Winter-Spring Crochet

Just lately I've been thinking a lot about the space that I occupy online and the way that I share and communicate with you all. Just to reassure you, it's a good kind of thinking as I'm feeling very positive and also very inspired right now and I want to make sure that I'm using all this creative energy in the best way possible. 

I'm trying to get the balance right so that I can allow myself the chance to be creatively spontaneous and go with the flow, while at the same time being mindful of the fact that I have deadlines to work to at times. I also want to try much harder to make the timing of things work better as it's something I seem to be especially terrible at! I feel like sometimes I disappoint you all when I share my ideas for something and set out with great excitement on the design/making journey, and then run out of time to actually finish (I'm thinking of my Yuletide Garland for example, which I wasn't able to finish in time for Christmas).

Anyhow....I need to gather my thoughts together a bit better before I talk any more about all this, but it's all good stuff. Today I want to share with you what's occupying me right now so that you can see what's been on my mind, and on my hook. I LOVE to share my creative process here on my blog and I hope it's something that interests you too, well it would be a bit rubbish if I started to bore the pants off you, wouldn't it?!

I've got a vase of the most beautifully scented narcissus on my mantel at the moment, a surprise gift from a friend when we had coffee together last week. They really are the sweetest things, the flowers are ever so pretty and I love how dinky they are compared to daffodils. It probably won't surprise you to know that these flowers sent a message directly to my Creative Mind and in no uncertain terms told me that I HAD to try and crochet them. I mentioned it in my last blog post - I was supposed to be crocheting bits and bobs for a winter garland (frosty leaves and the such like) but all of a sudden there was cream yarn in my hand and a little narcissus flower flying off my hook.......

.......well I never. How did that happen?!

I went diving into my stash to pull out some additional colours and three more narcissus flowers bloomed before my eyes.

Then came this little viola, the sweetest little flower that I didn't even know I wanted to make until it was forming in my hands. I guess I was thinking about garden flowers that bloom now in February - narcissus, violas, cyclamen and polyanthus. I see them in pots at the supermarket looking so cheery and colourful, a little promise that Spring is on it's way.

When I shared these violas on social media a few days ago they caught a huge amount of interest and I had so, so many requests for the pattern. I did have the good sense to write up the first draft of the pattern as soon as I'd finished making these two flowers so that I wouldn't forget what I had done, but I would still consider these as samples. Before I publish a pattern I like to be 110% sure of it and know that I've done my very best to make it easy to understand and reproduce. It takes time, and patience.

The other thing to mention is that I do have a particular future project in mind for these flowers, and I'm still in the early stages of planning it. So I hope you understand when I say that I'm not quite ready to share the patterns just yet, but I still really enjoy sharing my creativity in real time as and when it's happening. It just feels better that way for me, I am one of life's natural sharers that's for sure.

I'm trying to properly re-focus now on the season we're in, and get my head back into thinking winter thoughts because I reeeeeeeally want to make my winter garland before Spring arrives.  The above photo shows my deconstructed Winter Wreath, and gives you a general idea of the colours I'm thinking about for my garland. 

I'm thinking about the frosty winter meadow....

....with it's icy, muted colours and the soft glow of a low winter sun.

I'm thinking about ice-edged leaves.....

....snowberries....

....winter cherry blossom....

.....and snowdrops.

I had a frustrating time at the weekend trying to come up with an easy snowdrop design, and the above blob is attempt number six that went in the bin then got pulled back out again. I'm pretty sure I can make a really great little flower if I keep on trying, especially as I don't think a Winter Garland would be complete without snowdrops.

I've picked out ten shades of Stylecraft Special DK for my Winter Garland :

Pale Rose : Powder Pink : Pistachio : Meadow : Lincoln 

Duck Egg : Parma Violet : Hint of Silver : Cream : White

I think it's going to end up being a winter-spring creation, but I'm absolutely OK with that. Spring doesn't properly arrive here in my patch until well into April so we do end up with quite a long winter-spring season. I've made 18 little blossom flowers so far, although I'm mindful that I'm still working on my Harbour blankets as the CAL is still ongoing. It's a seasonal juggling act, one that I'm very, very happy to be doing.

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Comments

[Cynthia L Wood]

Such beautiful delicate flowers. I so enjoy creating things and also seeing the creations of others. Thank you for sharing yours.

[Dorothy Coburn-Atherton]

I love the colours you’ve chosen and I love the pansy/viola you have already created especially 🥰

[Jane]

I love your blog, Lucy and your posts are like having a friendly conversation. Your ideas and colour schemes are just wonderful and I've made quite a few blankets using your colour schemes and Kaz Hall's Harmony charts. I'm not a great crocheter and really just use trebles and simple granny squares. Your flowers are amazing! I couldn't even get my head around how you crochet a 3D shape. Thanks, Jane x

[Deb]

We love your blog. Thanks for sharing. The viola's are fantastic.

[Nora McGrann]

ALWAYS a treat for the eyes, regardless if you crochet or not, Lucy

Appreciate all you share with us!

Nora 🥀🥀🥀🥀

[Rachell]

Beautiful selection of colours

[Ann]

Beautiful

[Sheila]

Love your work and blog. Such beautiful colours

[Christine]

Love the way those flowers appear on your hook. Superb.

[Carole C]

Beautiful colour palette for the Winter Garland 🤍

[Deb]

Did you know that the 'bouquets' that the Winter Olympic medal winners are presented with are all crocheted?

[mary boorman]

These are beautiful and so me Love the colours of nature and the lovely flowers leave etc you make Stunning thank you for sharing

[Michele]

These are all so beautiful! I can appreciate the deadlines and struggling to finish. I am currently working on making winter place mats for my family and still have 3 to go. I am doing hand applique and they are fairly quick to put together but I keep getting distracted :) Loved reading your post

[AnnieC]

Cannot wait for those violas!! Meanwhile, I think I need a Winter Garland AND a sweater out of those beautiful soft colors you've chosen!!

[Louise]

I also often have projects that I want to write about but feel like I shouldn't mention them in case I don't finish them. As result this thinking actually prevents me from posting often. I should probably just post about the progress regardless as a way of kind of 'diarizing' what I do. I really enjoy all your posts of what you're up to whether a pattern comes from it or not because I read your posts with a cuppa and it's like catching up with a crochet buddy and hearing what they're up to! By the way I really love your flower patterns. You have a way of capturing the shape or essence of the flower. I made your hellebores a few years ago to decorate a wooden stag on my wall (sounds weird but it's quite gorgeous!) Xox

[Sara Evans]

You are a really creative soul. It's such a blessing the colorful, warm creations you share with all of us. We love you and appreciate everything you do for us Lucy. Remember just how needed you are to brighten the world. And you do indeed brighten mine. Thank you so much.

[Tammy]

Your flowers and the colors you used are so pretty :)

[Liz Hasler]

Your flowers are so pretty! I love the little violas. One of my favorites along with Lily of the Valley. Thanks for sharing your talent with us.

[Mandy Williams]

What a wonderful post. I can’t wait to hear more about the violas. My precious, 90 year young, mama’s middle name is Viola so…

[Winifred Waite]

Such beautiful flowers, gorgeous shades. Looking forward to seeing your new creation.

[Mikki]

I discovered you with the Moorland CAL. I dearly love your blankets, and have made 7 of them so far.
I appreciate the sharing of your thought here, and please know you are always in my prayers!

[Carolyn Dietrich]

I love it when you get excited about a new project and share it! The winter garland is going to be so beautiful - I love what you've done so far. The spring flowers are gorgeous. I look forward to seeing everything. Your blog is never boring. I have been reading it for years and always look forward to each post.

[Linda from Boston]

I LOVE those colors for the violas. I’m thinking of a blanket with those colors. That Emperor and Wisteria have caught my eye. Beautiful.

[Leslie]

Well these are all just gorgeous - especially the wee violas! but I can see I’m going to be ordering more yarn :) in anticipation of the release of your patterns! I must also state that I am terribly jealous that you have sweet little flowers blooming in February!! Here in my part of the US, April is the earliest to see these beauties!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful work, and the creative process that guides it!
Cheers!

[Arina]

Those flowers 🥰