spiritual musing, kolkata

We visited writer's building  in 2008 when my daughter was invited for awad  for her poems in Naya gyaanoday 

last year in Februry 2018 we again visited and now   we plan to visit  shantiniketan 

this is  Writers’ Building, presently the Writers’ (as it’s also known) houses the State Government of West Bengal, it has served multiple functions over the past centuries.

Built in 1777, the Writers’ Building was meant to accommodate junior servants, or ‘writers’ as they were called, of the East India Company. When it was leased to the company in 1780 for this purpose, it was described as looking like a ‘shabby hospital, or poor-house‘. After several structural changes over the next couple of decades, Fort William College set up camp there, training writers in languages such as Hindi and Persian, until around 1830. In the years that succeeded, the dwelling was used by private individuals and officials of the British Raj as living quarters and for shopping.

Extensive remodelling and renovations have occurred most of the times the building was switched between hands. Today, there are 13 blocks; six of which were added after India won independence from British rule. The 150-metre long structure has a distinct Greco-Roman style, with several statues of Greek gods as well as a sculpture of Roman goddess Minerva commanding attention from the pediment.

After knowing so much about it, I feel that I know something about the elderly people there. Last time we went to Calcutta, the old driver had told a lot. This time we will get to know about it here leisurely.

xoxo

BG, Window valance

इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुरिन्द्रियेभ्य: परं मन: |
मनसस्तु परा बुद्धिर्यो बुद्धे: परतस्तु स: || 42||

BG 3.42: The senses are superior to the gross body, and superior to the senses is the mind. Beyond the mind is the intellect, and even beyond the intellect is the soul.

--------------------------------------------------

I found this design from net .......years back  I am posting it here to crochet in near future 

window valance

Window Valance, Tiebacks and

Curtain Edging

Materials

Oswal yarn (It takes about one 50 gram ball of Oswal yarn) to crochet each 12" of the valance. To figure the amount of yarn needed for the valance,

multiply the width of your window (in inches) by 1.5 or 2, depending on the fullness desired, to determine your final

width. Divide the final width by 12 to determine the number of 50 gram balls needed.) Add 1 more 50 gram ball for coordinating tiebacks and curtain edging.

Crochet hook size F

Alternate yarn: You can use 2 strands of size 10 cotton thread held together.

Two 5/8" curtain rings for each tieback.

Gauge: Not important for this project, but if your stitches look too loose, try a size E

hook

Finished size of valance: As pictured, overall length = about 10", length below rod

pocket=about 8", Length is easily adjusted by adding or subtracting rows. The

width of the valance is worked to fit your window and is determined by the length of

the foundation row.

Finished size of tiebacks: As pictured, about 16" long overall x 1 1/4" wide

Finished size of edging: About 1" wide x any length

Valance

Foundation row: *Ch 4, dc in the 4th ch from hook* Repeat from * to * an even

number of times (so that you have an odd number total) until the length of the

foundation row is equal to 1 ½ - 2 times the width of your window; ch 2, turn.

(Pattern note: The "ch 2" at the end of the rows does not count as the first dc of the

next row.)

Row 1: (Front) Work 5 dc in the first ch-4 space, sc in the next ch-4 sp, (7 dc in the

next ch-4 sp, sc in the next ch-4 sp) across, ending with 5 dc in the last ch-4 sp; ch 1,turn.

Row 2: Sc in the first dc, ch 3, skip next dc, sc in the next dc, *ch 4, skip next (2 dc,

sc, 2 dc), sc in the next dc, ch 3, skip next dc, dc in the next dc* Repeat from * to *

across; ch 2, turn.

Row 3: Work 5 dc in the first ch-3 space, sc in the next ch-4 sp, (7 dc in the next ch-3 sp, sc in the next ch-4 sp) across, ending with 5 dc in the last ch-3 sp; ch 1, turn.

Rows 4-23: (Repeat rows 2 & 3) 10 times for and 8" length below the curtain rod.

Add or subtract rows to adjust to the desired length. Fasten off after the last row.

Rod pocket

Row 1: With the wrong side facing you, join yarn with a sc around the post of the

first dc of the foundation row, work one more sc around the same dc, (2 sc around

the post of the next dc in the foundation row) across; ch 4, turn.

Pattern note: The rod pocket in this pattern accommodates a small-diameter rod. If

you need a bigger rod pocket, substitute (ch 5's and dtrc's) or (ch 6's and ttrc's) for

the ch 4's and trc's in row 2 (front and back.)

Row 2: (front of rod pocket) Trc in the front loop only of the first sc, trc in the front

loop only of each remaining sc across, ch 4, sl st in the front loop only of the same sc

in which the last trc was worked; turn.

Row 2: (back of rod pocket) Sl st in the unworked loop of the first sc on row 1, ch 4,

trc in the same st, trc in the unworked loop only of each remaining sc in row 1 to

within the last sc, 2 trc in the unworked loop of the last sc; ch 1, turn.

Row 3: (crocheting front and back of rod pocket together) Insert hook into the 4th

ch of the turning ch on the front of the rod pocket and into the first trc on the back

of the rod pocket and pull up a loop, yo and pull through both remaining loops on

hook; (insert hook into the next trc on the front of the rod pocket and into the next

trc on the back of the rod pocket and pull up a loop, yo and pull through both

remaining loops on hook) across; do not sc together the turning chains at the end of

the row; ch 1, turn. (You should have an odd number of sc.)

Row 4: Sc in the first sc, (ch 3, skip next sc, sc in the next sc) across; ch 2, turn.

Row 5: Work 5 dc in the first ch-3 sp, (sc in the next ch-3 sp, 5 dc in the next ch-3

sp) across; ch 2, sl st in the last sc. Fasten off.

Tiebacks

Foundation row: *Ch 4, dc in the 4th ch from hook* Repeat from * to * 20 times or

an even number of times (so that you have an odd number total) until the length

desired for each tieback; ch 2, turn.

Round 1: Work 7 dc in the first ch-4 space, sc in the next ch-4 sp, (7 dc in the next

ch-4 sp, sc in the next ch-4 sp) across, 7 dc in the last ch-4 sp, 15 sc in one of the

curtain rings, sl st in the first sc on the  curtain ring; continuing around the other side of the tieback, (work 7 dc around the post of the next dc on the foundation row, sc around the post of the next dc on the foundation row) across, ending with 7 dc

around the post of the last dc on the foundation row, 15 sc in the other of the lucite

rings, sl st in the first sc on the curtain ring; join with a sl st in the top of the first dc.

Fasten off.

Curtain edging (to be sewn to the hemline of a cloth curtain or sheer)

Foundation row: *Ch 4, dc in the 4th ch from hook* Repeat from * to * an even

number of times (so that you have an odd number total) until the length of the

foundation row is equal to the width

Bread Box 

I'm in need of this let see when will the order be placed and i will got it or not?

The Gnam bread bin from Alessi is made from thermoplastic resin and comes in black, white and orange. (Amazon.com doesn’t have the orange version.)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Teachings of Geeta, pious blanket

इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थे रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थितौ |
तयोर्न वशमागच्छेत्तौ ह्यस्य परिपन्थिनौ || 34||
Bg 3.34: The senses naturally experience attachment and aversion to the sense objects, but do not be controlled by them, for they are way-layers and foes.


Today I spent a little time to peek into some of my articles I wrote back in …2010 and   got published later on…..

Pious Blanket

It makes me feel productive when I am sitting on sofa. I enjoy listening to the TV or music, but can’t stand just sitting doing nothing crocheting something gives me great feeling of accomplishment, especially while listening pious verses from holy granthas.

Pattern

Panda is modeling pious blanket

I made this pious blanket last year while watching TV, I guess to show you how much time is wasted sitting in front of the idiot box because I crocheted an entire ball of yarn(handmade ball of 50 gram skein)on one sitting crocheting at a stretch.

I made this blanket from the stack of wool brought by me in one lot only, without considering the size, amount I actually need to make the blanket.

So, I got this wool stock. Lots of it sufficient for two full sized blankets. I ordered it from Oswal’s, where they have a good selection of colours and weights available.

And I didn’t swatch for wool and even for pattern and also for the size.

I found the yarn and not that hard to deal with but it did take extra effort to pull it through the loops because it’s much bulky yarn and I can see if you were going to knit with it, the yarn would be a nightmare. Anyhow it’s all moot as I’ve done the blanket. I am not sure what the colour stands for but I like the colour. I search in the market for the blanket (ready- made especially Raymond Brand) in this colour, one colour only. I found light blue, pink, and plaids in Raymond Brand ….but I was intended to have this colour i.e. RGB( R6+G221+B250)…in vain…decided to crochet my own..

Texture Crochet Stitches

The alternate stitch is done on a multiple of two chains plus two for turning. Begin by making a chain length you need, turn it, and after skipping three chains (the turning chain), make two single crochet in the next chain (or stitch, in later rows). Then skip a chain (or stitch) and chain one. Repeat that to the last stitch or chain, make two single crochets in the last stitch, chain two and turn. The second row will make the two crochet stitches in the single chain spaces, and skip and chain over the two crochets in the previous row. Those two rows make up a pattern that looks something like a leaf when it’s made up.

Edgings

Make single crochet all around the edges, four single crochets at each corner. For second row of edgings make single crochet in every single crochet of the previous raw, again four single crochets in the corners, fasten off. And the blanket of my choice is complete now.

I remember when it is approximately I yard in length, on that night while watching..listening prvachana of Murari Bapu (Live) on Astha Channel till 2.00 at night I did lots of its length.

It’s crocheted mostly listening holy Bhagvad Gita.

That’s why I named it the pious blanket!

Make one and enjoy!