The biggest are out for the count, but little L is too tired to sleep I think.

So...tonight we have a birthday party, and in the morning at 8:30 is B's dress rehearsal for her first dance recital! Then tomorrow afternoon at 4:15 we have to be there for the actual recital which starts at 5, and somewhere in the middle of it all my parents are coming in. The recital will probably end around 7 and Mom and Dad will have to head back home,  then Mother's Day is Sunday and we have company coming Sunday night and then Monday is my friend David's birthday so company again.....I'm so exhausted thinking about it that I'm having trouble making my feet move to get started. And crochet???  Well, I've started a pillow for David's couch for the 4th time, and I'm also working on another purse pattern. Another friend of mine asked me to design a shoulder bag for her, so there are things in the works, they just aren't anywhere close to done so today, no crochet pictures, just WELCOME TO MY FAMILY.

Beautiful Boutique Bow Holder

 Hey guys! I've been wanting to put up this pattern for a while and I thought it would be the perfect time. It's time for the May Giveaway and we are giving away 2 of these Beautiful Boutique Bow Holders!! Each comes complete with 3 sets of 3 inch Handmade Boutique Ponytail Bows!

This pattern is extremely versatile and very adaptable! Kristin uses one exactly like the one in this pattern for her little K-Bug and my little B uses one that is adapted to be just a little bit larger.  This one will hold up to 17 bows.   

Anyway, here's the pattern: 

Note: I prefer 100% Cotton for this. It holds up best.

It's important to use a small hook for this, it needs to be tight or the weight of the bows will make it sag and twist. We want it to stay sturdy so I use a G hook.

Special Stitches:  

Picot = ch 2, slip stitch in 1st ch  

Fptc = Front post treble crochet

Ch 12

R1: hdc in 3rd ch from hk and across 

R2-3: ch 2, turn, hdc in each st across

R4: ch 2, turn, hdc in next st, fptc 2 rows below, hdc in next 5 sts, fptc 2 rows below, hdc in last 2 sts

R5-7: ch 2, turn, hdc in each st across

R8: ch2, turn, hdc in next 4 sts, fptc 2 rows below, hdc in last 5 sts

R9-11: ch 2, turn, hdc in each st across

R12-20: Repeat rows 4-11

R21-28: Repeat rows 4-11

R29-36: Repeat rows 4-11

R37-44: Repeat rows 4-11

R45: Repeat row 4

R46: ch2, turn, hdc in each st across.

TRIM-

Rnd 1: Chain 5, dc in same st (corner), going across top, sk 1 st, dc in next st, ch 2 dc in same st, sk 2 sts, dc in next st, ch 2, dc in same st, sk 1 st, dc in corner st, ch 2, dc in same corner st, (now starting down the side) Continue to skip about the distance of 2 sts, *dc, ch2, dc, in same st,  sk 2* repeat from * down the side, when you get to the corners the sts will be a bit close together, but it will help with the corners anyway. When you get back to original ch5, sl st into 3rd ch. 

Rnd 2 of Trim

Rnd 2: sl st into large chain space(do not turn) ch 3(1st dc)3 dc, picot, 4 dc in same corner space, *1 dc in next chain sp, 2dc, picot, 2 dc, in next ch sp* Repeat around besides corners. In corner chain spaces: 4 dc, picot, 4 dc. 

Corner

Time for the May Drawing!!!!

Time for what I know you've all been waiting for!  I know that we are all busy people. We have lives that we fill in various ways, and I cannot tell you how honored I feel that you take time out of yours to visit my blogs! I hope that they are helpful and fun! I love blogging and I love crafting!

My plan is to do a giveaway in a drawing each month. I want to get to know you! So here's this months "little catch" #1, you can't win unless you are a blog member! So follow Mama Nettie's Crochet!  #2, post a comment on this post. Tell me a little about you.(Are you a first generation crocheter or has it been passed down? Why do you love crochet? Does it add something to your life?)Maybe even link us to your own site showing something that you've made!

So, Be a blog member/follower old or new, and post a comment and you are entered to win this darling bow holder! Also, as an added bonus, these handmade bows come with it!!  3 Sets of Pigtail Bows! The drawing will be held on May 15th!

This is Navy with White Polka Dots

Ever since B was very small she's loved being dressed up and looking all girly and sweet, so one of my best friends, Kristin, has hand made her bows. Kristin is so talented and takes a lot of pride in her work. B is nearly 5 years old now and I have had some of her bows for nearly 3 years. They are beautiful and durable!

Even if you don't have a little girl of your own, this would make an amazing gift! Not only are the bows Mama Nettie tested and Approved, but the bow holder is the same design that Kristin and I both use for our girls!

ENTER TO WIN A SECOND TIME!!  CLICK HERE

Tips on the Classy Clutch

When putting the Classy Clutch to the test, there was one thing that became blaringly obvious quite quickly. I don't like the way that it hangs open and comes open so easily when it has something in it unless it is sewn together in a very specific way, so here's the way to do it. Fold up the side flaps and sew them on all edges. EVEN THE TOP.

Welcome to my kitchen counter top! :)

Once this is done it leaves only the front open under the flap and is much easier to use.  I LOVE IT! I love it just for me, but mostly I love it to use for my kiddos! Mom's, this just became my top must have! Especially for allergy mom's like me!!




L cannot be left anywhere, even Sunday School class, without an epi pen. Also, they often feed the kiddos snacks in Children's Church which can be an issue as you might imagine. I know I've written about it briefly in the past, but L's allergies include ALL Nuts, Milk, Egg, and Wheat.

So, in this classy little clutch (which fits beautifully in my purse I might add) I can put a diaper, a snack, and an epi pen! It is easy to hand to the teacher all in one beautiful little bundle!

Also Non-Allergy Mom's, it would be super convenient to put just a diaper a tiny pack of wipes, and a snack.  I think I'll make one that doesn't have the ornate front on it to use for L on a regular basis, since this one is not very boyish. Maybe I'll make one that is brown and cream and blue or something like that. I'll post a picture if I do.

I'd love to know if any of you have tried the clutch. Share your thoughts!!

Happy Hooking,
Mama Nettie

Classy Clutch

Let's make a pretty clutch handbag! Grab a pretty mercerized cotton and follow along! This project will help you master 2 new techniques and leave you with a great new accessory for yourself or someone you love!!

My personal favorite mercerized cotton is Sinfonia. It comes in a variety of gorgeous solids and several variegated threads and can be found at Hobby Lobby. Don't forget to take your coupon! When working with Sinfonia, I prefer to use hook size E. (For a variation: use a large hook that leaves big holes and line your clutch with a nice fabric!) OR, add a strap!! This pattern is very versatile!

To start, chain whatever width you want your clutch to be. I am chaining 39 because it looks just about large enough to hold a checkbook/wallet.

R1: HDC in 3rd ch from hk and in each st across. (38 hdc across, counting first skipped ch2 as 1 hdc)
R2-14: Ch2, turn, HDC across

When you reach the end of R14 CH 19

R15: HDC in 3rd ch from hk and in each ch across and each st across when you come to the end AbInc(Abrupt Increase) 18 times. (click on the link to familiarize yourself with this technique if you're not a regular follower of Love in the Stitches or just haven't had an opportunity to try AbInc out yet!)

R16-19: ch2, turn, HDC in each st across

R20: sl st in 19 sts, bringing you back down the "arm" of the pattern to the body. Ch 2(first hdc), HDC in next 37 sts.

R21-36: Ch 2, Turn, HDC  across (This makes up the back and the top of the clutch)

For Simple but Elegant: continue to repeat R21 until you finish R44

R45: ch1, turn, follow shell stitch pattern across the edge ending with sc. tie off and hide ends
sew together.

For a Little Something More: Follow these directions for a Cabled Front

R37: Ch 2, Turn, HDC in next 15 sts, fptc around 4th, 5th, and 6th sts from hk 2 rows below, fptc around 3each of the 3 skipped sts 2 rows below. HDC in last 16 sts.

R38: ch 2, Turn, HDC across

R 39: Ch 2, Turn, HDC in next 14 sts, fptc around next 3 fptc, HDC in next 2 sts, fptc around next 3 fptc, HDC in next 15 sts.

R40: Repeat row 38

R41: Ch 2, Turn, HDC in next 13 sts, fptc around next 4 fptc, HDC in next 4 sts, fptc around next 4 fptc, HDC in next 14 sts.

R42: Repeat Row 38

R43: Repeat Row 39

R44: Repeat Row 38

R45 - 52: Repeat Rows 37-44

R53: Repeat Row 37

R54: (scalloped edge) ch1, turn, sc in first st, follow shell stitch pattern across the edge ending with sc. tie off and hide ends. Sew together.

Watch for our drawing! I will post pictures of the May giveaway next week!! Everyone who is a follower of the blog and posts a comment to the Giveaway post will be entered to win!

Click HERE for some Tips on the Classy Clutch.

As always,
Happy Hooking!
Mama Nettie