Thank You, Martie!

  Oh, my!!!  Like most pictures taken in the '80's, this picture has that funky yellow look.  But, this is the last photo I have with my grandmother, Mamaw Martie.  So, this picture shows four generations:  Martie, Betty, me and my two precious children.
  Martie was well know for lots of things:  yeast rolls, fried pies, apple dumplings, Easter dresses, a cathedral window quilt and granny square afghans.  This lady made her own patterns....when my Mom was in high school, she just described the way the dress or coat looked, and my Mamaw would draw her own pattern and create the garment.  What a gift!

  When I was 16, and on a family camping trip that I did not want to be on, Martie decided that I needed to learn how to crochet.  Once I had my chain down pat, she showed me how to make a granny square.  If you can crochet a granny square, you can crochet.  I learned to read a crochet pattern on my own when I branched out to make a vest with granny squares.  (That would have been in the '70's, of course!!!!)

  Granny squares are great for using up left over pieces of yarn, and the goal was to make each square unique....no two were alike.  The last row was edged in the common color...in my case navy blue.  My afghan is on the left....it only took me 30 years to complete it!!!  I kept adding to it until it's big enough for a double bed.
  The afghan on the right is the one Martie made for me.  She made each of her grandchildren their very own afghan.  She used bright colors later in life because she was almost blind by that point. 

  I have to think she would be tickled that I'm making my own yarn, now.  I don't know if she ever spun...I don't recall anything being said about that.  But, I spun my first skein of novelty yarn (40 yards) from bits and pieces of left over yarn.  And, now I'm on to playing with spinning with thrums.  My mind is full of projects to weave or crochet with this newly created fiber!
 
  So...thank you, Martie.  You nurtured my love of fiber....you gave me inspiration and encouragement.
  And, thank you, Betty....you always applauded my efforts, and seemed to love the little gifts I handmade for you.
  And, thanks to my sister, Joyce.  You listen and inspire me in my fiber pursuits.  Our fiber days are full of fun and laughter!
  And to all the women out there that nurture fiber goodness, THANK YOU!!!

LouAnn