Where has the time gone?

Well I can't believe today is November 1st. I really don't know where this year has gone.

Last time I wrote we were heading off to Dorset for a few weeks & I was looking forward to starting Hilo, the beautiful crochet shawl by Joanne Scrace.

I used the same as the pattern Fyberspates Scrumptious a 4ply sport 55% superwash merino 45% silk

in the shade Water and a 4mm hook.

It really is gorgeous and feels so soft definitely worth the £15 a skein price tag.

But I wasn't very careful when I came to unravel the yarn

This gave me a headache before I even started but my children weren't very keen to hold the wool as I had been for my mother.

I did a gauge

And was ready to go

Although it looks complicated its actually quite simple and has a lovely rhythm to it that makes it quite meditative.

A closer look at the pattern

The pattern naturally decreased as you went

I finished it quite quickly but it seemed a bit small so I took it apart and started again with a 5mm hook as I know I knit/crochet on the smaller side. It didn't take long to finish

up close

So now I need to 'aggressively block' according to the pattern so I tweeted Joanne who very kindly replied straight away

Joanne has a blog called Not so Granny and the next day a blog appeared all about blocking. It looked like I was going to need a blocking kit so I sent away for a set of non rusting wires and pins. However I am yet to block this as I need space to leave the shawl out to dry flat and at the moment I don't have the space which is a shame as I really want to wear my shawl.

Left unfinished

So what else have I left unfinished?

I also took on holiday the knitted and crocheted jumper that I took to the finishing course back in February.

As I had already sewn the body together I decided to have a go at the crochet pattern.

It looks ok to me so I carry on

3 rows in

looking alright!

I'm rather pleased with this so I do the other sleeve.

However I need now to do the neckline which requires time and concentration so I'm afraid the jumper is back in the bag......

Hexagon blanket update

Word to the wise.....I was a bit lazy when I was making the hexagon blanket and decided to knot the yarn and cut it instead of weaving all the ends in.

 Do this at your peril!!!

Since finishing the hexagons have started to unravel and I spend at least one day a week with my hook trying to mend it.

Lesson learnt, however tedious ALWAYS WEAVE THE ENDS IN!!

Busy busy bee

Its been a while and I would love to say I had been busy crafting away but alas my new job dog walking and the three boys have kept me very very busy. My fantastically clever husband graduated from Reading Uni in July with his PHD in Nutrition and food science which was a lovely day out for everyone and a nice way to celebrate nearly 4 yrs of very hard work and dedication.

I have made a few little things....

Like a Darth Vader finger puppet, like you do...

And then there was the boys 9th Birthday cake

I only decided to make this 3 hrs before the party and I must say I'm very pleased with it....so were the kids!

But on Thursday we got to Dorset for 2 weeks so I have already packed my projects bag.

I'm taking the Beachcomber Jumper I have been working on for nearly a year, I only have the arms to finish

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/beachcomber-tunic

And I am taking this beauty to do

Its called the Hilo Shawl

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hilo-shawl

I suppose I really ought to pack clothes and stuff for the holiday now. See you all in a few weeks time

Sharon

Finished at last!

I have finally finished the hexagon blanket... 

Ta Dah.....!

After much deliberation and the purchase of  'Around the corner Crochet Borders' by Edie Eckman I went on my friend Sarah's advice and did a single row of delicate scallop to finish the edges

Which I think works really well and will look even better if I ever get around to blocking it....

It has become a firm sofa favourite used by us all and the cats. I bought the last 4 balls of this wool in the shop last week as it looked so lonely in the discount bucket so now I am using the 20 or so balls I have left and will hopefully make another 2 small blankets.

So now I need to finish my jumper as I only have the sleeves left to do. Maybe I will even get to wear it this summer, maybe....

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!

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.

Easter Holidays

I'm still making the hexagons and have made 90 at last count but the children are at home and Noah has wanted to make a recycled monster since he saw it on CBBC Totally Rubbish.

This weekend we had a go after Noah had checked the instructions on the CBBC web site.

He folded some paper in half then drew half his design. He cut this out to make a full monster and then folded an old towel in half. He then pinned his template to the towel and asked me to cut it out. This gave him 2 (almost) the same pieces of towel.

He pinned them then started to sew them together. This is where he came a bit unstuck as he kept loosing the thread and pricking his fingers, he also left far too big a gap between his stitches so all the stuffing would come out. This is where I stepped in and did his sewing. He then added a mouth and buttons for eyes (again with me sewing) We stuffed it and sewed the end together. He is really very pleased with the result.

How cute is that?!

So I had a go....

I'm very pleased with it and it was all hand sewn so I have found yet another reason to get my sewing machine serviced.

I also had a go at something else this week.

After seeing an idea in Making magazine for stamp art from the book The Art of Homemade Living by Willow Crossley I was very happy to help a friend and take home a big bag of used stamps.

It took a while to sort them

As there were loads of gold 1st Class and blue 2nd Class

As well as many coloured ones that I sorted into Bright, Dark and Muted

I had a go at making a Butterfly

I thought it was quite good

So I framed it.

I don't think its quite right. Maybe I should cut the shape out of the card mount so the lines are cleaner & sharper.

I could also use more colour as I have so many bright & colourful stamps.

It is the first attempt so these things are always evolving.

Anyway back to crocheting hexagons...only another 50 to go.....