Pretty...Incomplete

Oh dear..

I have all this beautiful wool and all these beautiful crochet squares but alas, it is hard work and very fiddly. I thought it may be possible to make crochet blankies for Christmas presents but I think it may take me 20 years to finish one. Ha ha. At least I am positive about the colours - aren't they pretty? 

Maybe as Autumn moves into Winter the motivation to crochet will come back again... let's hope

x

A Granny A Day? Ok.

Well...it's coming along...

I am making a Granny Blanket. Pink. Pink pink pink.

Inspired by 'Meet Me At Mike's a Granny a Day Challenge'. I told you I would put up pictures didn't I?

I have to admit, I don't know if my joining of the squares is any good - I kind of made this part up myself ;-) This is a bit funny because 'Meet Me At Mikes' has just published the next of their wonderful Granny video series which tells you how to join the squares. Oh well, I can use this for my next project. And I have no idea what to do with the straggly ends on the reverse. But then, who cares really? I didn't even know how to change colour before!

I feel I really do need to also credit this site again: Linda Permann - you rock! So so easy to follow. Thank you!

Cup of tea anyone?

Bless

x

Granny go lucky

The Lovliest thing has happened. After so many attempts, and so much pure frustration, I have made a 'granny square'. I made one!!! And guess what? I am on my second granny square! And guess what else? I reckon I could make quite a few a day - it does become easy, please trust me! Ok, once more, guess what else? I reckon I may even be able to move on to a more difficult pattern now!

I will show you the pictures when I can I promise...for now...A couple of pointers.

Find wool colours you know you will LOVE to use. I chose pink and navy, yummy.

Get the right crochet hook to wool - I got 8ply wool and a 4mm hook

Research and play with the basic stitches - 'slip stitch', 'chain stitch', etc.

Remember, a treble stitch is also called 'dc' or double crochet (Aussie vs US crochet language).

Use different web sites/books until you find the ones you like. For me, the Meet Me At Mikes video demonstrations were awesome and a really great starter. After that I did not want to keep watching each video so I found the 'craftstylish' blog which means I can have the pattern up on the computer and keep looking at it while I stitch - great pictures and very very clear.

Here is the granny this page helps you to make.

Finally, keep dreaming of the beautiful pink crochet granny blanket you can make for the sister in law for Christmas...

Now that's a treat.

Bless

x

Meet Me At Mikes - A Granny a Day Craft Challenge. What Have I Got Myself Into?

I have been absolutely hectic, doing anything but preparing for the new school term next week. My days are spent drawing, reading, explorations with felt (to be continued), ebaying, etc with sounds of Kerri-Anne Kennerly on TV in the backgound. I am looking after a friends house and the photo above is my makeshift studio mess.

I have been looking at Meet Me At Mikes - 'Granny a Day'. Yes, a definate craft challenge. I have been desperate to learn how to do granny squares but avoiding because of so many things to do. So...meeting my mum last night for dinner I had to sneak into Lindcraft for some late night shopping...

I came out with...

3 x 8ply wool - Black or navy (I can't work it out but it is a rich lovely black if it is black), baby pink and hot pink.

1 x 4mm crochet hook

Fabric chalk,

lots of colourful felt squares.

The beautiful Burmese cat I am looking after (Cherry) loved my goodies as much as me...

So, 7am this morning, ruthlessly following Pip's videos. It is risky to document my progression because it is somewhat pitiful. You know, at first I thought 'what??? A granny a day? More like a granny a week - maybe a month!!!' But I am actually thinking I may master this today - maybe tomorrow. I do think it is possible...

A couple of stuff-ups

Finally taking shape!!!

Her videos are really, really good. Worth following. But I won't pretend it is easy (neither does she!). I feel lucky I have been playing around with the wool and crochet hook for about a year, making only a couple of silly random crochet, made-up toys and many mistakes. So I know my chain stitch but that's all. I have now learnt treble stitch and even made my first little square.

It was when 9am hit and I changed colours that I ran into trouble. I have no idea where to go now. Time for a break - more ebaying, a shower, some toast, playing with my felt and MAYBE some lesson prep for next week.

Oh no. Don't know how to keep going after change of colour...

Break time.

Simultaneously rewarding and frustrating, a series of problem solving efforts. I think that is what art and craft is.

Bless,

x

A Blog I Love

WREN Handmade

I love looking at the blogs of so many beautiful bloggers who make very fine wares.

Just look for yourselves. Stunning.

She has an Esty store too.

Crochet Piggy

This is Crochet Piggy. He did start as a rabbit but ended up a piggy.

 

He spent a little time on the window sill being photographed. My flatmate then found him in her room - I have a feeling the cats took a liking to him!

That night it was awfully cold and he looked a little too naked so I crocheted a scarf to keep him warm.

Monkey magic

My second crochet animal. A LOT better than the first and not nearly as holey. Little monkey magic. 

xxx

Starting somewhere in a crochet dream

So we all have to start somewhere...

Sammy the cat seemed to love learning to crochet as much as me. Or did she just like to eat the wool?

An attempt at the head of a bird seemed to work out fine...

And the body wasn't going too badly either...

The end result? A little holy for my liking. But cute all the same and acceptable for my first crochet animal, particularly (as I have said before) I hate patterns and have decided to make up my own.

Add a couple of buttons for the eyes and finito. Starting somewhere in a crochet dream.

xxx

Crochet Good Times

I want to share in all the fun people are having with crocheting. 

I have a problem though.

I am incapable of following black and white instructions in books - you know, the ones that have simple 'easy-to-follow' diagrams guiding exactly where to place the hands and how to start the stitch. I had this problem with knitting. Does anyone else have this problem? 

I am a very visual person so I would have thought that following diagrams such as these, particularly with their headings 'easy-to-follow' would be easy. But no. I try and I try to no avail.

The solution? Video. Those simple, 3-minute explanations which run through exactly what you need to do in the form of a video. 

Ok, so I admit, I do not 'get it' straight away. I often have to watch the video dozens of times until it clicks. But I do find it soooooo much easy than diagrams. 

After numerous attempts a few weeks ago I learnt to 'cast on' my knitting. Today I finally worked out how to chain stitch crochet. These skills may seem easy to some but I never learnt anything like this from the older females in my life. 

To help the naive like me I have attached here the two videos that have started me off. I hope they are of as help to you as they are to me. But then, maybe you don't need help and you can teach me instead!

Casting on your beautiful knitting

Loving your lovely chain stitch

xxx