Square #3 & #4 from The Granny Square Book by Margaret Hubert are complete! I really enjoyed making this square and the half square to go with it. It was very easy to make and I think would make a beautiful shawl or light scarf.

It has been a busy week for me. After being out of circulation for a couple of months I went back to work at my local big box craft store doing a demo to promote my knit and crochet classes. It was a good day! There was a lot of interest in taking classes and I got a pretty good feel for when people wanted to have classes. This was perfect timing as it is time for me to turn in my schedule for March.

Speaking of March…did you know that March is National Crochet Month aka NatCroMo! Very exciting things will be happening around the internet in honor of this crafty month. I will be listing charities that can use your skills (whether you are a beginner or seasoned veteran) to help those in need. I will also be hosting our monthly online Twitter chat on March 6 at 1:00 central time (#crochetchat). I hope that you will join me this next month to find a worthy cause to crochet for and spend an hour chatting with other like minded people and getting some great ideas and inspiration! You can follow me on Twitter (@knittynana144) for updates!

I hope you have a beautiful and blessed week!
Sara

Ok….so I got a little off track with my blogging. I am a work in progress-what can I say! It is very difficult to get yourself into the habit of sitting down and writing on a regular basis. It seems especially for me since I don’t consider myself much of a writer to begin with so this part of being creative is extremely difficult. With that said let’s get on with the fun!
I have finished the second granny square from “The Granny Square Book” by Margaret Hubert.

I’m not real sure how I feel about this square. By itself it really is not that impressive but I feel like several of these put together would look really lovely. Maybe I’ll make a few more and see what they look like attached.
I also got some FreshStitches animals made up! I love, love the patterns that Stacey Trock designs they are all so cute and easy to follow. You can find her patterns at http://www.freshstitches.com go grab one and give it a try. You won’t be disappointed! First I have a slug, because her Ravelry group is doing a CAL with this pattern.

How cute is he?! I need a few more in a variety of colors!
Then my oldest grandson wanted a family of owls so I had to make a Mom and two kids to go with the Daddy owl he already has.

And of course the middle grandson needed something from Nana. His favorite color is green so he got a really green Cliff the Brontosaurus.

This pattern was super fun to make!
And lastly…it was Groundhog Day this weekend so we need a Phil….

He did not see his shadow so Spring will be here soon! Yay!!
I also made a coat for one of my babies. It doesn’t get cold enough here to need one very often but I think she would wear it all the time. She really seems to enjoy it!

Can you see the smile on her face! (Smile or exasperation?)
All of the projects I have completed, except the granny square, were made with Red Heart yarn. I love the durability of their yarn. It can be washed and dried so much with no negative results. The granny square was made with Vanna’s Choice which is fabulously soft to crochet with. I have not used it enough to know how well it holds up to washing and drying but I will be using it a good bit more so we will find out!
What is your favorite yarn to work with and how does it hold up over time?
May your day be filled with blessings!
Sara

Vacation time is over and it is back to work! I am excited to get things started this year. I have many plans for new things which include a new shop to open up! Yay!

The new shop will include all sorts of hand knit and crochet items. I will still keep Blankets of Blessing open and hope to keep an increased inventory there. The new shop will have baby outfits, stuffed animals, cowls….the possibilities are endless for my new venture! It is exciting to be able to have a venue to sell all of the items I love to spend time making.

Along with a new shop I am going to dip my fingers into the design pool! I am excited and a little nervous about this venture but I have a pattern in the design process that I just love and can’t wait to share it with you.

It is also back to work on the teaching end of things. The store I teach at called yesterday to set things up to begin the year. I have been teaching there for one year this month and though it has been very fun and successful I intend to put much more energy into drawing students in. I could really use some suggestions in this department. I do demos and have signs hanging to attract attention and stir some interest. Does anyone have any helpful hints of ways to draw people into the classes? I have also been thinking of doing some independent teaching. What is the best way you have found to get the word out?

I am also working on a granny square project. This year I hope to work my through The Granny Square Book by Margaret Hubert and share a square a week with you. This is a gorgeous book filled with loads of great information. The first square in the book has been completed and a picture follows. The name of the square is Picots and is really a pretty and lacy little square. I crocheted it with Caron Simply Soft in wheat. I think this would be lovely with several sewn together for a table runner or centerpiece on the coffee table.

So that is what is going on in my world right now! Like I said, I am really excited about the year to come and look forward to sharing it with you!