Autumn Crochet

I like to crochet a lot at the best of times, but autumn always makes me want to crochet more. It's the thought of all those scarves and cowls, wrist warmers and bobble hats. So tempting.

I recently made a maple leaf garland for a friend and colleague who teaches in Maple Class. It was such a nice project; enough detail to hold my attention, but not too tricky, short enough that is only took a week or so but still pleasing to see those leaves pile up in their gorgeous, rich colours. It was also a good excuse to use up the large amount of Drops Karisma yarn I have left over from crocheting various animals and birds.

The pattern (from here) really stood out when they were blocked, and then I just attached each leaf to a length of crochet chain stitch.

I've also been making pumpkins. You will probably know by now that I don't, for various reasons, really go in for Halloween, but I do go in for autumn in a Big Way, and pumpkins say autumn to me so much. The pattern for these is from the book I used for the crocheted fruit and vegetables but you can easily find many free patterns on Ravelry. These were a delight to make and another great way to use up a lot of leftover yarn I had in various colours and weights. You essentially crochet a sphere shape, then use long stitches to create the segments. The moment when the ball of yarn turns into a vegetable is really fun - well, to me, anyway. 

I love these colours. All leftovers but my kinds of colours, and they work well together.

Totally out of the blue, Bella requested I make her a pair of wrist warmers. I nearly had to sit down because Bella never wants me to make her anything to wear, mainly because of how embarrassing I am, but also because she finds wool (even acrylic blends and the softest, most expensive baby cashmerino) unbearably itchy against her skin. So when she asked for some blue and white wrist warmers, I was on it straight away. 

Anticipating that these might not ever get worn, I kept it simple, using Lucy's pattern as a starting point, and crocheting two squares which I then stitched up the sides, leaving a gap for a thumb hole. 

She likes them, and finds the wool is OK on her hands and wrists, where perhaps the skin isn't as sensitive as her neck, and was very happy to model them for me on the proviso that she could drink the hot chocolate afterwards.

Next on my list is a rabbit, again for school, and then a cowl for myself. I have my eye on this pattern and have just the right amount of leftover cashmerino DK in grey, black, blush pink and mustard, and I'm looking forward to starting it. I don't need another cowl, but it'll go really well with my new black leather biker jacket which I didn't need either, but I'm forty next birthday, so I feel it's important to start the mid-life crisis in plenty of time.

I realise that I've given away a lot of my crochet lately; a baby blanket, the box of fruit, the maple leaf garland, Bella's wrist warmers, and then back in the summer an owl and the box of vegetables. I don't mind this at all. So long as I'm crocheting what I want when I want (which is so different to the simmering resentment that comes from making something that you don't really want to make, that your heart just isn't in, for someone because you didn't want to say no...) then I'm happy. I feel like our house might be at Peak Crochet sometimes. I mean, do we really want or need any more crochet cushions or blankets? At the moment, I find that it's a pleasure to enjoy the process of crochet and then give it away to someone who will continue to enjoy it more still. Until I see a pattern that I absolutely have to make, of course, and then I'll be straight down to my local yarn shop. What about any other fellow crafters, do you give away much of what you make?