Awareness Bracelet

Blue Cloud Crochet is proud to present to you a new pattern! This one is for purchase, instead of for free. Why? Because, as I mentioned in the previous post, a dear friend of mine has passed away. She suffered from a stroke. Other relatives have passed on in the same manner. My grandmother also has suffered from a stroke, and congestive heart failure. So has another dear teacher that taught both myself and my husband. The list of folks I care for who have suffered from heart complications goes on.

Even I have a heart murmur. (Yeah, it's kind of like Laman and Lemuel. Bad Mormon humor. I'm not sorry.) The murmur is minor, but my doctor still keeps a close eye on it because of my family history of heart disease.

The thing is, though, heart disease and stroke are definitely not just problems that affect my family. They run rampant everywhere. Be aware of your body. Go to the doctor for regular check-ups.

The pattern I've created is an awareness bracelet, in memory of my dear friend that recently passed (her name was L.A.). It's also in honor of my Nana, our relatives, our family, as well as our friends who have struggled with heart disease and stroke.

With every purchase of either a bracelet or the pattern for it, 10% will be donated to the American Heart & Stroke Association.

Here are some photos of the finished product:

You can purchase the pattern here, or the item itself here. Again 10% of all proceeds will be donated to the American Heart & Stroke Association. Thank you for your support!

Happy Stitching! xo

Fire & Rain

Have you ever had a dear friend pass away?

I haven't. That is, until yesterday. Sure, I've known others who have passed away before, but we weren't necessarily close. I wasn't even, honestly, super close to this lady. She just helped save mine and my daughter's lives, is all. She also photographed mine and my husband's wedding just this past June.

Have you ever sympathized or empathized with someone that you physically hurt from the sadness?

My heart aches for her husband.

She died of complications following a stroke from which it seemed she was healing. I want each and every one of awesome you to be aware that strokes often happen without notice, and can steal your life away in an instant. Sure, LA is in a better place, and is without pain now. But you are here. You are living. You are awesome and you have so much to live for.

Think of the ones you love. Think of how much they love you. Be grateful, awesome you.

Be on the lookout for a new product coming to the shop in honor of my friends and family that have suffered from strokes and heart disease. 10% of all the proceeds from this item will be donated to the American Heart & Stroke Association.

Happy stitching, my loves. xo

Neko Ear Warmers

My mind, recently, has been on Japan and its culture, as well as on Halloween. My daughter has discovered Sailor Moon, and I have been very happily re-watching all of the episodes with her. The series brings back so many childhood memories for me. My best friend from elementary school is half Japanese. I vividly recall watching episodes of the anime not yet released in the U.S. with her in Japanese, and pretending to be sailor scouts ourselves. She is now in Japan, teaching English to youngsters. I couldn't be happier for her!

In Japan, cats are very beloved. Sailor Moon itself has two cats in it: Luna and Artemis. With Halloween just a bit over two months away, I've had cute crochet hats and ear warmers on the brain. I've already made a pumpkin hat that I'm very proud of. You can see more photos and purchase a custom made beret here. I used an already existing pattern for the hat itself. However, every other little bit it (the stem, leaf, and vine) I stitched together on the fly. Making up those few bits really got my creative juices flowing. The leaf I made for the hat really almost looks like a cat ear, right?

This got me to thinking: why not write my own pattern for a cat-eared ear warmer? I wish I had not attached my ears so far apart, but the pattern is very quick and easy. Enough of me blabbing, though. I got to work and wrote the pattern for the cat-ear ear warmer ("Neko Ear Warmer"). I'm even posting it for free below, just because I want to see how many people actually make it. (If you do, you must send me photos! Please?) If you don't want to go through the trouble, or don't know how to crochet, you can always purchase a custom-made one from my Etsy shop. If you do make the pattern, though, please don't sell it, since it's copyright BlueCloudCrochet. The published pattern is just for fun! Happy stitching! xo

Neko Ear Warmer

Yarn weight: medium worsted (4) (10 ply)

Suggested hook: H (8-5.00 mm)

Notions: tapestry needle

Size: adult

Gauge: 6 hdc = 2 in. 5 rows = 2 in.

Abbreviations:

                Ch = chain

                Sc = single crochet

                Hdc = half double crochet

                Dc = double crochet

                Tr = triple crochet

                Sl st = slip stitch

BAND

Ch. 70

Row 1: hdc in 3^rd ch from hook & each ch across

Row 2: ch 2 (counts as 1^st hdc) hdc across (69 st.)

Row 3 – 7: repeat row 2

Row 8: ch 1, sc in ea. hdc across. Finish off. (69 st.)

Sl st in foundation ch. Ch 1. Sc across. Finish off, leaving a long tail for sewing. (69 st.)

Fold piece in half, & sew together using tapestry needle.

EARS (make 2)

Make a magic circle, ch 1.

Round 1: in magic circle, 2 sc, 2 hdc, 2 dc, 3 tr, 2 dc, 2 hdc, 2 sc, sl st to join. Pull string from magic circle to tighten to desired tautness.

Rnd 2: ch 1. Do not turn. Sc in same st as join. Sc in next st. 2 sc in next 2 st, sc in next 3 st, 3 sc in next st, sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next 3 st, sl st to join.

Rnd 3: sl st in next 2 sc, ch 1. Sc in same st, ch 1. [sc, ch 1] 8 times. [sc, ch 1, sc] in next st. ch 1. [sc, ch 1] 7  times. Sc in next st. sl st in next st. finish off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Attach each ear to desired locations on band.