Wreath Love ♥ Thank you!

Awwwwwwwwwwwwww, you lot, how very good you make me feel!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you so very much for all the Wreath Love, it has been wonderful reading your generous comments. Truly wonderful. It has really made me very happy to absorb your words. Thank you.

We had a storm pass through here last night with heavy rain and strong winds. This morning, I noticed that so many of the tress in my neighbourhood have been blown bare overnight, leaving almost no Autumn leaves on the branches now. How fleeting the glory has been, but it has made me even more grateful for the photos and memories I've managed to record here on my blog. My wreath has somehow captured and presereved the past month of colourful, leafy Autumn and I love it for that.

After the rain clouds blew out of town this morning, we were treated to another spell of glorious sunshine. My living room looked so bright and pretty when I walked in this morning, that I couldn't resist another little photo shoot. Also, I thought of a few more things that I forgot to talk about in the excitement of yesterday.

So, the stripes. Many of you commented on how odd it is that I bothered to make the wreath base beautifully stripy, only to then go and cover it all up with Stuff. Fair point. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, if I'm going to work up 80 odd rows of crochet, I need a sure fire way to prevent boredom setting in. Honestly, the thought of sitting down with just one colour to crochet a long length makes me want to jack it all in before I begin. So stripes it is, and then the pleasure is there right from the start.

Secondly :: the stripes don't show when you look at the wreath head on (ie in most of the photographs I've been showing you), but when it is hung on the wall I am often looking at it from an angle. As I don't decorate the sides of the half wreath, only the front, it's important that the sides still look pretty as you do see them. The above photos demonstrate this nicely.

The other thing I forgot to mention was the yarn I used for the decorations. As I've had lots of asks about this here on my blog and over on my Facebook page, I thought I should tell you a bit about it. For all my wreaths I've used various Merino yarns, which I love a lot. The colours are vibrant and varied, it feels beautifully soft and smooth, it creates an appealing, even texture when worked up and it is a little bit more forgiving than cotton yarn.

In my basket above, I've got all the shades I used in my Autumn Wreath. There's a mixture of Rico Essentials Merino DK, Drops Extra Fine Merino DK and Drops Baby Merino 4ply. There are also one or two oddments of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in there too.

The browns (all Drops merino) were a new thing for me, and they were OK in moderation. Lets just say that I coped with them for necessary acorn and hedgehog production, but I don't expect I'll be making a habit of it.

The other colours were much more "me" and filled me with delight. I did miss my favourite cool shades of aqua and blue, but these rich, hot colours are pretty knock-out.

I can highly recommend building a stash of merino yarns, if your pennies can stretch to it. They aren't dirt cheap or bargainous, but they do have super yardage and consequently seem to last for aaaaaaages. They deliver such a lot of hooky pleasure and are equally good for making snuggly projects (blankets, wraps, scarves, mitts) and small decorative projects.

I am feeling ever so slightly bereft now that my Autumn Wreath is complete, it's always a weeny bit sad when a happy, productive, satisfying project comes to a close. It's just as well I have a trillion new ideas flooding in behind it, jostling for my attention, waiting to be chosen.

Another gratuitous Wreath Shot, sorry, I just couldn't resist. Awww Hollie.....you are my dream critter!

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♥.....more snippets from the Attic.....♥

Michaelmas Daisies

Autumn Wreath :: Ta-dah!

Autumnal Crochet

Wreath Making

Hunkering Down

 

Comments

[AnnB]

For any who say they want to learn to crochet but can't. Phooey.
I (at age 56 now 58) and a co-worker (age then 44) and DIL (age 30) all retaught ourselves after long past acquaintance with crochet as children using internet written instructions, books, and You Tube. And lots of practice and determination.
You can learn too and have the joy of creating...and even copying as exactly as possible something you would love to enjoy.

[AnnB]

The pattern for wreath and bobbles is in the progress pages, her patterns and where to find other patterns.

This wreath took weeks to make. Would be costly to buy if she priced her hours at $20 USD. No less than mid-range $$$ and worth every penny.

[Susan]

Lucy, I just get the biggest kick out of you! Your excitement/happiness is contagious. Your wreath is truly a work of art and your living room looks so cozy and warm with all your crochet. Beautiful job.

[Skye Dupre]

The wreath is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! As are so many of your things.You and your blog make me happy! HUGGGGGGGGGGSSSSS....! Skye Dupre, Washington State,USA.

[Frances]

Lucy, when I saw how many comments you'd gotten with your "full reveal" of the harvest wreath, I thought...just wait, give Lucy a chance to rest her eyes.

And so, I paused.

This evening I have returned and have been rewarded with more info and photos of that charming wreath. I completely agree with you about having the stripes in the base tube for the wreath. Had to have multi-shades.

It's all those decorative elements that just give this creation its zing...and it's got a lot of zing.

You are sweet to give the yarn sources, too. Over here in the States, we do have other variations of the yarns you used, but it's fun to compare fibers. Well...any knitter or crocheter would know that.

Best wishes and congrats on a lovely tribute to a beautiful season. xo

[Tara]

I <3 it!! I've been scouring Pinterest for Christmas holiday motifs to crochet so I can do this for Christmas.

[Joan]

Your wreath is gorgeous. So bright and cheery! Love it!

[Carolyn Jackson]

Just wonderful Lucy, such a lot of work, loved seeing all the pieces before you sewed them on. I admired each piece, must have been a huge task to sew each piece on, but a lovely rewarding task all the same.. I hope you enjoyed a cup of coffee on me.
Cheers Caro NZ.

[krista - Poppyprint]

Oh my goodness. That is the yummiest looking wreath EVER!!!!

[Evelyn]

I look back at it all the time. Engenious. U are a very talented person. I am going to try my luck at a major project and stick with it.Npw to figure out that project. keep on with the insperations.

[karen]

Its absolutely wonderful x

[Claire B]

I think this is my favourite project you've ever done,. So much work must go into it and you should be truly proud of your unique creation. It is stunning. Xx

[Clare]

Yay more wreath apreciation, you can never have too much wreath time, I know what you mean about finishing projects like this but with Christmas on the way I'm sure there will be lots to keep you busy. It really is the most lovely wreath.
Clare

[Cristina Arguello]

Hoy regresé a saludarte pues estoy absolutamente enamorada de tu corona.Más la miro más me gusta.Tienes un talento increible.Felicitaciones!!!

['me']

I love it !!!

[Sarah Whelan]

I had wondered about the beautiful stripy background being covered up, so it was lovely to see your wreath from the side. It really does need the stripes and wouldn't look as 'together' if the wreath was one solid colour and everything jazzy was just on the front.

[Zoe/Pennyblossoms]

Oh yes! It's still stunningly beautiful, one blog post on!
I'm thinking out loud here, with you saying you miss your blue colours...a seaside-themed wreath for the summer???
Whaddaya think???
Z xx

[Lacey]

Every time I look back at this blog post in my feed reader, I keep thinking that tree is light up with little christmas bulbs. NOpe. Pure sunlight. :D

I love this project, and you are right to be so tickled with it. I make the window displays for my local yarn shop, so I bow to your 82 piece window. Our under the sea window is about that many handmade (yarny) pieces plus foam rocks and plants. It's a major undertaking to put in each year. But I bow to your wreath! I think it has even that window beat in serious complexity because sometimes we cheated and used some hot glue and felt to make some of the under water plants. haha It'll be our little secret!

[a]

How much does this cost - that yarn looks so expensive!

[Jules]

Have just been catching up with blogs tonight and wanted to let you know how fantastic I think the wreath is too! Well done you!

[jamie]

Ooohh, its just beautiful!! You definitely have an art for putting colors together. :-)

[gail]

I hope by now you've picked out all the lovely colours for your winter wreath .I know it's hard work and very time consuming but I'm betting your wreaths would sell like hotcakes -

[Kate]

All change here this morning too- the colours had changed to brown in the frost last night, then the wind and really heavy rain...down the leaves came...Winter now and no mistake!I'm just doing some paintings using leaves I picked up a few days back, glad I brought them home before all the colour vanished!

[Graca vidal da cruz]

Lovely your job,I love all......<3

[Paula Hendrickson]

Once again, Lucy, you have scattered joy into my life. The wreath is so yummy in color and design. Your talent and warmth abound in it. Hollie is a pure delight. Hugs from here.