Happy Sunday!
Have you ever heard of a temperature blanket? They’re really kind of pretty — basically, you crochet (or knit, I suppose, if that’s more your speed) a row for each day of the year and the color is based on the temperature. I have several friends doing this this year and they’ve been posting or texting such fun pictures of their works in progress that yesterday, I caved to the peer pressure and went out and bought yarn to do my own.
I love to crochet, but between writing and the fact that the majority of my friends are past the baby shower age (my main reason for crocheting), I haven’t done a lot of it in the last handful of years. I’m looking forward to getting a start on my own blanket — maybe next week I’ll be at a point where I can give you a picture of my progress. I’ve obviously got 14 days of catching up to do! (And a novella to finish writing, but shhh.)
Do you do any hand crafts?
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Monday: Roxanne Rustand
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December 2017
Texas Christmas Twins by Deb Kastner
Tropical Kiss and Tell by Liwen Y. Ho
Snowflakes & Snuggles: Six Heartwarming Christmas Romances by Marion Ueckerman, Cecelia Dowdy, Autumn Macarthur, and 3 others
January 2018
Finding Grace (Love’s Compass 6) by Melanie D Sniker
Marrying Mandy (Brides of Clearwater 1) by Melanie D. Snitker
A Heart Restored (Peacock Hill Romance 1) by Elizabeth Maddrey
The Inadvertent Princess (Crowns & Courtships 3) by Carol Moncado
A Recipe for Romance (Homegrown Love 2) (Arcadia Valley Romance 13) by Annalisa Daughety
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Elizabeth Maddrey is a semi-reformed computer geek and homeschooling mother of two who lives in the suburbs of Washington D.C. When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth is a voracious consumer of books. She loves to write about Christians who struggle through their lives, dealing with sin and receiving God’s grace on their way to their own romantic happily ever after.
HI Elizabeth, what a great idea! I can knit and crochet, but am not that great, and don’t really have the desire to get better!! My mum is fantastic however, and we have an array of blankets, throws, lap rugs etc. that she has knitted and crocheted for us. She crocheted both boy their own tartan blanket which they love.
Have fun crocheting,
Blessings:)
That would be interesting. I know I would have a few days of Red and then Orange. whats the colour for windy but just right. I guess. yellow. Mum was the knitter. I know how to do it but never really got into it. I can crochet better. But currently my shoulder wouldn’t let me do it.
I use to do cross stitch.
Wemble, I am by no means amazing at it. I can do the basics and, if necessary, probably figure something more complex out, but I can’t do a granny square to save my life, which is somewhat limiting :) (Well, I can make granny squares, but every single one will be a different size. Consistency on stuff like that doesn’t happen. So I stick to all in one patterns. Those seem to help keep me on gauge.)
I went through a long, long period of adoring counted cross stitch — I even designed some of my own projects and did them up. And then one day, about half-way through the thing I was working on, I realized I was sick of it. I set that project aside and…have never gotten back to it. Maybe some day.
Hi Elizabeth! Interesting blog today. More insight into our beloved Inspy Romance authors. As a child, I embroidered table clothes and dresser scarves. In college, my roommate taught to crochet. I crocheted shawls and afghans. As life became hectic being a mother, grandmother, full time teacher while caring for my parents, there was no time for crafts. After I retired and caring for my first granddaughter (age 4), I created a children’s craft area in my basement. Then in the fall of 2016 anticipating the birth of our second granddaughter, I crocheted a baby afghan and hat. I also crocheted scarves for my two daughter-in-laws that year. Unfortunately we had an unseasonable warm winter and early spring that year and they never had a chance to use them. While looking for patterns on line, I came across some delightful examples of the temperature blanket and debated making one; but with the steady warm temperatures I nixed the idea. Looking forward to seeing your progress. My mom was very talented she did counted cross stitch, hooked rugs, sewed and knitted. Best wishes on your project and writing.
My grandmother taught me to cross stitch on tea towels. It’s a fun memory of time with her. It’s definitely hard to work crafts into motherhood (especially with boys who don’t have any interest!) I’ve tried to get my eldest to do latch hook, something I remember loving as a child but so far, he just doesn’t care. Ah well. :)
I have knitted when I was younger, but my hands won’t let me do it now. Our daughters and 2 of our daughter-in-laws knit & crochet, and I love their projects. And I have never heard of a temperature blanket, so I hope you post a picture at the end of the year. I do some sewing, and some crafts, which is the extent of my hand crafts. I’m hoping to make one of our daughters a quilt this year. Have a great weekend! It’s snowing here.
I started quilts for my boys over a year ago and have only made a few squares. So many projects, so little time. :)
What an interesting idea! I crocheted when I was pregnant with my son, we won’t discuss how many years (decades) ago that was, lol. But I never have since! Don’t know if I’d have the patience for it anymore, but I would love to have a blanket or two!!
Honestly, the draw of the temperature blanket is that it’s a row a day or just seven a week. I can commit to that. If I had a big project staring me down, I don’t know that I’d want the pressure right now. :)
Elizabeth. You have my sympathy. My three sons did not like crafts. Neither did my two grandsons ages 12 and 10. The 12 year old did a little – making friendship bracelets. His dad took the boys to Home Depot, where they made things from wood. Not quite my area of expertise. That is why this Oma loves her granddaughters ages 4 & 1. Maddie, age 4, is a mini me. She keeps me on her toes. One day a week we have to do crafts. We google ideas and then make them. Fortunately Joanne Fabrics and Michaels are in town, where I buy craft kits that we make together. I am looking into latch hook for her. Best wishes.
Oh how fun this sounds! I want to try that. I’m just a beginner crocheter so this might be right up my alley.
My eldest does like making friendship bracelets. I’d forgotten that (he hasn’t made many lately). Those craft kits are so much fun!
It is absolutely a beginner accessible project!
Anyone remember Creative Circle? It was a needlework company selling kits through home parties (like Tupperware, but not). I was a rep for a number of years, oh, about 30 years ago when my kids were small! Counted cross-stitch (which I’d been doing before that, too), embroidery, crewel, and others I don’t remember as clearly.
I did a LOT of crafts there for a while, also sewing for myself and the kids. I knit a sweater jacket once and that was the end of that. I hated it – sorry to knitters everywhere. Never crocheted. I had a small stained glass business for a few years.
I’d drifted away from all of it long before my eyes went, and my chief creativity for the past 15 years has been writing. Sometimes my characters do artsy-crafty things, though! Does that count?
Looking forward to seeing the progress on your temperature blanket in Sunday Editions over 2018.
Oh wow – that sounds like a fun home company. I haven’t heard if it, but still. And yes! Your characters being crafty absolutely counts. :)
I did a lot of crewel embroidery until I discovered counted cross-stitch. While we were in Hong Kong as missionaries, I did a LOT of cross stitch – sitting in meetings, while watching the evening news, etc. I did a lot of wedding and baby gifts. I don’t attend many meetings now, but I’m about ready to start taking my cross stitch to church so I don’t fall asleep during the sermon! For some reason, my body thinks that’s a good time for a nap :-)
I can crochet but I don’t. I knit a dish cloth once and decided knitting was not for me. I used to do a lot of counted cross stitch, hardanger, and other needlework. But then I started quilting and that took over. Now I read a lot more than quilt due to health issues.
My sister used to do a lot of crewel work. It’s so pretty.
Knitting is hard for me but I live crochet. And reading really is the best hobby ;)
This is such a great idea!!! I’ve never heard of this before and I crochet a lot! I’ll have to look it up on Pinterest. After I finish the projects already on my list, I might try this. (That will probably be about 5 years from now. :))
Pinterest has a lot of really pretty examples! And the five years from now made me chuckle. That’s kind of how I am about books :)
I can crochet but not knit. I do beading into jewelry, like bracelets, earrings and necklaces and a couple rings. I craft and sew such as pincushions, aprons, ornaments and stuffed animals. I also have done counted cross stitch and embroidery. We have a craft day at Church and have made greeting cards, fleece blankets( piece 12” squares) and stuffed animals . We give them to charities or sell them in our country store. The proceeds go to our many charities.
I haven’t heard of temperature blankets but they sounds really neat. The only knitting I’ve done is a scarf so they’re probably out of my league, though.
Wow! That’s a lot if crafting. I love that your church gets together to do them.
You can do a temperature scarf! And you can make it as easy or as complicated as you want.
I just finished a baby hat and blanket today. Last week I sewed soup bowl potholders for my sisters birthday. I do many different crafty things. The weather blanket sounds interesting. Thank you for sharing.