Thanks to everyone for the comments. I've read them all even if I haven't responded. I'm still laid up in bed because the spinal fracture that happened during the accident hasn't healed. They say I have 'soft bones'. Osteoporosis is a bitch! Take care of your bones, ladies! I don't anyone to ever hurt the way I have (and do).
I've been trying to catch up at Green Witch Garden, which is my main group. I am a moderator there as well as at Sisters By The Flame, which is a group that is committed to keeping the Lady's Flame burning by keeping a shift every 20 days. I'm a member of several crochet groups but main ones are 'Cauldron of Crafts' on yahoo groups and 'Happy Hooker' on MSN groups. I've made a couple of new friends from a couple of the crochet groups as well.
I'm also crocheting a lot. Being able to crochet has helped to save my sanity. I would have gone stark raving mad having to stay in bed since January but my books and my crocheting has helped to fill the hours. I am very thankful for my husband because he takes very good care of me and also does everything around the house.
My dear daughter-in-law is truly an angel. She brought me her laptop pc to use while I'm recuperating. I would try to use the other computer and would be hurting badly after just a few minutes of sitting in there. She also brought me a bag of yarn. I've also gotten gifts of yarn from my friends Lilye, Ezevia Rose, and Tammi. They, too, are angels - because I haven't had the money to buy more than a couple or three skeins at a time and that only at the first of the month when hubby gets his SS check.
Until later, may my Lady bless and keep you, make Her face to shine upon you, and give you peace.
Size 10 crochet cotton, three strands held together
Size 0 steel hook (If you don't have the steel hook, a size zero is in between a D and an E in an aluminum hook, I think.)
Beginning with head, chain 3, work 13 dc in 3rd chain from hook. Sl st to first dc.
Chain 26. Sl st in 8th ch from hook forming a circle. Working along chain: sc, hdc, 1dc in each of the next 6 chains, hdc, sc, hdc, 2 trc, dc, hdc, sc,
Sl st to last dc of head. Ch 1. Sc in ea st around head until the last one and sl st in it.
Working down opposite side of chain, sl st in 1st ch, then: sc, hdc, dc, 2 trc, hdc, sc, hdc, 6 dc, hdc, sc, sl st. Leaving long tail for fastening tassel, break off and fasten.
Leaving long end, attach yarn with sl st in 4th st below head. Ch 30. Sl st to 4th st below head on other side. Sl st in 5th ch. Ch 1. Turn. Sc in each ch around. Sl st to beginning st. sl st to 5th st. Leaving long end, break off and fasten. Cross both long ends around waist in tie on right side of piece. Trim to desired length.
Wind triple strand of thread around an index card 6 times. Cut across bottom. Attach to bottom circle by pulling the threads through the circle as one piece. Use to long end left from body to wrap around the threads several times, then tie it off. Trim ends of tassel.
Finished pentacle will be fuller than this one. This was one of my earlier efforts and I found it rounds it out better to do the extra rounds. The pattern is updated.
Materials:
Small amount of J&P Coats Knit-Cro-Sheen
Or size 10 bedspread cotton
Size 1 steel crochet hook (2.75 mm)
(Note: crocheted holding two strands together throughout. Nice if done with one strand of crochet cotton and one strand of silver or gold filament. The filament makes it a bit stiffer.)
Abbreviations:
sl st slip stitch
ch chain
dc double crochet
w/ with
tr triple crochet
sk skip
beg beginning
lp loop
rnd round
rep repeat
Directions:
Ch 12. sl st in 1st ch to form loop.
Rnd 1: ch 3, 2 dc, ch 3, (5 dc, ch 3) 4 times, 2 dc, join w/ sl st to top of ch 3.
Rnd 2: ch 3, dc in ea of nxt 2 dc, *(2 tr, ch 3, 2 tr) in nxt ch 3, dc in ea of nxt 5 dc. Repeat from * 4 times, dc in last 2 dc. Join w/ sl st to top of ch 3.
Rnd 3: *(sk 1 dc, dc in nxt st, ch 3) twice, (tr, ch 3, tr) in nxt ch 3 lp. Ch 3. (dc in nxt dc, ch 3, sk 1 dc) twice, sc in nxt dc, ch 3. repeat from * around but do not sc in last sc. Join as before.
Rnd 4: *(ch 2, dc in same st, sl st in nxt dc) 3 times, (ch 2, dc in same st, sl in 2nd ch of nxt ch 3 lp), ch 2, dc in same ch as sl st, sl st in nxt dc, (ch 2, dc in same st, sl st in nxt dc) 3 times, ch 2, dc in same st, sl st in nxt sc. Repeat from * around. Join as before.
Rnd 5: sl st up to the top of the first point, ch 1, *sc in dc at top of point, ch 22. repeat from * around. Join w/ sl st to 1st sc.
Rnd 6: ch 1, sc in same st, sc in ea ch around. Join w/ sl st to ch 1. (for a slightly different look, you can make 22 sc in the ch-22 loop instead of making the sc's in the chains. Be sure to sc in the top of each point also.)
Rnd 7: ch 2, dc in nxt sc and in ea sc around. Join w/ sl st to ch 2.
Rnd 8: repeat Rnd 7.
Rnd 9: ch 1, sc in ea st. round.
For altar pentacle, break off and fasten here. For a hanging pentacle, before you break off, ch 12 for hanging loop and sl st in same st at the base of ch-12 and then break off and fasten.
(updated 3-2008: It will round out better if you add at least one more round of dc, preferably two, before you finish off with the sc round. P.S. photo not updated.)
Since the last post, I have hurt and/or alienated a very special friend and stepped down from a position that has had a big part in defining who I am for over three years. I came to a place where I was ready to explode ~ I'd been sick for over a year even before my wreck in January that broke my ribs & back. I hadn't been able to contribute where I thought I should. Just when I would think I could 'turn the burner back on' things would pile in on me again. I am tired of staying in bed. I want to be able to do stuff again. Finally, the pain, frustration, fear, helplessness, and anger exploded and I said I couldn't do it anymore! I had tried to take care of a situation that came up and failed. I cried my heart out for three hours afterward, but what's done is done! I've shut myself off from everyone, don't post in my groups like I used to or work with the files. I can't. I can finally walk outside and sit in the chair for a few minutes, but then I have to go back to bed.
I'm shutting up before I get to crying again and guess what? I'm going to have to go back to bed. Maybe I'll put on a tape of the dolphins and let them sing me to sleep.
Just a quick note here! I am offline and will be for quite some time (months, maybe) unless a miracle happens and I acquire a laptop 'puter. I cannot sit at this one.
On January 22, I was on my way to a funeral of a close cousin in KY when I was involved in an auto accident. I suffered severe injuries and while I am now at home and recuperating, I spend my time in bed.
I will read the notes, etc, that you guys leave whenever I am able to get back online for any length.
