Crocheting Myself a Winter rug

Just a few piccies of my crochet squares - taken with a cool app called Vingette on my phone (the HTC dream) It gives you all these funky 'Toy Camera' effects (doens't beat the real thing, but it's fun)

This one is my fave Square. I got inspiration from another blogger who did a cushion from these colours, but I compltely lost the URL - if you did it, let me know and I'll link you!!! Sorry!

On a Roll

"Square Target" block#3 - I'm loving the colours in this one.

Still a little wonky around the edge, but I'm definitely getting the hang of the hook size and yarn type. Never realised how much of a difference pure wool makes!!

By George, I think she's got it!

Well, it seems the crochet gods heard my prayers, and delivered me some words of wisdom through the divine Amy!

I have improved my counting skills and have also worked out when I need to crochet into spaces, and when I need to crochet into those little chain loops.

My attempt at "Lacy Cross" wasn't too shabby at all-

Thos holes are a little skewiff but otherwise ok


But I am mostly impressed with my Briar Rose!!

Here's how it should look...

And here's my attempt!!! One of the spoke is a little wonky, but other than that I'm very happy with it! Especially as it's a harder one than the others I've had a go at!

My Creative Space Thursday

It seems that most of you were tickled pink by my craftastrophies!! So, by popular demand here is the first train-wreck (this one was much better than the blue attempt- not so much hideousness!)

This is AFTER being blocked too!! I’m still puzzled by the “growth” in the top left corner. The whole block reminds me of those tests that were done on Spiders under the influence, and the webs they built…

Thankyou all - especially Amy for your help! Turns out I TOTALLY miscounted from row one, putting the entire thing out of whack.

But I do feel that I need to show proof that I CAN do the granny square. So for my Creative Space this week (which happened to be the lounge) I channelled the uber-creative Kirsty and attempted her “mini granny” (as seen here)…..

Turned out pretty swish I think!

Not as easy as it looks….

After looking through this Flickr pool, I was possessed to purchase the 200 crochet blocks book. “Pfft…I can totally do these” I naively thought.

Now, I can say that I think I have mastered the Granny square – but that’s where my crochet talent ends. Attempt one was so disgraceful, I couldn’t even photograph it. Working in rows isn’t my bag it seems.

So, with my head hanging low, I’ll show you attempt number Two. It’s EVEN WORSE than attempt one!!

What it SHOULD look like (another fine example of it here)

What it DOES look like......Oh god! It's hideous!!!!

I think I have tension issues. I’m worried I’m not holding the hook right, or weaving the yarn around my finger right. I have a feeling I crochet into the wrong holes. I think my yarn and hook choice are mismatched and I know for sure I can’t count stitches properly.

Oh help me crochet gods, help me!!

My Creative Space Thursday

My creative space this week has been sitting in the waiting room at the hospital.

I'm playing Nurse Nancy to my dear Mr Honi - and before you ask; No, there are no costumes involved!!!

He had surgery yesterday to strip the bad veins from his legs. This picture doesn't look nearly as bad as it looks in real life - so many little nicks and cuts, and they're all sticking to the TED stocking. Poor Mr Honi.

So, sitting in the waiting room at the hospital yesterday was perfect time to work on a bit of crochet. I've started on my first attempt of the 200 blocks - seems i need to brush up on ending my rows though, as I've not quite mastered that yet. I'm fine with Granny squares, but working in rows is a new skill for me.

Oh, and I was getting a hand cramp the other day, and rather than go out and buy a new hook, I fashioned myself a wide grip from Fimo - and viola no more cramping!! What do you think?

Jump on Over to Kootoyoo for more Creative Spaces!

My Creative Space Thursday

For my Creative Space today, I could show you the complete mess that is my craft room.......with everything that was on our shelf, that is now sprawled all over the bed.....

Or, I could show you my poor old dining table that has been converted into an office / craft table / sewing table / Etsy shop storage......

But I'd much prefer to show you my crochet project which will be another blanket for Neicephew.

We're moving house in less than a month, and the place is starting to look like a bomb hit it. We are also in the process of cleaning out the place we are moving into, which is my grandparents place. We have funky vintage goodies coming out our ears!! Sooo......

Stay tuned for a Vintage, blogtastic giveaway!!!

PLUS, there are new Vintage items loaded on my Etsy shop!

Arrrr...that be tray-shure

(if you speak in a pirate voice, that heading DOES make sense!!)

I was going to buy some lovely yarn and wool at the fair, but I decided against it as it was all very beautiful wool and I felt I just couldn’t do it justice with my amateur crocheting. So, I was planning a little trip to Big W to stock up on a heap of coloured wools- until I found this!!!

Our Family is in the process of cleaning out my darling Grams place (she's ok - just in a nursing home for the permanently bewildered) . Anyway I was going through a cupboard and I hit the mother-load treasure. 2 whole boxes full of wool for granny squares!!! There’s a heap of baby wool too which is very handy as my new brother-in-law’s wife is due in July!!

uumm..hello..is this thing on??

It's been a bit tricky trying to get back into the swing of posting on a regular basis. We've settled back in to our daily routine so things are starting to return to normalcy.

The good news is that Mr Honi and I bought a new computer for Home on the weekend - which means I don't have to a) drag my laptop home from work each night or b) use my coffee / lunch time at work to post!

I still haven't managed to read all of the posts waiting for mr in bloglines. I will get there - I promise!!

On a side note - I'm now a total whizz at crocheting granny squares (if I do say so myself) but I can do it watching tv! I'm going to try and branch out to some trickier patterns this week. Here's a pic of my 1/4 done scarf





Plus, I am SUPER excited about going to Brown Owl this Thursday!!

My new FAVE book!!

As I missed the Brown Owls crochet night, I decided to have another stab at learning to crochet! My first attempts resembled mini beret's as they kept curling. Plus my fingers ached from not holding the cord correctly.

So, I thought I should probably read some proper instructions rather than just "winging it". This attempt was a miserable failure too (in hindsight, I blame the instructions I found on the Internet).

Then a miracle happened. I bought the wonderful Meet me at Mikes book (here) and within one hour of following Pip's easy directions, I made this little beauty, and even maned to change colours!!!!

The wool I used was some cheapy stuff from BigW but I love it because it changes colours every inch or so.

My Creative Space Thursday

My Creative space this week, it filled with tissues, butter-menthols and codral clod and flu!!

I decided to drag myself from the couch to the table yesterday in an attempt to make myself feel a bit better from this nasty cold. As I only have 16 SLEEPS UNTIL THE WEDDING!! (OMG!!) I knew that I had to face my fears and finish this quilt so I can give it to the bub for her christening! I surprised myself and actually did a REALLY good job of machine quilting! I had visions of puckering, gathering, pulled stitches and general disasters, but it's turned out really, really well!!

Well that was until my sewing foot, decided to go a bit wonky and move itself under the needle which meant I sewed through plastic! Once I had done that, the needle continued to gravitate towards that hole and I kept on sewing through the hole. I used my bejeweller hot stick thing to melt that little bit of the plastic away, but it's sewing all wonky now.

Has anyone else ever had this problem?? Is it possible to quilt without this foot?? I only have ONE ROW to finish!!! I'm soo frustrated!!

Onto more frustration......because of my lurgy filled body, I had to say No to the Brown Owls meet last night. I was soo sad because I had been looking forward to it since the last one! Anyway, they were learning to crochet, so I decided to try it for myself.

I definitely haven't done it correctly though, because all my corners rounded themselves up.

So, it's now become a raspberry beret for my beloved Blythe

This is a great game, thanks Kirsty! If you want to play, hop on over here!