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Simple Scarf - Crochet Pattern

Simple Crochet Scarf This is a simple crochet scarf. What I have found is that even when reading books for crochet instructions you will find conflicting information when comparing one book to another. This confused me greatly as my experienced friends also gave conflicting information when teaching me to crochet. What often happens is a book makes an assumption on how you learned how to do a stitch and gives you higher level instructions. But, say, you've learned to start in a different place on a new row for that stitch then this book would, so your piece doesn't look right! You wonder what you've done! This confused me greatly! This is a beginner's pattern. I will tell you when I diverge from what other people normally say. Tip:  If you are new, then use a hook that is one to two sizes larger than the yarn label recommends for that yarn. New crocheters often crochet too tightly, making it harder on themselves. Going up in size of hook won't make your

Free Mental Health and Wellness Apps

Even if you don't have a mental illness, (or, lucky you, don’t even suffer from anxiety) you should be assessing your mental health occasionally. And realize that every single person needs to make themselves a priority with selfcare. That includes taking time to check out the resources available to them to make that easier. See a great list of apps here for one aspect – Meditation and Mindfulness .   Incorporate some routines to not only combat stress but to even stay ahead of stress before it gets to a critical level.  Though technology should not be your only tool, I am a big believer in making it one of your tools. Below is a list of free mental health and wellness apps. Because resources should be free and accessible to everyone. Mental Health and Wellness Apps AnxietyHelper (iOS only) https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anxietyhelper/id1028767781 Calm Fear - Excellent Anxiety Manager, including for OCD. Created for teens but excellent for adults as well. https://www.

Drops Scarf Knit Pattern

Simple pattern for even beginner knitters. It wouldn't be your very first project but could be when you are ready to learn about dropping yarn overs. It is that easy. Drops Scarf knit pattern is a wonderful way to put together novelty yarn you have sitting around along with other yarn, one you might not have considered pairing with it previously. For example, you can pair a mohair yarn with a flag novelty yarn. I have worked this project with many different types of yarn pairings. For this project, I paired Pima cotton with Trellis, a lacy ribbon yarn. Below is a photo of the beginning of the latest project with this pattern. The name "Drops" comes from dropping the yarn overs and the way the yarn is dropping down, like streaming rain drops. Hope you enjoy! If you have any questions, feel free to post a comment. Or you can find me on Ravelry , my handle is  AstroGirlBunny . Yarns: Yarn A is Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima in Mushroom (200 yards). Yarn B is Lion Brand T

Meditation and Mindfulness Apps

I've done the dirty work of downloading and trying out several smartphone apps that are either meditation or mindfulness - or they contain them. Below is the list. During my research, I found some mental wellness apps and included those. Don't cringe if you are an experienced meditation practitioner. With a pair of headphones, these apps can be incredibly helpful in a pinch. To someone new, they may be the one thing that finally helps them start meditating. For example, SmilingMind is totally free and has very short guided meditations with a fantastic Australian accent! My philosophy is that I have downloaded much of those where the initial is free. Therefore, between all the freebies and the actual free apps, I have an amazing collection of meditation options. If you have an app that is not on the list, leave a comment and let me know. If you try out one of the listed apps, I would greatly appreciate the feedback. It helps me when recommending apps to others. Happy Med

Spotify Playlists for Every Mood

Tossing together a list of some of my favorite Spotify playlists. Pick your mood, then pick a playlist.... Most Relaxing Songs Ever (science-backed) https://open.spotify.com/user/1286544262/playlist/31lxxIDyC3qYrtH6TpGFwx?si=O18TX8W2REORFAPuxP5lKw Mood Boost (uplifting) https://open.spotify.com/user/spotify/playlist/37i9dQZF1DX3rxVfibe1L0?si=qigMtFYqRlC-pRiSAn7l-w Hanging Out (more chill & relaxing) https://open.spotify.com/user/spotify/playlist/37i9dQZF1DXci7j0DJQgGp?si=5AGqsRzbQMi6mhy0YqMncg Confidence Boost (good for working out) https://open.spotify.com/user/spotify/playlist/37i9dQZF1DX4fpCWaHOned?si=C_1Uny83T3CH0k5wi8m55Q Heart Beats (love longs) https://open.spotify.com/user/spotify/playlist/37i9dQZF1DWSRc3WJklgBs?si=tdP5lZMvTBKW3hxU4VQQsg Songs to Sing in the Shower (uplifting / fun) https://open.spotify.com/user/spotify/playlist/37i9dQZF1DWSqmBTGDYngZ?si=RAGAv5UfQH2ss7jopwFDBw Lo-Fi Beats (chill) https://open.spotify.com/user/spotify/playlist/37i9dQZ