Gramma just loves Granny Squares

Whe I think of granny squares I remember sitting on my Grandmothers living room floor laying out what seems to be hundreds of square my Great Gram had made. Each one edged in black and different. She would spend her time making this little squares from leftover yarn and stashing them away until there was enough to finsih an afghan.

I do not have the patience for all the connecting, and have yet to master a better way. But, I do love the granny square. I have come across afew new patterns that let me granny square away without all the connecting.

Here is a bsic granny square pattern I found. They get to be addictive, you can't make just one!

Granny Squares
Granny squares can be worked at any gauge.
If you're crocheting a granny square as part of a pattern, match the gauge mentioned in the pattern as closely as possible. Otherwise, you can work your granny squares at whatever gauge you like.
Choosing Materials:

Granny squares can be worked with any yarn plus a crochet hook of appropriate size. Check the label on the yarn you plan to use; the correct crochet hook will be specified. Use that as a starting point, but feel free to make adjustments as needed.
Choosing Colors and Fibers:

Granny squares can be a single color or multicolored. Any combination of colors can be used. There are infinite possible variations.

If you work with multiple yarns, the fiber contents should be the same, or compatible, so that the finished project will wear evenly with repeated washing and use.

For example, do not combine cotton and acrylic in the same granny square. The cotton and the acrylic will wear differently. Acrylic is typically shrink-resistant, but cotton can shrink significantly when washed. Using these fibers together could result in a project that looks fine before washing, but distorts during the washing process.

Pay attention to care instructions, and make sure that all fibers used in the same project can be cleaned using consistent methods. For example, do not use "Hand wash only" yarns in the same granny square with "Dry clean only" yarns.

Abbreviations:

ch = chain, chs = chains, st = stitch, sts= stitches, sl st = slip stitch, dc = double crochet

http://crochet.about.com/od/learntocrochet/ss/Crochet_Granny_Square.htm

I listed the new items on Grammas Gifts on Etsy this morning, I am curious to see how many other people have a fondness for Granny Squares also. The next set I am doing will be a 6 month size hat and sweater with a matching blanket. That would make a great baby shower gift.

Monday was for Monkeys

I had a great plan for the New Year. I would prioritize, make lists and stick to them. So far it is working out fairly well. I am making my lists and doint the items on them.  The other family members, not so much.  I am beginning to think there needs to be rewards and penalties put in place. I will ponder that later today after  get my list accomplished and have  cup of tea and watch the snow fall.
   The two little guys just left for thei four days at MOMS.  This never seems to last four days. She will calll after one or two with an excuse to bring them back early.  Tht is ok, because then I know they are cared for, happy and on some sort of schedule.

  Monday, I had a huge list. Sock Monkey hats to put on the Etsy shop and a few for Josephines in Watertown. If I can get a few of these finished, photographed and listed that would be great. I did get them done and this morning while I had coffee got them photographed and listed. That done I am off to he next project, Valentines Day ponchos, done , photographed and listed.

  With som quiet and time this afternoon I am hoping to try a new pattern and then work on my mailing list. I would love to keep past customers informed on sales and new items. Ther must be  good, free program or app out there somewhere. Any suggestions , please leave a comment or email them to me.

  One resolution was to make working from home easier and more productive.  A good mailing list would be a start.

The menu planning and new chore chart have worked out well so far. I have bread in the bead maker, chicken thawing and ....what is that ....quiet ! It won't last long before the MONKEYS (boys) are back so I will take full advatage of it.  I find myself not really minding all the extra time to pick up toys, read those books or just chase them. Mainly beacasue I know all to well, before long they will be too big and off exploring on their own. Grandma won't be needed as much and that makes me very sad!  I think my favorite job in life is Grandma, and I had a very good teacher. I grew up in a home with my Gram ,she crocheted to support herself and made sure we had love, discipline and was always just a phone call away.  If I acheive that, I would be extremely happy .

With that said I am off to get some things done and enjoy that cup of tea ....alone for now!

MOM a really Tough Job, Gramma tougher

            I have 5 grown kids, for the most part they grew up OK.  I do think,  an owners manual should be given out at the delivery of your first child)   My oldest daughter Patrice, is referred to as our experimental model. There are those things we would all like to change, one has a tendency to get loud, one seems to fly off the handle quickly, one does NOT take a sorry ( this from the time she was born )  Did they all turn out just like I had planned?   NO, maybe because God had a plan bigger than mine, or kids just turn into their own person. I do have to say though, my son, if you ask anyone here, turned out perfect.  I agree, kind, thoughful and just an overall nice guy..  With all that said and all of them grown, I was blessed with a bunch of fun, unique grandkids. None much like their parents. Although there are moments I like to say, you look or sound like your Mom when you do that. That statement usually puts a stop to whatever they were doing. Over the years 5 of these unique individuals has lived with me, and they are so very different and nice kids. The teens for a few were a rough patch , but I think we will all come out ok at the other end of that long tunnel. What is amazing to me is my new little batch as I call them. My first grandson Joey has two boys JJ and carsen. They are a different as night and day. But, JJ is his dad throuh and through. He is a ritual kind of guy, likes his stuff in the same place, wants his blanket , favorite toys and stuff always the same. A very easy going guy. He can color or draw for hours while I crochet, he loves to bake and lick the beaters and is a cuddly little 2 year old. Carsen is funny. After a scare that he might be born with Downs Syndrome, he came to us perfect. We have had some scares with convulsions and a few trips to the ER. He seems to have a great sense of humor and the faces he makes are priceless. All this siad, they have parents who are divorced and oh what a mess. They guys as we call them stay with me, ( Dad is here full time ) four days a week. This is not  problem they seem to fit right in. Our first day i always rough because they come back tired and just off in some way. Potty training has been a bigger job because it is not consistant and makes it harder than I remember. My heart breaks each time they cry not to leave and I can't just scoop them up and bring them back into the house. My hat is off to all these divorced prents who have found a way to make this arrangement work. Right now ours is still new, with phone arguing, kids crying and I am an unhappy Gramma. I do what I can while they are with me and we make alot of happy memories for them to take to the other Grandmas house with them.

A big surprise was when on Wednesday, JJ returned talking about his friend bunny and how he needed him. I sent someone out to the car to see just what he had left behind. To my amazement it was the Velveteen bunny I had bought his Dad and saved from 18 years ago. As I type this he is curled up asleep with bunny tucked under his arm safe an sound.. I tell Joey, probably more than I need to, please thing about what they hear and how they feel. Althought they are so small, I am amazed at what comes out of the mouth of babes. Nobody is perfect , Iagree but if I can get them grown, happy and healthy. With a feeling of safety and belonging, I will be happy! It ugs at my heart when my daughter who is in the Chicago area seds photos with her phone of our newest little one Isabella, I want to just hold her and cuddle.
Today as I get some pieces done for the etsy shop, do my Flylady routine and find alot tof time to enjoy my guys, I tuck these moments awy in a special spot. THIS is what it is all about, Not stuff, but those we love happy and safe.  Have a great weekend and HUG someone!

Black & White Wednesdays

This is my first week following Lisa's Black & White Wednesdays and I can hardly wait to check out all the other blogs

Here is my photo....if titled it would be CHEESE ! This is my Great Grandson JJ and he is a ham. It is amazing to me as I watch him, exactly how much he is like his Dad. And just like dad he is a grammas boy.  Secretly I would'nt have it any other way. JJ is also my cupcake buddy, we bake and he always comes running when he hears the mixer.

Ballet

While I had time on my hands today, I came across a photo of a handmade tutu on Etsy. Adorable little pink tutu, but what came to mind next brought tears and lots of happy memories. When I was about four my Grandmother took me to balet lessons every week. We practiced doing somersaults in the grass( I never did go straight) and she taught me to skip. Both of us right down the middle of the street. I never became a ballerina but she didn't care. Many years later I walked a little grandaughter to ballet and watched as she twirled and pointed her toes to Snow Whites Whistle While You Work. She also did not become a ballerina but those walks to the park district and alone time we had would in later years be very important. Sam like many teens hit some rough patches andseemed so far away. I spent many night crying and worried for her. Yet, on Mothers Day she left me a small red box with a bracelet she had made, but best of all was a small note she left saying how she remembers all I tried to teach her and loves me for it. That is what I hope my Gram got back from me all those years, becuase she not only made bad Ballet ok she made everything OK.