Emergency !!! Where is my crochet hook?

It was the night of August 19 at around 10pm when I heard this loud boom in front of our flower shop. Our apartment is on top of our flower shop. ( I crochet pretty much all day at any time I can spare a few minutes or hours during the day.) I immediately ask my daughter's nanny to investigate and find out what the loud boom was. When she looked outside the shop, she looked and saw my husband on the ground, all bloody and beat up. She called out to me immediately and I ran outside to see. When I got outside, it was my indeed my husband and he was in a vehicle accident and he was walking up to me and handing me the phone and asked me to call for rescue and the police dept for help. The jeepney ( a public utility vehicle) he was riding in was hit by a 14 wheeler truck loaded with gravel. He was bloody and I was beside myself trying to make sense of what just happened. When the emergency rescue units arrived and they began to treat him, I ran upstairs to get a bag ready for him. I was thinking he had to go to the hospital and would need clothes. I grabbed a bag and started to figure out what I needed to bring, but the first thing I slipped into the bag were my crochet projects. ( I have several projects in various stages of completion so they are all scattered all over our place.) For the life of me, I could not figure out what to bring to the hospital or what my husband would need at the hospital. I had to empty the bag to check if I was able to bring what he needed. I always made sure that I would put a crochet project in the bag so I would have something to do while waiting at the hospital. This is when I realized I was besides myself because I could not find a crochet hook. It got to the point where I went to my pencil case where I keep all my hooks and retrieved my spare hook. I prayed silently and said "Please help us God."  This is when I realized that the bag was supposed to be for the things my husband needed and not my crochet projects and I started to get the things he would need and put them in the bag..As my husband was being transported to the hospital, I waited for my parents to come and get me to bring me to the hospital and I realized that this would make a memorable experience and a good tip for everyone. ALWAYS HAVE A SPARE HOOK HANDY BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL COME HANDY

Amazingly, I have gotten over this episode but I still wonder why it is I feel that I am not complete without my projects with me. I relish the emotion and satisfaction of seeing my finished projects. It is a feeling I cannot compare to any. So much different from the emotions I feel when my husband comes home or my baby says a new word, but it is something I relish every time I complete a project.

How about you? Do you have a memorable experience to share?

Shoulder Warmer

You will need:

180 grams of Crochet Cotton, Yellow

Steel Hook No. 1

First Motif:

Ch 8, join to form a ring, ch4, 2 tr c in ring keeping last loop of each tr c on hook, thread over and pull through all loops at one time, ch 5 and work 7 more cluster sts with ch 5 between each cluster st in ring (cluster st: thread over hook twice, insert in space, pull through and work off 2 loops twice, *thread over hook twice, insert in same space, pull through and work off 2 loops twice, repeat from * once, thread over and pull through all loops at one time), ch 5, join in top of 1st cluster st.

2nd Row: Ch 1, sc in same space, then work 5 sc over each cluster st, join.

3rd Row: *Ch 6, skip 2 sc, sc in next sc, repeat from* all around ending with ch3, dc in same space as beginning, this brings thread in position for next row (16loops).

4th Row: *Ch6, sc in next loop, repeat from * all around.

5th Row: Sl st into loop, ch 4, 7 tr c in same loop, ch3, sc in next loop, ch 3 * 8tr c in next loop, ch3, sc in next loop, ch3, repeat from * all around, join in 4th st of ch.

6th Row: Ch 4, 1 dc in each of the next 7 tr c with ch1 between each dc, * ch 2, tr c in next sc, ch 2, 1 dc in each of the next 8 tr c with ch 1 between each dc, ch 2, 1 tr c, ch 5, 1 tr c in next sc (corner), ch 2, 1 dc in each of the next 8 tr c with ch 1 between each dc, repeat from * twice, ch 2, tr c in next sc, ch 2, 1 dc in each of the next 8 tr c with ch 1 between each dc, ch 2, 1 tr c, ch 5, 1 tr c in next sc, ch 2, join in 3rd st of ch.

7th Row: Sl st to next dc, ch 4, 1 dc in each of the next 5 dc with ch1 between each dc, * ch 4, sc in next tr c, ch 4, skip 1 dc in each of the next 6 dc with ch 1 between each dc, ch 4, skip 1 loop, 1 tr c, ch 5, 1 tr c in next loop (corner), ch 4, skip 1 dc in each of the next 6 dc with ch 1 between each dc, repeat from * twice, ch 4, sc in next tr c, ch 4, skip 1 dc, 1 dc in each of the next 6 dc with ch 1 between each dc, ch 4, skip 1 loop, 1 tr c, ch 5, 1 tr in next loop, ch4, join in 3rd st of ch.

8th Row: Sl st to next dc, ch 4, 1 dc in each of the next 3 dc with ch 1 between each dc, * ch 4, sc in next loop,ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 4, skip 1 dc in each of the next 4 dc with ch 1 between each dc, ch 4, skip 1 loop, 4 tr c with ch 3 between each tr c in next loop (corner), ch 4, skip 1 dc, 1 dc in each of the next 4 dc with ch 1 between each dc, repeat from * twice, ch 4, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 4, skip 1 dc, 1 dc in each of the next 4 dc with ch 1 between each dc, ch 4, skip 1 loop, 4 tr c with ch 3 between each tr c in next loop, ch 4, join in 3rd st of ch.

9th Row: Ch 3, 1 dc in each of the next 3 dc keeping last loop of each dc on hook, thread over and pull through all loops at one time, * ch 5, dc in next loop, ch 5, dc in next loop, ch 5, dc in next loop, ch 5, 1 dc in each of the next 4 dc keeping last loop of each dc on hook, thread over and pull through all loops at one time, ch 5, tr c in next tr c, ch 5, tr c in next tr c, ch 5, 2 cluster sts with ch 7 between in next loop (corner), ch5 in next tr c, ch 5, tr c in next tr c, ch 5, 1 dc in each of the next 4 dc keeping last loop of each dc on hook, thread over and pull through all loops at one time, repeat from * all around in same manner ending to correspond, join, cut thread.

2nd Motif: Work a second motif in same manner joining it to 1st motif in last row as follows: ch 3, 1 dc in each of the next 3 dc keeping last loop of each dc on hook, thread over and pull through all loops at one time, ch 5, dc in next loop, ch 5, dc in next loop, ch 5, dc in next loop, ch 5, 1 dc in each of the next 4 dc keeping last loop of each dc on hook, thread over and pull through all loops at one time, ch 5 tr c in next trc, ch 5, tr c in next tr c, ch 5, cluster st in next loop, ch 3, join to corresponding corner loop of 1st motif, ch 3, cluster st in same space of 2nd motif, ch 5, tr c in next tr c, ch 2, skip 1 loop of 1st motif, sc in next loop, ch 2, tr c in next tr c of 2nd motif, ch 5, 1 dc in each of the next 4 dc keeping last loop of each dc on hook, thread over and pull through all loops at one time, ch 2, skip 1 loop of 1st motif, sc in next loop, ch 2 in next loop of 2nd motif, * ch 2, sc in next loop of 1st motif, ch 2, dc in next loop and 2nd motif, repeat from * once, ch 2, sc in next loop of 1st motif, ch 2, 1 dc in each of the next 4 dc of 2nd motif keeping last loop of each dc on hook, thread over and pull through all loops at one time, ch 5, tr c in next tr c of 2nd motif, ch 2, skip 1 loop of 1st motif, sc in next loop, ch 2, tr c in next tr c of 2nd motif, ch 5; cluster st in next loop, ch 3, join to corner loop of 1st motif, ch 3, cluster st in same space of 2nd motif, ch 5, tr c in next tr c and complete row same as 1st motif.

Join all motifs in same manner. Please refer to diagram below for reference.

Edge design: 

1st Row: Attach thread in the left corner space of any motif, ch 3, 2dc in same space, 2dc in the joint corner of two motif, 3 dc in the next corner space of the next motif, *sc in next space, ch 5, sc in next space, 8 dc in the next space, repeat from  * all around, sc in next space, ch 5, sc in next space, sl in 3rd st of ch.

2nd Row: ch 6, sl st in 3rd st of ch made ,dc in next dc,ch 3, sl st in top of dc made (picot made), repeat * 6 times, dc in next dc, sc in next space,  {*dc in next dc,ch 3, sl st in top of dc made (picot made), repeat * 7 times, dc in next dc, sc in next space,} repeat from { to } all around. ending sc in next space, sl st in next dc. (8dc:7picot)

3rd Row: Sl st in next dc and in the 2nd picot, ch 1, sc in same picot, * ch 5, skip 1 picot, sc in next picot, ch 5 , skip next picot, sc in next picot, ch 5, skip 2 picot, sc in next picot, repeat * all around, ending with sl st in the first sc made.

4th Row: Sl st in the next 2 st of ch, sc in the same space, *ch 5, sc in next space, 9 dc in next space, sc in next space, repeat * all around, ending with  sl st in top of sc made.

5th Row: Sl st in the next 2 st of ch, sc in the same space, *(dc in dc, picot)8 times, dc in next dc, sc in next space,  repeat * all around, ending with sl st in the top of sc made. (9dc:8picot)Break off.

BOLERO for 1 and 1/2 year old

You will need:

40grams of 100% crochet cotton, green

Steel crochet hook No. 1

dc cluster: work 2dc in same st always retaining the last loop of each dc on hook, thread over and pull through all loops on hook.

First Motif: Ch 4, join to form a ring.

1st Row: (dc cluster, 3ch) 8 times, sl st in the first dc cluster.

2nd Row: 5ch, dc on same st, (5ch, sc on next dc cluster, 5ch, dc in the next dc cluster, 2ch, dc in the same st) 3 times. 5ch, sc in the next dc cluster, 5ch, sl st in 3rd st of ch.

3rd Row: sl st in ch2 space (loop), dc cluster-2ch-dc cluster in same space(loop), *(5ch, sc in the next ch5 space) 2 times, 5ch, dc luster-2ch-dc cluster in ch2 space (loop)* Repeat *to* 3 times. 5 ch, sc in next ch5 space , 5 ch, sc in the next ch5 space, 5 ch, sl st in the first dc cluster.

4th-5th Row:Repeat 3rd row, just add one more 5ch space (loop) in every row.

6th Row: sl st in ch2 space(loop), dc cluster-5ch-dc cluster in the same space (loop) *(5ch, sc in the next ch5 space)5 times, 5ch, dc cluster-5ch-dc cluster in ch 2 space* Repeat *to* 3 times, (5ch,sc in next ch5 space) 4 times, 5 ch, ending with sl st in first dc cluster. Break off.

Second Motif: Work as for first motif until 6th row. sl st in ch2 space(loop), *dc cluster, 2ch, sc to corresponding corner space(loop) of first motif, 2ch, dc cluster in the same space of second motif, {2 ch, sc in the next space(loop) of first motif, 2ch, sc in the next space(loop) of second motif} 5 times, 2 ch, sc in the next space(loop) of first motif, 2ch* Repeat *to*4 times, sl st in the first dc cluster.

Join all motifs in same manner as shown in diagram below:

Edge: Attach thread at corner space(loop), {*2sc, picot(3ch, sl st on top of sc made), 2sc in the same space(loop)*Repeat *to* 7times, 2sc in the corner of first motif, picot, 2sc in the corner of second motif} Repeat {to} all around, end with sl st in the first sc. Break off

String: Attach thread in the picot between 1&2 motif and in the 9&10 motif, 60ch, sc in the second st and all remaining ch. Break off.

Kids Bolero: Repeat row 4th-5th row once more for a bigger motif