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Monday, January 6, 2014

What Have You Been Up To?

Are they over yet....?

Is it safe to turn on the radio.....?

Is it safe to go shopping again.....?

Can my electricity bill go back to normal now......?

HOLIDAYS!!!  Am I right?    

I was really busy crafting things for presents, and I didn't even finish them entirely.  I had to give my sister a picture of her nearly completed blanket, and my sister-in-law got to see the blanket for her new baby and then she had to give it back to me so I could finish.  I didn't make any cookies this year, and my neighbors didn't get cards or goodies in their mail box like they did last year.

Oh well.

Wanna hear the kicker?  I'm STILL not done with the blankets....

But now that they are not a surprise anymore, I can share a few pictures with you!

On I Love Yarn Day 2013, I posted a few pictures of a picture afghan my mother made for me.  In case you don't remember, here it is again!  - With Gordo making a cameo appearance.


In the Great Granny Crochet Book by The American School of Needlework, published in 1979, there is a whole chapter for picture afghan patterns. My mother planned on making one picture afghan for each of her kids.  My brother's was made first, when he was a baby.  He was born in 1979, so that blanket was probably the first thing my mother made from this book.  He still has it to this day, and is saving it to one day give to his children.
 
This photo is from The Great Granny Crochet Book by The American School of Needlework, 1979 edition.


My sister Heidi got a carousel horse themed blanket, and my sister Ingrid was to receive a blanket fashioned after her two kitties.  My mom was working on Ingrid's blanket when she got ill.  She changed the pattern colors from two white and grey cats to one black cat and one orange tabby, Davin and Pumpkin.  As beautiful as unfinished art is, I decided I'd do my best to try to complete the blanket.  The finished product was supposed to be Ingrid's Christmas present.  But instead, she got a picture wrapped up of it.  I'm almost done with it... there's a lot of squares to sew together!  After I complete it I'll snap a few pictures and post it up so you all can see.

My brother and sister-in-law are expecting their second child in February (Woo Aquarius Nephew!).  I was learning the chevron stitch, and I thought it would make a great foundation for a baby blanket!  Once they found out they're having a boy, I had a perfect idea in mind.  With David's blanket as inspiration, I decided to make a few roads and then attach appliques of cars and ambulances (my brother is a paramedic).  It's taking me a long time, but I'm pretty happy with how it's turning out so far!

                               
                                 Pardon the unfinished ends

So there's a look at what I've been working on.  And I've gotten a request for a granny square tutorial, so be on the look out for that in the next few weeks!

Stay warm out there!
~The Craftmeister