Granny circular stool cover

Thank you all your very lovely birthday wishes last week, it touched my heart.

Now onto ye olde granny, and what a little companion this is becoming. My lovely children gave me this very wonderful book 'Granny Squares, 20 crochet projects with a vintage vibe' as an early birthday present. The  book is filled with wonderful projects and there are at least a dozen I am bursting to get working on, but my first choice, these lovely 'Circular Stool Covers'.

 

 

 

There are two versions for you to chose from and for this project I chose version two. I really enjoyed working these little granny square mandala's. Now some of you might have a good insight into  the meaning of the word Mandala, I know I didn't know anything about it until I came across it during my years of exploring religions and especially Meditation.

 

The word Mandala comes from the Sanskrit Mandala, which means 'circle', it also represents the universe. Some also believe that it is a symbol of the dreamers search for completeness in a dream. What I like about Mandala's is their visual appearance and how it has the power to absorb the mind and to stop all the chattering that is forever going on. It brings me to a state of awareness and consciousness, and I suppose there is a rather hypnotic feel to working these circles. In our busy lives it is so hard to find time to just be with the here and the now and to get rid of all the thoughts that is forever consuming our minds and actions and that is why I am such a great believer in the power of meditation as it gives us a platform to just be here and now but in a quiet place and space to address the underlying issues, happy or sad, that might never really be heard in our busy days. I have to add here that meditation doesn't just have to occur in these quiet places, but can be done anywhere and at any point in the day no matter where you are.

 

Another aspect that I really enjoyed when working these Mandala's was the knowledge that it represents giving everything to the universe, in order to receive teaching and or empowerment in return. Now although this goes far deeper than that in the spiritual sense of the word, I did feel quite empowered by ye old granny and most definitely found that I had regained respect for the teachings from this simple yet beautiful stitch.

 

 

First there was one and then

 

 

 

there were two.

For this project I used King Cole Bamboo cotton, which I had never worked with before. It is 50% Bamboo Viscose and 50% Cotton and it is simply wonderful to work with. I purchase it here and still have enough left for another project. I love everything about this yarn, it is soft, it doesn't split like 100% cotton normally does in my experience (which I have to add is limited!) and it is washable, always essential in a house with small and messy fingers around.

 

 

I altered the pattern a little as I didn't think the decreasing in the last couple of rounds were going to be enough to keep the cover firmly in place on my stools and I am delighted with the end result. They fit nice and snug, in fact at first I didn't think I was going to get it on, but its on it has survived the wriggly bottom test by small bottoms constantly jumping on and off it.

What better way to enjoy them than with some gluten and dairy free home made scones with rhubarb and strawberry jam and a pot of fresh mint tea...

 

and some glimmer of sun streaming through the kitchen window.

Wimbledon has started, yay!! and I know the next two weeks will pretty much revolve around tennis as much as possible. I am seriously going to have to learn to crochet and watch tennis (as it has proved rather difficult the last two days!). Wishing you all a very lovely Wednesday and an enjoyable week.

Warm Wishes

Hannapat

xoxo