Tuesday 12 September 2017

Autumn has arrived

Autumn has arrived and its bought cooler days with still some Sun breaking through.  But its that time of year when you start to think about snuggling down on the sofa,  under the numerous blankets already made  and contemplate which big blanket I want to make this winter.

I so enjoyed all the stitches I used with my small blanket (see last post ) that I wanted to keep that theme going.  So I've started my new blanket of granny squares.
It's at this point I want to give credit to Nadia from Yarnutopia as at the moment I'm using her blog on 365 days of granny squares and picking the ones that appeal.  Some of these are made by others and the credit is on yarnutopia's site.

Nadia has done brilliant YouTube demos for these squares which are easy to follow but boy does this girl know how to crochet quickly. I thought I was relatively fast but she's a whizz!
Thank you Nadia 😀

So this is my progress so far.  Some of the squares are still to be joined in but i will do a few more before i do a joining session.  I'm joining them with double crochet (uk)

Ah that's the only problem with Yarnutopia. Nadia is American so you are constantly converting the stitches in your head to UK terms lol






This gives you an idea of progress but I haven't steamed it yet so the flowers look a bit all over the place and the heart needs to lay down,

But I'm loving the scatter gun colourfulness. Something different to look at with each square and a variety of stitches 😊
Happy days

Monday 28 August 2017

Busy busy

Well life  has been hectic this last month and emotions have been all over the place.
With a cooler time in July and start of August I made my mum a ripple blanket that she can use one way folded as a lap blanket or a long thin version to lay on the settee with.

i don't have a complete photo,  gave it to her without taking a picture silly me but this is a snap shot of the corner.  I'm loving the colours which will match her living room well



Then last weekend I we went camping,  the boys and i. Just local but it gave us a few days to chill relax and spend some lovely time together before Friday when thing 1 flew to Canada for the start of 10 months study abroad on Vancouver island.  So proud of him but gosh I'm going to miss him.

To keep myself busy,  and my mine not on him going,  i started a lap blanket for myself.  I followed a pattern to begin with but then made it up as I went along. It's the most fun I've had making something.  There are so many stitches and most I've never tried before.

It has the treble,  half treble and double crochet that we all know and love but also the following stitches
Star
Catherine wheel
Ripple
Granny stitch
Moss  (or linen)
Bobble
Larks foot
Suzette
Block with 3 and 4 treble versions
Waffle
And a wave border to finish





I absolutely love it.  Will be perfect for the winter. And so glad I finished it this morning as the weather is going to be lovely today and I didn't fancy that blanket over my legs.

Happy bank holiday Monday wherever you are and whatever you are doing

Monday 24 July 2017

Summer or Autumn?

It's hard to tell today what season we are in but it definitely doesn't feel like summer.




The sky is grey and its definitely a cool chill emanating through my French doors. 
Usually at this time of year my crochet takes a back seat because I don't like handling wool in hot weather. Especially a blanket.  Who wants that over their legs in the screaming hot sunshine?
But no,  this summer has given me enough cooler days so that I've been able to plough on and make great headway into the ripple blanket for my mum's birthday in October.  I'd started early thinking I would have to lay it to one side but no. ...I've managed to nearly finish it. ..Just my feet to hide up.  





Sunday 2 July 2017

Time flying

It doesn't seem so long ago that thing2 started school and I was left with some peace and quiet during the day but all of a sudden time is slipping out through my fingers and its nearly time for him to leave. One more year.

Last weekend we reached a monumental moment in life when we visited Birmingham university and this weekend Loughborough.  650 miles covered along the road to thing 2 starting out on his own path. 

With his brother year's study leave in Canada 9 months from end of August, this next year will be a very emotional ride and not one I'm particularly looking forward to. 

As excited and happy as I am for them,  a big part of my life is slipping away and times are changing.

I guess after all this there will be more time for crochet and on that theme I have started a lap blanket in ripple effect for my mum's birthday in October.  
Pictures posted of progress to follow

Happy Sunday everyone and cuddle those children lots x


Wednesday 31 May 2017

Canoe crazy day

Sunday saw thing 2 and I head off to our paddlesport club.  The day was sunny,  we were spending the day with lovely people,  going out on the river. ...what could be more perfect?

Ah yes. ..thing2 has just reminded me. ...we also had a bbq. Thing 2 loves his food. ...especially a bbq.


We took two Canadian canoes out and paddled quite a way. ..too far really.  You know that moment you realise you've still got to get back. ..eek

Thankfully another one of our group was coming back down the river in their speed boat.  Although not too speedy as we managed to grab onto either side and it towed both canoes back home.  Now that was a good idea! 

Blooming Marvellous

So many colours are unfurling themselves in my garden. So Beautiful.
I don't have enough space to really get into gardening but love filling pots eachv spring with plants whose names trip off the tongue,  like some foreign language.  I have no idea what they are and what they will look like when they bloom so every spring /summer is like an invasion in technicolour beautifulness.










But the best thing is watching the bees,  busying and buzzing around,  collecting the nectar as they go.  I love doing my bit for the bee population.


Wednesday 19 April 2017

Just a quick one

Morning
Thought I would just nip in and share something I've been working on since i finished the hexagon blanket.
I had a square red coffee table from Ikea which just looked a bit boring so decided to cover it.
I love the outcome even if I had no idea what it was gong to look like when I started.  I just made it up as I went along.




Well I've got to go, take thing 2 to sixth form and then a heavy day of clients.
Happy Wednesday. ..and yey it's the middle of the week 😊

Friday 7 April 2017

Long time no see

Wow can't believe that nearly 10 months has gone by since I wrote my last post. I had to give up doing the blog and crochet because I gave myself a pretty bad case of Rsi and needed to sort it out before it got worse.  I banned myself from picking up a crochet hook for six months or so and only tentatively went back to it about November time.

My hexagon blanket has been the result of this winter's work


This its so nice and easy to do.  And much easier on my arms than the granny stitch blanket which weighed so heavy even though it's beautiful.  Doing small hexagons to sew into a blanket was much  less taxing on my muscles.
i think using my arms for work with quite an intensity they couldn't cope with the extra strain and work has to come first.

Thing 1 has nearly finished year2 of uni and Thing 2 is starting to look at unis for next year. The time is just flowing so fast.

It's nice to have some warmer weather poking through at last. Its been a tough start to 2017 for our family and the Sun makes you feel positive and full of renewed energy again.