Aimee crochet

I have mentioned a few times about my daughters fascination with crochet. When I crochet she plays with my hook case and rearranges everything. She particularly likes my stitch markers and she seems to have hidden most of them somewhere. I am still searching. She insists that everything I make is for her and gets quite annoyed when she sees me crochetting something that is not pink. LOL She often demands wool and takes one of my hooks and sits next to me and pretends to crochet. Sometimes I go to get a cup of tea to return to her sitting in my chair working dilligently on my project. LOL Hence why I always pull the yarn through my last loop. Here are a couple of snap shots of her in action this afternoon. She has claimed a little flower I made as her own and I think she even believes she made it. :D

Natcromo - Freeform

I have never created freeform crochet before but I have often admired it. I particularly like Prudence Mapstones freeform.

http://www.knotjustknitting.com/

I would love to do one of her classes at Thread n More. One day, maybe for Sheryns birthday, or Mothers Day. Anyway I digress......

Kaet from Ravelry has created a freeform activity where we do a little freeform everyday. Everyday we change hook sizes or yarn and do a stitch according to a random number selector. If you want to have a go you can find the instructions here. This is not a Ravelry link so anyone can get involved.

http://kaet.wordpress.com/natcromo-freeform-cal-pattern/

If you are a member of Ravelry here is the link to the project page on Ravelry so you can see everyones progress.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/natcromo-freeform-game-cal-pattern/people?page=2

And here are a couple of photos taken so far of mine.

Week 1

Week 2

I have combined this project with the March Eco Challenge on Intuitive Parenting

http://www.intuitiveparenting.info/showthread.php?t=1772&page=2



Eilleen challenged us all to Upcycle; that is to make something worthless into something worth something. I pledged to do something with all of my wool scraps. Some of my scraps are up to half a ball and some are only as long as my arm. I have made more colour changes than Kaet has instructed us to as a result.

The kids have really gotten into this, especially Aimee. She often brings me the wool, project and my hook case to the computer. If she sees me working on it she will pull out the next colour she thinks I should use and she gets the scissors ready to cut the wool for me when I end it. LOL She is a budding hooker and I have no doubt she will be able to make something with a hook before she can read. LOL

Anyway, I am really enjoying it. It is a different sort of crochet for me as I don't have a vision of what it will turn out like or be.

I am thinking it will make a great play rug for a baby. I can see a baby crawling or rolling over to grab some part of the rug that has taken their eye. The other thing I have considered is making a denim bag out of an old denim skirt I have and sewing the finished piece onto it.

So it is my first freeform......

What do you think? What should I make out of it? I am open to all suggestion + I am curious to see who reads my neglected blog. LOL

Easy Peasy Headband

I made this really simple headband the other night. It is the second one I have made and both have turned out really soft and hold my hair back well. I used a ribbed stitch which I also like to think of as crochet elastic, as it has a bit of stretch in it. I use this stitch a lot. It seems to be a foundation stitch of my patterns. This is super quick and easy, so perfect for anyone new to crochet.

Easy Peasy Headband

8 ply cotton - not a great amount is needed. This is a great way to use up left over yarn.

Size 4mm Hook

Sc = single crochet

To Begin:

Chain 5

Row 1: Sc in second chain from hook and sc in each ch to end (4 sc) 1ch, turn.

Row 2: Skip first sc. Sc in the back loop each sc, ending with a sc in the turning 1 ch. (4 sc) 1 ch, turn.

Row 3 - 68 : Repeat row 2.

Fasten off.

As you are nearing the 68th row check the headband by wrapping it around your head. When you have about a 2.5cm gap left between the ends, without stretching, then it is big enough.

Join the ends together with sc and weave in the ends.

Viola! One headband ready to wear.

I embellished my headband with a simple heart. The free pattern can be found here

http://www.vogueknitting.com/patterns/free/2008/crochethearts.pdf

Here is another great website with a free pattern for embellishing crochet.

http://myoriginalpatterns.blogspot.com/2005/12/appliques-for-baby-items.html

If you would prefer your headband to be wider, then just add more chains to your foundation. I made one for Mum using 9 chains to begin with. She says it is the perfect width.

Easy Bunny

Just in time to get started for Easter......

I found this great little tutorial on how to make this bunny. It is a great project for someone just starting to knit or crochet and it works up easily in one night. If you already have gauge squares then you can use those too.

http://www.artsy-fartsy-mama.com/index.php?itemid=162

It is a knitting pattern, but as it starts as a square it can easily be adapted to crochet.

I used a 4mm hook and 8 ply wool and single crochet for mine. The pattern does need a bit a stretch. If I was to make it again I would use a 5mm hook and a hdc or probably even a ribbed stitch.

I really sucks at embroidery so the facial features came out looking a little evil. I will name him Evilbunny LOL

Christmas ornament

I made this for a secret swap for a gorgeous lady I really appreciate. I wasn't supposed to send more than a card, but I couldn't resist when I saw who I was sending to. Michael has just left with the kids to post it. I hope she likes it. I got the pattern from here on Ravelry (God I love that place)

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/star-in-a-star-ornament

or here if you are not amongst the happy few on Ravelry

http://www.jpfun.com/patterns/free/ornaments/f103010_starnstar.shtml



It was easy to follow, well written and worked up in only 20 minutes. I would love to find the time to make more for myself.


:D

A special Christmas Gift

I was so overwhelmed when a package arrived for me. Yes, me! Not trains for DH and DS, not a care package from Grandma for the kids, a package just for me! The beautiful Irene sense I had been through the ringer lately and sent me, yes me, a Christmas gift. It is a hand dyed, hand knitted pair of socks and some chocolate. The socks are so pretty and soft too! It almost makes me want to learn to knit.

Thankyou Irene! I am overwhelmed with your generousity.

KOTC

Mums Poncho

I wore my poncho to Dads birthday, way back in June. Dad loved it and asked me to make one for Mum for her birthday. We struck a deal that I would make it, if he paid for some beautiful wool. I bought 6 balls of Sublime - Extra Fine Merino from Thurechts. This wool is lush and is like butter through the fingers. It also has a beautiful lustre to it. It could easily be worn on a cool summer night.

I designed this poncho for a Queensland winter. It is light and a cross between a poncho and a capelet in length. It is the perfect garment to wear as the sun sets and you feel you just need a little something over the shoulders.

Mum loved it as soon as she saw it. She was thrilled that it was Dads idea and really touched that he had put some thought into her birthday.

We had a great day up the coast and went to a lovely restuarant for lunch over looking the beach. Logan decided to stay a couple of nights with Grandma and Pa. This is his first sleep over and he has barely missed us. He has been very busy and is super excited to have caught two fish with Pa on the boat. :D Aimee and I really missed him though and we can't wait to see him this afternoon. However it has been nice having my little girl all to myself and I think she has liked the individual attention too.

This pattern will be ready for testing after Christmas.