I made this Talisman for my son who is an athlete. He takes this good luck charm to all cycling races, keeping it in his pocket. I taught him how to use it. Within the Talisman, there are three ancient magic symbols. The main one is the burdock plant. The burdock itself is a symbol […]
One day, when having a conversation with a mom who had recently had an exasperating chat with one of her children, I said, “You know, there should be a certification for moms – a “B. Mom,” or something – so that at a time like this she can point to a plaque on the wall […]
In this feature, I also provide several tips for those who have never worked on perforated paper before, and even those who have may discover something useful. By the way, if the stitching on one of the cards looks slightly different from the others, that’s because I changed one of the pink colours to provide […]
This design was inspired both by the celebration of our newest family member, Ember Anne, and from cross stitch samplers common to my province in the mid 1800s. Ember’s birth provided the perfect opportunity to pull motifs from antique samplers to create something entirely new. Antique samplers were often stitched by very young girls and […]
I’m fortunate to have a family of crafters and women who created and passed down family heirlooms for me to enjoy. My husband’s mother made sure to gift me with several items that her mother made for Christmas, including placemats and a tablecloth that she hemmed by hand. Now that my mother-in-law is in a […]
The Symphony Vest in Cronetics is crocheted in vertical panels with modified drop shoulder styling. This garment in the Cronetics method that I created many years ago, is the first of its kind to be presented to the public. Many thanks to my lovely granddaughter, Rachel, for her assistance in this presentation. Download pattern. Read […]
When I was a child, Dad would take me to the farm to visit his parents, and I remember that I always had more fun when his younger brother, John, was also there. Uncle John, now in his eighties, is retired, but not retiring. He and his wife of fifty years are both very active […]
There is the family you are born into, and there is the family you choose. A group of colleagues, all now retired from teaching, is one such chosen family for me. Diane, a knitter, is part of that family, and since knitters rarely receive hand knitted gifts, I have designed this shawl for her. Diane […]
The relative I chose to honour for this issue is my nephew-in-law. He is a devoted family man, an adventurous sportsman, a very skilled carpenter and a master at keeping motors operating. For these socks I used my own car motif on the legs and almost hidden words on the soles to congratulate him for […]
This project is a tea cozy covered with an alphabet of knitting terms. It’s a pattern which gives the opportunity to use colour-stranding and to try steeking. Of course, it can be made without the steeks, just knit the front and the back separately and then join above and below the openings. I prefer to […]