Two Motifs Down

Two motifs down... many more to go

It's incredible how easily the rhythm of the pattern is coming back to me.



You can see that I haven't woven in any ends yet... BIG SURPRISE!

Starting On Some Gifts

Moving away from the freeform for a moment, and on to something very structured:

I don't usually work in thread, and almost never work a piece in only ONE colour...

But look at this:



It's time to get started on some Christmas Gifts.

You can see that I've almost finished the first of many motifs for this table runner. I've used this pattern once before, a few years back before I started blogging. In fact, I don't think I even took any photos of it... or if I did, I have no idea where they are.

It's one of those patterns where you join each square together as you go, attaching it to the previous one during the final round. Definitely saves the drama of having to join them all together at the end.

I'll just have to weave in all the ends when I'm done!

But maybe I'll be disciplined and do them as I go?

Finished Doily

Well, it's not really your traditional style of doily... but it certainly serves the same purpose.

And let's face it - I'm not exactly your TRADITIONAL kind of girl anyway!

As you can see, I have crocheted a variety of different sized granny squares: using a 1.0mm hook and leftover embroidery threads. The final round of each square was completed using a similar thickness of navy 'op shop' cotton. Once the squares were all joined, I worked a few rounds of single crochet (US) around the entire piece. Then finished it off with a simple running stitch embroidered border.



It was never my intention to create straight edges on this doily... although the whole piece did turn out a bit more 'square' than I was hoping for. If you were wanting to make one yourself with straight edges, then you'll just need to spend a little time on some math before you start - to work out the sizes and quantities needed of each granny square.



As for me, no real thought went into it! I just worked up some squares, then slapped them together... and I'm loving the result.

A Doily With A Difference

I've been working on a doily, made using leftover embroidery threads.

Because the lengths were quite short, there have been LOADS of ends to sew in!

BUT they're all done now, and I'm loving the finished result...

The piece is blocking at the moment, so I'll be back tomorrow to share some photos.

criss cross

The embellishing of the crochet hook case with scrap embroidery thread continues...

Who knows where it will end???

peacock swap...

It feels like such a long time since I was last involved in a swap... so this was lots of fun!

The theme was PEACOCK colours...

The idea was to crochet an item, and team it with a few surprises for your swap partner.

This time I was really stumped for ideas.

Sometimes I just get inspired and know EXACTLY what I want to make for my partner - it might be weird... or impractical... or just damn crazy.... but I KNOW what I want to create.

Not this time.

Zilch

Nada

Nothing

No inspiration whatsoever...

So, what I've come up with feels a bit boring, and pedestrian... although I believe it will be appreciated, and it's definitely a practical gift which will get a lot of use.

It's just missing the FUN FACTOR...

So here it is...

My partner enjoys quilting, so I've made her a pin cushion... and teamed it with some fat quarters in peacock colours, and some glass headed quilting pins.



The pin cushion is crocheted using embroidery scraps. In fact, I used these scraps which Bec sent to me a month or two back.

Only thing though... because I was looking for a neat finish (rather than my usual scrappy style) there were loads and loads of ends to weave in. Ahhhh... one of the joys of working with scrap lengths, I suppose.

But it's all done now... and posted... and received.

Forgot to mention that I used two squares of denim (old jeans) for the cushion part. Just cut them out using a pair of pinking shears, and zig zagged around three sides (about 50mm in from the edge) Then I popped some stuffing in, and zig zagged the cushion closed. After that, it was just a matter of sewing the crochet granny square in place on the top. The granny square itself was crocheted using a 1.25mm hook.

Oh, and two wooden buttons... stitched through centre top and bottom... just to give it some shape.

Think that's it...

But if I've forgotten anything, just ask!

almost done

the scrappy embroidery thread project has come along nicely...



A few more rounds and it will be the right length for a sunnies case. Not yet sure on the type of closure to use - I could work in a buttonhole, and attach a fun button... or maybe continue with the crochet to form a flap which would fold down like an envelope...

away we go...

So I made a start with that teeny-tiny hook and the embroidery thread leftovers...



I'm keeping all the knots to the outside of my work. The plan is to turn the piece inside out when I am finished, and then hide the knots with a lining.

But I'm starting to quite like the look of them... so that plan might change!

Still not sure exactly what it will be when it is finished... but I'm running out of thread fairly quickly - look how small the ball is getting already.

my anniversary ring

Yesterday was my Wedding Anniversary... celebrating nine years of marital bliss!

Okay. So you all know I am stretching the truth just a little bit when I say that. Yes, we have been married for nine years. But obviously it hasn't all been marital bliss.

Mind you. We're pretty proud of ourselves. Seems like so many couples that we know are going their separate ways at the moment. We're almost starting to feel like freaks for staying together!

Despite how proud we are of our achievement, I was told in no uncertain terms by Mr Goldfish that I had received 'more than enough' jewellery last year... and not to expect any this year! It seems he wasn't joking.

So I thought it was a good excuse to start a new project. I know I'm not supposed to, but it was just a little one. Over at Silly String we were issued this challenge What’s the finest thread you can actually crochet with to create a wearable ring?

So I decided to make my own Anniversary Ring



I knew it would be a challenge to work with such a fine thread, but I loved the gold colour and thought it would work up a treat. It was a bit of a nightmare, actually. The metallic thread was so damn slippery. I hadn't anticipated that. I ended up using a 1.75mm hook, as I just couldn't grip the thread with anything finer.



I had grand plans of creating a diamondy shaped motif which would be the feature of the ring, but I just couldn't manage it. So the finished item is simple and dainty. I even tried adding a glass bead as the 'stone' of the ring, but nothing looked right. Everything looked so chunky and out of place.

So here it is... my anniversary gift to myself.



Now if I only knew how to crochet a fully functioning dishwasher.

which came first? the chicken or the egg?

in this instance... it was the egg!



this little guy was created for the march 'oddball of the month' competition over at ravelry

the theme was EASTER... although I hadn't originally planned to go quite this cutesy with it!

my original idea was a bit more off-beat... I won't share all of the details with you, because I might keep it up my sleeve for another occasion, but I will give you two words... RABBIT STEW

as you can see, I ended up way off track!

this little guy was crafted from some of the assorted embroidery threads I was talking about a couple of days ago... along with some scraps from felted jumpers

embroidery threads

over the years, I have worked on many embroidery projects... most of them were purchased in kit form

and those kits always contain way more thread than you could ever use

of course... I have never been able to part with any of it... and my collection has accumulated beyond that which I could use in a lifetime of embroidery



so, instead of throwing it away... it's time for me to find an alternate use for it!

I'm working on an easter theme challenge at the moment... and planning to try crocheting with these threads

the only problem is that they are all very short... each thread would only be around 12 - 18 inches long, which of course will mean lots of joins are required

on the plus side, there are so many different shades of every colour!

I'm thinking I might use some for my 'eye of horus' challenge too... stay tuned

mind you... there will certainly be threads left over, and I'm open to suggestions for other uses... what would you do with them?