Valentine Placemat and Coaster Set

Designed by Deborah Burger, stitched by little ol' me.  I changed the edging as I didnt' have the white, so I just improvised one instead of following her pattern.

 

Grandma Vera's Pretty Potholder

My new friend Paula is helping me get the pattern straight. Here is her finished product in a dusty blue with a teal edging -which I think is quite stunning!

Edited 3/21/09: Changing the turning chain from chain 6 to chain 5; also beginning chain is 66 not 57.

Color A - Chain in 66:  

Row 1: dc into 8th ch from hook; *[ch 2, sk 2sp, dc in next ch]; repeat from * ending in dc (21 ch 2 spaces). Chain 5, turn (counts as first dc and ch 2 throughout).

Row 2: *dc in first dc; *([2dc in ch 2sp, dc in dc] 3 times; ch 2, sk 2 ch), repeat from * across (there are ten dc to a block-5 blocks across/ea end has a ch two space). ch 5, turn  

Row 3-5: dc in 1st dc; [ch 2, sk 2ch, 10 dc] 4 times; ch 2, sk 2ch; dc in ch 3 of ch 5; ch 5, turn  

Row 6: dc in first dc; *[ch 2, sk 2ch, dc in next ch]; repeat from * across ending with dc in last dc; ch 5, turn.  

Row 7: sk 2 ch, dc in first dc; *([2dc in ch2 sp, dc in dc] repeat * 3 times; ch 2, sk 2ch; dc in dc), [2dc in ch2 sp, dc in dc] 11 times; ch2, sk 2 ch, dc in first dc; repeat from *() once; ch 5, turn.  

Row 8: sk 2ch, dc in next 10 dc; ch 2, sk 2ch; dc 34 times; ch 2, sk 2ch, dc in next 10 dc, ch 2, sk 2ch, dc in 3 ch of ch 6; ch 5, turn.

Row 9-21: Repeat row 8.  

Row 22: Repeat row 6 Row 23-26: Repeat rows 2-5  

Row 27: Repeat row 6, end and weave in end.

Edging in color B:   

Row 1: In any corner sl st color B; sc 7 times in same corner stitch (that would be three times on 'one side' once for the corner and three times on the "other side" of the corner square space.

Two sc in each space around, seven in each corner; sl st to starting stitch; sl st to 2nd sc, chain 3.

Row 2: 3 dc in same sc; sk 1 sc, sc in next st; sk 1 sc, 5 dc in next st; sk 1 sc, sc in next st (this stitch would be above the dc). Repeat pattern around.

Each sc and the middle of each shell is right above a post.

G'ma made two of the fillet patterns, and then edged them together. The loop looks like a chain with 9 sc around it...kind of looks like it was added after rather than part of the shell pattern, but can't tell for sure.

SO - please let me know about the instructions. Sure isn't as easy as it might look to write a pattern! I was getting buzzy headed writing them.

Tunisian Squares CAL - All Done!

The Last Gift Square

This is the last square for the CAL in Vanna's Choice. I took a doily pattern and made it with yarn, then added on to make it square. This looks a bit more purple than it is...it is really a bright Magenta color. I love the colors in Vanna's Choice.

Blue Square

Only one more square to go!  

I find that I am addicted to getting these squares finished.  My one little corner of the world is amass with yarn, pattern books, afghan hooks, and other hooks of all "denominations"... little  pieces of yarn clipped after weaving in the ends.  I will - I must - clean up my "station" so I might find that for which I am looking.  

Hubby built me a cart for my graphing when using Tunisian.  I have found that the cart serves me well under all circumstances of crocheting, not just graphing, so it has become my steady partner.  Should I want to crochet in the TV room, I don't bring the cart in there.  Firstly, I cannot graph when also watching TV, and secondly it is too big (although on wheels and very mobile).  If I am following an easy pattern that doesn't take loads of brainwork, I just unhook the yarn, put it in a coffee can and bring it into the TV room to work on while watching a program.  I love, love, LOVE my cart!  I can graph up to 18 colors and not get the yarn all tangled up.  A real wonder of a miracle!

Dini's Square

Same square - one with flash, one without. Only two more squares to go!

My Harlequin Tunisian Square & Grandma's Potholder

What, you ask, do the two have in common? Nothing. I have been saving the potholder for many many years so that when I finally retired (2004) and started crocheting again (2005) I would make some potholders like the one she gave me. However, I could not find the bloomin' thing! Aargh! So yesterday I pulled out my sewing, thinking it is time to start putting on buttons so I'd feel like I have new blouses (sitting there for two years).

There on the bottom of the pile was the potholder of my dreams! Who would have thought I would put something that needed crochet repair into a pile of clothes that needed sewing repair!??! Well, the fact of the matter is I could re-do the border, but that would be all. If there is a problem in the body I can't fix that. However, I CAN and
WILL make several more just like it (in different colors). I really love this potholder --- can you tell?

And the Harlequin Square? I'm using Vanna's Choice remnants to finish a square for the exchange in theTunisian Group of Ravelry. Problem is I made it 9 1/4 inches and it is suppose to be 8 inches. Another AARGH! So, back to the drawing board. I'll keep this one and perhaps will be able to make up an afghan to go with it....perhaps.

The New Colonial Blue 12" Square

This is the latest in Vanna's Choice yarn for the swap on Ravelry. It puckers somewhat fierce. AND, I did not stop at the 7 1/2 inches but continued the pattern so that it made a 12" square (I did improvise a bit). Turned out lovely, but the pucker started in the middle before I ever got past the 3rd row, so it is something inherent in the pattern she devised. I think it is that she did not have enough chains on the corners, so will try by making another one soon. Might keep this one myself as don't like passing on some of the more "disheveled" squares! Book and pattern # on photo site.

Cindy's Sand Dollar Pillow

So I finished the afghan for my SIL Cindy last year.  I did not, however, actually finish the back as I was in such a hurry to get it off to her.  As she hasn't sent it back to me to "fix" I thought I'd go ahead and make a pillow for her that matches the afghan.  I did, but put a sand dollar shell on the opposite side using the same colors.  The other side is on my photo blog.

Magenta Squares for CAL Swap

It seems that my crocheting has interfered with my blogging.  Never mind that the experience of sharing the making of squares has tickled my heart.  Never mind that I am loving testing a pattern in thread.  Never mind that I am finding and stashing patterns for Fair Isle crochet.  Never mind that I have to take a photo of EVERYTHING I crochet.  I should still have time to sit my rear into the chair and write at least a few sentences of my life.  After all, what is a blog if it isn't a sort of diary of your life?

So what else have I been doing?  Sitting with my leg up, resting on ice, taking drugs to keep the pain down.  Hmm??  Torn calf muscle.  Torn tendon.  Painful recovery.   The good news is that I am off the meds now, and can function like a fairly normal person.

Was reading Doris Chan's blog about her life growing up and not learning Chinese.  My brother's brother-in-law is married to a Chinese lady and they live in Taiwan.  He learned Chinese as she had a hard time learning English.  WHAT????  Can you imagine learning Chinese because it is easier than English?  Their son, Johnny, knows Chinese (two dialects), English, and is nearly fluent in Japanese now.  How old, you ask?  How about 2nd grade.  Makes a fool of us all, doesn't it.

So, back to crochet.  I am in a CAL of squares for Vanna's Choice yarn and really having a great time and seem to be making friends.  Not an easy task when none of us are in the same state.  That isn't really necessary, is it?  These gals are great fun.  

I am also in an exchange in the Tunisian group (all on Ravelry should you want to know) but the group is small.  I am learning lots of new stitches to use, and that is also fun.  I am almost finished with a test of a coaster and mat set in lovely red hearts, and she has done a wonderful job.  Great pattern Deb!

Spring is coming fast - so I think I will start graphing some tulips in Tunisian and make some spring like afghans as soon as I am finished with my SIL's kitty afghan, my brother's sweater, and a sweater for my best buddy.

Whew!  No wonder I'm not blogging much!

Four new Squares for CAL

P3030031

Afghan Square CAL Exchange

12" Squares in Vanna's Choice, made for afghan exchange.