A Blog Hop

I am very excited to be taking part in an around the world blog hop today. I had the privilege of being invited twice, by Kate from Just Pootling and Sarah from A Little Happy Place. Thank you ladies, very much. I will answer four questions about what I make and why, and then pass the baton on to two more bloggers at the end.

So, to answer the first question, what am I working on?

A blanket. (I've written about it here and here before.) I started it in August last year and I would like to finish it this summer. Maybe. This is the first really large blanket I've made and I do find it hard to keep the momentum going, I have to admit. It did me good to get out my blanket basket yesterday and lay out the completed squares, just to remind myself of how much I've actually done. I've finished 140 squares. When I say finished, I mean finished, ends darned in and everything.

I want the blanket to be big enough for a king size bed which means I need 225 of these in total, so that I have a 15 x 15 square. I have another 20 almost done, but that still leaves 65. Yes, 65 flipping squares... I am worried that the overall use of colour is too dark, and want to make sure the remaining squares have very bright or pastel third rounds.

Only one project on the go, that doesn't seem right, does it? But I've learnt over the years that too many works in progress annoy me. I'd rather unravel something than have it sitting in my project basket, taunting me. 

I do have three other projects which I have mentally committed to, but not begun yet, if that makes sense: a child's t-shirt with a monkey appliqued on it, ordered by a mum at school; a whole bundle of crocheted cotton face cloths - some will be given as teacher gifts, with a nice bar of soap, others will be donated to a stall at the school summer fair; a summer embroidery hoop, to complete my seasonal embroideries. 

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

Honestly, I don't really know, I'm not sure that I sit in any genre. I can crochet, knit and sew, but would say that embroidery or hand sewing and crochet are my strongest areas, and the crafts I take most pleasure in. Knitting does not come easily to me, but I persevere. Likewise, machine sewing is the least relaxing thing ever, but I love what can be achieved with it. When I look back over what I've made this year I see crochet, zigzags, items to be worn, items for the home, items to be used - but maybe there is a muted palate in there which are "my" colours.

I would say that the things I make are mine and, while I might use patterns by other people, or draw influence from other things I've seen, my choice of colours or yarn or fabric will always make it slightly different, will make it my own. I am often frustrated by the overly fussy, feminine look of so much handmade work, and the things I find most inspiring are when someone has taken an old craft but made something really modern and fresh with it. 

3. Why do I create what I do?

For three reasons: to relax, to save money, and to decorate the house. 

I find having a project in my hands while I'm watching tv or listening to the radio enormously relaxing. It just soothes me. I think it's good to have different projects for different moods. Clearly, when I'm in relaxing mode, I don't want anything that requires too much concentration, just something I can half concentrate on. This throw was just that kind of project.

Last Christmas we were watching our pennies very closely and so I set out to make as many Christmas presents as I could. Some of them are shown in the image below. A couple were tricky and time consuming, many pushed me out of my comfort zone, but we spent a fraction of what we normally would on presents last year. If you have the time, then making your own gifts can be cheaper. Although take care not to use very expensive yarns and fabrics if you want to save money!

I've always loved interior design and playing around with colour and pattern in the home is just another kind of crafting to me. I want to make our home look as nice as it can. It has to work hard - it's a three-bed semi with zero kerb appeal and not a lot of space, but that just makes it all the more challenging and all the more rewarding.

4. How does my creating process work?

I'm a bit of a magpie. I'll see something in a book or magazine, or on a blog or pinterest, and stash that idea away. It might be a whole project, like a quilt or cowl, or it might be the gilmmer of a beginning of an idea, just a sense that I like a certain colour or the way it was made. I'll jot it down in my notebook and I might start it the next day, or I might think about it for a year. Currently, I am very keen indeed on making a hexie, or English paper piecing, style quilt. I want it to be very mis-matched and homely looking, but I need to make sure that my choice of fabric and colour stop it being too shabby chic, too country in style, but keep it lighter and fresher. I have a huge stash of fabrics in small amounts, and I think this project would be an excellent way to use up some of that fabric.

So, now I must pass on the blogging baton and I am nominating two bloggers, both of whom will be posting their blog hop posts next Monday, the 30th June. 

Jennifer, of  Thistlebear, lives in New Mexico with her husband and children. I like to think we'll meet up some day as she is a kindred spirit. Her passions include homemaking, crochet, cooking, sewing and photography. She has chickens and she lives in the dessert and drinks possibly as many cups of tea a day as I do.

Col, of Hello Olive. lives in South Africa with her husband and two young sons. We've been blogging buddies for as long as I can remember and I always admire her style and eye for excellent design. She spent some time living in Scotland before recently moving back to Cape Town where she balances motherhood with her graphic design work. Her style is colourful and fresh, with strong mid-century influences and you can see her Etsy shop here and her Society6 shop here.