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Since last Winter I have been buying scarves from charity shops (no more than £1.99 each), with the idea of crocheting them together to make a blanket. It was a little tricky to collect these accessories over the Summer, but now that Autumn has blustered in again, so have the stockpiled scarves.
I've looked out for colours that I love (deep pinks, purples, green and teal), variable textures and avoided those that are really overstretched. Here is the result of my double crochet seaming together 10 scarves so far. I am really surprised how heavy it is:
You can only really see the first 6 in this photo. When I complete this, I'll try and get a better photo up.
The piece, so far, is stretched over a king size bed. I reckon another 5 scarves would give it the perfect drape for a single bed, or for a sofa snuggle blanket - it's really cosy. This is great for upcycling any old, overstretched or no longer worn scarves you may have stashed away. What a lovely way to keep an array of much loved family scarves in use as an heirloom maybe?- You can never have too many blankets!
August 27th was Bank Holiday Monday. The day was more so reminiscent of a blustery, cold, wet, dim Autumn than tail end of the Summer. Depressing... It is a little known fact that people living in the north east of England are advised to take extra vitamin D supplements due to the lack of sunlight. Also, a taxi driver told me, last Winter, that he had a Norwegian passenger who said it was colder during the Winter in the north east than it was in Norway! He said she was grumbling that she couldn't cope with the 'damp', that the coldness of the season in Norway was a dry cold rather than a wet coldness. I've lived here (by choice) for the past eight years, and I've only this last year gotten out of the habitual need to sneak a hot water bottle on the morning bus journey into work during the Winter....
Anyway. I spent Bank Holiday Monday with my parentals. We kept company in the morning at home. Dad crosswording, Mum doing her lovely tapestry and some geneology research, and me (going nearly cross-eyed in the dim daylight) getting into one of four crochet projects on the go at the moment. This is my version of the 'Flowers in the Snow' blanket by Solveig Grimstad (from Ravelry, http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/flowers-in-the-snow). If you are unfortunate enough to have not signed up to Ravelry, or choose not to indulge in such delicious yarn adoring procrastination, then she (Solveig Grimstad), has provided an excellent translation of her pattern (using US crochet terms) with photos, on her blog, which you can access here: http://solgrim.blogspot.co.uk/2009/06/sirkel-i-kvadrat.html .
Note to self: This beautiful design is called 'Flowers in the Snow' for the reason that each motif/square is meant to be bordered in white. I, in the throes of 'Intent to Destash', chose navy blue around apple green, teal and purple flowers. Dim days + dark borders = strained, peeping peepers! However, these are a combination of my favourite colours and they look fabulous together nonetheless. Here is what I have completed so far:
The other project I am working on is 'Nancy's Waves Scarf' by Cori Dodds on Ravelry (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/nancys-waves-scarf ), which is a free pdf download. I am using a Regia sock yarn ( 4 ply, wool and nylon blend). The yarn colours crochet out beautifully with the pattern, however, I am suprised how 'scratchy' and rough it feels and wonder if even using a little conditioner when I block it is going to make it any softer? The link on Ravelry offers 'yarn ideas' for the project, and I'm thinking that when I do this again (lovely Christmas gift scarves), I might choose something more luxurious like Mini Mochi, Schoppel-Wolle Zauberball, Noro Silk Garden, or Araucania Ranco Multy.... However, those choices will mean new purchases and conscious avoidance of Intent to Destash!...Oh woe.
The Artful Adorner has taken a blog break to write out a hundred times 'I WILL destash!'.....
This is my Nancy's Waves Scarf thus far:
After lunch, we got on the bus into the city and spent a pleasant hour or so wandering around the Laing Gallery. The two exhibitions at the moment are 'The Family' and 'Quentin Blake' illustrations. My favourite 'Isabella and the pot of Basil' by Rossetti is out on loan alas, but I was delighted to see another favourite, 'Cat in a Cottage Window' by Ralph Hedley, remained for viewing pleasure. We convened for coffee and tea and cake in the Laing cafe before heading back to the bus stop home (their Rocky Road is delicious!).
I have not abandoned my art journal exploits, I managed to complete two A5 size pages for the day on some scrap paper (that I will paste into one of my books). Before I sign off, I 'd just like to mention that my parents saw a fantastic Rolf Harris exhibition in John Lewis (Newcastle upon Tyne), which is on at the moment.
Oooooooh, tomorrow is Woollee Wednesday!
2 posts back, I mentioned using up all my unfinished crochet, knit projects & tension samples by crocheting them all together into a Frankenstein blanket. I renamed the unsightly beast 'The Frankly Frankenstein Blanket'! The result was far too ghastly for human usage, and thinking that a dog wouldn't care about the complete lack of aesthetic beauty and composition, I then donated the FFB to my local dog shelter. Ugly but very warm & cosy.
So much for keeping on top of the blog.... I have been crocheting like a demon for the seemingly long arrival of the newest baby Mistry. Amari was born at 3 am on February 22nd, 8lb 2oz. Welcome to the world baby girl!
I am one of three fairy godmothers. I have a feeling that over time I could very well evolve into the aunty (everyone has one), that gives all the awful jumpers! I'm trying to keep within the parameters of taste. This month I have completed a lovely soft green and pink baby blanket, a cerise princess cardigan, numerous pairs of baby booties, a great little hat with ear flaps and pom pom ties, and a jumper. I'm very pleased with myself.
I'm hoping that my foray into crocheting baby garments will give me the courage to attempt some adult clothing. I subscribe to Crochet Today magazine and have a great pattern for a shawl that converts into a shrug ( it lies across the back and buttons up under the arms to make sleeves). I bought some lovely beige yarn from the market last week that will be perfect for it. I can really see myself wearing it in the Summer with my brown vest top and my khaki linen wide leg trousers. I love to wear natural colours.
What else? Hmm, oh yeah, I made a clutch bag from The Happy Hooker, 'cept its a bit floppy. I was thinking that if I inserted a denim lining it might give it a bit a substance and stiffen it up. The bag is crocheted in a lovely Summer skies blue boucle yarn that I had in my stash draw.
I've progressed into level 2 pilates now. It's a real challenge and I've ached all week from the new exercises. I can't believe how much better I feel now though. It has really made a difference to my life.
I watched a few DVDs over this weekend: The Da Vinci code - Quite good, but I don't think Tom Hanks is growing old attractively. His nose has grown. He just doesn't look right. I guess we all change as we age, it is just that he has lost the boy next door cuteness that he always possessed in earlier films. I also saw Fracture, a thriller with Anthony Hopkins. Quite frankly, I thought the plot was disappointing. Lacking in suspense and edginess. The last film I saw was the biopic of Edith Piaf, La Vie En Rose. This was excellent. Marion Cotillard was tremendous in the title role. She is only 32 and her talent is awesome. It is the Oscars ceremony tonight and she has been nominated in the best actress category....I really hope she gets it, the award would be very much deserved.
Well,the rain kept me awake most of last night & when I looked out of the window my childish heart leapt in momentary joy at the thick layer of unsteppedupon snow.I also observed that the gritter had not made an appearance & so thought perhaps twas best not to venture outside. No big deal, I thought...Plenty of crocheting to do...Then discovered that my phone had zilch reception (lasted all day so far). Trapped indoors in uncivilised civilisation, with nowt but my hook, my internet connection & Phil & Fern.
Work in progress is a baby blanket for my friend's 18mth old daughter...5 row treble squares in lime green & pale to mid shades of pink...They are then sewn into 4 square larger squares, quartered & bordered with really fluffy/hairy variagated pink yarn.HOWEVER, I ran out of the hairy yarn I had bought in the sale from The Wool Shop, in Consett, & so had popped,last week, to the Grainger market in the Toon. I've never had a problem with stash from there before, & had bought a lovely big ball of the hairy stuff (in the sale basket). I started using it last night and had maybe only worked 2 sides of a large square, when I suddenly realised that my yarn was bald, no longer hairy for about 3metres worth,after which the hairiness commenced again for a couple of metres, then went bald again for the entire remainder of the ball. Well, I guess I had to have a doody dud yarn experience at some point, but I was really knarked with this one, especially as I now have to make a special trip out for more yarn.
Another thing that knarked me off this last week was National Book Vouchers. I received a total of £50 worth for Xmas & birthday. Having perused muchly one afternoon, I decided on 2 new crochet books in Waterstones.They came to £28.75, so I handed the cashier £30 of vouchers, only to be told she could only take £20 of NB vouchers & I'd have to pay the difference with my own cash. It is stated on the back of the NBV (in small print), that no change can be given. HOWEVER, if it had been Waterstones vouchers I had used (as if I had had a choice!), then I would've received change. Defeats the point of the 'gift' vouchers really when you end up having to fork out yourself.
On a good & much nicer note, I made a new friend on Ravelry today. Her blog is great & next time I'm on here, I'll make sure not to forget her blog link,as I have today!
Have a great week. Looking forward to The Bridge tomorrow night.
