Something quick

At knitter knatter last night I wanted something that was quick, something that would give instant gratification, something that's been on my list for a while.  So here it is...modelled beautifully by JJ, then I thought I best show it on a grown-up (no comments please ;o) ).  So, so simple to make (I did try writing out the pattern but hunger and squawking child don't make for a calm mummy!)

Crochet Crazy

I think I can safely say my craft of the year so far is crochet :o). Lots of stars, lots of headbands, a few chokers, and lots of free form to practise how it looks. I thought I'd have a go at a hexagon as I'd already done the star. This is the second attempt as the other wouldn't lay flat as there were too many on the round. Really pleased with this...just need to learn how to write a pattern now!

This is another free form piece. Love this too.

And look at these! These are from patterns - the heart from ravelry and the other from this lovely book. I saw this on Soulemama's website, so went to investigate it. It's a fab little book with lovely gift ideas in it.

Once I'd done the practice mesh piece I thought I might as well start on a proper scarf and very addictive it was too. Hopefully I'll be able to add this to the gift pile for this year. What crafts are you crazy about so far this year?

Bits from the week

Currant buns - although I forgot to glaze them as I was messing about slicing oranges for drying at the same time. Recipe from the talented Shazronnie.

A bargain picked up from a bootsale by the mother-in-law. Small crochet basket with threads and lots of tiny hooks - fantastic.

The log cabin bag so far. Just need to add something (not sure what yet) to the right hand side then I'll be happy with it. Got to finish this this weekend.

Twilleys wool for my new hat - gorgeous colour.

Thank you all for the lovely comments regarding my Grandad, they mean an awful lot to me.

Cushion finished

Remember my first lot of crochet way back here - well I finally found some material to make the actual cushion cover with. The green sheet I got in the charity shop the other week was the perfect colour but I hadn't even thought of it for this job. The actual case is not perfect but I don't mind (well, maybe a little bit) - serves me right for rushing as usual :-).

A bit of all sorts

Here's the snuggly I made for Claire's bump (thanks for the piccie) - I left it simple so there were no bits that babe could choke on. The velour is very soft and makes you want to stroke it (or is that just me!)



I crocheted this last night - a dishcloth. I also made another one tonight as they are so quick to make and much better than shop bought cloths. We do reuse old fabrics for cloths as well, but these last much longer and seem to wash the pots better too. The dishcloth cotton came from a charity shop a few years back - I think there was 7 balls for £2.00.

It's my brother and sister's birthday tomorrow (they're not twins, just born on the same day) so here's the card for my brother. He's really into Metallica and this is from one of their albums, I think, so hopefully he'll like it. My sister is getting one of the stitched fairy cards as I love them, and hope she will too.

Another bargain I got in the charity shop the other day, and forgot to tell you about, was some candle wax dye for 50p. There are 5 different colours which you then add to 1kg of wax or I supppose you could cut them down if you had less wax. Anyway, I'll try and remember to get a picture to show you what I'm waffling on about :-).

Negatives and positives

Thank you all for your comments, they are greatly appreciated. Now I need to look at positives as there are far too many negatives going on at the minute so you'll have to forgive my next indulgence.

My ivory mirasol t'ika arrived this morning. It looks like the colour of a wash cloth when it's on its own but when put with the green it looks gorgeous. I've got 7 squares done with is so far.

Now I know I said I wasn't ordering any more bits but I went to make some of the things that had popped into my head the other day, only to find that I didn't have any of the felt that I needed - I hadn't realised that I'd used so much of my stash. Anyway, I went on Altered Element and placed an order. The service there is fantastic - I ordered 2 days ago and it arrived at 10 this morning.

Jute ribbons.

Hessian.

Buttons (of course).

And the much needed felt - woohoooooo. Right, off to keep my hands busy and try and stop my mind from whirring.

All sorts today

I've been making some brooch/keyring holders and sorting out my bits that I've made - adding labels, stickers and price tags. Quite pleased with them. I ordered some stickers from Moo a couple of weeks back which arrived a few days later. I didn't show you them because I wasn't overly happy with them (not the fault of Moo) - I have stuck them onto the card for now though.

This is a crochet cuff bracelet that I made. I've left this one plain but I may do some more with beads and sequins. I've also had some more ideas for tin covers so you may see some more of those in the next few days.

Lastly is the extra wool that I ordered from Getknitted. It is absolutely gorgeous. I have ordered the ivory as well so hopefully that will be here next week. Going to have to be really careful from now on with my spends as money is very tight - drop in wages while everything else goes up!! Hopefully I'll managed to sell some bits.

Wool, hooks, lips

Yesterday I managed to make the lip balm for my sister and niece, only to forget to take a photo of it before I gave it to them. Never mind - got to make another one now as well, so I'll try and remember to get a piccie - they look so cute in the little 15ml jars.

While playing with the crocheting the other evening I inadvertedly managed to make part of my summer season swap ;-). I was so pleased, and suprised, but you'll just have to wait and see the piccie when we actually do the swap (not like me to be this organised).

Right, now to the really exciting stuff. The very naughty Becks posted a link on the GP forum to a sale over at getknitted.com - they had Mirasol T'ira for £2.00 a ball instead of £3.50. So off I went for a browse - and ended up ordering 8 balls. The above pictures show the wool - I am going to make a blanket for our bed. It is sooooooooo soft and gorgeous to work with. I've ordered 8 more balls today and I'm going to look for some ivory as well so I can have the odd different coloured square on the blanket. I've got 19 squares done already - they don't take long as they are only 3 rounds each. I've got some rather numb fingers though :-). Right - off to see if I can get some ivory.

Learning

Me, being the impatient person that I am, stitched the granny squares together yesterday without blocking them. I'm still pleased with them, but I'm now berating myself for being so impatient. I put together the 4 remaining ones (there was 5 left but one has mysteriously wandered off) and then crocheted an edge with the remaining bit of wool.

While sat with poorly babe this evening I've been using the only crochet book (hooked on crochet by Candi Jensen) I have to actually learn new stitches. This is an American book so not sure what the English names would be. The above is triple crochet (tc) - didn't really like this one.

This one is double crochet (dc)- I like this one as it looks very neat.

This one is single crochet (sc), again very neat.

And lastly, we have half double crochet (hdc). This is what I have done on the granny squares without actually realising it. Explains why they are small ;-). Anyway, off to do some more as I'm finding it very addictive and theraputic.

Whoops

Ta Joxy, see I was so excited I forgot to tell you what I was going to do with them. As the only hook I have is a 10/3.25mm? then the squares are quite small (2 and a bit inches) so I was going to make a cushion with them - I'll need to back it with some fabric or I'm going to see if I can find a wool jumper in the charity shops to make a back with. Must keep a look out for crochet hooks as well.

Surprising myself

It's amazing the lack of confidence we have in our own abilities isn't it - I'm sure it's not just me. Well, I've surprised myself again by re-teaching myself how to crochet granny squares. My Mum taught me when I was in my teens, and thinking back it's probably 18 years since I last did any. She used to start me off and then pass it to me when there was 3 rounds - then I would just go round and round so it was a big square. Well, inspired by Claire, Becky, Joxy and Lucy, I got my hook out again on Tuesday. I've attempted this a couple of times already over the last few months but never mastered it - well, Tuesday was the night and I made 5 little squares using the bamboo wool that I got a few weeks ago. Amazing - I was so thrilled - my hubby knows I'm bonkers already but on Tuesday he was rolling his eyes ;-). Yesterday I sat and made another 22 and then this afternoon and this evening I've done another 3 (to finish the balls of wool) and then weaved all the ends in. Since this is my first go I'm going to do the blocking as well - might as well start as I mean to go on :-).

GP LETS goodies

The lovely Joxy was offering crocheted eggs on the Green Parent LETS so I requested one. It arrived this afternoon with an extra treat in there too - they're both gorgeous and now adorn our season/nature table, thank you so much.

Some of my work

This is my Autumn bag that I made. I got the fabric off Ebay as I just loved it. I didn't use a pattern for this bag.

The next picture is the first piece of crochet I have managed to do all by myself, as my Mum used to start it off for me and then I would take it from there. It's the first time I've done any in years. The next two pictures are cushion covers that I made

The green hat is the first time I have cast on stitches properly (my Mum did this for me too and then when I did learn to cast on myself I never did it properly). It has been a sad week with regards the knitting and crocheting but also a week where I should be proud of myself. I wish she could have been here to see that I have done these things myself . The book I used to help me with the casting on was Usbourne book of How to Knit, and the crotcheting book I used was hooked on Crochet by Candi Jensen.