I've changed my mind. - legal update

For the past while, I've been experimenting with some new crochet stitches (linked double crochet, specifically) as well as working on a pair of socks using elastic yarn. I've turned the heel on the first sock I'm doing, but I'm not sure I'm happy with how it's looking. Once I've got it figured out and I'm happy with it, I'll take photos as I make the second one.

If things go to plan, we'll be getting a newer, more reliable vehicle this summer, and will be able to make a road trip back to Manitoba. The only family we've seen in almost 4 years are the ones have been able to come out here. Once we have a set of wheels we're not afraid will die on us part way (our car needs a new transmission, but it would cost more to fix it than the car's worth), we'll hopefully be heading out in August. *knockonwood*

With that in mind, I decided to make a gift for my mother. As a child, she struggled to teach me to knit and crochet, without success. It just didn't click for me, and I'm sure I was no end of frustration for her. *L*

My mother has made quite a few things over the years. She'd knit slippers frequently, so that every winter, everyone could pop on a pair to keep their tootsies warm. I don't remember ever seeing her do thread crochet, but I do remember a huge, beautiful white thread crochet table cloth she'd bring out for special occasions. I asked her about it and was amazed when she told me she'd made it herself. Even as young as I was, I could tell this was a LOT of work. She crocheted a blanket for me that my girls still use (and even repaired it for me when I discovered one of them took a pair of scissors to it!). More than anything else, however, my mother makes granny squares. Using all sorts of colours and yarn types, she makes blankets and lots and lots of chair seat covers.

Before we'd moved out, I noticed my mother was starting to wear tops she'd crocheted for herself. I thought that was great, but granny square tank tops aren't exactly flattering. So I figured I would make a top for her. After discussing things with my sister, who has sewn clothes for my mother in the past, and going through a whole bunch of pattern books, I'd decided on a design. I have the pattern photo copied (I always work from a photo copy, so I can use highlight markers and take notes as needed), I have the yarn, and I even have the right size hook. I just wanted to get started on the socks, first.

With how long the socks are taking, and how I'm not sure I won't be ripping the whole thing and starting over, I was going to get started on the top sooner, rather than later.

Then the girls and I went for our weekly library trip today.

I've changed my mind.

I found a pattern book I hadn't seen before, and which hadn't shown up when I did a search for crochet books on the library website. I thought I'd already taken out pretty much every crochet book they've got. *L*

[data removed. It appears my descriptions of the base pattern from the book I plan to use were too ... descriptive, and I've been asked to remove it to protect the author's ideas. Since I can't figure out how to do that without making the whole thing completely cryptic, I've removed the whole thing. ]

I should have no problem finishing the top before we expect to head out. I just hope it'll turn out to be something my mother will like. We don't exactly see eye to eye on a lot of things. There's no way of predicting her response, but I really want to make something for her. If she likes it, great. If not... well, I can only try, right?