Winter Project - Granny Stripe Blanket

This month I am working on Angus's blanket. There is something comforting about having a blanket to crochet, especially in January, and the warmth and colour are welcome on these cold, grey days.

I've been working on this project since the summer and have not always found it the most exciting WIP, I have to confess, but I think I'm nearing the halfway mark now and that - plus motherly guilt - has given me some impetus to complete this project. I mentioned in my last post - and thank you so much for your comments on that - how I am feel a little stuck in a crochet rut, a little in need of a challenge, and this project is weighing me down a bit.

I think that one of the nicest things about this blanket - how easy it is - is also the problem. If I'm tired, this doesn't wake me up, it sends me to sleep. It's the crochet equivalent of cocoa. Sometimes the repetitive pattern is soothing, yes, but sometimes it's dull too. You can't have it all ways.

I am happy with the colours though. I had a wobble this week that there was too much pink in it for a boy's blanket, then got cross with myself for being so completely, gender-stereotypically, ridiculous. But yes, I like the colours. Those ones below - mustard, grey, white, teal and olive green - all together make me feel both content and inspired.

I worked out that if I crocheted two rows of one colour a night (about an hour's crochet) then I could complete this blanket in a couple of months. Probably even by the end of February. It would be nice to have this on Angus's bed before spring rolls around.

For this blanket, I am using a mixture of mostly Stylecraft Special DK with some Deramores Studio DK and a 4 mm hook.

The Stylecraft Special DK colours are:

silver

graphite

white

mustard

mocha

parchment

lime

petrol

meadow

boysenberry

The Deramores Studio DK colours are below with Stylecraft suggestions for a close match in brackets:

blush (raspberry or pomegranate)

topaz (aster or turquoise)

indigo (midnight)

I am joining in with my friend Jennifer of Thistlebear's Winter Project Link Party. Do visit her beautiful blog if you don't already know it for some crafty inspiration. 

2016: A Year of Making

It's that time again, when I like to look back and see what I made over the course of a year and in 2016, like the year before, it was overwhelmingly things for our home. There were a few gifts, and items for myself - clutch bag, yoga bag, socks, hat - but mostly it was napkins and crochet. This time last year I said I wanted to cross stitch and embroider more, and I certainly did that. I also talked about starting another quilt, and I didn't do that. 

I've arranged the finished projects into collages with links to the blog posts below. You could probably guess the seasons without the titles; blankets and socks in the autumn and winter, flowers and plants in the spring and summer, and a lot more crafting happens in the colder months than the warmer ones. 

{ January, February, March }

January

Crochet Bowls

Bathmat

February

Granny Squares Baby Blanket

March

Midsummer Sprigs Sampler

Badger Jumper

Cedar River Blanket

{ April, May, June, }

April

Large Granny Squares Blanket

Felt Pompoms

May

Cross stitched Napkins

Tablet Case

June

Floral Cross Stitched Napkins

Chevron Clutch Bag

{ July, August, September }

July

August 

September

Plant Stand

Yoga Mat Bag

Hanging Planter

{ October, November, December }

October
Autumn Leaf Garland

November
Hat
Socks
Stockings

December

Advent Calendar
Christmas Napkins
Clay Decorations
Koala and Chimpanzee

I think I'm most pleased with my socks overall. And it was good to remember how much fun a quick and easy project can be, like the leaf garland and hanging planter. Not everything has to take months and months - sometimes a few hours crafting is just as enjoyable and rewarding, perhaps even more so.

I started 2016 with an embroidery and a couple of blankets to complete, and it seems that I'm starting 2017 in almost exactly the same way, with a cross stitch pattern and Angus's blanket in my project basket. But those two projects aside, my crafting plans for the coming year include:

• crocheting myself a jumper or cardigan - I very much like this pattern
• having a bash at dress making - I saw a colleague today in this dress and was instantly drawn to it
• trying some more crochet sock patterns - this book appeals
• possibly starting an English Paper Piecing quilt. Or some kind of quilt, anything to use up some of my scraps of fabric.
• Mastering colour work in crochet, mainly so that I can make these stunning mittens

I feel a bit stuck in a crochet rut, and I'm hoping the socks, clothes and colour work will provide new inspiration. I also think that I need nudging out of my comfort zone of crochet and cross stitch, and I'm hoping some simple dress making might help with that. We'll see. Anyway, that was fun to put together, I hope you enjoyed the overview. Thank you for letting me share my love of crafting with you all here - it really is one of my most favourite things to do and knowing you all get that is wonderful.

If you are interested, you can look back at previous creative round-ups below:

2015

2014

2013

2012

Animals for Christmas

Hello there! Happy New Year, although that already feels like a long time ago. Thank you so much for your comments on my last post. I felt rather overwhelmed by your honesty and kindness, and to think that this blog brings a small bit of happiness into your life makes me feel inordinately touched and pleased. 

I have been meaning to show you the toys I crocheted Bella and Angus for Christmas, but time and winter light keep conspiring against me and taking photos has been challenging. But they are delightful little critters, and I am really happy with how they turned out. 

Both patterns are from the absolutely brilliant Edward's Menagerie which I cannot recommend highly enough. I made the chimpanzee for Angus, and he has been named Charlie. If his left arm looks a little wonky in that picture, I blame the dog, who I caught playing with Angus's soft toys. Luckily Molly doesn't shred them, just tosses them around.

And this is Kiki the Koala, for Bella.

I will admit that making the children handmade gifts does add a certain amount of pressure to my Christmas preparations and I would certainly make life easier for myself by not bothering with things like this. But I like doing it, they don't really take that long to make, and it pleases me that my children still ask for and enjoy receiving a toy which I have made. Who needs free time anyway?

How cute are those fat tummies? My tummy looks a bit like that at the moment since my daily mince pie habit is still ongoing. 

I crocheted these animals using Drops DK (I forget exactly which one) and a 3mm hook, so they are quite little compared to the dog and polar bear I made last year, which are virtually the same pattern but worked with thicker yarn and a bigger hook.  I much prefer them smaller and think they are rather adorable in their dinkier size. I also really like the matt effect of the slightly rough woollen yarn on the two I made this year. 

The faces are definitely the trickiest part of these animals and it's very hard to get them looking symmetrical, but I think the wonkiness adds charm and character.

These photos tickle me. They look like animal mug shots, or maybe passport photos.

I had to hunt these animals down from the children's beds where they currently reside. They are much loved and cuddled which makes me glow a bit with maternal pride.

I am putting together an overview of all my makes from 2016 which I will share with you over the weekend, and I'm really happy to add these two to the list.

I hope everyone is well and adjusting to life and routines after the Christmas break. We are all back at school and work but it hasn't been too painful so far - it's Friday tomorrow, after all. 

Happy New Year

I'm not sure that I think 2016 was a particularly good year, if I'm honest. My faith in politics and humanity have been shaken more than once, and I don't think Britain is the country I thought it was this time last year. Personally, we've had our ups and downs over these last twelve months as I'm sure you have too - it can't all be roses every day.

But I spent some time going back over my posts and photos from the last year and there are many moments of joy and happiness, and moments of intense calm and peacefulness too. Whether it's at home cooking or walking in the woods or by the sea, family celebrations or creative projects, there has been a lot to celebrate and certainly a good deal to be thankful for in 2016

Spring

walking in the bluebell-filled woods // finally completing my granny squares blanket // a new kitchen // working hard in our garden 

*

Summer

enjoying our back garden // a wonderful camping trip in Derbyshire with friends // an amazing family holiday in the Loire Valley with family

*

Autumn

walks on the beach // cooking, lots and lots of cooking // walks in the woods // a holiday on the North Norfolk coast

*

Winter

the changing landscape and wintry light // my first pair of socks // the arrival of Molly // family traditions

How was 2016 for you? Do you have plans or resolutions for next year? I'd love to know what they are. But I hope that 2017 brings you peace and happiness and wish you a very happy new year. Thank you so much for reading, for your interest and friendship. You are a lovely lot.

These In-Between Days

Hello! Did you have a good Christmas? I hope so. Ours rushed by in a blur but it was all good, if a little busy. I was lucky enough to receive some great presents; useful things like some excellent new gardening tools - my mum actually wrapped up a hoe in wrapping paper - and luxurious things like new jumpers, posh chocolates and necklaces. I also received a cheese plant. How I love my new cheese plant! (If you think that's random, my mum bought my dad a chainsaw, for his wood store. He is delighted.) Bella and Angus had a lovely time and basked in the attention of adoring grandparents. Angus's crocheted chimpanzee was finished at 10 pm on Christmas Eve. We all ate a lot. Molly has quite a taste for roast turkey, it would appear, and is shameless in her attempts to steal turkey legs (straight off the joint resting on the kitchen work top), turkey sandwiches and leftover meat chopped ready for a risotto. 

*

I do like these days between Christmas and New Year. With every year that goes by, I've come to appreciate and value them more and more. The build up to this time of year is hectic, often frantic. The main event - especially if you're hosting - is plain exhausting. But Boxing Day I look forward to every year; delicious leftovers to eat up, a long walk on the beach or in the woods, presents to enjoy. And the days that follow are even better as we settle into a quiet rhythm of gentle pottering and relaxing. Today our house guests left and while we were sorry to see them go, I did enjoy slowly straightening up the house, looking at and putting away lovely gifts, opening windows, vacuuming and mopping, sorting out the fridge and planning meals that use up all that turkey and ham. The children drifted off to do their own thing, play with their new toys, read their new books. The dog slept in her basket. It was, for the first time in many weeks, peaceful.

I realise I am very lucky not to work over Christmas and, having worked through many exhausting Christmases in retail, I know that not everyone gets to sit around eating chocolates and watching TV at this time of year. But I am so looking forward to the next few days before our next lot of guests arrive for New Year. I have some new books that need my attention, and a jigsaw to keep me quiet. I love jigsaws. Our daily dog walks continue to be a joy (the frost in the woods today!) and we are out and about every day. The weather the last few days has been perfect, cold, clear and still with frosty mornings and beautiful sunsets. I'll leave you with a photo of a frosty umbellifer I snapped on my phone this morning.

Christmas Eve

Ah, Christmas Eve, I love you. If it's not done by now, then it doesn't matter. So liberating. Time to relax, pour a drink (some nice fizz we bought at a vineyard on holiday in France back in August) and crack open the snacks.

We are hoping for a quiet, relaxing few days with family; lots of eating and drinking, dog walking, chatting, reading, possibly some crochet. 

Merry Christmas, you lovely lot. I hope you have a joyful and peaceful time with your loved ones.

Beach Walks and Birthdays

Phew, it's been a old busy week here. Between Bella's birthday, Christmas preparations, seeing family and running around after the dog, each day has been packed to the limit. Bella turned ten on Sunday and at her request we went into Chichester to spend her birthday money and to Pizza Express for lunch. My mum threw a little family tea party later in the afternoon and we all gathered together for cake, including Molly, who stole a whole slice right off the dining room table.

On Tuesday we held Bella's party at a local gymnastic centre, and they had an hour on the equipment, supervised by an instructor, followed by a party lunch with all her school friend and cousins. It worked really well. It was, of course, completely exhausting (I do not particularly enjoy hosting children's birthday parties) but Bella enjoyed herself immensely which is all that matters. I thought her choice of birthday cake this year - chocolate, decorated with strawberries - was a grown up choice. Her tastes are changing, although she was over the moon with her Sylvanian Families toys and new doll, so she is still my little girl, even if she is now in "double digits".

We had the most glorious walk on the beach at the weekend. It was Molly's first proper visit to the sea and is was wonderful to watch her sniff and explore. I would love to watch her run on the sand and I really hope we can let her off her lead at some point in the future, but unfortunately her recall training is non-existent at the moment. We have removed her muzzle now and she is happy to sniff and play with larger dogs but not fond of little ones - still work to do there. But what I noticed is that we had four lovely conversations with other dog owners on Saturday - people old and young who we wouldn't normally chat to - about our dog, their dogs, the warm weather (the kids were in t-shirts!) and it was really nice. 

I've found our daily dog walks a welcome moment of calm in these busy days. It's a juggle to fit them in but, once we're out, it's very restorative. We discovered some woodland with a stream running through it just five minutes from our house, and it's become my favourite daily walk with Molly before work. Usually I march us around (I've lost four pounds since we became dog owners!) but yesterday I went with my sister and nephew, and we lingered down there for ages while the kids paddled in the stream, clambered around the woods, looked for big sticks and generally got completely filthy. It was great.

Something shifted today and I felt some of the Christmas pressure lift. My parents took Bella, Angus and Molly out for a walk this morning and then gave them lunch, giving me around four hours alone in the house. Four precious, sweet, blissful hours where no-one shouted "Mum!" or had to be let out for a wee in the garden. It was just wonderful. I basically cleaned everything and then wrapped lots of presents - nothing glamourous, but it was so good to have some time alone to get on with jobs unhindered. My to do list is now shorter and, while there is a lot to do tomorrow (the food shop, collect the turkey, visit my Grandad, ready the house for John's parents who are coming to stay for Christmas), I think there will less frantic rushing around and hopefully a few moments to relax and enjoy this time of year. 

Do you remember that I was crocheting a koala and chimpanzee for Bella and Angus? Well, Bella's koala is finished and wrapped, but Angus's chimpanzee....oh dear. I've crocheted one leg so far and it's highly unlikely it will be done in time for Christmas. I told him this and he said brightly, "It's OK Mummy, you can give it to me on Boxing Day!" I didn't have the heart to tell him that it probably won't be ready by Boxing Day, either.

*

My fabulous new table cloth is from here and Angus's badger print is from here - these are not sponsored links, just two independent makers/sellers that I like and you might too.