An Autumn Blanket Ta-Dah.....

The story behind this blanket......

Last year, I was to become an Aunt...twice....with both babies dues within a week of one another. I decided, rather than buy a 'welcome to the world present', I wanted to make baby blankets for each of them. I was always a little bummed that I learnt to crochet after my bears had come through the baby stage. So, this was the perfect way to make something for a baby. I knew one was to be a boy, and I made a ripple baby blanket for him. The other baby was a surprise, So I wanted to make a blanket that was universal. It was to be a little cot blanket, and I wanted something a little bit more than just a granny squares blanket. 

Whilst perusing the internet for inspiration, I came across Ingrid's 'Harlequin Blanket' from Wood & Wool Stool Blog. I thought it was ace. It looked like a stained glass window pane (which are things I have always adored), and I thought, made in pastels, it would make a lovely baby blanket for my new niece/nephew. Ingrid's 'Harlequin Blanket' pattern is for sale here in her Etsy shop if anyone would like to have a go at making one, (it's an instant download too).

It was a joy to make the baby blanket, and I loved how it turned out.

Remember this one?




I have a thing for Carousels, and Big Bear said it looked like an old carousel with the colours that were used, so it was nicknamed the 'Carousel' blanket in the house.

 (Carousel image copyright of Eye Poetry Photography)


It was given away and put to use.

That was the end of that.

As this Autumn season approached this year, and it was about blanket making time again, I asked the Bears' what they thought I should make. I have a list of blankets that I'm aiming to get done (most, assorted granny squares), but the Bears declared that they wanted a blanket like the one I gave away to their Cousin. It's not usually that much fun making the same blanket twice, but they were quite keen I make one for them. I had a look in my stash, and had many of the similar shades, and thought well why not, it was a fun blanket to make. I had a couple of darker shades of brown and butterscotch, which I thought would make it slightly more Autumnal for this blanket.

This one was bigger, so that all three Bears could fit under it. I made 124 diamonds, 18 halves, 12 slithers, and 4 end quarters. All on a 4mm hook and assorted dk yarns from my stash. Sorry I cannot be more specific than that. I know many of you love to know what specific yarn and shades I use. I REALLY wish I was more like the other wonderful crocheters who manage to list every detail, but I'm pants at that. Always have been, and I'm just not gonna change. I buy whatever I see at the time and like. It's always a bit of everything and I usually have no labels to refer too once I've broken into the yarn. Sorry.

Connecting it together, I realised it was a labour of love with it's size.

It took me AGES to crochet it together. I remembered it took a long time with the baby blanket size so I wasn't looking forward to doing this big version. I also had so many distractions. I'm usually really good at being quite determined to get it all done in one go. This one was quite frustrating as I had to keep stopping and starting. Not the blankets' fault, just mine and my bonkers life right now. But I loved it when it was done (and there aren't actually that many ends to sew in which was a blessing). I love its wonderful raised texture. I think that's what drew me to Ingrid's design in the first place. I know at the moment there is a huge surge in diamond tapestry crochet with gorgeous works from this lady and this lady and also from Ingrid herself.

I would at some stage love to have a go at this method of crocheting, but I'm a texture 'gal, and I do love this pattern for its texture.

Apologies for the not so great images of the blanket. The weather, as glorious as it has been through September and October, has now changed, and become quite wet and dark. To be honest, time is not on my side at the moment, so taking any kind of shots and getting a post up, has been a real achievement for me.

But......

....it has been put to good use already; and I'm sure will be a firm 'go to' blanket on colder days.

Cheerio for now....


xxx

Random....

A bit random-ish today.

I feel like being here in this little space of mine.

Maybe because I feel a bit out of sorts. Maybe because I feel like this balances me a little.

Big Bear has really started to want to cook more these past few months. He was given a cook book at christmas. It was meant for teenagers wanting to learn baking basics. He made a cheesecake. He seems to LOVE cheesecake. So one was made all by his fair hands. A bit heavy on the icing sugar, but really tasty. I'm still trying to take my body out of it's shock at putting on a few pounds or ten, so most of it went down Big Bears cake hole. 

My mood went from being grumpy to being irritable this weekend. I more or less blame it on the weather. It's been really hot and humid. My perfect day is blue skies, warm heat and a light breeze. No breeze and hot and sticky just makes me agitated. I kept apologising because I knew I was not being my normal self, but I just couldn't shake it. Luckily, my lovely little family of mine gave me space!

I did finish my project. Funny that on hot and muggy days I make a scarf.

Complete with pom poms. Never used to be a fan of pom poms, but they have grown on me in recent years, and somehow this scarf didn't feel complete without them. I also like how I matched my scarf to my glass too. How very colour co-ordinated of me!

I've called this scarf 

'Giverny'. 

I do like to name my makes. It helps me identify with them. It also really helps when people ask me any questions about my stuff etc if I name them.

Anyway, it reminded me of a painting. The colours were like water colour blobs or oil mixes. When it started to come together it instantly reminded me of Monet. I looked up his paintings as I was sure that my colours reflected his works. One of his paintings, 'The Iris Garden at Giverny' just had every colour I had worked with on this scarf. 

Claude Monet - The Iris Garden at Giverny

The 'blotchy' effect created with this stitch just made it look more like his painting. So.....'Giverny' was named.

I actually used the colours from a scarf I had bought. It was a kids scarf from Accessorize many years ago, but I loved the colours so much together. The scarf is looking sorry for itself now. It's been over used for years, so I was keen to recreate something using the same palette.

I like this scarf, very much. It's not a favourite with the Bears. Just a little 'too' granny for them. I did love the stitch pattern though. I found it on Pinterest here. It would be nice in a blanket like this one here. It would be nice in rainbow colours I think, and also in contrasting colours to really show the stitch rows to optimum effect. It would perhaps look less 'blotchy' than the colours I used. But I'm happy with my efforts. It was quick and simple and satisfying. 

I'll grab a pic of it wrapped around muggins at some point, but when it's not so hot and humid and I can stomach it around my neck!

So, that was finished on Saturday, and by Sunday my fingers were itching. I still have two projects unfinished, but I need to summon up renewed enthusiasm for those. 

Sunday was spent lazing in the morning, then we headed for a picnic at a nearby park for the afternoon. Snacks for the bears and flasks of hot water and milk to make endless cups of tea. Very British with our cups of tea and crocheted blankets! It was pretty darn perfect though........and I decided, that I loved the 'Happy Scrappy Blanket' so much, that another ripple was in order. The 'Happy Scrappy Blanket' is very eclectic in colour and vintage in style, so I wanted to go for something completely different and go bright and sunshiny. So I sat in the park and made a start whilst ball games were played and zip lines were hurtled down. It was really rather lovely, and I have to say, I felt calm and peaceful!

I'm loving working with the brights, they are a real mood lifter. Very 'Cath' I think, but I think it will be nice and happy. Putting all my blankets together in piles shows me just how diverse my colour moods are when I come to craft. They are all so different. I don't seem to stick to one palette like many crafters do. I seem to be all over the place. But I think it reflects me totally. I am a bit all over the place in general, but that's ok, I quite like that.

So, I think I should finish there. I have three loads of wash to put on and get dry in the sun. It's my mission today to get three rooms looking dazzling in my house! ha ha! I really am pants at house maintenance. It's just so boring! Oh well, the sun is shining......and there is a breeze at the moment! woo hoo!

xxx 

Ta-dah of Happiness.........

As Soon as I set eyes on Annette's Nordic Shawl I was blown away.

Now, anyone who has read my blog for a while, knows what a shawl person I am.

I FLIPPIN' LOVE 'EM

Considered by many, an old ladies garment or something you only clap eyes on in some old victorian set film, well, I just see loveliness and quirkiness.

I have a really soft spot for fair isle, and Annette's Nordic Shawl sort of encompassed a fair isle kind of look for me, that's why I think it appealed to me so much.

Luckily for everyone, the very lovely Annette worked up a pattern. Oh WOW. I knew this just had to become one of my staple shawls.

It was my plan to purchase the pattern in January, sort of, as a 'something to look forward to in the grey January month' kind of thing.

Well, the pattern landed on my email doorstep a little earlier than planned, and this beauty became my christmas week make rather than my January make.

I was so excited I can tell you. I have a love affair with grey. I love it in all it's shades, especially teamed with pinks, so it was a no brainer that this should be done in grey with pink thrown in somewhere.

It was not all plain sailing though. The time spent ripping it all back, I could have made 3 Nordic Shawls. Not the patterns fault may I add. My own, for a) not concentrating, and realising almost to the end, that I had added an extra treble cluster on one side near the beginning, so it was all a bit wonky, and b) I couldn't make up my mind on the colour block. The pale blue had been teal, pale turquoise and green before it was pale blue.

But, I am happy I re-worked it to what I ended up with as, boy, this baby has not been off me for the past month! 

Seriously......

I LOVE IT

The pale grey is a great choice as it goes with loads, and I love the colour block that I ended up with. However, taking a peek at this gorgeous version, i'm loving the paler shades together too with the grey. Isn't it just lovely? Swoon.

I made it using regular dk yarn, bits and pieces from my stash. The grey is a lovely soft dk, King Cole Baby Comfort dk in 772. I used a 4mm hook and added an extra couple of rows in the main body to make it a little bigger than the pattern suggested. 

I guess the only drawback with any shawl is the ends, the tips. They can swing about a bit and restrict you if you are actively moving about. I don't like to tie the ends in front of me as the shawl can feel rather bulky then. I usually like to make my shawls fairly large so that I can wrap the ends round the back of me and either tie them or pin them together there. This way, my hands are free and the shawl is fairly fixed. I'll also pin at the front too with a big shawl pin or brooch. I liked to be able to make a sort of collar too with them if I make them a little larger.

This time I took inspiration from here and added a bit of ribbon to tie it together. It looks more like a poncho tied this way. I don't know why it has never occurred to me to use the tie method before as it's such a simple solution to holding a shawl together.

Perfect for the school run, as I have my hands free to carry lunch boxes, school bags and all the other gumpf I get lumbered with each morning.

It has been a school run staple (on the days when it has NOT been chucking it down) and seems to be a hit with the playground mums too. Way to go Annette!

Well, I can see a few more being made in differing colour ways. I am totally lovestruck with this piece and completely applaud Annette on such a wonderful pattern.

If you would like to make Annette's Nordic Shawl, the pattern is available here to purchase. Well worth it is all I can say.

So, in amongst the dull and soggy January, there has been something that has been keeping me smiling!

xxx

Crazy Days......

I think perhaps, my ridiculous crafty makes this month have been my way of coping with this time of year.

I've posted before why Christmas and it's run up has lost all it's sparkle for me. I hope it comes back. 

I'm thinking that next year, I might use the lazy summer holidays to get all the end of year Birthday present buying done and wrapped and ready. Then, that might free me up to enjoy a bit of Christmas cheer next year.

This year though, it's my crafty head that has kept me from going insane. It has taken me away to my crafty wonderland. My head has been buzzing. Buzzing so much that I feel excited with ideas, but annoyed I have so many at once. As usual, it has meant me flitting from one thing to another like a woman possessed. But, I have liked it that way. I have not had time to think about my usual end of year stresses.

So, I have several projects on the go at once. Flitting from one to another each evening. I quite like doing something different each night. It stops the boredom and satisfies my skittish-ness....but it means that each project takes longer to finish.

I am working on my hexagon blanket. Just a couple more colour motifs to go, and a border to go on each, then I am ready to put it together. My sparkly scarf is coming along nicely. I shall be pleased when it is done, I think it will be lovely with so many things. I have my wavy blanket which is coming along slowly. I decided the time was right to use some gorgeous yarn I was given and make....yeap.....some more wrist warmers. Like I don't have enough, but they are in constant use, so I figure, another pair would be good.

I was given this gorgeous Alpaca yarn by my extremely lovely mother-in-law. It's Sierra Andina by Adriafil. Just the most gorgeous feel and also the most gorgeous colour. I have been wanting to find the best pattern to make the most of it. I was going to make my usual Drops design Karisma wrist warmers but I saw some lovely ones on pinterest which led me here and a pair were made. I just adjusted the pattern a little as I was using a different yarn and wanted a slightly longer length to mine.

But then, I just HAD to whip up a hat to go with it. I had a little bit of the turquoise yarn left over, and I was desperate not to waste any, so it became a border for the hat. Once again, a little pink pom pom with some left over yarn was placed on top. I've left it plain so far, no 'herbs' but maybe I shall embellish at a later date.

I'm thinking a cream scarf with a turquoise and pink edge would be nice also, Geez, what am I like?

Also, I had a few emails asking me what pattern I was using for my sparkly scarf.

It was this pattern here. I used it last year to make a chunky scarf and I loved the pattern so much. I thought it would make a great skinny scarf too using a finer yarn.

 

I have decided this year, that we will dispense with a traditional live tree in our house, in favour of a very kitsch pink one. I'm hoping it won't be a complete regret as I do love the smell of a christmas tree in the house, but, hey, there's always next year to remedy that right? We don't have space for me to indulge in a couple of trees, no matter how tiny. So, with a pink tree in mind, when I saw Yvestowns christmas stocking tutorial, I knew a couple of those would tie in nicely with a pink tree, and not make it look too out of place. A step away from my usual red and white, but I thought they would make the pink tree feel more at home.

So, sorting through my cotton stash I found some pretty colours like Yvonne used. The colours that Yvonne had used were actually really perfect to tie in with my pink tree, I just put a heel cap on one and a heel and toe cap on the other to make them a little different. I am pleased with them. They really will compliment my tree this year....and maybe I won't feel so bad!

It did get me thinking though...and my crafty head went into overdrive. More on that in another post.

I don't know how frequent my postings will be from now until christmas. Now is the time when I knuckle down and try and get my act together. Something has to give, right?

we shall see.

Until then.......I bid you a fond adieu

xxx

Walks and Makes.........

Gosh, it seems like ages ago now, but back when it was still REALLY hot, I decided to make a hat and wrist warmer set.......as you do when it's sweltering hot.

One of my whims, as I so often do. I got laughed at for making something so thick and warm in such heat, but i'm never the one to do things conventionally.

My Tam o' Shanter.

I'm not sure I intended the hat to be a Tam o' Shanter when I started it, but it evolved and the pom pom seemed very necessary.

I did feel a tad like Benjamin bunny....but you know....I think I actually quite liked that thought. Yes, yes, yes, the British eccentric coming out in me.

The pattern was from Nicki Trench's Crochet Living Book.

I also decided to embellish the front. They were forget-me-nots but the clan asked why I had stuck a load of 'herbs' on the front. Deary me.

My wrist warmers were from the usual drops design pattern I so like to use found here

I also decided to make a mismatching cowl to go with it as I didn't want it looking TOO twee, and the hat was really rather twee enough.

The Cowl was simply made using Yvestown's cowl pattern on her blog. Easy peasy to whip up in no time.

Now, I do like a right dork in a hat.....however......I have reached an age when warmth and comfort far outweigh what a complete pillock I look. It really is great when you hit that age, you simply just don't care.

 Saturday was a chilly one. 

Perfect for a brisk walk along the canal and to put my trio to the test.

Boy was it nippy....and muddy. It probably didn't help that we set out on the walk with only an hours daylight left. 

Duhhhhh. 

It also didn't help that most of said daylight was spent searching for Big Bear. He sped off ahead at lightning speed, and we spent the remaining daylight going further than we wanted, trying to run and catch up with him to tell him to turn around. 

Boys eh.

Despite all that....

My head was warm, so was my neck and so were my ickle wrists.

Happy me.

Happier when Big Bear finally stopped walking and turned around.

Walking back along an almost pitch black canal was not the best fun i've had, but put it down to experience!

Now Sunday......

Well....Sunday was much better.

The sun was shining...and after paying our respects for Rememberance Sunday in the morning, off we set out and about. This time with plenty of daylight to spare.

The weather was glorious. A change from the day before.

Beautiful buildings.

Autumnal colours

Pretty pretty sights.

And meaty looking dudes.

And my little trio of makes got another outing.

A good weekend was had......

.....and my trio was a success!

xxx

Changing tastes......

If someone ever asks me to describe my taste, just thinking about how to answer gives me a headache.

I've often looked through home magazines and come across houses that are decorated in one flat colour. The same colour on the walls and floors. The same colour in furniture, textiles and accessories.....and the same in EVERY room in the house. The owners using words such as 'calming' and 'fluidity'. 

I do envy them. 

 If only I had one colour that I loved. One palette that I could be happy to have my whole house in. Flippin' 'eck, that would save me so much mental fuzziness.

Having said that if only I had just one STYLE that I loved, i'd even be quite happy with that.

But, i've realised i'm a total mish mash girl.

I wake up each day loving a different style. It's not a good thing for an ordered head. Good job my noggin isn't an ordered one.

I love bright pops of colour.....I love soft pastels.....I love new and contemporary.....I love old and battered...I love light and airy....I love closed in and cluttered......arrrrgggghhhhhhh

I use a fair amount of bright colour in my creative makes, but generally in my house and day to day living, I tend to stick to pastels. I find it more calming in a hectic day.

Looking through my blog it's probably quite easy to see what shades I like to put together.

I've posted before about my loathing of lilac. Actually, it's a particular shade of lilac. That almost luminescent shade of lilac. I've said before, how it actually can make me feel 'ill'. No joke! The closest I can get are purple, heathery shades teamed with a dark green.

I also had a HUGE issue with orange......pumpkin orange to be precise. 

I have always had a problem with Halloween, because it is associated with pumpkin overkill and the sight of them gave me headaches. It was never such an issue with me years ago. Here in the UK, Halloween was something that you recognised, maybe someone you knew was having a dress up party, but generally, that was it. It was all a bit, half hearted. We seemed to put more emphasis on Guy Fawkes and Bonfire Night a week later. Well, certainly, in my neck of the woods. It's really only in the last few years that Halloween has become a huge thing with trick or treating being pushed hard in the supermarkets and pumkins overflowing at the ends of the shopping aisles.

I realised that because of this, I never really introduced any yellow into my home. Simply because it was close to orange on the spectrum. I decided to make the change a couple of years ago and yellow started to come into my home. Warm, buttery yellows. I actually really liked it. It seemed to lift the rooms.

Then, something happened. I made a scarf with some golden, yellow, ochre yarn. 

I adored it.

I bought this yarn last October too. I fell in love with it on sight. I didn't manage to get anything made to take advantage of it in the cold weather, but it's on the list this year.

 

And then, can you believe it.....I made the Serendipity blanket and added pumpkin orange in the mix! I still wasn't hung up on the colour on its own, but the blanket simply didn't work without it. The depth of the pumpking orangy colour seemed to balance the paler shades of the yellows and pinks. I think this was a slight turning point for me. 

I also decided, that what with all my shawl making, I needed a tan coloured one. I walked past my local store and saw a bulk of dark ochre yarn for sale which I knew would be the perfect shade for my shawl.

Remember this pic?........

I don't think I ever posted a pic of my finished shawl. It was using the same japanese pattern that I had made a few of previously.

I made it big, and I love it.

I seem to have become a bit obsessed with the shade since.

The next few crochet projects seem to have been heavily influenced by this colour obsession.

I had a few balls of the lovely tan/ochre yarn left over from the shawl and wanted to use it in a blanket somehow. I had been itching to make some sunburst granny squares for a while so it seemed a good match. On doing a little search for sunburst granny motif tutorials, I came across the very lovely and talented Dottie Angel blanket that used the same shade of yarn and a sunburst motif. I had the other two shades staring at me in my stash so it was a no brainer to be (ahem) heavily influenced, as the colours worked so well.

I just tweaked my blanket a bit to make it a little different.

Very simple.......sunburst motifs and granny cluster edging. As much as I love all the new spangled techniques and patterns that are out there at the moment, I think a simple granny blanket is by far my all time favourite.

This new season seems to be influencing me a lot this year. I've definitely made a shift into earthier colour combinations instead of bright and 'in your face' pairings.

The leaves are turning. The golden hues are calling out to me.

However much I had longed for, and have loved the warm summer days we have had this year.....I am ready for cosy. I am ready for layers. I am ready for scarves, wrist warmers and hot drinks outside wrapped up warm. I am ready for it all.

Not bright.....not pastel......but warm ochre. Leaning towards the orange, I am surprising myself!

I've also got it in my head to make another blanket in some delicious new shades.....well....shades that I have always loved, but realised i've not yet made a blanket in to date. It's a project I CANNOT wait to start.

So, I have surprised myself with my 'shift' in taste.

Not sure it will 'fit in' anywhere in my home. I'm realising my house, my life, my head will just always be a mish mash, a chaotic mess. I don't do 'calm' and 'fluidity'. I often wish that I did, but I'm not built that way.......so I embrace erratic colour, 5 style combinations in one room......chaos.

It's who I am, and who i'll always be.

xxx