next Krista block, a melbourne sunset, a picture of a table

 

I felt so inspired this week. It started off with a beautifful sunset over the bay here in Melbourne, I think Spring is really lifting my spririts and putting a spring in my step. 

 

 

 

 

Then I went shopping with a good friend and saw a lovely butcher's table with a "for sale" sign on it. The store manager suggested I make an offer with a promise to call me back. And she did the very next day - after a small revision in my initial offer the table was all mine.

 

Getting it home was good fun as we rented a van and I became a tradie for the day - a very gratifying experience, even though it was a bit spur of the moment....

 

 

 

Today I managed to finish the next block in my Krista throw - am really enjoying working my way through these. The link to all the blocks in this throw (which are free) at:

http://www.facebook.com/events/113761348749961/#!/Spotlightstores/app_371522569543043]

 

 

 

 

And so another week comes to an end...

 

 

- warm pixie smiles coming your way. xo -

 

oOo

Granny Square, A surprise, Boye vs Inox

A granny square surprise...

 

What a great week this was. A little parcel arrived in the mail and it was the granny squares from the "Crocherati" I mentioned in a previous post. Not only one, but three arrived in the parcel, here is a picture of them - I hope you can see the detail in it - the work is so intricate and the colours are spot on in this Halloween month!

 

 

 

It fills me with such joy to think that someone made these squares with love and best intentions. These form the first of my granny square blanket and I feel so blessed (and slightly emotional) to be part of such a special project.

 

That said - I can't show you the granny squares I sent out because that would totally give away my anonymity - so you'll just have to trust that it was awesome!

 

 

Another surprise gift....

 

 

Then another good surprise - a full set of Boye crochet hooks in a hot pink case.

 

The hook itself is a slightly different shape from the Inox crochet hooks I've been using for the last 30 years and it took me on a trip down memory lane...

 

I remember as a little hyperactive girl that everyone thought of me as a handful. It wasn't easy to keep my attention on anything for very long before my mind and my feet would wander out into the glorious world that held all that wonder...

 

Living in Africa at the time I had a wonderful nanny from Venda, named Flora, who used to crochet the most glorious creations. Flora couldn't read the crochet language but could read and interpret the crochet diagrams. Her favourite publication was Crochet Monthly and even though a premium price to her pocket she would always have the latest copy on hand to try current projects.

 

Flora taught me to crochet when I was about five or six years old. She patiently explained the diagrams to me and many a day we sat crocheting on a grassy knoll under the African sun. Flora also give me my first couple of Inox hooks - I say 'couple' coz I'll never forget the stern talk she gave me about taking better care of them, and how this hook would be the last she'll ever give me. Bless her heart she gave me two more - which I use to this day.

 

Quite emotional actually - and when this set of Boye hooks came in the mail I wasn't exactly sure how it would work out.

 

But it was a gift and I had to give it a fair go.

 

And as it turns out I love them.

 

I made the next square, Krista block 5 (see the link to all the Krista block patterns below) with a Boye hook and Magnum Soft Acrylic 8 ply yarn.

 

 

 

 

 

How did the Boye hooks compare to Inox...

 

It took a bit of getting used to as the Boye hook was very sensitive - not sure if my other [Inox] one is blunt after all the years of use, but the sharpness of the Boye grabbed hold of the wool with a ferocity I soon got used to - I worked my way through the pattern quickly and the learning curve of initially splitting the wool didn't last very long.

 

I am ever so grateful to Flora for teaching me to crochet - a pastime that taught me to focus my mind as a youngster and a comfort in times when I was feeling low.

 

To Flora and my trusted Inox hooks I say "thank you".

 

To my Boye hooks I say "get ready for the future, I hope you're ready".

 

The link to all the Krista throw blocks are free and accessible via this link:

http://www.facebook.com/events/113761348749961/#!/Spotlightstores/app_371522569543043]

 

 

And so another week comes to an end...

 

- warm pixie smiles coming your way. xo -

 

oOo

Practicing what I preach - tension wobbles and a koala amigurumi

Practicing what I preach


This week I made the next block in the Krista series, made a couple of granny squares from the popcorn tutorial I linked in last week - and also tried my hand at the koala amigurumi I posted in the previous post.


One of those three activities were successful - two of them not so much....


Tension wobble


So my block for week 5 is a bust. The pattern is easy enough to follow but somewhere along the line the tension got a bit wobbly and all the discreet pulling and pushing is only making it look weirder and weirder. So will make this one again...

 

 

Popcorn joy


I am absolutely in love with making granny squares with the popcorn stitch - (link in the previous post).


A couple of weeks ago I bought DK (double knit) in a skintone colour. This acrylic yarn was a little bit thinner than I expected and I wasn't sure what I would be doing with it. 


When a call went out for donated granny squares that would be joined to form blankies for a palliative care unit at a hospital I knew it would be put to good use. I recon the fleshtone colour would probably blend in nicely with most colours - here's a pic of how it ended up looking.
 

Amigurumi koala

 

Putting my money where my mouth is, I made my first little amigurumi ever. I used the same DK yarn as for the popcorn granny squares and looking at the little dude I kinda like him even though he's probably one of the most flawed amigurumi's ever.


The pattern was easy to follow - and very straightforward. Problem is that my tension was on the fritz and having to stop and start a couple of times did not help the attempt. Will also add that I did not enjoy adding the arms, legs and ears - probably my least favourite bit of the experience.


Here's a photo of the little guy, who sadly will not make the charitable gift pile but instead will find a place at home. Thought it would become a doggy toy but the more I look at it the more I think it's gonna sit on my shelf - he's definitely growing on me - squeezing his eyes tight as he smiles at me. cute.

 

That's my craft story this week - warm pixie smiles coming your way. xo

oOo

A block, another facebook group, ideas for charity toys

Sofar I am still able to make a block a week - here's what block 4 looks like:

 

This one was super easy and took less than 1/2 hour to make!

[link to all blocks in the Krista throw: http://www.facebook.com/events/113761348749961/#!/Spotlightstores/app_371522569543043]

 

Joined another group on facebook!

I found the coolest group on facebook - its a granny square exchange and though specific to Australia I'd like to share the concept.

You participate in making a granny square block of 4 inches (10cm) across - and then yours as well as the granny squares made by others are exchanged anonymously. In this manner you build up a granny square blanket - and even though you don't know who contributed a particular granny square you know that it was made by like-minded people and with love!

A secret society... with benefit to only those in it... mmmm, I think I might be part of the "crocherati" now ha ha ha!

For this I found the cutest popcorn granny square tuturial. It follows the same method as for a normal granny square, but each segment is made out of a popcorn stitch. It is super cute and is called "Crochet Geek - Crochet Granny Square Puff Stitch 5 Rounds".

If you want to see the tutorial as well here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY08Feh03pI

 

Secret Santa

Another project I'm participating in is the "Secret Santa" game. Also anonymously gifts are exchanged within the group. The rules are simple - it has to be handmade (and with love of course!) and within a set price range - usually not in excess of around $10.

 

For this I found the coolest idea - it is a crochet bath puff that is made out of cotton. And as it just so happens I recently bought some cotton yarn at the Wool Mill... a plan is born!

Sorry if I'm your secret santa and you're reading this - but I found the idea at:

http://web.archive.org/web/20010816055315/members.aol.com/lffunt/bath.htm

 

 

Toys for charity

Toys for charity is high on my Christmas list as well and I've mentioned the koala amigurumi I would like to try. It will be my first amigurumi but I'm not too worried as the link not only includes the pattern but also a tutorial.

See it at: http://www.craftpassion.com/2010/11/crochet-koala-bear-amigurumi-tutorial-pattern.html.

Ok I'm going to commit to making one this week, in addition to the next block in my Krista throw. Am all excited now - a little personal challenge!

Time for me to drag the bones off to bed - have a very good week

 

- warm pixie smiles coming your way. xo -

 

oOo