Seeing in 2014 with bright colours

It's nearly two weeks into the New Year already. This time of the year can be a little....dark. I mean that literally, not philosophically! It's difficult when there's not much daylight, or sunshine for that matter! At the moment here it gets light at about 7.30 am and dark again at about 4.30. Still, I like to think it's a hopeful time of the year. Every day we gain about 4 minutes of daylight, so we're creeping a little closer to spring all the time. One way to try and brighten the days is colourful flowers! Like these gerberas which I've had on my window ledge the last couple of weeks.

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This winter has been a little different for me, as I'm living on my own for the first time. It's been exciting and scary all at the same time, but overall it's been a good experience so far. I find the winter months are good months to plan and think about what you want from the year ahead. Traditionally in the Northern Hemisphere autumn and winter are introspective months. They kind of have to be since the weather here doesn't make you feel like doing much outside!

So, with a new home I've been doing a lot of planning and thinking about how to make my little nest as snug and happy as possible. Of course for me that means a lot of thinking about what I want to crochet and knit for my living room and bedroom.

So that's what I've been doing since Christmas! 

One of the first things I found I needed to make (almost as soon as I got hold of a coffee table for my living room!), were some table mats and coasters. The sofa which I have in my living room is a lovely teal colour, and I'd already decided I wanted to try use that as a basis for a colour scheme in that room. Two other colours which I think work well with teal are turquoise and bright pink. As it happens I had some turquoise and teal cotton yarn in may stash so I decided to use that to make some mats. The bright pink will follow later in some other way!

I had a request for a pattern for these mats when I posted the pictures on Instagram the other week. I just made these up as I went along really, and I haven't had a chance to try and write down a pattern yet. However, I will try at some point soon. The problem is, I think a chart would be by far the best way for making a pattern for these, but I'm not sure I can write a neat enough chart by hand for anyone else to follow! I'll keep you posted anyway.

Stay warm until next time!

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Mammoth crafty update part II

Hello again everyone! As promised, here is part II of the mammoth crafty update, a little later than planned. I've been delayed by a chest infection, among other things. I wouldn't be here, blogging, on New Year's Eve (not that there's anything wrong with that), but having asthma and then getting a chest infection is pretty bad news, so I've had to cancel my plans for the evening.

Never mind, at least it gives me time to catch up on my blogging!

One other project I've finished in December was my purple vintage flower cushion.

Here you can see it getting cost with the original cream cushion I made using this pattern.

If you look closely, you'll see a slight difference between the purple and the cream cushions. The purple cushion has several rows of treble crochet bordering each side. This was because I used a 4 ply weight yarn instead of the dk weight used for the cream cushion. I couldn't quite get the shade of pastel lilac I wanted in Rowan Cotton Glace, so I decided to use Rowan Siena instead, and simply modified the pattern slightly. I'm still happy with the result!

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Well, 2013 is drawing to a close. I have to say it has been a heck of a year for me. Good things and bad, stresses and strains and moments of joy and celebration too. I guess that's like any year, but somehow things have seemed magnified this year. I've finally been able to sort out some long carried personal baggage, with some help from some very supportive people. I have to say that has made a huge difference to me, and I feel I am ending the year as a much stronger person than the person that started the year! Here's just a few of the positives that I've been lucky enough to experience in my personal life in 2013:

1. Finding out that I had passed the Postgraduate Diploma I took in 2011-12, with merit!
2. Getting a place on, and starting a PhD course (so far, so good)
3. Getting my flat! My own space at last - it feels so extravagant to have all this space to myself, and it's only a 1 bedroom flat!
4. My wonderful, wonderful boyfriend S, who has given me another year full of happy memories and laughter.
5. My fantastic family (and S again) who have all pitched in and helped me with moving, hefting boxes, doing DIY jobs, providing advice, stopping my tearing my hair out with stress over it all and generally standing on my own 2 feet!
6. Of course all you fellow bloggers and crafters out there who take the time to read and visit this blog, and leave such kind and supportive comments. Every comment is valued and it's so great to feel part of a community here.

Well, that's all for now folks, the sun has set on 2013, and now we await 2014. I hope to see you all here and on your own blogs in the coming year. Very best wishes and a Happy New Year to you all!

p.s. I have received several requests for patterns recently - I'm not able to respond to them at the moment, but please believe I will do my best to share my makes with you as soon as I can.

A new post....

....it's been a while since I've made one!

I've honestly been meaning to stop back in here and say hello for about two weeks now, but just haven't quite made it. I'm in the process of re-working my routine, you see. I don't think I've mentioned this before, but I've just started a PhD (that's a doctoral research degree for those who may not know), which I'll be doing part-time alongside still working full-time. It's all been great so far, but it has meant a busy couple of weeks getting my head around the new demands on my time and how to fit them in.

Crafting is still going to be a big part of my life, as will this blog I hope!

By the way, a big welcome to the new readers and followers who I can see have popped up here since my last post!

So, what have I been up to the last couple of weeks?

Well, I promised to show you the results of my chair painting for my new flat (which I'm still waiting to move into - sigh), so here it is!

It was hard to get good pictures of this. I know it looks very pale, but the colour is actually a pastel blue. I will share before and after shots soon, when I've been able to take pictures in better light! I'm pleased with the results though, I'm sitting on it as I type!

I've also just been out and about enjoying the season as much as possible - I do love autumn! I think the best of the colour is still yet to come here. I don't know if I'm right, but I think the unusually warm September may have made the trees hang on to their leaves a little longer than usual, so they're still turning now.

Some gorgeous colours coming through now!

In crafting news, I have finished my lovely green cardigan, but I think I'll save that for next time!

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Vintage flower cushion

A while ago I decided to make a cushion using my vintage flower square pattern, and only 1 colour yarn.

I finally got around to finishing it this week. I've decided I really like the effect of making something using only 1 colour of yarn. It gives it a much more vintage, delicate feel in my eyes. 

I've realised after thinking that I have way too many cushions that actually I won't have enough for both the sofa and bedroom in my new flat after I've moved. So I think I'm going to make a few more of these lovelies!

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Sunshine cushion

I can't believe it has been over a week since my last post. This week has gone so fast, and to be honest I have just been plain lazy about posting! In my last post I said that I might have a completed cushion cover to share with you - well, I do!

Here is the cushion made with my latest motif design. I'm calling this motif the sunshine motif. I'm quite pleased with the way this cushion turned out, and I loved working with all these colours!

I think this cushion has a South American feel to it. Something about all the colours together and the sunburst element of the motif. Can anyone else see that?

I also made a button closure for this cushion - I do love that on a crochet cushion, I think it gives such a nice finishing touch! 

I would love to share this pattern with you - I'm actually mulling over the purchase of crochet chart software. I think this would be much better than writing out patterns long-hand, which, let's face it, is a bit of a chore!

Well, I think you have probably had enough of the cushion for now! As Autumn is approaching here with the start of September I've been turning my thoughts to knitwear. More soon!

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Monochrome and colour crochet

Just a quick post tonight- I wanted to show you my latest crochet works in progress!

I've been having fun with 1 colour crochet. Not something I've done much of for a long time, but I do love the effect. It feels more early 20th century vintage style somehow than bright colours mixed together, which I think gives a more 1960s-70s vibe - both are great of course!

The pattern used in the above is my vintage flower square pattern, which I posted the other week. 

I have another new motif design too, which I've also been working in single colour. This is another of my own designs and I hope to post a tutorial in the next few weeks:

Just for fun and because I have a lot of colourful cotton at the moment, I thought I'd also try the second motif pattern in brights too. This is my stash of Rowan Cotton Glace:

Well, I hope you all enjoy the long weekend - I'm away at S's until Monday now, but who knows, perhaps by then I may have a finished cushion cover or two to share with you!

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Too hot to hook?!

Well, it nearly is! Those of you in the UK will know that we're in the middle of a heatwave, the like of which has not been seen on these shores since 2006 (according to BBC weather anyway!).

Well, I am very close to finishing my hexagon blanket - I'm at the stage where all I need to do is sew the last few motifs in place and fasten off the edges. 

As those of you who make blankets will know, this stage basically involves sitting underneath your giant woolly creation for several hours while you work on it. 

Not the most attractive proposition in 32 degree heat! So I have been forced to temporarily abandon the hexagon blanket in favour of smaller projects.

One smaller project I've been working on is a knitted cushion cover. I'm trying to design a cabled cover myself from scratch. I also plan to make some moss stitch covers. Here's the result of the swatching process:

Next time I hope I can tell you about an exciting new project.

In the meantime, stay cool, and happy hooking!

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Doily fun!

Inspired by some of the lovely crochet doilies and matts that I have seen on other blogs, such as By Haafner and AnaZard Atelier, I've wanted to have a go at my own crochet doily for a while now.

I finally got around to it this week. I spent Bank Holiday Monday doily making!

I wanted a soft, vintage style look, so I used some pastel colours - very pale pink, ivory, pale lilac and a sort of steel blue-green colour.

The yarns used are all mercerised cotton - I think it's ideal for this sort of project, where you want it to be hard wearing but still look pretty.

These doilies are my own design, using a stitch similar to the one I used for my blossom petal scarf at the beginning of April, but working in the round instead of course.

What do you think? Would you like to have a pattern for this? I'm a little worried about trying to write a pattern for something like this out long-hand - I'd rather do a chart, but I'm not sure how to go about that either!

Does anyone have a tool or piece of software they use to produce crochet charts for motifs in the round? Please let me know if you do!

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Pastel projects

I am having a serious pastel moment right now, and loving it. I'm not normally a pastel person when it comes to colours for clothes, crochet projects or anything really! I usually gravitate to brighter richer colours.

However, I have been really taken with some pastel yarn colours that I have seen in shops and the ways in which they appear when combined with other pastel colours. 

I thought I'd share some of my pastel-love with you!

At the moment I have 2 pastel projects on the go, both using the same yarn shades. The hexagons you can see are the start of a small blanket.

The ripple stitch item shown is for a cushion cover. This is the same pattern as I made earlier in the year, and ever since finishing my earlier ripple cushion I have just been itching to see what a pastel version would be like!

I think of the shades I have chosen as 'edgy pastels', particularly for the cushion cover. I think the colours I have used together have managed to not look too girly (I think pastels have a bit of a reputation for being girly and cutesy). I'm attributing their slight edge, and sophistication to the inclusion of some grey and silver-blue shades alongside the more traditional pastel shades of duck egg, pale pink and lilac.

I'm really loving making these items and can't wait to share the finished products with you! The hexagons for the throw are my own pattern, and I hope to have time to share this through a tutorial soon!

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Starburst cushion love

I've finished the second of my starburst cushions - this one colours on a white background.

I actually started this one before the pale blue background cushion that I had made, but then got over excited about the pale blue, so that one was finished first!

I am planning to post a tutorial for how I made both the Starburst squares shown above and also the Starburst hexagons I mentioned the other day - as soon as I have time!

Anyway, I think I need some more Starburst love!...

Ok time for some facts and figures to break up the crochet love a little!

Yarn used for the white starburst cushion was:

Rowan Pure Wool DK Shade 013 Enamel
Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK Shade 042 Rose Pink
Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK Shade 045 Mauve
Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino DK Shade 060 Hot Pink
Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino DK Shade 010 Lilac
Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino DK Shade 069 Lilac Pink
Sublime Baby Cashmere Merino Silk DK Shade 002 Cuddle

Phew, didn't realise how many colours I had used!

I used a 4mm hook. The white starburst cushion is slightly larger than the blue one, it was made for a larger cushion pad so each side consists of 25 squares (it was 16 for the blue cushion)

Well that's all for now folks, hope you enjoyed all the colours!