Still Crocheting

So, the baby took up more of the past year than I'd anticipated but I'm pleased to say, now she's almost 11 months I finally have some time to not only crochet but also blog!

This is my most recent project, made with one ball of chunky wool and a 5mm crochet hook, it's hdc in a spiral and sc across the top. Then hdc triangles attached for ear flaps and the decoration added.
It looks like all my crocheting will be baby-themed now! I intend to post about all the things I've made but have had no time to blog about. Fingers-crossed I'll now have time!

Hope you're all well, sorry for the long break!

Wool Craft Update

I've been busy and probably left this blog longer than I should have. I have been crafting though but as usual I've forgotten to take pictures. I'm not really cut out for this craft-blogging lark! I just thought I'd keep you updated with my crafting.

I've made one pair of mittens using a pattern that's so old the price was in shillings and pence (well, just one shilling to be completely accurate). They're a combination of knit and crochet for minimum boredom and they're a purple colour (because that was the colour that was nearestwhen I decided to try the pattern!) They're a good fit and are very warm, it's nice to know that hand sizes haven't changed much since decimalisation!! The main hand bit is double crochet so they're lovely and thick. The thumb is stockinette stitch and the cuff is k1, p1 rib.

I'm making a knitted square blanket, making7" knitted squares. So far I've got 12 squares, I'm doing this blanket when I'm too tired to concentrate but not so tired I don't want to knit. the colours are beiges and browns with a bitof white thrown in for extra measure!

I'm in the middle of a zigzag baby blanket using a pattern found at Attic24. I'd find you a link to the exact pattern but to be honest I thoroughly recommend reading her blog and finding it yourself as she has lots of other lovely thigns you'll probably want to try! Speaking of which I've now made 3 little crochet birds just for my general amusement, find the pattern on her site it's fun and quick to do!

I'm still on with the Entrelac scarf which I'm enjoying but can't always be bothered doing after a busy day. Plus there's always so many other patterns to try... why is there never enough hours in a day?

Finally I'm making a woolly hat for the Other Half who has a bit of a hat fetish. I've cast on 92 stitches and am knitting until it measures about 9" I'll then do a few rows of k2 together until there's few enough stitches to thread the end through, gather and sew down the side. It's an olive green colour and is so far about 3" from cast on.

Granny Squares on the Red Carpet

I saw this picture on the BBC's Entertainment Site's photo of the day section and thought I should share it with you (and by share I mean copy the picture and post it here - sorry BBC!) It's very cool, although I'm not too keen on the colours myself. No doubt it's been followed by a barrage of "Cate Blanket" headlines and might feature on those dreadful 'what were you wearing????!?!?!?!?' sections in fashion magazines but personally I think it's quirky and I love it!

Finished Item of the Week

I've had half of this top in my 'to finish' pile for about a year now and I'm pleased to announce that this Saturday morning I completed it! It was pretty easy so I'm not sure what took me so long, I think it's just that I get bored when I have to do another piece exactly the same as the first.

Anyway, it fits and it's sunny so I'm wearing it!

It is longer when I'm stood up, I think it gathered and rode up a bit when I laid down. I used about 150g of yarn (if memory serves me correctly) and I just used some cheap acrylic, possibly mix that I got from the wool shop of addiction. Speaking of which I went in last week and got 5 balls, 4 black acrylic mix to make the Other Half a poncho once mine's done and one variegated yarn that took my fancy. I hope I've not renewed my insane addiction!

Ponchos are best

I’m working on this. It’s possibly the most fulfilling Poncho pattern I’ve ever found. It’s an easy enough pattern to memorise but it’s got some increases to remember so you still feel a bit clever while you’re making it.

I love vintage patterns and I was really pleased to find this one, it’s working up well and as usual I’m messing about with the colour scheme slightly giving it more random sized stripes (I just can’t resist the temptation to Loo-ify patterns!).

Busy Blogger

I've been very busy lately. I've been doing a lot of home (caravan) improvements. We now have a new Ikea sofa, called something pretty much unpronounceable and a balcony!

The new furniture has sent me on a mad tidying spree. As a result I've had no time to do projects I've been wanting to and less time to blog. I have made muself a water bottle holder for when I'm out waling as there's nothing more annoying than losing the use of a hand to a bottle of water!

I'm afraid I haven't had time for pictures, but I thought I'd share the pattern. Hopefully it'll work for you. Let me know if you have any feedback!

Crochet Water Bottle Carrier

You will need:
Approx 75g of standard weight yarn
4mm hook

Round 1: ch3, hdc 7 in third chain from hook. Join with sl st into first stitch

Round 2: ch 2 hdc 2 in each hdc join with sl st into first stitch

Round 3: ch 2 hdc 2 in each hdc join with sl st into first stitch

Round 4: using front loop hdc in each hdc

Then ch 2 and hdc in each hdc in back loop for each following round until piece measures approx 6" join with sl st and weave in ends. Make strap by chaining desired length of chain. Sc in each ch, ch 1 to turn at end of each row. Stop when you think it's wide enough.

Sew on strap on inside of bottle holder. Stick in a bottle of water and go for a walk!

Too Hot To Crochet

I've been on holiday for a week, mostly day tripping and a couple of nights camping in Anglesey. It's been great but the weather has turned from grey skies and rain to bright blue skies and loads of sunshine. It's about 25 degrees todaywhich is far too hot to crochet

I did make some little baby bootees for one of the zillion people I know who seem to have got themselves or their partner pregnant over the last couple of months (I think there's something in the water). I don't have pictures but the pattern is here and it's very easy. I made a pair within an hour. I was going to crochet some more but the heat had made me far to ratty to concentrate. Instead I went inside and fell asleep on the sofa!

Mobile Hangers

A few posts back I said I was going to experiment with baby mobiles. These are the first objects I've crocheted, I'm pretty pleased with them. I think a space themed mobile would be really nice over a little boy's crib (not that I'm stereotyping!).

Now I just need to fathom a method of hanging them.  Any ideas?

I now need some more stuffing before I can start on my other ideas. 

Also, I'm not sure it you've heard of One Pretty Thing it has daily ideas of things to make using all sorts of crafts. It's the kind of site that makes me want to stay at home and craft forever!

Crocheted Rabbit

I actually made this rabbit over Easter but never got round to posting the picture, he's entirely single crochet, I made the ears first and then work him downwards shaping it as I went along. When I first embroidered his face I thought he looked a little sinister, hence I've nicknamed him 'Evil Bunny' but to be fair he's actually quite cute.

Speaking of fluffy animals my dog now has a blog (yes, of course he can type) you can follow his adventures here.

Granny Square Bag

This in one of my recent completed projects. It's a granny square bag which I crocheted using some rainbowy yarn I had going spare. It looks like it will be a nice beach bag.

Here's a close up which shows the squares a little better.
You can find the pattern here. It's easy to follow and I made it up over a couple of evenings, in fact sewing the bloody thing together took as long as it did to make the 24 squares you need to make it! 

Crochet Project

I'm setting myself a crochet challenge, I've seen a lot of knitted mobiles a bit like this one. I want to try and crochet one but instead of birds I'm going to try and make a space-y one. I've bought some amazing primary coloured wool and am hoping to get some quality crafting done over the next few weeks as I'm on holiday!!

You've got to love Easter!

The Latest Hat

This is the hat I made using the pattern from the last post. Again I've used variagated yarn, it's also a fluffy soft towelly type yarn. I'm in the process of making another hat, I'm using standard wool (none fancy) and have noticed the pattern works up a bit smaller. If you want a slightly bigger hat, or are using thinner yarn try using a 4mm hook instead of the 3.5mm hook used to make the one above (that's what I've done and so far it seems to be working!)

Crocheted Baby Hat Free Pattern

I’ve finally got round to writing down a pattern - I’m so lazy sometimes it’s a miracle I function at all! It’s a pattern based on my chunky weight hat, except I didn’t want to use chunky weight wool for the pattern as I’m pretty sure the wool I used for that was a handspun never to be found again bargain. So I’ve sat with my hook and some “normal” wool and here (I think) is the finished pattern!

3.5mm crochet hook. Standard weight yarn (I’ve made one with 35g of wool if the felt-tipped label on the yarn was done by someone who can actually use scales!).

Ch3

Round 1: In 3rd chain from hook do 7 sc. Join to 1st sc with sl st

Round 2: Ch1, 2 sc in each sc

Round 3: Ch1, *2 sc in first stitch 1 sc in next stitch* (*repeat until end of round), join to 1st sc with sl st

Round 4: Ch1, *2 sc in first stitch then 1 sc in next 2 stitches* (*repeat until end of round), join to 1st sc with sl st

Round 5: Ch1, *2 sc in first stitch then 1 sc in next 3 stitches* (*repeat until end of round), join to 1st sc with sl st

Round 6: Ch1, *2 sc in first stitch then 1 sc in next 4 stitches* (*repeat until end of round), join to 1st sc with sl st

Round 7: Ch1, *2 sc in first stitch then 1 sc in next 5 stitches* (*repeat until end of round), join to 1st sc with sl st

Round 8: Ch1, *2 sc in first stitch then 1 sc in next 6 stitches* (*repeat until end of round), join to 1st sc with sl st

Round 9: Ch1, *2 sc in first stitch then 1 sc in next 7 stitches* (*repeat until end of round), join to 1st sc with sl st

Next rounds: ch 1 sc in each stitch, join to 1st sc with sl st - repeat until piece measures about 7” long.

Sew up side seams, fold over brimmy bit. Give to baby.

Please note I have only tested this once so if it doesn’t work out right please let me know (but don’t be too harsh I’m quite sensitive!!)

Crocheted baby hat

A lot of people I know are breeding at the moment, which means I've been looking at little clothing.

'I could make that' I thought to myself, so I had a go at a crocheted baby hat. This was one of my no-pattern specials. I love making things up as I go along, especially when they turn out all cute like this one. It measures about 7inches long (and a similar width at the widest part) when laid flat. I'm making another and trying to take more nitce of how I did it so I can share the pattern with you.

In case you're wondering my house is not lined with marble. I actually took this picture by putting the hat on top of the gas fire, it is a fake marble surround!

Pink Elephants

You might not remember but recently I bought this yarn and as usual had no idea what I was going to make with it when I picked it up in the wool shop in town (which I'm sure will be my downfall).

I'd like to introduce you to my new little friend.

I crocheted him using Riohnna's Pocketphant pattern - thanks for sharing it he's very cute! If you want to make one look on her site at the free patterns section in the right hand column and there's a link to the PDF file there.

Weekend Yarn Fun

I'm addicted to buying yarn and every lunchtime I have the choice of 2 routes, past the cshop with the banjo in the window or past the wool shop. Both are as dangerous for me, I'd really really like a banjo but I haven't actually mastered the guitar yet so lately I've been choosing the wool shop route.

Here is my most recent purchase - hooray for pink! I have no idea what I'm going to make with it I just liked the colour, I'm like a yarn magpie!

I've also sorted out a frog pile:

There's a green vest jumper which I made stripey, it was meant to be a whole sweater but I got bored as it was using the tiniest knitting needles ever invented. It was from a seriously 1980s knitting pattern book my grandma gave me.

There's a pink crochet halter top which I made out of wool as I didn't have any cotton. The ideas right but it doesn't fit at all. I would be willing to post it to any brave people/strippers out there... 

There's a purple vest top I knitted from a pattern I got off the internet. Sometimes you can see why these patterns are free...

Then there's the knitted vest top I made, the colour of which can only be described as vermillion.Frog time methinks.

As well as frogging I've also been making, these crochet baby slippers.
I used the Crochet Flower Slippers pattern from Leisure Arts but in tpical Louise style totally changed it! Being a recent convert to crochet from knitting I still have issues with the fact crochet items can have huge holes between stitches. This pattern called for using a 6mm crochet hook with quite thick yarn - I didn't think that was right as they'd be a bit drafty and no-one likes drafty feet.

I started with a larger foundation chain and much smaller needle (4mm) and adapted the pattern as I went along to make more snuggly crochet slippers. I think they turned out great.

I'm now going Frankenstein some of more of Leisure arts  free patterns which you can find here!

Longest Knitted Project Ever

It has taken me 14 years to finish but I got there eventually. Last night at 11.30pm I looped my last half double crochet edging and it was complete. The patchwork blanket which I started when I was 14.

Don't worry, I'm not the world's slowest knitter, it hasn't taken me 14 years to knit 180 squares. I am, in fact, the world's laziest sewer. The squares have sat in a bag for 14 years, screaming at the back of my mind "join me up you lazy cow!" but only this winter has it been cold enough to motivate me to do it.

I must say I'm quite pleased with the result (it also contrasts quite well with my Stashbusting Crochet Cushion which is making a guest appearance in the bottom right of this photo:

This is essentially another stashbusting project. I used 3.5mm needles, casted on 20 stitches and knitted 20 rows (I impressed myself when I remembered how many stitches I used after all these years when I needed to make a couple more to finish a row). I knitted hundreds of the bloody things, packed them away for 14 years then got them out and sewed them together (I really hate sewing).

I love all the colours, the image is slightly blurry as the flash has gone bonkers. Plus I was very tired at 11.30pm

For the edging I went round once with a single crochet in a nice purple I had left over but it wasn't quite thick enough. I then went round with a half double crochet to make it thicker. I'm pretty pleased with it.After temperatures over the last couple of weeks that never reached zero degrees celcius I was looking forward to snuggling up under the blanket, but today is one of the mildest days we've had in ages. 13 degrees. Typical. I should have packed it away for another 14 years!!

Yarn Fun At Christmas

A belated Merry Christmas to everyone. I've been busy doing the usual festive things, visiting family and eating too much. 

I did make some gifts this year. One of may favourites was this knitted DS lite case for my little sister.

Inside it has 4 pockets for games and fastens with two little buttons. You can find the pattern here for free at crayondistaster.

I also got my own creative juices flowing with a gift for my friend Ben. He's a big kid and loves the CBBC puppet Oucho. I've never seen it but I've heard it's entertaining. Anyway, what better present than an Oucho. Using this picture of the cactus puppet I made my own version.

Here is my crocheted creation hiding among some presents. Not bad for my first shot at Amigurumi...

Hope Santa brought you everything you wanted and in case I don't post for a bit; HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Christmas Gift #1: Slippers

These are the slippers I have made for my Grandma. They were easy to crochet in a pretty blue wool and I finished them off with some novelty yarn to make them look a bit more colourful. My Grandma's feet are smaller than mine which is why the stitches seem a bit more open in the picture. If my guestimation is right they should fit her ok (fingers crossed!).

They didn't take long, probably just a couple of hours per foot and that's while watching TV and drinking copious amounts of tea. Which reminds me, isn't series 3 of Heroes the most disappointing thing in the world? "Oooh" said the writers "Here's an idea let's take all the characters they've grown to know and love and change them completely. That'll keep the viewers on their toes." IDIOTS. I can only hope it gets better.

Anyway, rant over and back in slipper world; they used very little yarn at all and could easily be made with leftovers. The pattern is here if you want to make some yourself!

Sneezy Lack of Wool Week

I have had a very bad cold since Friday, when I've not been coughing I've been asleep or blowing my nose. As a result all my yarn projects have gone on the back-burner. Can't go spreading germs with my woollen craft can I?

I felt a bit better yesterday so began looking for ideas for Christmas presents. Thanks to Ravelry I stumbled across this Nintendo DS holder which I think I might have a go at for my little sister.

I also found these cute Amigurumi toys, I'm not sure if any of my family would want them but they are fantastically cute. I've never tried Amigurumi before but may well start, my main problem is I have nowhere to keep stuffing!

The checkerboard scarf is coming on ok but I've been too grouchy to knit much of it. I've managed a few rows but then the yarn gets tangled up and I end up putting it down in a snuffly strop!

That's why last night I started crocheting rather than knitting - I find it less taxing on the brain and I've started making these slippers as a present for my grandma, only in blue and with less alarming legs.