New beginnings – pink is the word
Last night I actually managed to finish the blanket I was working on, I seemed to be on the edging forever and a day, so it was with relief I sewed in the last of the ends. It was worth the effort though.
Nice hey? Suitable for a boy or a girl, it’s still available at £30 plus £3.70 postage and packing.
After I’ve finished a blanket, I just love picking the colours for the next. I tend to go for something completely different. This time I’ve gone unashamedly girly, with pinks and purples. I tend to make unisex blankets mostly, unless commissioned, because let’s face it, there’s more chance of them selling. But this time, this will definitely be a girly blanket.
I’m looking forward to getting started, but first, I have 2 small hungry monsters to feed.
T xxx
Blankets, Blankets and more blankets
So I promised to show you the latest thing occupying my time (apart from the kids & all the stuff that goes with them of course).
I looked at my stash one day and realised I had an awful lot if yarn that needed using up, but there wasn’t really enough of each yarn to make anything significant. Now, some time in the past, I made this…
And found it a pretty good way to use up odds and ends. It’s basically just rows and rows of differing stitches in different colours, with a border edging to bring it all together.
So I started another blanket to use up my current stash. It came out quite well too.
But you see, they were so nice to make, I soon found myself buying more yarn to make stash buster blankets…
Carried away yes? These blankets work up quite fast, and are great to work on without actually having to think too hard about a pattern. They’re all worked in DK soft acrylic, so are perfect for babies as they’re not itchy, and can be easily washed and dried. They’re cot sized too, so neither too big or too small. Most of these are sold, but if you’re interested the blankets are £30 plus postage. I’m happy to take commissions if there’s a particular colour you’re wanting too, just get in touch.
T xxx
Amigurumi and catching up.
Hello, it’s been a while, I know! Three months to be exact, not sure what happened there, but think I just lost my blogging mojo. So, to all of you out there who’ve been hanging on to hear the next part of my exciting life (there’s loads of you out there, yes?!) we’ll have a bit of a catch up.
I say catch up, there’s not been anything huge happening, just the regular old routine of school runs, pre-school, shopping, looking after baby and we’ve had our fair share of illness too. Hopefully, now the weather is getting a little brighter (about time too!) we’ve seen the back of colds and coughs, for a few months anyway.
And crochet? Well, I went through a little amigurumi phase. Dolls, to be precise. Each one a total one off original (mainly because I’m not disciplined enough to follow a pattern, or god forbid write one, so I just make them up as I go along).
Looking at them all I got quite carried away didn’t I?! Some of these have sold, but if you’re interested I still have some available for sale at £18 plus p&p, so get in touch.
It’s been a while since I made the dolls, as I’m on a roll with something else now. But more of that later. I won’t make you wait another 3 months for it either this time, I promise!
T xxx
Obsessive crocheting
So the whole month of January has gone by with no blog. Bit of a rubbish month January really isn’t it? Anyhoo, here I am, still around, still crocheting. Dolls, at the moment actually. Quite a few of them!
If nothing else they’re turning out to be great stash busters!
T xxx
A photo snapshot
Just a quick drop by to say hello, life is whizzing by at the moment, so I’ll let you see a few photos of recent makes, and hopefully I’ll get more time to chat in the new year.
I hope you all have a wonderful christmas, wherever you are, I’ll leave you with a few pictures of the reason why I never have any time to blog!
Must dash, there’s wrapping to be done (lots of it!)
T xxx
Ignoring the Work In Progress and starting Something New
Ok, so the title sort of sums it up. After completing two of the works in progress, I got the urge to start something new. I knew it would happen, and I can justify it by saying I did finish two, what am I saying, who do I need to justify it to?!
With my felt still laying about on the dining room table, and my pins in little boxes all over the place, what better than to make a pincushion? It’s not something I’ve made before, so it’s been a bit of a learning curve, this was my first effort.
I like it! But I didn’t strengthen the bottom when I padded the cushion, so it’s a little on the wobbly side as it doesn’t sit as flat as it should. So with the second one I made I set a circle of thick card in the bottom, and as a result it sits much flatter. A definite improvement.
See, something new, completed, so strictly speaking I haven’t actually added to the Work in Progress pile after all!
T xxx
Work in Progress – Progress!
So after my last blog, and a general message of “get on with it!” That’s what I did. I got on with the work in progress. And, as I knew I could, fairly quickly, I finished 2 of the works.
I started on the cushion first. This is the before picture.
Pretty yucky yes? I’ve had these cushions for years, they started off in the conservatory and then made their way out into the shed, the kids used them as big cushions to sit on on the grass in the summer. For some reason this year, when the weather turned (from not very nice to even worse) the cushions never quite made it back into the shed. They ended up back in the conservatory. The conservatory which now has green walls & green toy cupboards. And as such, didn’t match at all. So yarn was bought, big scratchy yarn, but ideal for cushions. A start was made, simple moss stitch on a 6mm hook, so that it was quite a tight stitch.
I managed to finish it on the night of my last blog, sat in bed. The result?
I’m quite pleased with the end result, a definite improvement on the old look!
The only trouble is, I’ve still got these two to go!!!
Never mind, it’ll keep me out of mischief.
Another of the works in progress was a baby blanket for a friend. Just a plain white, small version of the heirloom blanket I made earlier this year. I thought I was going to run out of yarn on the edging, and if I’d carried on with the edging I had planned I would have done. But I pulled out the edging I had started, and made something more simple, it worked out quite well.
So that’s another thing out of the way, I can get it in the post for her now, lets hope she likes it.
Now, which to work on next…
T xxx
Drowning in a sea of Works In Progress
I’m definitely feeling it today. The urge to finish off and tidy up. The urge to be able to start on something else. But I can’t. You see, I have, what seems like, a thousand works in progress. Anyone else like this? I have so many things half finished that I just can’t possibly begin something else.
There’s the giant cushion cover that I’m working on, to cover one of three cushions in my conservatory. (Yep, there’s another two to do afterwards).
Realistically, it is the closest to being finished, so I really should concentrate on this. But it’s using the thick chunky yarn, it hurts my fingers! I WILL get it finished, I WILL!
Then there’s this blanket…
A smaller version of the heirloom blanket that I made for myself, this is for a friend. I’m actually on the edging, so not that far off, so what’s stopping me getting on with it? The knowledge that I’m going to run out of yarn before I get to the end, that’s what. I’m going to have to make a trip to the shop for another ball, when I only need a little. Annoying.
Then there’s this…
Remember this? I love love love the Smoothie yarn that I’m using with this pattern, but never decided what to make with it, a blanket? Shawl or scarf? I don’t know!
Then there’s also this, that I started as a stash buster, sometime in June I think…
No excuses for this, I just stopped working on it to work on something else, fickle!
I’ve also got this, which is actually sitting on my dining room table.
Along with all the things I need to finish the job, which I’m actually getting fed up of seeing now, and would like to pack away!
There are probably more WIP’s laying round, hidden in cupboards or drawers, but I don’t want to be reminded of them until I’ve got some of these finished!
So that’s it, I’m off to start on one of the above (unless I get distracted with some other new idea before i get there of course!)
T xxx
Felty love
Project of the week for me has been felt. Now I love working with felt. I love the way it feels when you cut it with sharp scissors. But I can never do as much as I’d like, mainly because it needs leaving out overnight. There are too many small hands in this house to make leaving things out and about straightforward.
I’m always jealous when I see people with their own little space. A workroom would just be heaven. I have things in boxes and jars stored all over the house, something in every room. How marvellous would it be to have it all to hand? To be able to see all my supplies and stash at a glance?! Maybe one day…
This is what we laughably call the dining room, last Sunday. I’m pushed right to one end with all my things, and the two girls are spreading out nicely. They actually love crafting and making, so though messy, tends to lead to a fairly argument free day. Always a good thing, definitely worth a bit of mess.
I actually managed to cobble together a bit of something on that day too. Bonus.
It’s currently hung on a ribbon, but I haven’t got round to taking a picture of that. I could do it now, but I have a sleeping baby in my arms. I couldn’t possibly disturb him!
I also make a little pressie for a friend. She’s always baking, and has, on more than one occasion, delivered some delicious goodies, so thought it would be nice to give something back.
Yum yum!!
T xxx
Chunky crocheted cowl
I bought some gorgeous chunky yarn this week, for a trial at something I’d fancied for a while. I bought three large 200g balls, in the most gorgeous colours.
Perfect for scarves and cowls. I started on the blue and purple ball, and after a few stops and starts, the cowl I’d chosen to make worked up quite nicely. I say stops and starts, I hadn’t worked with such chunky yarn before, and it took a bit of experimenting with before I got into the flow!
Just a little note about my hook, it’s my favourite hook, make from glass, and I love love love working with it! I’d like a smaller size, but can’t find a supplier in the UK. This was from America, so if any of you out there know of suppliers, please let me know.
So a simple v-stitch pattern and the cowl was easily worked in and among the daily activities. I’m really pleased with the outcome, in fact, I’m sat wearing it as I type, next one will be purple!
T xxx
