This blog is to post some of the wonderful (and funny) things that have come from the mouths of my three grandsons, Shawn, Joey and Chase. When they were born there was just no way that their parents (my daughter) could afford day care, and no way my daughter could be a stay-at-home mom. So, even though I was not in the best of health, I knew I had to provide day care for them. Who better to care for them than someone who loves them almost as much as their parents? One of the things that became important to me was chronicling the things they said and did while they were in my care so that their mother wouldn't miss out on these things. I was a mother who missed out on her kids' day-to-day progress so I knew how painful it could be. So, starting with this first post, I will be sharing all these wonderful experiences with all of you. They span the years from 1999 to 2007. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed being a part of their lives all these years.
May 1999
Joey
My 3-year old grandson, Joey, had spent the entire day emptying the toy box onto the floor and spreading them throughout the den and living room. As the time drew closer for my daughter to pick him and his brother Shawn up, I reminded Joey that he had to pick up the toys and put them back in the toy box.
After whining, “me can’t” and “me too tired”, he went and sat on the couch. I then told him that any toys left on the floor when he left would go in the garbage. He promptly got up from the couch and started picking up toys saying things like, “me like ‘dis one” or “me keep ‘dis one” and put all his favorites back in the box. What could I do? I left the room and laughed my butt off! Aaaaaaaaaah, but that is not the end of the story, my friends.
The following week, when he returned, he started pulling all of the toys out again. However, this time he would take toys out and give me a puzzled look and say things like, “dis one onna floor, it not in garbage!”
You just can’t fool those little ones. I guess I can’t use that ruse anymore.
I hope you aren't disappointed that this post is not about crocheting. It is, instead, about exciting family news. My younger sister (well, one of 3), has just had her very first book published. I haven't read it yet myself (I just ordered mine today), but I know she is an excellent writer. She has been writing since she learned to put pen (or crayon) to paper and put two words together. She has had some short stories published, but this is her first book.
If you would like to have a copy of your very own, please go to this site:
http://www.publishamerica.net/product88885.html
The book is The Story My Mother Told Me by Ruth Egan.
Needless to say, we are all very proud of her. Thank you!
You may make a copy of this pattern for your personal use, but please do not make copies for anyone else. You may, however, link them to this blog site. You may sell the items you make from this pattern as long as you do not claim the pattern as your own.
This is another of my patterns that you can make with any size hook and yarn.All you have to do is make a swatch, measure it, and multiply the stitches in the swatch to make the afghan the size you want it to be. My afghans were done with a main color yarn of white and a second yarn of variegated, which looks very nice, but you can use any colors you wish. If you have any questions about the pattern or any problems, please contact me by email at barb.sales0898@gmail.com.
If you hate sewing in ends, I recommend that you do them as you work, since this pattern makes a LOT of ends.If you crochet this pattern vertically instead of horizontally, you can use the numerous ends as fringe, if you like.
Special Stitches:
FPDC: YO, insert hook from front to back to front around the DC in the row below, YO,pull loop through, complete DC.
BPDC: YO, insert hook from back to front to back around the FPDC in the row below, YO,pull loop through, complete DC.
LSC or ESC: YO, insert hook in top of skipped DC in row below, YO, pull up loop, complete SC over top of ch 1 in current row.
To make a swatch:
This pattern is done in multiples of 3.Make a chain with your chosen hook and yarn that will give you a swatch at least 5 inches wide.
Row 1:With your MC,SC in the second chain from the hook and in each stitch across.Chain 2, turn.Ch 2 at the beginning of each row counts as the first DC here and throughout.
Row 2: DC in next SC and in each SC across.Ch 2, turn.
Row 3: (Column Stitches) Dc in next DC, FPDC around next DC, *DC in next 2 DC, FPDC around next DC*, repeat from * to * to the last 2 stitches.DC in Last 2 stitches. Ch 2, turn.
Row 4: DC in next DC, BPDC around FPDC in row below, *Dc in next 2 DC,BPDC around next FPDC in row below*, repeat from * to * to the last 2 stitches. DC in last 2 stitches, CH 2, turn.
Repeat Rows 3 and 4 as many times as you wish.I did 6 rows of Column Stitches and 6 rows of Windowpane Stitches for my afghans, but you can repeat them as you see fit.
On your last repeat of row 3 or 4, DC in Last 2 stitches, change to Second Color, fasten off MC.
Row 5: (Windowpane Stitches)Ch 2, DC in next DC, *ch 1, skip next DC, DC in next 2 DC*, Repeat from * to * to end of row, fasten off second color, change to MC.
Row 6: Ch 1, SC in same st as Ch 1, SC in next DC.LSC (or Extended SC) in the skipped DC in the row below the one on which you are working. *SC in next 2 DC, LSC (or ESC) in the skipped DC in the row below*. Repeat from * to * to last 2 DC.SC in last 2 DC, change colors, fasten off MC.
Repeat rows 5 and 6 for as long as you wish.I made mine with 6 rows of the Windowpane stitches and 6 rows of the Column stitches.
End afghan with your number of repeats of Column Stitches.Fasten off at end.
For edging:The first rows of column stitches and last rows of column stitches are the edging for those ends of the afghan.On the opposite sides of the afghan (the unfinished ones), I did a row of SC from one corner to the opposite corner, then I repeated the column stitches for the same number of rows I used in the pattern.Do the same for the other side and you are done.
For those of you who have been waiting many months, my sister will be going on a vacation to Florida for two weeks starting on the 7th of April. I have promised myself that I will FINALLY get that new afghan pattern to you during this time period.
Thanks to all who have been using my other patterns. I found out that there are a LOT of "No Assembly Required" market bags being made. I was just looking at pictures of some of them on Ravelry. I can't tell you what a thrill it is to see so many people going "green" and using my pattern to do it. Some people have made their own personal changes to the pattern to suit their needs and I'm fine with that since I rarely ever make a pattern exactly the way it is written.
