Jan May

The weather has most definitely got chillier in the last few weeks.  Our Indian Summer has finally come to an end.  I found this lovely variegated yarn at the Stitch and Knit show at Alexandra Palace last month. It's 100% wool, and was a great bargain - only £3.50 per 100g ball.  This scarf used two balls. I didn't have a pattern, just knew I wanted an infinity scarf, in a pattern that would work up quickly.  I guessed I had cast on enough stitches.   Likewise, I hoped a 6mm hook would be suitable.  Luckily it's turned out fine.  Just right to wrap around twice, and deep enough to wear as a hood without leaving the back of my head freezing. The yarn I used was a chunky weight.  If you would like to make one for yourself, it was super quick to do.  Finished it in 3 evenings, with no concentration necessary..... easy to do whilst watching the television.   If anyone would like to crochet one themselves, it's very s...

Sometimes I amaze myself!   For my sheer inability to finish things.  I started these gloves two years ago. Dragged them out last year - got sidetracked - threw them back in WIP vat. Yesterday's blog featuring crochet glove patterns got me thinking about them.   Dragged them out again. Finished in 5 minutes!   Good grief - I am a numpty.   Originally the sleeves after picking up the pieces after a fight between a washing machine and a cashmere jumper.  Guess who won? The resultant densely felted loveliness was not about to be wasted.  The body of the sweater became a peg bag - which is now much used and in need of replacement.  A shame as I love it - and must remember another time to line with stiff fabric to retain the shape.  And the sleeves were destined to become fingerless mitts.  So simple to do - I simply cut off just below the shoulder seam, and the resulting diagonal made a lovely shaped cuff when turn...

By golly - it's chilly!   Although it's not snowing - it's definitely the weather for protecting the digits. I'm not sure where mine are - having currently located one glove...... and I'm not as brave as Michael Jackson was to adapt it as a fashion "look".  Likely to remain with hands jammed firmly into pockets for the forseeable future.   Having found these fabulous free crochet patterns though - I feel an urge to get hooking.........   Note - you may need to be a Ravelry member to source their patterns.  Well worth signing up as many are free - and you can store any patterns you like in your own "library"  And - if you haven't entered into the world of Ravelry - be warned - you may be lost for some time!  It's a whole world of yarny loveliness.  A group I started some years back now has over 2000 members, and continues to carry on it's Oddballs theme quite merrily.   also - remember there is a difference between...

a simple heart pattern - two make a lovely little gift bag.  I made this one for an online swap  There's something about crochet that I absolutely adore.  For me it beats knitting hands-down.  I can do both, but I'd much rather be following a crochet pattern.  I suppose the first thing that comes to mind when you mention crochet is a granny-square blanket - surely everyone can remember there being one in the family at some time or other.  The perfect "use-up-your-yarn" project, that can be made with hardly any concentration whilst sitting watching the television.  Oh - but crochet can be so much more! You can achieve so much with just the basic stitches, and it's really easy to pick up.  Once you have grasped single, double and treble crochet - you have all the stitches you need to make a wide variety of items. A basic blanket (I made for the dog basket) - so simple to do If you've always wanted to try crochet, but been baffled by any ...