SUMMERTIME FUN

 

When you hear"Summertime Fun", what comes to mind first?  Swimming? Beaches? Baseball? BBQ?

 

Rachel and I had fun of a different nature:  We went to a Crochet course spread over six Tuesday afternoons at "The Perfect Blend" Yarn and Tea Shop in Saugerties, NY.

My daughter-in-law, Rachel, had learned  how to crochet last summer and I did not have any more to teach her , so we signed up for a class given by Heidi Quick who used to work for the Lion Brand Company in Albany, NY. 

Lucky us:  We were the only two students and benefited from all her attention. 

The first three classes were Basic Crochet and the last three (the last of which we had to re-schedule due to unforeseen circumstances) covered some more advanced techniques. 

We learned:

• how to keep straight edges,  
• various basic crochet stitches, 
• how to read a pattern, 
• how to increase and decrease, 
• crochet in the round, 
• beginner granny square, 
• the importance of gauge, 
• how to change color when working stripes and 
• four methods of seaming.

Heidi (seated) explaining one of the seaming techniques to Rachel

We finished two projects:

The Textured Dishcloth by Kara Gunza  

Click on the link for the free pattern.

Kara added my picture to her pattern page; what honor!! :)

and a simple hat :)

All in all it was a lot of fun, the shared learning experience and the material covered.

Heidi is a teacher with much patience. If you are interested, look up her classes this Fall at The Perfect Blend.Here is a link to their website : The Perfect Blend.

Knitting and Beyond

Earlier this month was my 35th Wedding Anniversary

Which better way to say "I love you" than making something?!

 

When you make a gift, it becomes much more than the thing to use or wear.

 

So, I made a pair of socks, but not just one pair, rather two pairs of socks (one pair for him and one pair for me) and not any pairs of socks, but pairs which complement each other.

Definition of "complement":

add to (something) in a way that enhances or improves it; make perfect.

"a classic blazer complements a look that's stylish or casual"

synonyms:  accompany, go with, round off, set off, suit, harmonize with, enhance, complete

According to this definition Tony and I do complement each other :)

Well, I found the perfect pattern:  "Tom and Ethel Socks" by Nigel Pottle

My friend's dog Harry supervising the progress

Here is what the designer says about the saw tooth pattern used in the socks: 

"These socks are named in honor of my father and mother. When I discovered the simple slip stitch pattern used to knit them it reminded me of saw teeth. That and the color of the yarn I used reminded me of the orange bucksaw my father and mother used to prepare logs for our wood-burning furnace. Over the years they cut up hundreds of logs for the winter firewood supply in my home town of Buchans, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada to keep their family warm, and that saw was always at hand to do the job. You can enjoy the warmth of these socks without having to saw your own wood, and they will look good in a myriad of color combinations" 

To me the pattern looked like saw blades stacked up together  

or also like gears (I am thinking of clocks or other machinery).  The teeth of gears have to perfectly fit into each other to make the movement happen; no gear is more important than the other, some gears do less rotations than others to complete one cycle, still they are all equally important.  Isn't that the same with a good marriage?!  You help each other to move along, each being of equal importance and together you make your marriage, your household, your family work as best as possible.

Here is to my dear husband Tony, good marriages and to working together as a team in any situation. 

There is no one I'd rather kick into gear with. On to the next 35 years ;)

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