My friends and family have been after me for years to do a book of my patterns, and this is the combination of their efforts. I have been crocheting for years and designing for my family and friends. With six brothers and sisters to design for, I was kept busy with working and children. When I stayed home to be a home worker, I really did a lot of needlework. The holidays were always especially a busy time. I designed sweaters for my family for school, for my mother, for the children, and the rest of the family for the holidays. I have my work all over the world. The doctors in town have sent my work overseas to family away, and I do orders from all corners—I also send to friends everywhere. I started doing my patterns for something to hand down to the children so there was a special something for them to remember all the nights they sat and watched me crocheting away. I had taught my late husband to crochet, keeping some of the afghans he did as keepsakes, along with my son, and now my grandson is trying the afghan stitch and a few simple crochet stitches. My youngest granddaughter is also picking up needle and yarn and pretending to help. In the meantime, onward I go with all of them watching.