Rambling Rose

My grandmother did exquisite crochet. I didn't learn how to crochet from her but I learned what quality work looked like. Every summer during vacation Grandma would make a trip to the local five-and-dime store and purchase three items: a crochet hook, thread and a pattern book. As the crocheter of the family I inherited these vintage crochet books and they are a special part of my pattern collection.

I have several pieces of her work and one of my favorites is a pair of pillow cases. The pattern is called Rambling Rose and is in the pattern book Pillow Cases Decorative Crochet - Book No. 264 - Copyright 1950 The Spool Cotton Company.

Skinny Scarf - Boucle

This is a knitted cousin to the Skinny Scarf - Homespun

Bernat Boucle
Size 10 1/2 needles
12 stitches
k1, p1 pattern
3" wide
Approximately 84" long.

My daughter likes her scarves long and skinny. This pattern and yarn can be adapted to any width or length with ease.

Very soft and warm!

Spoon Angels

I love these little Spoon Angels. You make them with the wooden spoons you get with Italian Ices or Ice Cream cups. I made a number of them for a holiday exchange group and they work up surprisingly quick.

This pattern was available on freepatterns.com but I when I went to track down the link for it, I couldn't find it.

Remember: When you find a pattern you like on the web and think you might like to do it sometime -- don't bookmark it, save it to a file.

Patterns have a disconcerting habit of disappearing from the web. If you get that dreaded "404 - File Not Found" error then try The Wayback Machine. Pictures are frequently missing but text of the pattern can often be found.

Update 6/13/2014: I found the pattern!

Checkered Flag Afghan

Oh my, that's way too long between posts! The holidays got in the way of my postings but still ......


Here's the checkered flag afghan for my sis.

Notes:
1) The pattern I used for the squares is: Pumpkin Patch Square.
2) I used an I hook and each square is 8"
3) 24 white & 24 black squares
4) (4) 8oz skeins - Red Heart Super Saver - white
    (4) 8oz skeins - Red Heart Super Saver - black
    --I had a fair amount left but it took 4 skeins of each color.
5) I single crocheted a border around the afghan matching the squares (more ends, I know, but it needed that for a finished look.)

The problem:
The cat believes it was a gift for him! The name of the cat? Pitstop

Caps to the Capital

Knitters and Crocheters for Newborns:
Caps to the Capital

24

Is the number of caps I have knit and crocheted for Caps to the Capital, a child advocacy program sponsored by Save the Children. I boxed them up and sent them off today.

Visit today and download the action kit — Please join me in this very important cause.

Make-it

makeit.ladynthread.com
While most of this blog is about crochet, which is my main passion, I'm primarily really about making stuff!

I needed a project when I first started teaching myself how to do frames in html -- so I went to my collection of "how to make-it" articles. My collection is old newspaper and magazine clippings, handwritten notes, handouts from Girl Scout and 4H seminars and anything free and generic that has been around for ages.

The result is a website I call "Make-it" and it is my special gift to the crafting community -- enjoy!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This year a beloved aunt lost her fight against breast cancer.

In remembrance, I crocheted a couple of pink beaded bracelets for me to wear every day during October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month). Visit The National Breast Cancer Awareness Organization to learn how you can help the fight against breast cancer.