Something I whipped up

I'm mad for the hook this winter and in between clusters of trebles for my granny stripe that I'm making for Eliza, I whipped up this scarf for James.

Gotta share the love, you know.

It's a simple pattern made with rows of double crochet.

I started this scarf when we were at the snow for a week but pulled it all out because it was too short. Oh well.

The wool is gorgeous and so soft . The pictures don't do the colour justice, but it's a lovely grey/sea greeny colour which looks very distinguished on my distinguished man.

He's a little bit shy!

The colour tones nicely with that greying stubble don't you think?

Granny Stripe - Work in Progress

A quick blog post to show off the granny stripe to date.

Progress is being made!

It's sooo easy thanks to Lucy's instructions at Attic 24. Check out her blog if you haven't already. She has inspried me with her gorgeous creations.

I try to fit in a couple of rows of crochet whenever I can.

We made a trip to Bendigo for a family birthday this weekend and I made good use of the 90 minute drive by adding several more stripes

I'm making this blanket for Eliza ..... but I am loving it too much!

Do you think she'll understand? Maybe she'll be prepared to share!

Hooked on .... stripes

My love affair with the hook continues. I've been totally inspired by Lucy at Attic 24. Her gorgeous granny stripe has got me hooked. So I checked out my stash of wool and thought .... I can do that!

And after seriously hurting my back and neck (by stretching - of all things) I was confined to bed for two days . It was too painful to lie down so I propped myself up on pillows, heated the hot water bottle, threw back the painkillers and got out the hook ....

Lucy's instructions are very straight forward and I quickly got the hang of it after the first couple of rows, which are a bit tricky. Then it's just clusters of treble, clusters of treble, clusters of treble - the rhythm is quite mesmerising (or perhaps that was the painkillers!)

And the wonderful thing about crochet is the progress you make. It's soooo quick. I'm making this granny stripe blankie for Eliza who just loves the colour combination. It will be perfect for her to snuggle in front of TV, take in the car on cold mornings and as an extra cover on her bed.

I love it all ready.

Three cheers for three hats

The three little crocheted hats are all finished and this afternoon the little girls tried them on.

Getting everyone to stay still, smile and look at the camera was a challenge ... but you get the idea.

I'm very happy with how they've turned out. Retro Mummy's pattern was easy peasy (which is so my style) and I'll certainly whip up a few hats for friends' children in the future.

The girls love the colours - and what's more they're wearing them - always a bonus I think.

Even Georgia kept hers on!

Hooked on hats

I'm a little bit obsessed about crocheting at the moment and when Retro Mummy shared her pattern for her gorgeous crocheted hats I couldn't resist.

And it's dead easy. No tears, no tantrums, no unravelling .... phew!

I managed this hat for Eliza on Sunday afternoon.

She loves it and is actually wearing it! Yay me .

There's no stopping me now ... Despite some long days at the office I couldn't wait to get out the hook in front of TV and get cracking on another one. So over the next couple of nights in front of Masterchef I produced this one for my niece as a little surprise for when I see her this weekend.

Corrie's pattern is super fast and super easy for beginners like me.

And don't they look lovely?

I've got one more on the go for little Georgia .

I can't wait to get a picture of all three girls in their hats.

It's a wrap!

The wrap vest is a wrap!

It's done.

It's over.

And the best part is I'm wearing my work.

The wool is quite chunky and as I stood in the shadows of the netball court this morning in barely 4 degrees, I was very glad it's so warm.

Thanks to Michelle from twoandsix for sharing her pattern and inspiring me to create something beyond a scarf!

Well done me and apologies to the family for the huff and puff when I thought I'd totally messed it up! Still, the wine and the chocolate was excellent compensation.

Work in Progress

Are we there yet? Are we there yet?

The simple wrap vest has turned into a bit of a marathon but the end is near.

I've learnt a lot about crochet ..... my ability to read or (misread) a pattern .... how hard it is to unravel crochet ..... how easy it is to drop a stitch every row, and just how quickly wool breaks when you pull it !!! Sigh.

Oh yes, dear reader, it's been fun.

(Memo to self: remember craft is relaxing and you're doing something for yourself.)

But on the bright side, after thinking halfway through that the vest wouldn't fit me, it turns out it will - so that's a bonus! Just a few more rows then I'll weave the ends in and have a lovely hand made vest to keep me warm.

It's not perfect, some of the row ends are a bit wonky, it's a bit short at the back ....but it's all my own work and I'll wear it with pride (at least around the house!)

Wrap Vest WIP

I'm hooked on the hook.
I've been crocheting, crocheting, crocheting in front of the TV for hours over the weekend - occasionally, asking for cups of tea, squares of chocolate and the odd glass of wine .... which James happily provided. He's a good man!


The wrap vest is looking good . The stitches are really even. I've surprised myself .... but I'm starting to get nervous.
I don't think it's big enough.
I've followed the pattern. Truly I have ....
But it seems small and the armholes aren't big enough.

(Breathe ..... it's not wasted effort .....breathe ..... maybe I used the wrong sort of wool? Too thick?? Maybe it will be ok once it's finished ..... breathe some more ..... if not ....... I'll just unravel it and make a scarf or three. Breathe ...... and call for a glass of wine ..... Maybe if it doesn't fit me I could give it to Rosie - my sister in law. Nice idea ..... breathe, breathe. Yeah, nice idea. )
OK - happy again.
Crochet, crochet, crochet.
Can I have two more squares of chocolate darling??

The weekend essentials

We packed the car and headed down to the beach for the long weekend.
'Let's just take the essentials,' I said.
And it was easy.

• Crock pot
• Coffee pot
• Chocolate
• Cheese
• Crochet
• And .... our cat!

A trip to Spotlight on the way meant I had a little project to work on in front of the fire.
I was inspired by Michelle and her pattern at twoandsix.












She's devised a simple pattern and generously posted it on her blog. I made a decent start on the weekend. I didn't take my camera so haven't got any pictures, but I'll rectify that this week. Come back soon and see my progress.

A crafty bag

On the last day of summer the temperature dropped, the sky was overcast and the breeze was cool.
I spent a bit of time delving into recipe books, searching out slow food and trawling crafty blogs looking for some inspiring projects to get stuck into over the cooler months.
I've got a couple of embroidery projects on the go .... more on those later .... but one project I completed last winter that I'm really delighted with is my crocheted handbag.



















I picked up a pattern a couple of years ago at a craft fair and last year, when the family had a week in the snow, I got to work.
The bag was started and finished in that week. It's the first pattern I've completed on my own ..
I managed to increase and decrease as directed by the pattern ... and improvise when I didn't understand the instructions.
That's what craft is all about isn't it?



















And because the body and handles of the bag are pure wool .... I felted the bag in the washing machine, when I got home.
I'll post a picture of the finished felted bag in another blog.
(Which means I need to find the pictures on my camera!)

In the meantime, enjoy these pics I took earlier!

A woolly scarf for a wintery day

The elements aligned for a perfect winter's day.

Cold, wet, windy (check)
Soup for lunch (check)
Footy on the radio (check)

And a couple hours to myself at home to sit and finish my scarf.

I saw an idea at the Stitches and Craft show and thought I'd give it a go - with some modifications because I'm new to crochet and a very basic knitter.

So I kinda worked it out in my head and then knitted long skinny pieces .... and crocheted long skinny pieces (don't you love this technical talk!)

Then I laced them together ... leaving some of the tails free, at either end.

And the result is a warm woolly scarf which I wrapped around my neck and stepped out to enjoy the wintery afternoon.

Do you like it?

The Colour Purple

I was rummaging through my wool stash this afternoon to remind myself of what wool I actually had ...
I saw a scarf at the Stitches And Craft Show last weekend and thought to myself
I could make that ...

So watch this space!

Not sure how long the scarf will take me, oh she of little time but lots of ideas.
I plan to make long skinny sections - some knitted and some crocheted - and then join them together in the middle.
Quite a clumsy way to describe it ... but I know what I mean, even if you don't.

I found some beautiful wool in shades of purple.
Purple will be big this winter. Well in my house at least.
You read it here first!

Hopefully I'll have a gorgeous purple scarf by the time winter rolls around.

Hooked

You crafty types will know what I mean.

I'm hooked. On crochet right now.

I keep thinking about it.

At work, in the shower, when I wake up in the morning.

Different stitches.

Variegated wool.
Colour combinations.

It's so quick. That's what I love about it. 20 mins and you've got a result.

I've started making flowers. Self taught from the Patons Beginner Crochet book. And very proud I am too.

I've made flowers for my friends, my daughter, my sister, my niece (not the 5 week old one, but her turn will come) and for myself. Ive added them to my denim jacket, a great poncho I picked up and a couple of my favourite hats. Gorgeous!