Frosty Sparkle Cowl - Free Pattern

Frosty Sparkle Cowl
by Christi @ xtporter
Size K / 6.5 mm hook and worsted weight yarn

In the sample, I used Red Heart Boutique Midnight in Shadow, 1 skein. You will need another skein if you want to make a longer cowl, as I used the entire skein for this one. :) It's so cute. Enjoy~!

Flying Diamonds Shawl - Free Pattern

Flying Diamonds Shawl
by Christi @ xtporter
Size J / 6.00 mm hook and worsted weight yarn

I used one full skein of Red Heart Super Saver in Buff for the sample pattern, and a small amount of the same in Black for the border (1 skein will suffice) If you use only one color for the entire shawl, you will want to get the equivalent of two skeins of Red Heart Super Saver to have enough yarn.

The pattern is easy to learn and repetitive; you need only recall that there is a regular increase. You'll see it as you work through the pattern. I still wrote out the entire pattern, but you can make it larger or smaller by simply working more or fewer rows. The end result is a lovely swath of diamond shapes.

Sunflower Square Motif - Free Pattern

Sunflower Square Motif
by Christi @ xtporter

Sunflower Square Wristers/Cuffs - Versatile :) - Free Pattern

 Sunflower Square Motif Wristers/Cuffs

by Christi @ xtporter

Tools:
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool DK Superwash, 1 skein in Gold
Hook: 4.00mm/G6
Scissors, Yarn needle

Pattern for the motif is HERE.
Join three motifs for each wrister to begin the project.

Snow Star Motif Fingerless Mitts - Free Pattern

by Christi @ xtporter

Yarn: Fingering/sock weight in ivory; small amount of red
Hook: 2.75mm/C-2
Yarn needle, scissors

Made 2 motifs for each glove for a total of 4 motifs. Pattern for motifs is HERE. Join as instructed in that pattern and fasten off. You will have a cuff of sorts from the motifs, each cuff comprised of 2 motifs.

Snow Star Motif - Free Pattern

by Christi @ xtporter

Start with the magic loop

Round 1: Beg dc cl, ch 3, *dc cl, ch 3*, rep from * to * 4 more times, join with sl st in top of beg dc cl = 6 dc cl, 6 ch 3 sp

Crush

My big Crush. It's lasted about six years now. When I met him, he was married. I won't mess with a married guy. I just admired him from a distance. He's so cool. He makes everyone laugh, and nothing ever got to him. If it did, you never knew it. He's always kind and helpful.

I worked with him. Once I had a rough customer with the email and he took over the call for me. When someone has you back like that in the tech support trenches you don't forget.

Chapter 10: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sr. Hierba de Trigo

by Christi

We three looked at one another.

Hector spoke, "That's what we're trying to do! We know where he is. We're trying to bust him outta prison."

"What prison?" He didn't trust us.

"He ticked off the cartel in Colombia. They sent him to a prison of theirs, in El Salvador."

Geek Recognition

by Christi

Just a quick dialogue.

Endless coffee? Slacker dress code? It has to be something but we recognize our own! Most of the time. 

If you're a techie you know you've had a moment like this:

"You used to do tech support, didn't you," I told him. But I already knew.

"Yeah! How'd you know?!" he asked, incredulous.

"I know my people," I said, cool, unruffled. But bubbling with anticipation 'neath the surface. 

Lacy Crochet Heart - Free Pattern

Lacy Crochet Heart Pattern

by Christi @ xtporter

Make with any weight yarn or hook. The heart in the image was made using a 6mm/J hook and worsted weight yarn.

Row 1 - ch 5, (dc, ch 2), (dc, ch 3), (dc, ch 2) twice, dc, turn

Row 2 - ch 3, 3 dc in next dc, ch 2, 3 dc in next dc, ch 2, (dc, ch3, dc) in ch 3 sp, ch 2, 3 dc in next dc, ch 2, 3 dc in next dc, ch 3, join in 3rd ch of ch 5 and fasten off

Weave in ends.

Chapter 9: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sr. Hierba de Trigo

Chapter 9
By Christi

Right as we crossed into Guatemala, we got stopped at what looked to be a makeshift checkpoint in a deserted area. We'd driven down a few main roads without incident, and through a few neighborhoods where folks looked at us funny. But now, with trees flanking the road, we got halted.

In the middle of the street was a black Hummer. Scattered about it stood five armed men in battle gear. I looked at Hector.

"Don't look at me! I don't know what to do."

Chapter 8: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sr. Hierba de Trigo

Chapter 8
by Christi

Sunset came, and with it the SUV (in which the AC was descompuesto).

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"On a long drive. We have to travel from here down through Yucatan, and Guatemala. We'll skirt the border of Belize..." A huge bump shook the SUV, "then into El Salvador. Where we understand that our companero is imprisoned... down by the coast."

Chapter 7: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sr. Hierba de Trigo

Chapter 7
by Christi

The little path cut into an unexpected little area of trees. I can't call it a proper rainforest or jungle. Just some trees. I couldn't believe how un-tropical all this was starting to look. It looked like rural east Texas. With the Gulf of Mexico on the side.

I shook my head in quiet disappointment.

Chapter 6: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sr. Hierba de Trigo

Chapter 6
by Christi

Apparently, I was to meet some dude in Corpus Christi, Texas, and board a plane to head out to Mexico. There, I was to meet a guy at a small airstrip in Merida, Yucatan. The name of my contact is supposedly Pedro, but I think to myself, that's probably just an alias.

I was also in need of a passport.

Chapter 5: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sr. Hierba de Trigo

Chapter 5
by Christi

Organic *water*? No one buys that. Who buys that? Why'd he say that? That's when it hit me. Maybe it was a clue. After work that day, I made my way over to the Whole Foods. I just knew there was something about the water.

It was over by the refill station where I made my discovery.

Happy Birthday Nikola Tesla

Chapter 4: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sr. Hierba de Trigo

Chapter 4
by Christi

I was at the Whole Foods, because I needed some bananas. I was in the line. Guess who walks in! Yes! It was he, Senor Hierba de Trigo. "Fancy meeting you here," said he.

"Yes. I was out of bananas."

Apparently, he had to pick up some organic water. "See you tomorrow," he said, and with that he was on his way and I was on mine. Little did I know that events were about to take a crazy turn.

Chapter 3: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sr. Hierba de Trigo

Chapter 3
by Christi

"Check it out. It's like I'm in Goodfellas."

The observation that started it all.

"Sure does. You look like a proper gangster," said one of the other trainees. I glanced at the picture and suddenly my mind was saturated with color images: There he is, with an entourage. Not carrying weapons. Nah, he's got people to do that. He just looks cool. It's what he does.

Chapter 2: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sr. Hierba de Trigo

Chapter 2
by Christi

The ID photo. That is what started all this. I only got a brief glance at it but that's inconsequential. The point is that he may call himself Senor Hierba de Trigo, but it is quite likely he goes by an alias and that he chose Wheatgrass in Espanol because he's just really into organic food.

And he mentioned once that he does like wheatgrass.

Chapter 1: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sr. Hierba de Trigo

Chapter 1
by Christi

O' My Goodness. So there's this guy I met on the job. Let's call him... Senor Hierba De Trigo. It's so confusing. I found him so intriguing. We all had to do this ridiculous team-building thing in training where we interviewed a partner and asked them various invasive questions. He was my partner.

Right, so he was asking me the obligatory questions and I disclosed some of my hobbies and stuff. But I digress.