A Gift for My Cutie

I designed and finished this blanket in just a week's time back during February's nearly endless litany of snow days. 

It was done just in time for presenting to my fiancé on Valentine's Day. 

I worked with Lion Brand Yarn's Wool Ease line for the first time and must say I was not disappointed. Using an L hook, this soft, cushy ghan whipped together in no time. I love when quality and ease unite for pleasing results. 

My pattern was pretty basic. 

I did a simple granny base worked in a 3 chain ring. 

For the second round, double crocheted across each double crochet from previous round and made 5 total in each corner. 

The final round consisted of treble crocheting across the double crochets, but this time working only 3 in the corners. 

Each square was hook joined. The border was two rows of single crochet turning for the second row to avoid having the edges cup. I also borrowed a fabulous idea found here and decided to single crochet two together across wherever two squares joined. 

Made for a more evenly edged finished product.

My Honey was thrilled by the warmth and softness of the blanket. He doesn't like ghans with a lot of space between the stitches (he says they are too "holey"), so this pattern was created with his dislike 

of all things holey in mind. 

I can hardly believe it has been a week since my last post. I have been swamped at work this week and was quite frankly on wedding overload. So I took the weekend to regroup. I didn't even check email (gasp!). Just traipsed around the house in my pj's all day (double gasp!!). I even found time to sleep in for a change (cue Hallelujah Chorus). 

It was a much needed respite that energized me for one long, hard work week rife with news of cutbacks for the coming school year. Needless to say, I also spent some of the weekend  in earnest soul searching. This quote by Wordsworth struck a chord:

Enough, if something from our hands have power to live and act and serve the future hour...

I am not sure what the future hours will bring. Looking from where I stand now, it appears bleak and dim. But I hold the power to transform the bleakness and depression. The tale of how I choose to spend my time now will be told for future generations to come. Regardless of how this year pans out, I know I serve a God who is bigger than all this mess. And through Him, I have a hope and a future (Jer. 29:11). I will cling to His promises and live to reflect His light. I feel like this blog is a catalyst toward doing this more perfectly, for it daily grants me the opportunity to focus on the positive aspects of life. No matter what is going on around me, Blogland is a safe and happy place. The more I blog, the more I realize the blessing it has been to my overall frame of mind, because it gives me lovely, joyful, simple pleasures to focus my mind on throughout the day (as opposed the doom and gloom tactics of mainstream media today). 

So thank you, Blogland for opening your doors to me. 

Thank you to the dear friends I have met along the way.

Here's to us!

Happy Blogging!