Allergy Editorial

I have to write something out of my heart this morning. I've been embroiled in a discussion in the comments of a video. As a crafter, before being diagnosed with food and environmental allergies, I would never have thought of this myself, but now being aware, I see why the FDA has mandates for labeling products. And it's a good thing for people like me and I will advocate for myself and the others like myself. 

Side note: Did you know that food allergies are considered a disability? 

I was watching someone make buttons out of avocado seeds. It was a interesting upcycle, that's why I stopped to watch it, cause my readers know that I'm ever into recycling, however,  I read most of the comments and nobody had mentioned allergies to avocadoes. I just so happen to have an allergy to avocados and have learned through experience that if you have an allergy to a food, it can also affect your skin. It can affect your breathing, if you have an asthma like I do. I've had asthma all my adult life. I didn't take it seriously as a young adult, until I learned you can die from these horrible diseases. 

I couldn't believe the callousness of some of the responses I got when I mentioned I was allergic to avocados. I was told I could have left that negativity off the comments and that allergies is not a societal thing. Yes, it's a societal thing, because I'm pretty sure I'm not the only person out there with an allergy to avocadoes. And it shows love, respect and compassion to those of us with allergies, if you make a garment as a gift for somebody with stuff that doesn't cause us to break out in hives. And if you are making a garment to sell to the general public, it should come with a label that explains what it was created with, so those of us with allergies will steer clear.

I've learned since my diagnosis, there are some strange allergies out there. And yes, you can even be allergic to water and sunlight. There is one I'm sure I have, but I wouldn't know how you would test for it except by demonstration in the allergist doctor's office. 

Most of my allergies were tested on the skin of my back with little pricks of the allergen put under the skin. There is also another test they can do with your blood to see if you are allergic to something. It's called an IgE test. The skin test I had was 75 skin pricks with a sharp pointy thing on my back the day I was tested and let me tell you, I had some itchy wheals or hives pop up. And some were surprises. 

It's an allergy to vibration. I sometimes get hives on the top of my arms when I crochet. At first I thought it might be an allergy to the yarn, but the yarn never touches that place on my forearms. Allergies are caused by the immune system thinking that food particle or environmental thing like pollen is a foreign invader like germs, so it's out to kill it by overwhelming it to snuff it out. 

And yes, I carry epi pens. I've gone to the ER with breathing difficulties before. I'm not real fond of needles, but I like breathing and living. I'm not ready to die just yet. So please, remember, if you make something, please label it with what it's made from, so that I don't itch or have my skin burnt from an unknown ingredient. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

Am I a Gudrun Girl? Yes and No!

Yes, I'm a Gudrun Girl as far as her fashion line goes! 

When I was diagnosed with drop foot several years ago and a leg brace was added to my wearing apparel, I discovered Gudrun Sjoden's clothing line on Pinterest. Just what I was looking for. Leggings plus fashionable, comfortable wearing apparel. I loved her bright clothing in the patterns I like most - calico type florals,  checks, dots, and stripes. 

No, because her clothing does not come in my size. 

So, I emulate her fashion as far as I am able. I do like black and white the most and so far, that's about all I've been able to find, clothing wise in my size that I can afford. I shop for my clothing at  1/2 of 1/2, thrift stores (have a couple of favorite spots), Walmart, and if on clearance or sale, online at Full Beauty Brands. Occasionally, friends will give me a bag of clothing if they know my size or accessories they think looks like me. 😁

Two other pluses that I had never thought of before until I discovered her clothing line was that you can wear a short sleeve dress all year long and then layer it during the winter. First time I was actually warm enough during the winter in my drafty old farmhouse cottage. Second is that you can wear different patterns together at one wearing, if you keep the clothing and accessories in all the same basic colors. 

The layering during the winter can be not only sweaters, but also long sleeve t-shirts over or under a dress. Long sleeve t-shirts can make a dress appear to be a skirt under the shirt or if you wear it under the dress, the dress looks like a jumper. Also what we used to call culottes,  can be worn over a pair of leggings and under a short tunic dress for another layer. You can wear decorative infinity scarves in the winter to keep your neck warm and necklaces in the summer to keep your neck cool.

What we call a sleeve-less tank-top summer dress can also be worn summer or winter. I don't like my batwings (extra skin under my upper arms) to show, so wearing sleeve-less dresses are out during the summer, however, I learned that I can wear a short sleeve top over it during the summer to make it appear as if I'm wearing a skirt and a long sleeve t-shirt under it during the winter as a jumper. 

I wear compression stockings and an orthopedic built-up shoe now instead the brace, although the built-up shoe is as stiff as the brace was. The compression socks I can buy come in two colors - black and beige. I do not like brown, so black it is! And the orthopedic shoes comes in -- guess what colors? You've got it, black and beige! 

So when I began to build my wardrobe, I chose seven (7) colors that go well with black - black and white, black and grey, black and red, pink, turquoise and lime green. I also chose 4 of my favorite patterns that I mentioned above. However, after shopping for several years pink, turquoise and lime green were hard to come by, so I've changed my colors again. I've kept the black and white, but also added red, white, and blue. Teal was the easiest blue-green color available, but it's not my favorite blue-green. Teal is on the green side of blue-green and turquoise is on the blue side.  So far, it's been easier to find the red, white, and blue, but I usually discard the garment if the fabric also has another color beyond the ones I have chosen, because I don't want to throw in another color into my mix. 

I pulled out everything in my closet and anything that didn't go with my colors or pattern choices went to the thrift store for somebody else to enjoy. It has taken some time to build up my wardrobe. 

I do have one piece of Gudrun Sjoden jewelry. No, it's not a necklace. See if you can spot it in the photos below.  Click on the photos to enlarge them. 

These are just a few of my favorite dresses. See how I can mix and match shirts with the tank/jumper dresses. I'm constantly scouting out apparel and accessories when I go shopping. 

And, my wardrobe may be doing some more changing in the near future. According to google, you must lose 10 to 15 pounds (about 1 stone, UK measurement) to change clothing sizes and I've lost nearly 25 pounds since the end of January. I'm currently on four medical diets - Possum Patty calls it the Freedom Diet - sugar-free (hypoglycemia), fructan-free (low-fodmap), caffeine, carbonation, citrus, dairy, mint, garlic/onion, tomato-free (GERD/gastritis), and the Mediterranean diet for fatty liver disease. It's been a balancing act, let me tell you. Just because it's gluten-free, doesn't mean it's sugar-free, but I let myself have a treat ever once in a while.  

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Brace Bling

A year and a half ago I was diagnosed with drop foot. My prescription was a steel brace attached to my  right shoe. I wondered how I could pretty it up, but didn't want to glue anything to the brace in case I got tired of it and then couldn't remove it.  So I saw these flowers at Pinterest and wondered if I had something here at home that would make something similar in my stash and yep, I did have something.  

I have no idea what I saved these pieces of Velcro from, but I measured the circumference of both my cane and my brace and I found two pieces that would work! 

If you want to make some Velcro pieces like mine,  overlap two pieces of Velcro about 3/4" inch so that the join is in the middle (mine have a stitched on tag board piece over the join which you don't have to have) with the loops on one side facing towards the back and the fabric that the loops attach to  faces towards the front. The whole length for the brace is 3 1/4" (inches) long and the piece for the cane is 4 1/2" (inches) long.  You can stitch or hot glue the Velcro pieces together. 

Next I found some flowers that were attached to wires.

I punched two holes in the cardboard with this teeny-tiny diameter hole punch . . .

and threaded the two wires through and pulled it tight. Then I twisted the wires closed and pushed them down into a spiral against the back of the Velcro strap, wrapped it around both my cane and brace to see how they fit and Viola! Almost instant bling! 

One flower. . . 

Or many! I could almost skip through a garden in these, don't you think? 😊

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20 Aug 2018

My cane flower didn't last long as it got knocked around too much, but I get compliments on my brace one frequently. I decided now that I'm using two canes because of vertigo and hip pain, I needed a station to park them at during the night. My husband found these Command - brand broom grippers at Walmart and I attached them to this cabinet next to my nightstand, so they are within easy reach when I get out of bed. And yes, I'll have to open both doors to get into the top cabinet if the canes are still attached, but that's no problem to me. 

Two tips I wanted to mention -- since January, I've been using a C-Pap machine for sleep apnea. (I also have a nebulizer for asthma). That's my c-pap up on my nightstand. I have a case for it and I take it when traveling as both are medical devices that I need.   I purchased an extension cord and that little stepping stool at Walmart in the children's department for $10.00 and poured some of the distilled water into a plastic water bottle with a tight fitting lid to take with us. The little stepping stool pops out as a little stand for my c-pap during the night if I sleep on the side of a motel bed without a nightstand. 

Also, the black cane's foam handle was beginning to split from wear and tear and we could not find a replacement. I saw a video at YouTube in which a lady had used tennis racket handle tape on her baby's stroller handle and yep, Walmart carries it back in the sporting goods department. I used a little daisy decorative duct tape to fasten the end down and I'll tell you, the tennis tape makes  a most comfortable handle over the top of the foam.

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21 May 2022

A lot of water has gone under the bridge since I wrote last. I no longer wear the brace, but do wear a built up shoe on the same side as I wore the brace. The built up shoe is as stiff as the brace was, but that's okay because now my hips are even and my back doesn't hurt as much as it used to.  My right leg is about 1/2 inch shorter than the left leg. 

And I've graduated to forearm crutches because, not only were the canes wearing out, but I also got tired of the canes falling over when I had to grab something.  And since I had to bend over to pick them up, I hoped that vertigo didn't strike me at the same time and I go splat! I love the forearm crutches (I call them my pogo sticks 'cause they have spring shocks in the legs) and I just purchased a bicycle flashlight for one of them. They stay on my arms like a bracelet when I let go to grab something. I've also gone to wearing a backpack. Had to try many on before I found one that fit me since I'm a BBW (big beautiful woman). I wore a cross-body purse for many years, but the left crutch kept bumping it as I took a step and knocking me off-balance. So had to get my thinking cap on and problem solve it. 

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You might be interested in reading these posts too and be sure to check out the label "adapt" over on the side menu for more articles: 

• Never Alone
• (off-site) Brace
• Walker Bags
• New and Improved Walker Bag
• Why I'm Refashioning My Wardrobe
• (off-site) Disabled Placard Paper Receipt Fold

Treasured Memories!

Jesus, sing along with me, "Precious Memories, how they linger . . ."

Jesus, do you remember where you slept when you were a boy and later as a man? Can you picture it in your mind, remember all the details of that place?  The sights, the sounds, the smells, the feel of your blankets and lumps where you lay?

I went to my grandmother's last night as I lay in my bed at home, nestled under a quilt grandma Maurine made for my high school graduation.

My inner eye and I roamed around in my grandmother's basement where we slept as kids during our summer break from school (we sometimes stayed a month during our three month break) and during our Christmas break (two weeks) and then upstairs in her second bedroom when I was sixteen. Do you remember that Jesus? I felt so grown up as I was allowed to visit my grandparents by myself and to travel to Dodge City, Kansas by train where they picked me up. Thank you for being with me, protecting me along the way. My mother never said anything, but I'm sure she was anxious until I made it there and they assured her I was okay when we called her from their house. I was excited and homesick all at the same time.

I miss grandma and Papa. Jesus, do you remember when I called him that? He was Papa until I think I was in high school and felt I was too old for such a childish name for him. I miss being able to visit them, but last night, I pushed past my emotions and looked around the rooms in my memory while I lay snugly under my quilt.

Will you come along with me as I remember grandma's basement? It was a wide open space, except for where the stairs came down into the third end of the room.  Grandma had grandpa build a little storage room under the stairs and shelves on the left side of the stair wall for her pretties. She would rotate them as she got tired of looking at them or when the seasons or holidays changed. On the right side of the stairs there were the white metal cupboards they removed from the kitchen in the old house before it was sold and moved into town.

Grandma told me they began housekeeping in a 2-room house, which was still standing the last time I was down at the farm, then they purchased a two story house in Elkhart, Kansas and moved it to their farm in the 1940s. On the plains of the Oklahoma panhandle and southwestern Kansas where wood for building was scarce, my mom said it was a common practice to remove whole buildings to a new site. After 20 years of living in that house, Grandpa decided to have a 2-bedroom ranch house built over a basement in 1962-63, thinking it would be easier for Grandma to keep house. 

Do you remember Jesus, that Grandma loved that old house as much I did? I don't know why she loved it, but I did because it was full of interesting nooks and crannies. It had a lot of character.

As I lay in bed, I swept my mind's eye around the room, feeling cozy and loved under my quilt. Beside me a few feet away, was Grandpa's office desk and chair. We kids loved that chair, do you remember why Jesus? We loved to sit in that wooden arts and crafts chair and spin each other just for the fun of it until mom would yell down the stairs and chase us out-of-doors to play. On the left side of Grandpa's desk was a bookcase where he kept his farm books mostly. After awhile, Grandpa brought home a huge metal safe to keep their photos and accounting books in. It was on the wall on the right side of the desk.

Remember the old living room furniture Grandma brought over from the old house – her scratchy old beige sofa, a braided area rug, an old blanket trunk, an old wooden kitchen chair with the black vinyl covered seat that wasn't fastened down and a end table arranged in a circle? In the corner, sat her old round oak dining room table. I loved that hefty pedestal table on huge claw feet and rollers as it could be pushed out from the wall a little if needed so all of us kids could crowd around (there was four of us and usually two or more cousins) to play games on it. Often times, when it was rainy or a blizzard blew in, we would play "house" down there. It was cool down there in the summer and warm in the winter.

Then there was the three double iron beds that we each slept in. One was mom's squeaky bed from when she was a girl. My sisters usually claimed that one, but my brother refused to sleep with me after he said I kicked him out of bed several times in a row in my sleep. Jesus, knowing my brother, he was probably being onery to me and I kicked him out in self-defense, but since I was asleep, I don't remember it. Jesus, did you have any pesky little brothers?

I remember the way the basement smelled, dusty. None of the basement walls or the floor were painted or sealed, so when we left, Grandma would cover the beds with plastic sheeting because that fine Oklahoma dirt would sift in through the basement windows, two on each wall whenever a storm would stir up.

Jesus, I felt so grown up as I lay in the upstairs bed in between the crisp white sheets where my parents usually slept when we came down during the Christmas holidays. Dad would take his two-week vacation time then and we would drive to our grandparents, usually during the night so that we kids slept on the way down in the back of the station wagon that mom and dad made up into a bed. Two at the top of the mattress and two at the bottom, with our legs and stocking feet meeting somewhere in the middle under the quilt. Sometimes I would just lay there, looking up at your beautiful night sky as the car rolled down the highway (eight hours one way). The sky didn't change much, but lower down, the telephone poles would flash by, one after the other. Thank you, Jesus, for that conjunction of Mars and Jupiter. There was much speculation that this was the star the wise men saw that year. Thank you for that precious memory.

Jesus, remember that new oak bedroom set that Grandma purchased in town when she moved into the new house for the second bedroom? The double bed was stationed under an aluminum drapery-framed window. Instead of opening from the bottom as our windows at home did, these slid open from the side. They were a wonder. My grandparents had air-conditioning, but sometimes they would shut it off during the night and open the windows to let in the fresh night-time breezes through the screen. Their air was dry, not humid like where we lived. The windows were shut before the heat of the day began.

The walls were painted white and the trim around the windows and doors were stained oak to match the bedroom furniture. Opposite the bed on the right side, was another window that looked toward the back of the house where the cement patio was. I always wanted a covered concrete patio like theirs. Their back door was constantly in use, unlike the formal front door.  Thank you, Jesus, for providing a home for my family with a small covered concrete porch.

Across the room, at the end of the bed, was the clothes closet and the exit door to the hallway. There was a beige carpet on the floor that led out to the hallway. And, facing me, as I curled up in the bed, was the oak bureau with mirror. As a good hostess, grandma kept two drawers empty so visitors would have some place to stash their stuff and a closet full of hangers. I can remember waking up at the crack of dawn and watching the sun come up, sometimes falling back to sleep until I heard my grandparents stirring in their bedroom. Once, grandpa, laughing, came to shake me awake. I guess I was talking in my sleep about horses! Jesus, the things I did in my sleep! I was rather embarrassed! LOL! Jesus, did you do anything funny in your sleep?

Jesus, I want to tell you  thank you for allowing me to have a relationship with my grandparents. Many of my friend's grandparents lived too far away or some had died before they were born, so they didn't know what they were missing. Grandma Maurine and I were close like this (holding two fingers up side by side); she was my best bud and a kindred spirit. All through my growing up years we corresponded by letter throughout the year.

Do you remember, Jesus, when my grandparents asked you to come into their hearts, to wash them whiter than snow? I bet your angels were rejoicing in heaven the day they did.

Grandma Maurine met Papa at a campmeeting in Topeka, KS. I don't recall how my paternal grandmother met my grandfather, but they were married in a pastor's home before Sunday School began. I expect that's why I'm a believer today, because they influenced my parents and thus me to follow Christ.

Remember Timothy, Jesus? He had a godly grandmother too. It says so in 2 Timothy 1:5 --

"I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also."

Paul told him to guard the good deposit, all the good reading from the scriptures he received from his grandmother and his mother, from infancy up, and Paul's discipleship in evangelism.

I thank you Jesus, for the treasured memories of my grandparents. See you in heaven, Grandma Maurine and Papa John. Until then. . .

More to Read:

Findagrave, # 15079870 and 15079845

Newest Cell Phone Pocket

Got a new phone 'cause my old slider phone was being phased out and of course, I had to make a new phone pocket for it because my favorite black and white checked one was too narrow. I found some black and white chenille Trait-Tex spool yarn by Pacon Corporation  (abt. baby weight) at a thrift store and bought it to make my new phone pocket. I made it in the round with a size G crochet hook using these directions, but left off the belt loop on the back and made it to wear around my neck as a "necklace" ornament and added fringe to the bottom of the pocket. I wanted a heart on the front, but the crocheted heart I made didn't suit me, so I stitched on a bright red felt heart instead with black embroidery thread, which I like much better.

Why I'm Refashioning My Wardrobe!

In December, a new-to-me foot doctor diagnosed me with drop foot. When I herniated a disc in my lower back several years ago, I was also  diagnosed with arthritis and chronic vertigo at the same time (read story here), I was told just after that I could develop drop foot, that it would be progressive and permanent from damaged nerves near my spine, however, the doctor I had then, did not tell me what to look for, so I had no idea I was developing it. So between the last of  December 2015 until March of this year, I was getting fitted for a leg brace, new insoles and a shoe with a lift.

Isn't it pretty? I was told by a friend  at church who had to wear a brace for a while after foot surgery that I would  need to wear my pants tucked into the brace to keep the top of the brace from rubbing my leg raw as I walked, so the day of my last fitting, I wore a pair of leggings. However, only having two pairs of leggings, and many other jersey and jean britches in my wardrobe, I discovered what worked and didn't. A couple of descriptions come to mind when describing what happens when wearing regular slacks -- "getting ready for high water on one side with a muffin top at the knee" or "poofy short golf pants." The brace cuff moves up and down with each step and the pant leg creeps up. My husband couldn't help but laugh the first time it happened as he walked over to help his damsel in distress yank them down. grin!

So I decided I needed more leggings, however, since our budget is on the lean side after brace, I spent some time shopping at 1/2 of 1/2, looking for leggings in my size (one navy pair haul), at Pinterest and YouTube looking for ideas of what I could wear with them on top.  I'm a BBW, want to be modestly dressed and I discovered that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the lagenlook fashion, but it's one thing to wear all those layers in the winter to stay warm, but we're coming into our summer season here where it is hot and humid and I have never handled the heat well, so I'm having to put on my thinking cap to have the layered look without the added clothing.

So I'm gonna share some tutorials I'll be using to refashion my wardrobe  and maybe it will help you too. I've got one outfit made so far and will be adding in more ideas and tips to this post so come back to see all the additional photos, tips, and tutorials.

ONE:

1st video: How to Wear Skinny Jeans and Leggings at 40, 50 and Beyond

2nd video: How to Alter Pants | Wide to Skinny Legs

Blog Tutorial: Refashion baggy yoga pants into svelte leggings tutorial

3rd video: DIY How To Make a Top from 2 Men's Shirts

 4th video: No-sew Infinity Scarf out of an old T-shirt  

 

So here's the aqua t-shirt infinity scarf I made out of the bottom of the shirt.  The top half of the t-shirt was made into a peplum shirt with the fabric that's underneath the scarf. I found 4 yards of the cotton material at the thrift store for about $4.00. I bought it because the flowers almost matched my t-shirt. Also the peachy colored leaves? reminded me of those molded, scented sawdust roses we used to get at touristy gift shops for one's dresser drawers. Remember those? As I stitched the fabric up, I noticed how transparent it was, not the modest look I was going for, so I cut the bottom off of a white stained t-shirt and made a sandwich of all three materials when I sewed the gathered peplum to the aqua shirt. It nicely hides my tummy skin and the stains don't show under the patterned fabric.  And I'll be using the white top part for another shirt.

Update: I wore this outfit Saturday because we were celebrating our wedding anniversary. After being married to my guy for some 30 years I can usually tell when he likes something and when he doesn't and he doesn't like this one.  I don't know whether it's the added peplum material or the design of the outfit, but he was fussing with it the whole time we were out. The newer material tends to bunch around my middle even though I've been using a  softener sheet in the dryer and he was yanking it down in back every time I got out of the car. The pants and shirt were given to me so the only money I've put into this outfit was the material and thread, say about $5.00. Being as how this outfit was my experiment (how many times did Edison have to try different filaments in order to get his light bulb to work?), I'm going to chalk this one up to experience and take it to the thrift store, giving me more room for clothes that will work for me. grin!

TWO:



Blog Tutorial: Asymmetrical T-shirt sides

I measured the width of my cut-off T-shirt from side seam to side seam, then doubled that measurement for the amount of material I needed for the gathered "skirt" front of my shirt and did that again for the back part. I didn't make a pattern for the handkerchief hem side, but just folded my material in half that I wanted use for the sides, added 5 inches to the center of the piece and cut to that point. Then I sewed all the pieces together to make the continuous peplum "skirt", gathered at the top, and sewed it to the shirt. 

One thing I especially like about the lagenlook style is that it focuses on long lines because it's slimming, so it's perfect for us dumpy people. That's why I chose to piece together the skirt in long stripes and added the sides in a dark color, but you'll notice I have a piece of my favorite black and white check; I couldn't leave it out! I'll be wearing this shirt with black leggings.

Update: I've worn this shirt once or twice and the handkerchief hem at the two side corners are beginning to curl up, so thought a weight might keep them from doing that. I went to Wal-Mart and I found various fishing sinker weights in different designs in the sporting department, but liked these as there was a "loop" I could use to stitch it to the underside of the hem and they were only a dollar in cost for a package of six. So far, so good! 

Update: Sigh! One of the weights has already been torn off. Seems like I just can't win some days!





 THREE:

When I began looking into the lagenlook style, I knew I had some dresses that might work. I inherited some clothing when my aunt passed away, but I haven't worn the dresses for awhile because hose in my size was so dear, so I dug them out and started pairing them with a pair of black leggings that I do have.  I found the infinity jersey scarf and the two necklaces at a thrift store.  I didn't pay more than $3.00 apiece for the scarf or any of the necklaces and I looked for the longest ones they had. Which necklace do you like the best on the orange floral dress on the right? I tried several different necklaces, but thought the ones matching the leggings' color looked best.

5th video: How to sew a Mini Tissue Pocket Holder (I'm gonna make one for my purse and several for gifts out of my fabric scraps.)

  

FOUR: 

I've been looking at my shirts and some of  them are getting rather shabby looking, so when I ran across this video, I thought aha! I know what I can do with the odds and ends I cut off  my refashioned tops and other t-shirts that's more fit for the rag bag than on me -- make something! So I'm going to roll up balls of t-shirt yarn as I go, then I'll share with you what I make with them, so come back!



6th video: How to make t-shirt yarn by Alma Stoller  (I like how she stretches the fabric so that it curls before rolling it into a ball).

7th video: Joining Fabric Strips without Sewing (Oops! I thought sure I had cut the beginning strip off correctly, but alas, the strips came off in circles. Here's a video to fix that by joining the strips together using this method, but first snip the circles that fall off in one place to make long strips).

I have this certain friend named Elizabeth who says she likes to use bed sheets for making clothing, because not only the yardage is so large, but also because they are soft and cool, so I decided to do that too. I scouted around  several thrift stores, found the perfect sheet with a floral pattern, plus a curtain valance with a similar pattern, cut a peplum out and was getting ready to sew it to a red shirt when I noticed a hole in the back of the shirt. I had cut the shirt at an angle to skip a hole in the front, so when I saw the hole in back, I was a little surprised. I tugged it upright, away from the peplum I had begun to pin to it and the material ripped clear to the armpit. So no red shirt -- I shall be adding it to the rag balls. Sigh!

So anyway, since I won't be getting a new red shirt, I decided to continue mending my aunt's dresses (buttons, seams, necklines, etc.) and matching them to my existing legging wardrobe, since I needed clothing to pack in a suitcase (we left town for Decoration Day). Here's some of the matches I came up with:
 You should be able to recognize this dress. Hubby and I decided the black and orange was decidedly too Halloween-ish. I found another jersey infinity scarf in tan and white stripe and it matched my newly sewn leggings perfectly.

 One of the bad things about rayon is that it sometimes frays too easily and escapes sewn seams, so I had to repair the neckline on this dress with a bit of black bias tape that matched the black center of the flowers. Matching black leggings and I'm all set!  

 I had to repair a broken button at the top of this dress and I found out that purple, dark royal blue, and aqua leggings will match this dress. Another thing I don't like about rayon is that it has to be ironed every time it gets washed and hung dry. But it's cool like those sheets Elizabeth likes!

 And last but not least . . . one that although it is cotton that needs ironing, it's gonna be a favorite! Guess why? grin!

Video 8: DIY how to sew an infinity scarf  

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21 May 2022

Since a doctor replaced the brace with a built up shoe,  I could go back to wearing slacks, but I think I have found my style. I like dresses with leggings. Now if I could just get Woman Within to make matching jersey dresses and leggings like Gudrun Sjoden, I'd be all set! 

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You might be interested in reading these posts too:

• Never Alone
• Brace Bling
• Walker Bags
• New and Improved Walker Bag

Creative Cousin's Cell Case

I have such a creative cousin. Her name is Joyce and she sent me a photo of a project she crocheted and I just had to share. *smile* She said she threaded all the beads onto the crochet thread before she began, then measured her phone and crocheted away. Isn't it pretty? I can just see this in black with white beads or white with black beads too!

A Patriotic Cell Phone Pocket



I got an idea to make a patriotic phone pocket. It follows the basic directions for the striped pocket (#5) up half-way, then goes to a solid.

# 8 Pocket Supplies and Directions:

Supplies:

* Boyds Crochet Hook, size D

* Aunt Lydia's Fashion 3 Crochet Thread . 150 yds of Blue Hawaii color. (Note: I wanted navy blue and a tan thread, but the three stores I visited did not carry those colors, so will have to make do with what I could find.)

* Aunt Lydia's Fashion 3 Crochet Thread. 150 yds of Scarlett color.

* Red Heart Fashion 3 Crochet Thread. 125 yds of White.

* 1 safety pin or 1 stitch keeper

* Tape measure or ruler.

* Scissors

* Large-eyed yarn needle. (I prefer a slender blunt-end steel needle.).

* Sewing needle and thread to match

* 1, either red, white, or blue button. I chose white..

Directions:

Follow the directions for number (#5) phone pocket. Begin with the red thread.

Step 1

: I chained 32 for my phone, but I'm making phone pocket for a friend in this same pattern. She has a T-mobile cell phone which is 3 inches wide x 5 1/2 inches long x approximately 1/2 inch deep. I chained 40 for her phone. She has a plastic gel skin on her phone which adds a little

bulk, so I didn't want the pocket too snug. Catch end of chain, ss together, ch. 1 and make a single crochet in each of the back loops of each chain around. SS into top of beginning sc, ch 1.

TIP: As you are crocheting this first row, watch that you are not twisting the chain. If you get to the end of the row and you find your fabric is twisted, you'll have to unravel it back to where the twist begins and sc to the end correctly.

Step 2: Make a sc in each sc of last row. When you get to end of row, ch 1 and repeat this row until you have a total of 5 rows. At the end of row five, ss into beginning st, attach white thread, dropping the red thread towards the back. Do not end off as you will be picking the thread up and weave it into the inside of the fabric as we did in the black and white striped phone pocket.

Step 3: Ch 1 with the white thread and sc into first stitch and all around row. Repeat this row 4 more times, catching the red thread into the beginning stitch by crocheting over it, then drop it to the back when making 2nd stitch in the row.

Step 4: Since you have been weaving the red thread into the beginning of each row, it should be easy for you to start crocheting with it again. With white thread, ss into beginning sc with ss, snug up loop, dropping white thread under red towards the back and ch 1 with the red thread. Make a sc into first sc of last white row and in each sc of last row. Repeat for 4 more rows, catching white as you did for the red.

Step 5: White band. End white off and weave in ends.

Step 6: Red band. End red off and weave in ends.

Step 7: Attach blue and single crochet blue until it measures 2 1/2 inches. To finish the fabric, rsc around top of blue to make a rope like finish. I'm not making the button loop as I believe the gel skin she has on her phone will not allow it to fall out of the pocket as easily as if it was slick plastic like my phone. Whipstitch bottom end together with red thread.

Step 8: Make handle. I made it as long as mine. If that's too long, she can tie a knot in the end of it.

Star: To make star, ch 5. Catch end ch and make a ss into it to make a circle. Ch 1 and make 13 sc into circle. Make a ss into first sc and ch 1. Sc into same sc that you ss'ed into. Sc again in same space. Make 2 sc into each space until you come to the end of the row. SS and ch 1. Make a sc in first space, repeat 4 more times. Ch 1 and turn. Dec two stitches by sticking hook into 2 spaces and pull up a loop, then pull another loop through all three hoops on hook. Sc across the rest of the stitches to the end, ch 1, turn. Continue to dec on first two stitches in each row, until you come to a point and end off, leaving enough thread to attach point to fabric of bag.

Attach thread and make another point. Continue until all five points are made. Sew star to bag and a button to center of star.

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#9 A Busy Bee Mobile Phone Pocket

Supplies:

* Boyds Crochet Hook, size D

* Aunt Lydia's Fashion 3 Crochet Thread . 150 yds in black, yellow, & white..

* 1 safety pin or 1 stitch keeper

* Tape measure or ruler.

* Scissors

* Large-eyed yarn needle. (I prefer a slender blunt-end steel needle.).

* Sewing needle and thread to match

* 3/4 inch white buttons and 2 smaller black buttons for eyes

Directions:

Follow the directions for number (# 5) phone pocket. Begin with black thread.

Step 1: Begin with chaining as many stitches as you need (Note: I chain 32 for my phone.), Complete chain by slip-stitching into first chain to make a circle and single-crochet in the top of each chain. To complete row, slip-stitch into first sc of row, ch 1, then sc around again to make 2nd row. Continue until you have 5 rows for one stripe and enough rows to cover your phone plus 1 inch. Follow (# 5) directions for finished edge and neck loop also.

Step 2: Sew on black button eyes and whip-stitch bottom closed.

Wings = Divide the number of your beginning chains in half to make beginning chains for wings. Mine is 16. Chain that in white. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (15 sc). Turn work so that bottom of ch is facing up and sc across the bottom of the ch (15 sc). Turn work and ss into beg sc.

Step 2: Ch 3. Make 2 dc into first sc. Make 15 sc across 1st row. Ch 3 and dc in same stitch. Next stitch, 3 dc, then sc in each remaining stitches. When you crochet the last sc, ch 3, then make 2 dc in same stitch. Connect to beg ch with a slip-stitch, chain 1. Sc across last row. When you come to the middle stitch between the two sets of 3 dc, increase (inc) work by crocheting 3 sc into that stitch, then continue making 1 sc into each stitch round. Do the same at the other end. Connect to beg sc with slip-stitch.

Step 3: Ch 3, then make 2 dc in same stitch; 1 dc in next stitch, then another set of 3 dc in next stitch after that. Sc across the row till you get near next end, then make 5 sets of 3 dc with 1 dc between. Sc across row and leave enough stitches at end to make 3 sets of dc with 1 dc between. Connect to beg. ch with slip-stitch.

Step 4: Ch 3, make a dc in each dc until you get to center end of wing and inc by two dc in 1 stitch, and a sc in each sc around. Connect to beg ch with slip-stitch, and fasten off. Weave ends in. Cut a piece of thread about 1 yard long and thread on yarn needle. Fold wing piece in half to find center, then make a running stitch along that line, leaving a knotted tail a few inches long to tie off. Gather the wing fabric along running stitch and wind string around center several times. Tie off with end of tail on front of wing fabric, then sew on back of "bee" near top third of pocket at center back. Tip: I found it helpful to fold wings in half and whip-stitch under wings a couple of times. Be sure not to catch front in stitches. Fasten off and weave both tails in.

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# 10 Rainbow Stripe Mobile Phone Pocket

Another friend ordered a rainbow striped pocket , so I'm making it like my black and white (# 5) pocket in many colors except I'm adding some nubby popcorn stitches in the third row of each stripe.

Supplies:

* Boyds Crochet Hook, size D

* Aunt Lydia's Fashion 3 Crochet Thread . 150 yds in a variety of colors.

* 1 safety pin or 1 stitch keeper

* Tape measure or ruler.

* Scissors

* Large-eyed yarn needle. (I prefer a slender blunt-end steel needle.).

Directions:

Follow the directions for number (#5) phone pocket. Begin with the any color thread.

Step 1: I chain 32 for my phone and this friend's phone is approximately the same size as mine. Begin with chaining as many stitches as you need, complete chain by slip-stitching into first chain to make a circle and single-crochet in the top of each chain. To complete row, slip-stitch into first sc of row, ch 1, then sc around again to make 2nd row.

Step 2: Third row = begin third row like first two rows. Make five sc, then a popcorn stitch. To make a popcorn stitch, make five double-crochets in a single-crochet in row below. Turn work, make a slip-stitch into beg dc st. Turn work back to 3 row and sc 5 times into 2nd row. Continue until you come to last few stitches of row (Note: I have enough space to make four sc, so I'm making 3 sc and 1 popcorn stitch in last sc before I sl-st into the beg of row.)

Step 3: Sl-st into beg sc of third-row. Ch 1 and continue sc this row, treating the popcorn stitch below as one sc. (Tip: push popcorn stitch down with your thumb and you'll be able to see the connecting sl-st at top of stitch to sc into.) Make 5th row in sc, complete and end off.

Step 4: Attach next color and repeat steps 1-4 until you have enough stripes of color to complete your pocket.

Step 5: Neck Loop = attach color to side and make a neck loop of several inches of chain (abt. 30"), then attach to opposite side of pocket with slip-stitch. Sc back across chain to opposite side. Continue sc around top of pocket, pushing neck loop to inside when you get to that point, until you return to beginning point. Attach with slip-stitch, then end off. Weave end into fabric.

Step 6: Whip-stitch end of tube with matching thread. Fasten off and weave in ends.