Quite Contrary

Hello Ladies,

My last post was a bit of a down one.

But this makes up for it big time.

Last year I made a couple of Wraps, one for my bestest and longest

known friend and one for my Niece. I was so pleased with how easy they

were to make and how lovely they looked, I promised I would make one for

myself.

I found a pattern for one I liked a few weeks back called Quite Contrary,

at the blog Cherry Heart by the wonderfully talented Sandra Paul.

I chose a beautiful yarn called Sublime, which is baby

cashmere merino silk in the colour Little Linen.

So, armed with my pattern, yarn and hook, I began.

Sandra has made the pattern so easy to understand and follow.

Not at any time did I wonder if I was following the pattern properly.

The Wrap is made up of 3 different patterns and a border.

So we have Pretty Maids.

All in a row.

Silver Bells.

Cockle Shells

And Mary's Flowers

Each step is described in detail, so you can't go wrong.

My only problem I had was I didn't do a tension/gauge swatch.

I've never done one before and didn't think I needed to bother

this time. But....... I have discovered that whenever I crochet

something it always comes out smaller than the stated size.

I have never made garments apart from Scarfs and Wraps, but even motifs,

always come out quite a bit smaller than they're meant to.

So halfway through the Wrap I felt that it wasn't young to meet

Sandra's measurements and when I measured it came up a good few

inches shorter in length and width.

So I ripped it all apart, used a larger hook, I went for 5mm, made a longer

chain and put in a couple of extra rows on 2 of the patterns.

It has come out wonderfully. It drapes lovely, feels soft, and sits on your shoulders

beautifully.

My photos truly don't do it any justice.

And now I've just bought her latest one called the Ricicles Shawl.

So hopefully I'll be able to start that soon.

Have a good weekend

Sally xxx

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Crochet Mood Blanket

Hello Ladies,

Hope you'reall having a good week.

My Mood Blanket......well I think I've fallen out of love with it.

When the idea was first introduced back at the end of December, I was so

excited. I really wanted to take part in a years journey of a Blanket.

I myself am not very good with colour, I tend to wear a lot of black,

navy blue or grey. If I wear colour it can't be patterned

and more often than not it has to have black in it or I'll

wear it with something black.

When I made my first Blanket, it was white with multicoloured

flowers. Even half way through I began to have doubts, but I carried on and

finished it.

I have it on the bed in the small room and don't really like it at all.

I think I leave it there as I know all the work that went into it.

I tend to go towards muted colours or shades of one colour.

I look at all the beautiful multicoloured blankets out there,

on Pinterest, Ravelry and Blogland and there are loads

that I love the look of and get huge Blanket envy.

So when it came to the Mood Blanket, I was very excited,

I thought it was a fantastic idea and wanted to give

It a go. But even though I tried

I was not able to put random colours together.

If you can, picture me standing in front of all my yarn.

It's all out around me, all the lovely colours that I've

picked and bought

So today I'm happy, so I think yellow or something bright. Tomorrow

is a tired day, so maybe blue or pale grey. Okay so what grey will go

with the yellow, hmmm nothing, ok change the yellow, ooooh that pale

pink works nicely.

Can you see what I mean, I can't do the random.

I've even tried shutting my eyes and picking a colour, but

that doesn't work either.

So then I looked at all my yarns and decided on the pink and lilac

shades. Where this idea has come from I haven't a clue, I am the

least pink person out there. I've obviously seen something amazing

on Ravelry, Pinterest or Blogland and decided that's what I want.

But the more it's growing, the more I'm thinking, "no! no! no,"

I've tried to ignore it, but when I added last weeks blocks at the

weekend, I knew in my heart it was something I wouldn't enjoy

finishing or using.

What am I going to do with it?

I haven't a clue.

I saw this motif on Pinterest and thought this would be brilliant.

Most of it is uniformed colour, with just a small amount of

randomness in the centre. So I sat upstairs with all my yarn out

around me, making little circle centres

Yesssss, this is it, this is what I want.

I've made just over a 100. I sat and sewed the ends so they are

just perfect little circles.

Then I looked at them all in a pile, I looked

and looked some more and guess what? That green does not go

with that pink and that copper colour is not going to with

anything in the pile. So I'm back to square one.

Although when my youngest daughter Amie came for

dinner last night, she said it was a brilliant idea and

would love it for her bed

As far as the pink and lilac Blanket goes, I was going to

continue till it was 5 or 6 rows wide and perhaps just use it at the

bottom of the bed.

But I won't, I've fallen out of love with it and

I'm really not sure what to do with it.

If any of you of you ladies have any suggestions, it would be

greatly appreciated.

As for the Mood Blanket, I might need a rethink on that one.

I'm going to link up with Hazel this week over at Hazels Crochet,

so if you have time, go see what others are doing with

their Mood Blankets.

Take care everyone

Sally xxx

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A WIP finished :)

Hello Ladies

I've finally finished my Blanket.

I started this back in July/August time, when we were

having a new kitchen fitted.

I was so lucky that for the time the workers were

here the weather was good and I was able to sit outside

away from the dust and the noise and start this Blanket.

I probably would have got it finished sooner but I always seem to

have at least 2 or 3 other projects going.

I found the pattern for this Blanket by Nicki Trench in issue 7 of

Simply Crochet, an ideal project I thought for the garden.

I used Stylecraft Life DK. A 100g ball of each colour.

I think I went into a second ball of cream, but I'm not

sure if that's because I used a ball I had already started.

It measures 39" x 51", I just kept going till I ran out of yarn.

It was always going to be a lap Blanket, one to snuggle

with while crocheting and watching T.V.

My only problem I had with this and it's now a lessoned learned,

was that the pattern is so easy and when you get into the rhythm

you can do it without really thinking.

But I put the blanket to one side for awhile, while I did

other projects. When I came to pick it up I quickly looked at the

pattern to refresh my memory and just continued. It wasn't till I got

over half way that I realised I was using the wrong size hook.

The pattern says to use a 5mm hook, which was what I started with,

then when I picked it back up, I just went for a 4mm hook.

Because at this point I was over half way I decided to stay with the

4mm. So my Blanket looks like it has a bit of a ruffle at one end.

But it's ok and from this mistake I now tie a label on every project and

write the hook size I'm using, the yarn I'm using and where I

got the pattern from. This way I hope not to make the same

mistake again.

Now onto NEW projects.

I swore I wasn't going to buy any more yarn, but I have seen not 1

but 2 wraps that I NEED in my life. So I succumbed and late

Wednesday night ordered my yarn for these delicious

projects. Hopefully the Postie will bring it today.

I'm joining in this week with Chrissie's and Marianne's
 Bloomin CAL.

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Sally xxx

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Mood Blanket #28

Hello Ladies

Hope your all having a good week.

This is week 4 of my Mood Blanket.

I'm still enjoying making it and I love the motif.

It seems to be one of those motifs that looks difficult, but is

so simple.

I know the idea of the mood blanket was to have a different

colour each day depending on your mood, but I'm just loving the

Pink and Purple/Lilac together.

I'm linking up with Hazel again this week at Hazels Crochet, so pop over

if you have time and see what others are doing with their blankets.

Be back hopefully tomorrow with a "Ta Dah!" And I'm quite excited with it.

Take care

Sally xxx

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Bloomin CAL

Hello Ladies,

This is my first CAL for this year and I'm pleased to be back

and joining in with Chrissie and Marianne.

First, these little fellas have gone to the back of the queue

of ongoing projects.

I was doing so well with them, then I realised if I wanted to JAYG, I had to undo

some of the cream, which I did on a few then got a bit fed up.

But because I had a fair few WIP''s I decided to try and get at least

some finished.

This is my Blanket and I'm trying to get at least 4 rows day done on it.

By doing this I hope for it to be finished come the end of February.
Then I have my Mood Blanket. I'm crocheting a block a day on this one.

Then I seemed to suffer with a bit of Granny Square envy.

I kept seeing so many lovely Blankets being made with just the simple

Granny Square, that I decided I needed to make one.

So digging around in my stash I found a pastel coloured random yarn

and a cream yarn, both in 4 ply.

It's only small squares, but I'm doing the JAYG with it so it seems

to be growing quite nicely.

So these are my CAL projects for this week.

Hopefully by next week all will have grown nicely.

Take care everyone and have a good week.

Sally xxx

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Week 3

Hello Ladies

Still doing my mood blanket.

I'm on 21 blocks as of yesterday.

I did try and get ahead and made a few

Pink and Purple circles. Then all I had to do

was join 1 a day, but this week has been all,over

the place, so I'm a day late in posting as I

Had a bit if catch up to do.

Linking with Hazel at Hazels Crochet, who is also doing

The Mood Blanket challenge.

So if you have time go take a look at hers

and others that are joining in.

Oooo only 344 to go

Take care everyone

Sally xxx

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50....

Hello Ladies,

Sunday I celebrated my 50 Birthday.

What an amazing day I had.

Years ago I used to think 50 was old and even my kids are

"Wow mum your 50, you can reap the benefits of Saga now."

Not sure how I'm supposed to feel, but I don't feel any older or

any different.

Someone told me 50 is the new 40 and I thought that sounded

probably about right.

I feel I was terribly spoilt Sunday.

I was taken out for Breakfast.

I went to a beautiful yarn shop, that my Helpful Hubby spotted on

his way to work one morning and thought it would be a surprise

trip out.

I went to Hobby Craft as I had some vouchers to spend

and bought a couple of books.

My son Aaron and his wife Abby bought me a beautiful

necklace with Flynns thumbprint on it. Aaron took the impression

when little'un was a week old and had the necklace made.

I will show you a photo later as I'm having issues getting it off.

My oldest daughter Jess and her partner are taking me and Helpful

Hubby to a show of my choice in London.

That'll be a hard decision as there are so many good shows

out at the moment.

And this

Was what my youngest daughter Amie and her partner gave me.

I don't know if you can see it properly as my picture taking

is rubbish, but it's a Witches hat that she knitted and wrapped.

This was the clue to my present.

A trip to Harry Potters World.

I've wanted to go for ages, but I just haven't got round to it.

Which was good really as it's a brilliant present.

In the evening we met up with all the family and went out for dinner.

On the table was this beautiful cake.

Aaron and Abby made this, it took them 3 days to bake and decorate.

I was hugely impressed, I thought it was a shop bought one.

It has buttons and butterfly's and flowers.

And it tastes so yummy.

Also this was the first year I received a Nanny card.

I found that quite teary, not sure why. But when I opened it

I felt quite emotional.

I have to say I think it was the best Birthday I have ever had.

I had loads of cards and flowers.

I had so many presents and they were just what I wanted and

the meal out with everyone was amazing.

I sat back and looked at everyone and thought how

lucky and proud I am to have such a wonderful caring family.

Thank you all for making my day special.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend too.

Take care

Sally

Xxx

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Mood Blanket #2

Hello Ladies

This is week 2 of my 2014 Mood Banket.

Still doing a block a day, sometimes I do two or three at

a time to get ahead for the week. But the way it works

it fits in well with my other WIPs.

I'm still excited and motivated, I just hope it's not just a

honeymoon phase, that will wear off in a couple of months.

I know the idea of a mood blanket was to have a different colour

a day, but I liked these two colours together so much and try as I could

every time I went a sat at my yarn boxes I couldn't bring myself to

add a different colour.

These two colours do have a very personal meaning and I think it

gave me the chance to use them.

Also the more I look at the colours the more they remind me of these.

Parma violets were a huge favourite of mine when I was a child and I only

just discovered you can still buy them. And my Nan always seemed to have

a box of what she called her "Special Chocolates" and they had

crystallised violets on the top as a decoration.

I'm linking again this week with Hazel at Hazel's Crochet, for the 2014

Mood Blanket, so please go take a look at the others who are taking

part as well.

Take care

Sally xxx

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Finishing Off

Hello Ladies,

I'm finding that the New Year has at the moment made me want to be a

little more organised with my Crocheting.

How long this will last for, I haven't a clue. Come the end of

January I might think "Oh Sod it" and carry on in my usual

haphazard way. My daughter Amie looks at my baskets of ongoing projects

and tells me it's called Organised Chaos.

So at this moment I would like to try and finish some projects before

starting any more.

This blanket I started back in June/July time. I pick it up now and again,

but the odd row here and there isn't helping to make it grow.

So I decided that along with doing my square a day challenge, for the Mood

Blanket, I would also crochet 2 rows a day, 1 coloured, 1 cream. It already

measures 41" wide and 27" long, 30 days of crocheting 2 rows gives me

another 15". Not really sure how long I would like it to be, but if I stick to

this plan, it might be finished by February.

These little fellows are coming along nicely, still haven't worked out

how many I need as I may be a bit daunted with the amount. I've made about

a 100 so far, 20 of each colour, I did also have a peach flower, but it didn't

seem to look right with the colours I'd already used, so I stoped making

those. Might start joining some together with the Join As You Go method,

then I'll get a proper idea of what it's going to look like.

This project I started between Christmas and the New Year.

I know I started it the wrong side of Christmas, but I found the idea

while browsing blogland, as you do.

As soon as I saw it, I wanted to make it. It's designed by a very talented

crocheter Sarah Zimmerman, and her blog is "Repeat Crafter Me".

I have made all the pieces, except the bunting. Then I put it in a Baggie

so I could start the Mood Blanket and it hadn't come out since.

So Jan/Feb are going to be my, be disiplined and be organised

Mood Blanket 2014, Week 1

Hello Ladies,

Here is my first Post for the Mood Blanket 2014 challenge.

The idea is to make a square a day giving you 365 or a square

a week giving you 52 for a year.

It was started by a lady called Stacey who is on Instagram by the

name stacey_mummy. It has become huge and she even says that

she never realised how many would want to participate.

Hazel, from the blog hazels_crochet, is doing a weekly link up

to anyone who is interested.

So week 1 and I have done my first 7 squares. Yep, I'm going for the

big one, the whole 365. That's 358 to go.

I also have used the Join As You Go Method. I am very, very

Impressed, it's brilliant, not sure why I haven't used it before.

But now I won't have to sew them all together at the end.

Hopefully I'll also be able to use this for my Stashaholics, stash busting,

that's being set up by Linda of Linda's Crafty Corner.

Take care

Sally xxx

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Mood Blanket 2014

Hello Ladies

Happy New a Year to you all.

I hope it's full of fun, joy and crafting.

I know it may sound crazy but although 2013 was a very up and down year,

I found that crocheting helped me overcome and get through many difficult days

( and nights as I don't sleep well at all) .

This year has really started with a bang. At first I had my head so full of

ideas and Inspirations, I didn't know where to start. Then I read on a blog by

lovely Hazel,called Hazels Crochet that there was going to be a blanket

challenge for the year. The idea is from Instagramer mummy-stacey and it's

to crochet or knit a square a day, giving you 365 squares OR a square a week,

giving you 52.

It's called a Mood blanket, because the idea is to pick a colour each day

on how you feel. Whether it be, Tired, Angry, Calm, Happy, Excited etc.

This was what I wanted to do as my project for 2014.

Then I read another blog by very talented Linda of Linda's Crafty Corner,

that she was going to do a Stash-Buster for 2014. She had already done one

for 2013 and as It seemed quite successful was going to do another for

this year. So I thought I could do the Mood Blanket Challenge and Linda's

Stash-Bustertogether. This way I could start to use up my yarn that

seems to be taking over my house.

So now my decision is what square do I want to do?

This one

Or This One

But then I'm still making these little fellows that I started with Chrissie and Marianne's

Bloomin Cal.

 

I'm going to enjoy this I think and it'll motivate me to continue with the motifs.

I may even go for doing a 365 Mood Blanket AND a 52 one.

At least I get to use up some of my stash.

Take care everyone

Sally

xxx

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