Welcome to my Blog, a Crafting Year

Hello
I taught myself to knit in 2011 I have been posting photos of my knitting creations on facebook but as I am starting to bore my friends I have created this blog to record my progress. Then I thought I might try my hand at other crafts and see how I get along. I will try a different craft every month and you can read about my successes and failures and even laugh at my photos as I try different things like felting, crochet, sewing, papercrafts etc and try and make a few things from the kids favourite book Star Wars crafts, amongst others...lets see how it goes

Thursday, 23 May 2013

Finished blanket.....well nearly

I have finally finished sewing together the hexagons


I am really pleased with it and love the colour combinations with the variegated wool. I still have over half the hexagons left and another 6 balls of wool but I changed my mind about making a bed spread as I didn't want this to be hidden away on my bed but to add colour and warmth to my front room. I will sew together another smaller one for my french nephew who watched me crochet with utter fascination on his last visit and then make one for my step mother for Christmas.

However I still don't think it looks finished 


I know I still need to tidy up the threads but I think it needs some kind of border to finish it off. There are only 3 options in my Crochet Encyclopaedia so I have ordered 'Around the corner crochet Borders' hoping for some inspiration.

I hope you like it, I love it!

Monday, 20 May 2013

Hexagons continued

I am still making the hexagons and have ignored all other projects. My knitted & crocheted summer jumper is languishing in a bag as I started the sleeves and got a bit bored.

So back to the hexagons, there are quite a few now


So I thought I had better do something with them. But how best to put them together...

I had a look in the Crochet Encyclopaedia and tried a few


This messy and bulky seam was double crochet, this is the front


The back was worse, very lumpy and not at all right for a blanket

So I tried double crochet and chain thinking it would sit a bit flatter


This was even messier

Next I resorted to sewing, not my forte


This is the back and is flat and smooth, perfect for a blanket but what did it look like on the front?


Looking good, I liked the effect and it was a simple stitch even I can do.

Next was what size should it be. I have gone off the idea of a bed blanket as its huge and would be hidden away, instead I think I have enough hexagons for 2, maybe 3 sofa blankets


So I laid it out, I have decided a square of 9 hexagons across and down
now all I need to do is get sewing.....



I have really enjoyed crochet and think I might even prefer it to knitting although recently I have bought a few new knitting books. 
The Very easy guide to Lace knitting by Lynne Watterson  and Knits Men Want for my house full of boys. 
Once I finish sewing this blanket I really must attack those sleeves again and finish the summer jumper I started last summer.