Eve's Handiwork

How To Start Lemon Grass Indoor

Winter is a good time to start lemon grass plant indoor. First, you must select a lemon grass from a grocery store that has main bulb or root bulb intact like the ones shown on photo below.

Fill a clean flower vase with tap water halfway and put the bulbs in. Put the vase with the lemon grass in a well lighted area preferably under a bright fluorescent light. It will take almost all winter months for the roots to grow. Change the water in the flower vase every week. Rooting solution is not necessary for the roots to grow, just make sure there is sufficient water in the flower vase until the weather is warm enough to transplant it in a flower pot and put outside. After the roots grow, some leaves will follow. The leaves might be pale and wispy due to absence of sunlight but it does not take long for lemon grass to grow thick leaves once it is planted outside when the weather is good and warm.

I immensely enjoyed my lemon grass that I started indoor and I had abundant harvest and plenty to give away to friends! See how the bulbs turned green on photos below?

One thing I would not do related to lemon grass is – I would not plant it in the ground. It is a very tough plant to dig out! It is best to plant it in small to medium size flower pot that can be easily taken inside during Winter. It cannot be left outside because it cannot survive cold weather.

This is a very easy plant to grow but watch out for those razor sharp leaves!

Shells In The Sand – Crocheted Tunic

Almost Finished. Written Pattern Pending. It lacks buttons and finishing the armholes.

1cb20a54-3352-41e5-aab0-e967cc7815a8

Rainy Day Rose Afghan

Let’s get rid of our left-over yarn and make something beautiful out of them! Crochet along with me in making this afghan of different colored roses! Good Luck to you and me and Happy crocheting with the hope of finishing this afghan by the end of this year!

Tools And Materials: Left over yarn, Red Heart, medium wt., category 4; crochet hook, 4.25 mm; yarn needle; small scissors.

Note: When making a slip knot to begin crochet, leave at least 7 to 8 inch yarn tail so that this can be woven inside the stitches afterwards.

Ch4. Sc on 4th ch from hook to form ring.

Rose Flower

Round 1: (Ch1, 3dc -ch1- sc – over ring) 4x. Note: 4 rose petals made.

Round 2: Ch1, *insert hook at back of next rose petal between 1st and 2nd dc, [fold petal wrong side up so that hook is under the foundation ring, yo and pull up this yo on wrong side or back of the petal], make a (B)sc on the foundation ring. Note: (B)sc = means beginning sc or first sc made on current round. * Ch5, insert hook at back of next rose petal between 1st and 2nd dc, [fold petal wrong side up so that hook is under the foundation ring, yo and pull up this yo on wrong side or back of the petal ], sc on the foundation ring*. Repeat * * until there are total of three ch-5 loops, ch5, sc on beginning sc or (B)sc. Total of 4 ch-5 loops made.

[ ] = means fold petal wrong side up, yo and pull up this yo on wrong side or back of the petal.

Round 3: (B)sc on next ch-5 loop, ch1-6dc-ch1-sc on same ch-5 loop. *sc-ch1-6dc-ch1-sc on next ch-5 loop.*. Repeat * * two more times. Total of 4 rose petals.

Round 4: Ch2, insert hook at back of next rose petal between 1st and 2nd dc, [ ], make (B)sc; ch4, insert hook at back of same rose petal between 5th and 6th dc [ ], sc on same petal. *Ch4, insert hook at back of next rose petal between 1st and 2nd dc, [ ], make a sc; ch4, insert hook at back of same rose petal between 5th and 6th dc, [ ], sc on same petal.* repeat * * twice. Ch4, sl st on (B)sc. Total ch4 loop this row = 8.

Round 5: *Sc-ch1-5dc-ch1-sc on next ch-4 loop * Repeat * *around. Total Rose petals = 8.

Round 6: Insert hook at back of next rose petal between 2nd and 3rd dc, [ ], make a (B)sc, *ch6, insert hook at back of next rose petal between 2nd and 3rd dc, [ ], make a sc.* Repeat * * until there are 7 ch-6 loops. Ch6, sc on (B) sc.

Total of 8 ch-6 loops. Fasten off leaving a 7 to 8 inch tail. Note: The tail will be woven within the dense stitches of rose petals with use of yarn needle.

Rose Leaves: Use any shade of Green colored yarn or any color you prefer.

Round 7: Attach new yarn next to a sc at beginning of any ch- 6 loop. Crochet over the tail of yarn as you make the stitches. (B)sc-Ch1- 4dc- ch3- 4dc-ch1-sc on this ch-6 loop where new yarn is attached. Note: 1 corner leaf made. From now on LEAF = sc- ch1-4dc-ch3-4dc-ch1-sc. * Ch5-sc on next ch-6 loop. Ch5- leaf on next ch-6 loop*. Repeat * * until completing the 4th leaf. Ch5-sc on next ch-6 loop, ch5, sl st on (B) sc.

Round 8: Slst on next 2 sts, *ch3, sc on next ch-3 corner loop, ch5, sc on same loop, note: first corner loop of this round is made. Ch3, skip 2 dc sts, sc on next st, (ch3, sc on next ch-5 loop) twice; ch3, sc on st between 1st and 2nd dc counting from right to left. * Note: Always count from left to right unless stated otherwise. Repeat * * around until 4th ch-5 corner loop is completed. Ch3, skip 2 dc sts, sc on next st,(Ch3, sc on next ch-5 loop) twice, ch3, slst on 2nd sl st. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Note: First block of Rainy Day Rose motif is finished. Second and subsequent blocks will be worked from Round 1 to Round 7 and on round 8, the next block will be joined to the previous block. This method is called “join-as-you-go”. Where a block just made is attached to previous block/blocks on last round before fastening off and starting another block.

How To Make Basic Crochet Stitches Step By Step

Crocheted Shawl

Crocheted Tunic

Cold Weather is here and it’s time to make something to keep us warm. Let’s get our knitting needles, crochet hook etc. and any unfinished projects out and start working on them. Visit a craft or yarn shop to get inspired or browse craft sites for ideas on what to make. There is an abundance of information (diy) online which makes it easy to learn making new things.

This tunic started out as a scarf and I decided to turn it into a vest first then I found more gray yarn that had been lying around unused so I decided to make a tunic instead. It turned out good. I hope to write the pattern at some point. Hopefully soon, but I’d rather create than write.

Harvesting Lemon Grass

8BE1E361-9DC8-4E72-952A-08517E1C4E00

Now that the weather is cooler and I know that the temperature will drop at any time to where tropical plants will not tolerate, I have made a decision to harvest my Lemon Grass and keep them in my fridge to use in my cooking this winter.

Before starting this task, I put on denim pants, long sleeved shirt and gardening gloves to protect my skin from the sharp leaves of these plants.

I would say that harvesting Lemon Grass is labor intensive, at least for me. I need the physical exertion so I did not mind this rigorous activity. I planted all my lemon grasses in big pots this year due to having learned through my friends experience that planting lemon grass in an open field is not such a good idea. It was almost impossible to dig the whole clump because of the dense sturdy roots it sends down through the soil underneath it. The photo below shows just how dense the roots are!

The technique of getting the root ball out of the pot depends on what kind of pot the Lemon Grass is planted on. The photo above shows that I used a black nursery pot to plant the Lemon Grass in and it was easy enough to get the whole root ball out. All I have to do is tap the sides and botton of the pot then shake the plant loose and it came out easy. If the plant is planted in a pot that has a water reservoir at the bottom of the pot, the water reservoir tray has to be removed first and the roots that extend to the water reservoir tray has to be clipped before I can successfully remove the clump out of the pot. See photo below.

Once I cut the roots that extend to the water reservoir tray, I can tap the sides and bottom of the pot and shake and pull the clump out of the pot just like I did for the one planted in the black flower pot.

Once the clump is out of the pot, I used a shovel to remove the dirt surrounding the plant and at the bottom of the plant. See photos below. F1132580-A78F-4C09-860F-ED01FD5A5BE7

Then I separate each plant by pulling each plant apart from the clump until all are separated from each other. See photo below.

The next step is to cut the leaves off each plant with the use of sharp scissors and also clip the roots with the use of sharp limb clipper. Then remove the dead or dried leaves.

Wash the individual plants thoroughly using rubber gloves or disposable gloves to protect hands from cuts as the edge of the leaves and stalks of the plants are sharp. Spread the cleaned plants on a dry towel. See photo below.

Once the plants are free of excess water from washing, put them in a big plastic bag and place inside the fridge. See photos below.

The photo on the left shows young plants which I will use as seedling for next year. The photo on the right shows mature plants which I will use for cooking and give away to friends.

Lemon Grass

Since I planted Lemon Grass on my back patio, I have not noticed any gnats or mosquitoes hovering over me when I’m outside. Maybe it’s too early to tell. I would know more about it when the temperature drops down to a cooler one at the onset of Fall. I’m really very pleased at how my Lemon Grasses grow so well in containers. These are started from three single plants last winter, which I bought from an Asian grocery store. I chose ones that have visible intact bud at the base of the plant and stuck them in a flower base half filled with water. I kept them under flourescent light in my bathroom winter through spring. They developed roots and leaves all through these two seasons in my bathroom and even produce pups or young plants around them.

When the weather was consistently warm this year, around May or Jun, I transplanted them to flower pots. As you can see from the photo above that they almost fill up the pots that they are planted in. It is very sensitive to cold weather so it has to be placed inside a garage or unused room inside my house.

WARNING: THE LEAVES HAVE SHARP EDGE AND IT CAN CUT SKIN VERY EASILY.

How To Make A Short Blouse Longer

I have this blouse that I like so well, but I wish that it is longer, so I decided to add a lace trimming at the hem. See photo below.

I found a lace fabric at Walmart and decided to use the scallop selvedge as the new hem.

Like this. See photo below.

Step 1: Measure the width of the hem. Divide this measurement in half this should give the the length (yardage) of fabric. Note: There will be lots of extra fabric since only portion from selvedge is to be used. Remember that the fabric comes folded. If the blouse is stretchy, add 3 to 4 inches to the yardage to allow for the stretch.

Step 2: The lace fabric being folded, match the scallop at each eadge together evenly using a straight pin to hold the fabric together, placing the pins all through the selvedge.

Step 3: Decide the length you want to add to the hem. Measure from the widest part of the scallop and mark the length with a straight pin, repeat this through out the selvedge.

Step 4: Cut 1/2 inch away from marked area straight accross the selvedge.

Step 5: Sew the side seam of the lace fabric, right side together, using matching thread.

Step 6: turn the blouse hem wrong side up; lay the raw edge of the lace, wrong side up also over the hem and pin. Keep pinning blouse hem and lace together at about 3 inch interval all around.

Step 7: Leave 1 inch unsewn from end of the lace; use zigzag stitch to sew the lace onto the turned hem of the blouse.

Step 8: Leave 1 inch unsewn at the other end of the lace also. Put machine needle and presser foot up and remove work from sewing machine. Pin each unsewn end onto the blouse hem. Mark the area where the two lace ends met with a pin, this is the start of the side seam of the lace. Remove the previous pins after marking the side seam. Align and pin together the two unsewn ends of the lace starting at the marked place, down to the scallop hem. See step 5. Cut away excess fabric leaving 1/4 seam allowance.

Step 9: Lay the lace over the blouse hem and continue to sew the unfinished gap overlapping half an inch on previous stitch and ending in a half inch overlap also.

Tada!

Enjoy the refashioned Blouse!

The Tragic Lullaby

Woke up one night to your soft voice, singing an old Filipino Bicol Lullaby “ *Sa Diklom Nin Bangui….”. Why is my brother crying and restless? Mama, you are singing to keep him still and calm…..

Oh mama, mama didn’t you you see? My brother is gasping for lack of air! If I know then what I know now, oh mama, mama I would declare……

Take him quick to the doctor near even in the darkest of nights and dangerous tide; nothing to deter you for your baby, my brother, so dear…..

In your innocent mind, a mother’s love and touch was enough to cure a poor sick child! So through the night you sing….the baby gasping for lack of air!

I was a child, no knowledge of the world, born only to observe and listen but not to reason….. it was my role to keep silent and passive. Why?

My baby brother dying in your arms, I’m sad for you and for him too! For I’m remembering all these events from long ago.

The daylight comes and then we go to doctor in the nearest town; the quiet baby seems at rest and mama sigh relief but not for long for we are told….. “too late,” the doctor said…

”Bronchial Pnemonia,” he proclaims too late for cure at this late hour! The redness in my father’s eyes spoke of tears and grief withheld. No words spoken….

The silent mourners marched toward the grave of my dear baby brother; finally, my mother said as they lower the baby’s coffin to the watery grave, “my dearest child, you will be cold!”

* Sa diklom nin bangui translates in English as “In the darkness of the night.”