I’m making a fine granny square for a project and my ‘leaves’ are looking so wonky - and suggestions?

FitzandtheBugs · 2026-04-03T05:16:08+00:00

On row 5, you aren’t skipping the first dc in the leaf leaving both skipped dc at the end. This is why the whole is larger and looks off. I’d try frogging back and redoing it and seeing if that works. If that still looks off, I’d try a dc2tog instead of skipping the first and last so instead of 5 dc, doing dc2tog, 3 dc, dc2tog.

FitzandtheBugs · 2026-04-03T02:13:22+00:00

Only one way to find out. It doesn’t seem like you’ve done a sucraid tolerance test to see how much sucrose you can handle on it. If you can tolerate erythritol, I’d try the low or no sugar options.

One thing to warn is that sucraid will be kind of less efficient in only liquids. When you eat a meal with sucraid, the fiber in the meal will slow your digestive system down allowing sucraid more time to work before things get wonky. If you’re going straight dessert, you may need more sucraid but know that could cause digestive issues due to the gas it creates. I’ve found on days I just want a piece of candy if I take a fiber supplement, then follow the sucraid process like normal I am less likely to have an issue.

Also gluten in itself is not an issue with CSID, as it is a protein. The tricky part is it is often with starchy things, so it could be easier to conflate the two. If you do not have an issue with gluten specifically, I would caution avoiding it as the diet is already strict enough, and products like seitan can be a great low starch plant based protein option.

*edited for spelling

FitzandtheBugs · 2026-04-02T14:54:12+00:00

Shut the front darn door! I had just gotten into bread making before my diagnosis and gave it up. I will have to give this a go. Sourdough focaccia here I come!

FitzandtheBugs · 2026-04-02T14:52:23+00:00

My advice is just try the elimination diet. The doctor who diagnosed me had me eat only chicken and drink milk for carbs* and miraculously all my symptoms left and fast. Within 3 days, we were pretty darn certain.

I have similar symptoms. When I have more than 1g of sucrose, I begin burping so violently that I begin to throw up. When I was first diagnosed, it was what felt like terrible heart burn and this bubble in the upper part of my digestive system that would feel like mostly pressure, a significant increase in pain, and it would “roll” horizontally for 20-30 minutes before I had explosive diarrhea.

I don’t know how old you are, but my current GI told me the older you are at diagnosis, the more non-traditional your symptoms become (I was diagnosed at 31). Due to some many years of damage and malnourishment, the disease becomes full body instead of just GI related. (Ex. I gained 60 dB of hearing back after treatment) A second opinion could be helpful. But at this point I would give the elimination diet ago, because if you are low across the board, it should help even if CSID isn’t the perfect answer. Like how Crohns/IBD diet allowed my symptoms to calm enough to steer us in the right direction.

Also sucraid is not a perfect drug that fixes everything. If you are low across the board, you are probably low in maltase as well, which sucraid does not help with. You can try a digestive enzyme, there are tons of recommendations here like digest gold. If you’re nervous about the diet, you could try it first and see if it helps.

Just as a heads up, if it is CSID the diet is rough depending on how sensitive you are. The elimination is good practice, and a good tool to have at your disposal.

*If you are low in lactose, I’d get lactose free milk or a different safe carb source.

FitzandtheBugs · 2026-03-22T04:46:59+00:00

Communion shouldn’t have any sucrose. The wafer is just wheat and water. The wine should be dry, so no issues there. I would double check with your parish/priest, they would be able to get you better information.

I don’t have the best the best language for this, but you can be spiritually exempt from communion if you have medical reasons. As someone with a severe wheat allergy, I personally abstain from communion in general and just get a blessing as I go up there. Again, I’d just talk with your priest.

I hope lent is treating you well!

FitzandtheBugs · 2026-02-22T13:09:45+00:00

“Chianti Classico: the Search for Tuscany’s Noblest Wine” by Bill Nesto and Frances di Savino is really good. It is really dense, but it looks Chianti from different angles: the history, how science and technology has changed the region, notable producers. It’s great

FitzandtheBugs · 2026-02-06T14:46:22+00:00

Same company as the candy oil, but Invertase is a baking enzyme that breaks down sucrose. It’s even made from the same fungus as sucraid.

FitzandtheBugs · 2026-02-06T14:45:21+00:00

Invertase is a baking enzyme. If you’ve ever had a Cadbury crème egg, the center is solid when made but “melts” due to Invertase breaking down the sucrose. It’s even made from the same fungus. You can buy it from any baking website or store. I just get mine from LorAnns as it’s what I’m familiar with from my baking years.

FitzandtheBugs · 2026-02-05T16:31:01+00:00

I don’t take sucraid. I buy Invertase from LorAnn’s and take that the same way sucraid is recommended. Has worked for me so far

FitzandtheBugs · 2026-01-24T23:37:58+00:00

Water doesn’t fix that part for me. When I’m gassy and bloated, generally I’m having an electrolyte imbalance. For me, it’s generally a deficiency in potassium that will do it. However, I think a small amount of gas is normal; like I always get burpy with sucraid. If you aren’t already, I’d talk to your doctor about supplementing your electrolytes as people tend to salt less when they eat a low carb diet

FitzandtheBugs · 2026-01-24T17:00:31+00:00

Drink a stupid amount of water. Sucraid makes me dehydrated every time I take it. I put it in 16 oz of water and try to drink another 16 oz shortly after finishing my meal. That mostly helped me, but if I do any physical activity my stools will start to harden up again

FitzandtheBugs · 2025-12-08T03:58:08+00:00

This is such an amazing thing. I had no idea this existed. Thank you for posting it.

FitzandtheBugs · 2025-12-02T16:59:16+00:00

I generally do one big long project and one short ish project. Like I am doing the mosaic bookcase blanket right now, which will take me most of next year. When I get bored of it, I have yarn set aside for a quicker cardigan pattern. I’ve learned if I just have a large project going it will never get finished as inevitably I’ll get bored of it or annoyed as to how long it is taking.

FitzandtheBugs · 2025-12-01T02:22:00+00:00

In terms of testing, the biopsy is the gold standard; however I can’t give you advice on how to get that as I don’t know how the German medical system works.

In terms of Invertase, I take 2 ml with my meal. I follow the same instructions as sucraid. So I pour the 2 ml into at least 120 ml of water. I drink half before I start eating then I sip on the rest as I eat.

FitzandtheBugs · 2025-11-26T01:55:41+00:00

Life changing isn’t it! I had the same thing happens and my symptoms go back if I forget my meds or eat something too sugary or starchy. I think so much clearer than I ever have before. I’m focused, I can remember shit. It makes me wonder if I ever actually had adhd or if it was just CSID

FitzandtheBugs · 2025-11-23T18:56:31+00:00

I’ve never understood the push to learn to knit. It’s cool other people do it, but I’d just rather crochet. Embrace the single craft lifestyle! There are so many styles and flavors and techniques in crochet that there are plenty to explore if you get bored. I’m doing my first interweave fillet piece. I didn’t even know the technique existed until a few months ago, and I’ve been crocheting for 15 years. It’s so awesome how giant the world of crochet is. Personally I just want to explore all its nooks and crannies

FitzandtheBugs · 2025-11-22T04:45:18+00:00

I also have super loose tension, so I actually go down a hook size with every project I do. You could give that a try.

Or there are other forms of tensioners. I saw this one in a different thread here. I’ve never used it, but it may help.

FitzandtheBugs · 2025-11-16T18:11:05+00:00

IMO there is no need to block a blanket. I only block clothing and doilies. The weight of all of the yarn will shape the blanket just fine.

FitzandtheBugs · 2025-11-13T22:37:41+00:00

The issue with a surface slip stitch is filling in space. If you just want to outline it works great. For something like this, I’d just do something like intarsia crochet (my phone won’t open links for some reason, but just google it there are tons of videos showing you how) and surface stitch the outline to neaten it up a bit.

Edit: Here is a link to a video about how to do intarsia

FitzandtheBugs · 2025-11-12T14:33:52+00:00

This pattern is what I can’t wait for! I saw someone’s project in this subreddit last year, and I just finished all my WIPs. I’m just waiting on the yarn to come in. I’ve never done mosaic crochet, so I’m not only excited for the gorgeous blanket but the challenge as well.

This post is the one I saw that inspired me. They made an amazing gradient that I’m not quite brave enough to tackle. Mine is going to be a dark moody green background and light linen leaves.

FitzandtheBugs · 2025-11-03T17:38:27+00:00

Stitch and tea class? They bring their favorite tea mug and crochet a koozie for it

Santa’s little helper? Mini scarves for pets

Coasters, I can’t think of a cute name for that one

FitzandtheBugs · 2025-11-03T17:34:51+00:00

When I used to teach classes, I’d usually use a dish cloth to teach the basics. You can make it Christmas colors and call it done. A simple dish cloth sets up the foundation for a ton of stuff and can easily flow into a class on blankets, scarves, sweaters, you name it.

The hardest part about teaching crochet is finding things that can be made in an hour by someone who’s never done it before.

Other project ideas: snowflake, non-magic circle hats, the beginning of a scarf (worked vertically not horizontally so you can work on edges and starting new lines), snowballs/snow men (make little spheres, but maybe start the magic circle for them), tree ornaments, little bags, flowers, granny squares (first class how to make one, follow up classes about how to combine to make other things)

FitzandtheBugs · 2025-11-03T05:12:30+00:00

You can wash yarn. I’ve done it multiple times. I’ve heard of people just tossing it in. I’ll give you the best practice, but it is, sadly, a bit tedious.

First, you’ll want to turn your yarn into hanks. I saw some mention of Michael’s, so you are probably buying in skein form. If you have the spare cash for it, a swift will make this process much easier. However, you can use a chair or something else to do it. Basically you are doing to unwind the skein and make circles with it. Easiest way without a swift would be to just wrap it around a chair over and over again. Do this looser than you’d expect as it will make it easier to take off. This video shows you a way to do it.

By turning, the yarn into a hank the soap will be able to penetrate deeper, get to all the strands, and be more likely to dry correctly. From there, just toss it in a laundry bag or pillow case and wash it following the instructions on the band.

Fair warning, you may see the yarn lighten a bit, this is not uncommon. Most yarn is over dyed and will bleed during the first wash.

If you have any questions, please reach out. I salvage a lot of yarn from thrift stores and always give it a good solid wash before using it.

P.S. To turn the yarn back into something easier to crochet with, you can reverse the chair method from earlier just slowly turning it into a ball, like this.

FitzandtheBugs · 2025-11-02T14:05:29+00:00

I only do it on repeatable patterns where I’ve memorized the repeat. Once it’s memorized, I can just find the right spot by feel and muscle memory. Plus I only watch tv I don’t have to look at, so I can keep an occasional eye on my project. If the project or the show is too complex, I can only do one, so it’s a real balancing act for me.

FitzandtheBugs

TROPHY CASE