Mother's Day Round-Up

I hope all the Mother's out there had a fantastic Mother's Day!  Mine was just lovely, spent with my kids, my own Mother and my Mother in-law.  The day started out with breakfast in bed prepared by my children (with the help of their father, of course).  They also presented me with some lovely hand-crafted gifts.  Here's a sampling:

 

A beautiful tea light holder and a flower pot with hand made flower, plus one real carnation.

 

 

Hand knitted coasters, these were lovingly made with no help by my eldest - so proud!

The new Vogue Knitting Crochet edition magazine.  This was a nice surprise!

 



 

Here are just a couple of the gorgeous tops in this issue!

 

Hope everyone had a great day!  Look for my desk makeover reveal coming soon!

Crochet Flower Coaster :: Free Pattern

So folks, this is my first attempt at actually writing out a pattern.  I've fooled around in the past with my own creations, never bothering to write anything down, so I thought I'd start with something super simple and super cute.  What could be more simple than a circle with a scalloped border?  Anyway, here you go...please, if you try it out, and it doesn't work, I'd love the feedback, and or corrections!

Supplies for Flower Coaster:
I used some leftover Lion Brand Cotton Ease for this project. You could use any cotton yarn of your choice. Hook size is 4.5 mm for this yarn, but again, go with whatever hook size your yarn specifies. My coasters measure approx. 4.5 inches in diameter; the size is up to you, but I find this to be a nice large size...it suitable for glasses, mugs, hand soap pumps, etc.

Please kindly use this pattern for personal use only.  Please do not distribute with out my consent.  Pining of images are welcome, otherwise all images are copyright and may not be used without consent.  Thank you -- Alison, Modern Grace Design

Pattern Instructions:

• chain 4, join with a slip stitch to first ch to make a ring
• ch 1 (counts as first sc), make 5 sc into centre of ring, make a slip stitch to first ch 1 (6 stitches)
• ch 1, sc into st at base of ch 1, 2 sc in each st around, sl st in ch 1 (12 stitches)
• ch 1, 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next; repeat pattern all around ending with 2 sc in last st, sl st in ch 1 (18 stitches)
• ch 1, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat pattern around, sl st in ch 1 (24 sts)
• ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next, repeat pattern around (30 sts), join new colour with a sl st in ch 1 of round
• ch 1, sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 4, repeat pattern around (you should have 36 in new colour), sl st in ch 1 of new colour
• Scallop Flower border - in next st, sc, hdc, sc, then st st in next st, repeat pattern around until you finish the circle with 18 scallops, finish with a st into last st

The Om of Crochet

Hello everyone...I went to a great yoga workshop last weekend and after the class, some of us ladies got to talking about why we love yoga so much.  Of course, there are may physical benefits to practicing yoga (no matter what style), such as stretching and strengthing of the muscles.  It can do wonders for back pain, stiff neck and shoulders, bad knees...the list could go on and on.  Yoga is also great for stress, another widely agreed upon reason by the group for attending classes. 

Personally, since my very first yoga class, I have treasured how it brings focus to my mind.  I literally do not think about anything else, other than what I'm doing in the class in each moment that passes by.  Many people love yoga for it's meditative qualities...it frees the monkey-mind, if not temporarily.  I find doing crochet also to be extremely meditative.  There is something about crochet that is so soothing for the mind.  Not to mention, that I totally get a kick out of creating something, anything.  I think we as humans crave creativity and being able to focus.  We have so many distractions these days, it's nice to sit quietly and concentrate on just one thing.

I'd love to hear why you enjoy doing crochet, or why you practice yoga, or whatever it is that helps you to slow things down a bit.