I'm having a total Pleasure-fest with my crochet at the moment, it's suiting my nesty, homey instincts and the dull, murky weather down to the ground. As you know, my main WiP is a baby granny-square blanket for Bump24, using Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino yarn. Its turning out to be a hugely enjoyable project :: the yarn is scrumptious to work with, the colours are a little lighter and softer than my usual palette (which I'm enjoying a great deal), and it's fast. Oh yeah..I am LOvInG the speed at which I can hook these squares, it really does give me buzz to see it coming together so quickly. I can make one of these 5-round granny's in Eleven Minutes Flat. And that includes changing colours and darning in ends. Eleven Minutes!!! I tell you, my hands are a positive blur when I'm working and I'm surprised my hook isn't smokin' at the end of an hour or two.
I took the above photo this morning to show you where I'm up to with it :: 72 squares so far, and I'm going to be adding three more long rows (36 squares), then a wideish border to finish. I decided that even though in the immediate future this is going to be a cot blanket, I want it to be big enough to go the distance, big enough for it to accommodate a snuggling toddler/child in future years.
I ran out of a couple of the DB colours last night, so earlier today the Little People and I went off on a jaunt to a nearby town which has a most excellent yarn shop. Oh we did have a fun jaunt! As well as yarn shopping (and the purchase of a lovely new crochet book too), we ate warm sausage rolls from the baker for our lunch, then went to a cafe for carrot cake+cappuccino / juice+muffins. I really enjoyed having my Little People for company I have to say.
The above photo has nothing whatsoever to do with anything yarny or crochety, but it was a little greengrocers shop we happened to walk past en route to the yarn shop and it captivated me totally. Isn't it wonderful?? I'm sorry for the quality of the pic, only the light levels here continue to be very low indeed. We've been shrouded in thick, grey, damp fog all day, and even though I took this photograph in the middle of the day, it looks like dusk.
As well as my granny blanket, I've also been continuing to work a little on my Birdies. It was such FUN sharing that with you last week, and I'd like to say a huge ((THanK YoU)) to all of you who left me a comment on that post, it made me really happy to read your wonderful responses.
I know many of you would like the pattern to enable you to hatch a little hooky flock for yourselves, and I'm hoping to work on that tomorrow for you.
Your suggestions about what to do with a little flock of hooky birdies were fabulous, and I've been getting sooo excited about making Birdie Mobiles, Biride Bunting and Birdie Christmas Tree Decorations......gosh, I mean it's making me REALLY EXCITED!!!!!!!! Yes, big CAPITAL LETTERS sort of EXCITED, with many exclamation marks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When I started to think about Christmas decorations, I immediately thought of making robins. As I didn't have any brown robin-coloured yarn in the Attic, I had to go and buy some today, and I ended up getting some organic natural cotton yarn which I hope is going to work out. I confess it feels very very odd for me to be handling Brown Yarn, but I'm coping.
My robin is still very much a fledgling WiP as you can see....a test-run-robin. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Right....need to stop yapping about my WiP's and go light the fire and get industrious in the kitchen before husband returns home and demands to know what's going on. I'm pretty sure that a blog post and a half-made crochet robin will not cut the mustard in place of a roaring fire and a hot meal on the table.
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ps I know several of you are still waiting for the Circles Scarf pattern, and I promise I'll try fit that in very soon.
pps in case you really need to know but don't like to ask, WiP = Work In Progress :o)
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oooo Lucy i can`t wait to see your Likkle Robin! Lovely photos as usual, never mind the weather they are still brill! Thanx for the email.
Love Carole xxxx
Posted by: Carole | October 27, 2009 at 06:01 PM
Since I work in a pharmaceutical environment I'm used to the ol WIP terminology - have to say though, it sounds oh so much nicer when applied to all things hooky :)
Posted by: chuckieamc | October 27, 2009 at 05:57 PM
You sound so happy and excited today! :)
I'm looking forward to seeing your robin...
Posted by: Erica K | October 27, 2009 at 05:54 PM
as soon as I read your first blog post with the birds I wanted to make a robin. So glad you are thinking the same way and that now I don't have to stretch my lazy brain to figure it out, just follow your tutorial (hopefully tomorrow!). Thanks!
country mouse xx
Posted by: country mouse | October 27, 2009 at 05:43 PM
I loved the idea of making those little birdies into christmas tree decs, that robin is going to be darn cute x
Posted by: lucy | October 27, 2009 at 05:40 PM
Lovely work, as usual! I would love to see one or two pictures of how you weave in the ends on your granny squares. As a knitter just recently come to crochet, I can't quite figure out the best way to do it. (You know, in your copious spare time. . .)
Posted by: Elizabeth D | October 27, 2009 at 05:27 PM
Oh a robin - genius! My favourite bird. Really looking forward ot seeing him.
Happy hooking you clever thing!
Stephx
Posted by: Steph | October 27, 2009 at 05:19 PM
LOVE Your WiP's!!!! xoxoxo Jen in Boise
Posted by: Jennifer | October 27, 2009 at 05:19 PM
The birds and your cot blanket are wonderful. I know you've probably been asked this a million times so here is a million and one. How do you decide on colors as you're making each square? Do you plan it all out or do you just reach in a bag and use the color your hand lands on? The combinations are so wonderful. Your home must look very cheery with such vibrant colors all around.
Jill
Posted by: Jill | October 27, 2009 at 05:16 PM
hello lucy,
thank you so much for your post and all the stories you are sharing with me/us.
I always like your posts, they are interesting and so warm.Thank you!
and the birds are such a good idea, perhaps I make one too.(well, one day I mean)
bye bye from katja (hamburg)
Posted by: katja | October 27, 2009 at 05:16 PM
I like to say I'm working on my PhD... (projects half done) Love all your WIPs by the way... especially the little birds.
Posted by: Gina | October 27, 2009 at 05:14 PM
The Robin is going to be great and the baby blanket is looking brill!!!! Enjoy a cosy evening x
Posted by: Kimbles | October 27, 2009 at 05:02 PM
Love the birds and the blanket looks very cosy.Hope that you and the bump are keeping well.I love reading your blog but don't usually leave any comment as you get so many,managed to get in early today! Take care
Love Sue xx
Posted by: sue | October 27, 2009 at 04:48 PM
Lucy, your bump blanket is looking fantastic, you are so going to enjoy wrapping your bundle in a blanket made with so much love. Love the photo of the shop, it's very pretty, I can see why you liked it. Loving the birdies, I'm excited for the new patterns you are going to be sharing. Today is very dark and dreary here as well, calling for a foot of snow minimum, wishing we had a fire. Enjoy your evening, all nice and cozy.
Posted by: Jennifer | October 27, 2009 at 04:46 PM
I think your robin will be wonderful! I think I will do some of them for a friend, whos home is just white, beige and brown. It will suite her home. I'm more into purple and pink, so I guess it will be some birds for me in that colours ;)
I see you're "clocking" your work too (11 minutes for one square, that's fast!!) :-)
Now, I must finish the dinner! The kids are probably starving, while I was waiting for your post...
Love Anna xxx
Posted by: Anna-Karin, Sweden | October 27, 2009 at 04:42 PM
I'm sooooo excited about the birdie pattern, cant wait!!! x
Posted by: rosie hearts | October 27, 2009 at 04:39 PM
lovely stuff...your blanket for Bump24 is just perfect:-)
Alison.
Posted by: Alison | October 27, 2009 at 04:37 PM
hello! o, your blog is my new favorite! i'm adding you to my feed so i can come back and catchup when i have more time.
(found you through alicia's posy gets cozy.)
Posted by: jen | October 27, 2009 at 04:33 PM