Jacket

I have several boxes of “papers” from Grandma. She came from a large family with lots of kids and she never let anything go to waste. Most of her patterns are written on scrap paper, or something else with blank space. I have them and am trying to decipher. This pattern was on the back of a cereal box with another pattern attached on the back of an envelope. This one is labeled crochet jacket, the envelope is crochet coat.

notice it says 75? I have no idea what that number is about.

I made the jacket from an assortment of worsted weight yarns in my stash, some of which came from GG’s house. The fuzzy green did not have a ball band, but I’m sure it’s acrylic. The colored yarn is acrylic wool blend “watercolors” from Red Heart Treasure. The dye lots did not match for any of the 4 skeins I used. Then on the bottom and ends of the sleeves I used Lion Brand Woolease, again acrylic and wool blend. The beginning forest green is used as a foundation and carrying yarn. Every 1-2-or 3 rows, I put in a row of SC in the forest green to tie it all together.

I went to my sewing basket and found 6 buttons that were the right size. None of them have matches. I think it adds to the eclectic look.

I had in mind that I would make this as a pajama jacket to wear when I get a chill at home. It’s very comfortable, roomy, and it moves. I made the neckline bigger for a sexy look. (we all need sexy knits at any age)

                            

I found that GGs math was not perfect, but it was a great jump off point. I took good notes as I progressed. If I get this down for a second jacket I will publish the pattern.

This is how she made things…sit down and make it… measure as you go…try it on. She would be proud of me.

Repair

I made this pink afghan years ago. It's my original design and was published in a magazine in the 80's. This was before self publishing and internet patterns...when we had to use our land line phones ("leash phones") to communicate.  We wrote letters and sent cards through the mail. We got excited at the mailbox hoping for a magazine, because we subscribed to several. We got all of our patterns from magazines and books. GG was proud of me for this one.

In the 90's the corner of the afghan was caught in the sweeper. (I'm from Ohio and that's what we call it. Vacuum, Hoover, Dyson...you know that thing we clean up the carpet with). The entire corner was destroyed. I have had it in a bag, and moved it countless times thinking that I could not get it out looking like that, and yet could not get rid of it because it was in a magazine.

I don't know what my issue was with repairing the afghan. I have repaired other afghans for other people. They were all grateful and amazed, thinking theirs could not be fixed. GG repaired afghans for many people in her town. She taught me well. I never thought this afghan could NOT be repaired, I just never did it.

I have made this pattern, this afghan several times as wedding gifts. I like the complicated stitch work and it is meditative, keeping my attention. Each time I made a new version, I thought of the lonely pinky waiting for my attention.

Since moving here, I put it in my "to fix" pile. (why is this pile so large???) Last week I looked at it for the last time. Why didn't I just fix it and get it over with?(the voice I heard was GG's telling me to get to it)

The first part was difficult. I unraveled the corner only, cutting away at each row.  The fibers had fused together at points but I was able to get a clean edge.

Then I found the only pink that would do, and filled in where the original fiber would not reach the end of the row.

I had to slip stitch to each row but because I used up all available original yarn, I think it looks ok.

Yes, I can tell it has been repaired, but now I will use it and most of my guests won't notice....except for the knitters and crocheters.

One less thing in the "fix it" pile!!

ORANGE Squares-- pattern

I figured out the pattern for the squares that GG made.  I want to share it. This is what she would have done...share everything. In her world of knitting and crocheting, GG would always OVER-share.

Use any weight yarn you want and the appropriate hook for a nice looking fabric. I'm using Worsted weight and a size I hook. This gives it a better "drape". If you want a denser fabric switch to a H hook.

Here's where I would say, choose the loudest, brightest, color you can find for the flower...but you be the artist.

CH 5, sl st to form ring.
Petal....
*3 DC in ring, CH 3 turn. DC in each ST across (4DC). CH 4 turn.

Repeat from * for 8 Petals. You are completing 2 rows for the Petal before starting the next Petal in the ring.

Now I'm going to write like GG and assume you know what you are doing.

Last CH 4 only -- CH 2 then DC in top of first CH 3 of first Petal. This puts you in the middle of the CH 4 and ready to start the next row.

You can change colors at this point or continue in the flower color. GG continued, so I will stay with the Squinty Yellow for this one.

Next row...

CH 3, 2 DC in same space. CH 1, *3 DC in next CH 4 SP, CH 1, (3 DC,CH 2,3 DC) in next SP (corner made), repeat from * around to beginning SP, 3 DC, CH 2, SL ST in top of beginning CH 3.

That was the square I was given from GG. The rest is what I have added.

Change color. I used the white for all of the squares to tone it down and make consistency no matter what yarn was being used.

Next row...

Join in any corner.
*3SC in SP, TBLC in chain SP of previous row between the sets of DC, 3SC  in same SP as first 3SC (corner made), (CH 2, 2 SC in next SP) 2 times, CH 2, repeat from * around ending with a SL ST in top of first SC.

Change color. This is where I used the red and then purple. Darker colors work best here to frame the work.

Next row...

Join in top of beginning SC of corner. *SC in first 3 ST, *SC in top of TBLC, FPDC around TBLC, SC in top of same TBLC, SC in next 3 ST (corner made), (FP TBLC in bottom of second DC from 2 rows below. SC in next 2 ST) 3 times, SC in next ST, repeat from * around.

That's the squares so far...I'll let you know when I add the joining round.  

ORANGE Squares -- Update

I've finished putting white and red on all of the ORANGE squares that GG made. I used up everything that was in the bag. When working in the daylight it felt as if I needed sunglasses.

There are not enough squares to make a blanket, or even a lap throw. I had to go stash diving. I found a gold, and a bright (make you squint) yellow... that just happens to be part of the yarn GG gave me.

I made some new squares, and it's 6x7 squares big...but not big enough for my liking.

NOW I'm out of the red.  I went deep stash diving, opening totes, going thru the bag of odds and ends, and emptying all of my project bags, boxes, and purses. I went to yarn stores, but the problem with stash diving, and especially deep stash diving, is that you can't find more of what you are using. There is no match for the red. Deep Breathe here....

Now that all of the yarn is out in the light, I started choosing other colors to add more squares. Oh no you say...more squinty slaps in the face? Yes and no. I of course found more ORANGE. It's Wonderboys favorite color and I have dozens of different shades in "construction cone" orange. They are out as possibilities...I also found some leftovers from GG in multicolored bright orange,red and purple. So I got out the purple. I'm trying desperately to blend all of this in. Right now, I'm mindlessly making squares in pleasing color patterns. "No brainer" crocheting.

I purchased a skein of black. The only money I've spent on this project so far. The plan is to put a last row of black on each to crochet them all together.  Or maybe sew 4 of them together...then crochet black around adding more blocks. Either way, I would say I'm half finished.

It's also in a time out to let my eyes have a rest!



It's looking pretty boho, and I'm proud of that.

Violets

GG was known for having a green thumb. As a kid,I can remember wondering why a thumb would be green if you were good with plants. Shouldn't it be brown with dirt? GG was never afraid to get dirty and her plants were always green, and lush, especially the violets.

When I moved out and got my own apartment, GG started giving me plants. At first it started with potted plants. Then when she would visit me, she brought "starts" from her plants and we would get pots, and soil and she would teach me how to plant my own. In the beginning I was timid and lightly tapped the pots acting like the plants were so fragile and I was some kind of debutante that couldn't get my hands dirty. GG would have none of that, get in there and get your hands dirty.

--I now know the pleasure and therapeutic value of digging in the dirt. It connects us to the earth, reminds us that we are caretakers. For a woman, planting feels like we are helping to create life. I wonder if that's why GG had so many plants. Her yard was filled with dozens of different plant life.When I would visit we would always have to "tour the yard".

But this is about the indoor plants, the violets. From the first apartment I had, and dozens of times after that, GG gave me violets, and violet starts. And every time I killed them. They didn't just get brown, or slowly stop flowering, or even just give up and wilt. No, I was a violet murderer. If it was a start, the stem would get mushy and moldy. If it was a plant, the leaves fell off, still green. I loved them to death is what I thought. I tried ignoring them instead. Too much I guessed and they shriveled up and died. I became a violet, serial killer.

I could keep everything else alive and it would thrive. I bragged about how I had her green thumb. I kept the violet murders a secret, but she knew. she would replace each one and give me tips. "Keep it in filtered light." "They don't like to go to bed with their feet wet". "If a leaf breaks off, put it in water right away and it will take root". I did all of this, and violets died anyway. The leaves I put in water just rotted away...unable to face the death that they knew was coming if I planted them.

After GG died, the biggest violet from her house went to the Kroc Center. It is two separate plants in one pot with two different kinds of violets both purple. A year later it was given to me as I moved out of town. Oh the anxiety. I was so nervous. I kept it in my car for the trip across several states to my new home. It had to have a place with filtered light...in front of the patio door so that the light is filtered from the balcony. Have to water it once a week. Put it in the sink and "give it a good soak" every now and then...I thought back at all of the things GG told me. It's another reminder of her.

It's alive and very well.  I did it! I am doing it. Leaves have broken off and I have two new plants potted from them. They now have new tiny leaves coming up from the soil.

I give it a "good soak" every other week. Wonderboy talks to it. We call it GG. I'm doing it...violets are growing in my apartment. I am rehabilitated.