MrsDoF's Dear Ones

Okay, folks, it has been awhile since I wrote for the blog.  Not only was I at a paycheck job, my evenings were devoted to crochet a blankie on deadline.

The mother’s Due Date was May 19, so I had set my finale to be May 12, a week beforehand.
The arrival of the baby came almost a month early, on April 24, and he had to be taken to a very watchful hospital unit.
He’s doing fine, and will be released, um yesterday, I think.

Anyway, the border of the afghan got fastened off this morning.

click picture for a different angle

100% bedspread cotton measures 34” x 36”
double crochet stitch using a size 1 steel hook

When the phone rang this morning, I thought it might be a request for me to come in again to work as a TA Sub.  I was somewhat relieved that it was only a reminder for the mister has an appointment at the dentist office.

So, I settled in to finish the scallop edging of the border on the blankie.  After a few minutes, whether Chris was still sleeping or no, I had to have some entertainment.  There can only be so much interest to listen to the motor of the refrigerator.

I picked up the remote for the tv and began flipping channels.  Martina McBride was singing on a stage set up in the street of New York City.
Ah, yes, Mother’s Day is being celebrated on The Today Show.

As I was working my way past the second corner (getting the point to lay flat can be quite trying with the scallop pattern), that show ended.

I hit the clicker some more.  Ah, yes, The View, where 4 co-hosts outshout each other while wearing microphones in their bosoms.  It does look like Barbara Walters has the final say on a subject, no matter that Rosie has a more harsh reputation.

The last stitch got done as the credits began to roll.
On some things, I’m pretty good with timing.

As I laid it out across the patio table, I noticed the color flow.  The balls of thread were purchased at odd times, definitely not the same dye lot.  Sometimes the blues stayed together, making an unintended geometric pattern.
Cool picture, in the mid-morning light.

Whatever.  It is cottony soft, with some feely quality.
I think this one is the 10th I’ve worked this way, and all the mothers say they just love having such a versatile cover for the baby.  Machine wash and dry, too.

Yesterday at the Yarn Group meeting, one of the others came over and said that working on a blankie like this would be so boring—the same stitch over and over again.
She totally misses my intention of fulfilling that exact reason.  I work on this kind so that I don’t have to think about changing color, or count the pattern.  Just pick up the next loop and work it, over and over until the blankie is big enough to be used well.

Hard to believe I use a smaller hook, but the same size thread, to make the bookmarks.

Speaking of, I have to get 2 done by Sunday for high school graduations.

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Usually, when I’m doing a crochet project, I work on one item until I am done and then move on.  This last month has been very different in that I began a baby afghan and put it into my crochet bag, so I work on it when I am at a guitar recital or a meeting or during Fellowship Hour at church.
When I was working a few days at the high school, I couldn’t take my crochet bag, but dropped a ball of 4 ply cotton and one hook into my school bag.  This came in handy when I had a couple extra minutes during a bus ride, so I have part of a potholder done.

Meanwhile, at home, I have partial skeins of yarn all in a row on the coffee table for working on a lap robe.  They are laid out for easy viewing because I wanted to decide the order to work stripes and colors.
The projects from scraps can often put my skills as a visionary into overdrive.  I’m more of a step-by-step person, so when I tie off the last row and hold up the finished blanket, I’m almost as surprised at the ending as anybody.

this lap robe got done last evening

crocheted with a size G hook and 3-ply sport acrylic yarn
measures 32” x 38”  earmarked for the county nursing home

~~love and Huggs, Diane

About a week ago, a lady from the Needlework Group and I took a class at Michael’s Craft Store.  We were getting a lesson working with the Knifty Knitter round loom.  I had bought one with money from Christmas, but wasn’t having much luck trying to figure out the project booklet which came with it.

I really want to know how to make cute little baby hats to put into the box of donations for the newborn nursery at the hospital.  I’ve tried three different crochet patterns, and I just didn’t like how they come out.

The loom is quite easy to use, with its winding yarn around
and the little hook included in the kit

the teacher was very helpful with her advice and patient with her demonstration

I am doing some nice practice projects

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Spring has finally arrived here in our little town on the prairie.
The side yard has violets and dandelions and bluebells.

Last year the flowers looked better because there wasn’t such a cold snap as we had about 10 days ago.  Also, we had three trees cut down late last summer, so I think the bluebells are disappointed with us.  They grow better if there is a bit of shade.

I was busy working as a Teacher’s Aide for three days last week.  It was a bit stressful, seeing that I was in an unconventional (and confidential) situation, but I’m told that I did as well as could be expected under the circumstances.
The gig was supposed to have continued on through the beginning of this week, but the office assistant called on Sunday afternoon to tell me that plans had been rearranged.  Imagine being hired by the school district as an office worker, then using up a weekend afternoon making phone calls for Substitutes.
Duty above and beyond.

On the hobby front, I’m ahead a bookmark and two potholders.

these have no designated recipients, which never lasts long

There was a Blood Drive at church, and I was a volunteer in the Escort position.  We collected 40 units, our highest number ever!  I didn’t even try to donate, my last trip to the lab told me my iron is still a bit low.  Maybe that was why I was craving a hamburger for lunch.  I do miss a good Wendy burger, and haven’t found a reasonable replacement.

During the week, I read the news on the ‘Net, but we get the newspaper delivered to the porch on Sundays.  I do like that quiet time of folding the paper just so, then laying it out next to my bowl of oatmeal, so I can read while dipping the spoon.

A nice article caught my attention

A name seemed familiar… ah, my husband’s former co-worker is having a belated bat Mitzvah.

I usually give a crocheted cross at baptism or church transfer, but for a Jewish ceremony, that might not go over so well.
As it happens, there is a crochet pattern on the back of the page, the dog-earred, laminated, photocopy of instructions for religious symbols I’ve had since before I got married.  That blue Star of David seen in the corner of the picture up there is the first I have ever worked up.

It took quite awhile beside an open window on a sunny Sunday afternoon, but I think the lady will like it.

I’m in my element when I’m trying to figure out a new crochet pattern.  I learned in one of my college classes that if a pattern is followed and the outcome is known, then the skill is a Craft.
I don’t care to remember what conditions are for Art.

I’m working all our bedding through the laundry.  The buzzer for the dryer is going, but I think the next load will be hung out on the line.

It’s a fine day in the Spring!

~~love and Huggs, Diane