Girlie blanket time!

Loved, loved, loved making this blanket for my pink loving daughter! 

I can't claim the pattern. That came from the Simply Crochet blanket edit Mega Mandala by Hannah Cross.

I did however, change some of the pattern as I went along mainly because I was using different yarn to the pattern so some of the instructions didn't work as well as they should have and caused the blanket to ruffle up a little. What did I do? Get annoyed - obviously! And then undo the part I had done and rethink the round of stitches. 

How did I start?

Consulting my daughter of course!

I was desperate to use the Mega Mandala pattern as I loved the idea of a mahoosive round blanket so that was non-negotiable, but the colours were entirely down to her. 

I've taken to planning my new projects in a pretty notebook that my husband gave me for my birthday and I'm finding it really inspirational. 

So as you can see, I used Caron Simply Soft, Caron Simply Soft Party and Caron Simply Soft Light yarn. The colour of the yarns is so vibrant that the blanket really does look like a fire ball. 

Some of these images don't do the colour justice. 

It really is rich.

In total the blanket covers a double bed.

I gave it a pretty picot edging.

I just love this blanket and fortunately so does my daughter. 

If I was to do anything different I would not have used the Caron Simply Soft Light yarn. I only used two colours in this yarn but it's quite thin and it unfortunately fell where the stitches left gaps so I feel that there are weaknesses there. It's only really noticeable to me but you know how it is? You are always your own worst critic! 

Overall, this blanket is beautiful and very cosy. A true family favourite already. 

Hope you've got a lovely blanket on the go or in your head waiting to be released.

Until next time, happy crocheting! Xx

Autumn granny blanket

So, as promised I've taken some more photos and can give you further details on my blanket. 

I started by crocheting lots of different 6 inch squares using the following book - 

Can't recommend this book enough. The squares are interesting, clearly labelled in difficulty and well explained. There's even blanket suggestions and colour ideas. Really good place to start if you're considering a blanket project of your own.

When I got to a rather sizeable pile of squares I began to panic that they'd never become an actual blanket and that it would just become yet another work-in-progress! So I decided to begin connecting them in groups of four to begin with. Then I decided I really needed to see my blanket begin to take shape. I chose to crochet borders around the groups of four and turn them into 'big' squares. 

These then grew into groups of four 'big' squares which when joined together we're actually a decent size. My blanket had become a useable item in our home! Woohoo! 

Still needed to grow a little bigger though as we have a king size bed and my husband had imagined that it would drape over the edges. Did he realise the time and effort involved?? Meh! - He was right, although I'll deny it if you tell him so!!

Thoughts then moved on to an interesting border that incorporated all of the colours. I was beginning to get itchy feet for a new project! I settled on a row of trebles in each colour with a row of small one-colour granny squares and finished with another row of trebles in each colour. 

I love the border but if I was to criticise it at all I would have to say that I wish I'd added the little granny squares just using their back loops all round as they lose some of their crispness with the second section of treble rows feeding directly into the trebles and chain spaces. Just a little niggle I know, and my husband hasn't even noticed, but well you know how it is when you see something that you could have done differently after the fact. Always annoying from then onwards!

Do I have favourites? 

Er, yeah, of course! 

Below I've picked my favourite three: a square with a centrally raised flower, one using a popcorn stitch to add some texture and one which I just love for its combination of stitches and my positioning of the colours. 

And of course the traditional granny square, which I inadvertently put in neighbouring groups of four! Oops! I also found myself making two...love them, I do!!

They do look so different with the colour choice changed though...take a look for yourself...

If I could go back and do anything differently, I'd definitely wet block the squares as I created them, as although they are all 6 inch squares, some are more 6 inch than others if you know what I mean?!! Areas of the blanket would lay flatter if I'd done that I think.  

Overall, I love it and it got the thumbs up from the husband. Now I just need to defend it from moths!! Why, oh why did I feel the need to use 100% wool? For cosiness and warmth obviously! 

Took two years, but oh so so so worth it! 

Next time, I'll fill you in on my daughter's very vibrant blanket....

Until then, happy crocheting X

More apologies than you can ever imagine!

So, as the title suggests, I'm in the apologising mood. Life has well and truly taken over recently and it's been over a year since my last blog post. 'Appalling,' I hear you cry! It's been so long I actually had to sign back in to my blog ownership and even that was a palaver as I couldn't remember or find my password and all the other miscellaneous secretive words I needed! I've been punished by my own blog it would seem! And rightly so!

Rest assured that I've not been completely lacking in crafty goodness! I've completed some projects, begun and finished others, and created some more half finished projects along the way too. 

I'll give you a sneaky peek at some now and then drip feed you the details over the next few weeks...

Here goes...

Our Autumn blanket - completed! (That so has to be said in a song-song voice, 'com-plee-tee-d!!)

So cosy, although at the moment it is blinking hot under it! Phew! Don't want to pack it away though as it's taken 2 and a 1/2 years to complete!! Wowzers!  Bonkers, but oh so satisfying. Smug does not even cover it.

My world has become a blanket heaven now though, as I then completed one for my new nephew...

Ahh, L💙VE him.

And one for my daughter...

An unconventional round one, oooooh, fancy. 

And started one for my youngest son...

Stripes galore.

My eldest son has already put in his order and it's well in the planning stages...

(Sorry, sideways picture, very annoying I know!)

I'm close to completing a shawl using sock yarn...

Love the colour change you get from a sock yarn and it's very lightweight.

Anyhoo, that's enough sneaky peeking for now. More details of all the projects, and any others I can think of, to come - there must be some I've forgotten about.

Ahh, I can feel my creative juices sighing with pleasure at all that loveliness. 

Until next time, 

Happy crocheting xx

Granny skirt!

I finished a project - in record time for me may I add! 

I designed and made a crochet skirt, fully lined and everything!! Wowzers!! 

Rather proud of myself at the moment. Looking forward to wearing it to the Enigmatic Mrs C's 40th birthday party soon.

The journey?

Well, it's no secret that I LOVE the traditional granny square and so an item of clothing incorporating it was bound to happen at some point. 

I researched on Pinterest and found some examples that I really liked, so using these for inspiration I began the process of designing my own. 

I made my designs with measurements and an idea of colour - predominantly black with pink granny squares as a feature. 

As it grew, my two rows of squares shrank to only one as I realised that visually it would work better. 

The granny row 

I'm wearing this over the top of my black skinnies as I wanted to check that it would fit and make sure that my decision on one row was right. Yep, it so was! 

Next I created the hem line with granny clusters and a little picot edge reflecting the colour sequences used in the squares. 

Nice!

Then on to the body of the skirt which is entirely made of black trebles. 

I turned it over at the top and added in a band of elastic - not too tight!! 

Finally, I lined it. I was hoping I wouldn't need to as you may remember that I really don't like sewing! But it needed it and infact was slightly see through without, oops!! 

The finished product front and back (And my husbands electric screw driver!!) 

It feels, and I think, looks quite slimming and with the rest of me top to toe in black it looks really eye catching.

So so so happy. Ahhh. 

Next, mmm?

A Granny square top me thinks!! Never to be worn together though!!!!

Til next time,

Happy crocheting x

Tunisian magic!

I did it!

Not only did I teach myself some Tunisian crochet, I also completed a project!! 

Oh, the level of smugness is very high...

Love the colour, love the warmth it gives, love the drape and most of all, love the pretty stitch pattern. 

It's turned out to be an expensive top as I had to buy 4 skeins when I'd hoped 3 would be enough, and at £12.95 a go that's quite lot! 

It's also taken longer than I'd hoped but whether that's because I'm easily distracted by other things I'm not sure. Ok, yes I know, that's definitely the reason! If I'd just stick to this top each evening I'd have been finished yonks ago!! I hear you ;-D! 

Almost as soon as I finished though my mind was racing on to its next project - I'm thinking a skirt incorporating my favourite granny square design. 

Plans so far...

Do so love a bit of rough planning, let's hope my numbers are right! 

Will keep you informed.

Til next time

Happy crocheting x

Neglectful...

I've been very neglectful of my Blog for a long time. My own fault I realise. 

Since Christmas I've been looking for a job and what with sorting out my CV, hunting for jobs, completing applications and attending an interview, my crochet has taken a back seat. Boo!! 

At the end of February I managed to get a job as a Teaching Assistant in my eldest child's school - a bit weird as before I had children I was a Secondary School History teacher, so feels a little weird to not be in charge and to have changed age range to a junior school! Loving it though! 

My new job is every morning so as I've settled into it and sorted childcare issues, I've managed to pick up my crochet again. Yay! 

I made the decision that 2015 would predominantly be about me and my crochet! Mainly, completing my outstanding crochet projects and teaching, and not taking many orders for other people. So if I accept an order from you this year, feel free to be as pompous as you like as you are one of the lucky ones! 

So, I've spent the last few weeks focussing on my 2014 Granny Square blanket, my Tunisian crochet wrap thingie and my freeform crochet bag. Here's my progress so far -

My blanket -

I had a look at all of the squares I had so far completed and decided that I would combine them into groups of four and half treble a couple of rows around the outside of them thus making larger squares. 

Once I'd done that with all of the ones I had, I laid them out to see what size my blanket would be - 

Not big enough! 

I've worked out that I need to make another 40 small squares to give me 10 more groups of four squares. This, once I've connected them all together and given it an edging in the gold yarn me thinks, will then be large enough for a double bed! Woohoo!!

A bit of work left to do then, but progress has been made! 

My Tunisian crochet wrap thingie -

Quick reminder of what it will look like only with me inside it not this lady!

The pattern states that it needs to be 58 inches in length. I'm currently up to 53! So close that I'm now ploughing on hoping to finish it at some point this week, as in my usual manner, I'm desperate to tick it off as completed and move on to my next project! So impatient I know.

I still love love love the yarn I'm using. The colour is coming through beautifully (maybe not so much in my pictures though!)

My freeform crochet bag -

This has taken on a lot of changes since Christmas as I decide how I want the finished bag to look. It began as a messenger style size and shape but as the freeform crochet has grown I've realised how much I want it to resemble a carpet bag style. So I've gotten myself some bamboo handles and adjusted the final shape I want it to be. 

Here's my progress so far -

Side 1:

Side 2:

The material I've pinned it to is just to give me a guide for the final shape I'm aiming for. 

Really liking how this is turning out and evolving as it grows. Lucky for me I need consistently good weather to use it so I've got time on my hands to complete this little beauty!! Phew! 

In amongst this I'm adding to my projects list! 

I'd like to make myself a skirt out of granny hexagons - so watch this space for that creation, and check out Pinterest images for my inspiration! 

I'd also like to make a round shoulder bag using some lovely coloured garden twine I bought back in January. Must get on to that one as if I've not got enough twine who knows if they'll still have it in store, eek!! 

Like it? Can you picture it?! 

And I've got an order for another Christmas elf, December deadline for that one so its on my list but not overly urgent me thinks. 

So much to do, so little time.

Thanks for checking back in with me, and sorry it's been so long!

Until next time, 

Happy crocheting xx

Update and a happy new year to you!

Goodness it's been yonks since I last blogged anything apparently! Been so busy that I hadn't realised.

What have I been doing? 

Mmm...

There was the Freeform crochet lessons from Christmas. To date I've made - 

It's going to be a bag which does mean I've got a bit more work to do! Really liking the freedom of creating whatever I like with whatever colour I like and not worrying about counting stitches or following a pattern. Very liberating.

Then next I have the new challenge for 2015, Tunisian crochet.

I plan to make the top on the front using the yarn below -

I've read the intro and feel ready to get started this week so keep your fingers crossed for me! 

My next creation was the family Valentine tree. 

I've decided that the lovely white tree I bought to show off my Christmas creations was too good to put away so I want to decorate it throughout the year to reflect the seasons or upcoming events. 

Valentine's Day is in February so that was my first stop, many hearts - well actually so far just 5 to represent the five members of my family!

Pretty ones for myself and the children..

And a not so pretty one for my husband who facetiously decided he wanted one with a skull on it! I showed him!!

I do feel the urge to create a super pretty flouncy Freeform heart - watch this space! 

My daughter meanwhile was putting my chopped off yarn ends to good use creating hedgehog pictures! Love these little spiky fluff balls! Clever girlie. 

So as you can see, I have been a little busy in my crochet world, I just forgot to tell you all about it! 

(And don't tell anyone but I've been busy thinking Easter crochet thoughts too, shhh) 

Til next time, which hopefully won't be so long,

Happy crocheting x