Secret Recipes
Thursday will be National Hard Candy Day and National Gingerbread House Day was just celebrated last Thursday. Thus, here’s Mom’s “Christmas Candy House” instructions, which she originally shared with her readers 50 years ago. CHRISTMAS CANDY HOUSE By Gloria Pitzer, as seen in her self-published newsletter, Gloria Pitzer’s Secret Recipes Newsletter (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, […]
Happy November! The holidays are just around the corner, now. Cards, treats and gifts weren’t the only things that were homemade by my mom during the holidays. So were many of the holiday decorations. I mentioned in my blog entries, many times, that Mom was very crafty. I remember some Christmas crafts Mom would do […]
Happy I Love Yarn Day! TRIANGLE GRANNY – Half of a Granny Square (For 3 Rounds) By Gloria Pitzer, as seen in her self-published folder… Granny Square How To (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; Fall 1986, p. 1). [NOTE: As always, I’m asking only for proper credit if you care to share this.] HOOK NEEDS […]
Happy October and National Women’s Small Business Month! Additionally, the second Saturday of October is also I Love Yarn Day. Next to journaling, crocheting was one of Mom’s favorite hobbies. For centuries, hobbies have often been turned into small businesses – more so by women than by men. Mom’s mom, my grandma, was a passionate […]
Happy September and happy National Sewing Month! AMISH WINDMILL QUILT PATTERN (Hand Sewn) By Gloria Pitzer, as seen in her self-published newsletter… Gloria Pitzer’s Secret Recipes Newsletter (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; Sep.-Oct. 1990, p. 5). INSTRUCTIONS: Make your pattern for the 2 squares from heavy, box-weight cardboard. Use a T-square to be sure corners […]
GRANNY SQUARE BOX PURSE – A Purse Full of Pockets! By Gloria Pitzer, as seen in her self-published folder… Granny Square How To (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; Fall 1986, p. 2). LAST ROUND OF each square can be done in black yarn, with other rounds in other colors – the brighter, the better! OR […]
YES, CAROL! I WANNA MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF IT! By Gloria Pitzer, as seen in her syndicated1 column… “No Laughing Matter” (Circa 1970s). I just finished reading a brand-new book called Crafts For Everyone – For Your Family And Friends, by Carol Duvall, and believe me, my life will never be the same again. I […]
AMISH QUILT CROCHETED AFGHAN By Gloria Pitzer, as seen in her self-published newsletter… Secret Recipes Newsletter (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; May-June 1989, p. 11) [This pattern really goes fast! I completed a single bed size cover in 4 weeks of spare time – television watching time, mostly. Try it!] INGREDIENTS/NEEDS: “I” hook suggested 4-round […]
HOW TO MAKE POCKETS FOR GRANNY SQUARE VEST By Gloria Pitzer, as seen in her self-published newsletter, Gloria Pitzer’s Secret Recipes Newsletter (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; Nov.-Dec. 1987, p. 11). Whether you use one pocket or two pockets on the Granny Square Vest, per directions… [see also https://therecipedetective.com/2024/05/06/light-spring-vest/]… You will make a 12-round Granny […]
CROCHET ABREVIATIONS & STITCH EXAMPLES CROCHET ABBREVIATIONS By Gloria Pitzer, as seen in her self-published folder, Granny Square How To (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI: Fall 1986, p. 1). The only abbreviations in my patterns… STITCHES: ½-DC…….Half Double Crochet DC………..Double Crochet SC………..Single Crochet sts………..Stitches rnd(s)…….Round(s) ch…………Chain SIZES: X-Lg………Extra Large Lg…………Large Med……….Medium Sm………..Small [For reference, see […]