First make of 2015!

I've joined up to complete a challenge of using up old stash material before i buy any new.  I'll go insane doing it because i love to buy wool!  But i do have a huge amount of jewellery making and card making things that need to be used and keep getting pushed aside.  So i'll go back to use those.  But for now, a little mouse.  He is number 1 of 50 things i have to craft this year.  Already working on the next one.

Another new wrap!

Made this wrap from another pattern i saw that i liked on favecrafts.  This one is coming on holiday with me i think, for the evenings. I might make one more if i have time, in black, so i have n=one for with any outfit :)

New crochet wrap

I found a pattern i adored the look of in an email from favecrafts.  A wrap that i thought would be idea for the evenings on holiday.  I hadn't ever followed a pattern before though, only improvised.  So, between googling terms and looking up techniques on you tube, i figured out what i was doing and managed it!  I was quite proud when i finished it.  The wool isn't ideal.  Should have been a lighter weight and paler.  But i do like it :)

This fan design is the main pattern.  It is only 2 lines repeated after the chain and foundation row.  So once you get in to it and remember the pattern it is very simple to do.  But it still looks quite good.

And below is the finished wrap.  It is huge, over 6 feet long, as i added to it in length so it could wrap around a good few times.  Quite tricky to get a photo of it because of this.

Crochet for a cause. Comfort for critters.

I found comfort for critters (http://comfortforcritters.org/) and fell in love with the idea of what they do.  When a cat or dog is rescued it is a traumatic experience, being shuffled backwards and forwards to foster homes, vets and eventually a furrever home.  They give each furball a handmade blanket that they then get their scent on, they feel familiar and safe with and that stays with them through all their moves and on to their new homes.  An amazing little charity.  I am very proud to the the first UK volunteer :)

They got their first few blankets from me and i was over the moon to get a hello and thanks in the newsletter for August.  The next lot of blankets is done and ready to be posted off to them.

More people need to do this, it barely costs anything, the blankets are small; around 20 inches square and so just need odd scraps of wool leftover from other finished projects.

Can't stop crocheting!

Someone is going to have to help me.  It was the middle of summer, boiling hot, and i was buying masses of wool as everyone else bough ice creams.  I can't stop making blankets and throws.
And Gizmo doesn't seem to mind too much.  She claims every one of them..

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    Quite fond of this one, first time i'd tried V stitch and i adore the wool and how it looks as it stripes

Crochet crazy

I learned to crochet as a very young child, taught by my grandma.  I don't actually remember her teaching me, but remember suddenly being able to do the most basic stitch (all i could do until about 6 months ago!).  She was amazing and could make anything.  I can however only make square or rectangular things so far, so am limited to throws, shawls, scarves, pillows and somehow the occasional hat if a round thing works out.  Got some books, downloaded some video podcasts and managed to teach myself a few new stitches.  So now i can't stop and am utterly addicted.  I will learn to make more difficult shapes and patterns at some point, but for now, here are a few rectangles of various sizes..

A very basic, but very warm throw for the couch.  Took months and i should have made it bigger, but in all honesty i got annoyed and wanted it finished so i could make more things.

 A stripey cushion, (hopefully one of a few), for the garden bench.  Will get around to make more soon.

 Quite proud of this one.  First time i ever learned a more detailed stitch and followed a pattern, made this sea shell scarf.  Now want to make one in every colour wool.

A similar scarf, netted, but without the shells..which is in a really fine wool and this is doubled over a few times here to use as a scarf, but opens up into a lightweight wrap.  Making one the same in a teal colour i fell in love with and bought 6 balls of a few days ago.

A few new necklaces

 I decided i wanted some different pendants for necklaces i was making.  Couldn't find anything much online, so thought i'd order some fimo clay and try to make my own.  Used cookie cutters and card making stamps for the patters and they turned out ok.  I have about 50 of different shapes and sizes in silver, peach and white.  Made them from 3 small blocks.  So plenty more left to make a lot more necklaces and bracelets/earrings and whatever else.  They don't photograph too clearly sadly, but happy for a first try.