This “trend” started somewhere!
It started with the housewives, crafters, and home-makers trading secrets over tea or lemonade. Or sometimes preparing for a long winter with little to no resources. While rocking sleeping babies and keeping an eye on the mischievous munchkins. Through the fences, church groups and home economics classes. Do they even have those classes anymore?
All that trial and error, intuitiveness, secret sharing and creativity rolled down to give us the inspiration and the instructions that we, in these times, now embrace as knitters and crocheters. Heck, the same applies for every other creative/home-making endeavor.
With all the modern day trail-blazers, it’s hard sometimes to appreciate the foundation. But their work can be found and you don’t even have to look too hard. You’ll find it in your grammy’s old work-basket, your auntie’s bookshelf, at flea markets or in thrift stores and sometimes, you find their secrets for pennies.
In finding foundation for pennies — I lucked out recently. A friend’s thrifting got me this beauty for .75c! Yes … that’s .75c!!! Less than a dollar. It cost her more to ship it to me than it cost to purchase it but I’m glad she sent it.
She sent me this beauty: Better Homes & Gardens Treasury of NeedleCrafts. 480 pages of foundation.
My publication copy is from 1982. Even being dated 30 years, this beauty is packed with inspiration galore. It’s packed to the gills with knitting, applique, patchwork, crocheting, quilting, embroidery, rug making and needlepoint goodies. I’ve already found my first project — Grandmother’s Flower Garden Afghan.
My W.I.P. this week is a practice flower motif. It’s my first go at clusters and I only did three rounds, but I’m ready!!! 
My motif doesn’t look like much now but I’m gamed and ready! This afghan is going to be beautiful! I love the size, the texture and the opportunity to personalize. The hardest thing to do now is to choose my colour choice! With 271 motifs, it’s going to take me a while, but I can’t wait!
In addition to this new project, I’m still working on my granny square cushion. My goal is to complete it by the end of August.
So cheers to old skool inspiration!!! What are you all working on?
D'NALI 
You know I’m sitting here in Maryland laughing at you, right? I knew you’d be lured into making an afghan! *does I told you so dance*
I’m right there with you though.. but I think I’ll focus on knitting an afghan first. My mother’s sister (stepsister), who is only nine years older than me, has been commenting about a spread. She wasn’t hinting at all, but I thought…heck I can make her one. Being the fashionista that she is… it took some time to find something I know she’ll love, but she’s totally fiber worthy. She’s an amazing seamstress, and totally “gets” the amount of time it can take to create something. Also, she always gifts my daughter (another fashionista) with some amazing clothes. I sew/design clothes for my daughter too, it keeps those designer juices flowing you know. Anyway creating a knitted afghan gives me an excuse to play around with stitches, and make her something she’ll love.
Even though my main focus is a knitted afghan, I’m still whipping out the those brightly crocheted granny squares (at least two daily). I will wait until Sunday to post my afghan stuff, and I’ll link back to you…
Oh by the way, I have that book. I was 11 or twelve when that came out.
What a gem of a book and at 75 cents, too! The flower afghan is an amazing project. I can’t wait to see the colorful blooms growing from your hook!
You should see the one she sent me that I got yesterday … that was .75c also. It’s “The Gentle Art of Domesticity”.
That caused quite a stir yesterday at work and me getting my feelings hurt but oh well …
Great looking afghan! Can’t wait to see the colours you choose!
I can’t wait to sit down and choose. 🙂
30 years old, yet so on trend with the hexi-afghan-craze going on at the moment. You just have to love old books! And fashion, of course! ;o)
Can you believe it … definitely still on trend!!! I knew it was an oldie (my friend told me) but I didn’t realise that it was that old.
I guess it’s true what they say … fashion and trends are recycled. There’s nothing new under the sun. That’s why I don’t ever pass up on anything vintage. They’re definitely gems!!!!
Oh I love your new book! I can’t wait to see your afghan! That motif is one of my dream projects! I think it would be awesome as a beadspread!
Thanks Tiff! 🙂 That’s what I’m working towards, either a bed-spread or afghan. It’s definitely going to be a long term project, but the end result will be phenomenal!!!
That blanket is going to be awesome when it is finished. I am making a hat and a shawl this week. Its hard to stay focused on them though XD
Hey lady … thanks for dropping by! I see that you have some Startitis problems but not to worry … you are NOT alone. LOLOL!!! You’ll finish them when you’re good and ready. Don’t give yourself too much pressure.