Packing for Dallas…

It has been almost five months since I have seen my two sons and their families…not since Thanksgiving. I miss them! On Saturday morning, I am flying to Dallas for a week-long-visit with my youngest and his sweet family. My now nineteen-month-old granddaughter has changed so much since November! I see photos of her. I have brief visits with her on Facetime…but nothing compares to a visit in person. She is absolutly adorable with her big blue eyes and strawberry blonde hair – just like her dad’s. I can’t wait to see her! And spend lots of time coloring together (she loves to color) and going for walks and playing. The first couple of times that I went to visit, we “toured” Dallas, but to be honest, I just want grandbaby time! I’m sure Dallas is lovely, but Dallas cannot compete with a nineteen-month-old granddaughter!

Chicago Bulls' fans at a Bulls game in Dallas! She's clapping! — Chicago Bulls’ fans at a Bulls game in Dallas! She’s clapping!

So, my carry-on suitcase is packed with all the blankets & the quilt that I have made for her. There’s a sweet vintage book by my favorite illustrator, the late Eloise Wilkin. I look forward to reading it to her. I’m taking a tape measure and several patterns to show her sweet mom. I want to make some little dresses but I don’t have a clue what pattern size to make at this time. So, I will take measurements and hurry home to make them before she grows a whole lot more.

There’s also a soft, sweet baby doll complete with her blankie and bottle. (I took her out of her box. She’s a “My First Nursery” Middleton doll. I will pack her in soft tissue paper and place her in the middle between blankets.) I also want to look for a couple of toddler coloring books when I am, hopefully, out & about tomorrow. (Today it has stormed all day long…complete with pouring rain, loud thunder and bolts of lightning.) Then I should be all packed!

What’s that? Where are my clothes?! Uh…good question. Guess I should pack those next!

Graduates of IU, they're definitely Hoosier fans! — Both graduates of IU, they’re definitely Hoosier fans!

And I get to meet my new granddog, Bernie!

See you soon…

I began this patchwork knitted baby blanket over a year ago for my youngest granddaughter. I have worked on it from time to time over the past year. It was a happy day when I realized that I had finally finished all THIRTY-FIVE squares! I am still a novice knitter and basically have only mastered “knit” and “purl”! Okay, maybe “knit two together”. The sight of a knitting pattern with complex directions baffles me.

It was certainly a baffling day when I realized that I NOW had to figure out a way to join all 35 of the squares together and weave in all lose ends – in a manner that satisfied my “perfectionist” streak. “Perfectionist” and “beginner” don’t exactly go together! I watched youtube videos about joining squares and read knitting books. I tried a couple of the suggested techniques but still wasn’t satisfied with the way it looked. One video suggested crocheting them together…except I don’t know crochet!

There must be a way to finish this that will look good and make me happy. Any suggestions from you master knitters out there??? I confess to being frustrated and at a loss for what to do. I love the colors and I think it will be adorable if/when I can ever get it finished…

p.s. 5 of the squares are on the sofa where I’ve been working on them! 😉

UPDATE: I found a particularly helpful youtube video which I will post later with pics of the finished blanket. I have now joined the first row of squares! Looking good so far!

patchworkblanket

The finished product above…each square finished neatly with an invisible mattress stitch.