Positively posies...

Hello.  My name is Dannie, and welcome to my blog.  Tonight, I'm crocheting out loud, making flowers for an afghan I started nine years ago.  A friend sent the pattern to me many moons ago, and there's nothing printed anywhere on it to tell where it originally came from.  All I know is that it's called "Flower Patch".  Over the years, I've made many afghans, but this one has probably been the most fun.  It started with a bag of donated acrylic greens, and I've used every kind of scrap imaginable - including those tiny balls of fuzzy novelty yarns that I couldn't bear to throw out.  Three rows of green surround each flower, making a hexagon shape when done.  I "only" need 50, and have 35 completed.  Can't wait to see it finished and assembled!

For some unknown reason, I seem to have afghans on the brain this year.  I have four or five more in various stages of completion.  I began working with yarn 30 years ago, after graduating from high school.  Because I didn't have a lot of space for tools or materials, I concentrated on afghans and thread crochet.  Ten years ago, I began knitting again.  It's very exciting and I love it, but there will always be a special place in my heart for crocheted afghans.  I take yarn with me everywhere I go, and crochet is just so portable. 

This is another work-in-progress.  It's the Bands of Beads Totebag, designed by Kathy Wesley.  I'm making it with a cone of dishcloth cotton - ivory with little specks of color here and there (can't remember brand).  With plastic multi-colored pony beads.  It's big, easy, and fun.  There are little gaps or holes around the beads, but it can be lined with fabric - something that I'm nervous to try but want to learn how to do. 

I've got hooks on my mind, too.  Specifically, the new Addi ones.  I have most sizes of their regular ones with the color-coded handles, and absolutely love them.  As I'm getting older, hooks that used to be no problem to use are becoming a little more painful to hang onto and maneuver, so I'm looking for bigger and better ones.  I also love wood hooks for some things, like lacework.  Still need a "K".  Am thinking Brittany.  I have a set of their double-pointed needles and really like them.  I love the homemade ones I see in places like eBay.  Maybe I should check Etsy?

I generally knit socks in late summer, but this one got an early start.  The pattern is "Embossed Leaves" by Mona Schmidt, from Interweave's Favorite Socks:  25 Timeless Designs.  The yarn is Destination's 'Ireland'.  The photo does not do this colorway justice.  It is gorgeous.  Hoping to finish them on this side of Heaven, to be able to give them to my Aunt Margaret (shhh... don't tell). 

This is Buster.  He sets my writing curfews.  Right now he says it's time to entertain the cat, because he's bored when I'm at the computer.  Not one to argue with ancient felines, it's back to the workbasket.  Thanks for visiting!