Curls of Sunshine Crochet

Cute Free Knitting Pattern

Lacy Baktus
Originally uploaded by terhimon

I need more time to knit up all the free patterns found on the internet. I think I may have to make some time for this one.

Free Crochet Amigurumi Pattern

A free crochet pattern from me to you!!

 

 

 

 

 

Pattern is here.

10 Reasons to Have Family Meals More Often

10 Reasons to Have Family Meals More Often

When was the last time your family had a meal together? I don't mean sitting in the car munching on burgers from the drive-through. I mean sitting down at the table and sharing a home-cooked meal.

If you can't remember when you last enjoyed a family dinner, make plans to have them more often. Experts have found – and continue to discover - plenty of benefits for both children and adults when families have dinner together at least three times a week.

I know...I know, it's not always easy, so click here if you need help with meal planning and grocery shopping. Here are 10 reasons why you should have family meals more often:

Good For The Body

1. When families eat together, everyone tends to eat healthier. People who have frequent family meals consume more calcium, fiber, iron, and vitamins B6, B12, C and E. It could be because home-cooked meals are healthier than fast food and restaurant meals. (Source: Archives of Family Medicine)

2. Children tend to eat more fruits and vegetables when they frequently have dinner with their families. They also tend to eat fewer snack foods. (Source: American Dietetic Association)

3. Children in families who eat dinner together are less likely to be overweight (Source: Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine). This makes sense, given the findings in #1 and #2 above.

Good For The Brain

4. Children from families who eat meals together get better grades than their peers who don't have lots of family meal times (Source: Lou Harris-Reader's Digest National Poll). So family dinners are not only good for the body; they're also good for the brain.

5. When families eat together frequently, children have better language skills compared to kids from families who don't have family mealtimes often. (Source: Harvard University)

Good For Emotional Health

 6. Children of families who eat together report feeling happier and are more optimistic about the future, than their peers who have infrequent family meals. (Source: Lou Harris- Reader's Digest National Poll)

7. Teenagers are less likely to use drugs, smoke, and drink alcoholic drinks, when their families eat together regularly. (Source: Columbia University)

8. It may come as a surprise, but among Moms who work outside the home, those who have family mealtimes reported feeling less stress than those who had family dinners less often. (Source: Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal)

9. The more often teen girls had meals with their families, the less likely they were to have symptoms of depression and suicidal behaviors. (Source: University of Minnesota)

Good For Family Bonding

10. Eating together gives family members the chance to communicate and build relationships, something that both adults and children appreciate very much. (Source: Nutrition Education Network of Washington & Oprah Winfrey's "Family Dinner Experiment")

I hope these reasons motivate you and your family to try and eat together more often. We're all busy - even children have plenty of after-school activities. But as the list above shows, family meals are worth every effort we put into them. It helps to plan ahead so that we're not scrambling to get dinner ready or panicking because we don't have all the ingredients we need.

To make it easier to get the family around the table with a home-cooked meal, check out Dine Without Whine's menu planning service. It costs just a penny to try it out!

Two new crochet patterns in my shop

I have posted two new crochet patterns in my Etsy shop.  One is Daisy Dog and the other is Betsy Bear.  I am currently working on a bunny pattern but have to wait until the weather clears some because I need to take a few more pictures.  These patterns were requested by a customer.  If anyone else has any requests, please let me know.  I would love to hear from you!!

 

Customer Appreciation

I love it when customers send me a picture of their completed work.  This little witch was made by one of my customers. She also has an Etsy shop...check out her wonderful crochet work. The pattern for the little witch can be found here. There is still plenty of time to make one up before Halloween!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My cute little puppy

I love animals and if my husband did not limit me we would have a small farm.  We have a Chow/Lab mix, and two Chihuahuas. One Chihuahua is mine and the other is my daughters.  This little guy is my puppy.  He is camera shy...but he loves my new quilt.  I was paying extra attention to him because somehow he fell out of our bed in the middle of the night. In a panic I searched through the covers and found his cohort "Coco" but no Peanut.  I finally looked under the bed and found a scared and trembling puppy.

 

New Toys in my Etsy Shop

I finished a few toys and they are now available

here.

Finished Custom Order

I did manage to finish my custom order.  Now all I need to do is finish my cupcakes.

Lots of crocheting going on here

I have been busy crocheting custom orders and contemplating some new ideas for patterns.  I want to design something for Christmas.  Currently, I am working on some Christmas themed cupcakes and hope to have them in my Etsy Shop on Monday. 

Make a crocheted lamb free amigurumi pattern

Lizzi Lamb

Lambs remind me of lazy afternoons at our family farm and of spring and new beginnings.

Finished Size

 

Approximately 5 inches tall

Size depends on your yarn choice

 

Supplies

 

Size E (3.5mm) crochet hook

Worsted Weight Grey Yarn

Bulky Weight Off White Yarn

Tapestry Needle

Stuffing

Head and Body

Using grey yarn

Chain 2

Rd 1: 6 sc in each sc around (6)

Rd2: 2 sc in each sc around (12)

Rd 3: sc in next sc, inc. in next sc around (18)

Rd 4: sc in next 2 sc, inc. in next sc around (24)

Rd 5: sc in next 3 sc, inc. in next sc around (30)

Rd 6: sc in next 4 sc, inc. in next sc around (36)

Rd 7: sc in next 5 sc, inc. in next sc around (42)

Rds 8-12: sc in each sc around (42)

Change color to white yarn

Rd 13: sc in back loops in each sc around (42)

Rd 14: sc in next 20 sc, inc. in next sc, sc in next 20 sc, inc. in last sc (44)

Rd 15: sc in next 10 sc inc. in next sc, rep. 4 times (48)

Rd 16: sc in next 11 sc, inc. in next sc, rep. 4 times (52)

Rd 17: sc in next 25 sc, inc. in next sc, sc in next 25 sc inc. in last sc (54)

Rd 18-27: sc in each sc around (54)

Rd 28: sc in next 7 sc, dec. over next 2 sc around (48)

Rd 29: sc in next 6 sc, dec. over next 2 sc around (42)

Rd 30: sc in next 5 sc, dec. over next 2 sc around (36)

Rd 31: sc in next 4 sc, dec. over next 2 sc around (30)

Rd 32: sc in next 3 sc, dec. over next 2 sc around (24)

Rd 33: sc in next 2 sc, dec. over next 2 sc around (18)

Rd 34: sc in next sc, dec. over next 2 sc around (12)

Stuff

Rd 35: dec. over next 2 sc around (6)

Slip stitch to join and bind off. Leave a long tail to close.

Legs

Make 4

Using grey yarn

Chain 2

Rd 1: 5 sc in second chain from hook (5)

Rd 2: 2 sc in each sc around (10)

Rd 3-5: sc in each sc around (10)

Slip stitch to join and bind off. Stuff lightly. Leave a long tail to sew to body.

Ears

Make 2

Using grey yarn

Chain 2

Rd 1: 5 sc in second chain from hook (5)

Rd 2: 2 sc in each sc around (10)

Rd 3: sc in next sc, inc. in next sc around (15)

Rd 4: sc in each sc around (15)

Slip stitch to join and bind off.

Leave a long tail to sew to body.

Tail

Using grey yarn

Chain 2

Rd 1: 5 sc in second chain from hook (5)

Rds 2-5: sc in each sc around (5)

Slip stitch to join and bind off.

Leave a long tail to sew to body.

Assembly

Sew legs to body and ears to head. Bend ears slightly inward when attaching to body. Sew tail to the back of lamb.

Using black or dark grey yarn embroider facial features.

Abbreviations

Ch-chain

Dec-decrease

Inc-increase

Rd-round

Rds-rounds

Sc-single crochet