Happy Friday!

While I try to figure out my own blog schedule, (any suggestions?)  today I will just give an update as to what I've been up to.  

1- Trying to figure out the code for a "Grab button"  AARRGGG!
2- Babysitting an ADORABLE 7 month old.
3- Coming up with my next crafty tutorial.
4- Brainstorming for a guest post in the month of October. *EEEK!*
5. Trying to catch up on some crochet orders.  

I've neglected the cleaning...maybe I'll do that this weekend. ;)

I hope you all have a FABULOUS WEEKEND! :)

Wordless Wednesday

Crochet Necklush tutorial. Yarnlush

It was around 2009 when I discovered and fell in love with necklush.

Ahhhh Necklush. Is it a Necklace? Scarf? Cowl?

Yes! It's three in one!

(source)

I've always wanted one. So I crocheted one. It was so simple to make! You only need to know one type of crochet stitch. The simplest stitch to learn!

The Chain Stitch! So here we go...my first tutorial!

How to chain stitch!

(and a simple explanation on how to construct a "necklush.")
From this point on I will call this creation Yarnlush.

Lets get started.

You will need: A crochet Hook, yarn, and a yarn needle.

I used 'I LOVE THIS YARN' in Sungold with a size I hook for the tutorial pictures.

(please note that this how *I* know how to make and explain both a slipknot and chain stitch.)

Step 1 Slipknot. Form a circle with yarn. In this picture the "tail" (end of the yarn) is the top layer of the "X" formed by the yarn. I usually have about 4 to 5 inches of tail to work with.

Step 2 Now insert your hook into the circle and bring the tail of the yarn up trough and out of the circle to create a new loop.

Step 3 Grab the tail and working yarn together tightly in your left hand. With your right hand, pull the crochet hook upward. This will cinch the circle into a knot. Continue to hold the crochet hook with your right hand. With your left hand find the tail end of the yarn and pull only that piece downward away from the crochet hook. As you do this, the knot will slide up and cinch the loop onto the hook.

Step 4 Find a comfortable way to hold the working yarn (yarn connected to the skein of yarn) in your left hand.

(excuse the sloppy shot...I realized I had forgotten to take this shot and quickly took one.)

Step 5 From this point on, the tail end of the yarn will stay with the right hand, and the yarn coming from the skein is worked form the left hand.

Now manipulate the hook with the right hand and grab the working yarn from underneath.

Step 6 Pull the yarn through the loop on your hook.

Congratulations! You've just created your first crochet Stitch! :)

Keep repeating steps 5 and 6 to create a long chain!

Now here is the hard part. Chain stitch till you get the length you need.

Decide how long you want to make your yarnlush. Then decide how many times you want it to loop around. I kind of just kept wrapping the yarn around myself till I found a good length, then I kept adding loops until I was satisfied with the thickness.

When you have a long enough chain to make your yarnlush, snip the yarn from the skein. To close the end of the chain, pull up on the loop around the hook until the end of the yarn comes through. This closes off the end.

Form your yarnlush into the length you want and loop it around as many times as you need. Gather the loose yarn ends together and knot them together around all of the loops, to help keep the loop chains together in a large loop.

Chain stitch a second strip, and wrap that around the yarnlush at the point where the ends are tied together to create a more finished look.

Use your yarn needle to weave in and secure the loose yarn pieces into the back of the yarnlush, and that's it! You have finished your handmade Yarnlush!

This is the one I made for me.

I decided to keep my yarnlush fairly thin. I really don't need to add anymore bulk than necessary. ;)


Now GO! Create! Use your imagination! Use strands of different colors mixed together. Use a variegated yarn! Mix thin and chunky yarns together! The options are limitless!

If you enjoyed this tutorial and make your own yarnlush please let me know!! Also, if you make a yarnlush I would love to see a picture!

***************Quick Edit to add information*****************

A friend of mine had a few questions:

How long did you make your strands?  I'm not sure. :/  my Yarnlush (in circle form) measures 44 1/2 inches in length.

How many strands did you use? For mine I made 6 strands.  It felt too bulky *for me* with more than that.

Lastly how much yarn does it take per necklush? 1 ball or 2? It doesn't take too much yarn.  I'm pretty sure you could get 3 or 4 good sized ones completed with a brand new skein.

...Content...

The past few years have been hard.
 
I have not had a job.

Financially, I make just enough to pay the $37 monthly insurance on my 10 year old car, get a little gas, pay a miniscule portion of the utility bills,  and enjoy a *very* occasional outing with family and friends.
 
I'm not going to lie though, I wish I had more.

I miss my $165 haircuts from Toni & Guy.
I miss my MAC makeup.
I miss my acrylic nails.
I miss having new clothes.
I miss going to the movies.
I miss filling up the gas tank.
I miss filling up the basket at the grocery store.

I miss........ (you get the idea)
 
I am grateful though.

Grateful for family and friends.  Grateful for His provision.

Grateful that I have "just enough."

(source)

First Day of Fall

As I walked outside my house this morning I felt it.

Fall. 

The air was crisp, everything was bathed in golden hues, and I was one happy girl.

I wanted to pull out a sweater...but then I thought, 'Dina, don't get crazy.'

Instead, I lowered the windows of the car and thoroughly embraced the beginning of this season.

Take time and enjoy what God created just for you.

Happy Fall!
                      

My first Post

I've tried this once before.

Writing a blog.

I wanted to blog about me.  I wanted to blog about my crafts.  I wanted to blog about God.

Mostly though, I wanted to blog so that I could prove that I was more than what I saw in the mirror.

I wanted my blog to prove that I wasn't as big of a failure as I felt.   

I think I wrote about 5 blog posts in the span of 2 and 1/2 years.

During the time between my first blog attempt, and this new one, things have changed.  Not in the physical. I'm still pretty much where I was before.  I'm still single.   I'm still overweight.  I'm still thirtysomething. (although I am much closer to forty than I was before)  Truth be told, some might say that things for me aren't 'better'.

So what was this big change?

I've come to realize that I have more value than I ever gave myself credit for, and that I am not a failure. I know now, that what I saw as failure, God saw as good.

              "...That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good."
                   Romans 8:28 The Message

Everything in my life is not perfect....but it is God's to make good.  And I know who I am in Him.

Thanks for starting this journey with me.  I hope you enjoy the ride!