Caravan Stuff (again)

I'm sorry if you aren't remotely interested in Caravan Stuff, I really am. Cos I don't seem to be able to stop going on about it right now. That little box on wheels has taken over my creative life for the time being, there is still so much I need to do! I really want to make her into the prettiest, cosiest, cutest, most colourful and lovely caravan in the whole wide world. So yeah, appologies for the caravan-heavy posts of late, I promise other normal things will creep back in soon enough.

Do you remember back last year I had a bash at crocheting a cafetiere cosy? The pattern/idea came from the wonderful book "Cute and Easy Crochet" by Nicki Trench, and it was my Summer Connievan project last August.

You may remember that it didn't quite turn out as it should've. It was very wonky. And it didn't really fit my cafetiere cos the button was in the wrong place and I made the whole thing too tall and thin. In short, I was quite disappointed with it, and although I did use it for a little while it irritated me too much and I ended up abandoning it. Chucked it in the bin. I know, such a shame, but there you go.

I must stress that it was no fault of the pattern/idea (which I loved), I just hadn't really thought hard enough about the shape of my particular cafetiere in relation to what I was actually making. My fault entirely.

But the idea never left my mind and I knew at some point I would give it another go. That point happened on Tuesday night to be precise. On a complete whim I pulled out  my yarn and started to crochet up some stripes, just like that. It was absolutely wonderful to take a little diversion from the business of stitching curtains and sit hooking up easy stripes instead. Perfect escapism for a few hours. I used my lovely Rico Merino yarn on a 3.5mm hook, started at the bottom and worked my way up in double crochet stripes, working all my rows from the front. I enjoyed it so much!

This is the side view, you can see how I left a gap that would go around the handle, and constructed a tab with a buttonhole at the top. When I'd finished all the crochet, the whole thing ended up rather wonky and twisted, so I gave it a good blast with the steam iron on the wrong side and kind of pulled and eased it into shape whilst it was still warm and slightly damp.

I'm happy with how it turned out, but then I am pretty easily pleased where colourful stripes are concerned. Not bad for a a few hours work eh?

I wanted to show you a few more pictures I took in Connievan last week so you can get a feel for how she is slowly becoming "Lucy-fied". The large front window looks a little bare in this photo, but I've now hung up the big curtains and it looks terrific, it really does. Do you see those brown velvet sort of cushiony sofa arm thingies? I'm going to crochet some covers for those, just as soon as I've finished the last two curtains and made fabric bunting/pelmet covers for above the windows.

This is the back end of Connievan where the Little People sleep/play. Gosh it looks so drab without any hooky goodness or pretty stitchy businesss! I'm hoping to eventually find a way to cover these cushions without spending too much money on fabric, and another granny square blanket will be starting quite soon for this seating area too. And of course, those big back curtains will be getting the gingham/floral/ricrac treatment just as soon as I can face doing it. I'm a bit stitched out at the moment.

But oh my, all that tedious stitching was sooooooo worth it, just look how lovely the curtains are!

They make the caravan so cosy at night, and so pretty in the daytime, I just love them.

Do you like the cards I stuck up on the wall? They're postcards that I bought from Paperchase last year sometime, I fell in love with the colourful folksy images and knew immediately that they would be perfect for Connievan.

I love Connie's kitchen area, it's so compact and well designed. There's a fridge, sink/drainer, hob, oven and grill, a cutlery drawer and two storage cupboards. Oh that little cutlery drawer.....waiting patiently for it's cute vintage cutlery tray (yaaayyy, I won the ebay bid!) and it's spotty dotty new cutlery.

Opposite the kitchen is a wardrobe cupboard and a full bathroom (basin, toilet and shower), I'll take some more pictures soon to show you so you've had the whole tour then.

We had a lovely few days away, just got back this afternoon. The weather hasn't been great (in fact it's been dreadful) but we made the most of it and enjoyed the holiday and family time. I'll pop back soon with more Tales from Connievan, see you then..........

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Comments

[Barbara in Alaska]

I love your caravan posts. We live 36 miles from the nearest road and the urge to get in a camper and see Alaska is just knawing at me! Alaska has only a handful of roads...but they are long! Keep posting! I showed my hubby your site and how it inspired me to change the colors I use in our cabin....need the brights and the cheery....not the camo!

[Adele]

Denim would be good, tough and not show the stains - either fabric or beg lots of folk's old jeans!! Go with the curtains too. Red check cushions to complete.

[idiosyncratic eye]

It must be a whole heap brighter in there now! That furry brown look is enough to put me off caravans! :)

[NeetieBee]

Connievan is looking really fab-have you considered removing the covers for the seats,unpicking them and making a new pattern from them so they would fit perfectly?Abakhan on Oldham Street in Manchester do a great range of upholstery fabrics,sold by weight,great selection at very reasonable prices.
I have to ask...where are those gorgeous French tea/coffee/sugar kitchen cannisters from Lucy? Me likey!
http://mommaandthebear.blogspot.co.uk

[Carol]

Connievan is looking wonderful a real "Lucy" home from home.
Carol xx

[Pauline]

Love those lovely bright colours - really brighten up the caravan. Just looking about for some nice crochet yarns to stock in my new shop.

[Romina]

Lucy! I love your connievan tales! I want to see and read more. Hugs and kisses from Buenos Aires, Argentina :)

[NADINE G]

Formidable votre reportage sur votre caravane, j'ai hâte de voir la suite et j'aimerais bien partir avec vous en vacances.
Bisous- NADINE

[Kate]

Always a joy to be making with a purpose: I like to make things I can use and the pleasure small makes-like a cafetiere cosy- give each day is not to be underestimated.Having said that I spent today making a tiny orange tree from felt.Very practical.
Connievan is looking good-cheap fabrics...check out your local charity shops for funky old curtains/stripy sheets.

[Jayne]

Love hearing about Connievan and I have caravan envy Have decided to save up for one of my own!

[AmyS]

I'm utterly jealous of the Connievan so please - keep posting about her. She is turning out beautifully!

[Anja]

I would love to come to your caravan for a vacation ;o) It´s so cute ans cosy. I just saw this :
http://www.modabakeshop.com/2012/03/sliced-audition-tutorial-lonely.html and immediately thought of you!

[Selena]

You need blackboard paint on the fridge door inset... Or magnetic paint for connievan holiday location mementos or magnetic poetry kits :-)

[Helen]

I am loving the caravan posts, keep them coming! You have made great improvements covering up all that beige, I have enjoyed watching the changes. My little ones bunks are fixed so their crochet bed blankets are always on show :) Glad you had a good trip away. We have just booked our first trip with a caravan to the continent, wish us luck.

[VintageVicki]

I look forward to seeing more photos :)

We've just got back from our first weekend in Bertie - lots of stuff to test out and most of it worked!! Roll on our proper hols in August and another weekend away next month :)

[Kristen]

My goodness, it's just magical in there. I don't know how you can ever leave it! I'd be tempted to move in permanently. :)

[aishakenza]

Hi Lucy,
I would love a Connievan :) What a lovely project to work on, a little bit at a time. For those arm rests, I wondered if you'd like to see what I did for my sofa. You could so something similar for Connievan. Here's a pic of my granny armrests http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kGhOR1CMXXU/TtvmaOfTiuI/AAAAAAAAAL8/-YACKxTs9bU/s400/granny_armrest.JPG
Love from Aisha

[ali.b.]

Lovely x

[sharon]

I am so wanting a caravan for myself. Dreaming of having my very own colorful hideaway like yours. Looks like a piece of heaven.

[pixie]

Lucy,, i have to say, that your little caravan is just adorable, and everything that you have done to it is just wonderful.. it looks so utterly cosie and i would want to be in it all the time....even if it was just parked in the drive way, i would sit in it......beautiful. x

[Gillian]

I adore your french storage canisters, they are lovely. I have that Nicki Tench book and the cafetiere cover caught my eye but I thought that it would permanently get covered in coffee drips and be in the washing machine more than it was on the cafetiere. I would be very interested to know how well the pretty striped cosy stands up to everyday use and the realities of kitchen life! Your caravan is looking very colourful, by the way.

[Ann]

It all looks wonderful Lucy. Warm, cosy and totally individual. You can look at the results of your labours and know you had hours of fun (perhaps not the sewing so much!) making everything handmade.

[susan]

i love your connievan i want one :)...love reading about it all...hope you have many lovely times out and about with her xx

[Amanda Quinn]

Lucy I had the same problem with the cafetiere cover as you, my problem was I didn't take into account that mine is a large cafetiere and it like yours it didn't fit properly. I've kept mine however and is looking for a right sized cafetiere!! Love what you've done to Connievan the colours, gingham and trims really make it your own. Can't wait to see what it looks like once you've sorted out the pelmets too. I love reading your posts you make me realise that I'm not alone in my quest for getting crafty!!

[Lianne]

Connievan is turning out so cosy, great job!!