Lighting the mood

Candles are an important part of Halloween and Samhain so I have come up with some nice candle ideas. Remember flammable stuff if you are using real candles. When candles are left burning the containers tends to get hot, so be careful. The other option is to use the little electric lights, they are now the new rage. Another suggestion is string lights which comes in a variety of colors.

Here is a simple ghost project for the kids. just take your glass jars and use masking tape. Then take a permanent marker to draw on a face. You can turn this into a mummy project by wrapping it with gauze bandages. Remember if you put them outside you may want to put sand or kitty litter in the bottom.

 What can you do with string lights. Here are some nifty ideas. It is a nice way to recycle those white plastic bottles. Just draw on the faces. You can do the same on the milk jugs. Use permanent markers or use shadow stickers.

The brooms are a nice witchy touch. You just need to spray paint the bristles and paint the handles black. Make sure you know where your outlets are and how you are going to stand the brooms up. If you already have metal stakes, you can tie the brooms to the stakes or you can dig a hole first and bury the handles. Make sure they are stable. Halloween has some interesting weather patterns.

Here is another idea to recycle those milk and juice bottles. After you paint them up you can put them on sticks or stakes and line them up in your yard. I saw a picture that a woman put one of the electric tea lights on a dowel that is how she put the light in.

These little things are made from ping pong balls. You can use stickers or use markers then you cut a hole and top them on the electric lights.

Now these are my favorite that I found. You use regular glasses and fill them with candy and top them with your candle. Then you use nylons, lace and ribbons to decorate. Remember that flammable rule, you cant let the ribbon or nylons past the top of the glass. You can use double back tape to secure them.

 Now remember what I have said about any craft it is all about having fun and being creative. Those little imperfections that happen just gives you craft a personal touch. So have fun and be adventurous.

Halloweentown Movies

Every October I look forward for Halloween movies. The Halloweentown series is on my list. You can’t go wrong with Debbie Reynolds, she is the best. Agatha “Aggie” Cromwell is a great witch from Halloweentown and she has come to the mortal world to train her granddaughter Marnie on how to be a witch. Marnies mother, Gwen, does not like that idea. Years ago Gwen gave up Halloweentown to marry a mortal and she is happy with her mortal life. Marnie has her own opinion and decides to disobey her mother and follow her grandmother to Holloweentown. Marnie’s Brother Dylan and little sister Sophie follows her and their grandmother. Once there Aggie suspects that something is wrong with her town and they set out to fix it. Gwen finally realizes that her children are gone and she goes to Halloweentown to find them. Unfortantly Aggie and Gwen get caught and they are put under a spell with other creatures from Halloweentown. It is up to the kids to help save them and Halloweentown. They found a spell that would work but they need find interesting ways into gathering the ingredients. Luke pretends to be their friend and betrays them only to help them to save Halloweentown. After freeing Aggie, Gwen and other people from the spell, they need to defeat the evil force. It turns out to be the Mayor Kalabar and he wants to invade the mortal world in fear. In the end it takes all the Cromwell to use their powers to stop the Kalabar and bring the town back to its glory. Aggie decides to go back to the mortal world and live with her daughter and grandchildren and help with Manie’s training.

In Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge brings Marnie and Aggie back to Halloweentown. Aggie's magical bag stops working so she suspects something is wrong in Halloweentown. Aggie and Marnie travels to Halloweentown to discover someone has used the “Grey Spell” and turned almost everyone in Halloweentown "grey."  The spell was in Aggie's spell book which they find out has been stolen. It turns out to be Marnie's new friend Kal who happens to be Kalabar’s son. Aggie has another copy of her spell book but it is missing. Aggie and Marnie meet up with Luke and Aggie suggest that they visit Gort's house.  When you lose something it always ends up at Gort’s house. Aggie, Marnie and Luke search for the book in Halloweentown while Kal creates a Golem to distract Gwen. It is up to Dylan and Sophie to save their mother so they can help Halloweentown. Kal's plan is to have everyone in the mortal world dress up as monsters and then put a spell to make them monsters. He also seals the doorway between Halloweentown and the mortal world. Marnie finaly finds a way to stop the Grey spell and with the help of Aggie they free Halloweentown but they are too late and the doorway is closed. Aggie and Marnie are able to communicate with Dylan and Sophie and together they use their power to open the doorway permanently. Together they are able to defeat Kal and turn everyone back to normal. 






In Halloweentown High Marnie starts her new school year and she brings some new friends. She asked the Witches’ Council to let her take some Halloweentown students to her high school in the mortal world. The Council agrees but Marnie mistakenly bets all her families magic that they students will be safe. The students consist of a witch, a warlock, a werecat, a werewolf, an ogre, a pink troll, a fairy, a zombie and a gremlin. They magically alter their appearance and are introduced as exchange group from Canada. Aggie comes to the school as a new teacher. There is a threat to the school and the students from the Knights of the Iron Dagger. They find out that a member of the Council is behind the Knight of the Iron Dagger. Edgar Dalloway's plan was to make the mortal world afraid of the students so he could take the Cromwell power. To bring the students together they start joining clubs and making new friends. They also decide to join the Halloween carnival by making their own haunted house. The Knight of the Iron Dagger strikes and takes some of the students. This time it is Gwen who comes to the rescue to save the missing students. During the carnival, mortals don't like the haunted house depicting nice tea parties and picnics. Dalloway uses his power to incite a mob against Marnie and the students. As the students got mobbed, Marnie lost her deal and Dalloway takes the Cromwell power. Dalloway's son Ethan decides to change sides and denounces his father. Flanagan, who is the last Knight of the Iron Dagger decides to denounce his heritage and joins the students. The students take off their disguises and the mortals stop and thinks and ends up accepting their new friends as they really are. As the mortals accept their new friends, the Cromwells take back their powers. The Council finds Dalloway guilty and they imprison him. People from Halloweentown come to the mortal world and joins the carnival.

In the 4th movie Return to Halloweentown, Marnie who was played by Kimberly J Brown is now played by Sara Paxton. This time Marnie gets accepted to Witch University. Gwen agrees to allow Marnie to go under the condition that her brother Dylan goes to. It is discovered that Dylan who looks down at magic, only use it to study and graduated early. They find out that it is a set up. Marnie was sent to find “the Gift.” During the early times of Halloweentown Queen, Splendora was going to use the Gift to control everyone. Marnie goes back in time to stop the Dominion taking control. Splendora is revealed to be Aggie. The Dominion kidnaps Dylan in order to force Marnie to use the Gift for them. Instead Marnie destroys the Gift and stops the Dominion. The Dominion is arrested and taken away. Everyone thinks that the Gift was destroyed but instead she gave it to Dylan to protect it. As he is not interested in power, she knows he can be trusted with its power.
 
Each movie deals with prejudice and the fear of unfamiliar customs. Mortals are just afraid of the residence of Halloweentown as Halloweentown is afraid of them. In the beginning the creatures lived in the mortal world but were shoved out by humans. So the creatures and magic left the mortal world and Halloweentown was created. For more than a thousand years both worlds have lived apart from each other. Now the bad guys wanted power over both worlds and/ or revenge. Kalabar was tired of hiding and felt that Halloweentown deserved to take over the world that they once inhabited. Kal agreed with his father and wanted humans to pay for mocking them and well the Dominion just wanted absolute power. So the bad guys used fear and force to get what they wanted. The fear of the unknown is so powerful that it has destroyed so much in real life. Hate crimes are rising because people just can't accept people for who they are.

We all could learn a lesson from this series as it proves that the good guys always win when you work together. It also teaches you that we are all the same underneath. We all have the same fears, wants and need for acceptance. I hope people can watch these movies and see that the more we are different, the more we are the same. So I hope you enjoy these movies as much as I have. I am looking forward in enjoying them when my granddaughter gets bigger.

Debbie Reynolds as Agatha “Aggie” Cromwell
Kimberly J Brown as Marnie Piper (1,2,3)
Sara Paxton as Marnie Piper/Young Splendora Agatha Cromwell (Return to Halloweentown)
Judith Hoag as Gwen Piper
Joey Zimmerman as Dylan Piper
Emily Roeske as Sophie Piper

Short Halloween movie list

I love October as it starts the countdown to Halloween. I wish we could have more Halloween movies and specials, but I will take what I get. I just love good Halloween movies. Here are some of my favorite Halloween Movies.

Any and all Scooby-Doo series and movies
Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
The Good Witch (2008)
The Good Witch’s Garden (2009)
The Good Witch’s Gift (2010)

 The Good Witch's Family (2011)
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Young Frankenstein (1974)
The Worst Witch (1986)
Once Bitten (1985)
Practical Magic (1998)
Transylvania 6-5000 (1985)
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951)
Abbott and Costello Meets the Mummy (1955)
The Mummy (1999)
The Mummy Returns (2001)
The Frighteners (1996)
Casper (1995)
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
Halloweentown (1998)
Halloweentown II – Kalabar’s Revenge (2001)
Halloweentown High (2004)
Return to Halloweentown (2006)
The Black Cauldron (1985)
Corpse Bride (2005)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror (series)
The Addams Family (series)
Halloween with the New Addams Family (1977)
The Addams Family(1991)
The Addams Family Values  (1993)
Ghost Busters (1984)
The Fat Albert Halloween Special (1977)
The Halloween Tree (1993)
Double, Double, Toil and Trouble (1993)
When Good Ghouls Go Bad (2001)
Monsters Inc. (2001)
The Goonies (1985) – mom favorite
Beetle Juice (1988)
The Witches (1990)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2002)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2003)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2006)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 (2011)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 (2011)
Goosebumps (series)
Escape to Witch Mountain (1975)
Return to Witch Mountain (1978)
Beyond Witch Mountain (1982)
Race to Witch Mountain (2009)
The Hunted Mansion (2003)
Munsters (series)
The Halloween that almost wasn’t (1979)
The Little Vampire (2000) – Mom’s Favorite
Under Wraps (1997)
Teen Witch (2011)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Series)
Charmed (Series)
The Trouble with Miss Switch (1980)
Miss Switch to the Rescue (1982)
Bunnicula, the Vampire Rabbit (1982)
The Haunted Mansion Mystery (1983)
Henry Hamilton Graduate Ghost (1985)
The Adventures of a Two-Minute Werewolf (1985)
Bewitched (series)
Gargoyles (series)
Angel (series)
The Dark Crystal (1982)
Enchanted (2007)
The Midnight Hour (1985)
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (series)
Invisible Man (series)
The Craft (1996)
Count Duckula (series)
Twitches (2005)
Twitches Too (2007)
Casper Meets Wendy (1998)
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Mostly Ghostly (2008)
Fright Night (1985)
Love at first bite (1979)
Frankenstein (1931)
Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Son of Frankenstein (1939)
Ghost of Frankenstein (1942)
House of Frankenstein (1944)
The Mummy (1932)
The Blob (1958)
Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
Dracula (1931)
Dracula’s Daughter (1936)
The Thing (1982)
Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943)
The Mummy’s Hand (1940)
The Invisible Man (1933)
The Invisible Man Returns (1940)
The Mummy’s Tomb (1942)
The Mummy’s Curse (1944)
The Mummy’s Ghost (1944)
The Lost Boys (1987)
Evil Dead (1981)
Evil Dead II (1987)
Evil Dead III (1993)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Nosferatu (1922)
Werewolf in London
The Wolf man (1941)
The Fog (1980)
Nosferatu the Vampre’ (1979)
Van Helsing (2004)
Dracula (1979)
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
It (1990)

Samhain Dishes

Harvest Pumpkin Soup

 

2 TB unsalted butter
1 large potato, peeled and chopped
1 large onion, chopped
4 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 15-oz can pumpkin
salt and freshly ground pepper
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 pint heavy cream

In a large pot over medium heat, melt butter. Add potato and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, about 8 mins. Add chicken broth and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook until potato is tender, 10 to 12 mins.

Stir in pumpkin. Using an immersion blender, puree mixture until smooth. (You can use a blender too) Stir in 1/2 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp pepper and nutmeg. Increase heat to medium-high and bring mixture to a boil. cover, reduce heat to low, and cook for 10 mins. Stir in cream and heat thoroughly. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot. Makes 8 servings

Harvest Salad

1 large butternut squash
2 TBs olive oil
2 Tbs honey
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
1 8-oz bottle poppy seed dressing
1/4 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
8 oz mixed greens
4 oz goat cheese, crumbled
3/4 cup pecan halves, toasted
6 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled

Preheat oven to 400* Peel and seed squash, cut into 3/4 inch cubes. Toss together squash, olive oil, honey, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Place in a single layer in a lightly greased, foil lined jelly roll pan. Bake 20-25 mins until squash is tender, stirring once halfway thru. Remove from oven and cool in pan for 10-15 mins.

Meanwhile, pulse poppy seed dressing and cranberries in a blender 3-4 times or until cranberries are coarsely chopped. This will be your dressing.

Toss together squash, salad greens, goat cheese, bacon and pecans in a large serving platter. Serve with dressing. Makes 6-8 servings.

 

Herbed Pork and Apples

 

1 teaspoon each dried sage, thyme, rosemary and marjoram, crushed
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 bone-in pork loin roast (about 6 pounds)
4 medium tart apples, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 large red onion, cut into 1-inch chunks
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 cup apple juice
2/3 cup maple syrup

Combine herbs, salt and pepper; rub over roast. Cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.

Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 1-1/2 hours. Drain fat. Mix apples and onion with brown sugar; spoon around roast. Continue to roast 1 hour or until meat thermometer reads 160°-170°. Transfer the roast, apples and onion to a serving platter and keep warm.

Skim excess fat from meat juices; pour into a heavy skillet (or leave in the roasting pan if it can be heated on stove top). Add apple juice and syrup. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until liquid has been reduced by half, about 1 cup. Slice roast and serve with gravy.

Apple Sweet Potato Side

5 medium sweet potatoes (2-1/2 pounds)
4 cups sliced peeled tart apples (about 4 medium)
3/4 cup thawed apple juice concentrate
1-1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons cold water, divided
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
7-1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/4 cup butter, cubed

Place sweet potatoes in a large saucepan or Dutch oven and cover with water. Bring to a boil; cover and cook for 30-45 minutes or until tender. Drain. When cool enough to handle, peel and slice potatoes.

•Place apples in a large saucepan and cover with water. Cover and cook over medium heat for 7-8 minutes or until crisp-tender; drain. Place apples and sweet potatoes in a greased 2-1/2-qt. baking dish.

In a small saucepan, combine apple juice concentrate, 1-1/2 cups water, sugars and salt. Combine cornstarch with remaining water until smooth; gradually stir into apple juice concentrate mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened and bubbly.

Remove from the heat; stir in butter until melted. Pour over potato mixture. Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 30-35 minutes or until heated through.

Slow Cooker Bacon-Potato Soup

5 lb bag potatoes cut into small cubes
1 lb bacon, cooked and crumbled. ½ goes in the slow cooker, ½ save as a topper
3 (14.5oz) cans chicken broth
1 can cream of chicken soup
8 oz sour cream

Put all ingredients in crockpot. Cook for 8-10 hours on low.
*Great topped with shredded cheddar cheese, bacon crumbles and crackers!

Autumn Cranberry Chicken in Slow Cooker

4 boneless skinless chicken breast
1 (16oz) can whole-berry cranberry sauce
1 cup Russian salad dressing
1.35oz pkg onion soup mix

Cooked rice

Place chicken in the slow cooker, cutting pieces in half if desired. Combine remaining ingredients except rice; spoon over chicken. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours. Serve over cooked rice. Serves 4

Sweet Apple Acorn Squash

2 acorn squash, halved and seeded
2 apples, peeled, cored and chopped
3 Tbs packed brown sugar
3 Tbs chopped pecans
1 tsp all-purpose flour
¼ tsp cinnamon
2 Tbs butter, softened
Place acorn squash halves cut side down in a greased 13” x 9” baking pan. Bake at 350* for 30 mins. Combine remaining ingredients. Turn squash over and fill with apple mixture. Bake, uncovered, for another 15-30 mins until squash is soft when pierced with a fork. Serves 4.

Samhain Recipes

Remembrance Cookies

These cookies can be made on Samhain Eve. They can be shaped like people (use a gingerbread man cookie cutter to achieve this easily) and the herb rosemary is added to the dough as a symbol of remembrance. Some of the cookies are eaten while telling stories or attributes of special ancestors, reminding us that we still have access to their strengths--or perhaps a predisposition to their weaknesses. The rest of the cookies are left outside by a bonfire or by window next to a black candle as an offering. This can be a solemn ritual, but it need not be.

Ingredients for the cookies:

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup butter or margarine (softened)
1 egg
2 t. vanilla
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. cream of tartar
1 1/2 T. chopped fresh rosemary (substitute dry)

Heat oven 375 degrees. In a large bowl, beat sugar, butter, egg, vanilla, almond extract, and rosemary until creamy. In a separate bowl, sift flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Fold flour mixture into sugar mixture. Beat until dough forms and refrigerate for three hours. Divide dough into halves. Roll out one portion to 3/16 of an inch on a floured surface. Cut out with gingerbread women or men cutters and place on an un-greased cookie sheet. Repeat rolling and cutting with second portion of dough. Bake for 5-7 minutes. You can also punch a hole in top of each cookie with a wooden skewer (BEFORE baking) and thread black ribbon through; these can be hung for decorations, or top gifts.

Recipe by Barbara Morris

CAKES FOR THE DEAD

Makes about 3 dozen, dough must be chilled several hours to overnight.

1/2 c veg. oil
4 sq unsweetened chocolate (4 oz) melted
2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups pastry flour (not hard, sifted or cake flour)
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup confectioner's sugar

Mix oil, chocolate, and granulated sugar. Blend in one egg at a time until well mixed. Add vanilla. Measure flour by dipping method or by sifting. Stir flour, baking powder, and salt into oil mixture. Chill several hours to overnight. Heat oven to 350 degree F [175 degree C]. Roll about a tablespoon of dough into a ball (yes, it's messy). Drop balls into confectioner's sugar & roll around until coated. Place about 2 inches apart on greased baking sheet. Bake 10-12 min. They will be a little soft but should not be mushy. Edges should be firm.

 

HOT APPLE CIDER

 

1 1/2 gallons Apple Cider
5 cloves
1 large orange, sliced thin with peel left on
1/2 lemon, sliced thin with peel left on
1/2 cup sugar

Directions: In large pot, combine cider, cinnamon sticks, cloves, orange and lemon slices, and sugar to taste. Serve hot.

All Souls' Day Bread 

 

4 yeast cakes (fertility and money)
2 cups milk
8 cups flour (fertility and money)
1 teaspoon salt (protection)
8 egg yolks (fertility)
2 cups sugar (love)
1 teaspoon grated orange peel (love and money)
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel (protection)
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon poppy seeds (luck and invisibility)

Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup of milk, and add 1 cup of flour. Sprinkle a little flour on top and let rise until size doubles. Add salt and egg yolks, beat until thick. Add sugar and peels and mix with other ingredients. Add 2 cups flour and remaining milk, alternating each so that the mixture doesn't get too dry or too wet. Knead for 5 to 10 minutes, saying:

Blessings upon the living
Prayers for the dead.

Hum if you like or chant. Add remaining flour and butter and knead until dough comes away from your hands. Set dough in a warm place, covered with a warm, damp cloth, until it rises double in bulk. Separate into 4 parts, braid. Brush top with beaten egg yolks and sprinkle with poppy seed. Let rise. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Silver RavenWolf "Halloween"

 

Pumpkin Bread

 

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour (fertility and money)
1 1/2 cups sugar (love)
3/4 teaspoon salt (protection)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (spirituality and protection)
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (luck and health)
1 cup canned pumpkin (abundance)
1/3 cup water (cleansing)
2 large eggs (fertility)
1 teaspoon vanilla ( love and mental powers)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (health and wishes - will counteract a fertility spell)
confectioners sugar

Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl. Mix well. In a different bowl, combine pumpkin, water, eggs, vanilla, and oil. Mix well. Add dry ingredients slowly and beat thoroughly. Stir in nuts and pour batter into a greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 75-80 minutes (but watch different ovens may lengthen or shorten that time). Cool 15 minutes before removing from pan. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar. Makes 1 loaf.

Silver Ravenwolf "Halloween"

Halloween and Fall Puzzles

I have collected and have been give puzzles over the years. Some of them have the website where they came from but some don't. I can't take any credit for any of these. I hope you enjoy them as much as my family has.

Little Pumpkin pattern

Here is another craft from Don't eat the Paste website. www.donteatthepaste.com

 

This cute diminutive pumpkin gets it's shaping from using different stitches.

I was going to use black safety eyes, but decided I really loved the scale of the buttons, which came from my button stash.

You will need :
small amounts of orange and green worsted weight yarn- I used Peaches and Creme Bright Orange and Bright Lime
Size F hook
Scissors
Yarn needle
Eyes- I used buttons.
Stuffing

ch= chain
sc=single crochet
hdc= half double crochet
dc- double crochet
st or sts= stitch or stitches
sl st= slip stitch

Instead of working in rounds, the body of the pumpkin is worked flat then seamed. The rows are worked alternately in the front and back loops of the stitches to create the ridges.

Chain 13 loosely
Row 1: Sc in second chain from hook, sc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 4 sts, hdc in next 2 st, sc in last 2 sts.
Row 2: ch 1 tightly (doesn't count as first stitch here or throughout), working in back loops of the previous row: sc in first 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 4 sts, hds in next 2 sts, sc in last 2 sts.
Row 3: ch 1 tightly, working in front loops of previous row: sc in first 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 4 sts, hds in next 2 sts, sc in last 2 sts.
Row 4: ch 1 tightly (doesn't count as first stitch here or throughout), working in back loops of the previous row: sc in first 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 4 sts, hds in next 2 sts, sc in last 2 sts.
Row 5: ch 1 tightly, working in front loops of previous row: sc in first 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 4 sts, hds in next 2 sts, sc in last 2 sts.
Row 6: ch 1 tightly (doesn't count as first stitch here or throughout), working in back loops of the previous row: sc in first 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 4 sts, hds in next 2 sts, sc in last 2 sts.
Row 7: ch 1 tightly, working in front loops of previous row: sc in first 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 4 sts, hds in next 2 sts, sc in last 2 sts.
Row 8: ch 1 tightly (doesn't count as first stitch here or throughout), working in back loops of the previous row: sc in first 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 4 sts, hds in next 2 sts, sc in last 2 sts.
Row 9: ch 1 tightly, working in front loops of previous row: sc in first 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 4 sts, hds in next 2 sts, sc in last 2 sts.
Row 10: ch 1 tightly (doesn't count as first stitch here or throughout), working in back loops of the previous row: sc in first 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 4 sts, hds in next 2 sts, sc in last 2 sts.
Row 11: ch 1 tightly, working in front loops of previous row: sc in first 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 4 sts, hds in next 2 sts, sc in last 2 sts.
Row 12: ch 1 tightly (doesn't count as first stitch here or throughout), working in back loops of the previous row: sc in first 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 4 sts, hds in next 2 sts, sc in last 2 sts.
Row 13: ch 1 tightly, working in front loops of previous row: sc in first 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 4 sts, hds in next 2 sts, sc in last 2 sts.
Row 14: ch 1 tightly (doesn't count as first stitch here or throughout), working in back loops of the previous row: sc in first 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 4 sts, hds in next 2 sts, sc in last 2 sts. Break off leaving long tail to sew the piece.

Put eyes in place on different rows lined up on the dcs.

Stitch seam along the 12 stitch length making a tube that's tapered on both ends. Pass needle and thread through the sc crochets on one end, and gather them tightly to close the bottom. Keep needle on yarn. Stuff the pumpkin and pass the needle and thread through the stuffing, pull it just a little in and knot, then gather the stitches on top. Pull tight and tie off securely.

Stem:
With the green yarn, chain 2.
Round 1: 6 sc in first ch, sl st to first sc to join.
Round 2-4: ch 1 tightly, sc in each st around, sl st to first sc to join.
Break off leaving a tail. Weave tail through last stitches and pull tight, pass the needle and thread through the pumpkin to the bottom, go around a stitch, and pass back up through the top, knot securely in the bottom of the stem and weave end in.

So very quick and easy. I hope you enjoy this project.

Little Bat Pattern

Like I said before I found this great website full of great crafts. I love it. Don't Eat the Paste has great stuff. www.donteatthepaste.com



Gauge is unimportant, but you want to use a hook with your yarn that will work up a bit tight. I used Caron Simply Soft and a size F hook. You need two eyes, beads, button, safety eyes, whatever. I used safety eyes. You will also need a small amount of stuffing.
Decrease sc- Insert hook in first st, draw up a loop, insert hook in next st, draw up a loop, finish sc treating the two loops on the hook as one.
Body-
Chain 1 or use a magic loop.
Round 1: Ch 1 to start, (doesn't count as first stitch throughout), 6 sc in first stitch/magic loop, sl st to join. (6 sts)
Round 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st, sl st to join (12 sts)
Round 3: Ch 1, sc in each st, sl st to join (12 sts)
Round 4: Ch 1, *sc in st, 2 sc in next st* repeat ** around, sl st to join(18 sts)
Round 5: Ch 1, sc in each st, sl st to join (18 st)
Round 6: Ch 1, *sc in st, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st* repeat ** around, sl st to join (24 sts)
Round 7-10: Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join (24 sts)
-this would be a good time to put in your eyes, you want them somewhere in rounds 8-9. which is about the middle of the ball, about a half inch apart if you're using worst weight yarn. If you strung on beads to use for eyes, work them in round 8 or 9 and space about 4 sts apart.-
Round 11: Ch 1, *sc in next st, sc in next st, decrease sc over next two sts* repeat ** around, sl st to join(18 sts)
Round 12: Ch 1, sc in each stitch around, sl st to join (18 sts)
Round 13: Ch 1, *sc in st, decrease sc over next 2 sts*, repeat ** around. Sl st to join. (12 sts)
- stuff the ball-
Round 14: Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join (12 sts)
Round 15: Ch 1, *decrease sc over next 2 sts* repeat ** around, sl st to join (6 sts)
Break off yarn, and weave in the last 6 sts and pull tight.

Wings- Make 2

Row 1: Ch 2, sc in first chain. (1 st)
Row 2: ch 1 to turn, 3 sc in st (3 sts)
Row 3: ch 1 to turn,2 sc in st, sc in next st, sc and dc in last st (5 sts)
Row 4: ch 1 to turn, 2 sc in first st, sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in last st (7 sts)
Row 5: ch 1 to turn, sc in next 6 sts, sc and dc in last st (8 sts)
Row 6: ch 1 to turn, 2 sc in first st, sc in next 7 sts (9 sts)
Row 7: Ch 1 to turn, sc in next 3 sts, hdc in next st, dc, tr, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next sc, hdc in next st, dc, tr, tr in last st (13 sts)
Break off yarn, don't worry about weaving ends end. Next we are covering them!


The edge that joins with the body is what I'm going to call the inside of the wing.
Join yarn at the top inside corner of the wing, and sc all the way around with 3 sc at each corner. Break off leaving enough tail to sew the wing on to the body. Refer to diagram if that makes as little sense to you as it does to me.

Ears- Make 2
Chain 1 or use a magic loop.
Rnd 1: ch 1, 3 sc in first st/loop (3 sts)
Rnd 2: ch 1 to turn, 2 sc in first st, sc, dc, sc in next st, 2 sc in last st. (7 sts)
Rnd 3: ch 1 to turn, 2 sc in first st, sc in next 2 sts, 3 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in last st.
Break off yarn leaving enough to sew ears on.

Sew all the parts together. The ears are cupped slightly, and the wings are put a bit behind them and lower on the body.

I hope you enjoyed this pattern!

Halloween Boxes

I found this site and I love it. It is so crafty and it has some great patterns. It is called Don't eat the Paste. It is full of free patterns and it is wonderful for all holidays. Here are some of the Halloween boxes. They are nice for parties and gifts. www.donteatthepaste.com