Wyoming Breezes

LeAnn's T-shirt rug October 2018 LeAnn has been crocheting on this T-shirt rug for several weeks at the Crochet/Knit group. She is keeping all the knots on the backside of the rug. I love all the colors. LeAnn said she would continue until the red bag shown bottom left is empty. Several years ago, I knit a small rug with T-shirt "yarn" and huge needles. I used the rug at the door to collect damp shoes. I haven't seen it, so I wonder if it survived the move. Julie's crocheted entrelac blanket October 2018 Julie's entrelac blanket was the hit of the day. Everyone gathered around to see the process. I've seen entrelac that was knit, but this was the first time I'd seen crocheted entrelac. Have you knit or crochet with T-shirt yarn or knit or crochet entrelac?

Hook Book by byScratch Saturday, Jeni ( byScratch - etsy link) brought two crochet hook books to the Fiber Guild meeting. She was working on a prototype several months ago, so I asked her to bring a one to a Guild meeting when she had some made. Jeni brought two, and I bought both - one for me, and one for Sue. inside the Hook Book slots for hooks, and a small flap for miscellaneous  and a bit of felt for a sewing needle As a knitter, I have a few hooks, and I wanted a place to store and organize them.

mini doily crocheted by Susan S. date unknown Recently I went over to Sheila's house to pick up some honey to mail to Judy and her Mr. in Wisconsin. Sheila (a non-knitter) and I looked through some of her mom's knitting patterns and hand-written knitting notes and notations to determine what could be discarded. In one box we found four doilies that Susan had crocheted that needed blocking. You may remember that Susan explained her process to me, and I blocked some of her final pieces . It is satisfying to see the doilies starched and stretched into their intended shapes. Big or small, Susan's doilies are works of art. square doilies crocheted by Susan S. date unknown These two square doilies were gorgeous, and blocking them required an "army" of pins to keep the sides straight. preliminary pinning of Susan S. square, crocheted doily Some of the "soldiers' had to be moved several times, but before long they were marching in a straight li...

Sheila contacted me last week and asked if I would block her mother's last set of crocheted doilies. Susan's health is quickly failing, so I gladly accepted and spent about an hour with Susan learning her blocking tricks. Susan has laminated circles for blocking the doilies, which I brought home with me. I began the process on Saturday. Readers may remember that I purchased some of Susan's gorgeous doilies and posted about them here .

I've visited and knit with Susan S. several times in the last two years. At every visit, I admired her beautiful, crocheted doilies and her knit blankets. My readers may remember the pattern that Susan agreed to share with me and with you. Sheila mentioned recently that her mother was willing to sell some of her work: I was thrilled at the opportunity to own some of Susan's works of art. I wanted larger, white doilies for the center of my kitchen and living room tables. Sheila selected a couple of doilies she thought I might like but also suggested I look through the entire box of doilies. Oh my, I was in heaven! From that box, I selected three other doilies and came home with these five beauties: The doilies range in size from 20 - 22 inches in diameter. Thank you, Susan and Sheila for allowing me to become the guardian of these works of art!

An unusual round handkerchief approximately 10 inches in diameter   Frequent readers know that I love searching for vintage linens in antique stores and thrift shops, and two weeks ago, I hit the mother-lode and at a bargain price. Out of curiosity, I stopped at a local thrift shop to browse, and found three plastic bags stuffed with ladies handkerchiefs. Each bag was priced at $2. It didn't take me long to decide to purchase the bags. When I got home, I sorted the handkerchiefs for laundering and checked them for condition. Some still had paper labels attached: "Oriental lace," "made in Switzerland," "made in Ireland." I threw the ripped and the very thin handkerchiefs away and washed the rest. A multitude of screen-printed hankies. Because of the designs and color, I think some were manufactured in the 40s or 50s. While I ironed these lovely pieces of cotton, linen, and lace, I admired either their simplicity or their beauty. I have ...

Leonard and I have a lot in common - trying to learn something that is beyond our grasp. For Leonard, it is knitting; for me, crochet. I enrolled a class and completed the assigned "homework" ; however, the instructor cancelled the second session and eventually the third session was cancelled, too. It was probably for the best, as the hook just did not "fit" my hand like knitting needles. After that experience, I added a single crochet to a hand-knit hat. Working with the awkward hook took me several hours - much too long to make me even hopeful that I will master the skill. I'm sure a child could have finished in less than half the time it took me to add the edge. I may attempt crocheting again, but today, I understand Leonard. What skill has you baffled?