Materials:  Worsted weight Cotton, size 8 or 9 knitting needles,crochet hook size G or H.

Using size 8 or 9 needles
Cast on 36 stitches
Row 1: K2, P2 across.
Repeat Row 1 until you have approximate size minus 2 inches all around, you wish to end up with.  
Bind off all except last stitch..

With crochet hook pick up last stitch.
Ch 2, (DC, ch1,2, dc) in same stitch.  *Skip 2 stitches, 
2 Dc, ch1, 2DC) in next stitch.
Repeat from *across.  
At corners, do a triple shell (2 dc, ch1, 2 dc)3 times in same stitch.  
Repeat from * around until you get back to the beginning.  Join with a slip stitch in top of ch 2, and finish off.

Copyright 8/98.  Pattern by Norma Glover

  I inherited my mother's collection of knitting needles and old patterns and everytime I pick them up to knit I can still feel her reassuring presence.  
She made some baby items for my two older children who were lucky enough to enjoy her as a grandma for a few years.  I recently had another baby and named her middle name (Gertrude) after my mother.  I still have those knitted baby items and even though this child will never meet her grandma she can feel her love thru every stitch of the sweater and blanket when she uses them.  
      
     I think it's important for us to teach and pass on the skills of knitting.  It connects us to all the people in the past who passed down the techniques and knitted pretties we use today. It connects us to all the people around the world who knit today and are sharing their skills and patterns with each other.  It connects us to future generations as they look at the creations we leave for them to touch and look at.  I guess we can say knitting is the thread that connects us. LOL   
 
    I remember many wonderful things about my Mom but I'm glad I have some tangible things she made herself to connect me in a physical way.  I still regret I gave away a sweater she made me that was too big and never fit right.  Now if I had that sweater I'd wrap up in it whenever I wanted to feel like she was hugging me. Anyway the point is I'm making things for my kids that they can use now and appreciate more when I'm gone.