The first year in 4H I taught her the most basic stitches and she successfully made a pot holder for the fair. I was so proud of her accomplishment which was made even sweeter when she won a blue ribbon for her efforts. The idea is to complete a project that is a little more difficult each year than the previous.
Last year I taught her how to make a granny square. She began her project in the fall and by fair time the following summer she had enough squares to assemble for an afghan that she now uses on her bed. She chose the yarn and used her money to buy each ball as she finished a square. As fair time drew nearer, I taught her how to join each square together and then how to crochet a border around the outer edge. She worked very hard. When the day of reckoning came at the county fair, I am proud to say my daughter’s afghan took an honor award.
This year she is attempting a little more difficult pattern which she chose. A couple of weeks ago she began another afghan for next summer’s fair in a beautiful shell pattern. I love teaching my kids new things and sharing with them my passions from art and writing to cooking and crochet. It is a little like instilling in each of them a small piece of me. They will take that knowledge with them throughout their lives and perhaps teach their kids remembering me and the memories we made. Every time they go away they will take a piece of me and what they learned until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.
