Crochet - Red Fairy Glass Cardigan

 

Fairy Glass Cardigan - Begun May 25, 2025

DROPS Design Free Pattern

I don't usually make things when I crochet. 

I like to crochet simple stitches to 

relax and disconnect my brain, 

but I've been hankering for a bit of a challenge. 

This pattern has diagrams which I've never used before.

Crochet Touché - Bag Strap

As you may or may not know, I love to crochet.

I learned by watching my Oma, not the woman you met in the last newsletter, but her daughter. They shared the name Franziska, which was also my mother's middle name. My Uroma did not knit or crochet. My Oma was a knitting/crocheting fiend. She always had something on the make and carried her projects with her wherever she went. 

I don't like to knit. I'm not coordinated enough or attentive enough. 

Crocheting is like meditation to me.

Unfortunately, living in Florida now, my useful projects are limited. No mittens, caps, scarves, sweaters, blankets---too hot.

And I like useful because I like natural fibers and they are expensive.

My current project is a strap for a laptop bag. I lost the one that came with it originally, so I've been trying to find something else. 

Crochet straps are really stretchy, especially with a little weight. I thought I had the problem solved, but I didn't use the fishing line. I'll have to try weaving it in after the fact.

The yarn is Peaches & Creme Stripey - 17007 Green Stripes - worsted 4-ply, 2 oz, 102 yards, 100% cotton, Mediun 4

Here are pictures of what I have so far.

Here are the links to the patterns and processes I used"

Spiral Rope used to link the handle to the bag

Tunisian Butterfly applique for the 13 butterflies - these are so cute in person.

The Fishing Line Trick

The strap itself was made with the Thermal Stitch which is so satisfying. I'll have to think of something else to use this stitch for.

Show & Tell - the Prince of Procrastination

 I'm always doing something other than 

what I tell myself I want to be doing.

Like right now, I claim to want to start

Book 3 of The Shadow Sword Trilogy:

Unforgiven Love,

about Jon & Stefan.

The Bastard's Battle has been uploaded to 

Amazon and should be ready soon in paperback and ebook.

Instead of writing, 

I'm showing you this adorable Soap Saver I crocheted.

It's made from 100% cotton.

The soap is an amazing lemon grass goat's milk soap.

If you'd like to make you own, You can find the video instructions

from Cute As A Button Crafts.

I have written an opening paragraph of 77 words, 

so stop yelling at me, voice inside my head.

Friday Five - How You Doin'?

 

1.   I wrote ten chapters this week, two a day, for a total of  12,500 words. 

I have about ten chapters left, so the first draft of 

The Bastard's Battle should be done by next weekend.

I worked out four days this week. 

Monday and Wednesday were cardio days. 

Tuesday and Thursday were weight days with our trainer at the local YMCA.  

Sore shoulders and cramping feet, but yeah, this is good for me. 

Valerian root helped with the muscle soreness, and 

a tennis ball massaged my feet. 

Build that body strong, baby.

2.   This will be a beanie.

I've been making stuff for St. Jude's Hospital Fund Raiser in April. 

Crocheted items. I love to crochet but not knit. 

Check out my Facebook page for pictures of a basket, tote, and heart garland. 

I will raffle off all of the items I make to people who donate to St. Jude's at my link.

3.   I now have these cool labels I can put on my handmade items.

4.   Wednesday, my grandson and I had lunch on 

the Jacksonville River Walk along the St. John's River. 

We saw ships.

5.   I'm rereading Stephen King's On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.

I read it when it first came out in 2000. 

That was twenty-three years ago.

Holy Moly.

I'll let you know how it held up.

You can read previous book reviews over at 

Nessa's Reading Room.

Oh, and I'm tired.

Keeping Warm in Revena's World

Revena lives in Castle House, built for battle and protection. It's made of the local Nagelfluh stone quarried from the glacial lakes created during various ice ages. A combination of limestone, sandstone, gneiss, amphibolite schist, dolerite and quartz, with a surface that looks like it's dotted with nail heads. It hardens upon contact with the air and resists deterioration, weathering and erosion. Buildings made with this material last for centuries and are perfect for resisting sieges and attacks.

Unfortunately, it makes for a cold and drafty living space, especially when located on a ridgeline surrounded by the rushing Salt River, fed by alpine snow melt, on the north and west and the High King mountain range (elevation 3,000 m) on the south and east. While the hilltop has been occupied for over 4,000 years by the time Revena was born in the year a.i. 883, (ab initio, from the beginning of the Principatus) the fortress was begun in a.i. 866, by her father, The Margrave.

To keep occupied and warm during the Winter months, Revena spends her time creating woolen clothing. She uses a technique, thousands of years old, called needle-binding or knotless-netting. Unlike knitting and crocheting which won't be invented for another 700 or 800 years, needle-binding is made using short lengths of yarn and one single-eyed, flat needle. This form of fabric making is used across the world. With this technique, Revena makes socks, mittens and scarves.

By layering clothing, indoors and on the rare occasions when she ventures out to get a bit of sun and to combat boredom, Revena keeps warm. She knows that covering feet, hands and head will prevent the chills and prevent cold weather ailments.

If you are interested in learning Nålebinding and working on a piece this month with me and Revena, here's a video tutorial to get you started.

Mittens, hat and scarf pictured above crocheted by vvk.