2012 In Crafting and Crochet (lots of photos)

Last year I did only a handful of posts-most of which were blankets :-)  This year has been so crafty for me-there's been blankets-

There's been a new camera so much better pictures of more blankets!

There's been an attempt at an amigurumi bear

Crochet cosiness in the form of hats, scarves and hot water bottle covers

 Ponchos too!

There's been a little bit of pyrography

A few banners :-)

Games and gifts :-)

I wonder if I can top this in 2013!  It's going to be fun finding out :-)

Bits and bobs baskets

Myf has been away with her dad for Christmas and should be back in about an hour :-)  I've missed her terribly-she's not been very well either so I can't wait to have her home and wrap her up in cuddles.

The items I made for the sisters exchange were little baskets for keeping useful odds and ends in.  I know that to crochet baskets, you really should use a thick, sturdy yarn and crochet tightly but I wanted to see what would happen if you reinforced it with wire as you crochet.

It's a bit fiddly-I suppose it's like using a padding yarn or crocheting over an end: you give the wire a basic shape (in this case, circular) and hold it on the top and crochet over it.  The worst part is trying to make sure there are no sharp edge poking out.  Plus there's the difficulty of keeping a decent shape.

Thea's:

There's a little one inside the bigger one :-)

Jessica's:

We are using a practise one here to keep Myf's inhalers in-but I think I'll try to make another using a stiff twine and see what kind of results I can get :-)


It's been a really crafty year for me!  I've started another blanket-simply because I love them so much and I have a really fun idea I want to try out :-)

If I don't manage to be crafty again before the New Year, may the end of 2012 take your regrets with it and may the start of 2013 herald a new beginning for us all!

Cushions and covers :-)

My sisters and I were planning to do a gift exchange in September/October but we all had a lot going on, especially in the run up to Christmas!  So Thea suggested adding them to the Yule presents-which was a relief as I'd had trouble thinking of useful things to make (Useful household things was the theme I think)
The main items I made were cushion covers-yet another excuse to play with granny squares but how can I refuse when there's so much a granny square can do?
Thea's cushion cover:

Side 1

Side 2

I've been having fun playing with diagonal squares

Not sure what to call it when you change colour along the diagonal?  I like the different combinations and effects you can make with them :-)

For Jess

Side 1

Side 2

Side 2 is completely diagonal squares arranged to form a pattern that reminds me of an American Patchwork Quilt:-)

I'm no good with zips so I used buttons for closing

Hope they liked them!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Hiya folks!  Hope everyone is having a jolly good time :-)

On Sunday evening, my friend Jem posted a photo on my Facebook of this:

with a plea that she really wanted me to try and make one for her...

My daughter needs to talk to her about the dangers of giving me ideas....


I stayed up until nearly 3am figuring it out and then the following day went round to her house-by the afternoon had finally produced this...

Look how chuffed she is!  She wasn't expecting it less than 24 hours later...

Given that I only had DK yarn to hand as well as not being able to find a larger hook so  had to use a 4mm one, it's pretty good!  Especially as I didn't have access to a computer so couldn't look at the original picture again.

I think I may make myself one next year and dress up as a gladiator for Halloween...

Yet more hot water bottle covers

I was a bit stumped for the last couple of presents I needed to make but as the weather's been horrific, I thought why not keep going with the hot water covers?  I'm experimenting with different styles of granny squares as the main piece and I'd really like to have a range of these I can make.
So for my friend Vic I've used a sunburst granny square

and for my friend Kathy who runs the local sweet shop I used the wagon wheel granny square again in very bright rainbow colours!

It's been so dark these past couple of days and it's nearly impossible to get a decent picture :-(  These are all wrapped up and on their way to their new owners...can't wait to make one for me!

Anyone for Draughts?

During the making of the backgammon blanket, Myf and I were discussing various board games.  I can't wait to play backgammon with her and she tells me that she plays draughts with her dad.  She jokingly asked whether I could make her a set so that we could play too-and of course I said yes!
So here we are:

I originally intended to crochet pieces to play with, using wire to reinforce it, but I felt that would be a bit hazardous so I then wanted to get some large, stackable, buttons.  However, it would have been approximately 85p per button and when you need 24, it's a bit excessive.  So I was a bit stumped until a phonecall with a friend who suggested using chocolate!  I'm not sure how many games we'll get through before we eat all the pieces but doesn't it look nice?

I had a little box saved from some previous parcel received in the post but I wanted to make a little bag as well for the pieces..

That's Myf's last Christmas gift ready for Sunday!  I should really make a start on the cleaning...

Yet another banner...

Myf asked me to make her a little banner to hang in her room so I managed to snatch a few extra minutes and here we are!  She wanted brighter colours on hers and look how pretty it's turned out :-)

She's feeling a bit poorly today so she's snuggled up watching 'Big Bang Theory' while I desperately try to get everything organised for our Christmas this weekend...Wish me luck!