A New Way to Look at Sheep Ornaments and Other Things

It pays to tell others about what you're doing sometimes.

The other day I was enjoying the Yarn Harlot's blog, and she had a picture of an old-fashioned, blown glass sheep ornament on her tree, with a link to where to buy one. I was telling my husband about how the linked ornament was sold out, and he had a great idea: make the sheep in my Nativity Set an ornament to sell. I think that I could sell quite a few, if only it weren't so close to Christmas.
During the new year, in my spare time, I'll be making as many as I can for next Christmas. I also plan on adding a donkey, shepherds, wise men, and camels to the Nativity Set.
At work I was telling a colleague about the whole amigurumi-style animals I was making, and she had a good idea, too. But I'll save it for when the design is realized and I have pictures.
I often get good ideas for creative Christmas presents too close to the day to actually accomplish them reasonably. It's not quite close enough yet for that good idea to hit, but I'm looking forward to them, now that I'm thinking a year ahead instead of staying up past midnight to make whatever it's going to be.

In other news, I've hired a college student to help me turn Mes Amis into a non-profit corporation. That puts me one step closer to accomplishing my goal, which I described in an earlier entry.

Sometimes I don't know where an idea comes from at all. I've been teaching a medical ethics class to nursing students, and before finals at Christmas I wanted to give them a little something, but not just candy or bringing cookies. They sacrifice their time by coming to school at night and studying during the week while holding down a job and trying to have a life as well--that takes commitment, patience, and persistence. I was playing around crocheting, and came up with the idea for a permanent fortune cookie. That way I could type what I wanted on slips of paper and they'd have something to perhaps encourage them. Their fortunes read, "Your persistence will pay off."


Now I've decided to do a whole book of crochet items that can be done in anywhere from 10 minutes to 2 hours; my tentative title is "Instant Crochet." This will be the first item and I have 50 more planned:

Lactation Model, Revisited

After considerable delay, I've found my original notes to the breasts I crocheted last year. I had given/sold all my models away and didn't want to recreate them, but now I've got the pattern. These were made for the lactation consultants at our hospital, who are sometimes teaching in front of a group and need, er, a model. They are lightly stuffed and could be compressed into a lab coat pocket, but I don't recommend pulling them out at the cafeteria while looking for change unless you want a lot of attention.

I think with a little customization, they could be used as prosthetics for mastectomy patients.

The pattern follows. Feel free to make for personal use, but please don't make them to sell, except as a charity donation. Without any further ado, my first published crochet pattern:

BREAST MODELS

Made in "Latte" and "Espresso" variations.

Size

Originals unavailable, but they were about a C cup.

Materials

--Yarn--Latte is made from Red Heart Super Saver, 7 oz/198 g, 364 yd/333 m per skein, colors Buff and Cafe

--Espresso is made from Caron’s Perfect Match, 7 oz./198 g., 355 yd./325 m per skein in Espresso and Taupe

--Size G hook

--Polyfil

--Optional—River Rocks, available from crafts stores.

Abbreviations
beg beginning rd round(s)
ch chain sc single crochet
dec decrease sl st slip stitch
FO finish off st stitch
inc increase yo yarn over

Color Changes
One of the best ways to change colors is during the last sc of old color; stop before drawing through loops. Change to new color in left hand, use it to draw through the loops, then continue in new color for a few sts. Pause to go back and tie the old and new colors together in a square knot on inside of fabric.

Latte

Starting with Café color, Ch 2.
Rd 0 Work 4 sc in second ch. Place yarn marker, and continue marking beg of rd throughout.
Rd 1 Work 2 sc, inc, 1 sc.
Rd 2 Work 3 sc in each sc.
Rd 3 Work 2 sc (inc) in each sc.
Rd 4 Sc around.
Rd 5 Sc around, changing color on last st to Buff.
Rd 6 *Sc 3, inc, repeat from * around.
Rd 7 Sc 2, *inc, sc 3, repeat from * around.
Rd 8 *Sc 8, inc, repeat from * around.
Rd 9 *Sc 9, inc, repeat from * around.
Rd 10 *Sc 11, inc, repeat from * around.
Rd 11, 12 *Sc 13, inc, repeat from * around.
Rd 13 *Sc 15, inc, repeat from * around.
Rd 14 *Sc 17, inc, repeat from * around.
Rd 15 *Sc 20, inc, repeat from * around.
Rd 16-18 Sc around.
Rd 19 Sl st around.
Rd 20 Turning rd. Working in back loop, dec around.
Rd 21 Sc around, dec every 6th st.
Rd 22 Sc around, dec every 5th st. Stuff lightly with polyfil. Add a few river rocks to base for weight.
Rd 23 Sc around, dec every 4th st, making dec 1 st closer together each rd until only 3-5 sts left. Cross the diameter of the opening with hook, sl st opening together. FO. Use remaining tail of yarn to weave in and out of any spaces between stitches in the base.

Espresso

The yarn is a little thicker, so a slight modification in the pattern is made.
Ch 2.
Rd 0 Starting with Espresso, work 4 sc in second ch. Place yarn marker, and continue marking beg of rd throughout.
Rd 1 Sc around.
Rd 2 Work 3 sc in each sc—12 sts.
Rd 3 Work 2 sc (inc) in each sc—24 sts.
Rd 4 Sc around, changing color on last st to Taupe.
Rd 5-7 Sc around, inc every 4th st—30 sts.
Rd 8 Sc around, inc every 9th st.
Rd 9 Sc around, inc every 10th st.
Rd 10 Sc 6, inc, then inc every 12th st.
Rd 11 Sc around, inc every 14th st.
Rd 12 Sc around, inc every 16th st.
Rd 13 Sc around, inc every 18th st.
Rd 14 Sc around, inc every 22th st.
Rd 15-18 Sc around.
Rd 19 Sc around, inc q 15th st.
Rd 20 Sl st around.
Rd 21 Turning rd. Working in back loop, dec around.
Rd 22 Sc around, dec every 6th st.
Rd 23 Sc around, dec every 5th st. Stuff lightly with polyfil. Add a few river rocks to base for weight.
Rd 24 Sc around, dec every 4th st, making dec 1 st closer together each rd until only 3-5 sts left. Cross the diameter of the opening with hook, sl st opening together. FO. Use remaining tail of yarn to weave in and out of any spaces between stitches in the base.

Medical Question of the Month

Question: I must be really sick, right? Last year Vick's Nyquil worked fine, but this cold season, no.

Answer: Well, you could be seriously ill, but check the ingredients on your favorite cold remedy. Consider that most over the counter medications removed Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) from their formulas without announcing it. This is because some people learned how to make methamphetamine from it. Sudafed is the best decongestant on the market. If you don't want to take it four times a day, you might consider an alternative, Claritin-D, 24-Hour. Not plain Claritin, that's just an antihistamine for allergies. Claritin-D comes in a 12 or 24 hour formula. That means being able to take just one pill a day and not having to worry about it not working during the night; just read all of the directions and cautions on the label first. Tylenol is also making a medication with Sudafed in it; ask for either one at the pharmacy, since they have to keep it behind the counter.

I have not seen convincing evidence that the substitute for Sudafed, phenylephrine, is particularly effective. Please let me know if you've seen anything authoritative.

Caution: If you're experiencing a significant fever, 100.4 or greater, or are getting worse, see your doctor.