Granny 101

I am excited about the opportunity to teach a crochet class! After thinking about what kind of projects to work on I decided that a pot holder set and placemats would be the ideal beginner projects! I have come up with these little pot holders in a variety of granny square designs.

These two pictures are actually the same potholder. I love making these...it's simply one large granny square with the corners folded in and seamed together! Oh, the doily they are laying on is one my Grandma made for me years ago...it's one of my favorite! Both my grandma's were skilled with a crochet hook!!!!


They are all so bright and cheery, and once you learn the basic granny square you can make so many things from them.
The placemat design is just a simple half-double crochet swithing colors every row.

I especially like the way this looks! Almost like it was hand woven. I am definitely making a set of these for my kitchen table!
I am also working on a throw pillow from small grannies that will go great with these! I'll post pictures of it once I get it done.

After crocheting most of the weekend I had to take a little break to let my hands rest and to get some housework done. The rain kept us indoors most of the weekend, but Sunday afternoon I was able to get out the camera and take a cute little picture of Phoebe.

FRIDAY NIGHT BLUES!

Finished! What a great way to get the blues! I finished up this little wrap last night. I normally do not use a lot of blue in my knitting and crochet, so this is a little out of step for me, but Boy...do I like it! The different textures in the yarns make me drool! And I simply cannot get enough of the garter stitch in these different yarns. I don't know what it is about it! My mom has always said that she was addicted to fabric, not being able to resist buying that piece of fabric that caught her eye...I totally understand. I'm hooked on the string!! I used scraps from my stash in this, and a skein of of Vanna's black yarn to pull them all together.

These wraps are so much fun to make, and it's even more fun to play with them and see how many ways it can be worn!

It looks awesome as a scarf. This is going in my etsy shop, but I have plans on making another for myself. I have now started a long slinky scarf of the same colors. A girl cannot have too many scarves!

BLUE ON BLACK

Such a pertty combination of colors! This is a little something I am working on to go in my etsy shop. It will be similar to my "Urban Warmth" (pictured below). I have used a variety of yarns, from metalics to some novelty...so it's full of texture! This is my favorite what to knit...basic garter stitch and just picking up color randomly. Pure inspiration! I never know exactly what it will look like until it's done.


I am seeing the same nubby fringe on each end and a loop and button. Can you not see these blue and black colors in a long slinky scarf??? I sure can, and think that may be forthcoming!

I've been working on a little scarf using some sock yarn from my stash. It's light and airy, and full of color. I added the little crocheted motifs to give it a little more length and a little more weight.


I haven't decided for sure, but think it may go into my etsy shop.

IT'S HIP TO BE SQUARE!

I have made more progress on my afghan and it's getting close to being finished. It almost covers me from head to toe and I'm thinking just a couple more rows of squares before it's ready for the border. I have thoroughly enjoyed working on this blanket, and as I am coming to the completion of it I've been getting the urge to pull Babette out and finish her up.

Here are a few more squares to go into the next row. I really like the combination of the purple and brown square.

I visited my local yarn shop to pick up a ball winder...well, I walked out with more than that. A 30% off sale tempted me and I could not resist! I am thinking of a Ladder Shawl done up in this yummy yellow yarn!



I wanted to share my new book with everyone. Got it off of Amazon, and it is packed full of good stuff!


Life would be perfect if I had the time to do everything I wanted!! Unfortunately, this is a problem that I share with all my girlfriends...not enough time. Oh well...back to this book. It is so packed full of motifs my brain did the happy dance as I thumbed through the pages!

Life lately has been hectic and stressful. As some may know, my sister had a heart attack. It is so rare, the condition is called "Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection - Postpartum". The artery to the left ventricle dissected causing a heart attack. It has been so scary for her, at the age of 37, with a two month old, and two children ages three and six...you can imagine. I made a trip up to Maryland to help with the kids and the house but had to get back home because I was out of vacation time. She's in Johns Hopkins, and has been there for ten days and hopes to get home tomorrow if everything goes well today. It has been hard on us all worrying about her.

Needless to say, the worrying along with this stupid pain in my back and hip has left me sleep deprived and tired! I got up Friday and got ready for work...my camera was sitting out and I snapped a pic...even though I am pooped, with bags under my eyes I put a smile on my face. I know she is going to get better and will be back home with her kids and hubby soon.

Creative Saturday

Waking up this morning, I felt awful...my hip hurt to the tenth degree. I felt depressed and had a serious case of the blues. Four weeks of physical therapy has helped it a great deal, but it still hurts. I forced myself to get up and get dressed and made myself get in the car and went to Hobby Lobby, hoping it would improve my mood. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! While strolling through the store, there was a lady in there with a buggy full of fall stems browsing through all the silk flowers...I couldn't help but stare at her buggy full of flowers thinking, "OMG...what fun!" We struck up a conversation, and she said she was out playing and probably spending way too much money, but she didn't care. I had to get in on the fun, and with a gift certificate in my wallet I went for it! I completely forgot about the dull ache in my hip.

I walked (or rather kinda limped) out of the store pushing a buggy full of fall flowers, a cool vase, and some card making paraphernalia, with a big smile on my face. After a quick stop at the grocery store I set out for home. I could not wait to play with my stuff.

This is what I came up with. It has a place in my dining room now, and I love looking at it every time I walk through the dining room on the way to the kitchen.


Believe it or not, I was able to knit a ponchette to put in my Etsy shop. I like the colors, they are happy and bright. I am thinking about doing a couple more of these in other colors as well as some long skinny scarves to put into the shop. Hopefully they will do well.

Red Heart Afghan Progress!
Saturday afternoon I worked in another row on my afghan. As it gets bigger, my progress slows, but it's still progress. It's coming along nicely and I think I will have it done by fall.


I thoroughly enjoy crocheting these squares. I don't know what it is about the granny square, but I love 'em...each and every one of them.

Tomorrow is Sunday...who knows what it has in store!

Paisley Inspiration

I recently ran across this while surfing the internet...and totally inspired by them!

How awesome would a scarf be made of several of these brightly colored paisley morifs! This was done by a lady I found on flickr, her name is Patti Haskins, I love the colors she chose and her crochet looks perfect! Well, after running across this I started looking for more of these motifs, and a google search didn't turn up a whole lot. I know there is a book out there somewhere that was printed in the 70s that has patterns for some of these. So, I have been on a quest to find it.

Here is some more inspiration. This lady just made it up without a pattern! HOLY COW...I AM TOTALLY IMPRESSED! I immediately liked it. I can see these adorned with beads and metalic threads!

They would also look really neat in those classic olive green and brown colors. I can also see them crocheted up in embroidery floss.

Here is just a little more flickr inspiration. These circles are so bright and cheery...they make me want to crochet some up! I love the black edging around each one. These would make a killer scarf joined in rows of three circles.

Today I acquired my first pair of bi-focals, and let me tell you...I now have great respect for my mom and dad, who I used to kid about their bifocals! I am sure once I get used to them I will like them, but right now I feel like I am walking through the mirror house at the fair! :-)

Grandma's Granny Square Afghan

I went by my mom and dad's house on Sunday afternoon and look at what she handed me! I couldn't wait to get it home.

This blanket was crocheted by my Grandma Alice after getting home from the hospital. In fact, she was too weak to stay at home alone so she stayed with my folks while she got stronger and made this while staying with them. It had some places that needed repair. I made a few repairs where it was beginning to unravel. I can tell she didn't feel well when she was making it, some of the squares are flipped upside down, but the crocheting was perfect...I wouldn't change it for the world.
Of course, Phoebe had to get into the action! She looks so pretty!


I spent the majority of the week in Wilmington at a conference. It was a lot of fun and I learned a lot. I did find some time to work on my afghan and was able to add a row of squares working on it in the evenings when I would get back in my room. I did find a lady at the conference that loved crochet as much as I did! We shared some stories and I showed her what I was working on. That was kinda fun!
Check it out! It is looking so pretty!

All I got done was that row on the top. I suppose things will slow down now so I can spend more time working on my blanket. It shouldn't be too much longer before it was finished.
Wilmington was gorgeous. I only wish I had more time to enjoy it, so much of our time was spent in educational sessions. We did go on a "Dinner Cruise" on Saturday night down the Cape Fear River. It was a lot of fun, and a lot of ladies let off some steam!!!

I snapped this shot of the sunset while standing at the bow of the ship. It's a definite "God Shot"...the sky was so full of color!