So Sad . . .

Stolen from online, but I've seen this particular photo everywhere

 The hard drive on my laptop was dying a slow death.  That would explain why some much needed programs had stopped working (Virus Protection and Word).  Perhaps that explains why I couldn't download new programs, run scans--heck, I couldn't download anything!!  So poor thing is in the shop getting repaired . . . Despite cost repairs, it is still cheaper than buying a new one.

So for now, I share my sad face and hope I can reload everything back on (thank heavens I back-up almost all of my files and photos).  Hope to be "up and running" next weekend . . . 

Have a good week! ;)

Circles into Squares

Yup, that's what I do every time I make a new square.  It starts out as a circle and magically transforms into a square.  Since there's no specific pattern, (its a mish-mash of other patterns), I thought I'd post a lovely photo tutorial with the pattern so you could witness the transformation and maybe make a few for yourself.

Round 1: Using white yarn and 5.5 mm hook, chain 4. 

Slip stitch into first chain.  You've made a wee circle.  

Chain 3 (this will count as the first dc).  

Work 11 dc into the wee circle.  

Slip stitch to top of first chain (12 dc total including the 1st 3-ch). 

Round 2: Chain 3 (this will count as 1st dc).  

In same space where you slip-stitched, make 1 dc.  Make 2 dc in next dc from previous round.  

Continue working 2 dc in each dc from previous round until end (24 dc including the 1st 3-ch at start of round).

Slip stitch to top of 1st chain to end round.  Secure end.  Break yarn.

Round 3: Attach second colour to any spot between dc pairs.  Chain 3 (this will count as 1st dc).

In same space, work 2 dc and ch 1.  

**In-between next 2-dc space, work 3 dc and then ch 1.  Continue from ** until end of round.  

Slip stitch to top of 1st 3-chain to finish round (12 sets of 3 dc separated by 1-ch space).  Continue slip stitching through top of next 2 dc and into ch-1 space.

Round 4: Chain 3 (this will count as 1st dc) in ch-1 space.  

Work 2 dc in same space and then ch 1. 

**In next ch-1 space, work 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 1 (this will make a corner).  In the next 2 ch-1 spaces, work 3 dc and ch 1.  

Continue from ** till there are four corners in your "circle".  

There should only be 1 ch-1 space left where you work 3 dc and ch 1.  Slip stitch to top of 1st 3-chain to finish the round.  Your circle is now a square! Continue slip stitching through top of next 2 dc and into ch-1 space.

Round 5: Chain 3 (this will count as 1st dc) in ch-1 space.  Work 2 dc in same space and then ch 1.  In next ch-1 space, work 3 dc, ch 1.  In corner work 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 1. 

Continue working the granny square as already established, working sides with 3 dc and ch 1 and each corner with 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 1.  At end of round, slip stitch to top of 1st 3-chain.  

Continue slip stitching through top of next 2 dc and into ch-1 space.

Round 6: Worked same way as round 5.  At end of round, slip stitch to top of 1st 3-chain. Secure end.  Break yarn.

Round 7:  Attach white yarn to any ch-1 space.  

Chain 1 and then 1 sc in same space.  Sc in each dc and 1 sc in each ch-1 space.  In each 2-ch corner, work 3 sc.  

At end of round slip stitch to top of first sc.

Round 8: Work 1 sc in each sc except for corner.  In corner work 3 sc in 2nd sc.  At end of round slip stitch to top of first sc.  Secure end.  Break yarn. 

Happy hooking! :)

Happy Mom's Day

Hoping all the moms out there have a great day . . . 

Hands courtesy of foter.com

And remembering all those mothers and children who could not be together: you are never forgotten.

Stitching It

Bits of ends

See the bits of yarn?  Just weaving in some ends.  Not something I enjoy, but I want to "clean up" the back.

Weaving in ends

I couldn't wait for all the squares to be completed.  I needed to see the squares joined together, just to get a sense of how the colours worked together and whether the length and width would work.  

Two rows of squares joined together

Guess what?  It all works!!  I love it!  I'm already working on the next row of colours to add to the bedspread.

It Grows!

Thus far I have managed to add a new square every day.  The pile of squares grows bigger.  Soon I will begin attaching them to each other.

Pile o' Granny Squares

I've capped the total colours to 13--and all in the stash!  Not sure about the amounts, though.  I had initially planned to make my bedspread 10 squares by 10 squares.  This meant that, with the exception of one colour, I only needed to make 8 squares in each colour.  With the addition of a 13th colour, that has changed.  Now the bedspread will be 11 by 11 squares.  The addition of an 11th square in both the width and length will fit better on the bed.  Not sure how this affects my yarn amounts, though.  Time will tell . . . 

More Grannies

Meanwhile, I'm not sure how to tackle the pillows--mainly since I'm not sure how many of the colours will be left over.  I may settle for simple all-white granny rectangles . . . I have time to think about it.

Happy Easter

All told, it's been a nice Easter weekend to spend with the family.

Rainbow Eggs courtesy of Foter.com

Here's wishing you and yours a good Easter day and happy long weekend.

Proof!

First crocus of the season

Proof of life, that is.  Bits of spring hinted here and there.  In spite of the last wintery blast, the sun is making more frequent appearances.  And its giving off greater heat.

Yellow wildflowers called Coltsfoot and often mistaken for dandelions

Suddenly out of nowhere, there are tons of red-breasted robins pecking in the lawn in search of worms and grub.

Fresh green stuff!

Amidst all the grey decay and dead matter, new life sprouts.  Green stems and stalks break through the once frozen earth.

Tulips breaking through . . . 

I love spring!!  The promise of something fresh and new is in the air . . .