Life in Costa Rica: I have a story to tell.

And it is a story I am very proud to be part of. It began in June of this year. Roz, my friend in Hutchinson, and I were exchanging pictures of blankets with the idea I would see if my ladies could make it. The ladies here are very talented but they are also very traditional. And there is the language problem. I speak so little of their language that I would not be able to teach or explain and although I could possibly come up with some patterns in Spanish it wouldn’t help. The explanations and stitches were different than what they were used to. So why should that stop me!

I saw a blanket I loved and showed it to Roz and she loved it too. The colors gave us an idea to follow so I talked to Ligia and she agreed and was willing. I started having the patterns printed in color so even though they couldn’t read them, they would have the colored pictures to look at and follow. Ligia and I started. She is so much better than me and so much faster. I need a pattern to follow and although I started many, the stitching got too complicated and I would try another one. With rows of hidden stitches I figured how would they ever follow and duplicate just by looking at the pictures or a sample.

The beginning of August Ligia and I went to Paraiso to show the ladies the squares and see who wanted to participate. Ligia turned into la profesora. Laura, Rosa, Marta, Adriana, Johanna Jeannette, Zoila, Ligia and I ended up participating. Johanna did the embroidery. Jeannette and Zoila did some of the white edging on the squares and ribbon weaving. Around each square is woven navy or brown ribbon. Now keep in mind we have 9 people crocheting and we expect it to all fit together. Everyone crochets different. Ligia was throughout the entire project my quality control. If it didn’t seem quite right she would take stitches or rows out and redo them.

Once we had all the squares done I started the middle. I was concerned because of the pattern it would be hard to figure out so I did it until it turned into a square. Then Ligia took over. It had to end up 48 inches square. For the 12 inch squares I had supplied pieces of heavy fabric marked to where the color square would end and the size including the white border. With the big center square we just measured. Then the smaller squares had to be crocheted together and attached to the center square. Next came the outside border which includes panels with our names in hearts and a greeting to Roz and the year.

Today I received the finished blanket from Ligia and it is spectacular. Very large since Roz has a king size bed. I was teased a lot and called Chica Mala because when I would give pieces - like the center piece to Ligia I had not tucked in all my ends from the color changes. Well I want you to know the finished product is as perfect on the back as it is on the front. We also have several extra squares to make into pillow shams but that will be later. The blanket will go back with Heather on the 9th. to be mailed to Roz.

Today when Ligia came we called Roz so she could see it at the same time I did. I think she was thrilled. Heather will bring gifts from Roz for the ladies and next week we will deliver them and show off the Pura Vida blanket.