Sunday 22 October 2017

New Crochet Project - Peek-a-Boo Baby Blanket

I know, I know, I shouldn't be starting a new project!  I've got my knitted shawl on the go, and the longstanding colour block crochet blanket, to name just two works in progress.

But, I have.  Started a new project, that is.  A friend of mine is pregnant and I'm making her a baby blanket!

Make this cute and easy peek-a-boo crochet baby blanket!

The lovely Sandra of Cherry Heart designed this pattern for a magazine and spoke about it in this post in 2014.  I fell for it straight away, but didn't get round to buying the magazine.

Then in 2015 Sandra released the pattern on Ravelry, with extra information on making a bigger sizes.  It's taken me two more years to have a reason to buy and make this, but I didn't forget the gorgeous design!

Now, I've been crocheting for years now, and could work out how to make this without the pattern - it's not a complicated design, which is why it's a great one for beginners.  However, it would have taken time and effort to do the calculations to get the size I was looking for, work out how to position the diamonds, etc.  So, although I COULD have reproduced something similar to this, I thought I'd rather buy Sandra's pattern.  The reasons being:

- I can crack on with the making, without having to spend time working things out, and probably starting over a few times as I worked on the sizing - Sandra has done all this for me!  (And never under-estimate how much time that sort of thing takes!)

- I've been reading Sandra's blog for years, and it's nice to give something back.

- I wouldn't have even thought of this pattern design without her, and I'm even using the same colour she did, so I felt I should buy the pattern really!

Make this cute and easy peek-a-boo crochet baby blanket!

I've been making some progress this weekend, and am really loving seeing the diamonds appearing.

The yarn is extremely difficult to photograph as the colour looks different in each shot!  The first picture of the balls of yarn with the pattern is the most accurate depiction of the colour.

Make this cute and easy peek-a-boo crochet baby blanket!

This picture above is a terrible representation of the colour!  But it shows further progress.  I will attempt to take better pictures when I next post about it - it's so difficult this time of year to get any decent light!

Pattern: Peek-a-Boo Blanket by Sandra Paul
Yarn: Sirdar Snuggly in Choo Choo Train



Check out my completed crochet items here.



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Monday 16 October 2017

Knitted Shawl Beginnings

In my last post I showed you my haul from the Knitting and Stitching Show.  I've already made a start on knitting with that gorgeous hand-dyed yarn (why finish off all those other projects I've already got on the go, right?!)

First I had to wind the skein into a ball...

Click to see the start of a gorgeous knitted shawl made with hand-dyed yarn.

That's a pretty lovely ball of yarn there!

Then came my first attempts at knitting the shawl.  You'll be a lot more used to seeing crochet than knitting here on my blog, so I had to get back into the swing of it and figure out the beginning of the pattern.  I had to start over about three times, and ended up cutting a bit of the yarn off, where I had ruined it slightly with my messing about and undoing it.

But once the first bit clicked, it's been easy!

Click to see the start of a gorgeous knitted shawl made with hand-dyed yarn.

I'm loving it!  I keep wanting to do just one more row... although they're taking longer and longer as I increase stitches each time.

I'm not sure how long it's going to take me, but hopefully I'll have a finished shawl to show you at some point!  What do you think?  Do you like it so far?



Check out my (very few) completed knitted projects here.


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Friday 13 October 2017

Knitting and Stitching Show Haul

On Wednesday, I had the day off and ventured up to Alexandra Palace in London for the Knitting and Stitching Show!  I went with my friend Anna, and her friend Catherine, who both went last year.  This was my first time.

It was such a good day full of exciting inspiration and beautiful things to buy.  I thought I'd share my haul with you...


Knitting and stitching show at Alexandra Palace

This beautiful hand-dyed yarn and some circular knitting needles to make a pretty little shawl.  I bought the pattern too, which isn't shown.  I've been saying all year that I need to get into some knitting, rather than just the crocheting - this will be my start!


Knitting and stitching show at Alexandra Palace

Aren't the colours just gorgeous?!  This is from For the Love of Yarn UK - etsy shop here.

And to continue the knitting plans...


Knitting and stitching show at Alexandra Palace

Stylecraft Head over Heels yarn and the needles I need for sock making.  That will be a very new challenge for me!


Knitting and stitching show at Alexandra Palace

I bought these larger circular knitting needles too - for perhaps knitting a chunky cowl in the round, or some such thing.  I just felt I might need them, I haven't actually got a plan!!

So, although I've never used circular knitting needles, I now own three sets - let's hope I get on with them!


Knitting and stitching show at Alexandra Palace

These beautiful linen threads were the first thing I bought - I just couldn't resist these colours!  They're from Namolio.  I have no idea what I'm going to make with them, but they were just too gorgeous to leave behind...


Knitting and stitching show at Alexandra Palace

Those colours!  They go quite well with the purse clasp I also bought - although I'm not sure yet whether to make a fabric purse, or a crochet one, or a bit of both - we shall see!


Knitting and stitching show at Alexandra Palace

I bought some fabric too...


Knitting and stitching show at Alexandra Palace

This is a fat quarter of oil cloth - which I might use to make a wash bag, or some other type of bag.  Again, not completely sure, but I liked the pattern!

We were also lucky enough to be given some fabric as a free gift, as we had VIP tickets!


Knitting and stitching show at Alexandra Palace

I managed to nab the set above, which were definitely the best colours/patterns for me!  (There was a fourth fat quarter in the bundle, in brown, which I didn't really like, so haven't pictured it.  Although, it might come in useful for something or other - like the trunk of a tree... I might one day want to make a fabric tree, you never know...!)

I'm very pleased with all my purchases, although I'm not sure which to start using first!  I had a fantastic day, although very tiring!

Have you been before, or are you planning to go this year?  I recommend it!



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Sunday 8 October 2017

Slow Progress - Crochet Colour Blocks

Since my last post about these colour blocks, I haven't got very much further.  I've finished one block (which I admit was nearly done when I published that post) and started on another...



You haven't seen the purple, blue and pink one yet.  I do like those colours together - I think that is one of my favourite squares so far.

I've just got to plough on with this latest one, then it's one more square and border/joining time!  The final colour on each square seems to take forever, though - I've just got to try to stay motivated!



Check out my completed crochet items here.



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