February 2004 Archives

Lately, I've been using the following method to join granny squares and panels and strips:

It is easier (but not required) if there is a single or double crocheted row around the outside of each square before joining. I've assumed there is a row of sc in the instructions below.

Hold two squares (or panels or strips) with right side facing (for ridge on the top) or with wrong sides facing (for ridge on the bottom); in corner of one square, join with slip stitch; ch 1, join second square in corner with slip stitch, ch 1; * slip stitch in next sc on first square, ch 1, slip stitch in next sc on second square, ch 1 *; repeat between * across to next corner; tie off. One side of the squares (or panels or strips) is now joined.

Alternate: Slip stitch in every other sc. This results in a zig-zag effect.

When I got home from work yesterday, Bill told me to go to the backyard to see what he'd brought home...

Broken pots!

What a sweetie! He remembered! Earlier this week, I wondered if the pottery place would let us have some broken ceramic and clay pots so we could break them up for use at the bottom of the larger plant pots.

Then, while he was BBQing hamburgers for dinner, he dug around his tool boxes and found a hammer with a rounded pointy end and tested it by breaking pieces off one of the pots.

I'm so ready to start gardening... Sunshine and mild temperatures, where are you?

Size: 117 inches x 41 inches
Colors: Dark Sage, Sage, Lace, Painted Desert (variegated)
Pattern: Twilight Tapestry - Design by Eleanor Albano Miles
Book: Great Big Crochet Afghan Book - 47 Afghans - Copyright 2003 - American School of Needlework
Date: December 2003

We've been using afghans on the back of our couches for years to (try to) keep cat hair from becoming further embedded into the couch fibers. As part of the Home Improvement process started mid-December, I wanted to replace the blankets we had been using.

This is the blanket for the back of the bigger couch in our living room. The pattern is the same as the classy Claret-Cream-Multi lap blanket I finished earlier in December 2003, with some modifications: I continued to use a different puff stitch, extended the border by one row, used a different pattern for variegated section of the middle panel (the original pattern has a lot of holes through which cat hair can sift), and made the blanket long enough to cover the back of our couch. The colors match the new pillows and the new drapes...and the candles... We're so grown up now!!! The blanket for the smaller couch will use Claret instead of the Dark Sage and Sage.

Size: 40 inches x 49 inches
Colors: Claret, Cream, Dark Red/Dark Green/Cream (Christmas) (variegated)
Pattern: Twilight Tapestry - Design by Eleanor Albano Miles
Book: Great Big Crochet Afghan Book - 47 Afghans - Copyright 2003 - American School of Needlework
Date: December 2003

I love this pattern. It's very classy - you'd never know it would look so good by the colors used for the blanket in the pattern book (can you say ugly!?). I finished this lap blanket in December, took the photos in January, and am just now getting around to remembering to post them. I'm using a slightly modified version of this pattern and different colors for the blankets I'm making for our living room couches.

The variegated dark red/dark green/cream yarn used in this blanket was donated to me by a woman at work. She found the yarn on sale and bought 5 skeins of it. I didn't want to make a "Christmas" lap blanket using the yarn since that might limit use of the blanket to the Christmas holidays - the lap blankets are supposed to keep people warm all year if needed. So, I selected a color called Claret and a cream, both which matched the colors in the multi yarn. The blanket has a truly classic appearance. Very nice. And, it doesn't look like a "Christmas" blanket!

I modified the "puff" stitch because I had problems with those rows being too tight. The puff stitch I used is:

YO, draw up loop in st indicated; YO, draw through 2 loops; YO, draw up loop; YO, draw through 2 loops; YO draw through 3 loops

Project Linus (http://www.projectlinus.org/):

Our volunteers, known as "blanketeers", provide new, handmade, washable blankets to be given as gifts to seriously ill and traumatized children, ages 0-18. It is Project Linus' policy to accept blankets of all sizes, depending on the needs of the local chapters. All styles of blankets are welcome, including quilts, tied comforters, fleece blankets, crocheted or knitted afghans, and receiving blankets in child-friendly colors.