Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Busy Hands



 For the past several weeks I have been working on the baby blanket for my friend Debbie. Her son (a school teacher in South Korea) and his wife are expecting their first baby this Spring.


The yarn I used was from the box of yarn my friend from Florida sent me. The yarn is several years old, how do I know that, well, the price tag was still on the skeins.


How many years ago was the price of yarn only 88 cents for a 4-ply knitting worsted weight yarn?


 The label says pink, but it looks closer to a peach shade to me. Actually in the pictures the color does look more like pink.


 I made 20 blocks and then bordered them with a row of sc all around, then a second row of dc with a ch1 space between, putting a dc, ch1, dc, ch1, dc in each corner space. I tried crocheting the blocks together with a sc but it left too bulky a ridge, so I tried a sl joining them and still was not happy. In fact I had the whole thing joined together with the sl stitch and ended up undoing it. I dug out my tapestry needle and started hand stitching. The seams now are nice and flat, just the way I like them.


She wants a sweater and bonnet, so I found a pattern that hopefully will look good with the blanket. I am holding my breath on having enough yarn cause I know the stuff I am using is as good as antique. There are zippo chances of finding any in this lifetime.


I also found a cute ear warmer pattern on Tangled Happy's blog (she is on my sidebar). I have to sew some seams and make some flowers to finish them off. I have been wanting to make some for the past 2 years. There are all sorts of darling patterns out there. This is another way of stash busting.


And, in case you are wondering what happened to my mom's African Flower blanket.....it is resting quietly, without complaints, in the recliner in the living room. It will get put together before mom's birthday on December 10th. See that scrappy blanket on the back of the chair, I made that 36 years ago when I was pregnant with my first baby. That old afghan has been through the mill. It has been slept on, slept under, wadded up like a pillow, thrown in a heap on all the furniture, laid on by the kids, hubby, the dogs. Family has wrapped them selves in it and the kids have fought over it. It has been washed and tumble dried so many times I'm surprised it still holds together. Recently my youngest said she wanted it. I have made her at least 3 beautiful new ones (different designs) and that she would want this one kinda surprised me. It is not the prettiest blanket I have ever made, in fact it is just bits and pieces of left over yarns that weren't enough to do anything else with. It has been abused, but still loved.......just like that worn out t-shirt, jeans or the old shoes that are a favorite. So what are you working on? I imagine with Christmas right around the corner most of you are busy doing up Christmas gifts. ♥

10 comments:

  1. Gadzooks.. you have been busy! I think it's cute that your daughter wants that blanket.. are you going to give it to her? You're amazing how much you've done! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  2. Your projects are so nice, I like he box full of ear warmest, that was a lot of stitching!
    I don't really do yarn crafts but I do know the current price of it is much much higher than 88 cents!

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  3. What a beautiful baby blanket!! I love the colours and I surely know what you mean when you say you hope you have enough yarn because you can't get any more. I sure hope you have enough to finish off the other projects too. The African Flower blanket for your mom will be a wonderful gift for her birthday. Like you I'm beavering away with my yarn crafts. They are for my Christmas gifts. Happy crafting.

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  4. Hi Susanne, I think smoke must be coming off of your hook! That blanket is pretty, I like the bobble hearts, and I wish wool was still 88cents! Are all of those ear warmers in that box? They would make great little gifts, will have to look at them, thanks. I am starting Christmas crafts this weekend looking forward to it, love Christmas. x

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  5. You are busy, busy with all of your projects. The little pink baby blanket looks so nice - I love the little hearts. That's a lot of ear warmers - who are you gifting them too? :)

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  6. That baby blanket is so pretty!! The colours are lovely and the hearts make it extra special. I love that you're using antique yarn. it was just waiting all these years for the right project to come along. You've been busy with ear warmers, there's a lot of them!!

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  7. I love that little baby blanket and I'm sure the recipient will love it too. Sue

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  8. Your baby blanket is lovely and I'm sure they will love it. I'm currently working on a Coming Home from Afghanistan Afghan. I make a square a day that represents each day my son has been on tour. Whether he will want it when it gets back not sure. He's not the arty crafty one of the family that's more his brother and sister. But who knows he may surprise me and tell me he wants to have it. I'll make sure I'm sat down when I show it to him just in case I get a shock.

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  9. The baby blanklet with hearts are so sweet. A beautiful gift for the new born. Wow, stuff of decades that have lots of memores. Keep it and remember the good old days.

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  10. Hi Susanne! This baby blanket is so adorable with all those precious hearts. What a special gift this will make, and I'm sure it will be cherished for a long, long time, just like the blanket you made 36 years ago. There's just something so special about a hand done blanket...it must be all the love that goes into each stitch! You're such a busy bee with all these projects you've got going. My birthday is 12/10 too! Enjoy the rest of your week sweetie! x0

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