I love love love Thursdays, I'm sure I've told you this before. At 9.30 I drop Little B off for his two hour session at playgroup (which he loves), then spend half an hour whizzing round a few of the charity shops in my town. Today's buys were a stripy scarf (destined to become part of an "Upcycled Sheep" for Yarndale) and a really lovely blue china bowl which cost me 75 pence. I popped the bowl into my bag, then walked up to the cafe for knit and natter.
I decided to put my new blue bowl to good use at the cafe, and I have to say I am loving the use of china bowls to hold little bits of crochet, such simple visual pleasure!
This morning's job was to begin stitching my Little Squares together. Each square is left with a 6 inch tail end of yarn which I'm using for the stitching up. It's quite time consuming, and ever so slightly mind numbing, but weirdly I kind of like it. It's simple, gentle repetitive work which allows me to chatter and ponder freely whilst at the same time being productive.
When I come home from Thursday knit and natter, I am usually in full-on crochet mood and find it difficult to do anything else. All I want to do is sit and play hooky for the rest of the day.
I love setting up a cosy work space in the Big Chair next to the bay window. It feels like an indulgent way to pass the time, and it makes me really content down to the tips of my toes to be able to do this creative thing that I do. I consider myself exceptionally lucky to be a Crochet Lady.
So.....these Little Squares. I am really loving the scale of them, they are sooo cute and quick and fun to make. I love that I can use up the smallest scraps of precious yarn to make them. And I love that I am making them for a Very Good Cause.
You see, this is not a scarf I am making. Nor a cushion or a bag.
It is a small Patchwork Blanket that I am making, which will be for a really special handmade doll.
I am delighted to be a part of a collaborative project which will help raise money for a very well known UK charity :: Comic Relief.
The "Red Nose Day Dollies" will be auctioned on the Comic Relief EBAY site on Red Nose Day, March 15th 2013.
The dolls have their very own blog and you can also keep up with the amazing creative talent happening over on Facebook and Twitter. There are twenty wonderful designer makers all helping to make the project a great success. Many, many thanks to Emma (Silver Pebble) and Ros Badger for making this happen. You are both marvellous!
http://therednosedaydolls.blogspot.co.uk
http://www.facebook.com/RedNoseDayDollies
https://twitter.com/@rednosedaydolls
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ps I've already been asked quite a few times on Facebook about the pattern for these Little Squares (yes they would make a fabulous scarf/cushion/bag!), it's very easy as follows ::
Chain 4, sl st into 1st chain to form a ring. Chain 3 (counts as 1 tr), 2 tr's into ring, chain 2, 3 tr's into ring, chain 2, 3 tr's into ring, chain 2, 3 tr's into ring, chain 2, then sl st into 3rd chain of initial ch-3 to close round. Fasten off leaving long tail end for stitching to neighbouring granny!
This is written in UK terms...for those of you in the US, you need to work DC stitches!
x
Beautiful, Lucy!! I want to be a Crochet Lady too!
Posted by: Shannon | February 07, 2013 at 04:19 PM
I love these little squares - am going to try . Many thanks for the great inspirations!
Posted by: Dianne | February 07, 2013 at 04:25 PM
What a great idea for Comic Relief, I'm loving the teeny tiny granny square blanket. I hope you raise lots of money for a very worthy cause. x
Posted by: Clare | February 07, 2013 at 04:28 PM
Very colorful and such a good cause. That's how I start my granny squares, the same way you're making those little squares. They're so versatile.
Posted by: Thistle | February 07, 2013 at 04:30 PM
Wonderful project. These little squares are so sweet. I'm hopping over to the blog links now. Thanks for including them.
Have a super evening.
Posted by: Jenny | February 07, 2013 at 04:30 PM
Beautiful !
Posted by: mau | February 07, 2013 at 04:31 PM
A great idea, and I will have to give these little squares a try!
Posted by: maypole | February 07, 2013 at 04:38 PM
Great idea and great cause too. Love the china bowls for the crochet. I'm finishing off a vertical stripe so thinking ahead to the border so straining to look at your border of yours in the background!
Posted by: Heather | February 07, 2013 at 04:39 PM
This is so lovely,I love all these bright tiny patches of colour.
I'm really excited to see the progress of all the dolls for Comic Relief
http://ahandfulofhope.blogspot.co.uk/
Posted by: Helen | February 07, 2013 at 05:17 PM
What a wonderful idea and wonderful cause. And what dolly does not need a warm, cozy AND colorful blanket. So nice to be able to use your talents in support of this cause. Everyone needs a lovely blanket, don't they? For comfort and for warmth :)
Posted by: Paula | February 07, 2013 at 05:18 PM
Sounds loverly!
Colletta
Posted by: Colletta | February 07, 2013 at 05:30 PM
What an exciting project to be part of Lucy, I hope it raises lots of money for its worthy cause! :) x
Posted by: Ada Bea | February 07, 2013 at 05:32 PM
Lovely. Lovely idea, lovely cause, lovely work...and lovely, cozy crochet chair! =D
Posted by: Pam | February 07, 2013 at 05:39 PM
Thursday eye candy,happy day :)Will definitely check out the other sites.A wonderful cause and a good excuse to play hooky ;)A great find,your lovely bowl,I like to use 'em for crochet too!Check it out. http://www.flickr.com/photos/craftygal/8446684409/in/photostream
Happy hookin' :)
Posted by: Angela-Southern U.S.A. | February 07, 2013 at 05:55 PM
So lovely Lucy and for such a good cause. One of the dolls is such a lucky young lady! I'm sure she will love to have such a lovely colourful blanket
Posted by: Helen R | February 07, 2013 at 06:02 PM
What a great project for a great cause! Thanks for the pattern for the little squares. I would love to make a scarf out of them, and will have to find a little hooky time to make some today.
Posted by: Karen | February 07, 2013 at 06:12 PM
Oooh I love it!! ! I saw the crochet dress that Sara is making over at One Churchills Green for Blossom the Red Nose Day Doll. Fabulous that you are part of the project too : what a wonderful thing to do :-)
http://www.knitandpurlgarden.wordpress.com
Posted by: Claire | February 07, 2013 at 06:13 PM
What a fun and lovely project! I love reading your blog, it is so enthusiastic, and you have so many for me unknown English expressions, I like the "oral" language, we never learned that kind of English at school. By the way, what is knit and natter?
Hugs from Elin in Norway.
Posted by: Elin | February 07, 2013 at 06:38 PM
Lucky person who 'wins' the dolly with your blanket! It must be quite an undertaking co-ordinating everyone for those 3 dolls - so well done to everyone involved! And fingers crossed they are bought for an excellent sum :) Keri
Posted by: Twolittleflowers | February 07, 2013 at 06:44 PM
Such a worthwhile cause to support. I hadn't realised you knew Ros Badger. I attend a quilting group with her mum and was telling her about your blog. Liz
Posted by: Liz | February 07, 2013 at 06:51 PM
What a brilliant idea, and how exciting to be involved ... the rainbow of little squares lokoed so gorge I couldn't wait to see what the secret plan was ... you got guessing, I thought of scarf/cushion etc, but I just knew that you had something a bit different up your cunning little sleeves, I certainly didn't guess it was this. Now I really can't wait to see the finished article ...
Posted by: eskimo*rose | February 07, 2013 at 07:03 PM
It will be a very lucky Red Nose Day Dolly who's able to snuggle under your blanket - the cutest thing EVER!!
Well Done Luce (again!)
xx
Posted by: sew | February 07, 2013 at 07:32 PM
how beautifaul are theese little squares!
ciao
isabella
Posted by: isabella | February 07, 2013 at 07:34 PM
Ooh that is fab!! Love the bowl in your very first picture too.
Jones x
Posted by: Jones | February 07, 2013 at 07:46 PM
Lovely, how colourful. Like the fact that you love charity shop mooching too.
Posted by: Anne Marie | February 07, 2013 at 07:51 PM