Should have the 3rd cake of Mandala Genie completed on afghan tomorrow. Had more ripping out to do this morning.   At least it was current stitches. Cheers for that.  Going to stop working on it when start to make errors and force my work. Rip time then.

Anyway will update stats for the cake using shell rows. Keeping track for my own future use to calculate quantities for a project and posting for others.

Extended stitch post is coming along, also.  But video this morning more ceiling, wall and floor than anything else. 

Have a couple of rows and edging on pineapple shawl to write.  Needed to change some earlier work for readability, but think have that fixed.  We'll see
Maybe I am too picky with my pattern writing, but hate patterns that are difficult to read!

Working on an extended crochet stitch document to share with everyone here and on my blog. Creating the symbols has taken longer than I thought and don't have proportions right, but think I'll move forward.

All the pictures I took yesterday and day before were all blurry so have to regroup on that again. Going to try making a video, also, which I have never done before.

Need a few less projects to work on -- not enough day -- even though I start about 4:30 am. LOL

Hopefully tomorrow. Will know to allow more time for next one.

An update of the afghan I am working on.  3rd cake about done, but sharing as have started doing 8 shell rows and 1 standard row.  Am on the second set of 8 now.  Like how it is coming out.

Moving along with afghan.  Decided to do 8 shell rows and 1 standard row.  Although only have 8 and 1 standard with 2 shell rows pleased with how it looks.  The 1 standard blends in real well.  Will post updated picture tomorrow, won't have 3rd cake done.  Too much ripping out and redoing!!!

Going to have to delay my extended stitch documentation by a day or so.  Having problems getting checking accounts reconciled which is odd as had them tied a few days ago.  Not big differences but still need to get it resolved!  The wonderful world of account recon.  And, need to go to town tomorrow to see about a few things as well as finish my fence budget and application for planning department approval.  Just a replacement so don't anticipate any trouble. 

Also need to look through QuickBooks recertification documents to keep that up and have been contacted about a part-time accounting job that I need to follow up on.  Seems like a lot but very manageable.

Anyway, updated picture of afghan tomorrow -- pineapple shawl pattern writing on row 11.  Get this one done, then the rest will basically be a repeat of other rows.

Happy Crocheting!!

Took out all of today's work on afghan and some of yesterdays, UGH!!! Had a mistake that couldn't be fixed without it sticking out like a sore thumb.

Glad I got the yarn with plenty of time to get it done. 

Shell is working out good, wish I would have started  using it early on, will do middle 40 inches with the shell and the last 20 standard 3 dc block used for first 20 inches.

Making a note on all my 3dc block pattern stitches to incorporate the shell and possibly a puff in the stitch sequence.  Gives some interest to the work and helps relieve boredom of doing the same stitch in an afghan.

Next week I am starting another page in this blog. 

As I spend a lot of time searching for stitches I want to use, prior projects, or just general instructions for a stitch sequence, I have decided I need to gather them all in one place, so starting an ebook type thing.  Will post stitches about once a week with a pictorial tutor -- not set up to You Tube, yet.

The first set of stitches will be extended stitches. 

Pineapple shawl pattern

Happy Saturday, everyone.

Finally, (I think) have my pineapple shawl pattern roughed.  Going to type it over the next couple of days, then test it doing a smaller pineapple shawl using same yarn.  Will be Mother/Daughter set.

Suggestion, everyone  "...row 5~"  etc notes when designing aren't really good to use for a triangle shawl pattern with increases!  You don't have a good "repeat" count.  Found this especially true doing my pineapple shawl which starts with 4 and ends with 14.  Pineapples are staggered as started before one is closed you open another on the side.  So end up with different counts as you go along. 

A pattern for someone else to use needs to be more detailed and clearer; I can use the abbreviated pattern I did as I went along put have done lots to pineapple things so know the stitching sequences.

For those that haven't seen the shawl, I have posted a picture below:

Tried and like the shell idea, don't much visual difference however.  After 3 rows getting a little loosy-goosy so will do a stabilizing row.  Thinking 5 shells - 1 stabilizer.  Am thinking about a dc herringbone or a puff instead of the 3 dc block.  Don't want anything that will change the look much.

Not a very good picture but here is 3 rows.

Finished the second cake for the afghan today.  All my moaning about the amount of black and possible issues with it are basically unfounded.  Do think the cake was miss labelled however.

Tension is holding, which is nice. Stats for both cakes:  32 rows (512 sets of 6 ) (3072 blocks) plus 72 blocks (12 sets of 6).  Total of 3144 blocks using 1180 yards of Mandala/size H hook. About 38 yards per block (sl st, ch 3, 3 dc).  Might help you figure yardage for your project.

Will be getting out other cakes to see if I need to renumber them for use, do thin I am going to split the cake with a different lot number -- color sequence and tones are a little different than the other 7 but look good anyway.  Thinking 4 rows, then 4 of same dye lot for next 32 rows or so.  That will place this cake about center also may change 3 dc blocks to a V stitch for the odd cake. (sl st, chain 3, dc, ch 1, dc) think this will work as the stitch count is the same.  Will see what is wanted for the gift.

Did get a small amount of my pineapple pattern written this morning also.  Haven't posted picture yet so here it is.  No real pattern used a blurry chart to get started, then a basic pineapple stitch beginning with 4 pineapples and 12 on last row.  Pattern will be done soon.

Thought I would share my Baby Biker Helmet and Boots inspiration, photo, and pattern availability

In late December my nephew and his wife had a baby girl.  My nephew rides motor cycles (Bikes)
and does extreme tricks, like flying upside down. 

Shortly, after the baby was born, my nephew was holding her as he leaned against his bike.  His comment was "I can't wait to show her what I know" meaning riding and his extreme riding.

My daughter and I decided the baby needed a riding helmet and boots.  The pattern is available inmy Craftsy store at this address:  https://www.craftsy.com/profile/jrubee-design

Don't forget to visit my Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/JRuBeeDesign

Quite a lot of crocheting since fall. Started a queen sized afghan using Mandala Genie by Lion Brand. Purchased 8 cakes, 7 of same dye lot and 1 with different dye lot to be used at end if needed. On second cake now and am finding that the "black" in this cake has a much greater quantity than the 1st cake. Took a quick look at rest and this seems to be an odd ball for the dye lot. Will need to look closer so if I have another I can use it in similar placement at the top of the afghan.

Need to get some pictures posted of completed, will get that done this afternoon.

All patterns completed are available in my Craftsy store-- https://www.craftsy.com/profile/jrubee-design.