Ahhhhhhhhhhh it's sweet crochet talk today folks, and I'm mighty happy about that, it's been far too long since we shared any decent hooky business in the Attic. It's not been for lack of hooky happenings I might add as I have been very productive on the quiet here. I've just been lacking in time to document all that I've been doing, but I'm determined to do a bit of catch up in the next week or two. Yup, you can expect quite a few colourful crochet Ta-dah's in the near future. Does that thought make you smile???? Goody, me too!!
My little project today is not my own design, it's a project I had squirrelled away in my brain with the label "oooo-yes-I-really-have-to-make-one-of-those-one-day-when-I-have-nothing-else-better-to-do". It comes from the above book which I bought when I was pregnant last year, err hang on, no not last year but The Year Before. 2009, yes that's it. It's a super little book by Rowan designer Lois Daykin...you can find it on amazon right here
There's a mixture of projects as you can see from the contents :: a good selection of toys, nursery decorations and useful things. Sweet things to crochet for sweet Little People.
As you would expect from Rowan, the book is beautifully styled and photographed. And the designs are inspirational.
Yes, this book ooooozes inspiration. It made me want to crochet things that had never entered my head before, ie toys. I never really knew that I wanted to crochet toys until I saw what was on offer in this book. That adorable stripy kitty-cat is high on my list of next-toy-to-have-a-bash-at when I've finished with my current rabbit phase.
So this is the page that really did it for me, as you have probably guessed from the title of today's post. I saw this snake and absolutely knew without a doubt that I had to make one. Not necessarily for the Little People you understand, nah nah nah, this was to be a Mummy Toy. Hahahaa, I kid you not! Of course I told anyone who asked me that I was making a toy snake for Little B, but inside I was thinking nonononononnooooo this is going to be mine, mine, mine!!! Little B may play with it whenever he chooses, but the snake is actually going to belong to Me.
You may remember me showing you a little sneaky peak of the snake in progress when I recounted my Dorset holiday? It was a fantastic holiday project, I enjoyed a huge pleasure rush sitting in the sun working these colourful stripes each morning.
Starting out with this project was not plain sailing though. I'm not used to working in three dimensions and I'm not used to reading patterns with such a lot of counting, so I had to overcome both those things. I found it very taxing at first to be honest, even though I have to say the pattern was extremely well written. But once I got going (the pattern starts at the tail end and works towards the head) I soon got into the swing of it.
I chose to tweak the original pattern a little to suit my preferred way of working ie I simplified it, eliminating the more complex open, lacy type stripes and sticking to plain ol' double crochet all the way up. Once the increasing was over and done with at the tail end, the main body of the snake was just rings worked back and forth, 36 stitches this way and that way, alternating colours at random as I went. It gave me the perfect opportunity to indulge my colour passion to the max, and the yarn I used did not disappoint. It's gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. The colours are amazing. I'm going to be writing a bit more about this yarn in a separate post next week as I've been working with it a lot of late.
Ooooo-la-la!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Check out those mighty fine stripes!! Yum yum yum!!!
Something else I changed from the original design was the way the eyes were made. In the book they used circles of white felt with black buttons, but I decided I would crochet my snakey some peepers. I didn't want to use buttons as I wanted this toy to be safe for Little B (even though the snake is Mine, but you know, it still has to be safe), so the eyes were hooked and no buttons were used.
I'm trying to remember from the pictures what I did for the eyes, I think I chained 4, joined to make a loop, then worked 7dc into the ring for the first black round, then 2dc in each stitch (14sts) for the white round. They worked a treat don't you think?
I had fun taking pictures for this post yesterday, although it's surprisingly hard to photograph something that measures 135cm from tail to tongue. I wasn't sure where to drape it, plus I had my Assistant Stylist on the job too and my my he's a tad difficult to work with. He wasn't particularly helpful with the draping situation.
Anyhow................
I hope you enjoy this little hooky colour fest....................................
Sssssssssssssssss :: Ta-dah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He's quite a stunner isn't he??
My Assistant Stylist AKA Little B was also kind enough to act as a Prop.
He obediently climbed onto the sofa for me, sat beeeeautifully with Snake and smiled at the camera. For about one nanosecond. Then he threw the snake on the floor and tried to snatch the camera out of my hand. It all got a bit messy from there on in. Lots of blurred shots.........
.........the snake was quite badly treated actually, but no harm done.
Snakey's now curled up sweetly next to me in his chair (yes, he has his very own chair to sleep in) and all is good. I've told him he needs to be resting up throughout the summer months because once the cold weather arrives he's going to be hard at work around here.
Yes, he'll make the perfect Draught Excluder. Perfect I tell you.
x
Edited to add :: re weaving in ends, well I simply did't bother. It was HEAVEN to leave all my ends a-dangling and not have to worry about them!! Cos they remain inside the snakey body see? So they aren't seen. Marvelous.
Also re stuffing, not hard as you stuff-as-you-go. So you don't have a major tussle getting the stuffing down 1.35m of narrow tube as it's already in there pretty much from the start. What's not to love?
What a fabulous book, I love the snake you have made :-)
Posted by: Cattoo | June 30, 2011 at 10:16 PM
That is without a doubt the best crocheted thing I have ever seen! As soon as I saw the photo of the book and I turned wide eyed with excitement. I love the colours you have used for yours and I want one now!!
Posted by: louise | June 30, 2011 at 10:19 PM
Look into my eyezzzzzzzzsssssssssssssssss...............! Name that spectacular film. Talking spectacular, what a fab snake. The yarn looks very lovely. Looking forward to hearing more about that.
xxx
Posted by: Cuckoo | June 30, 2011 at 10:28 PM
Dear Lucy that is the most colourful snake!!!!! I have a copy of Super-cute
Crochet by Nicki Trench. I made Cheryl the snail from it.
Somehow I do not think you will manage to keep him/her to yourself!!!
Has he/she got a name? Or is that carrying things too far?
Have a good weekend.xx
Posted by: Sarah west mids uk | June 30, 2011 at 10:29 PM
Totally wonderful. I actually think it looks better in the double crochet and your colour choices are perfect. When I see the snake coiled up though it makes me want to see a snail too - wouldn't it make the perfect snail shell.
Posted by: 73mw | June 30, 2011 at 10:33 PM
Love your crochet makes - love the stripes on the snake and the eyes are better crocheted than with felt and buttons - far more user friendly.
June
Posted by: June | June 30, 2011 at 10:35 PM
Such a gorgeous snake! I love the blurry photo, can just picture the scene ...made me laugh out loud.
Posted by: delia | June 30, 2011 at 10:35 PM
Very nice, I love the colors. Kisses.
Posted by: La crochetnauta | June 30, 2011 at 10:36 PM
Lovely snake! :-)
Posted by: Peeriemoot | June 30, 2011 at 10:45 PM
You almost gave me a real heart attack. First, I see Ssssssss...then I see you first picture with a baby in it. Lordy, I thought you were announcing another one on the way. I know shame on me for even letting my mind go there.
So, glad to have read on and realized it was only the most adore-able snake in blogland today. I can only imagine all those little balls of color being gathered right now.
Happy Weekend
Posted by: Kate - The Garden Bell | June 30, 2011 at 10:55 PM
Your little snakey looks right at home among all your lovely hooky projects! I don't even like snakes, but I could learn to love that one!
MGM
Posted by: Mary Grace McNamara | June 30, 2011 at 10:56 PM
Your snake is simply divine.. and colorful.. but my uncle used to collect snakes and put them down his shirt and ask little girls to hug him and the snake would come slithering out of his shirt and HISSSSSSSSSSSSssss.... so no snakes for my house, even pretty colorful ones! But I will enjoy yours. LOL
((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Posted by: Teresa Kasner | June 30, 2011 at 10:57 PM
aww Lucy! such a marvelous~s~s~s~s~~~~~s~s~s~s~snakey
Posted by: amelie | June 30, 2011 at 11:11 PM
I love the look of that book. The stripey kitty looks great as does the snake that you made :)
Posted by: Jo-anne | June 30, 2011 at 11:14 PM
Oh Luce, this is great, so like the crochet ta-dah posts of old! Love snakey and I think lots of those crochet books are now going to be sold! How cute is Little B? However, I did read with horror your other post where you said he was getting up at 4.45am? And I thought the Munchkin was bad! Still, mornings at this time of year are the best part of the day, let's hope he learns to sleep in a little by Winter! Hope you are all keeping well, always think of you when we're in Bridport.
Hen xxx
Posted by: Hen | June 30, 2011 at 11:17 PM
Ha Ha, I just knew thats what you had in mind for ssssnake!, lovely colours by the way x
Posted by: Dot | June 30, 2011 at 11:53 PM
Brilliant.
In all ways,including draught excluding!
Posted by: Kate | June 30, 2011 at 11:57 PM
oh what a beautiful rainbow snake. Thanks for sharing, just love those colours. Have a wonderful weekend at your place.
Posted by: joyce | June 30, 2011 at 11:57 PM
Hi there ! I just happened upon your site and to be frank, I'm in love!! I will definitely be visiting often. I have a huge interest in England and am excited to have found a blog of someone who lives there. I dream of visiting someday.
Feel free to visit my blog. I would be honored.
www.urbanstarlings.blogspot.com
Posted by: Laura Skvortsov | July 01, 2011 at 12:05 AM
Fabulousssssssssssssss! I suspect the snake won't be doing much talking... seeing as little B had him by the tongue! Love the "action" shots. :)
Thanks for making me smile this morning!
Have a great weekend!!!
S&R XO
Posted by: seaweedandraine | July 01, 2011 at 12:22 AM
Oh that is so darn cute!!! I want, I want, I want lol.
I have just recently started my first granny square blanket which I will show you when it is finished. It is going to be nice and bright and colourful. I must say right, now while I am thinking of it......THANK YOU!! Thank you for inspiring me to give crochet a real go. I had been dabbling and teaching myself but reading your blog has inspired me to just give a major project a go.
I am going to go and have a look at this book too. I'm not good at patterns, but the things you have showed us from the book look fantastic and it may just make me give it a go too!!
I can't wait to see more of your projects.
Posted by: Colleen | July 01, 2011 at 12:23 AM
I just want to take a moment to tell you how much I enjoy reading your blog! Your projects are SUCH an inspiration to me! I also feel the need to purchase this amazing book so that I can make stuffed animals for the little people in my life!
Thank you for sharing your precious moments! I am forever grateful!
Posted by: Janet | July 01, 2011 at 12:38 AM
I love it!
Posted by: Adina | July 01, 2011 at 12:40 AM
The snake is darling. My 14 year old brother saw it and asked if I could make him one. For him yes. I hope your mother is well. Toodles.
Posted by: Melissa Gray | July 01, 2011 at 12:41 AM
I love how you took the pattern made Snakey yours with your bold, fresh colors. He's enchanting! Even better that he'll be a sweet colorful draft stopper keeping out the winter chill while reminding you of summer.
Posted by: Sabrina | July 01, 2011 at 12:53 AM