Tuesday Tutorial - Mexico Market Bag

Here is a free pattern from Meighen.

The Mexico Market Bag

Inspired by the fishing nets around here and the street merchants everywhere.

K hook and baby/light weight yarn (number 2)



Row 1: 10hdc in magic circle
 Row 2: 2hdc in each hdc around (20)
 Row 3: 1hdc in first and 2hdc in next repeat around (30)
 Row 4: 1hdc in first 2 and 2hdc in third repeat around (40)
 Row 5: 1hdc in first 3 and 2hdc in fourth repeat around (50)
 Row 6: 1hdc in first 4 and 2hdc in fifth repeat around (60)
 Row 7: ch4 (counts as first tr throughout), tr in second sp from ch, *ch1, skip sp, tr in next sp *repeat around and join in 3rd ch of ch4 (30)

 Row 8-16: ch4, *tr in next ch sp, ch1 *repeat around and join in 3rd ch of ch4 (30)
 Row 17: ch1(does not count as hdc), 2hdc in ea ch1 sp (60)
 Row 18-19: ch1, hdc around (60)
 Row 20: ch1, hdc in same and next 9 sts, ch1, turn (10)
 Continue with 10 hdc turning each row until you have enough length for the strap. Count 20 sts from the beginning of the strap around the top of the bag and connect. You can use a sc, sl st, or a yarn needle. Whatever you prefer.

Thankful Thursday - Mexico Edition

Tonight while I was yelling at my DSL modem to quit being a giant piece of poop and start working right (it's been extra finicky lately and only works for about 5 minutes at a time and those 5 minutes are always when I'm not trying to use the computer...), I thought about a little perspective. Like how I went to Mexico to build houses for people who didn't have them or lived in shacks because they can't afford to build houses of their own. Yeah, I have terrible internet service, but I have internet (most of the time). I have a home. I have a place to call mine.

The week I spent in Mexico was a very eye opening experience and I am very excited to have the opportunity to return this February. Unfortunately, I could not go this year (2011) but have decided that I will make every effort to go in the following years. This is a trip that is worth the work. We are side-by-side with the families who benefit from our hard work. We put up the walls they're soon to call home. We eat the luscious meals they prepare for us. We pray with them. We play with the children. We share their joys and woes. We are familia.

I've been trying to brush up my Spanish skills (a Spanish minor in college including 7 years of courses and 2 stints in Puerto Rico and the best I can do now is talk with a 2 year old!) so that I can communicate better when I go visit. I am, to put it mildly, excited about this trip. It's something I am looking forward to. It gives me perspective.

They live here:

(Yes, that is a GIANT trash dump. Check out the blog post here and read about my very special birthday that I spent in Mexico...)

And I live here:

So today I'm thankful for the fact that I have much to be thankful for. I am not saying that because I live in the U.S. my life is better, because I don't believe that. I think you can have a great life no matter where you are. Life is what you make it. I am simply saying that there are many in this world who have it worse than me yet still find much to be thankful for. 

I'm thankful.

What are you thankful for?

Linking up with Southern Charm

And Miss Buckle

The trip is organized by a group from my church and we work with an organization called Esperanza International while we're in Mexico. Check them out. They do great things. If you want to join us on our trip, please let me know. We always welcome additional travelers. :)