Everything Deserves a Cozy

I just recently purchased a 10 1/2" laptop.  It will not replace my "work horse" laptop, but for Internet surfing, blogging, travel, etc., it will work great.  Also if my husband is on the computer, then I can also play on a computer.

Since it is a smaller laptop, I did not feel the need to buy a bag for it.  Instead with my knitting needles and some yarn from my stash, my new mini laptop is hugged by a cozy...because everything deserves a cozy.

Here is the pattern:

"10 1/2" Laptop Hug"

 

Materials:

1 Skein Caron Simply Soft Country Blue

1 Skein Caron Simply Soft Dark Country Blue

1 Skein Lion Brand Homespun Meadow

1 Skein Peaches and Creme Black

Size 13 Straight Knitting Needles

6 Stitch Markers

Yarn Needle

Cable Needle

N-9.00mm Crochet Hook

Directions:

Holding all four yarns together cast on 22 stitches. (You will knit will all four yarns together for the entire piece.)

Row 1:  Knit 3, add stitch marker.  Knit 2, add stitch marker.  Knit 3, add stitch marker.  Knit 6, add stitch marker.  Knit 3, add stitch marker.  Knit 2, add stitch marker.  Knit 3.

Row 2:  (cable row)  Knit 8.  Transfer 3 stitches to the cable needle and bring to front.  Knit the next three stitches.  Knit the three stitches on the cable needle.  Knit 8.

Row 3:  Knit 3.  Purl 2.  Knit 3.  Purl 6.  Knit 3.  Purl 2.  Knit 3.

Row 4:  Knit across.

Row 5:  Repeat row 3.

Repeat row 2 to row 5, until it measures the length of the laptop times 2.  (mine is about 23 inches)

Bind off.

Finishing:
Fold in half with the purl side facing out.  Sew together long sides, leaving short side open.  Turn Cable side out.

Loop for button...With crochet hook, leaving a 8" tail make a slip stitch and chain 14 bind off, leaving another 8" tail..  Tie the tails together to form a circle.  Attach to backside, in the middle of the upper edge, by pulling tails thru from the front to the inside 2 stitches apart tie together.  Sew button on the other side of cozy. Ta Da your done.

If you have any questions or notice any problems with this pattern, please let me know.

I Haven't Disappeared

I am not disappearing again!  If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know it is tax season and that means I am one busy girl.  As soon as I get one thing scanned into the system, two more walk in the door.  Then there are extensions, and tax payments to get out the door...paying company bills, and entering the daily accounting services...and, and, and.  I welcome the crazy busy of the season though, as the work days move fast. 

This does not mean I have been a slacker at home.  Work on a Friday Night Poker Recipe book is well on it's way.  Also a cozy (and pattern) for my new mini laptop is about halfway done.  Would you say I am back to normal...no...but was I ever normal in the first place?

Oops I Did It Again

"I am going to finally finish a holiday project"..."Because I mentioned it on my blog I will have to finish something."...."I will not procrastinate!" Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!

I searched for days for the perfect Shamrock to make.  I had the projects all laid out.  A simple Shamrock head band.  The Shamrock was going to be about 3" square.  Three crochet chain cords would be attached to the back in order to tie the head band on.  I also wanted to make a three Shamrock necklace.  Each Shamrock would be a different size and ordered from biggest to smallest.  The biggest would sit at the center of the necklace and the other two would travel up one side.

Did I even touch the yarn or a crochet hook to make these very simple projects...no.  At about 11 o'clock the night before St. Patrick's Day, I was laying on my couch watching TV, when I looked at the clock and grumbled to myself.

I have done it again.  I have made nothing.

Get Pinched

St. Patrick's Day, March 17th...the day where everyone decides they need to drink green beer and wear green so they don't get pinched.  It sounds so strange to type that out.    We have certainly lost the meaning of this holiday.  How many people know what St. Patrick's day is about and why we do this?  Not many I would suppose, I don't or didn't.  You can read about Saint Patrick's Day here. 

I always plan on making something for the holidays to wear or display, but never plan ahead enough.  As of right now I have 2 1/2 days to make something, and on the hunt searching the Internet for a crochet pattern I like.  So far the Lion Brand Shamrock Pattern, is the only one I like.

What will this Shamrock turn into??  Maybe a simple pin, or necklace....maybe earrings, a barrette?  Hmmm, maybe that is why I never seem to finish anything before the holiday...I can never decide what to make.

The Small Things

Quick small projects help change things up when you start losing interest in larger time intensive projects.  The triangle scarf (blogged here and here), is still in the making and will be for quite some time.  It still gets worked on, but just a little at a time.  In between the work being done on the triangle scarf small quick things are getting done.

I receive a bracelet with pink and blue beads with the word peace.  I found the bracelet (please forgive me) ugly.  It was just not me.  The message and why I received it means a lot to me though, so I wanted to make something that I would wear.  Using a simple macrame square knot and hemp cord I created a new bracelet.  The other bracelet below was left over t-shirt yarn.  I braided a long cord attached a simple closure and viola, another new bracelet.

After dropping my last powder on the bathroom floor and having all of the remaining powder break and scatter on the floor, I had to buy a new one.  Make up is becoming so expensive these days it is unbelievable I still wear it.  $8 or more for most things.  I have found a 5 dollar powder that works well, but it doesn't come with a puff to put it on.  Instead I just crochet a small circle applicator out of cotton yarn.  It works well, is stylish and fits right into the powder container.

A year or so ago, I bought this skein of yarn that was really expensive, but really beautiful.  I made a hat with it and have been holding on to a small ball of left over yarn since then.  With the price I paid for it I just can't seem to let it go.  Of course this leads to a small project, an i-cord necklace.



Loving the small projects that I can produce right away and feel like I have accomplished something.