max a million

 As I am.going away next week I wanted to.finish  up a project that was hanging around my project bag

A dashund named max

Look at his cute face !!

I love the colour work on him. He really brighten up a otherwise dull day  and even better for once I don't have any  half finished projects

elliefuntastic

My son loves elephants and my Heidi bear hippos so I always intended to make him.the elegant I started

 but basically couldn't get started

And so it lay in bottom.of bag  '. Last week.I looked at it feeling guilty but couldn't fave picking it up I didn't have the colours  not sure if hook.size so I started again. And five days later I have ....



Now all.I have to do is keep it away from.My dog 

mothers day

Well the UK are celebrating mothers day  a day where mothers get a day off ......

Yer right!!

When I think of mothers day I think flowers so I decided to make myself a broach . I had some back I got with a free kit so I found a pattern on ravelry and actually had the right wool. It needed drops Paris so I set off to work and a hour later here it is

Not bad for first attempt 

I did get some real flowers I thought I would share 

How pretty ate they

 I love the bow ! 

I also got chocolate  and sherry so am.truely spoiled  hope all you mother's are enjoying your day too

roaring twenties

Well spring has sprung .it  still.cold but  Sun is out  and I like to keep my projects seasonal

My new magazine came with its cover kit were six  small.balls of four ply  so I decided to make a 1920 cliche. Hats don't really suit me .but I loved this pattern on sight so  I set about it

Here it is

I love the colours  it reminds me of ice cream.

The brim blue is almost  ocean like. And  since it twenty eight days till my holiday . These memories made this hat fly off my hook 

Doesn't change the fact that when I am.wearing it I don't look any where near as good as the model but hey can't have every thing can you  

st davids day

 In my house these patron saint days have a different meaning my brother was called David and he thought this was a celebration of him lol

My eldest is George and he to has ideas of grandeur especially after a certain Prince was given same name

However for me I like it because of the connection to Wales .I go every year on holiday in fact five weeks today I will be walking on a beautiful beach ! I eventually plan to make it my home so couldn't let the day pass without a mention of it here

I made these last year when I was very new to crochet. The pattern said it was daffodils but as you can see they are really not lol

I would love some staffs to brighten up place but am.determined not to start another project even a small one if you fancy a go at your own bunch why  not head over to attic 24  where  Lucy got lovely  pattern I would love to see you flowers and who knows might get my own done some time soon


Maybe in time for next year lol

hooked for life: appy crafts

hooked for life: appy crafts:  Knitting and crochet conjure the image of a granny making scary pull overs or toilet roll dollie covers Thankfully morden yarn ...

appy crafts

 Knitting and crochet conjure the image of a granny making scary pull overs or toilet roll dollie covers

Thankfully morden yarn decent patterns  and technology means the whole idea if knitting or crochet has had a make over.

This got me thinking of how technology has changed the crafts first there is ravelry who among us haven't spent hours browsing pattern adding to our favourites?

Then there is pin interest  boards of beAutiful Inspiration not to mention all the blogs  full of advice and colour some are a joy to read

But for me this week it's all about the aps . I loose everything my sofa is a Bermuda triangle hooks needle pins you name it I loose it .o e thing I never have is a row counter a quick search of aps I found some great one .some range from.simple counting  some let you know more about e h project what needle used what yarn. Special notes  and let's face it hardly going to.loose my phone !

Do you have any asp thAt made your craft life easier I would love to know .

EE Phone home

 Well thanks to recent bad weather  the EE network  seems to have been down since yesterday . My son is annoyed that he can't ring anyone so to cheer him.up knocked him.a quick phone case.

 I found the pattern on ravelry and it actually fits my son phone perfect

. My youngest son has a phone case I made last year was one of the first things I ever made .if I say so myself it a bit rubbish but he loves it which I guess is what counts

It's very hmmmm unique lol

 These are not the only two cases I have made however .last year I made these to sell at local.school they were surprisingly popular but I like the minion best 

sunday morning hooky

I have neglected my hooks lately just haven't felt like starting anything . I have Ben looking for a quick.project and spent far to many hours on ravelry adding to my favourite list.


I eventually settled on  a old favourite project

I always find these simple designs brighten my mood and more importantly my enthusiasm. The simple rounds are so soothing. I have recently bought myself a orchid

It so pretty it deserved  something nice to.sit on. Did I need another one after all I had all these.

 But can you ever have to many really 

hood winked

I haven't posted for a while for simple fact not really done much .I started a chunky hood to combat this cold weather but  it was slow progress I first messed up the hood the sewed it up wrong !!

 After frantic texting to my friend who put me on right path I finally managed it  so here it is

 

I love the colours . The pattern showed it in pink and white and looked like a baby bonnet so I used some chunky sparkle wool I bought in aldi.

It was lovely to use  soft and the colour changes were a joy  even better it was reduced.

 Decided I would do a rare model shot for you 

I have decided to pick up a old project to be getting on with . Back to the elephant I started way back last year

It was meant to be a Christmas present hopefully I can finish it before  his birthday lol

cosy kindle

After finishing my parrot I took plunge and pulled out my pointy sticks. Not only gave I not inoffensive a year but never done colour work so the kindle project I fell in love with was always going to be a challenge

BUT I rose to it

The charts were the clearest I seen in any magazine so I started Saturday night by the end on night half of it was finished


Sunday I did the other  half and today did endless sewing in  and here is the result.

I love everything about it the colour the changing pattern and especially the bow tie . 

The bow tie special for two reason  one booties are cool and two it crocheted lol I couldn't resist adding a bit of hooky

this is is it in action ....

 Ok I confess it far to big and probably  more iPad  size but I won't tell if you don't

ruffled feathers

Ruffled feathers described how I feel about my subscription to simply crochet . I have been looking around for something else. Then by chance I won a set of knitting needles . They are knit pro and very posh and I planned to give to my mum but I do miss knitting but I love crochet and not touched needles since I learned my first chain . Then I found a new magazine

Let's get crafting it does both knitting and crochet. Each issue you get needles and hook and wool. So I have it a go. I loved it .the projects are small and quick and quirky everything I like so I set about on the cover project

Diago the parrot

I love the detail the ruffles on his wings were a nightmare but the effect is really nice

the wool came with the mag and I love the colour and the shine it has although I could have done with more of the blue 

Looks like I have found answer to my subscription problem and by signing up I get some free hooks to match needles I won  so it was meant to be lol

meet Gerald

I needed break from blanket and wanted something bright  and after flicking through my books I found a giraffe which the cutest face

 I enjoyed making something so cheerful

Do you want to meet him

  I think it's his eyes I like best

 

they were really fiddly . I cut white felt  and used black buttons . It's meant to be safety eyes but I find them really tough 

If any of you have any tips please share with me.

Anyway hope you like him as much as I do best do some of my blankets especially as part three out this week. 

public hooky

Have you ever croched in public ?

I haven't before but not picked up hook for a few days so took the young one to karate  and settled down to make squares

At first I felt awkward but was glad as it filled any awkward silences  but I noticed one mother looking at me oddly. I have seen postings on fave book where people claim people looked at them.funny and never believed it but it definitely was there


Any way not a waste of. Time got three more squares done. Have you got any crochet in public pic stories to share ?

small closed granny pattern

 As I have said my blanket is going to be a long project  so   I don't forget how to make mini squares I have decided to put it here . I originally found this on a blog . So it's not my.pattern  but it's useful for so many projects.

 Make a magic circle
Chain.3  ,11 trebled in the circle
2tr in each stitch
Chain 1 3dc ,1htr 3trb in same stitch ,1htr , repeat three more time

Simple isn't it ?

wild weather

We are being battered by some pretty fierce wind . So I camped out on my sofa  with my.hook and the walking dead.

My magazine finally came in and it's fair to say was little disappointed  so I carried on with my blanket . I know my enthusiasm will dwindle so might as well make as much progress as I charge result is another large square and twenty four little ones

 The picture changes the colours

 however I am loving how bright and cheerful it is which is needed during this weather . 

It going to be huge !!!  I set out the small squares as part of formation and it will be big without the large squares surrounding them . Wish I could see next two parts so exciting !!

the year of the square

 After yesterday's rant I treated myself to a new magazine. So today I bought inside crochet. I have to say it's very nice. I have fallen in love with a mystery blanket pattern.

I have always been jealous of people blankets . I can't even fave the changing involved to start. This year I decided I wanted a motif one. I signed up for a cal and when first pattern.came it was well beyond me . It doesn't I spire me to try rest. So was really happy to see this little beauty

However this is part two !

Part was the little motif in middle . I searched all over and couldn't find pattern. Then I had brain.wave remember my bag project ??

 the squares are perfect  size. 

So although I have a long way to go I have a start of a blanket

My news resolution is to finish it lol

It's in.four parts so will be two more no.the just to get whole pattern. I have decided to make it a long project and will.update the blog on my progress as I confess am also still making the waist coat lol

simply ranting

I love crochet magazines. There us a real.lack of decent modern mags in the UK. My opinion is simply crochet is one of the best
 I subscribed a year ago and I look forward to flitting through its glossy pics

But lately is got later and later and now after four months of being messed around it is due to arrive a week after its been in sale. The customer service is terrible . You say you may leave they say sorry to hear that. The face book page a joke. I don't doubt they work hard but surely there job security rides with us buying. So when we ask what the problem.is .do we not deserve a answer . In age of social media subscribers will gather and compare notes .no longer can we be fobbed  off with royal mail have a issue.

The annoying thing is I could just stop membership but when they get it right . The magazine is a joy. Last month the was best for ages .And the poncho craze seems to have taken internet by storm if I leave am I cutting of nose to spite face. Do I find new mag and just use ravelry or just except that simply crochet cares nothing for its readers.

To help me decide. I have looked back at my.makes this year from.the magazine

 some of these projects were my favourite makes  . I can't bring myself to leave to angry to stay lol I think this is what it means to be British we are good at moaning  but nit so keen to act .

waist not want not

Last year I won.project of the month at my favourite wool shop . I had not been crocheting long so was really excited. And even better got twenty pounds.

My winning entry was this

The wool shop is in Wales 

They have  other shop but the Wales one is like alladins  cave. If you have never been I urge you to try. Here is a link http://www.abakhan.co.uk/ they cater to every type of craft each separated into barns.  And rest of the family not neglected  there is cafe and a park. Plus it only short drive to sea side but sadly for us weather was not on outlets side so we just went to the shop. I bought  one of there discount packs . Just over 12 pounds for ten balls of sidar click chunky  I chose  black cherry it looks like this. 

It's lovely to crochet with  this is it so far 

Can you guess what it is yet? 

Some might not like the humble granny but it remains one of my favourites . It looking lovely so far and think it will look good when finished . If it's nice may be good few getting them.as presents lol .