Stars and Stripes forever

And by that I mean "OMG it took me forever to finish this freaking flag square!"

Whew.  The pattern was hard to follow, probably because I kept starting and stopping (and working on it through 3 Harry Pottters and the first Narnia movie..no wonder it felt so epic!), so I attempted to wing it.  Which resulted in thin stripes, fat stripes, 12 stripes....grrr.   

Dropping and picking up three different yarns was definitely a learning curve, too!

Frog and frog and frog...and Old Glory is finally done.   Albeit, a bit wonky.  Even with 39 stiches across the top and bottom, she still looks a bit trapzoidal.   Oh well, nothing a little border can't hide, right?   Uh...maybe not.    But eventually, she will be stitched into the Hot Mess Calendar Blanket, so I cant imagine a stitch or two of wonkiness will detract from this disaster of color and design, this nightmare of feng shui, this granny square afghan that would make granny cry.   

When the muse knocks...

Sometimes you just have to drop everything and answer the door. 

While browsing for Christmas ideas last night, I stumbled upon the crocheted eyeballs (best not to ponder that association too much, there's no accounting for post-midnight pattern browsing).  

My kids are just getting into Harry Potter mania and my daughter fell in love with the character of Alastor "Mad Eye" Moody after watching Goblet of Fire.

So on an otherwise lazy Sunday morning, instead of schoolwork or dishes, the muse instructed me to crochet a Mad Eye Moody eye patch.  And I listened.  

These are a few of my favorite things...

OK, fine they are Maria Von Trapp's favorite things.    I needed a costume for the Sound of Music Sing-Along at the Fox Theater in Atlanta this weekend and didnt feel like making a plus sized dirndl from curtain fabric or wearing a nun's habit.   A hat seemed the perfect One Sized Fits All solution. I had a great time hunting through thrift stores and craft stores (and one trip to Home Depot) to collect the Favorite Things with my kids.  I did manage to crochet the Schnitzel with Noodles and the Warm Woollen Mittens, so I can post it here on my crochet blog without being a total cheater.

So I present to you....The Hat of Awesome!

Raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens

Despite my children's repeated efforts, that doorbell does not ring.

Bright copper kettles, warm woolen mittens


Brown paper packages tied up with strings


These are a few of my favorite things

It's not as easy as you think to turn a miniature loaf of bread into an apple strudel.

Cream colored ponies, crisp apple streudels


Doorbells and sleigh bells, schnitzel with noodles


Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings


These are a few of my favorite things

Mitten pattern

Lyrics not included in Hat of Awesome:
[When the dog bites, When the bee stings, When I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things, And I don't feel so bad]





You like the schnitzel?  I'm proud of that!

 Freehand schnitzel.  No pattern.   Sorry.  I know you are heartbroken.

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes


Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes


Silver white winters that melt into springs  (how does one put this on a hat?)

These are a few of my favorite things