Lanyard and Pouch for Glucose Monitor free pattern

This is a simple crocheted pouch in a size intended to fit the Freestyle Libre glucose monitor or other devices of comparable size (about 4 inches tall by 2.25 inches wide by 0.5 inches deep). The pouch has a button closure at the top to keep your monitor secure. Having the pouch attached to a lanyard makes it possible to wear your monitor at all times (I mostly wear mine this way while I’m sleeping) and have it within easy reach when you need it. Download the free PDF from Ravelry here.

Pouch is worked in crochet; lanyard i-cord is knitted. You can opt to work the i-cord in crochet, if you prefer, or use some other method to make the lanyard. You may also make the lanyard longer or shorter, depending on what’s most comfortable to you. I like a 32-inch-long lanyard because it’s long enough that I can scan my sensor during the night without having to take off the lanyard or remove my monitor from the pouch. During the overnight hours I usually don’t need to see the monitor’s readout; I just press the monitor’s button through the pouch, scan, and go back to sleep. So here’s a common-sense note: You will have to remove your monitor from the pouch if you need to see the readout after scanning.

I also find that the i-cord stretches out after wearing this for about a week, but popping the pouch into the washer and dryer along with a load of laundry tightens the stitches right back up.

This pouch-on-a-lanyard can also be a fun item for children (only ones who are old enough to safely wear a lanyard around their neck!!) to gather small treasures during nature hikes or shells and stones while walking on the beach, etc. -- just make the lanyard a shorter length to fit your child.

Still looking at the yarn

My friend Terri (who is a fellow yarnaholic) shared this Pickles cartoon with me today. IYKYK! 😂

So much joy

A good friend shared this with me. 😂 This lovely sketch is by Franklin Habit.

Weathered Glory Patriotic Afghan free pattern

It shouldn’t have taken me five months to crochet this afghan (the virus pattern is usually quick and easy to make) , but I suffered a terrible tendon flare in the elbow of my dominant arm when I was about 80 percent done with the blanket and it took me several months to get back to working on it. Sigh! Anyway, at least it’s done now. Made this in colors to coordinate with the decor in our guest room.

Linked below is a great free video tutorial by Jonna Martinez that details how to make the virus blanket.

Changing yarn

Doggone, I HATE IT when yarn manufacturers change the character of a yarn but try to pass it off as the same color. I bought the original version of this blue just six months ago, but when I went back today to get one more skein to finish my project, this is what it looks like now. Argh.

Of course, I'm going to look around online to see if I can find another skein of the old blue somewhere. If I continued with this the way it is it would drive me crazy. LOL If I can find another skein of the old blue I'll go with that. But if not then I'm going to have to rip back this entire blue stripe and make it entirely with the new blue.

The old and the new versions of this blue even have the same frickin barcode. Sheesh!!! 😅 But, yes, I do see that the date codes are different, and the company probably considers that to be equivalent to dye lot coding.

The Third Loop Reversible Messy Bun Beanie

Extra long for a bit of slouch and stretchy with good coverage for ears. The "right" side looks knit while the other side resembles garter stitch.

[I'm placing this post here as a placeholder to remind me to write up this pattern!]

Kinderspiel or Seamless Kitty Cat Hat free pattern

Here's a pattern that will add a bit of fun to your day.

I'm calling it Kinderspiel because that means "child's game," but the real name given to the pattern by its designer, Valerie Johnson, is Seamless Kitty Cat Hat.

Not only could this be a wonderfully warm hat/hood to keep you or your little one's head and ears warm on a blustery winter day, but the built-in ears would make this a great addition to a homemade cat costume. 😻

I wanted to make this large enough to fit a bigger child or adult so I deviated from the pattern by starting with a cast-on of 96 stitches.

Chic Aran Headband free pattern

I made this Chic Aran Headband to keep my ears warm. The pattern by Kinga Erdem is free on her blog at My Hobby Is Crochet! (Big cat ears not included. Bah-ha-ha.)

I would say this is an intermediate-level pattern because of a couple of techniques it utilizes: crossed stitches and yarn-over slip stitches. But once you get a feel for these techniques, the pattern itself is quite easy and intuitive.