Yarn Bombing

Well...crochet rock bombing actually. 

Just a bit of silly whimsy on a warm early summer day.  I thought it was time to lighten up a bit here.
If you've a mind to make one of these beauties I'm laying out instructions here for you.  I will also be teaching this at Stash Needle Art Lounge - two 3 hour classes in July and two in August .  It should be great fun so come on and join us.  You can access the schedule for Stash's classes here
OK...here we go:

Crochet for Rocks  1,   Degree of difficulty - Easy

 Stitches used.  Chain (ch), slip stitch (sl st), double crochet stitch (dc).

Materials.  5 wt crochet cotton and 2.25 mm crochet hook,  and a rock…of course.

Instructions:

Chain 8.  Sl st to first ch to form a ring.

Round 1:  Into the centre of the ring, * Ch4:  1 dc, ch2* 15 times.  Sl st in 2^nd ch at beginning of round.

Round 2:  ch 2, 1 dc in first ch2 space below, ch2: *2dc in next ch2 sp, ch2* around. Sl st in 2^nd ch at

                    beginning of round.     

Round 3:   ch 6; *dc in ch2 sp below, ch 4* around. Sl st in 2^nd ch at beginning of the round.

*While your work is still flat, stop and tail in that centre thread.  This will save you grief later.

Now it is time to lay your work on the top of your chosen rock and measure it.  It should be exactly the same dimension as your rock top – if not, do another round like round 3.

If your work is the same dimension as the top of your rock, it is time to shape your work.

Next round:  ch 5 *dc in ch 4 sp below, ch 3* around.  Sl st to 2^nd ch at the beginning of the round.

*Things should be starting to curl in.  Slip your rock into the work.  How does it fit?  If you’re happy with the way it is fitting…let’s carry on.  If you’re thinking it still isn’t quite big enough , do one more crochet round like the one you just finished.   If the curl is too tight and you can’t insert your rock, you’ll have to pull out the round. Try making one more ch st between dc’s.  You have to be a bit flexible here.  It is all about fit after all and every rock is different.

Next round:  ch 4 *dc in ch 3 sp below, ch 2* around.  Sl st to 2^nd ch at the beginning of the round.  Insert the stone into the work.

Note:  From here on in, the work is completed with the stone inside.  This can be a bit awkward so persevere.  You’re almost there.

Last  round:  Ch 2 *dc in each ch 2 space around.   Snug it up, end off, and tail in your end.   Your crochet cover should fit tightly around your rock.    

Enjoy your rock!  These crochet rocks make lovely paper weights, door stops,  fun gifts, decoration- where ever your imagination takes you.

 If you are looking for a bit more of a challenge  you can try this one:

Crochet for Rocks 2. – Degree of Difficulty – Intermediate.

Stitches used.  Chain (ch), slip stitch (sl st), single crochet (sc), double crochet (dc), Treble crochet (tr)

Materials :  5 wt crochet cotton, 2.25 mm hook, suitable rock.

Instructions:

Ch 8 and sl st to first chain to form a ring.

Round 1:  Make 16 sc in ring, sl st to first sc.

Round 2: Ch3 – counts as first dc; *ch 4, skip 1 sc, 1 dc in next sc* around, sl st to 3rd ch of starting ch 3. 8 ch4 spaces.

Round 3: Ch 1.  In each ch 4 space, work: 1 sc, 1 dc, 2 tr, 1 dc, 1 sc, around.  Sl st to ch 1 beginning of round.

Round 4:  ch 3 – counts as first dc. *ch 6, dc between 2 tr, ch 6 * around.  Join with sl st to 3^rd chain of ch 3 at beginning of round

Measure your work against the top of the rock you are covering.  They should be exactly the same.  If they are not, make another round like round 4.

If they are the same, continue onto round 5:

Round 5:  This is where we start to curl around the sides of the rock.

                  Ch 3, counts as first dc *ch 5, dc in top of dc below* around.  Join with sl st to 3^rd ch beginning the round.

Round 6:  Fit the stone into your work.  Round 6 is completed with the stone in place, as follows.

                  Ch 2; * dc in ch 5 sp, dc in dc below*, around.  Sl  st to 2^nd ch of beginning ch 2.  End off, pull work snug, tail in your end.

Note:  This pattern is designed for rocks approximately  3 to 3 ½ inches or 8-9 cm.  If you find or love a bigger rock that’s OK.  Your flat rounds will be the same – that’s the centre design – and then at round 4,  you will need to do more rounds to cover the surface and sides of your rock.  If you are working with a smaller rock, you might have to eliminate a round.   One must be flexible when crocheting around a rock – because the rock won’t move, which means you will have to.

And if you have good crochet skills and are comfortable with small hooks and crochet cotton - try this one:

Crochet for Rocks 3 -  not for the faint of heart…but really not too bad.   You must know how to do the following to complete this design:

Stitches used:  slip stitch (sl st) chain, (ch),  single crochet (sc), double crochet (dc), double crochet cluster (dc cl) Yarn over (yo) Half double crochet (hdc)

Special stitches – double crochet cluster:    yarn over, insert hook into stitch or loop below, draw up loop – you have three loops on hook, yo draw through two loops, yarn over, insert hook back into same stitch below, draw up loop, yarn over and draw hook through two loops.   Three loops are left on the hook.  Yarn over, insert hook back into the same stitch below, draw up loop, yarn over, draw hook through two loops, yarn over, draw through all remaining loops on hook.  One dc cluster made.  (dc cl)

Materials:   5 wt crochet cotton, 2.25 mm hook, and a suitable rock

 Instructions

Make 5 ch, join into ring with sl st.

Round 1:  Ch 1, make 11 sc into centre of ring, sl st to 1^st ch.

Round 2:  *Ch 13, sl st into next sc* - around , sl st to sl st at end of round one.  12 chain petals made.

Round 3:  Sl st into first 6 ch on first loop.  Make  1 dc cl, ch 3, 1 dc cl, ch 4 in top of this loop. In top of next ch 13 loop make 1 sc, ch 4 .  continuing this pattern, make * 1 dc cl, ch 3, 1 dc cl, ch 4 in top of next ch 13 loop, 1 sc, ch 4 in next loop* around.  Join with sl st to the top of the first dc cl made.

A Note of caution:   Be careful not to twist your loop petals when working round 3.

Now is the time to measure your work against the rock you are covering.  It should cover the entire top of the rock.     Now is also the time to tail in your beginning tail because once you have inserted your rock and crocheted around it, you won’t be able to get at that tail easily.

Round 4:  Sl st into first 2 ch of the ch 3 sp between the first cluster pair, ch 2 (counts as 1 dc)  *ch 3, dc in next ch sp * around.  Sl st to 2^nd ch 2 at beginning of round.

Round 5:  sl st to middle of first ch 3 sp below, ch 2 (this is first dc) , * ch 3, dc in next ch space , ch 3, dc in next ch sp,* – around to beginning, sl st to top of first dc made.

Your work should be curling around the sides.  Try it on the rock and see how things are progressing. 

Here is where you might need to make one more round like round 5 to accommodate your particular rock – it’s a judgement call at this point.

Round 6:  sl t to middle of ch 3 sp at beginning of last round, ch 2 – this is your first dc) ch 2, make one dc in middle of next ch 3 sp ch 2, around.  Sl st to top of beginning ch 2.

Fit your work over the rock.  It should be snug.   The next and last round is done working with the rock inside your work.

 Round 7:  Ch 2, hdc in next ch 2 sp – around.  Sl st into 2^nd ch at beginning.  Pull tight and end off and tail in end.

You can have a bit of fun with these babies - and you can make them big or small - give them away, leave them for people to find, or put them in your own garden.  You'll never look at rocks the same way again - I guarantee it.

Living with the Emergency

It is an interesting place to be, this living inside an extended emergency alert.  One tends to become consumed by the whole thing. 
It's easy to forget that in other places in the world, people are getting on with their daily lives, buying groceries, going to films, shopping.  Here, these things are on hold as we deal with  massive clean up, continued power outages, closed roads, detours and general controlled chaos. 

It's the mud - the mud left behind on everything.

 I don't have any pretty pictures to share today, just thoughts.  The pictures aren't pretty and they are all over our news - front yards covered with piles of dripping, ruined furniture, people, muddy and weary, wearing facemasks, taking their houses apart to see what can be salvaged.

 Everywhere there is the sound of sump pump motors, and big drain hoses snaking out into the streets spewing water into the storm drains out of houses, car parks, and flooded streets, leaving this gooey, smelly mud behind which then has to be shoveled out by hand.  It is a heartbreaking, backbreaking process for the people doing it.

We don't say "how are you"  We say "Are you dry".  And we hope the answer is yes.

There are big lineups of trucks and trailers going to the city dumps dropping off loads of destroyed household stuff - furniture, Christmas decorations, books,  memorabilia - the stuff of a life in a house. 
Some people have lost just about everything and are existing in emergency shelters or with friends or family.

There is a frantic need to check the damage, to assess, to decide what to do next.
There is a grimness underlying the cheerfulness of the blue skies and warm temperatures here.
And so, the world goes on, but we don't, lost in our emergency, worrying, trying to reach out to people whose houses didn't make it.

We'll make it through this of course and this particular flood will be talked about for years, but it's going to take some time this time.

So, my favourite little yarn store - Stash Needle Arts Lounge, owned by Veronica Murphy - has decided to throw a party on Saturday afternoon for flood victims in the knitting community who lost their yarns, their needles, - their precious "stash".   Because knitting is therapy.   How cool is that?  Inglewood district in South East Calgary was evacuated, but the power is back on, and so, Veronica says, is the coffee.   She is inviting people who still have a yarn stash, to bring a ball or two to share with those whose stash was destroyed.  You can check this out here

And the Calgary Horticultural Society is tapping members for plants, and manual labour to help those gardeners whose gardens were destroyed in the flooding.  You can read more about that here

Everywhere people are looking for ways to help.  It helps combat the helplessness we all feel after being kicked to the curb by Mother Nature.
So, forgive me if I forget about the news going on in the world - my own little news world is all consuming right now.

The Story Continues

This is what an angry river looks like.  These were taken this morning standing just west of the 10th street bridge looking toward downtown Calgary.  This swirling brown muck is actually the Bow River, full of silt and traveling at an amazing rate of speed, carrying with it anything it can yank up or swallow up.  There is no traffic on what normally would be a very busy intersection into downtown.  Calgary's downtown core is completely shut down and without power and likely will remain that way until the middle of the week.  It is spooky looking at it, spooky standing beside it and knowing just how much damage has been done in the last couple or three days by this river alone. All the rivers in this province seem to be running amok! 
The emergency continues - cleanup can't begin until the water levels go down and that doesn't appear to be very soon.  Some districts in the city are still under water. 
This afternoon, Libby - intrepid Border Collie and I ventured out toward our favourite dog park, which is right on the Bow River.  She needed exercise desperately, and I needed to know just how bad things are down there..
 The paths are all either under water, or filled with a slippery brown muddy silt that I sank up to the top of my boots in. 

This  beauty is all gone - disappeared under the raging brown water.  No clean water to wade in for Libby who was devastated that all her favourite paths had disappeared.  I don't know if this lovely old fallen log will even still be there when the Island appears again. 
Nature does indeed have a mean streak.  The crisis continues, and I stay glued to the TV looking for updates, for positive stories among this tragedy....and I crochet-

-a new design - a scarf using the loveliest  pima cotton, Linen lace weight blend from Diamond Yarns Luxury collection called Pima Lino Lace....gorgeous stuff.  This will be my flood scarf.  

Flood Watch

I thought the Bow River was high and fast the other day when Libby and I walked the paths.  That was then.

Now, all those paths are underwater, along with a good portion of the city.  In the last 48 hours  a giant storm system dumped over 200 mm of rain on Southern Alberta, melted the snow pack, swelled the Bow and the Elbow and all their tributaries, which then breached the banks and berms and flowed right down the streets of the city, flooding the downtown core, along with several neighbourhoods, closing bridges and displacing over 100 thousand people.  It has been an unbelievable 2 days.  The Trans Canada highway is impassible going west .  Mud slides cover a portion, and Cougar Creek washed out another portion.  I was glued to the television set  most of yesterday watching it all.  It was hard to turn away, except to dash to the grocery store for supplies.

 Today, my city is still under an emergency watch as we wait for the Bow River to crest and hopefully start to recede. 
This has been an surreal experience, especially since my neighbourhood, where today the sun shines, is dry..  The ground feels like a soggy wet sponge but we are high and therefore not flooded.  We have been lucky here in Silver Springs. 

LIVE: Return to 'normal' in downtown Calgary could take weeks or months

This shot is from the Calgary Herald. 

The thing is, we are not finished yet.  More rain is on the way, although not the intense rain of the past couple of days, and the city remains under emergency alert.   All 14 bridges across the rivers are, if not closed, are partly closed.  And the brown, silty water roars too close for comfort underneath the bridge decks.

No one has seen this kind of disaster in the Calgary area - ever.  Not that we don't have floods, just not of this magnitude.  The cleanup is going to take quite a while once the water levels finally go down.  

 

 

 

 

Wild flowers on the Bow River

Finally, the wild flowers are blooming beside the river paths.  I thought it would never happen. 

Just look at these delicate colours...and the very placid lady bug sunning herself on a bright green leaf.

The Bow river is very high and fast these days.  All the side channels are pretty much filled up with water and some of the walking paths have temporarily disappeared .    We caught a bit of sunshine to walk and play in yesterday but the stormy, rainy weather is back in spades today. 
I must say that Calgarians don't do well with cloudy, rainy weather.  They get downright grumpy over it.  It is an interesting contrast to how they behave all winter with snow, blizzards and cold temperatures.  All that ice and snow they take in their stride, but rain and clouds are another unwelcome story entirely.    They crave sunshine and they don't seem to care if it is cold, as long as it is sunny.   This June is definitely trying everyone's patience around here. 

The Garden Apprentice- Part 2

I must say the little garden is coming on nicely - particularly the quack grass and the dandilions which seem to be thriving under the hot Alberta sun after last week's rain in spite of constant digging.

Actually other things are finally coming up too.  I'm thrilled to see the potato leaves springing up.  I had to purchase some soil to start hilling them.  The little potato barrel, while not very elegant, looks like it will be quite productive.  The deal with the barrel is, keep adding soil as the plants grow up until things start to flower - then just water it and let it work.

I found this great recipe for roasted potatoes that I'm going to try as soon as I have some baby potatoes.  I normally don't indulge in recipes here, but I figure, since I found this in a gardening magazine, it was fair game. 
So...take up to 24 baby potatoes (or so) - I planted Yukon Golds-, an oz of olive oil and mixed dried Italian herbs - toss the potatoes with the two other ingredients.   Thread said potatoes onto metal skewers and place the skewers on a hot grill for 15 minutes, being sure to turn every 5 minutes so those babies cook evenly. 
Remove the cooked baby spuds from the skewers, place on plates, drizzle with lemon juice, olive oil and salt and pepper and serve them up.  Doesn't that sound good.?  Especially so, I think, if the potatoes are freshly harvested from the little garden. Keep your fingers crossed on this.

We have now had our first hail storm - which did a bit of damage, but not too bad really.  It could have been much worse.  We do live under the threat of hail here.

The hail did shred most of the lovely blossoms off the sour cherry tree, cut holes in the hostas and sort of messed up the tomatoes which still haven't recovered.  I think what saved the garden from more damage was how slow the plants are growing due to the cool spring we are having. 

The lilac bush and most of the tulips survived the hail and the rain...oh, and I mustn't forget the wind storm that womped through here the other day.  You have to be tough.  That's all I can say.
Gardening here is definitely not for the faint of heart but it is fun.

On another small note.  Thank you all for your kind words about the passing of our dear wee Bella.  He was an awsome little guy, and we miss him.  Animals have a way of getting into your heart.  I think it's because they don't put any restrictions on the love they give - they just give it over and over.