Crochet-crochet-crochet

Ahhhhhh me-oh-my, life this week at Attic24 is SooosoSOSoSOSOosoooo Good!!! I'm in a whirl of contentment,  pottering about, homely and relaxed and I am so very happy with the exact right amount of Fullness to my week. This week I am managing to find the right balance between solitude and sociability, time spent at home and time out with friends, and it fits me, suits me and I am happy. I am coming down with a cold, but I don't care, I am happy. This week is so different to last week, and oh I am relieved to say that. It has reaffirmed my belief in myself, in the fact that I am most definitely, utterly and completely meant to be a Stay-at-Home-bod. If one could make a career out of being a Home-bod, then yes, I think that's me sorted. Might try for promotion someday soon, a little progression up my own career ladder haha.

A big part of my contentment continues to come from hook and yarn. Yes it's crochet-crochet-crochet all the way for me right now, I cannot get enough of it. It continues to wow me, soothe me, inspire me, excite me and relax me on a daily basis.
I've just this morning finished the third installment of my crochet workshops at the cafe, and what a wonderful, fabulous time I've had doing that. Over the course of the past three weeks, we've done granny squares, started circular cushions/bags, made flowers and finally today the ripple has been attempted. It's been full on, but soooo good, and I've been thrilled with the enthusiasm and determination of my Hook-camp ladies, they were absolutely brilliant.

So thought I'd share with you a little crochet-crochet-crochet update on current projects and inspirations. My big Summer Garden blanket is temporarily on pause. This always tends to happen about 2/3 of the way through a blanket, I find instinctively that I need a break from a big project to work on smaller things before carrying on with the rest. And that's OK, I'm quite happy to work this way, don't feel the need to rush to finish one project before starting another. I'm not in it for the slog, it can happen in it's own sweet time.
The photo above there shows the progress made on the small throw for the back of the Lloyd Loom chair. Next week, I promise I'll be able to do the tutorial for this joining-as-you-go method. Cos you're gonna love it, I know. Its fabulous!!

There's also another little WiP sneaking into my yarn bag this week, a delightful little round something. Above photo was taken on Monday, and photo below taken just now so you can see how it's growing....

This is the beginning of a quick little circular cushion, also intended for the Lloyd Loom chair. The pattern is the same one used for the bottom of my bag.

I've bought a 16 inch circular feather cushion pad and am working the rounds till they're big enough to fit....looks like I've got about another six or seven to go? I just love working this pattern, I take it to bed with me and work a few rounds just before I'm ready to drift off to sleep. It's like a sedative.

And there's more...as well as squares and circular stripes, I've been busy making a little flower garden grow. What fun this has been! It's been very interesting getting to grips with reading and following some quite complex written patterns for these flowery bits and pieces, a Challenge certainly. But despite my initial fears over the Gobbledegook of Pattern Language, I have to say the patterns are in fact extremely clever and well written.

This is a beautiful book folks...I know that Jane over at the Posy blog has also recently got this book and you can read more about her views on it here.

And last but not least, the Ripple.
I've been working on a pattern for this, as a good many of you I know are desperate to try it or perhaps need some help with following it. The way that patterns are written for ripples/waves/chevrons is generally quite complicated I think. In my opinion its not a hard pattern to actually work, but there are one or two parts that can cause confusion at first. So I'll be aiming to eliminate that confusion....I intend to make this pattern FoolProof, with lots of pics and Plain English explanations.

In order to overcome any hazardous Copyright issues involved in reproducing patterns that are not my own, what I have come up with is my own modified version. I'm calling it the "Neat Ripple", because it is just that. Its not too spiky and zigzaggy and it doesn't have holes in it either which many traditional ripple/chevron patterns tend to have.
So I shall be taking photographs and writing it all out ready to share on here at some point next week. I predict lots of Ripplesome Action beginning to happen in Blogland veeeeery soon!!

So thats about the extent of the Crochet News around these parts. See, I told you this week was a good one, can you just feel the happiness radiating out of the Attic today? Oh good, well imagine I've just given you a great big hug too. Now off you go and do something to make yourself go ahhhhhh.....me, I'm off for a quick cuppa with a chunk or two of chocolate on the side.
See you tomorrow
xxxxx

Comments

[chanel bags]

What a remarkable article which have almst take my breath away.I really enjoys everything of your blog.Thank you for your constant sharing of remarkable posts with us.Enjoy your weekend!

[Becki]

Hi Lucy,
I know that I read somewhere in your blog about the book that started you in your love of crocheting although I am unable to find the reference to it again. Would you mind giving me the title? Thanks, Becki

[Jeanette]

Well your off again---we all do this lucy---up and down and away---you seem to pick me up and i feel good myself THANK YOU
Id love to get back to the bag you made I seem to go alright while increasing---and then which is the easiest part l take it just keep going BUT my shape dosent seem to form L have no idea where im going wrong "can you help me please" thank you lucy Australia

[MarieAnge]

Dearest Lucy,

I have you to thank for bringing me back to crochet. Your blog is amazing to say the least. You live the life I've aspired to since I was a teenager! You are so lucky and blessed.
Thank you for the flower tutorials, the ripple tutorial, thank you for sharing your life with me.

MarieAnge
MariAngel on Ravelry

[Carol]

Hello Lucy...I just love all you do. I've been quilting, but I want to incorporate some of your flowers in my designs. I cannot find the pattern you mentioned. I would also love the pattern for on-the-go granny square afghan. Great to find you. Huggies...Carol

[pj]

Naughty lady showing such a beautiful book on your blog - I think I need to visit amazon now. I have recently made my first crochet flower and I think I am hooked - pun intended of course (sorry). Best wishes, Pj

[bethel of bethania]

G'day Lucy
Well believe it or not you got me crocheting again - only at night though as I have other things I want to do during the day but ohh the bliss of it all ... thank you ...
I was a mad crocheter 'many' years ago... shhh... too many to tell you my Dear or else you might think me 'old'. Anyway I had a go at making your lovely little flowers & it all came back to me in a minute so I've been & made my own version [much the same but with thicker petals - you will understand what I mean, I think, just gotta 'tweak' it to your own way of crocheting, I think it's called ... then I remember how I used to crochet beads into everything & then I thought of .... well you know, my mind it running at 100 miles per hour with ideas etc...
OK I'm getting to what I was going to say really I am ... I love the way you have written up that pattern in your last photo ... I understand that better than anything else ... I think it is the Japanese or Chinese that write up patterns with synbols & I think it's a breeze. As you say some patterns are written in such gobblygonk you need a degree in Gobblygonk to understand them & crocheting is a real 'handed-down' 'hands-on' craft so ever country explains it differently & call different stitches different names so, Good On You with all the work you do deciphering patterns. Really, do you have to worry about copyright to such a craft, so long as you don't say you are deciphering someone else pattern[or from which book] or else all crochet patterns would have copyright issues I think cause as I said before it's a "'handed-down' 'hands-on'" induvidual craft... Keep up the great work & I'll be back to read more after lunch ...OOroo ... Bethel

[Lora]

I am drooling with anticipation for the instructions for the small throw (joining squares) and can't wait to start my own. Yours is gorgeous!! Great blog this week - kept me going! Thank you!!

[Emma]

Hi Lucy
Had to visit for a blog fix again! Always feel like I'm stealing a look into your diary!
I bought myself a small crochet hook (2.5) today - I've had a size 5 since school days ... want to 'play' with some cotton I've had for ages. Still need to master basic stitches instead of my impro style!
Saw your comment on La-la lands blog - re what to do with your flowers ... why not create a textured cushion cover ... like a little garden ... would go great with the lovely house you were given.
How's Etsy shop coming along?
Goodbye until the next episode ....
Emma :-)

[Teresa]

i must concur with all the other Lovely sentiments. I so love your work.
Teresa

[Stacey]

Hi there, just wanted to let you know I l.o.v.e your blog and everything you do. Thank you so much for taking the time to write and document patterns to share with us all. I am an avid follower of your blog since last week :) Seriously! Also started crocheting and my own blog in the last week - which is all been inspired by you. If you get a chance please check it out http://polka-dot-daze.blogspot.com/ I have a lot to do and post on it, but all in good time.
Thanks again for sharing your wonderful crafty life with us all!

[Jannimary]

What perfect timing. Inspired by your beautiful rug and cushions, last Saturday I bought a range of colourful wools to attempt my own ripple cushion, but couldn't find a pattern that was like yours and easy to follow. This will be the perfect winter project for me. I can't wait for your Neat Ripple tutorial.

[karen smith]

I too love being an at home mum. I thought I'd get boared because I've always worked but I don't, There's always something to do and I enjoy doing it.
I can't wait to take a look at your ripple blanket pattern. Your patterns are so easy to understand that even I can manage it.
Thanks for another inspiring post

[Moonie]

Love you Lucy.......You light up my life.

[Julia]

Well you have me completely inspired! And Im sitting impatiently on my hands til the ripple pattern appears!! :) Lovely, lovely work, so happy your week is beautiful!

Sending love and calm
Julia xxx

[Jools]

I'm so glad you're going to be doing a ripple pattern because I just can't seem to get my head around the one in the Jan Eaton book!

[Jude]

Oh dear, I'm really sorry Lucy, I know you sent me instructions on how to crochet around the 4 squares and I swear I kept it...but I've scoured everywhere and can't find it. Am I going mad?? I've looked all over your blog... I've looked at all my emails...
It's my friends birthday mid April and I've crocheted all these lovely squares,have you seen them on my blog?? Now I don't know how to block them and crochet around 4s....Please please help, I promise to print it out as soon as I receive it...
HELP.... Still love your site....

[Heidi]

you're awesome, I feel the hug! Love all the colors and am working on a hex afgan and a circular stripey bag too! Thanks for all the helpful tips and inspirations!

[roz]

New to your blog and I love it! The colors and your "voice" make me happy!!

[vanessa]

That's such a coincidence about the ripple blanket, because I was looking at patterns to potentially start one, so I'm going to wait for your pattern before I start, I like the sound of thigs simplified to make life easier!
This is a scrumptious post Lucy, love the flowers........ I've got that book on order from seeing it on your blog!
And I love the cushion for your chair!
Lucy, you're just soooo generous with your time and knowledge, I just want to say a big thank you, and give you a big hug, we all love you in blogland.

[Jayne]

Hi! Have recently discovered your lovely blog, and as a result I'm crocheting again after a gap of about 25 years, during which I was a confirmed knitter. Now it's granny squares all the way, and I can't wait to learn the ripple effect!!! Thank you xx

[louise]

I spotted the very same cushion pads for sale yesterday, but couldn't think on the spot of how to use them. Problem solved! Thankyou
louise x

[Alex]

I have bought the flower book but I am waiting for a child free moment to sit down and really concentrate on it, the cushion cover is excelent, it looks like the same pattern I am following for a childs hat, its really exciting watching the subtle pattern emerge where you increase every so often... I have just finshed a beach bag but I can't show it yet as I am sending to Australia to my Easter swap partner, its amazing how much wool it has eaten but I used Rowan and it is lovely.... I must remember to take a picture... I really am useless at that part! lol

take care glad you are back to normal with your home-bird routine

Alex x

[Wend]

Oh Lucy, you are a star! I've bought wool ready for your ripple pattern. I just know that it will produce an altogether more gentle undulating ripple than some I have seen and I can't wait. Thanks to all who have congratulated me on winning your picture. I'm so excited!

[Anna]

Hi Lucy,
Such wonderful colours! This post has definitely brigtened up my day and provided plenty of inspiration.

I discovered the "join as you go method" a few months ago in several of my Japanese crochet books - it must be a common approach in Japan. I have been enjoying joining as I go in my crochet projects, it helps to provide me with some instant gratification when working on longer projects.