New York Giants afghan

I was recently asked to do a New York Giants afghan as a birthday present for a friend's child.  This little gem is laying over a full sized bed, with several inches hanging on each side, enough to cover the mattress.  I'm kinda proud of myself.  Since I showed this off on my facebook page I have been asked to do several more NFL teams.  What do you think of it?

Lemon twist hat pattern

Materials: appx 100 yards worsted weight yarn (I used Red Heart With Love in Daffodil)
G hook

Gauge: 16 stitches and 14 rows = 4 inches


Form magic circle/adjustable ring
6 sc in ring, pull tight, do not join.
1. sc in 1st sc, ch3 (sc in next sc, ch 3) 5 times (6 sc and 6 ch 3)
2. (sc in next sc, 2 sc in ch 3, ch 3) 6 times (18 sc and 6 ch 3)
3. (sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in ch 3, ch3) 6 times (30 sc and 6 ch 3
4. (sc in next 5 sc, 2 sc in ch 3, ch3) 6 times (42 sc and 6 ch 3)
5. (sc in next 7 sc, 2 sc in ch 3, ch3) 6 times (54 sc and 6 ch 3)
6. (sc in next 9 sc, 2 sc in ch 3, ch3) 6 times (66 sc and 6 ch 3)
7. (sk 2 sc, sc in next 9, 2 sc in ch 3, ch 3) 6 times(66 sc and 6 ch 3)
repeat row 7 to desired length.
finishing: reverse single crochet in each sc and ch around (84 rsc). Sl st in first rsc, fasten off. To do a rsc, insert hook in the first stitch to the RIGHT of your working yarn. Yarn over and pull up a loop. The yarn will be twisted, but this is what we want. Complete as a regular single crochet. If you're a visual person, there are several videos available to show you how to do this. Just Google "reverse single crochet."

Eye care for Crocheters

As I was struggling to read the show description on my tv while deciding whether to watch  a certain episode on Netflix, I wondered why.   My eyesight is decent, but suddenly I can't read from across the room!  As I crocheted away at the afghan I've been working on, it came to me.  I've been focusing on the yarn and hook in my hand for weeks now, with the doors and windows closed (it's winter here in Michigan) and my eyes are forgetting how to see further in the distance.  Please remember to take a few minutes every day from your projects and exercise your eyes!  Try this: Focus on something in the distance - as far away as you can see - and count to 30.  Focus on something up close, something across the room is fine, and count to 30 again.  Repeat about 10 times each.  Do this 2 or 3 times a day if you can, but try to do it at least once.  If you're blinking several times and maybe feel your eyes tingling as you look in the distance, know that this is needed!  As you continue doing this over several days, the tingling will subside and the blinking will lessen.  If it doesn't, think about getting an appointment with your eye doctor.