Update and New Crochet Book

Thank you so much everyone for all of the wonderful comments, thoughts and prayers :) My sisters biopsy went well and now we just have to wait for the results to come back sometime over the next 3 weeks. There was no visible signs of any cancer or pre-cancer which was a blessing in itself but unfortunately that doesn't mean she's in the clear and they're hoping that the biopsy will tell more. So for now it's just a waiting game!



On my way home I stopped by the library to pick up a couple of books that were waiting for me and one of them was this really great crochet book, Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs by Edie Eckman. Wowza! She wasn't kidding when she says beyond the square :)

There are 144 different patterns to drool over and there is a really great step by step intro on all the crochet basics so you don't have to be an expert by any means to use this book.

Oh my... total hexagon love *grin*

There is even a section for some really unusual blocks like intertwining rings. Think paper garland chains and you'll know what I mean :)

And of course there are the standard granny squares which are pretty amazing to and just the inspiration I need for my granny square blanket that I have half finished.

This is definitely a great crochet book if you're looking for a new twist on some of the standard blocks so check out your local library and see if they have a copy or maybe you need to treat yourself to an early Christmas present *grin*.

~ Rosina

Work in Progress

How is it that I can have a million different projects on the go and life seems to sweep me from one to the next at lightning speed depending on the season *grin*.

My poor granny squares have become lost in the piles of fabric, dresses half finished and quilts waiting to be stitched :) Thank goodness the Granny A Day project is a year long one because the garden is calling me these days and all craft projects have been temporarily left in the dust! By the looks of the above picture you can tell that I have quite the menagerie of blocks in different sizes and it may be a feat in itself just to put it together in blanket form! LOL.

I came across my little stash of them as I was tidying up my yarn and thought I'd post a quick photo for those participating in the project if you stop by to see what I've been up to *grin*. Shamefully I must admit I'm going rather slow!

How about you. What WIP's (works in progress) do you have waiting for your return right now?

~ Rosina

Fantastic Book ~ Crochet Blocks

I want to share with you, especially for my fellow Granny A Day participants this fabulous book, 200 Crochet Blocks for blankets, throws & afghans by Jan Eaton that is jam packed full of fantastic blocks to make :)

This is just a sampling of what is inside!! There are different sizes and styles, sample blanket layouts using the blocks and photo instructions if you are a beginner and need help. Another bonus is that for each of the blocks there are a couple of different color combination photos as well to help out the color challenged individuals like myself *grin*.

I've been trying out a few of the blocks and here are two different ones that I have made so far :)

I've got such an eclectic mix of blocks going on so far that I'm not sure how I'm going to connect them all together for a blanket yet! LOL.

How about you? How are your squares coming along and do you have a favorite crochet book on blocks that you could share with me? I'd love to find more :)

~ Rosina

Road Trip

We went on a bit of a road trip this morning heading down island to Nanaimo. Hubby had to visit the Transport Canada office and have is captain's ticket renewed for the tug boats that he run so we thought we'd tag along :)

I really wanted to make a visit to Kool and Child which is a fantastic homeschool supply store there to pick up some human body books for my oldest son and a couple new printing workbooks for my daughter. I really should make a trip down by myself one day as there are so many things to look at. There's nothing like leaving your husband in the car while you head into what you might as well call a candy store for homeschoolers! LOL.

We squeezed in a little visit to Costco while we were there to. I love looking at all of the seasonal items and you can't beat their prices on books, but I managed to escape with a handful of groceries and nothing else. The kids on the other hand left with full bellies *grin*. How you might ask... well I think they hit all of the food sample gals twice going around the store! LOL.

They must go through a TON of samples during a day because everyone flocks to them like crazy and some people are down right aggressive about getting in front of everyone else just to get a little paper cup filled with tidbits before they're all gone!! Seriously, some people should really eat lunch before they go there :)

I packed along my yarn bag with my granny square project that I've been working on and got a couple of new ones crocheted up on the way home :) I don't know why I never thought to take my crocheting along with me while traveling before. It helps to make the time pass so quickly and I'm getting so much more accomplished!

~ Rosina

Granny Square Baby Blanket & Crocheted Flower Tutorial

All this talk about crocheting 'granny squares' got my mom digging out her old crocheted blankets *grin*. This one she made for my sister and I when we were babies.

Here is a close up of one of the squares with its cute little flower. She stitched each of the leaves around the little flowers after she assembled all of the squares and don't you just love the edging?! It's called the 'popcorn' stitch :)

It's a little yellow with age as it is er, ahem... well let's just say older *grin*, but still in fabulous condition otherwise. It actually has a crocheted backing fashioned into a pocket because it used to have a mini down duvet inside of it and was used for our crib blanket :) I just love treasures like this!

I've had a couple of people ask me how I made my little flower centers in the granny squares from my previous entry and I found a great video tutorial on how to make one that is very similar :) She does a really great job of explaining all of the steps very clearly so I hope that you enjoy watching it and creating some crocheted flowers of your own :)

~ Rosina

Granny Square Challenge Update

So I joined Pip's Granny A Day Challenge a little over a week ago and I thought that I'd share what's been happening around here :) Well let's just say that it's a really good thing that there isn't any pressure on making sure you get one square done everyday! *grin*. I've got one square completed and a handful of flower centers so far but hey, I'm pleased as punch with my progress LOL.

I just love these flowers and they really are very simple to make so when I can steal a moment away from my sewing machine or other family duties I've been working a few rounds on them :) Of course I went with turquoise and green because I'm completely smitten with those two colors right now but I'm not committing myself to completing every square that way though! I've actually got a couple of marigold orange flowers made and I think I'm going to use some of the green and make flowers to, or incorporate all the colors into one, or.... well you get the idea. It may get a tad bit eclectic *grin*.

Here's one of the fully completed squares. Only 70 more to go if I want to make the lap sized blanket I have a pattern for :) Good thing I've got 11 more months to work on it!

How are your granny squares coming along?

~ Rosina

A Granny A Day 2010 ~ Crochet Challenge

a granny a day 2010 :: the first 14, originally uploaded by meetmeatmikes.

Pip over at the fabulous Meet Me At Mikes blog has started up the 'Granny A Day' challenge again and of course I'm game for anything that keeps my creative consciousness rolling *grin*. Actually I think this will be a great family project and I'm going to get the kids involved to. The more the merrier!

1973 Women's Day wall hanging, originally uploaded by kokkole.

I ran across this really cool afghan while searching for granny square patterns. I just love the mix of squares and circles! Maybe I'll aspire to creating something similar :)

I'm pretty proficient as a crocheter but it's been a long time since I've done a granny square. I made a pink and white dolly blanket using them when I was probably around 8 or 9 but I don't think I've made one since :) Pip has put together a really great tutorial on how to make a granny square even if you have never crocheted before so if you're interested in trying one out you should definitely pop over and have a look at it. There's video links and everything!

I found a couple sites to that are loaded with multiple sized granny squares to get me started to at:

http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory.php

http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/grannies.html

and there are tons more. Just do a quick google search for free granny square patterns and you'll find loads of them. If you need some visual inspirations there are some really great flickr groups to that are all about granny squares at:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/granny-along/pool/

http://www.flickr.com/groups/90319938@N00/pool/

http://www.flickr.com/groups/grannysquares/pool/

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1037596@N25/

Now all I need is some yarn and we're in business!

~ Rosina