It's all about the squares

Good Morning, sorry I've not posted for nearly a week, but I have been busy with the hooky :-)
The wreath is slowly coming along doing odd things to add to it here and there, but I don't think it will be too much longer before it all comes together.
I've also been busy with some squares for a CAL (crochet-a-long) which lasts for nearly the full year, there is a new pattern for a square every 2 weeks, we are currently on square number 3. So here are my three squares so far.....

So as you can see this will be a WIP (work-in-progress) throughout the year, which is scheduled to come together at the end of November.  If you want to read more about the CAL or indeed would like to take part you can find out more over at Keep Calm and Crochet On UK and you can also join the CAL facebook group at KCACO-UK Crochet-A-Long 2015.

The patterns all suggest using an Aran weight yarn which should produce a 12 x12 square, however myself and many others are working their's up in DK which produce smaller 8 x 8 squares. I decided on the DK not because I don't like working with Aran because I do, but as I decided to use Stylecrafts Special range there was more variety of colours to choose from in the DK range (60 in total from Wool Warehouse).  I'm working my squares using five colours - Parchment, Mocha, Walnut, Burgundy and Meadow.
Obviously smaller squares will mean a smaller finished blanket, I'm undecided yet as to whether to make up two of each square which will give me 48 squares at the end, which will give me a much bigger finished blanket, maybe too big, but then I was thinking maybe I could make a cushion out of some of them to match.  Alternatively I may pick out 12 or so of my favourite patterns and do 2 of those, got plenty of time to think about it :-).
The squares I've done still need blocking, but my cork notice board which I usually use for blocking is not now really fit for purpose anymore due to the cork breaking down from all the moisture it receives, so I need to make a new blocking board, I have a few ideas for that, which are much cheaper than buying specific blocking mats/boards which are pretty expensive for what they are.

Next week I'll be starting another CAL from The Crochet Crowd, that one is for only 10 weeks, it's a mystery afghan project so could be quite exciting, my wool has arrived for it from Canada, so I'm all set to go when it gets started.

Thanks for stopping by, watch out for more squares and my upcoming finished wreath.

Joanne xx

Taking shape

A few days ago I showed you something a bit stripey which looked a lot like a scarf, did you have any guesses as to what it could be the startings of? Well it's now taken shape.....

It now covers a 350 mm polystyrene ring.  It is the start of a wreath, I found the inspiration from Lucy over at ATTIC24 and her May Rose Wreath.  I had to work out my width and length for myself as Lucy used a smaller ring. For a 350 mm ring the width needed to be 40 stitches and the length was approx 40 inches as I didn't want it to be loose so it stretches nice and snuggly across and around the ring.  Do you remember I wasn't weaving in the ends, well this is why .....

They were a very useful addition to the pins to pull the joins together ready for sewing and once all sewn together it looked like this on the back....

Not the neatest of sewing but it's not the back that is going to be on show :-)

Next is the exciting bit of decorating, got so many flower patterns I want to try, just got decide on which ones to do.

Thanks for stopping by.

Joanne x

Something a bit stripey

Sorry I forgot to take a picture in the daylight so not the best quality I'm afraid but it was even worse with the flash on.  Anyway this is my latest project but can you guess what it is?  And no it's not a scarf....lol, and no cheating Emma Wood cos you already know what it is :-)  Excuse all the ends, I normally always weave them in after a few rows but there is a reason I have left them this time round. Hopefully in the next day or two all will be revealed, once I get to the needed length.  This is a great stash buster project and I'm using up all those last bits from the Cosy Stripe Blanket, plus I must confess to buying 3 other colours to go with them, so 18 colours all in all.

Joanne x

Colour Decisions

If like me you struggle to make decisions on colour combinations my good friend Emma directed me to a fabulous website called DESIGN SEEDS.  It's a real colour inspiring site, I can see this becoming one of my most visited sites.  I'm about to take part in a couple of Afghan CAL's (Crochet A-Longs), one is already sorted with the wool on order, they had some great colour combo packs already put together so that was easy, so just need to decide on a combo for the other, hopefully my job has now been made easier. The site pulls out the colours from a picture, below is just one example

Off to continue my inspiration browse.

Joanne x

A hooky weekend

Good Morning from a snowy East Yorkshire, my goodness it's freezing out there today, but the sun is shining which makes the snow look so pretty.  I've had a productive weekend with finishing the raindrops cushion and hooking up a hat.

Firstly the cushion, I so love this new splash of colour to the sofa which matches nicely with the new cosy stripe blanket.

As you can see the sun is streaming through the windows making the photo's a little hazy.  Loving both sides of the cushion but the coloured buttons look fab.

The Crochet Crowd runs a monthly challenge and for January it was a lovely vintage peaked hat (the pattern is available for free from here.)

I don't think I'll be entering it into the challenge, I just loved the style of the hat and fancied making myself a new hat, but unfortunately once I tried it on the style really did not suit me, so it will be put away for now and I'm sure it will make a lovely gift for someone in the future.

All ready now for my next project but just need to nip out for a few things so I can get started.  So I best get wrapped up, defrost the car and clear off the snow and get going :-)

Keep safe in the slippery conditions everyone, sounds like it could be quite a wintery week ahead.

Joanne xx

My little helper this evening

Normally it's Mollie who is right by my side getting tangled up in the wool, but this evening Felix got in on the act of helping me with my wool...lol

He may look happy and sleepy here but he had me jumping about with those claws in my leg every time I moved the wool, little devil :-)

Joanne xx

Argyle Bean Bag

Loving this bean bag/pouffe and the pattern is free :-)

Argyle Bean Bag by Red Heart

One for my to-do list I think.

Joanne xx

The raindrops cushion coming along

As you can see this pattern is working up very quickly, over half way :-)
http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/raindrops-stitch.html

Joanne xx

Raindrops Cushion in the making

I made a start yesterday on my next crochet project, another lovely Christmas present.  A very colourful cushion to go with the colourful cosy stripe blanket I've just completed.  The pattern is again by Lucy from Attic24 using the wool pack available from The Wool Warehouse.

The stitch is called Raindrops, you can see how to do it here, you'll also find a link there for the cushion details.
It's a lovely stitch to work once you get going and I'm zooming along in very little time :-)
Looking forward to sharing my progress with you tomorrow.

Joanne xx

How gorgeous is this...

Love, love, love this pretty little flower cardi - http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/flower-cardigan-3

Joanne xx