Socks/bootees

Something to keep little Miss's feet warm - crochet bootee/socks.
I found an old crochet book in the charity shop sometime last year and it is full of great patterns. The book was printed in the early 1980's but the patterns are so adaptable, all that is needed is different yarns and colourways. I think these bootees are really cute and can't be aged - don't you?


Technical details:
Worked in DC on a 4mm hook. The yarn is the same Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino as used for the hat a little further down. This yarn is so lovely and although a little more expensive than some of it's equivalents, it really is worth the extra, supersoft and some gorgeous colours. I think there may be a few more hats and bootees to follow over the months with some other shades of this yarn.
Crochet is going on hold for a little while now, I really nust finish the cable socks for john. And I have a little sweater for Miss just started on the knitting needles. And of course the last few things on the started list. And then I can break my self imposed ban on yarn buying ;-)

Loving crochet.

I can't believe I hid from crochet for so long, it's so portable and easy to pick up and put down, it's easy to add a few extra rows if necessary and equally easy to rip back. Unlike knitting where a mistake means unpicking stitch by stitch very slowly. And the best thing about crochet.............no casting off! Mind you I don't crochet properly I don't think. All the expert crocheters I see/watch manage to fly along just catching the wool and drawing it through the loops with the hook whereas I crochet like a knitter, by wrapping the wool around the hook and then drawing it through the loops. I'm guessing this probably makes it a considerably slower way to work but the other way is just beyond me so I will carry on plodding along in my own way.
So here's my latest crochet make - a new hat for Heather. The pattern said that this was a quick make but in reality it took me about five hours over two sleepless nights. I used Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino and a 4mm hook and worked the whole hat in half treble stitch. See I'm even learning to read patterns and use the technical terms ;-). I am really pleased with and think it looks great although I suspect that's more down to the wearer than the hat.

Pompon!

Well I used the Rico Pompon that I bought a couple of weeks ago. I did settle with the idea of knitting a bathmat/rug and it knitted up really quickly. I cast on 24sts and just knitted and knitted until the two balls were used. I followed the suggestion to use 4mm needles and knit 2sts between each pompon and I found it was simple yarn to knit with. But I don't like it. It was a nuisance to have to keep peeking at it to keep the pompons all lying nicely and it is quite a boring yarn to use. But I'm glad I tried it. Can't imagine it being used for a scarf as most patterns suggest, it's very bulky and not something I would feel comfortable with around my neck. Also I really should have used a preliminary cast on as the first row was very tight and created a curve which can't be blocked out. The cast off had the same problem although less so. But as it's only for our bathroom and won't be seen by many I decided to leave it as it was rather than mess around unpicking the first and last rows. Who knows, maybe it will start to irritate me and I will do something about it in the future.......

Busy, busy, busy.

I have been very busy lately just living life. More HE groups, more cleaning, more carrying around an unseparable baby, more helping grown children with their pressing problems. But I have had a few moments for crafting, although rarely. I have been working away on my season swap. Part one is complete, part two is 75% there. And time allowing I have a part 3 shouting out from the back of my creative mind. But no peeking yet. Only another week to go and then it's in the psot ready for the big reveal on March 20th.
I can show you a little something I have been working on though. A half cross stitch country cottage that has been on my WIP list for many, many months. Well it's all done now and fully framed, hanging on the living room wall. Apologies for the poor photo but it was the only way I could avoid the camera glare. As you can see photography is definitely NOT one of my skills!


I dream of living in a sweet little cottage like this with roses tumbling around the doors but in practicality it's a silly dream. All those spiders in the thatching? Tiny little rooms? And where to fit all the beds, chairs, and belongings of a big family like ours? And never mind all my wools, threads, fabrics and so on.
Oh, I have a confession to make. I cheated. I went to this fantastic shop for some embroidery supplies and couldn't resist a cuddly balls of Rico Pompom, to knit a rug for the bathroom. But only two balls, so I didn't stray too much. And we really need a bath rug..........

And isn't it lovely to throw open the windows at last and welcome in spring? And plan all those new things we can make to brighten up our homes and lift us out of this long winter hibernation.

Happy crafting everyone.
xx