Hello, Hello!
I hope that you find my tips useful.  I think the most important one is to not be intimidated or afraid of working with thread.  I was quite new to crochet when I first gave it a try.  My early attempts felt awkward and looked a wreck, but something about the delicate fabric captivated me and I was determined.  Once I relaxed and allowed the beginning rounds to look a mess my doily started to take shape and I was hooked.  One of my favorite parts of making doilies is the variety of stitches.  Every round offers different combinations of stitches creating amazing patterns right before your eyes!

This week I've been working hard making bookmarks.  I'm having a great time with all the different colors.  In fact it's almost hard to choose!  I've been trying different granny square patterns and combining then with the beautiful borders from Around the Corner to make some very lovely designs (if I do say so myself!)

If you've been hesitant to try it, or think that you could never manage it I really encourage you to give thread crochet a try.  I know it's not for everyone, but you'll never know if don't give it  shot!  And anyway, what's the worst that can happen??  Another project in the WIP pile?  No problem we all have plenty of those!

I'm not sure how it happens, but the holidays are here (again) and I find myself behind on projects (again!).  Instead of getting down on myself, I'm just going to focus my energies a bit more on crocheting and a bit less on blogging. I like to get three posts out per week.  However for the next 6 weeks or so I need to make sure that I'm not stretching myself too thin creating unnecessary pressure. So I'll me paring back to only one or two posts each week.  After all, I do this for fun and the last thing that I want is for it to become a chore!!  I want the posts that I share with you to be exciting and interesting - not just dribble for the sake of publishing something.  I know you understand, and just think of the great projects I'll have to share with you!!

Even though I'm a day late I'll still be linking up with these amazing blogs to share my thread tips.  I hope that you'll pop in for a visit and share what you've been working on!

Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me!
Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

Greetings Friends!  Welcome to the weekend!  What do you have in store?  Here in the US we have  long weekend.  (Queue patriotic music now!) We're celebrating  Veterans Day on Monday "to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good". Although I don't come from a military family I am thankful to all of these brave folks.

What do you think of this pile of thready goodness? I am so excited by all these colors and all the projects just waiting to be discovered!  Why so many you ask?  Well there's a reason of course!  I've had this idea to make book marks for the holidays in the back of my head for ages.  But I only had a few basic colors, and I wanted them to be fun and bright and happy.  Last month I decided to see what I could find.  I checked all my regular web sites and while the selections were large, each ball was between $2.39 and $4.59 for 300 yds.  Not much if you only want a few, but I wanted lots!! Finally I checked Amazon.com.  That's where I found this company selling 175 yd. balls for $1.69. I realize that per yard it's slightly more, but I like that the balls are smaller - since I'm going for variety here and really how much thread do you use to make a bookmark? 

Now that I have all of this fabulous thread I need to figure out what to do with it...

There are some lovely bookmark patterns out there, and I'm sure I'll be trying a few.  But I wanted to design something on my own.  My summer spent making granny squares seemed to be all the the inspiration that I needed.  Image the color combinations I could come up with!  After all I have 14 different colors to choose from!  This got me thinking... Just how many possibilities are there?  Now I'm good (enough) at math, but this was beyond my ability.  And then I remembered my blogging friend Angeliki (she's a physics major from Greece) who had helped me with this type of question once before.  I sent here a quick note on Facebook.

But my dear friend was not satisfied just giving me a simple answer.  No, instead she wrote a program that finally shows us the secret to

That's right!  All you have to do is download a file, plug in the number of colors you're using and it will tell you how many different combinations there are!  But it doesn't just give you the number, it generates a list of the possibilities so if you are so inclined to make them all you can print the list and cross them off one by one!  She's included the links and instructions on her blog.  I hope that you'll give it a try, and please be sure to leave a comment to let her know how it goes.

Now that I have the colors covered I need to try some different patterns.  To start with I used a classic granny with the granny stripe border. Next I'm going to pick some of my favorites from this summer and try putting them together with the classic.  I brought home a copy of Around the Corner: Crochet Borders by Edie Eckman that has 150 designs to choose from.  With all of these choices I'm confident that I'll have some stunning bookmarks to show you!  I guess you know what I'll be doing this (long) weekend!!

I have often told you how warmed I am by the support and kindness that I have experienced through my blog.  This is yet another example of the overwhelming goodness and willingness to help that makes me feel blessed to be part of such an amazing community.  Thanks Angeliki, and all of you who make blogging so much fun!

In addition to my fiber offerings, I like to participate in Five Minute Friday over at Lisa-Jo Baker's place. It's writing in the raw and if you've never done it, why don't you give it a try? It's really easy - you just:
1. Write for 5 minutes flat on this week's prompt with no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking - then post it just as it is!
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community.

Here's what happened when I spent five minutes writing on the prompt "Quiet"

You would think this would be an easy one for me, working at the library shouldn't quiet be part of my every day?  Nope.  Not at our library.  You won't find any shushing going on here.  Oh we don't let it get out of hand, but talking is not forbidden.  After all we are a community center.  We are a gathering place for all ages.  We encourage communication and building relationships.  Answering questions and sharing information.  And none of that came be done without a little noise.

But there is a difference between silence and quiet isn't there?  Quiet can bring calm and peacefulness, whereas the sounds of silence can scream harshly at you.  I can't imagine not having noise about me.  Not loud or hard noises, but the activity of life kind of noises.

And when I want quiet I look inside.  Because that is where it is most important to me.  That I can find a peaceful place to settle into and be undisturbed by the noises that surround me.

Today I'll be sharing my post on these terrific blogs.  Drop by and add your project to the party and see what everyone else has been up to this week.

In July I began this adventure know as A Year of Projects.  The premise is to choose a goal (or several as the case may be) that you wish to achieve over the course of one year and then track your progress with blog posts.  Support and camaraderie are found in the Ravely group Come Blog-A-Long where participates share their posts and chat about their successes (and failures) in various threads.

It seemed an intriguing way to bring some structure to my otherwise random crafting, plus many of my blogging buddies participated last year and had a really good time.  I had the advantage of their experience when I put together my list of goals. The main point taken to not be too lofty in what I think I'm capable of accomplishing.

Now that we've just begun our second quarter of activity it seems that a progress report is in order.  Let's take a look!

• Make a sweater (that really fits!) from Custom Crochet Sweaters by Dora Ohrenstein
• Learn Painted Crochet
• Dye my own yarn
• Make something with up-cycled materials
• Crochet a rug
• Design my own wrap
• Learn a new lace technique (ie: Hairpin, Bruges, or Filet)
• Make at least one sewing project from 101 One Yard Wonders
• Give double ended hooks a try

What do you think? Does it seem manageable? Giving it careful consideration I remain optimistic that I'll be able to accomplish everything between now and June. I imagine that my biggest hindrance will be getting involved in projects that aren't on the list. In hindsight I realize that I should have chosen a sweater from Dora's book instead of starting the Marlo cardigan, but I like Marlo and I don't want to abandon her - or frog all the progress I've made!

There you have it! One quarter down, three to go!  I'm having a great time working on my goals and seeing the progress that my friends are making.  You can check out what they've been up to here. 

Greetings friends! Welcome to another busy Wednesday at Crochet Nirvana.  Can you believe that there are just 82 days until Christmas? While that make seem like ample time, I am acutely aware of how quickly it races by!  And, despite my good intentions I am woefully ill-prepared for the gift-giving part of the season.  This week, in between work, family and my other crochet pursuits I have vowed to devote at least a portion of each day's crafting time to the holidays. 

A set of embellished towels is taking shape.  I originally thought that I would use individual mini squares across the bottom edge. Then I thought - I wonder what a long granny style rectangle would look like?  Since I wanted to try the yellow and white anyway I went ahead and made this piece.  John and I both like the way it looks, however I remain unconvinced that this is the color scheme to use.  What do you think of the white on white? I'm going to applique the rectangle to one end, and the squares to the other before I make my final decision.  I've never sewn a piece of crochet work to fabric.  I'd love to hear your suggestions or tips if you've done it already!!

Wednesday is book day!  That means I get to spread a little literary love!  Right now I'm reading a new release (July 2012) called Imperfect Bliss by Susan Fales-Hill.  Library Journal calls it "Chick lit with an intellectual streak." but I'm not sure that I'd agree. Really I don't know how I feel about this story that the jacket describes as "Reality TV - Jane Austen Style!" I'm only a few chapters in and I'm just getting to know everyone! 
Without a doubt I can tell you how I feel about this week's book in review ~ I Loved It!!  Keep reading to find out why!

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
Random House Publishing
July 24, 2012; 336 Pages

Harold is a simple man. He and his wife Maureen live a simple  life in a small English village. He has recently retired from the brewery where he worked, well always.  Maureen thinks that Harold is dull. Everything that he does irritates her just slightly. Predictably, the mail arrives just as it does everyday.  But this time there is something different among the bills and adverts. A letter has come for Harold from a woman he hasn't seen or heard from in twenty years.  Queenie Hennessey is gravely ill and has written to say goodbye.

Harold is surprised by the letter.  He hasn't even thought of Queenie in years. Regardless, proper English etiquette requires that he at least acknowledge her letter with one of his own.  Quickly Harold jots a few lines, and heads out to post the letter.  When he reaches the mailbox on the corner he finds that he's not quite ready to let the letter go.  He continues on from box to box venturing out of his neighborhood.  Then, following a chance encounter with a young girl in a convenience store Harold decides that he must deliver his message in person.  And, that he must walk nearly six hundred miles in order to do so.  Because, he believes as long as he keeps walking, Queenie Hennessy will keep on living.

And so begins the Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. Though he has forgotten to bring his mobile, is wearing yachting shoes (though he doesn't yacht) and has only a light sweater to keep him warm he embarks on a quest that will bring him to places he never imagined existed both physically and emotionally.  With each step he travels closer to Queenie, and to discovering the man that is buried beneath years of monotony. 

Harold and Maureen seem to be an average, normal couple who have settled into life.  But the truth is they have been together for so long that they have forgotten why they fell in love in the first place.  And then there's their son David.  He's something of an enigma but a source of friction non-the-less. As Harold walks he thinks. As Maureen waits she thinks. And there is so much for them to think about!

Along the way Harold happens upon a cast of characters that are as diverse as your imagination allows and so rich with personality that their stories seamlessly become Harold's. Everyone has something to offer. Some times it's food or shelter and others it's a bit of advice.  It is because of them that he is able to keep walking.  But what's even more interesting is what Harold gives them in return, and how these brief chance meetings have such an impact on each of them.

As I was reading and getting to know the characters I grew fond of them.  With every encounter that unfolded on the road I found myself holding my breath as I waited to see what happens next.  There are so many layers to this book. So many stories that the author has brilliantly blended together.  I didn't know if Harold would make it or if Queenie would live.  I wondered what Maureen was going to do when she realized that she really missed her husband. And what about David?  How did he fit into the story? Page by page, step by step they all are finding their way, and what started out as unlikely makes perfect sense by the end of the story.

Interesting, funny, charming, sad, curious, awkward, corny, scary, personal, heart warming, unexpected, delightful, offbeat, wonderful. These are just some of the words that I can use to describe this book.  It's quite different from anything I've read lately.  It's a human story that I was able to immerse myself in.  I don't know if you'll enjoy it as much as I did, but there's a good chance you will. Check out a copy at your library and see for yourself. You might end up taking your own unexpected journey!

Well folks, that's about all for today!  To wrap things up I'm linking in with with this lovely group of bloggers. It's my first time visiting Ginger (Wow Me Wednesday) and Kara (Look What I Made) - who both have super creative blogs (take a peak!).  All these ladies have something special to offer and I'm so glad to be able to include my work.  I love seeing what others are doing and I always find something that I have to 'Pin' to my ever growing collection of boards!

Thank you so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me!  I hope you enjoyed your visit and come back again soon!
Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

I've covered a lot of ground since I began learning about the world of granny squares.  I started with the history of crochet and granny in Part I, then experimented with variations of the "classic" pattern in Part II.  I played with color and learned some basic theory in Part III.  Things really blossomed when I 'grew' a garden of flowers in Part IV.  I tried my hand at designing squares by creating two patterns - The Pinwheel & Pop-Corn Flower and Clusters to Classic.  The flowers and squares inspired me to go even further with a secret project that is nearly ready for it's big reveal.  So what's next?  That's easy.  It's time to meet the Motifs!

When I was making flowers for Part IV, I came to the realization that all granny squares are motifs, but not all motifs are granny squares. In my mind that makes them all part of the same family.  I imagine that the square, circle, hexagon, triangle, heart, flower, leaf etc.  are all cousins.  They share the family characteristic of being a distinctive and recurring form, shape, figure, etc., in a design, as in a painting or on wallpaper (my dictionary definition of motif). 

In the crochet world motifs are worked individually.  They can be used as embellishments or appliques to add flair to anything from lampshades to flip-flops.  They can be connected to each other with the 'join-as-you-go' technique that's often used in scarves, blankets and afghans.  Or a batch of motifs can be sewn together to form anything from sweaters and ponchos to wrist warmers, cowls, accessories for the home or even as part of a yarn bombing attack! With a bit of ingenuity anything can be fashioned from motifs.

To guide me in my shapely quest I turned to an outstanding book called Beyond the Square - Crochet Motifs by Edie Eckman.  In this inspiring publication there are 144 patterns in five categories - Circles, Hexagons, Triangles, Squares and Other Unexpected Shapes.  This spiral bound book (yeah!) has excellent pictures, clearly written patterns and diagrams for each unique design.  I decided to choose two from each category (except squares!).  It was a tough decision because there are so many cool motifs.  I looked for examples that showed open work and lots of close tight stitching in each shape.  I changed my mind multiple times throughout the process and of course ended up making more than I set out too!  There is so much variety here that I understand why so many people have challenged themselves to make all of them!

The only thing that is missing from this book is how to connect the shapes.  Initially I wasn't looking for that kind of information.  But, as my pile of motifs grew I began to wonder what I was going to do with them.  I must not be the only person to ask this question because while I was looking for another book to help me I found that Edie has a new book coming out called Connect the Shapes Crochet Motifs: Creative Techniques for Joining Motifs of All Shapes; Includes 101 New Motif Designs!  It's set to be released on October 23rd and I know it's on my Christmas wish list!!  Now here's a look at motifs I made.

My husband picked #10 because he thought it looked like a sea anemone! It was interesting to make. Not hard, just lots of chain stitches and working in back loops.  I included the shot of the backside to show how much of the Carrot yarn I really used.  It's a puffy motif rising about 3/4 of an inch into the air! We like it so much that it's hanging out on the coffee table!

Motifs #8 and #4 are my open or lacy choices.  Motif #8 looks more like a star than a circle to me.  The stitches around the center that look like picots are really chain 3's worked over a skipped stitch.  This was a very quick motif and I can imagine a group of them connected at the points to make a scarf or wrap.  Motif #4 is a circle of cluster stitches. I'm not crazy about the colors (that's why I switched for the others!) but I do like it's overall look and I like making the clusters!

Motif #60 was a blast to make! It's simple stitches (sc, dc and ch), but you make the corner chain loops as you go and on the final round you weave them together to get that great raised interlocking loop effect. Not hard, but a really interesting technique!  Motif #62 was one of the trickier ones in the group.  I think because you did something completely different in each round, and that means paying close attention to your work! Overall I find it pleasing to the eye.

The hexagons feel closest to the square to me.  I think that might be because they seem easier to connect to make a large piece like an afghan. Both of these were simple to make and I understand why so many people are drawn to them. Looking at #37 I just noticed a daisy in the light blue!

I enjoyed the challenge of making these unique shapes.  Because they are not symmetrical in the way that I am used to it was fascinating to watch the shapes develop. Motif #143 at the top of the page was also fun and challenging.  I can envision a scarf made from a row of interlocking rings in a rainbow mix of colors with the border done in either black or white!

I have to say that I love making motifs.  Much more so today than when I started this grand adventure!  Making each of these individual works of art has increased my repertoire of stitches, strengthened my ability to decode and decipher patterns and improved my overall crochet technique.  While weaving in ends is still not my favorite thing I no longer dread the task and actually have become quite deft at securing those little devils!  Each round presents a new set of instructions and I am intrigued with the way stitches work together to create different effects. Ruffly, woven, traditional, open, lacy, bumpy, smooth anything is possible!  I still have no idea what I am going to do with ever expanding collection of motifs. For the time being I am content to collect them in a basket in the living room where I can admire them anytime I want!!

Thanks so much for coming by and spending part of your day with me!
Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

Greetings Friends! and Welcome.  It's a cold and rainy day in New England, but my spirit is lofty as I have been surrounded by the "Psychedelic Sunshine" from a batch of mini grannies.  Last week I told you (here) about my plans to embellish a set of bath towels for a Christmas present.  I wasn't so sure about the yarn, but since I'm still in the 'prototype' phase I set about making squares. 

I was quite surprised as I worked the bright variegated yarn into classic 2 round grannies.  The resulting fabric has a crazy-mottled-tyedyed kind of look. Paired with the yellow it makes happy sunny squares. I'm not sure if they're right for my intended recipient, but they'll do perfectly as I figure out how many I need, which style to to use, and how to attach them to the towels.

No matter which colors I choose I think a custom bath set is going to make an awesome gift.  It's an economical project and you can whip up a bunch of squares in a couple of evenings. What could be better??

While we're talking about grannies, I want to send a big thank-you to Karen who designs great grannies and writes an awesome blog called Colour in a Simple Life.  Recently Karen had an unfortunate blogging experience.  Someone stole and published not only her pattern, but the tutorial that went along with it and passed it off as their own work! (You can read about it here.)  Understandably angry and frustrated Karen nearly stopped blogging all together.  Instead, she made the decision to make her patterns/tutorials only available for sale through her etsy shop. While I completely support her decision, as a fan of her work I was sadden that one bad person ruined it for the rest of us.  Why would someone believe that it was okay to do that? Thankfully Karen has dealt with the situation and continues to create and write about her wonderful designs.  And in a show of true grace, she gave her most recent tutorial as a thank-you gift to those of us who took a moment to offer her our support through comments on her blog.  What a nice surprise! So thanks, Karen.  I'll be trying out your design this weekend.  And who knows, it just might end up on a set of bath towels!!

Friday is such a fabulous day in blog-land.  I'll be joining in with these lovely ladies and of course all the others who have things to share. Then I'll be taking advantage of the weekend and heading out to visit friends  both old and new. There's so much to see and be inspired by. I hope you'll join me!

Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me!
Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

Greetings! I'm so glad you're here!  The response to my granny square patterns has been awesome.  I know that a few folks have given them a try (or will be) and I can't wait to see how they turn out.  You know it's one thing to make the square but it's a whole different ball game when you try to turn what you did into a pattern for someone else to follow!  It's hard work!

And speaking of hard work as you can see I've been filling my days with pansies and classic squares. Well, the pansies are hiding! There's a little project coming together, but I'm not quite ready to tell/show you what it is!  Soon enough it will make it's debut in the next installment of the GSP.

The other night I did pick up Juliana (that's her in white). I didn't realize it, but I only have a row and a half of sc and then 2 rows of edging to finish her up! She really is lovely and will make quite a statement. I had planned on doing beads on the last row, but I think I'll just go ahead and put the tassels on that the pattern calls for and get to wearing her!  Eleanor (in those great fall colors) has been my carry along project.  The progress is slow and steady.  I know that she will be smashing when she's finished and I imagine we'll have plenty of good times this winter!

Just for kicks I thought I'd give you a glimpse into the space where my magic happens!!  This crazy messy area is my workspace.  It is directly in front of my big comfy chair.  It looks a little out of hand, but there is something so satisfying about having all my stuff around me.  I do my computer work at the dining room table (that's covered with books, and paper and colored pencils and camera equipment!), and I take pictures on our closed in porch (it's 2 walls of windows so the light is terrific!).  John calls these three spaces my "stations".  The truth is, I've pretty much taken over the house. And I have no intention of giving it back! Really,  I'm super lucky to have a supportive husband who doesn't mind eating his dinner surrounded by my projects! But he draws the line at having his picture taken while he's doing it!

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
All Souls Trilogy - Book 2
July 10, 2012
Viking Adult, 592 pages

In A Discovery of Witches we are introduced to Diana, a reluctant (untrained) witch and Oxford scholar and Matthew a geneticist vampire.  Together they are searching for a sacred manuscript called Ashmole 782 that is said to hold the secrets of the creation for all creatures - and just may be the only way to save them from extinction.

In Shadow of Night they have traveled back in time to 1590 and Elizabethan England.  Here they believe they can search for the manuscript in relative safety and find a teacher who can help Diana master her powers.

These books are so different from what I normally read, but I am completely enchanted with them! A friend convinced me to read the first one and I was captivated.  There is a blend of history and fact that makes the entire story seem plausible.  I also really like Diana.  She is a smart, strong woman who manages to face the unanswered questions surrounding her past with just the right blend of grace and trepidation. Matthew is complex and mysterious - as any vampire who has lived several hundred years would be, yet he manages to be compassionate and understanding especially where Diana is concerned.

In this book the author has done a great job (again) of blending real characters (William Shakespeare and Walter Raleigh plus Queen Elizabeth!) into the every day lives of the couple.  It was interesting,  the way that life was depicted. And I enjoyed watch Diana grow into a confident witch and "modern" woman.  The story and the search for Ashomle 782 did detour a bit, and occasionally I found myself wondering how a certain event fit into the big picture. Happily though in the final third of the book there's lots of action and I found most of my questions answered.  Of course, not all of them - or there would be no need for book 3! 

It's funny, but the older that I get the more varied my tastes have become, and I'm quite pleased to have discovered this series! I don't think that I'll actively be seeking witches and vampires on a regular basis, but I certainly won't be so quick to dismiss them.  So far this has proved to be an entertaining and engaging series.  There's history and action, a love story, family secrets, time travel, mysterious powers and the quest to save the world. Really what else could you ask for??

After that serious dose of otherworldly goodness I started Janet Evanovich's Wicked Business. I had forgotten that this series has it's own take on special powers and magic.  But they're hardly in the same category.  Anyway, I'm already more than half way through which means its a quick read.  I'll tell you more about it after I finish.

In the meantime, I'll be linking up with these wonderful blogs.  Each one offers something unique and I love exploring the sites and taking in the talent.  Have a look, I'm sure you'll find something that tickles your fancy!

Thanks so much for stopping in and spending a bit of your day with me.
It's been great having you here.
Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

Skill:        Advanced Beginner
Yarn:        Peaches & Cream Cotton in Candy (A), White (B) and Bright Pink (C)
Hook:        US H/8 - 5.00 MM
Finished Size:    5 3/4" x 5 3/4" (unblocked)
Stitches Used:    ch, sc, dc, dc2tog, dc3tog, sl st (all stitches are US terms)

Special Stitches:
Dc2tog:  Yo, insert in next st/sp, yo, draw up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops on hook (2 loops remain on hook), yo, draw up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops on hook (3 loops remain), yo, pull through all 3 loops on hook to complete cluster.

Dc3tog:  Yo, insert in next st/sp, yo, draw up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops on hook (2 loops remain on hook), yo, draw up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops on hook (3 loops remain), yo, draw up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops on hook (4 loops remain), yo, pull through all 4 loops on hook to complete cluster.

With A,  ch 6, join with sl st in first ch to make ring.

Rnd 1:    With A, ch 1, 8 sc in ring, join with sl st to first sc.

Rnd 2:    With A, ch 3, dc2tog in first sc (count as dc3tog), (ch 1, dc3tog in nxt sc) 7 times, ch 1, sl st in top of first cluster to join. Fasten off A.

Rnd 3:    Join B in any ch 1 sp, ch 3 (count as dc), 2 dc in same sp, ch 2, (3 dc, ch 2) in each ch 1 sp around, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3. Fasten off B.

Rnd 4:    Join B in any ch 2 sp, ch 3 (count as dc), 4 dc in same sp, ch 1, *5dc in nxt ch 2 sp, ch 3**, 5 dc in nxt ch 2 sp, ch 1, rep from * 2 times and from * to ** once more, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3. Fasten off B.

Rnd 5:    Join C in any ch 3 sp, ch 3 (count as dc), (1 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp, *ch 2, 1 sc in 3rd dc of 5 dc group, ch 2, 1 sc in nxt ch 1 sp, ch 2, 1 sc in 3rd dc of 5 dc group, ch 2**, (2dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in nxt ch 3 sp, rep from * 2 times and from * to ** once more, join with sl st to top of beg ch 3.

Rnd 6:   With C, ch 1 starting in same st, *1 sc in each of nxt 2 dc, (2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc) in nxt ch 2 sp, 1 sc in each of nxt 2 dc, [2 sc in nxt ch 2 sp, 1 sc in nxt sc] 3 times, 2 sc in nxt ch 2 sp, rep from * around, join with sl st to first sc.

Rnd 7:    With C, ch 1, stating in same st, [1 sc in each sc, (2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc) in each ch 2 sp] around, join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off C.

Weave in ends.  Block if desired.

I am so excited to share these new patterns with you!  The response has been fantastic and I can't wait for one of you to give them a test run and let me know how it goes.  I took notes as I was working, and hopefully did a fair job of transferring them into a pattern that you can work with. If something isn't right, or you have a suggestion that makes it easier to understand, please let me know. Pattern writing is tricky and I can always benefit from another set of eyes!!

I took the weekend off of the computer to concentrate on my hook work, and I'm thrilled with the progress that I made. Both with writing new patterns and on the next installment of the Granny Square Project - which really go together.

Here is a sneak peak at my craft journal and some of the notes that went into coming up with the pansy design that is the feature of my next project.  The classic granny is a sample of the accent squares that accompany the pansies. 

It's setting up to be a productive week.  This morning brought the crisp tingle of fall, and the prospect of wrapping myself in a new shawl and finally being able to enjoy the cardigan I finished at the beginning of summer has me energized and ready to go!

I'm including today's post as part of the fun on Come Blog-a-long and A Year of Projects. It's not the next "official" installment of the GSP, but it was definitely inspired by it and in my book that counts!! Click on over and see what good stuff my bloggy buddies have been up to!

Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me.
Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

Skill:        Advanced Beginner
Yarn:        Peaches & Cream Cotton in Bright Pink (A) and White (B)
Hook:        US H/8 - 5.00 MM
Finished Size:    5 3/4" x 5 3/4" (unblocked)
Stitches Used:    ch, sc, dc, tr, sl st, pc, dtr (all stitches are US terms)

Special Stitches:
Pop-Corn (pc): Make 5 dc in designated st/sp, remove hook (drop loop), insert hook (front to back) in top of first dc made, pick up dropped loop and draw it through, ch 1 to secure.

Double Treble Crochet (dtr): Yo (3 times), insert hook in designated st/sp, yo and pull up a loop, (yo and draw through 2 loops on hook) 4 times.

Treble Crochet (tr): Yo (2 times), insert hook in designated st/sp, yo and pull up a loop, (yo and draw through 2 loops on hook) 2 times.

With A, ch 4, join with sl st to form a ring.

Rnd 1:    With A, ch 1, 6 sc in ring, join with sl st to first sc.

Rnd 2:    With A, ch 3 (counts as dc), 4 dc in same st, remove hook (drop stitch), insert hooK in top of ch 3, pick up dropped loop and draw through, ch 1 to secure first pc, ch 1, *pc in next sc, ch 1*,  repeat * to * 4 more times (6 pc total), join with sl st to top of beg ch 3. Fasten off A.

Rnd 3:    With B, join in any ch 1 sp, ch 5 (2 dtr, ch 3, 3 dtr) in same sp, (3dtr, ch 3, 3 dtr) in each ch 1 sp around, join with sl st to top of beg ch 5. Fasten off B.

Rnd 4:    With A, join in any ch 3 sp, ch 3, 2 tr in same sp (half corner made), *ch 2, sk next 3 dtr, 1 dc in sp between last skipped and next dtr, ch 2, sk next 3 dtr, (3 tr, ch 3, 3 tr) in next ch 3 sp (corner made), ch 2, sk next 3 dtr, 1 dc in sp between last skipped and next dtr, ch 2, sk next 3 dtr, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 2, sk next 3 dtr, 1 dc in sp between last skipped and next dtr, ch 2, sk next 3 dtr*, (3 tr, ch 3, 3 tr) in next ch 3 sp, repeat from * to * once, 3 tr in same ch 3 sp as beg half corner, ch 3, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3 to finish corner.

Rnd 5:    With A, ch 1, work 1 sc in each st, 2 sc in each ch 2 sp, (2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc) in each corner ch 3 sp around, join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off A.

Weave in ends, block if desired.

In addition to my fiber offerings, I like to participate in Five Minute Friday over at Lisa-Jo Baker's place. It's writing in the raw and if you've never done it, why don't you give it a try? It's really easy - you just:
1. Write for 5 minutes flat on this week's prompt with no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking - then post it just as it is!
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

Here's what happened when I spent five minutes writing on the prompt "Graceful"

Beauty, elegance in form, manner or movement also in speech.
The hereon sweeping across the sky following the river in search of food.
The swimmer gliding smoothly from one end of the pool and back again.
The movie stars of the 40's dancing and swirling into each others arms and around the stage.
The line of dress or swing of a jacket.
Jackie Kennedy, Ginger Rogers and Audry Hepburn.
Making a difficult situation just a bit easier.
Delivering sad news in a way that makes you feel not so sad.
Answering a personal question without really revealing anything personal, and still making the person that asked feel ok.
An amazing quality that we should all aspire to have in body and in mind.

Thanks for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me!  I'm quite proud of my first square and excited to share the pattern with you.  Now please remember - this is my first attempt at writing out what I actually did! I proofread it twice, but it is completely possible that there may be an error (or two!). I did my best to use the appropriate format and abbreviations.  Fingers crossed I'm not too far off the mark!  Should  you decide to give it a try, please let me know how it goes. I'd love to see your pictures and of course to know if I need to make any corrections!

The pansies continue to bloom, and I'm working on the next installment of the Granny Square Project.  Is designing squares destine to be part of my future or are there already enough to choose from? Be sure to tune in and find out!!

This week I'll be joining these wonderful ladies and their very creative link parties. Each week I am amazed at the unique and fabulous work that is happening.  I'm so happy to be part of this community and to have all of you to inspire and motivate me!

This week I'm also joining in with Tricia and her Stash Bash. Click over for a peek! (She's just about ready to bring a new life into our world. Warm wishes & prayers for health and safety for mama and babe.)

Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

I am enamored with flowers.  Pansies mainly. They have long been one of my favorite blossoms, and so I decided to see what kind of interpretation I could design.  A natural pansy is a bit unbalanced with big and little petals.  My plan is to incorporate them into squares, and since I'm still a novice it makes more sense to work with uniform sizes. I'm feeling pretty satisfied with where things are so far.  The technique for moving from flower to square was a challenge for me.  I want the background to resemble a classic granny, so I needed to add on chains in the right location and configuration that I can work off of to make the square. With a few more adjustments I should have my "Classic Granny Pansy" ready for it's unveiling.

Along with the pansy, I'm working on a pop-corn-picot flower.  Again I plan to use the classic granny as the background.  I'm sure I can find a pattern for these, but I'm trying to build my design skills.  That means I'm stitching and ripping and stitching some more until I'm happy with the result! I have one finished that gets the big thumbs up, and another that is nearly there!  Look for the big reveal on Friday.

I still have other projects on the hooks. Eleanor and Juliana are patiently waiting for my flower fetish to wilt.  But for right now, I'm really enjoying all the new things that I'm learning and being able to share my experiences with you.  I had no idea when I started the Granny Square Project that it was going to grow into something so wonderful.  I figured I'd make a few squares and be done.  I guess not.  Now I understand why people are so devoted to this technique or method of crochet. It's fun, satisfying and only limited by your imagination.

Since it's Wednesday I bet you're surprised that I didn't included a book picture!  Actually, I'm just about finished with Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness.  There has been much anticipation for this book as her debut last year with A Discovery of Witches was enormously successful. Was it worth the wait? I'll let you know what I think when I'm finished!! 

Well friends, that does it for me today. I'll be linking up with these terrific blogs, and spending some time visiting and seeing what amazing things are going on.  I hope you'll join me.

Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me!
Until next time,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!