So here is one of the blankets I made for Christmas present

[MissMillie]

it's for my son's friend, Alix, who lives w/ us

[RedEarth]

1. Very nice.... good work!

[MissMillie]

7. thanks

now I just have to find a way to do this w/o destroying my hands.

[lavenderdiva]

2. what a lucky friend you have, MissMillie!

that represents a lot of hours of your time. I really like the border you included; it ties everything together so nicely! Alix is a lucky friend, and I know he's going to love it!! :hi:

[MissMillie]

8. She asked for fall colors

she's seen it as I've been working on it (kinda had to be that way when she lives w/ us). I still want to wrap it up and put it under the tree.

[LynzM]

3. Oh, wow!

Your stiches are so uniform, I love how you can see the pattern of them... nicely done! :D

[MissMillie]

9. thanks!

there's definitely some mistakes, but that's what makes it homemade, right?

[GOPisEvil]

4. Nice!!

I like it. So will Alix. :)

[MissMillie]

10. Well, it kept me warm while I was working on it

I hope she has many years of wrapping up and keeping warm.

[grilled onions]

5. You Have A Great Talent!

What a "warm"gift that will be that can be used all thru the year!

[MissMillie]

11. I wish I were better at understanding patterns

When the books say "front post" or "back post" I get lost.

[SoCalDem]

6. Beeee yooo tiful:)

and so much better because you made it yourself..

My grown up son still has the blankie I mad for him when he was 4 yrs old, and in the hospital... It's folded up on the arm of the couch..His wife kids him about the airplane blankie:)

[MissMillie]

12. Ain't it great that they last so long?

I was speaking w/ a woman who said she still has one that was made for her as a wedding gift--40 years ago!

[Arkansas Granny]

28. My granddaughter still uses the one I made when she was born and

she's 20 now. She still likes to use it as a throw in her bedroom and it has seen a lot of use and washings over the years. I have some that I use regularly that I'm sure are 15+ years old although I can't remember exactly when I made them.

[blondeatlast]

13. U just started crocheting again; I had forgotten how enjoyable it is.

I've made myself two winter hats, a scard, mu son a beanie and a Santa hat me some mittens and have embarked on a pretty involved jacket.

That's gorgeous, I can appreciate the work. Beautiful!

[MissMillie]

18. I found a hat pattern I'm going to try

I think hats might be better for next year, I can get more of them done.

[mitchum]

14. That's lovely

nice work, MissMillie

[MissMillie]

17. thanks!

I appreciate that!

[Sanity Claws]

15. Beautiful

Things made and given with love are so much better than store bought.
If you get a chance, would you mind telling me the difference between crocheting and knitting and whether someone in middle age could take it up? I grew up in the era where traditional women's crafts were downplayed.

[MissMillie]

16. anyone can take it up

but be warned that if you have carpal tunnel or arthritis in your hands, long hours doing either knitting or crocheting will agravate the condition.

Crocheting is done w/ one needle, and it's got a hook on the end.

Most knitting is done w/ two straight needles (though I have seen a circular needle (one long bend-able needle w/ points on each end--I have no idea what that is used for, I don't knit)

There are some great books out there "learn how to" stuff, that can get you started in short order.

Good luck!

[bicentennial_baby]

21. Re: Circular Needles!

A knitting circ, which looks like this:

is used much in the same way as straight needles. You can use it to knit flat, by just turning the work around when you get to the end of a row. Alternatively, circs are used to knit in the round, for hats and such, joined after the first row, so there is no seaming to be done as there would be with straight needles.

I also use circs to make socks. To do that, I use two circs, instead of the traditional set of 4 or 5 double pointed needles.

:hi: I haven't used a straight needle in years. One advantage is that the weight of the work is centered on the cord of the needle, and your arms don't wear out as fast when working on large pieces. You can also fit a ton of stitches on a circular needle.

[Bertha Venation]

19. How, in the name of god, do you do that?

My sister does it too. It's jaw-droppingly amazing. :wow:

[MissMillie]

22. well, you know

yarn over, pull through yarn through stitch working in, yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over, pull through remaining 2 loops...


something like that

[Bertha Venation]

23. So then brain surgery would come naturally to you . . .

I'm amazed.

[MissMillie]

24. well,

maybe Brain Salad Surgery

[DS1]

20. Impressive, and looks comfy!

[MissMillie]

25. thanks!

Merry Christmas!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

26. very nice. I am sure he will love it. well done, MissMillie

:toast:

[MissMillie]

30. ty

:hi:

[crim son]

27. Wow, that is beautifully done!

How have you joined the squares? And what did you do to make the edging... is that variegated yarn? It's really beautiful, MissMillie.

[MissMillie]

32. yeah, the yarn is variegated

the squares are joined with a slip stitch in each of the "ch1" in the last row of the square. I find this method much easier than sewing all the squares together after they're all made.

[skygazer]

29. That's beautiful! Love the colors

I discovered a quilt I'd started recently and went back to work on it. I really love doing this sort of thing but like you, it kills my hands plus I don't have a lot of spare time. But it's very relaxing.

[MissMillie]

33. I wish I were better about working year-round on them

then my hands wouldn't get destroyed by the last-minute frantic race to the finish.

[applegrove]

31. Homemade gifts are the best!!!

[MissMillie]

34. I think so too

some day, though, I'm gonna make one for me.

[Mollis]

35. That looks so nice...

how long did it take?
I only know how to do basic kniting and crocheting. It would take me years to finish something like that...I have never finished anything I started...lol

[MissMillie]

37. about 3 months

but I was also working on 2 other blankets at that time.

[JitterbugPerfume]

36. that is beautiful

I admire people who can create beautiful things

[MissMillie]

38. I made this too

but it took considerably less time to get it started. A lot more time to perfect the stitch.

[zanne]

39. Incredible!

The color combination is fantastic. Anybody would be very lucky to receive a gift like that.