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

[Lara]

I love the butterfly garden block. I have one in a crazy afghan I made a few years ago, it's a butter yellow.

[Ellen Brugmans]

Hi Lucy, I'm sorry to barge in on your serious crochet, but today I came across a cushion that looked like something you might fancy...
http://karinaandehaak.blogspot.com/2012/03/knoopjes-kussen.html
(scroll for UK translation)
Just because there's no such thing as too much hooky spotting ;-).
By the way, I really love that Double-Framed Lace block you're working on. And your zippy bag. And your croissant, mmmmm!

[Christina]

Wow - your zip looks perfect! I'm way too intimidated by zips just yet and my sewing machine and I aren't on speaking terms right now. Maybe someday!

[Claire Toplis]

What a gorgeous blanket x

[José]

Ah, so the Attic is where our sun went... ;-)
That wreath is gonna look lovely ! Very curious about the result :-)
I share your High Hopes for May.. it's been too grey and cloudy for my likes lately. Though your blog always adds colour ! And to not let myself be too affected either, I just treated me on some Very Colourful nailpolish ;-)

[Diana]

The light on the blanket is marvelous.

[liz clark]

I so love everything you make, my house is so lucyfied now. I used too have so matching and unified, but now all colorful and lucy style and so very happy. Thanks you are the best-

[Connie Griffin]

Love your project bag!!!
And love the gray square - It reminds me of a lovely trivet my mom used to have on her stove.
[email protected]

[davina]

Hi Lucy lovely work again. I love the idea of the bag, great for taking out and about when on the move and want to take something to do. can't wait to see the finished wreath. have fun take care vina x

[Pom Pom]

Look at you go! You might want to friend Mrs. Galloway on Ravelry because she made what she calls her Lark Rise blanket and your squares remind me of it! VERY cool!
And YES, you put that zip in expertly! It looks so fine!
I wish you many more days of crocheting in the pockets of time that devoted motherhood affords!

[KahviKaneli]

Oh, your "ProjectBag" is so beautiful! It's lovely looking fabric and useful for any chrochet projects :O)

[Sam]

as you can tell from the fact I posted twice, oops! Sorry!!

[Sam]

Hi Lucy, I am new to crochet and a friend recommended your blog. It's fab- you are an inspiration and I love all your projects! Those flowers are beautiful. Keep up the lovely work!
Sam x
Ps I've just started my own blog to share crafty ideas with like minded people and would love it if you'd take a look- I'm new to blogging too!

[Sam]

Hi Lucy, I am new to crocheting and your blog was recommended to me by a friend- it's fab, you are an inspiration and I love all your projects. Those flowers are beautiful. Keep up the lovely work!! Sam x

[Helen Philipps]

Love the bright project bag and the pretty new lacy crochet too! Thanks for popping over to see me the other day and your lovely comment. I would love to see an Attic 24 quilt, that would be so wonderful!! Hope you have a happy, sunny crafty day.
Helen x

[Sangeetha]

Hi Lucy,
I would love to chat with you because I have something great to share with you. In one of my earlier comments I told you that you have inspired me to start my own blog and try my hand at one of your blankets. Well,(drum roll) I have done both! Do have a look at my blog http://crochetkari.blogspot.in/2012/05/i-love-lucy.html where you have a special mention. There is also a sneak peek at my blanket (wip). Do let me have your comments and suggestions.
Regards.

[Galit Rizcan]

hi lucy,
thanks very much for your great blog, it is a great thing to do on mum time, and it give me a lot of inspiration - thank you a lot.
and i have a little question - do you have an instruction for this connection of granny squer?
i have some and i want to put them together like this.

have a lovely and magical day
galit from Israel

[Taylor]

I adore your hooky homemade bag!!! I been thinking about one those myself(er making one). I can't wait to see your wreath or your new blanket!!! Very excited!!!

[Kari]

I have been following your blog since December when I found the pattern for the Crochet Bag. I just want to say that reading your posts and seeing all of your colorful projects really brighten my day! You are an inspiration! (I love the Project Bag!)

[idiosyncratic eye]

Yay, another zip! :)

[BeBe]

Your blog always brings a smile and some color into my day. I appreciate you!

[Rose-Marguerite]

Hello Lucy! Thank you for sharing, I think I'll make a mini zippered bag because it's useful and I'll learn more about zips. I like very much the first square "Double-Framed Lace" and Cygnus is nice too. Your wreath will certainly be wonderful. It's a good idea to use polystyrene wreath!
See you soon!

[Kathy Knight]

Absolutely love the way you mix colors. So cheerful and yummy. Love the bag too!

FYI - Many word processing programs have a function to "find and replace" text. To change the US pattern to UK, you tell it to find the dc's and replace them with Treble Crochet. Just a few clicks of the mouse.

[quinn]

The pattern on the white square is so simple, yet vibrant...there's an illusion of motion there, I think. And your new bag is just gorgeous!

[Jess Sellars]

Lucy HELP!!! I've just started a blog and have no idea how to get it out there other than my facebook page. All help gratefully received. Thanks so much. x