The more I say that -- hooked together -- the more I like the layers of meaning it evokes.
.
The crocheted beauty pictured on the left was given to me by my great-aunt. I was completely stunned when I unfurled it and saw the hours & hours that she put into it. And the fact that it is now in my possession -- oh, dear! I can not tell you what it means to me.
.
And knowing that my lovely great-aunt -- who had her husband, & her daughter who was riddled with cancer & her Downs son taken from her long before she herself was called to her heavenly home -- I am just struck with the beauty of each crocheted stitch she took. Was she pained with thoughts of the loss of her precious ones as she joined these blocks together? Was it a healing process for her to see this come to shape? She lost so much, but gave so much more.
(...and I complain because the internet is running slow and I have to wait for 3 red lights!??...)
Now that this is in my possession, I am hooked together with her. And it is a lovely feeling.
I had visions of finishing this -- and I still might. Because honestly! don't you just love that a simple block when joined can form such a beautiful petal-shaped labor of love. Ohhhhhh, I a.d.o.r.e. that!
So I too want to leave something that may take years for me to complete...
...but nonetheless, something that just might get passed along.
,
So I started paging through old copies of my MAGIC CROCHET magazines and found this gorgeous Sweet William pattern.
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The block is gorgeous. Enough said. But what really struck my fancy about this pattern is that it is so much like the one from my great-aunt. By itself: pretty. But when joined together as one, it seems to take on a whole different dimensional quality that is truly fabulous and so, so different from the original block.
What a beautiful piece of work! It's so lovely that your Great Aunts crochet is now yours and that you appreciate it so much. These things take so much time and patience to create and it is such a shame when they are not kept in the family.
ReplyDeleteYour Sweet William pieces are stunning too. I can't wait to see lots of them joined together.
Hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend.
x
The long way....
ReplyDelete... but
them you'll miss it...
Giuliana
Well Dawn, your great-aunt's work is such an art. And yours is promising. Little by little, patiently... a great lesson to learn.
ReplyDeleteThat is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful and intricate work. I'm not sure I'd have the patience for that, but I know it's well worth it.
ReplyDeleteYou do nice work!
Absolutely lovely!!!
ReplyDeletewhat a beautiful piece your aunt made :) yours will be beautiful as well, I really like that motif!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, simply beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIt is so beautiful! You are so lucky to have this. I have a wip that I called Héritage because it is knit with some yarns from my grandmother and mother. And like you, I hope some day that somebody will wrap in it thinking of me...
ReplyDeleteDawn, I LOVE both patterns. There is nothing so elegant as thread crochet, in my opinion. Solid white is especially elegant. I love the way the motif joins to form the flower. What a beauty! And you're right. It had to have taken her forever to make. What a treasure! I'm glad you have it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post! Thoughts, words and of course, crochet! Isn't the crochet passed down to us the most special there is??? I love creating the same way as generations before me did (although they might not make such colourful beauties as I indulge in now!!!!!)
ReplyDeletehave a lovely week and looking forward to seeing more of the sweet williams joined togehter!
XXX
Everything is absolutely beautiful, heartfelt ... I so enjoyed reading your post. To hold that which you aunt obviously spent so much time and love making. This is a priceless piece. As will be the one that you are making, the pattern is stunning. Can you share where it is from? Thank you for such a delightful read.
ReplyDeleteDawn, both of those are so beautiful. It is an old art that you see very little of nowadays. Such a treasure! Did you get your mailing from me yet? Hugs to you
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful piece of work and a great sentiment, too.
ReplyDeleteIt is absolutly beautiful and you are so lucky to have it. The one you started will be just as beautiful. I know the hours she must have put into it because I crocheted with that thread too.
ReplyDeleteIt looks beautiful,Dawn! You're very lucky to inherit such a piece. I'm sure by crocheting them it helped your great-aunt tremendously in healing from so much pain.
ReplyDeleteYour new project looks lovely and what a great idea to start something that you can come back to now and again and then pass them on to the next generation! Have a great week ahead,Dawn :D
The crochet work of your great aunt is marvellous: what an enormous project and beautiful crochetwork.
ReplyDeleteBut also the pattern you are working on is a very beautiful pattern! Really lovely!
It happens also to others, I see, not being able to resist in making - or trying it - marvellous patterns. greetings, Lia
WOW...
ReplyDeleteThat´s absolutely great and so lovely! Just can say WOW!!!
Both works are truly adorable. I wish you luck with yours! :)
ReplyDeletelovely!!
ReplyDeleteBoth are truly gorgeous. Sometimes I forget that behind all of this beautiful work is a story, someone's story. Thanks for sharing a little of your aunt's. It surely brings a new appreciation to me for such labors of love.
ReplyDeleteTeresa
I once inherited a granny square blanket from my grandmother with hundreds of tiny granny squares. I always loved it and the older I get and the more I handmake items by myself, the more I am completely struck by the patience and efforts women are putting into their works. I, by myself, am not very patiente and often wish an item is finished quickly, but at the same I so much wish to make things which cause a long time, which are worth then to keep and enjoy, things were I have tried to put in every ability and effort I am able to, the more precious they would be, for me and maybe also for others. Simply only because I then would know that I did my best. No hurry, no quick-quick, no thinking 'it would also look good if I omitt some things to get it finished soon'. I so much would love to have my home filled only with such handcrafted items, when every single one is made with perfection (only my own kind of perfection, of course, but I am sure you completely understand what I mean, as always).
ReplyDeleteLove your blankets, both, they are so very beautiful and such a labour of love, they express perfectly my opinion. And yes, you are right, too, about the little patches, I always also often wonder how different a little patch looks when it is connected with it´s brothers and sisters, a completely new look, looks so much better than by it´s own. Whole.
With my very best wishes,
Suzi
Both are so incredibly lovely! What heirlooms you have - and a precious gift with the memories too! And yes, you must finish it.
ReplyDeleteKris
Ma che pazienza che hai!!! E' bellissima, io devo preparare una coperta per la mia Francesca e questo è un disegno meraviglioso, vedo se riesco a rifarlo ^_^ un abbraccio Antonella
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful momento Dawn. Your Aunt must have had amzing perserverence to hook so many medallions. I think it is wonderful that you will complete it. I always have a sad moment when i see this type of work thrown into a charity shop bin. You have inhereted a treasure.
ReplyDeleteAnd that Sweet Willliam - much as my mum's early crochet work from the 60's - i remember it as a kid but hadn't seen it for years - i only just found out she had kept it !
How absolutely beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWow that is amazing! So much work. SoOoo beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSeu blog é lindo, quantos trabalhos bem feitos, agoroa vou segui-la e leva-la em meus favoritos, abraços.
ReplyDeleteThis is a master piece! What a wonderful thing to know you accomplished!
ReplyDeleteHi, I'm new to you blog. I love crochet and have made several afghans. Now I'm making a granny for my sister but in softer colors than the traditional black and primary shades. I fit crochet in between my quilting and sewing and gardening but your blog is an inspriation and I'm so glad I found it. I really want to finish my sister's afghan now. She's been waiting too long for it.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to spending more time with you and your blog.
Gail :)
Maravilhosos seus trabalhos,venha visitar-me
ReplyDelete//lindarosaartes.blogspot.com
beijinhos
I have had much cleaning and whitening success with oxyclean!!! Warm water in a bucket / tub and gently moving it around, completely refreshed an old table cloth panel from my husband's great aunt. Might work well on your heirloom table cloth. I think you should finish it!!!
ReplyDeleteP.S. changed the water several times, let it soak for a few hours, etc. Each time the water was brown.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely adore this heirloom piece. It is so stunningly beautiful and elegant, yet simple. I would really, really love to make something like this. Would you by any chance find it in your heart to post the pattern? :) Thank you - and love from Spain!
ReplyDelete