Hooked on Crochet... when crochet=love

It has been really, really cold here recently.  Our central heating is great but for bedtime and sitting still at the computer, I like a hot water bottle to snuggle.  This is my dd cuddling our hottie... 

As you can see it's nearly old enough to be vintage :)  and has a lovely (but sad) story attatched to it.  Today I'm going to share that story because I think about it every time I use this hotwaterbottle.  OK...I was taught to crochet when I was about 7 or 8 years old, by my Gran, Daisy McDougall, who is in her 80's and lives in Paisley (Scotland).  She worked all her life in Coats' Mills and is a wonderful knitter and crocheter.  I never really took to knitting but enjoyed crochet.  I was taught to make Granny Squares by her, my Gran (totally true).  I didn't know that any other stitches existed.  I didn't know how to shape crochet, I didn't know how to make a fancy trim or do any texture stitches but I could make a granny square as good as the next crocheter.  My Gran had a sister called Margaret (infact she had many sister and brothers and was the youngest of a large family of 13 I think).  My Auntie Margaret was my Great Aunt and lived all her life with two of my other maiden aunties (my gran's older sisters).  Auntie Margaret was very fond of my dad and our family.  She was very good to us.  Sadly, when my children were little, my Auntie Margaret was diagnosed with terminal cancer.  She was living alone by this stage as my other two Aunties (Dorothy and Tilly) had both passed away before her.  My Auntie Margaret moved in with my Gran (and PaPa) for a few months.  She lost weight and lost her spark for life.  She slept a lot and struggled to eat.  I was so upset and wanted to show her how much I loved her.  I made her that crochet hotwaterbottle cover and put a new bottle in it and wrapped it up all pretty with ribbons.  She loved it and used it right up until the end of her life, carrying it from the settee and back to bed while she stayed with my Gran.  I saw her once during this time and again very briefly days before she passed away.  This hotwaterbottle cover wasn't made with expensive yarn.  It wasn't made with fancy stitches.  It was made with love.  After my Auntie's funeral, my Gran gave me back the hotwaterbottle and cover and our family has used it whenever it gets chilly.  Everytime I get it out to use, I think of my Auntie Margaret, my Gran and Papa and all my Scottish relations.  I think of my Scottish heritage.  I think of my family. Mx

Comments

[Chipper]

That is a beautiful memory and I am glad that your gift cheered her up. I have a baby blanket that my Gran (great Grandma) crocheted for me with granny squares. She was the crocheter of our family. She crocheted clothes for a doll that she gave me when I was a baby along with my blanket. Her daughter (my Grandma) was a knitter. She tried in vain to teach me to knit. I wish my Gran had still been able to crochet when I was older. She had to give it up due to arthritis.

I had forgotten about that blanket until I saw your bottle cover. Thanks :-)

[Annette]

Hi Mandy
Thank you for popping in. I'll check out your other tutorials and patterns as well. You seem to be a bit of an crochet artist from the little I've seen so far. Exciting. Always nice to find a new place to get inspired from.
Have a nice evening
Annette
My Rose Valley
www.myrosevalley.blogspot.com