Post 45: Finished Sweater

 Just quickly sharing the completion of the sweater! She wears it daily lately, it is adorable lol

Post 44: Making New Friends in a Post COVID World, and a Sweater Update.

 For those here for the sweater updates, here's a snapshot of the sweater progress. I just have one sleeve left.  I worked on it when the kiddo had a pool party for a friend. We stayed two hours+ while all the kids had a great time swimming and celebrating.

I was going to go into a long monologue about how difficult it is to make real friends as an adult, especially post pandemic. I once had a close friend, a "soul sister" as I always proclaimed, for almost two decades, but they have left the area and changed paths that no longer intersect with mine. It's been incredibly hard.  I'm not ready to show that pain to the world, nor would i disrespect their privacy so details are not going to be shared. I keep hoping it will get easier. It has been about a year and two months now since things felt remotely normal in that space. Grieving the living wears on my heart and makes everything really hard. It hurts me that such a decision was so easy for that person. In the back of my mind, I will always wonder if I am the "thing" that was easy to let go because maybe I held them back from being who they wish to be.  It is natural for things to end, I just never expected it.

I've talked of this too long tonight. I'm going to let it rest. 

Post 43: The Cold Sweater Weather

 Its been around zero degrees Fahrenheit, and finally warming up this week into the twenties. Our furnace went out and had a repairman look at it for a few hundred bucks. It was fixed in under an hour and our home went from a brisk 54 back to 68. We took a lot of time to declutter the house and get rid of our excess (if you dont count the kiddos room which is full of toys and most certainly next..one of these days).  Everything is a little more clean, and theres a lot more space to breathe. That has been incredibly nice and therapeutic. Something about clearing physical clutter clearing the mental clutter...I dont know.

And there has been time for sweater work. The yoke part is completed, now just working up the body and arms. It is a quick make, mostly due to the smaller kid size.

 It needed a little but of spunky brightness (and some ruffle cinching) so i hit it with two lines of surface slip stitches around the collar. More will be added to the sleeves. The first was a stitch in each, the larger circle was a slip stitch two together each stitch.

The body itself, a 100% baby alpaca wool. Most certainly a hand wash only sweater, but what better way is there to teach her to care for a sweater?  Let me know what you think by dropping a line on Instagram or the book of faces. See you next time. ✌️ 

Post 42: Cold

 It has been hovering near zero degrees Fahrenheit where I live, for a few days. Our old home wasn't ready for winter. We knew it was on the way, but didn't prep well. So today we put plastic on windows and did our cold weather dance--the baking and snuggling under the covers. And sweaters. And socks, scarves, booties. Truth be told I thought we handled cold weather well but we are a bunch of babies ha!

I crocheted a bit on the new sweater of baby alpaca fiber yarn from knitpicks brand, for my daughter in a heathered purple. I finally got the ruffles to lay flat, but not much else in the way of progress. Baby steps. Pictures next time.

Until then, stay warm.

Post 41: Muttling Through

 Muttling through the chilly days of January. The new year energy is wearing off already and it is back to living the day to day routines.

This weekend we planned a chilly zoo trip, but ended up getting snow and changed our plans. We kept our hotel reservation and enjoyed their heated pool and then watching the snow fall into the night. It was very pretty, but certainly wasn't the safest to be driving in so it was nice to be in for the night. In the morning we built a snowman at a local rest area and enjoyed an hour or so throwing snowballs and making angels. We later did some thrifting, but kept plans light by returning home shortly after.

I finished my version of the scarf for the Hallmark warm up America campaign created by TwinkieChan. It's a cute pattern, but I made some modifications to use a larger hook and stitch faster. It's hard to make time--full time QIDP, foster mom, and a handful of other hats I wear at random.  Here's some pics of the scarf below. Now to start the alpaca sweater for the kiddo. I'm not going to use a pattern this time, I'm just going to wing it and adapt it to size. More to come with the sweater, but until then, enjoy these pics! 

Post 40: 2024

 2024 here we are, ready or not.  It's well after midnight now in my time zone and the house is winding down after channel jumping for the past few hours to find entertainment that wasn't cringeworthy or ultimately annoying gibberish.  I sometimes catch myself in these situations and wonder when it was that I finally took that last step to having the mindset of "being old now," but I feel it was sometime after my second marriage...sometime after watching my step son grow into a young man with his own life goals...and sometime after the long road to becoming a foster parent, staying married, managing a caseload as a QIDP, and not losing my ever loving, disorganized mind :) I joke lightheartedly, because becoming a foster parent has filled my heart with love in a way that has healed my soul, but it's also a very active process to not only parent, but to help guide a child through a path that hasn't always been easy.  It all happened very quickly and with a few blinks of my eyes and a pair of eyeglasses later, "life" was happening instead of being some ultimate plan for the "someday."  I'm not naive enough to believe that it hasn't been happening all along, but it's less haphazard and I'm flying blindly into the wind a little less often.  Remember, it's probably the glasses..

As with my job, there is much confidentiality in foster parenting, so I will not get into the details in any form.  I will say that it takes a lot of effort, planning and commitment between two partners to work through different parenting styles, philosophies, and ideaologies.  It takes continued education and training.  It takes a lot of work to focus on solutions instead of being the one who is "right."  Give up on being "right" because there is no one "right" way to anything, even if you are the most stubborn person in the world.  Being on the other side of what I would consider a mountain of work committing to the long-term learning and "rededication" as I've termed it, and getting through some of the rougher moments that really tested our marriage, it's easier to discuss the importance of counseling and self-care.  

Most people I know balk at the idea of these terms and their concepts, but then I also see the same people who say they don't need counseling or don't have time for themselves experiencing extremely high rates of burnout and wearing themselves thin to the point of breaking.  Hell, I have been that very same person for many years in my past.  It wasn't until my mid-thirties that I finally started listening to what people had been saying all along.  I started going to the doctor, making time for things important to me, drinking more water, and saying goodbye to a few friendships that were more like stomping all over me as the proverbial doormat masked as friendship.  So here we are, all participating in some form of counseling to heal our hearts in our independent lives and the lives that we share together.  It hasn't been a perfect road, or even a pretty one, but it's progress and all I ask of myself is to keep trying and doing so with intention to be healthier each day.  Awfully transparent of me to share this here, I know.  If there's something that I am not, it is someone who has a lack of words.

So, what does this all have to do with crochet?  Well my friends, this venture, Salubrious Studios as I name my humble small side hustle of a hobby-turned business-turned hobby at the moment to maybe future business again in a few years--Salubrious Studios has been my outlet to create and express myself in a medium that speaks to my upbringing (my grandmother taught me to crochet, it was something we did weekly each weekend among gardening tasks, gathering eggs, and living connected to country life).  It's a skill I've refined for years and continue to refine. It's stress relief and expression.  It's something that keeps my mind healthy through every storm that I've weathered.  It's now a skill that I've passed on to the kiddo and I've never been prouder to be able to do so.  I've ebbed and flowed with how I'm able to dedicate my time.  I've sold on Etsy under two storefronts, and would make a few hundred a month here and there, but not enough to consider it a steady cash flow.  I don't think I ever was able to fully dedicate myself to a "business status" in my mind, as I never had time to fully dedicate, even though I would say I tried for a few months at a time, but life would get busy in other areas and make it all fairly impossible to progress.  In a few years, when the house becomes an empty nest again, I'll consider giving it a go again.  I truly want to create and sell crochet patterns and reclaim yarn to sell and use.  That's where my heart is in the game of business strategy.

In the meantime, I'll keep up with my Instagram and continue to be inspired by the many talented artists there.  I'll continue working projects for fun and for relatives or friends.  I'll continue trying to use up my stash and donating yarn to those who are learning or otherwise unable to purchase their own.  And even still, will continue making hats for the local shelter in the winter months.  I no longer attend my church group on Thursday nights, but it was a great opportunity to be inspired by creative women who are invested in their faith and nourished my own faith in The Lord.  Since becoming a foster parent, I've been unable to attend as homework assistance has (happily, and with appreciation) taken priority over social groups.

Well, I've rambled enough for a good chunk of time here.  I'm hoping to blog more, as I've purchased a new laptop for myself for the first time in ages.  Anyhow, here's to moving forward in 2024, intentionally and always striving for a healthier, healing life.

Post 39: Peaceful

 Hello all!  

I wanted to give a home to my peace sign applique pattern.  Not only have I been sitting on it for a while since deleting my etsy shop, but I'm ready to share it with the world.  It is of basic construction with guided picture images.  Enjoy!

                                                The Original Salubrious Peace Sign Applique

                                  pattern written and developed by Aimee Menard of Salubrious Studios

By using this pattern, you agree to use this pattern for personal use and not to reproduce or distribute this pattern by any means.  This pattern is the intellectual property of Aimee Menard and Salubrious Studios.  You may direct others to the original source of the pattern if you wish to share the pattern.  If you wish to sell items made with this pattern, you must give credit to the writer of the pattern, and provide a link to the pattern.  I ask this of you, to support me as a person and creator, and encourage you to support other pattern writers and creators.  By respecting one another, we grow a friendlier and more creative community with a foundation of respect and appreciation.  Thank you for your interest in this pattern and I hope you are able to use this pattern to add to your crafty arsenal.  May the techniques in this pattern help you to enhance your crocheted items and creations!

Supplies needed:  

⦁ small amounts (less than 50 yards) of each a primary color (base color) and a secondary color (linework and border)

⦁ Desired size crochet hook size G through K.  I used a J for the white and purple applique, but I typically use a size G or H.  The important part in choosing a hook size for your applique is matching the yarn thickness to the hook--your hook should glide through the stitches comfortably without creating stitches that you feel are too tight or too loose.  

Gauge and Size:

⦁ I do not have a listed gauge for this pattern.  With a size J hook, the applique measures approximately 3 1/2 inches in diameter when finished.

Pattern:

Round One:  With primary color, ch 2.  Stitch 6 sc in 2nd chain from hook.  Do not join, and use a stitch marker to mark the end of each round moving forward.  This helps you to not lose your place as the circle grows. (6 sc)

Round Two:  Stitch 2 sc in each stitch around.  (12 sc)

Round Three:  (1 sc in next stitch, 2 sc in next stitch) around. (18 sc)

Round Four:  (1 sc in each of next two stitches, 2 sc in next stitch) around.  (24 sc)

Round Five:  (1 sc in each of next three stitches, 2sc in next stitch) around.  (30 sc)

It's kind of looking like a hexagon at this point eh?  NO worries!  Round Six and the border will fix this.

Round Six:  sc in each stitch around, loosely.  This will round out those slight hexagonal edges and create your base circle.  (30 sc).  Fasten off and weave in your ends.

Linework (the fun part):

Join your alternate/secondary color with a slip stitch in any stitch around the border.  We are about to learn how to surface stitch, by surface stitching a slip stitch from edge to edge across the diameter of the circle.  Don't be afraid of surface stitching--it is actually very easy with flatter projects like this one.  If you are uncomfortable, keep practicing to build up your skills.  To surface stitch, you will create the stitches on the top side of your project, and draw the yarn up from underneath the project through the stitching, as shown in the next photo.  By keeping the yarn on the underside of the project like this, you help to eliminate cross overs or mis-stitches. 

Go ahead and stitch all the way across the diameter, slip stitch in the last stitch of the edge on the other side from where you began, and fasten off.  Tie in your ends.  You should see a beautiful straight line across your circle.  Now you will want to mark where you would like the other lines to go.  Place a small strand of alternate color yarn in the fourth border chain from either side of the bottom of the slip stitch line that you just created.  I've included a picture to show what I mean.  

See the purple yarn on either side?  This is where your next line will begin and end.  We will not be working from point to point, but rather will be working from one point, to the middle of the first line that we have made.  

Then surface slip stitch to your second marked point.  Join with a slip stitch into your first point, and surface slip stitch to the middle point of the first line.  Then surface slip stitch down to your second point, on the other side.  Slip stitch in the last border stitch, fasten off, and tie in your ends.

Round Seven:  by using your alternate/secondary color (the one used for the linework), join in a slip stitch in any stitch around the border.  Sc in each stitch around, joining with a slip stitch in the first sc. (30 stitches).

Round Eight (and final round):  slip stitch in each sc around.  This creates a nice finished look, and flat edge to this project.  Join with slip stitch in first slip stitch, fasten off, and tie in your ends.

You are finished!  Enjoy!

This pattern is especially fun as keychains or as an applique for scarves, purses, or blanket motifs.  Use your creativity to enhance your projects with this fun applique.  Consider sharing your creations with me on social media--I'd love to see your finished work!  Thank you!

 

If you wish to follow Salubrious Studios on social media you may find Salubrious Studios in the following places:

Salubrious Studios on Facebook

salubriousstudios.blogspot.com (personal crafty blog)

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SalubriousStudios on Etsy!