It's a good day to...



...crochet!

Don't you think? Or bake cookies for that matter! I made a batch of these this morning as my youngest let me know as she left for school this morning, that she needs a dozen for Young Women's tonight for Mutual! They really are not hard to make, but they do take some 'time' as you need to leave the dough in the fridge for 1 hour and then bake for 1 hour.

NUT BALLS
1 cup vegetable shortening
3 tsp vanilla
1/2 c. sugar
2 c flour
2 cups chopped walnuts
Mix ingredients together in the ORDER GIVEN. Place dough in fridge for 1 hour. Roll into small balls (about 1") and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 265F for 1 hour. Do not let cookie brown!. While warm, shake in powdered sugar.

Lay on newspaper to cool, then place in tins for Christmas - these can be kept in the freezer for weeks!

Now knitting, yeah not crochet this time, more on that later... I am excited... I got a knitting booklet I ordered called "Early Arrivals" from Sidar. It even has preemie patterns down to a size 10" preemie, and up to 6-12 month babies! I love it and it looks like the same lady has another one for sale!

I got a beautiful Christmas card today from UMC hospital in Vegas too, as a thank-you for the items 'Crafting Angels' and I had made this past year and donated to them. Since I am no longer in charge of 'Crafting Angels', I will be making preemie items on my own for them and either taking them there, or mailing them. Likely it's cheaper to mail them with the price of gas now.

Here is an item needed by so many hospitals. The size given will fit a 2-3 lb baby. You can also use a G hook for slightly larger size booties depending on your tension.

Bev's Easy Thumb-Booties
copyright 2003, 2007 Beverly A. Qualheim - All Rights Reserved
www.bevscountrycottage.com




These are called thumb booties because they are the length of my thumb (approx 2 1/2") which is a great size for many preemies!

Scraps of Simply Soft Worsted weight yarn - it isn't a real heavy yarn.
To make 2" booties use baby yarn or sport weight yarn.
Size F hook
TOE
Rnd 1: Ch 2, 7 sc in 2nd ch from hook - do NOT join. (7 sc)
Rnd 2: Sc in 1st sc of last rnd, sc in same st, 2 sc in each sc around. Do not join. (14 sc)
Rnd 3: Sc in each sc around.
Do 3 more rnds like rnd 3. (total of 6 rounds)
At end of last rnd ch 1 turn and begin rows back and forth.
Next row: Sc in next 9 sc, ch 1 and turn. (9 sc)
Repeat last row 5X for a total of 12

Fold bootie in half and slip stitch up back seam of heel.

CUFF
Rnd 1: Ch 1, hdc in each space or stitch around, join with a sl st. (17 hdc)
Rnd 2-3: Ch 1, hdc in each hdc around.
Rnd 4: Ch 1, alternate fphdc, and bphdc around. Join. End off.

Alternate Cuff


Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each space or stitch around, join with a sl st. (17 sc)
Rnd 2-4: Ch 1, sc in each sc around.
Rnd 5: Ch 3, sl st into next sc, *ch 3 sl st into next sc... repeat from *around to end.
Join, End off.



Now you can either crochet a chain 8" long or use a ribbon to weave through the first hdc round, for ties.



I have most of my Christmas cards mailed out now, and have received emails telling me they got them already! I still need to mail out the ones to my relatives in Canada. I plan to get those out tomorrow though.

Hope all of your holiday plans are coming along nicely.
HUG the ones you love!!
Bev


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