Need your help

I want to include charts in the patterns that are filet related items.  I can't seem to wrap my head around what program besides Excel that people are using and inserting in their patterns or using on their blogs to show the charts.  When I do a filet pattern in Excel, it doesn't create a .jpg or anything other than a .xls file.  Am I just supposed to copy and paste the .xls file into the pattern?  I would prefer a clickable type of chart so that you can enlarge it when working the pattern but at this point will do anything that works.

Maybe I'm making a mountain out of a mole hill.  Maybe some people scan in a printed excel file and it produces a .jpg.  Heck I don't know.

Can some of you smart people let me know what program works?

Thanks in advance!
Donna

Testers Found - Fox's Big Flower Round Ripple 16 points

UPDATE:  TESTERS ARE JEWEL, CAROL W, AISHA, LORI, KIMBERLYRAE, LAVINA

I have parts of about 6 large one pound skeins of 3 ply baby sport weight yarn from Bernat still and a mission of designing some round ripple patterns.   You can use 4 ply medium worsted to when testing.

If you want to be a tester, read the instructions below and let's get started!  Remember, everyone who tests any of the patterns will have their picture of the completed tested item shown in the blog next to their name as a tester. So show off your talents. I'd really like it if when I put the pattern up on Ravelry, if each tester would add it as a project there so I can post a link to everyone who makes this blanket's pictures.

1. Must be a follower of this blog and an email subscriber. Not a follower yet? Sign up. Let me know your follower name.

2. Must be able to finish testing by Sunday May 9th.

3. Must be able to send me a picture of your finished item attached to an email.

4. Must be able to send me errors of any kind you find in the pattern.

5. It'd be a plus if you were a member of Ravelry so you can add the project when the posting opens up.

6. You can use whatever color's or thickness of yarn you want.  I used 3ply sport but you can use 4 ply medium worsted if you'd like.  No varigated or stripping yarn please. So if you want to test, send me an email to the address below with your Follower name.  It might be tomorrow before I get back to you though.  Only the first 5 or so testers emailing me will receive the pattern to test.

Donna SmoothFoxLover@yahoo.com

The big 55 today

Update:  After all the build-up to the party - when my husband came home from work at 7pm he was so tired from having worked since 3 in the morning that he didn't want to go. He just wanted to eat and go to bed. He didn't even wish me happy birthday. Sad day after all.

 

Mom and Dad's wedding 1954

Me in 1956 one year old

It's my birthday today and of all things today I'm going to my Uncle Randy's surprise birthday party tonight.  It feels kind of strange.  I mean, his birthday isn't for another month and for some reason his wife Vicki wanted to make sure he was surprised by having the party a month ahead of time.

Shesh... I might have wanted to actually do something tonight for my own birthday.

Actually the main reason I didn't put up too much of a stink about going to a birthday party for someone other than myself on my own birthday is because of something that happened a couple of years ago.

My parents flew in from Texas and we had planned a family reunion.  My dad is kind of the one relative who actually "got away" from Kentucky to see the world by joining the military and actually staying away.  We had lived all over the United States and also Puerto Rico.  After 20 plus years in the military my mom and dad moved to Texas and started different businesses that were highly successful and in the more recent years they have retired to Dallas living within 5 minutes of my sister Kathy and her husband Sal.  I'm not saying that none of my relatives ever "got away" or went off to the military.  All 3 of my Dad's brothers were in the military.  Uncle Bill, Uncle Butch and Uncle Randy.  It's just that all the other brother's settled back here in Kentucky when they got out of the military.

But this story is about my Uncle Randy who he came back from Vietnam, he married a woman that I absolutely couldn't get along with and he stayed married for about 30 years and finally divorced her a few years ago.  I for one was so relieved when they divorced because she had henpecked him for so many years.

Okay, back to the story.  All of my other relatives live here in Kentucky.  So on this one day that we were doing the family reunion we had relatives coming out of the woodwork to attend.  Earlier in the day, all of the family who play golf got together and played a round of golf and then we were to meet back to have everyone get together and party.  Uncle Randy, played golf and went home to change clothes then was to meet us all for the party. Aunt Sue, Randy's sister wouldn't even let us dig into the food at the party until everyone arrived and I was starving.  I sat outside on a bench and crocheted as many of the relatives milled around.  During this time I found out that my other Uncle Butch and his wife Phyllis, both crochet. This was news to me!

Everyone and I mean everyone had already arrived and no Randy.  Well about an hour later Aunt Sue ushered everyone inside and my Dad got up and started doing magic tricks and this day seemed to be getting weirder and weirder.  I was horrified.  My dad comes back to town and he's lost his mind doing dorky magic tricks.  I mean... my Dad, doing magic tricks that I remember seeing when I was growing up.  Thenl he started making a speech and like a good little daughter, I sat there listening and then out of the blue... music started.  I thought, what in the world is going on.  Strange people that I knew weren't my relatives came walking in and taking seats and were kind of crouching down like you do in a movie theater when you're late and don't want to disturb people by walking in front of them so you quickly try to hunker down and get a seat.  And of all things, they started filling up all of the available seats in the back rows of the chairs.  I was getting kind of huffy to myself that strangers somehow were coming into the wrong place thinking that they had reserved this spot for their own party.  My entire family was there in shorts, t-shirts, jeans and here these other people showed up wearing dresses and nice clothes. 

Then there was a commotion that I couldn't see because there was some sort of wall behind all the tables and chairs and it covered the entire half of the room that of course I was sitting in front of.  I didn't recognize the music because a cousin had composed it but there was Dad talking and the comotion behind the wall and so I was doing like all the other guests... I started looking around to figure out what the disturbance was. 

The music all of a sudden changed to a recognizable song and low and behold here come Randy and Vicki appearing from behind the wall to the wedding march song.  I immediately stood up and started crying. .  The entire audience were all shocked and crying or cheering!  So my uncle Randy had pulled it off.  For the prior 2 years every time I asked, "when are you going to set a date," I got the whole run around.  Now it was here and it was a huge surprise to everyone.  As it turns out that 5 minutes before the surprise happened my dad was brought in on the surprise and that's when he was told to go up and stall so he did the magic tricks. Whew... I was happy he hadn't gone bonkers. 

The touching part to me of the entire situation was revealed during a speech my dad made after the ceremony.  It turns out that Randy was supposed to be the little boy in the picture who is the ring bearer but he thought he was having to marry the little girl in the picture so he panicked and everyone stripped off his suit and put it on his older brother, my Uncle Butch is now the little boy ring bearer in my dad's own wedding to my mother in 1954 and here it was that my dad now was the ring bearer for Randy's wedding.

So now here it is, today is Randy's surprise party and boy is he going to be surprised.

Donna

Mystery book identified

UPDATE:  MYSTERY SOLVED!  THANKS TO MARY ELLEN WHO FOUND THE BOOK STORED IN A SHED AND SANDRA FOR ABOUT 20 EMAILS OF ENCOURAGMENT AND WONDERFUL TIPS AND REMARKS, I FINALLY MASTERED THE CONFUSING PATTERN.  WTG LADIES! THANKS A MILLION!

Here's the book this pattern came out of.  I had no idea that Leisure Arts had a "magazine" back in 1997. Mary Ellen said it was mostly Cross Stitch and some craft patterns.

ORIGINAL POSTING:

I have tried this pattern at least 6 times since 2008 and always get hung-up on the same place in the pattern. I'm very frustrated! If you have made this afghan before, I'd like to exchange emails to figure out why I am getting confused.


CAN YOU IDENTIFY WHERE THIS PATTERN CAME FROM?

HAVE YOU MADE THIS BLANKET? IF SO, I WANT TO TALK WITH YOU. 

PLEASE EMAIL ME THE NAME OF THE BOOK, WHO PUBLISHES IT AND IF YOU KNOW - WHERE I CAN FIND IT ON-LINE.  First person that does this can select a free pattern from my store.

SmoothFoxLover@yahoo.com

Donna

SmothFox's A Whole Lotta Holes 12x12 - free pattern

Created by Donna Mason-Svara aka SmoothFox ©2010 Version 4.0

Bernat Baby Sport Medium Worsted 3 ply
Color A: Lilac
Color B: Pale Blue

Hook Size: H – 8 - 5.50 MM – NOTE: if using Medium Worsted 4 ply use a size “G” – 4.25 mm hook

Size: 12” X 12” for square, size for afghan above is approximately 36” x 36”

Skill level: Advanced beginner

My Ravelry Store: http://www.ravelry.com/stores/smoothfox-crochet-designs
My Etsy Store: http://smoothfox.etsy.com/
My Crochet & Knit related gifts: http://zazzle.com/smoothfox*
My blog: http://smoothfoxlover.blogspot.com/

If you crochet this item or want to download this pattern as a .pdf – please click on this link and add your own pictures as a project on Ravelry. Just click on the crochet hook with the words “Hook It” near the top right side and this will add your item as a project. Then you can add the pictures when you have completed your project.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/free-smoothfoxs-a-whole-lotta-holes-12x12

INSTRUCTIONS:

Chain 25 loosely.

Row 1: Dc in fourth ch from hook and in each ch across. Insert stitch marker on any st to mark right side. (23 dc)

Row 2: WS Ch 4 (counts as first dc and ch-1, now and throughout), turn; sk 1 st, dc in next, (ch 1, sk 1 st, dc in next st) repeat across. (12 dc)

Row 3: RS Ch 3, turn; dc in each st or ch-1 sp across until last ch-4 sp, dc in ch-4 sp, dc in 3rd ch of ch-4. (23 dc)

Rows 4 thru 11: Repeat row 2 and 3 – DO NOT FINISH OFF

You will now be working around the square starting down the side of the square either in the tops or base of the stitches of rows 1 thru 11. Basically, you will be placing dc’s and ch-1’s evenly around the entire square and making ch-3 corners.

Round 1: RS Ch 4, turn square to work down the left side, dc in base of last dc from row 11, see picture 1, (ch 1, sk ch-3, dc in top of next st, ch 1, dc in bottom of same st) repeat down the side to the beginning ch, (ch 1, dc, ch 3, dc) in base of 1st dc of row one. (corner made). See picture 2. (Instructions Continued below pictures)

PICTURE 1

PICTURE 2

INSTRUCTIONS CONTINUED FOR ROUND 1: Working across base of un-used loops from beginning ch, (ch 1, sk next un-used ch, dc in next un-used ch) repeat across to last un-used ch, (ch 1, dc, ch 3, dc) in last un-used ch on bottom. (corner made)

Working up the next side, (ch 1, dc in top of next st, ch 1, dc in bottom of next st) repeat up the side to the top st of row 11, (ch 1, dc, ch 3, dc) in top st of row 11. (corner made)

Working across top of square, (ch 1, sk next st, dc in next st) repeat across to last st, dc in last st, ch 3, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch-3. (corner made). (48 dc, 44 ch-1 sps, 4 ch-3 sps) IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE STITCH COUNTS ARE CORRECT.

Round 2: Ch 3, * (dc in each st or ch-1 sp) repeat across to next corner, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in corner, * repeat from * to * 3 times, join with sl st to top of beginning ch-3. (108 dc)

Round 3: Ch 4, sk 1 st, dc in next st, * (ch 1, sk 1 st, dc in next st) repeat across to corner, (ch 1, dc, ch 3, dc, ch 1) in corner, dc in 1st st,* repeat from * to * 3 times, join with a ch 1, sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch-3. (64 dc, 60 ch-1 sps, 4 ch-3 sps)

Round 4: Ch 3, * (dc in each st or ch-1 sp) ** repeat across to next corner, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in corner, * repeat from * to * 3 times, repeat from * to ** in each remaining st to complete the round, join with sl st to top of beginning ch-3. (140 dc)

MEASURE YOUR SQUARE – ONE TESTER USING 4 PLY YARN STATED THEY NEEDED TO SKIP ROUND FIVE AND GO STRAIGHT TO ROUND SIX. IF YOUR SQUARE IS CLOSE TO BEING 12” X 12” SKIP ROUND FIVE AND WORK ROUND SIX.

Round 5: Ch 4, sk 1 st, dc in next st, * (ch 1, sk 1 st, dc in next st) ** repeat across to corner, (ch 1, dc, ch 3, dc, ch 1) in corner, dc in 1st st,* repeat from * to * 3 times, repeat from * to ** skipping last st to complete the round, join with a ch 1, sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch-4. (80 dc, 76 ch-1 sps, 4 ch-3 sps)

Round 6: Ch 3, * (dc in each st or ch-1 sp) ** repeat across to next corner, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in corner, * repeat from * to * 3 times, repeat from * to ** in each remaining st to complete the round, join with sl st to top of beginning ch-3. (172 dc)

STOP HERE FOR A 12” X 12” SQUARE –

If you want to make a blanket, continue in the same fashion as round 5 and 6 alternating each round. When starting new colors, join in the corner and always start on round 5


Full afghan above was worked with 6 rounds of each color of yarn after the initial 12” x 12” square was completed.

THIS PATTERN IS AVAILABLE AS A .PDF BY GOING BACK TO MY MAIN PAGE OF THIS BLOG AND LOOKING DOWN THE RIGHT COLUMN. YOU WILL FIND ALL PATTERNS AS .PDF VERSIONS. http://smoothfoxlover.blogspot.com/

Created by Donna Mason-Svara aka SmoothFoxLover@yahoo.com ©2010

This pattern has been tested. Please notify me of any pattern corrections. I will answer any and all questions you may have with the instructions. Do not plagiarize this pattern. All patterns are my original designs. Any resemblance between this pattern and any other pattern is purely co-incidental. This pattern is my original design so please do not re-sell my patterns or give them away for free or post my patterns on the Internet. You may sell items you make from my patterns at craft fairs, fund raisers or custom orders for friends and family but please do not sell finished items on the Internet without my written permission. Do not claim designs as your own.

This pattern is copyrighted by me and I give my permission for you to post pictures of items made from my pattern on your website if you will post a link back to my ETSY store if the pattern is for sale. If the pattern is free, please direct people to my blog. Be sure to list the name SmoothFox as the designer.

Pictures of A Whole Lotta Holes testers squares

CAPRICE

CATHY L.

MARION

I may be missing some testers squares.  I'm not sure so let me know if I missed your square picture and I'll update the posting.  Thanks for testing the squares ladies!

Donna