Plaid afghan redux

I am pretty sure that Ericka checks in here. Of course, Sheena is the resident Scot!!

Nice to see you back again; this is such an informative group, unless we wander off on non-stitchy subsets (known to happen frequently). They are still informative, but not on a stitching thread(oops pun).

Gillian

Best wishes, Ericka

In message , Barbara T writes

That is one wonderful afghan, many hours of labour with love gone in to it. Well done you. Hugs Shirley

Beautifully done. That's obviously a labor of love. Your grandkids are lucky.

Lucille

s.com/of Stafford Arizonia came up on my

That's beautiful!!! A treasure for a lifetime for your grandchild.

Nancy

Barbara -

What a lovely afghan! I'm sure it will be treasured by your lucky grandchild.

How many of these do you plan to make? (i.e., how many grandkids?) By the time the last one is ready, you may have the patterns and colors memorized and developed a new system for keeping track of the many threads!

Well done!

Sue

What a beautiful afghan!

Dianne

Ditto - great looking afghan. And I love the signal flags one, as well. Congratulations - to you, and the grandchildren.

Ellice

I hoped Ericka was still around, thank you again. Thank you all so much, I'm actually blushing! I've seen so many gorgeous projects on this ng that I had to share too.

How many will I make..well..at least six more. That is the count today but we never know what news I might hear next month. The youngest is almost two.

The pattern on the next afghan is not yet found. But I must say the grandson who received the signal flags one is now in the US Navy!

Sure wish there was a good way to keep the yarns from tangling, DH sure tried to figure out a procedure, but so far nothing but stopping and sitting on the floor and untwisting. The box did help keep the balls corralled.

The yarn is called Perly Perle 3/2. Don't know what 3/2 means but it did get me six repeats across the width, enough to look like a plaid.

Now I almost get to make something to keep. I have Drawn Threads' Alphabet Samplar all kitted up and ready. Next though is to finish DD's UFO. A ten year old Merry Christmas kit by Bucilla. Yes I volunteered when I saw it stored away in her attic.

Barbara T

Barbara, Your work is wonderful. I made my son an argyle afghan and all those balls of yarn going at once nearly got me! But, it turned out beautiful. By the way, my husband retired as a WO4 too! Michelle

Barbara, I see you're having a time with the yarn tangling. This worked for me. I took a board about 24" long and 4" wide. Drilled holes every 4" or so, then pushed long aluminum knitting needles through the holes. Put the board on the floor with needles up and stuck a ball of yarn on each needle. Then as the colors were used, I could easily switch the balls around. Not too glamorous, but it worked. Michelle

Barbara,

I am proud for you that this particular grandchild joined the Navy. Last month I had a thrill of a lifetime as my son retired from the Navy after

I still think of him as the "hard-to get-along-with" kid. It was true. However in his address to a BIG conference room packed with people, he actually said "Mom, thanks for all you did; I know I was very hard to raise, but I thank you for the love and encouragement you gave me." Sniffle

Be so very proud of the family members who serve us.

BTW, when Mike went to boot camp, I figured he would rebel and be discharged...instead, he is a mentor and leader to others.

Sorry to get off-topic, but I am a proud Mom,. and you will be a VERY proud grandmom!

Gillian Navy widow Retired Air Force spouse Navy Mom ( retired)

Congratulations Barbara! The afghan is lovely! I hope you pick a simpler pattern for the next one!.....Although there is a lot of satisfaction in finishing something that you have invested so much time into!

Mavia

Michelle, thanks for that thought. I am going to remember that tip with next piece that takes less than the 36 balls I had on this project. The posterboard box did keep the balls corralled but the twisting needed at each color change did the tangling as you know. On a reasonable project with six or eight balls your suggestion would definitely work.

Barbara T

And on this special day, thank you Gillian for your service! Without the support of the folks at home, our brave and proud defenders of freedon woud not so gladly go to do that important work.

I joined DH after his service to our country was complete, but I thank him regularly for his work. He, I and others of the family encouraged this DGS to consider the military. He was a bit unsettled after high school, we knew he would learn so much and get the needed experience in life.

Yes I am a very proud grandmom.

Barbara T

That afghan has started on its way to the graduate. We just had a 5 day visit from her dad (my DS) and family. They are taking it to their home and it will await the coming of that DGD to collect her gift.

Yes I do believe I will pick a simpler pattern next, although that argyle thought sounds tempting. Might have to check that out. I do have two years before the next DGS graduates.

Sure is quite around this house, having two kids and their parents around for several days is fun but always busy! DH and I are only watching the auto races today. Tomorrow we might start putting the house back in order.

Of course I watch the races with some neglected needlework in hand. Some Hardanger that has stymied me for a bit. I needed to take a break from figuring out how to do the 3/4 web on wrapped bars and include the spike. (Emie Bishop's Christmas in my Heart 2001)

On behalf of ALL family members of military,active, retired and deceased, I thank you.

I still believe it is a great career, and makes a man out of a boy. We were buying a new car yesterday, and the paperwork lady was saying her youngest son had just joined the Marines, age 19. Apparently he was "the perfect child" worked for Publix, bought company stock, was never late had started a 401k with the company and even bought company stock.. She had tried to dissuade him from the service.

DH and I both told her that a kid with that fire in his gut ( had wanted to be a Marine since 6th grade and turned down a scholarship) was the sort of "man" the Marines need, and I am pretty sure will advance rapidly. He is her "baby" and an other kid is in Afghanistan....so Mom's do worry, and we NEVER stop.

Gill