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Diagonal Shawl (Lion Fixed by me)

<p style=”text-align: center;”><a title=”Diane’s Wrap” href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/craftspider/4269157423/”><img src=”http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4269157423_56ee0ba5a9_t.jpg” alt=”Diane’s Wrap” /></a><a title=”Diane’s Wrap 2″ href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/craftspider/4269156905/”><img src=”http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2725/4269156905_74b28152a5_t.jpg” alt=”Diane’s Wrap 2″ /></a></p>
Chain 213

Row 1:  sc in 2nd chain from hook, and in each chain across.  212 sc.

Row 2:  Ch 1, turn, 6 sc, dc, 5 sc, dc, repeat (5 sc, dc) until last stitch, then sc

Row 3:  Ch 1, turn, sc across

Row 4:  Ch 1, turn, sc in first 5, fpdc 2 rows down around a dc, sk 1 sc, sc in next 5 sc, FPDC 2 rows down, sk i sc, repeat (sc in 5 sc, FPDC, sk 1 sc) until last 2 stitches, 2 sc

Row 5:  Ch 1, turn, sc across

Row 6:  Ch 1, turn, sc in 1st 4, FPDC 2 rows down, sk 1 sc, sc in next 5 sc, FPDC 2 rows down, sk 1 sc, repeat (sc in 5 stitches, FPDC, sk 1 sc) until last 3, 3 sc

Row 7:  Ch 1, turn, sc across

Row 8:  Ch 1, turn, sc in 1st 3, FPDC, sk 1 sc, sc in next 5, FPDC, sk 1 sc, repeat (sc in 5, FPDC, sk 1 sc) until last 4, 4 sc

Row 9:  Ch 1, turn, sc across

Row 10:  Ch 1, turn, sc in 1st 2, FPDC, sk 1 sc, sc in next 5, FPDC, sk 1 sc, repeat (sc in 5, FPDC, sk 1 sc) until last 5, 5 sc

Row 11:  Ch 1, turn, sc across

Row 12:  Ch 1, turn, sc in 1st stitch, FPDC, 5 sc, sk 1 sc, repeat (sc in 5 sc, FPDC, sk 1 sc) until last stitch, 1 sc

Row 13:  Ch 1, turn, sc across

Row 14:  Ch 1, turn, sc in first 6, FPDC, sk 1 sc, repeat (5 sc, FPDC, sk 1 sc) to end

Pattern:

Row 15:  Ch 1, turn, sc across

Row 16:  Repeat Row 4

Row 17:  Ch 1, turn, sc across

Row 18:  Repeat Row 6

Row 19:  Ch 1, turn, sc across

Row 20:  Repeat Row 8

Row 21:  Ch 1, turn, sc across

Row 22:  Repeat Row 10

Row 23:  Ch 1, turn, sc across

Row 24:  Repeat Row 12

Row 25:  Ch 1, turn, sc across

Row 26:  Repeat Row 14

End Pattern

Repeat Rows 15-26 until you like the size of it.

Edging 1:  With right side facing, ch 1, sc evenly around the edges, 3 sc in each corner, join with slip stitch to first sc.

Edging 2: Ch 1, do not turn, rsc around.  Fasten off and weave in your ends.

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Mushrooms with Cumin and Asafetida (Madhur Jaffrey)

Subtler flavour than many things from this particular book, but just as blissful.  Served these last night with a spinach rice underneath, and the sour potatoes on the side.

1 1/2 lbs fresh mushrooms (I used baby portabella)

2 T vegetable oil (I’ve taken to using sesame rather than olive oil for her recipes)

A generous pinch of ground asafetida or approximately a 1/8 inch lump

1/2 tsp whole cumin seeds

2 whole dried red peppers

1/4 tsp ground turmeric

1 c tomato sauce

1 tsp salt

Clean mushrooms.  Chop off the woody end bits.

Heat oil in 3 quart pot over medium heat, and put in the asafetida.  It will sizzle and expand within 5 seconds.  Now add the cumin seeds, and as soon as they darken (5 to 10 seconds), the red peppers.  Stir once and add the turmeric and the mushrooms.  Stir mushrooms for 1/2 minute, and add the tomato sauce, 2 1/2 c of water and the salt.  Cover, lower heat, and simmer gently for 15 to 20 minutes.

They can be served immediately, but letting them sit for a couple hours in the juices and then reheating makes for a much better flavour.

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Troll’s Scarf of Randomness +2 (Mine)

Troll Scarf Flat

Troll Scarf Modeled

Cast on 28
proceed in Knit stitch for 5 inches or so

Alternate these two rows six times:
1 – Knit
2 – Knit 5, Purl 18, Knit 5

Knit 5 rows

Alternate those two rows six times again

Knit 10 rows

Alternate a knit row and a purl row until you’ve done 10 of each

Alternate these two rows 10 times:
1: k5, p5, k5, p5, k5, p3
2: k3, p5, k5, p5, k5, p5

Knit 10 rows

Purl 10 rows

Knit 10 rows

Continue in knit until you’ve doubled the length of the scarf. Then do the above backwards. Fringe. And find a house troll.

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Chenille Bi-Coloured Scarf and Hat (Lion)

Size – Hat, One size fits most – Scarf – 7″ by 60″
Materials: 1 skein each of your two colour choices, Lion brand Chenille
Size K crochet hook or size to get gauge
Gauge:  8 stitches = 4″ in half double crochet

Hat
With A (first colour), chain 4 and close into ring with 1 slip stitch in first chain.  work 6 sc in ring.  Place marker for beginning of round.
Rnd 1:  2 sc in each sc around.  12 sc.
Rnd 2:  1 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat around.  18 sc.
Rnd 3:  1 sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat around.  24 sc.
Rnd 4:  1 sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat around.  30 sc.
Rnd 5:  1 sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat around.  36 sc.
Work even in sc until 8″ from center of crown.  Join in B (second colour).
Brim
Rnd 1:  1 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat around.  54 sc.
Rnd 2:  1 sc in each sc around.
Rnd 3:  1 sc in each of next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat around.  63 sc.
Rnd 4:  1 sc in each sc around.  Fasten off and weave in ends.

Scarf
With A, chain 15.  Hdc in third chain from hook and in each chain across.
Row 1:  Ch 2, turn.  Hdc in each stitch across – 14 hdc.
Repeat row one until piece measure 30″.  Join in B.  Do Row 1 until piece measure 60″.  Fasten off and weave in ends.

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Egg Nog Grog (Kitchen Witchery)

6 eggs
1/4 c sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2c + 2 c milk
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 c bourbon
1/3 c rum

Beat together eggs, sugar, salt.  Stir in 2 c milk.  Cook on low, stiring constantly.  Heat until it is thick enough to coat spoon, approximately 160 degrees, remove from heat.  Mix in the rest of the ingredients.  Cover and refrigerate.
This stuff is fair potent.  Utilize with caution.

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Tasseled Quick Crochet Throw (Lion Brand)

<p style=”text-align: center;”><a title=”Bev’s Wrap” href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/craftspider/4269897980/”><img src=”http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2741/4269897980_d169a65f50_t.jpg” alt=”Bev’s Wrap” /></a></p>
<p style=”text-align: center;”><a title=”Amelia’s Wrap” href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/craftspider/4269895700/”><img src=”http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4269895700_84b0b81a12_t.jpg” alt=”Amelia’s Wrap” /></a></p>
This was a fairly quick and flowing project, and ended looking far niftier than the picture had made me expect.  I’ve made 2 of them, now, for gifts – in different sizes.  Overall, I don’t really like working with the ginormous hooks, even though things do make up far faster using them.  Using 2 strands of yarn at once was far less frustrating than I’d expected.

Beginner
Size:   42″ by 48″
Materials:  6 skeins Homespun, Q hook, Large blunt-eye needle
Gauge:  4.75 stitches + 4 rows = 4″ using 2 strands of yarn held together
Note:  Entire Afghan is worked with 2 strands of yarn held together

Afghan
With 2 strands of yarn held together, chain 52.
Foundation Row:  Single crochet in 2nd chain from hook, single crochet in each chain across – 51 sc.  Chain 1, turn.
Row 1:  Single crochet in back loop of each single crochet across – 51 sc.  Chain 1, turn.
Row 2-57:  Repeat Row 1.  Do not cut yarn at end of Row 57.  (The number of rows, is, of course variable, depending on the size you wish to make.  Same goes for your initial chain.  For the one made for a pre-teen girl, I think I chained 40 and ended up using 4 skeins.)

Border
Note:  Border stitches are worked through both loops or entire stitch of previous row.
Chain 4, turn.  Work double crochet in first corber stitch, double crochet in each single crochet across to next corner.  2 double crochet, chain 1, 2 double crochet n corner stitch, double crochet in each row end stitch to next corner.  2 double crochet, chain 1, 2 double crochet in corner stitch.  Double crochet in each single crochet to next corner, repeat set in corner stitch, double crochet in each row end stitch to first corner, double crochet in corner stitch, join with slip stitch to beginning chain.  cut yarn, leaving several inches to be worked with Tassel in forner.

Tassels
Cut 4 strands of yarn 36″ long and 4 strands 18″ long.  Cut remaining yarn into 18″ lengths. Divide into 4 equal groups.  Fold one of the 36″ strands in half and lay it flat on table, placing 1 of the four groups over center of double strand and using that to carefully tie group tightly together in the middle with a double knot.  Hold ends of the doubled strand so knot becomes top of Tassel and grouped strands fall into place below it.  Take an 18″ strand of yarn and wrap tightly around Tassel 1 1/2″ below top knot to form Tassel neck.  Knot securely, thread ends onto needle and weave ends into the center of the Tassel.  Trim Tassel ends evenly.  Repeat until you have four, then fasten them into the chain-1 spaces on the corners of the Afghan.

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