Chat

Hello my Lovelies, thanks for dropping by. Shall we have a little catch up, a little chat about the goings on around here of late?

Let's start with the weather.....we've had some very welcome sunlight streaming in to number 24 the past few days. It made me really rather ludicrously happy to see my beloved BB so beautifully lit up yesterday morning. I am hoping with all my heart that May is going to perk up a bit and behave in a fitting Spring-like manner (unlike April). Yes, I think you could say my Hopes are High.

I try not to allow myself to be so affected by the weather, but I really do seem to be that way. Writing my blog and living in this house has made me so much more aware of the weather than I ever have been before, the seasons too. I am fascinated by it all, by the way the light changes depending on what is happening in the sky and the time of year.

Yesterday was a holiday day, and it was pretty relaxed here with a mixture of full on family time and some much appreciated quiet time too. J took the Little Peeps out early to go crag climbing, so I enjoyed a leisurely breakfast by myself. Ok, well not entirely, as I had Little B at home. He was certainly making his presence felt, determined to be in on my cosy moment. Sweet boy, I love him dearly, but on occasion I do find his persistent attention seeking rather testing. He also has a wickedly fast and startling grab and I tell you that croissant was whipped off my plate in an instant. I hardly saw it happen, it was all a speedy blur of little hand and flaky pastry.

In amongst the busy-ness of family yesterday, I did surprisingly manage to find a bit of time to sit quietly at my desk and do some serious crochet. I say "serious" because it was crochet of the most concentrated kind, the sort that involves trying to follow new patterns. I'm looking for a pattern to use for an idea I have, a new blankety idea. I'm wanting to make one-colour squares to assemble into a patchwork type blanket design, but I wanted something a bit different to ordinary granny squares or target squares. Something pretty but not too complex. Something light but not to lacey.

I did try working a bit on my own design, but I confess it was a complete failure. I am way too embarrassed to show you how badly my blocks turned out, trust me, they are appalling. And besides, once I started searching on Ravelry for afghan blocks, I realised there was already so much out there that the right thing will most certainly present itself. No need to bust the ol' brain making up my own.

I've not photographed the half dozen or so blocks that I've already tried out and abandoned (too complicated, too holey, too boring, too impossible to complete cos of silly gobbledeegook abbreviated pattern writing)...but this one above, well this one I was rather pleased with. I found it amidst a whole treasure trove of block patterns on a new-to-me website called Yarncrazy.com . The patterns are written by a talented lady called Chris Simon, and I really love her style. This is the central part of a larger block called Double-Framed Lace, you can download it for free here. I also love many of her other designs, in particular Butterfly Garden and Cygnus. Lovely, lovely. I'm going to try making them up to see which I prefer........can't quite believe I'm already planning my next blanket when my ripple is still a WiP, but hey, it's all good.

Today I also started another little hooky something, I think all that one-colour sampling yesterday (in soft grey no less) had me running for my colourful stash to whip up some groovy stripes.

I've had this polystyrene wreath sitting in my cupboard since last year, I originally bought it to deck with Jolly Holly at Christmas but ran out of time in the end. So now I've decided to have a go at making it a stripy jacket and smothering it in roses so that it can become a May Rose wreath. I did some googling this morning to see what other crochet wreaths are out there in the world, there are some beauties! Go have a look here and here, aren't they lovely?

Hey....did you by any chance spot my new fabric Project Bag?? Complete with beautifully inserted zip??

Here it is look, I made it one evening last week after Little B had gone to bed (loving these long, light evenings). It measures roughly 12" x 9", nice and big to hold a few balls of yarn and a project-in-progress.

I'm sooooooooooo hugely pleased with it, partly cos it's so useful and good to use (a hooky project is always packed and ready to Grab-and-Go), but mainly cos I managed to make it so successfully without hitch and without bad language. I tell you, me and zips, we are Best Buddies these days.

See what I mean?? See how artfully I inserted that zip? 

And check out the inside....it's fully lined, and even has a contrasting Inner Pocket. I followed a really great step-by-step tutorial that was recommended to me by one of my lovely readers (THANK YOU lovely reader, I'm so sorry I cannot find your comment/email, but please shout out to me so I can thank you properly). The tute can be found here, I think I will definitely be making more of these. I'd love to try making a patchwork one, kind of like my Homespun cushions but in zipper bag form.

Right, it's 9.19pm and I'm going to have a little go at hooking up a Cygnus square now. I fancy a little bit of creative brain-strain before bed. See you soon ♥

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 Edit to add :: if you fancy having a go at Chris Simon's patterns, please note they are written in US terms. So where it says dc, this will translate to a Treble Crochet for us UK hookers. A bit of extra brain-strain, but worth it.

 

 

Comments

[Julia]

This looks great! I was a bit surprised to see you working a WHITE granny square - but it is lovely, and will look great in colour. :)

The bag is also very, very nice! I hope you have a great day.

Love
Julia :)

[Helen]

Thanks for the finishing the flower help. I'll be trying it later.
Your lovely colourful projects are really inspiring and I've enjoyed the flower hooking. I will try some more (sometime) but I think I'm more of a sewing machine and card-making kind of gal.
Will continue to keep up with goings on in the Attic though.

[Deco Cat]

Wow you have been so busy! I love the grey squares.

[WoollyBudgie]

The project bag is really lovely! I live in hope of being able to sew well enough to make something like that one day! I'm looking forward to seeing the wreath! A May Rose wreath is a lovely idea!

[Irene Porter]

Thanks for another intereting post? Such a good way to insert a zip in a bag. I do like your references to other web sites, I usually get sent on a little journey when I read your blog and the colours always cheer me.

[Angela]

Those are all lovely squares, I especially love the butterfly garden one! I'm glad you can now do zippers without bad language. Right now I am trying to sew princess seams and am having the same problem;)

[Rachael Iddon]

Ooooh, happy days! I must check out those squares. I wanted something like that as inspiration for the cardigan I am trying to make. Never thought to search for 'afghan squares'. You learn something every day. Bring on the sunshine.

[Gillian]

All good and lovely stuff! Excellent zip inserting skills. I am terrified of doing zips.

[Karen]

Oh Love the new look squares, very different & am also liking big time the cute colorful wreath
Karen x

[melissa]

Lovely, lovely ... I just want to tell you how much you inspire me! I've had some free time the last few days and I've spent much of it (s)trolling through your beautiful archives. Thank you so much! :-)

[Julie]

Zippered doo dah, you did good, the project bag is beautiful.

[Ximena]

hermoso hermoso!!! beautiful beautiful!!!
kiss xime

[Daisy Loves Knit and Stitch]

I'm amazed that you get so much done Lucy, you must work very hard with home and little children to look after too!

Thank you so much for sharing your work and latest finds with us, it's always lovely to see.

I thought that hand was too little to be mum's hand! X

Have fun!

[Angie]

Thanks for the chat. It never grows old. Good job on your zipper bag!

[Fleur Cotton]

It's lovely to make something that's so useful when you are creating all your other projects - well done your project bag is great!

Really looking forward to seeing what you do with the polystyrene garland...knowing you it will be beautiful whatever.

Have a lovely sunny week.
Fleur xx

[Lizzie]

Gorgeous project bag! I have tried and failed to insert zips many times but you've inspired me to have another go. x

[Truly Myrtle]

I love the granny square! It's terribly elegant isn't it? I can't wait to see how it goes...
I'm very impressed with your zip on your project bag - I've not seen that tutorial before. I usually follow Flossie Teacake's zipper pouch tutorial for a similar top. I've actually got a little tutorial for a lovely project bag too - a box bag. It's on my blog on the tutorials page. I love my box bags - I've got a bunch of different sizes :)

[Linda]

What a lovely bag Lucy such pretty fabric and well done on the perfect zip insertion, I still have great problems with zips. I like the white squares too but maybe a little too lacy for a blanket for my taste but pretty nevertheless. Have you tried one crochet day at a time http://myblueangels.blogspot.co.uk/ there are some beautiful squares on there. :)

[debbie @ happy little cottage]

Hi Lucy! For a minute I thought I might be at Attic 25 when I saw all those light gray crocheted squares. Hmmmmm. Then I saw the stripey start to the wreath and felt much better :) Love the project bag and that zipper is perfect!! xoxo Debbie

[Adrianne]

Really lovely to see all the colours. I loved the wreaths. I am totally trying out the roses and they are coming along nicely.
I'm already trying them out on hats, bags and other things. Thanks for sharing your pattern!

Adrianne

[Simone]

Hi Lucy, what timing I'd just made myself a cuppa tea, went to Attic24 and what do I find, you are in for a chat - what a treat I must say to sit down and catch up. I just love the project bag it looks so professional, also love the picture of the sun kissing the roof tops. Thank you! Simone

[Beckie]

that block looks like delicate wrought iron

I'd love to work it up in black for some reason

[Sue Webber]

Oh you have just given me a marvellous idea! I have balls, BIG balls.....oh do get your mond out of the gutter...big Polystyrene balls! Mmmm! Oh I am never going to finish my UFOs! Sigh! ♥

[Rachell]

I really like the bag, I want to go to a class to relearn how to sew. I'm v envious of your skill. :-)

[Claire]

The soft grey is amazing - so beautiful! Can't wait to see the wreath in its full glory!
Claire