Monday, July 11, 2016

Crocheted Rag Rug Part 2

Today, I started on my crocheted rag rug.

First, I crocheted a long row of chain stitches, using a size N (10 mm) crochet hook:

Chain Stitch
I made enough chain stitches until I had a fairly long length:

Long Strip of Chain Stitches
It was about 34 inches long:

Length of Row of Chain Stitches
Then, I crocheted double crochet stitches, one in each chain stitch, starting with the 4th chain stitch from the hook:

First Row of Double Crochet
When I got to the end of the row of chain stitches, I crocheted five double crochet stitches into the last chain stitch to take the turn:
Turning at the End
Then, I did double crochet stitches all the way down the other side.  I will continue to go round, doing double crochet stitches into each stitch in the previous row.  When I get to the end, I will crochet three double crochet stitches into the stiches at the corners to take the turn. 

I had a fairly quiet, relaxed day.  Daughter went back to Berkeley, today.  I dropped her off at the airport, watched some Wimbledon tennis and Olympics trials and news, of course, on TV, and started crocheting the rag rug.  My neighbor called me in the morning and one of my cousins called in the evening.  Daughter had a safe flight and a safe trip from the airport to her apartment.  We video chatted, later in the evening.

Today's decluttering:


Ten Additional Books

"On the tenth day of July Bless did declutter
Ten additional books"

I loved Noddy books when I was a child.  When my daughter was a little child, I asked one of my cousins who lived in Britain to buy me some Noddy books for daughter.  She enjoyed reading them, but she was never as "into" Noddy as I had been.  I held on to the books because they reminded me of my childhood, but it is time to let them go. 

Today, I am grateful for:

- Daughter had a safe trip back to Berkeley
- A quiet, restful day
- Time to do hobbies
- Pleasant weather
- Phone calls from neighbor and cousin

How was your Sunday?  


16 comments:

  1. I'm looking forward to seeing the rag rug when it's finished. Sounds like you had a lovely relaxing weekend with your daughter. Do you get a break from the radiation treatment on Saturday and Sunday?

    I was a Secret Seven and Famous Five fan. Even now if I find myself in the children's section of a bookshop I'll pick an Enid Blyton book up and have a quick read. Takes me right back to a really happy time of my childhood.

    No pleasant weather here today I'm afraid. It's pouring down and looks to be set in for the day. Never mind. We had a fairly good weekend so can't complain. xx

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    1. Suzanne, yes, I get a break from the radiation treatment on Saturday and Sunday; treatment is only from Monday through Friday. Wish you could share some of your rain with us! No rain in our forecast for at least the rest of this week.

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  2. The crocheted rag rug looks fabulous. I'm looking forward to seeing it grow. Does the fabric not rub your fingers? X

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    1. Hi Jules, no the fabric doesn't rub my fingers. But I am thinking I could have cut the strips a little narrower. It would have made it easier to pull through the loops.

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  3. It's hard for me to let books go. Well, it's not hard when I am weeding at my job (I'm a librarian) but it is hard for me to let go of books in my own personal library. I can remember why (usually) I bought them and the hopes and dreams associated with each book. Sometimes it feels like I am giving up those hopes and dreams when I give up the book. But I am definitely getting better and becoming less sentimental about these things. Still. A big book declutter is probably a ways in the future for me since there are so many other things for me to take care of!

    Thank you for the continuing motivation to complete this challenge! :)

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    1. Books are hard for me to let go of, too. Which is why I got my daughter to go through her books! Her way of thinking is, "I haven't read that book in X amount of time, I am not likely to read that book again, I can get rid of it". My way of thinking is, "I haven't read that book in X amount of time, I'd better re-read it before I get rid of it!" :D

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  4. The rug is going to be beautiful..

    Proud daughter got back to Berkly safely.

    I had a quiet Sunday too. Went to church ,then we went by Popeyes for a chicken dinner. Came home and and read some, caught up on some blogs. Just relaxing.
    Hope you have a good Monday.

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    1. Judy, sounds like you had a lovely Sunday. Hope you have a blessed week.

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  5. Kudos for maintaining your de-clutter plan. I notice you are relinquishing long held treasures and I keep telling myself to MMOB but wonder if this long period of self imposed isolation is uncomfortable. Perhaps you are considering different, future, accommodation. Perhaps thinking towards retirement.

    Bad Honour needs to MMYOB and stop watching Antique Roadshow...feel free to delete


    I've no idea how you dispose of listings but wonder if British grannies, living in the USA might like to buy 'Noddy' books for their grandchildren. Would you consider looking at/daughter/ /relative or friend on your behalf...ebay or book re-seller to identify desirability or interest?

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    1. You are very perceptive, Honour. Yes, I am letting go of some long held items. I feel the time is right for me to do so. No doubt my present cancer diagnosis and reminder of my mortality has something to do with it.

      Yes, I do plan to retire eventually. But, not for at least another 2 years, health permitting. At present, I've no plans to change my accommodations, etc.

      I've been putting aside items for donating. I see that there are some Noddy books for sale on-line, but I don't think I'll go that route. It's probably more work than I am prepared to do, especially at this time.

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  6. I agree, Bless, that it is probably more effort than you need, to advertise your books on-line. I admire those who sell through e-Bay, but I just don't want the bother.
    A lot of my downsizing is due to age, can't make my mind up if I am going to live to be 100 like my grandmother did, in which case I will have just over 25 years to go, or if "the plan" for me is something shorter! But I do know that if we ever have to move to a smaller place through mobility problems or just plain old age, I'm better off getting rid of stuff now while I'm able to do so.

    I'm amused by the new crop of young chipmunks. There are 3 I see regularly, one in particular has clued in to the fact that there is a lady who seems to like to throw peanuts onto the porch. He has to be told that I don't feed at the side entrance (while hanging laundry), or the deck, where we eat on fine days. He hasn't realized yet that he has pouches, and only picks up one peanut in the shell, whereas one hardened old chipmunk used to stuff one in each side of his mouth, another just in the middle, and still manage to wedge one in front!

    You are continually in my prayers.
    Bushlady

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    1. Bushlady, thank you for keeping me in your prayers. I appreciate that.

      No doubt your young chipmunks will learn "the ropes" before too long. They sound so cute! I really enjoy reading about your wildlife encounters. Thank you for sharing them with me. :)

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  7. I love how your rug is coming along. :) Thank you for sharing how you are making it. I may have to try my hand at one. I'm wondering if old t-shirt type sheets would work. I would love to have one made of that under my feet at the kitchen sink knowing that it would catch drips and be soft and warm under my feet and that I could just throw it in the washing machine when it got dirty. :)

    I'm glad your daughter made it home safely. What a blessing to have had here there to help you and for her to go through her books. I'm a former teacher and librarian so books are very hard for me to get rid of. They ones I have read are old friends and the ones that are waiting to be read are new friends. At least that is the way I look at things. :)

    Be blessed my friend. :)

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    1. Debbie, I am sure the sheets will work well; they'll be easier to crochet, too, as they'll be stretchy, unlike the cotton fabric I am using. There'll be more "give" and the rug will be soft and cushion-y underfoot.

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  8. You are doing so well parting with sentimentsl items, Bless! I love your straightforward approach. Had never heard of Noddy books ... So cute!

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    1. Thanks, Carolyn. It's taken me awhile, but I seem to have reached a stage where I am OK with letting go of at least some of them.

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