Crochet Flower

Mrs.Purls asked me about the crochet flowers I used to embellish the blanket. I found the pattern in Crochet for Dummies (seriously). Here's the pattern:

One Color Flower

Center Ring: Leaving a 6in. length, ch 6 and join intoa ring with 1 sl st in first ch.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, work 15 sc in ring, sl st in first sc to join.

Rnd 2: Ch 1, *sc in each sc, ch 3, skip next 2 sc*, rep from * to* around, sl st in first sc to join (5 ch-3 loops made)

Rnd 3: Sl st in first ch-3 loop, ch 1, (sc hdc, 3dc, hdc, sc) in each ch-3 loop around (5 petals made), sl st in first sc to join

Rnd 4: * Ch 4, skip next 6 stst, sl st in next sc *, rep from * to * around (5 ch-4 loops made).

Rnd 5: Sl st in first ch-4 loop, ch 1, (sc, hdc, 2dc, tr, 2dc, hdc, sc) in each ch-4 loop around (5 petals made), sl st in first sc to join.

Rnd 6: * Ch 5, skip next 8 st, sl st in next sc *, rep from * to * around (5 ch-5 loops made).

Rnd7: Sl st in first ch-5 loop, ch 1, (sc, hdc, 2 dc, 3 tr, 2 dc, hdc, sc) in each ch-5 loop around (5 petals made), sl st in
first sc to join. Fasten off.

To make a two toned flower, work the stitches the same as the one color flower. Work the center ring and round 1 in the first color. Fasten off the first color and joing the second color. WOrk rounds 2-5 in the second color. Fasten off and join the first color ( or another color) to work rounds 6-7.

Enjoy!

Bad Blogger / Good Gifter

I know ... I have been a bad blogger. It's been ages since my last post and so much has happened since then. Where shall I begin. Well, I have been tackling the concrete jungle for the past couple of months toying with corporate America but not getting totally sucked in. It feels good to just go in, do my work and leave all the corporate "BS" and politics behind...and truth be told, I love it that way. I have a friend who has made a career by temping (we met while she was filling in for someone on maternity leave). I used to envy her sense of freedom and abandonment, not being tied to the corporate culture. Freelancing at this major publisher has given me a complete understanding of what she described as her "BS Be Damned" attutude. Now don't get me wrong. I don't want you to think I waltz in there all willy nilly and not care about the integrity of my work. That is a different story. I take pride in my skills and let it speak for itself. You know how some of us were brought up on that "One Better" rule. As a black woman, you always have to be one step ahead ( I can still hear my mother telling me that as she looked over my grades). That notion is so ingrained in me, I don't know how to be anything but the consumate professional when it comes to my work. Which brings me to this ... they offered me a staff position. What do I do now?!

On the creative tip, I have been crocheting to my hearts content. I finally finished my friends baby blanket. She had a little girl on Good Friday and I finished just in time. I was about to be through with her though. see, when she found out she was pregnant, she told me she wanted the nursery to be lilac and pink. Cool, I thought. Finally I can get away from the pinks and use purples and lilacs. A couple of months later, a week before her shower and AFTER I was half way finished, she told me she switched the nursery to a Strawberry Shortcake theme and wanted everything red and pink. I about died. You know how it is after you have made a commitment to make something for someone. You want it to be perfect. So, I did a little research, found out that Strawberry Shortcake had some pinks and purples in her color scheme and put my mind at ease w/o trying to crochet another blanket in less than a week. I love the way the blanket came out. It is basically 4 rows of double crochet alternating pink and purple and 2 rows of double crochet in white. A simple stripe pattern with a dramatic affect. To embellish it, I made three crochet flowers and made a "ribbon" of chain stitch to wrap around the blanket and thread the flowers through. I topped it off with a homemade card. I was nervous ... I am always nervous when making gifts for people. The best thing was she called me about a half hour later after receiving the gift and told me it was the best gift she received for her little one. THAT, really made my day.

Happy Hooker

I have been a crocheting fool lately. I guess it stems from the fact that up until a couple of weeks ago, I could not crochet worth a damn. Seriously. My crochet skills did not extend further than doing a chain for an invisible cast on. You see, when I was younger, my family "traumatized" me. I just did not understand the concept of creating a loop and pulling the yarn through said loop. What made it even worse was EVERYONE in my family crochets. "Pure Laziness, de gyal don wan to try nuttin." My aunt from Antigua would yell at me every time she tried to show me. I was subject to the all familiar kissing of the teeth, and disgusted smirks of Caribbean women who have been practising the art-form since birth (or so it seemed). It just got to the point where everyone, including my mother, lost their patience.

They didn't understand that I would pick up the hook in my own time ... and I guess as a way to rebel, I took to knitting like a duck to water. It was just so natural to me. When I would hold up finished projects, the same aunts who used to beat me over the head with their balls of yarn now sang the praises of my knitted creations. Not that they were so spectacular...garter stitch hats and scarves ... little projects you know. But I guess now, in their eyes I wasn't that hopeless.

However, I always felt a twinge guilty at not trying harder in learning to crochet. I mean, it wasn't for lack of trying. But the day I stepped into Barnes and Noble and saw Get Your Crochet On! by Afya Ibomu, a roaring fire had been ignited. One reason being, I saw people that represented me in the book. Oh, happy day! (did I mention Common and Erykah Badu are also in it?) The second reason is, having thick locks down my back, I have problems finding hats. Going to the custom boutiques and buying a hat wasn't an option. Why buy something you can make.....and it would take me forever to knit. So, armed with a new found determination, I brought the book home and I have been a crocheting ever since. I have already made my mother a "Bunny" and then whipped up a "Soldier" for my husband. (I promise to post pictures later - I am blogging at work ... shhh!) You can also see pictures of the styles on Ms. Ibomu's site : http://www.nattral.com.

In the meantime, I am crocheting a baby blanket I promised my cousin who is due this month. It is coming out really pretty and I have to say, I am feeling dang proud that I can crochet now. Until Later ....