Summery stripe tote bag

At the moment I seem to be going a bit crazy for crocheting in stripes!

I've made a little tote bag, big enough to fit your book, purse, keys and mobile and a few other bits and pieces.

This was made using 2 colours of Rowan Cotton Glace and a 3.5mm crochet hook.

The bag has flat construction with no bottom. Each side is identical. To make the sides I chained 60 to start then worked in double crochet for two rows before switching to the second colour and then back again after another 2 rows. To make the handles I made a chain of 8 stiches, then worked in double crochet until the handles were as long as I wanted. Then attached the handles to the bag.

I also made an attempt at including a zip pocket in the lining to create compartments in the bag. It would have worked out fine, if my zip hadn't been a little too long, which causes the pocket to ruck up a little! Still, I consider this bag a prototype, and plan to make another where I have learned from my mistakes!

Patchwork cushions

I made my first attempt at making a patchwork cushion yesterday, and quickly discovered that it's very addictive!

First patchwork cushion

My inital creation came out ok - it fits the cushion pad it was made for, and the lines are fairly straight (for my sewing that's good!). However, I didn't do brilliantly at cross matching the patches in different rows. I'm sure an expert quilter would be appalled.

Second patchwork cushion

On the second attempt I took more care in cutting out my sqaures, and also pressed the seams open before stitching the rows together. This cushion still wasn't perfect as you can probably see from the closeup above, but I think it was a distinct improvement, not bad for a second attempt!

I wonder what it is about patchwork that's so addictive. Is it the thought of being so thrifty and using up all your left over scraps - you get to feel so virtuous! Or is it the opportunity to show your creative flair in matching the colours and patterns together in different patches? I also discovered from my experimentations this weekend that I prefer smaller patches to larger ones. The small patches on the secon cushion I made are so interesting I just can't stop staring at them!

Poppys and roses

Having spent a conscientous couple of hours studying, I feel I can now allow myself some fun for the rest of the day! I should mention, studying on a Saturday is not normally something that happens with me, but with assignment deadlines looming next month and a week's holiday to Edinburgh the week after next (can't wait!) on which I will be unable (and even more unwilling than usual) to study, it just had to be done.

So, having paid my dues to the world of health informatics for the day, I took a stroll to photograph some of the lovely poppies which are gathering on the roadsides nearby my house. There's something about poppies and their ephemeral nature which is just charming, You would love to take them home and put them in a vase but you know that if you do, they'll soon be withered (and also you shouldn't really pick wildflowers). Best to leave them in the wild for all to enjoy. Maybe this is why beauty always makes me a little sad - you can't capture and hold it, and you know eventually it must die.

Then again, I suppose photographs are some form of capture of beauty!

This was tricky as far as photography goes (I'm no pro in that field) - a very strong wind making it difficult to focus and also blurring the colours. Still, I got there in the end!

As if the lovely poppies weren't enough beauty and charm for one day, when I reached home the doorbell rang, and a parcel which I've been eagerly awaiting since the start of the week arrived. I bought a tea cup and saucer from eBay with a Royal Albert Old English Rose design. I have a thing about tea cups at the moment (probably springing from my long term love of tea and cake!), and couldn't resist this one.

Here it is resplendent on the new Granny Square Throw:

This particular eBay purchase all started with a visit to Liberty's (which I haunt with the frequency of a Victorian ghost!) and me cooing over the current range of Royal Albert china, which is all in pink and blue pastel. Not being able to justify the expense, I turned to eBay and found the above! Obviously an older pattern but so pretty!

Granny on the bed

I have finally finished my granny square throw, and its now in pride of place on the bed!

This turned out to be quite an expensive project. I'll have to remember this the next time I choose yarn for something like this. However, it was well worth the time and effort as the throw really brightens up the room. Looking at it, I almost can't believe I made it myself. Its the sort of thing I normally get craft envy from seeing on someone else's blog or site!

So here are the pictures:

 

 

 

 The granny square pattern came from a recent issue of Mollie Makes, in case you were wondering: the May issue. The smaller squares which you can see around the edge of the throw in the second picture were made exactly as given in the pattern (using different size yarn and hook). The larger squares, I simply made by adding rounds.

I made 54 large squares (8 rows of 6 squares) and 42 smaller squares which give a border to the longer sides, and then finished the whole project off by doing one more round of granny treble all the way around the edge.

Yarn used: Rowan Amy Butler Belle Organic Aran 5x pink, 5x lilac, 5x aubergine, 5x tomato red, 5x turqouise, 11x cream
Hook size: 4.5mm

On a different note..

It felt pretty grim making the commute back into London for the first time since the long weekend today. I had George Harrison on my iPod, reminding me that all things must pass, and darkness only lasts a nighttime. I hope he was right -not for my own life which would be rather pathetic - I'm eternally grateful that my life is what it is -I have no real fears or worries, not compared to others. It made me think of all the terrible things which are happening in the world right now. I hope the light comes again for those people who are suffering now.

Jasmine in pink

Finished this project on Sunday night, and I'm very pleased with it. Previously I made this using a 4 ply cotton, and found that it felt a little scratchy and tight fitting under the arms. I also wasn't keen on the button placket in the yoke. This is Jasmine, from the Kim Hargreaves book Nectar.

So I've reworked this in a 4ply wool cotton mix, which feels lovely and soft, but still light enough for cooler summer days.

I modified the pattern by:

Making it longer - I added an extra 24 rows after the moss stitch band at the bottom of both front and back.

Leaving out the button placket - Instead I made 2 identical pieces following the instruction for the back. When making the neckline, I sewed up only 3 of the raglan seems leaving the fourth open, and then worked the neckline instructions accordingly.

Birdie wardrobe scenter

I bought some lovely fabric this weekend - one of the patterns from Amy Butler's re-issued Gypsy Caravan range. The name sounds so romantic that alone was enough to attract me, but the patterns really are lovely too!

Anyway, I decided to use a small amount to make a hanging scenter. Feeling brave, I attempted a bird shape. I hand drew the shape outline myself first on paper, and then cut it out to use as a template. I machine sewed the two sides together, right sides facing inwards, leaving a gap along the top of the back so that I could turn the shape right side out and add the filling and the ends of the ribbon.

I used some dried lavendar which I bought from a craft shop for the filling, some pink satin ribbon and hand sewed the opening closed.

I'm quite pleased with the result, and it smells gorgeous!

Colour clash throw

My granny square throw is coming along. I have stitched a panel of the central large squares together.

I've had to stop again for the time being as I've run out of yarn again! I can't really justify spending any more on it just now, especially as I've just bought the materials for 2 summer tops, and I want to finish at least one of those before I come back to the throw.

So for the time being its waiting happily folded in the corner of my bedroom.

Granny square love affair

I decided that I will be making a throw, but as it would take me until kingdom come to make an entire throw from the small granny squares that I had started off with, I decided that the main central panel of the throw will be made of strips of larger granny squares, with the smaller squares forming a border to the throw. Needless to say, this is still going to take some time (and a lot of yarn), and will be a labour of love, but I'm determined to finish it!

I'm in the mood for bright colours at the moment, so I'm using clashing shades - I have a turqoise, burgundy, violet, bright pink and a pinky red, with pale cream to form the border for all the squares.

Here are some of the first larger size squares:

A large size square

Larger squares with small border squares

This is my first time making granny squares, and its so much fun and so easy I can't believe I have never tried it before! I can now see a large proportion of my more than ample stash being disposed of in the form of granny squares for various purposes. I have already (somewhat rashly) promised my mother a throw using green and cream yarn which I have stashed - and I haven't even got half way through this project yet!

I'll keep posting my progress with stitching and crocheting here. I expect this will keep me busy for several months, in between other projects!

Granny squares

After a couple of weeks of frantically trying to finish my latest assignment, I finally have a chance to relax.

I'm celebrating by making as many of tbese granny squares as I can in 1 weekend! At the moment they are destined for a throw, but we'll see.

Seafish jewellery set

Occassionally I take a detour from knitting into jewellery making - only very simple stuff.

This weekend was one of those occassions. At this time of year, when summer is just around the corner (although you wouldn't know it from the weather here at the moment), I always start thinking of the sea, and its creatures. I have a bit of a fascination with marine creatures and life, especially starfish and shells. They seem magical to me. I used to love collecting sea shells on the beach on family holidays as a kid (I still do it now if I get the chance!). Those sea shells washed up and empty seemed so mysterious, symbols of an unknown world that we can never do more than glimpse.

So, after a visit to my favourite Covent Garden bead shop on Friday, I had the materials for a couple of simple silver necklaces and a pair of earrings. Here's what I have so far:

 

As you can see these are very simple really - all I had to do was thread the pearls onto a silver head pin, and then turn and wrap the end of the wire to make a loop and secure it so that I could use a jump ring to thread it onto a length of silver chain, or the loop for the fish hook earrings. It seemed appropriate to cluster the pearls and charms togther for a charm necklace - almost like they've been washed up together in a rock pool or on the tide line. However, the loop which the necklace chain threads through is large enough so that I can slip the charms individually off the chain, so I can mix and match depending on my mood. I have a second chain which I can use to thread some of the charms onto, so I could layer 2 necklaces together if I wanted to.