On Matters of Patterns

Fall has finally arrived, and it's gotten cold even here in Arkansas.  The leaves are finally turning and falling, even though it's already mid November.  Mornings are close to freezing, which for Arkansas in November is a bit of a surprise.  I'm thinking we might actually be in for a cold winter for a change.  Why the commentary on the weather?

Tis the season for hats, scarves, and gloves.  I've been on a hat fest lately.  After learning how to make them I've already sold 5, and have orders for 3 more.  It got me thinking, hats call for gloves, but I have zero desire to try little finger holes until I'm better at crocheting and knitting.  The solution?  Fingerless gloves!  Alas, I am plus size.  Most patterns I've found go only up to adult size, and don't at all take into account plus size people.  I must have been off my rocker, but I thought why not make my own pattern?  So I did.

It's been a learning experience for sure.  Knowing the notations is one thing.  Putting them into readable practice is quite another.  I've got my first glove all worked up now, but I'm not completely ready to post it yet.  I have to make the left hand pattern as well, since there will be a slight variation at the thumb area.  Once it's done, I will be posting the pattern here free.  For now, this is what the right glove looks like.  

Now onward to the left!




*Photo taken by my wife Chris.

It's a WIP! (And More Useful Terms)

For those of you new to the term, a WIP is a work in progress.  It's a term often used by not only crocheters but also cross stitchers and beyond. I'll probably use this one quite a lot, which lead me to the thought that not everyone knows the terms, so here you go, this is a bit of the terminology you'll be likely to find here.

Frogging.  That would be dang it, I screwed it up!  So, you rip it out.  You rip it, and rip it, and rip it.  Ribbit, ribbit, ribbit...  Frogging.  If you're frogging it, you're tearing out rows or stitches of something you messed up.

ORTs.  Nope, it's not the space debris discovered by Dutch astronomer Jan Oort, that one's an Oort Cloud.  ORTs are old ratty threads, otherwise known as the tiny bits of leftover thread, floss, or yarn you end up with at the end of a color or ball of yarn.  Some people save them, I usually chuck them.  I've heard they make great ornaments, so I'm going to start saving mine soon.

Gridding it.  Some stitchers, especially on large pieces, either draw on or run a single strand of floss in a 10 X 10 grid on their projects to keep from loosing their place.

Parking it.  I believe that's the term.  Doing every bit of stitches in a 10 X 10 block regardless of color all at once before moving on to the next block.  This usually leaves multiple colors of floss hanging off the project "parked".

For crochet:

C2C.  Corner to corner.  Pieces worked on a diagonal instead of straight across.

HOTH, FOTH.  Hot or fresh off the hook.

UFO.  Unfinished object.

NST.  Not yet started.

That's all I can think of at the moment.  I'll add later posts as I think of or hear other terms.  When I get to posting patterns I will list the terms used for each specific pattern at the start of it.

Hello Readers

Welcome to GlenCastle Designs!  I'm Melissa, or Mellie if you prefer.  I consider myself an artist of sorts. I work in crochet, cross stitch, plastic canvas, paracord, beading and more.  I do sell, just message me if you see something you like.

I'll say this up front, I am Pansexual, and I'm married to a Lesbian woman.  If this bothers you, you might want to find another blog, because my wife can and will come up frequently, especially as she is another designer involved in GlenCastle.  See, I'm the Glen, she's the Castle.  So yeah, if this bothers you off you go, I wish you no ill will, may you have a nice life.

Now, GlenCastle.  I am from Watkins Glen, NY, and I'll likely mention that often as inspiration, so that's where the Glen came from.  My wife Chris is a fan fiction writer of Harry Potter fan fiction.  She has original characters who live in a home called Stonecastle.  So now you know where the Castle part came from.  As we both have a hand in the creating of items for GlenCastle Designs, it seemed only right to include us both in the name.

Right now most of what you'll find here is updates on current crochet projects, amusing bits about my Emotional Support Animal (a Great Dane mix named Leo) and his cat buddy Sebastian, general commentary on various crafts, and probably a few nods to my niece Lina, who is currently enrolled in Savannah College of Art and Design, and is quite the painter, or her sister Abi, who is still in high school but with a bright future of her own I'm sure.

What you will not find.

Politics.  No way, no how.  I spent over a decade living in the DC Metro area, and I have had my fill of politics thank you very much.

Religion.  Nope, not happening.  I'm an Atheist, but as long as you don't use your faith to hurt others I have no problem at all with others who are religious, I just won't mention it here other than in reference to a holiday like Christmas or Easter or what have you.

Guns.  I will keep my views on guns to myself, and I request that everyone else who comes and comments does the same.  Guns have no place in my art, and never will.


That's about it.  So, welcome again, now, onward to the art!