Tapestry Hat

I finished this hat a long time ago - indeed, it's now over a month since I gave it to my Mum as a birthday present. But exams have got in the way, and stopped my posting (but not my crocheting!) so this will just be short and sweet but with lots of pictures, because I've decided that that is what I like from a crochet blog!

The pattern is Chelsea Norquay's Pretender from Issue 1 Inside Crochet - fairly simple to follow, though I was never convinced that I was doing the right stitch. What really let me down was the yarn - Rowan Tapestry in shade Pot Pourri.

The colour is utterly divine, I love it. But the first skein I got had so many knots that I had to keep cutting it, meaning that I had lots of ends to weave in so the stitchwork isn't completely flat. The second skein was completely fine.

This was the first time I'd used 5.5mm hooks. The ones I have are plastic, which was an interesting experience. Very light, but strange when hooking as didn't feel quite as solid.

I think my eyes look rather awesome in that picture. Doesn't do much to show off the hat.

Yay. Hat. Awesome. Sleep now.

How to Crochet a Scarf Badly

Or, how to know when you’re not quite awake. My brain is full of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, not the scarf that I’ve restarted now that I have new yarn and have finished with two impending birthday gifts.

What I have managed to do in the last 2 days:

1)    1) Ripped it because I thought the stitches were in the wrong place and I was working in the wrong direction.

2)      2)Ripped it because the reason I thought the stitches were in the wrong place and I was working in the wrong direction was because I was actually working in the foundation, not carrying on where I had left off.

3)      3) Ripped it because I was working in back loops only rather than front loops only.

4)      4) Ripped it because I was doing the cluster stitch wrong.

I’m hoping my fifth attempt will actually work.

I’ve ordered interesting yarn (some Noro, Just Bamboo and Angora) so will post about them when they arrive.

Here’s a sneak peak of what I have been working on:

5 Things I’ve Learnt from Crochet

1. My 6 times table. It seems that almost every pattern that requires a circle: amigurumi, mats, hats etc. starts off with 6 chained in circle, which then has to be increased by the six times table (12, 18, 24, 30, 36 etc.). I haven't used my 6 times table properly since primary school, and as far as I'm concerned, times tables stop once you reach 12. It's been a little mindblowing trying to work out what 6 times 23 makes. (138 if you're wondering!)
   
2. What Granny squares are. A phrase that I have heard oft repeated is 'there's more to crochet than Granny squares' which is a great sentiment and very true. The problem is, before I started crocheting and investigating patterns, I didn't know what a granny square was. I assumed that crochet was like knitting but with a hook (that had always been my Mother's explanation to me, as I attempted for the umpteenth time to try and conquer knitting). Well, now I know what a granny square is, and that they are made by people who aren't grandmothers.
   
3. About yarns. Like merino is from a sheep, mohair from special goats and alpaca from...alpacas. More than that, that you can make yarn from plants like soya and bamboo. I actually have a use for soya now, rather than turning my nose up at its milk. Also about weighting – that DK is generally what I would have called 'wool' and that 4-ply is lighter, and aran is bulkier. Oh, and that aran isn't just a type of sweater. Yarn buying is seriously one of my favourite hobbies now, just looking at all the different shades and styles and colourways, and trying to decide what fits my perfect project.
   
4. Double crochet isn't scary. Nor is triple crochet, or half-double crochet. I spent so long limiting myself to certain patterns because I thought that they were complicated stitches, when actually all they require is an extra yarn over on the hook. Easy, and they open up a world of new possibilities.
   
5. I don't know many children. Amigurumi is great, make quick satisfying projects but in the end, all my friends are my age and aren't at the stage when they have children yet. There are only so many times you can give someone a stuffed elephant or bunny or owl before they smile sheepishly and go 'great, a stuffed toy'. What I really need are some nice children who would love and play with my amigurumi creations, but apparently they are in short supply. It's also rude to go up to long-lasting couples and ask them when they are going to start reproducing because I really want to have a go at making baby blankets, bonnets and bibs.
   

Summer Crochet

It is summer, I can hear the growl of a lawnmower, the tree outside my room has sprouted green leaves and lost insects keep bumping my window. Which brings me onto the question of what a crocheter is meant to make in the summer? Wool and woollen garments are essentially winterware, for cold days to keep you warm, and what I have been making: scarves, hats and gloves, are all silly accessories to wear in the sun. 

So what should I make? I've been looking at bags - I bought the Crochet Me! book a while ago because I liked the idea of the Felted Messenger Bag, but now looking at that long, repetitive single colour crocheting to make the back, I am not so convinced. Additionally, there is the logistical problem of the washing machines at uni not having the level of control required to do the felting. Basically, you can set it to wash for various different levels all having a descriptive name rather than temperature (Colours, Whites, Woollens etc.) and then the door is locked and you cannot stop it. Oh, and it's £1.40 a cycle. Not ideal for felting. 

I have been looking at Ellen Gormley's Traveller, but I'm not sure if I want a bag that is that style nor size - I have plenty (too many!) already.

Which leads me onto mesh style grocery bags such as the Knit-o-matic bags or Bernat market bag or Crochet Me's Cocoon Bag. But I already have a very functional shopping bag - it's from M&S and is made of a nylon(?)ish material that can be folded into a tiny bag and slipped into my handbag. I don't have to remember to lug around a huge bag with me, and so don't have that horrible guilt when the checkout person asks if I want a bag or not. Only problem is it says M&S on it, and my usual shop is Sainsbury's - it feels like a bit of a betrayal to carry round my Sainsbury's shopping in a M&S bag!

So I can't decide about bags. What else is there to make in the summer? Crocheting bikinis doesn't look overly appealing! I have been trying out different yarn types - soya and bamboo on Sea Shells scarf (yes, a scarf - but it is light and the thinner more cottony fibres make it feel a little more summery):

Sea Shells Scarf:

Pattern: Sea Shells Scarf by Alla Koval

Hook: 4mm (I think...)

Yarns: Main body: Sirdar, Just Soya in Hot Pepper - 1 skein

Edging: Twilley's of Stamford, Freedom  Gorgeous 4 ply in Green - didn't use much of this at all

Thoughts: The pattern was easy to follow, but I'm not convinced by my yarn or colour choice. This may be something that languishes at the bottom of my crochet box until am surprised by a birthday, or motivated enough to buy a yarn that goes with the Reddish-Purple of the main body better. The yarns were a little splitty and cottony, it works more as a showpiece than a functional scarf.

I've also been working through the Inside Crochet magazine. I mentioned Meadow Scarf last time:

Meadow Scarf:

   

Pattern: Meadow Scarf by Robyn Chachula

Hook: 5mm

Yarns: Wendy Mode DK in Teal and Vapour Blue - 1 skein each

Stylecraft Life DK in Mint - about half a skein

Thoughts: I love Mode DK, and I think Stylecraft Life DK is awesome as well (my local yarn store now stocks a whole menagerie of different colours in this affordable yarn that is great for amigurumi) but for this project I think I would have been better to go with something a little more fine and less woolly. Not necessarily the recommended yarn - I'm possibly a little bit of a rebellious new crocheter in that sense, but I do feel that if a project has been proved to be able to be made in a certain yarn, then I should be able to see if it can be made or even look better in a different yarn. The scarf has been given away as a birthday present, to a fairly happy friend (though the fact I made something for them seems to make most people happy) so I consider it to be a success.

 

I tried to conquer broomstick lace one Sunday morning, and consider myself somewhat successful - the trick was to keep the lace parts long by sliding them onto a ruler. I need to make myself a moustache for a murder mystery party tomorrow, and am considering using the same method, just not joining the lace together. Anyway, that resulted in the Broomstick lace Neckwarmer in good old Mode DK in Teal (yes, I have a lot left from the cardigan) and a 3.5mm hook:

I used leftover buttons from the cardigan to join it together, and I reckon it looks rather fine - if totally unseasonal!

I've been rather inspired by the Attic 24 blog -especially the use of colour and rainbows. I liked the circular pillows and mats so much that I decided to make my own mat based on the round cushion and bag (there is a tutorial somewhere on the site, but I can't find it). I realised that I didn't really have a rainbow of colours: just lots of green. Six shades which I used to make 8 rings, and is now serving as a mat for my fruit bowl. This also allowed me to practise with some new yarn: Debbie Bliss Pure Cotton DK. It was more robust than what I am used to, and a little bit more unwieldy, but was fairly easy to work without being stringy. I also used the Freedom Bamboo blend again, and am undecided about it - it does redefine what I think about yarn, being more like embroidery thread than wool, but it isn't awful.

I'm currently working on a few projects - each got put on hold because of yarn shortage. Chelsea Norquay's Pretender  beret in Rowan Tapestry was put on hold as the chain store that stocks yarn that I use had run out of the right shade. The internet order eventually arrived yesterday after a diversion to my parent's home. The first skein I used of this yarn was horrible - knotty and so unspun that it bound itself with other fibres. I then bought a different shade (thinking it was similar) and made something that I'll probably frog and it worked like a dream, and is such a lovely yarn. I hope these new skeins will work as well as that one.

I'm also making Megan Marshall's Acacia Scarf in Sirdar Crofter, which is meant to give a Fair Isle effect. As I am crocheting, and working in long lines, this isn't coming through successfully at all, but it is still an attractive blend of colours and makes an unusual looking scarf.

Finally, I started Amy O'Neill Houck's Babydoll Dress from Crochet Me in Rowan Pure Wool DK in the most fantastic deep purple. Partly because I wanted to see how the ribbing worked, partly because I wanted to make something from the Crochet Me book and partly because it was one of the few designs in the book where I had the correct yarn and hook on hand. I'm not sure if the dress will be very flattering to my figure, or whether I will finish because the yarn is rather expensive, but it's proving a worthy distraction.

And that's it for now! If anyone can recommend a bag pattern that doesn't require felting, isn't a handbag or a grocery bag then I would be very interested!

The Cardigan

So this post is to go through more details relating to the cardigan, and to show pictures. 

1) Picture:

It is probably going to be the only picture for now, so I reserve the right for it to be large. The location is Ronda in Spain, note that I am not always in such a fantastic location to show off my items. It was very windy - this is literally the only picture I have where my hair isn't in my face.

So, what does the photo show? 

1) It's quite a long cardigan - I had intended to make it the length that you can sit on it, but not too long. When crocheting, the back was shorter than the front, which caused me to make it a bit longer...and then it stretched! The shirt I'm wearing in the picture is more of a tunic - I have never been able to find a cardigan that completely covers it. As the photo shows - the cardigan (I think I need a better name for it...) does. 

2) One button. I bought seven, and fiddled with them, considered all the other photos of projects of the tutorial (by milobo) on Ravelry, and finally decided to use just one, if it doesn't work then I'll put in a proper button band, with five+ buttons, but as it is summer then I don't want anything too buttoned up. The button ended up next to the eyelet pattern, for ease.

It took 7 skeins of Mode DK in Teal, which is 350g - just less than the pattern asked for (it was something like 380g, but I took out about 5 rows of the yoke because I realised it was getting too long). I love the colour, I've used that colour several times for several projects and it makes me happy. 

In other news - I made the Meadow and Sea Shells scarves on holiday, and am now working with 'interesting yarns' - Sirdar's Crofter DK to make a scarf, and Rowan's Tapestry (a bit urgh) to make the Pretender Beret. But that will be posted later.

Cardigan...finished!

My crocheted cardigan is done, and goodness, it's taken quite a while (4 weeks) but it looks awesome - in my favourite colour, designed for me rather than a generic size in a shop, and well - I made it. That is a great sense of satisfaction. I plan to wear it tomorrow, to check that it's ok to wear, not just to make. I am going away so there will be a delay in pictures.

Whilst I am away, I am intending to tackle the Sea Shells Crochet Scarf and also the Meadow Scarf from Inside Crochet. I've already started the Sea Shells scarf in the Just Soya yarn I bought, as an attempt to find out what soya yarn is like (rather cotton-like and not at all like the acrylic/wool/merino yarn that I have been using!). I intend to do the picot edge in another new yarn I bought to try out - Twilley's Freedom Gorgeous 4 ply, which is a bamboo-nylon mix. I haven't used bamboo (or 4 ply!) before so this is all a learning experience. The yarn is a green colour, which I don't think fits too well with the dull red-pink of the Just Soya, but this is just a try-out to see if I like either yarn, rather than a big project.

I bought the Inside Crochet magazine yesterday, rather unexpectedly. I had walked into the WH Smith magazine section, commenting to my accompanying friend that I doubted they would have any crochet magazine. Instead they had both Crochet Today and Inside Crochet so I was both pleasantly surprised, and subjected to the arduous choice of which to buy. I really liked (and like) the Lacy Cropped Cardi on the cover of Crochet Today, but I own Crochet Me! which has the similar Comfy Cardi. I think I was also a little seduced by the bright pink of the cardi, I do tend to fall in love with colours rather than designs. In the end, Meadow Scarf, River Road Cardigan and Pretender Beret all looked like patterns that I might attempt, so Inside Crochet was the better choice. I also love the colours on the Ellie bolero, but sadly lack any suitable child to make it for. Now I just have to remember to read the magazine using my British crochet terms brain!

Waikiki Scarf

It was Mother's Day last weekend, so I was finally able to give the scarf to my Mum. And as she has worn it since that day, then I consider it a success.

Made out of Stylecraft Life DK in Rose, with 5mm hook. It needed about a skein and a half, I think, though I didn't start with a full skein so I can't be sure. It was however, the first time I had finished a skein, so got to practise joining strands without knots.

I didn't quite understand the pattern to begin with, which meant that the first line is in the wrong place. But once I had worked it out, then pattern was easy to follow and the strawberry design has come out well.

Am now working on the cardigan, whose gauge square I made earlier. Bought 10 skeins of Wendy Mode DK in Teal (and one in blue) so am wondering how many I will actually get through!

Photos:

Overview of repeating designs

The tassels. Which took quite a long time and refuse to lie flat.
Close up of one of the strawberries.
Close up of tassels.

The whole scarf. 

Alice II

A little update on how Alice is getting on. Mum came to visit a few weeks ago, and so we visited the sewing/knitting show in town and I purchased some buttons. Thus Alice no longer has scary scraps as eyes! I then made a knob of the cream wool as a nose, and used some burgundy for a mouth. I'm still not sure about the burgundy, but I tried the pink (same as hat) and that seemed to be worse, so burgundy it is!

After having the head sitting on my desk for a few weeks, I finally attached it to the body and styled the hair. I've decided, now that I can double crochet, to make the dress 

but that now seems like a long term plan. I'm fairly happy with the way that Alice is now!

Alice looking pensive:

Close up of the face, especially the button eyes. They don't quite match the clothing, but I fell in love with the colour.

Back of the hair, as an Alice I did consider putting her hair in an Alice band before settling on a double ponytail thing. Totally escapist - I always wanted a doll with whom I could fiddle with the hair in this way as a child. 

Hat & Gauge Square

Starting with the hat, this was the Cranium pattern from Crochet Me. While the picture on the site seems to show the both loop band well, I used Life by Stylecraft in Rose, which is an acrylic/wool blend, meaning that it wasn't the nylon as shown on the pattern. This doesn't show the both loop band very well at all. I added the flower so that it matches well with the scarf. Not entirely sure where I got the flower pattern from as I tried so many different designs that all ended up looking the same. The flower is Hayfield Bonus DK in purple, as used on the scarf. I found the hat to be a fairly boring, repetitive project and do wish that I had tried something a little more adventurous.

On the adventurous note, I have decided to have a go at making a cardigan, following the instructions for Top Down Yoke Cardigan on Without Seams.  As it is likely to be a long project, I've decided to use my favourite yarn so far -Wendy Mode DK Merino in Teal Green. I used what I had left from making Alice to make the gauge square, and intend to buy some more when I return home in a week, or order it off the internet. I am aware that crocheted fabrics tend to make heavier garments than knits, but all my favourite jumpers are chunky knits anyway so I don't think it will be too disappointing in terms of thickness.

To tide me over until then I am making my Mum a scarf for Mother's Day. Will post about it later, but am a little excited because I finished my first ever skein on this project, and had to go and buy more! Also am using double and treble crochet extensively, which is also exciting and makes me think that I have progressed beyond amigurumi. 

Sleepy Sarah Updated & A Photo

So I had a brain wave about an hour before I was going to give 'Sleepy Sarah' away. I gave the doll to an English student, and I suddenly thought it would be great if the doll had a tiny book in its hands. Thus:

A book! Quite badly crocheted with 3mm hooks, but it looks fine and is detachable if she wants to get rid of it.

My friend and I also went off being tourists round college and town yesterday, along with many bad photos I took this:

Now I have to wait for springtime proper when I can take that photo with plants that are actually alive!