Getting Cosy with a Crocodile Stitch

One of my winter projects that is coming along is my new lap blanket.  It still has a little while until it's going to keep my feet warm though.

I'm still a bit of a beginner crocheter, so luckily, once you've got the hang of it, this one is really easy, though please don't ask to look at the edges of the blanket - they are super wonky!  I hate changing colours in crochet so just used a yarn that changed colour through the ball.

As it's a double thickness, I find this blanket uses up a lot of wool, but at the same time it has such a lovely weight and warmth to it.

The youtube tutorial I used to learn is here.

Do you have any seasonal crafty projects going on?

My Creative Space - The Catch Up Version

You know how when you're in the middle of something, cleaning the kitchen, driving to work, and you think "Oh, I haven't spoken to my dear friend for ages, I must call her", yet the time just seems to pass by and the next thing you know months have passed.  That's how things have been with this little blog space this year.  Lots of things I have meant to share, but time just seems to run away with me...

So this is what it has looked like in my studio lately...

I've done a bit more organising and findings have been making their way into little Ikea drawers - so much better than the container stacks I'd been using that need to be unstacked each time I work.

I've actually finished all my granny squares for my floral blanket.  Now I just have to join them all, I'm using this method but have to say, mine doesn't look nearly as neat.  Now that it's warming up though I think the yarn might be packed away and I'll get back to work on my kimono yoyo quilt.

Not my creative work, but this is what happens when your tape obsessed three year old knows where you keep the Japanese washi tape and you forget to lock the studio door....

I've finished a couple pieces in the "Folded Silver" range... a chatterbox (did you used to make these when you were young?)

... and a little, simple fox.

And in my silversmithing class, I've been working with some more wax.  There are a few touches of bling that is being set into this after it has been cast in silver.  

What's been happening in your creative space lately?  

For more creative spaces this week and to add your own, here's the place to go.  I just see that there's a month long instagram / twitter / facebook game to join in too!  It looks like fun.

My Creative Space - Getting out the Hook Again

About a year ago I crocheted my 136th flower.  I then ran out of the wool I'd bought and the hook was put down.  I had intended on joining the flowers together to create a rug but never figured out the best way of doing it.

Now the weather is getting cold, those wool flowers are calling out to be played with again.  Rather than joining them as is, I've decided to crochet granny squares and use those as a base for the flowers, with this kind of look, .. which lead me to my first issue.... how to crochet a granny square.  You have to love the internet, after a quick google I was onto making my first one (well second but that's another story...).

Using the left-over bits of wool, I made a couple to begin with, but tonight I'm going to head out to buy some more wool.  I'm inspired by this colour palette, so thinking making plain aqua / teal squares as the base. 

Hopefully it will be finished in time for next winter :)

Are you crafting anything at the moment?

For more creative spaces, here's this week's link.

My Creative Space

My stack of crocheted flowers for the rug continues to grow, as does my speed for making them.  I'm really enjoying the relaxation that comes with playing with the wool and hook.

I'm thinking of taking some yarn on the plane to Japan with me in a couple of weeks.  I have a nine hour flight on my own, so am thinking I could make real headway with the project.  I think I should be able to take it on, shouldn't I?  The hook is blunt and maybe I could take some nail clippers with me to cut the wool.  What do you think?  Has anyone tried it before?

It's funny, my very first flight to Japan was pre-September 11 and I took needle, thread and scissors on with me.  Being a Queensland girl, I had never needed an overcoat, but I was to be arriving in the middle of a Japanese winter where I would freeze without one.  I had this funky old coat of my mums from the 60s/70s.  It had a great cut, a cool collar and was a deep maroon colour, but had ugly buttons.  I sat on the flight, trying to distract myself from the nervousness that came from moving to a country on my own, one where I didn't know anyone and could hardly even speak the language, and gave the coat a lift with new buttons. 

It's a bit funny to think that once again, I'll be on that flight, twelve years later, again on my own, but this time heading to a country I know well, while crafting something for my daughter.

For more creative spaces, drop by Kootoyoo.

Happily Hooking

I had a ball at Brown Owls this morning and the flowers for my rug are now slowly stacking up.

The rug pattern is from an old issue of Better Homes and gardens, though I'm not actually using the flowers they made, their instructions did my head in.  Instead I'm using a flower by my lovely teacher today.

Here's another similar and very cute flower tutorial.

So now, I only have another 474 and a half flowers left to do!

Getting out the Hook

Don't you just love the rush of a new project?

This poor lonely hook is one that I bought about 2 years ago and has sat neglected for almost as long.  I enjoyed my short-lived foray into crocheting whilst I was pregnant, making a few baby hats that alas, were never to fit our not-so-little little one.  Pregnancy induced carpal tunnel soon made my fingers numb and the hook was packed away.

But now, it's out again!  New wool has been purchased and a long-filed away, but never forgotten inspiration has been pulled out.  It's time to try to crochet again!

This lovely lady has been kind enough to offer to help me along.  The poor dear, I'm not sure she knows what she's gotten herself into.  I'm quite dyslexic when reading patterns and following instructions...  

Fingers crossed I'll have some small results to show you next week.

Hooked

To think, I had nearly given up on crochet and now I can't stop. I couldn't quite decide what to do with my new granny square skill but then Bec suggested I try making a hat for the baby. And now I'm hooked. Bec, when I need to start attending Crochet Addicts Anon, I'm blaming you!

At the last Brisbane Brown Owls meeting, the lovely Sandra once again was my personal crochet guide and helped me navigate my way around the new language that is a crochet pattern.

The first two I made were from this pattern. Funnily enough, they were using the same ply bamboo-cotton blend and made the same way, but the sizes turned out quite different. I think it was a change in tension. I've now started a third, a larger one, using this pattern.

Mmm... now I just need to get up the courage to try some booties to match....

Crochet Inspiration

As suggested and encouraged by the fabulous Bec, this Sunday at Brown Owls I'm going to attempt to crochet a baby's hat. It will be simple with hopefully a little flower to jazz it up. At Spotlight today I found this gorgeous, super soft bamboo-cotton mix yarn that I can't stop touching.

While these are beyond my beginner level, these cute hats are great inspiration, something to work towards.

1. Red and aqua baby crocheted beanie, 2. cottonorange elf hat , 3. Baby hat - button detail, 4. Crocheted Pink and white baby girl hat, 5. Crochet baby elfin hat, 6. Crocheted Pink and brown baby girl hat

... then, if I really got the hang of the hook and yarn, how cute would these booties look?

Photo Credit: Mon Petit Violon

Meet My Granny

Last Sunday (yes this post is about a week late), I had a fabulous time at my first Brisbane Brown Owl meeting. It was great to meet a really friendly bunch of girls, a number of whom I've "known" for a while online. Thanks to the very patient Em and an even more patient Sandra who took me through stitch by stitch, I managed to crochet my first every granny square. My first ever crochet anything actually.

Sadly, left on my own the following week, despite being given great print-out instructions from Em, I haven't managed anymore squares. I have been crocheting and really enjoying it, but I don't think there's a word in the English language that describes a square turned roundish that doesn't sit flat but rather ripples up and down. I'm thinking of using that to try my hand at felting for the first time.

If, unlike me, you've found yourself quite apt at the whole granny square thing but you're not quite sure what to do with your new-found talent, here are some suggestions from Lynn Brooks Needlework c. 1970.

Something to keep you warm this coming winter?

Or how about a "sweeping, floor length skirt"?

I have a couple more Brown Owl meetings in me before the little one arrives and I'm looking forward to each and every one.