Shelia, I really like a number of the hats on this page. I crochet so I made a few different ones but made some adjustments depending on what yarn I used. Made the Carousel Cap using a terry yarn, I like Melinda Gorley's (marked Bonnet & Booties) since I added the ruffle for the girls. Depending on my mood I select different patterns since there are a few with different stitches. Suggestion - no pom-poms on top, I made some of those twirly toppers since they are softer and lay flat. I also used the Coats & Clark Gotcha Covered Hats - they have a pattern for both knitting and crocheting. The thing I like about that pattern is it gives all the instructions from a preemie hat to a man and also from fingering yarn to bulky - a great general pattern that you can adapt to whatever. For example I made one in a toddler size in red and added two white pom-pom eyes and a big orange pom-pom as a nose and it was my version of an Elmo hat. The kids loved it. Here is a link that might be useful: Bevs Country Cottage Patterns for Preemies

orch, here is the pattern I used for the crocheted preemie blanket, and I used a size F hook.. just worked the colors the way I wanted them.. you can do the same.. and I surely can not remember where I put the hat pattern , but I will find it. I did not put any fringe on the baby blanket..and I just used yarn that I had gotten from Wal-Mart a little while back and this was left over from that project.. you could use any color combination that you wanted.. I think even lite green and yellow would be pretty.. or pink and white. pink and green also.. or just all white and edge with what ever color you wanted. Baby Ripple Afghan Lion Brand® Terryspun GAUGE: Each repeat = 5 inches (13 cm) wide; 4 inches [10 cm] high. BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE. When you match the gauge in a pattern, your project will be the size specified in the pattern and the materials specified in the pattern will be sufficient. If it takes you fewer stitches and rows to make a 4 in. [10 cm] square, try using a smaller size hook or needles; if more stitches and rows, try a larger size hook or needles. STITCH EXPLANATION: Beg dec Pull up a Ip in first 2 sts, yo and draw through all 3 Ips on hook. End dec Pull up a lp in last 2 Sts, yo and draw through all 3 Ips on hook. NOTES: When changing to A, B, or C from MC, first row is worked through both loops. AFGHAN (multiple of 13 sts) With A, ch 77. Row 1 (RS) With A, sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in each of next 4 ch, 3 sc in next ch, 1 sc in each of next 5 ch, *skip 2 ch, 1 sc in each of next 5 ch, 3 sc in next ch, 1 sc in each of next 5 ch; repeat from *. Rows 2-4 Ch 1, tum. Working in back loops only, work beg dec, 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, 3 sc in next sc, *1 sc in each of next 5 sc, skip 2 sc, 1 sc in each of next 5 sc, 3 sc in next sc; repeat from *, end 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, work end decrease. Rows 5 and 6 With MC, ch 1, tum. Working in both loops, work beg decrease, 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, 3 sc in next sc, *1 sc in each of next 5 sc, skip 2 sc, 1 sc in each of next 5 sc, 3 sc in next sc; repeat from *, end 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, work end decrease. Row 7 With B, repeat Row 5. Rows 8-10 Work as for Rows 2-4. Rows 11 and 12 With MC, repeat Rows 5 and 6. Rows 13-16 With C repeat Rows 7-10. Repeat Rows 11-16 keeping to MC as established on Rows 11 and 12 and alternating colors on Rows 13-16,2 times more Fasten off.

I only have 3 tiny closets and Moni my bedroom closet looks just like yours. I love purses/handbags and that only came about because family members must love buying purses because I keep getting them as gifts. My cousin from out of town sends me a beautiful large purse every birthday, my other cousin decides she doesn't like the some of the new purses she buys and passes them on to me and they are just perfect. Many times when my sister goes off to St. Louis she brings me back a new purse. I can't believe how many people compliment me on the purse I am carrying. I have some totes too and shopping bags. I still love and use the tote bag with cats on it that Flamey made and sent to me. All the hooks in my closet have multiple bags hanging from them, some are on a table in my bedroom, or on the door handle on the back of my bedroom door. I have a coat rack that I use to hang some clothes that are on hangers in my bedroom and have some of the purses hanging on that. 2 are on my bedroom floor in front of my dresser. I interchange them during the seasons but don't match them to the clothes I wear. I am getting ready to clear out all 3 closets. I live in the house I grew up in, 2 bedrooms, an unfinished upstairs and a basement which floods frequently so I don't store anything down there. I don't have room for the stuff I have, so I don't know how we had 9 people living in this house with no clutter anywhere. haha we must not have had many clothes either because I remember there was only 1 dresser and that was in my parents bedroom. We had a sock drawer where all the socks went into. My older sisters hogged the bedroom closet. Living room closet was for coats and still is even though I have a pile of cooking magazines on the floor of it and coffee table books on the top shelf. If I had the where with all and the means I would have the wall that separates the 2 closets in the bedrooms opened up and made into one big closet with shelving.

Boils down to a belief that one's own personal preferences should rule others. I don't agree, although I will say that seems to have become an almost reflexive response in our nation to an opposing opinion. But with this one (and speaking as a former hippie chick who scandalously wore jeans to church in 1970) I think it boils down to the customs and traditions that have, in the past, bound societies together, by showing respect for the occasion and each other. Really, when it comes down to it, why have a funeral at all? If you don't feel there is a religious imperative, why waste the money and time, much less be clean and dressed more than schlepping -to- the- grocery -store casually? What purpose does it serve? "the essential or characteristic customs and conventions of a community" Don't read snobbery into what I am saying. In my aunt & uncle's small farming community 40 years ago, to come to the visitation and funeral in spotless clean and pressed shirt and jeans would have been understood as one's best, and that was fine. I myself generally never wear a skirt, dress or heels, but I will wear dress slacks, and a professional looking top and jacket. If my foot is acting up, I have a pair of all black athletic shoes that my orthotics fit into that aren't obvious. My feeling is that many customs and traditions have eroded in many instances to the point of being non-existent. When we travel or read about other nations and cultures, we usually think of their custom and traditions as charming, worthy of respect, of value and deserving of preservation, (well sure I can name some that are totally not, let's not go there) and yet, here in America, we seem to take the opposite view.