Stitches in the sun

Over the last ten days I've really enjoyed sitting in a shady corner of our very sunny garden in the late afternoon and early evenings hooking away at a secret project!

It involved a downloaded pattern, 3.5mm hook and just over a ball of natural coloured wool/acrylic mix (with flecks of colour)

 Sirdar Click in cream.

The individual shapes are art forms in themselves, such beautiful structures.....

I love the knobblyness of the stitches, and although I'm not sure they were designed that way- my attention may have drifted - they really do fit the subject!

Many of the al fresco sessions were accompanied by Wimbledon commentary on the radio..consequently some of my tension may have gone awry - particularly in the semis and finals!

This is really the first project I have attempted where consistent tension matters...

The pattern starts with a rather prominent part, so I moved on down the page to a less complicated one and was pleased with my first (pre-Wimbledon) sections.

However.....they turned out proportionally much larger than all the other parts - so I repeated them at the end, with the new tension and found some extra shape when I did so!

Just shows how important it is to get into the swing or try initial swatching!

I have learned so much from this project...and am looking forward to revealing the finished item soon!
Any guesses ?!

Outer Space!

Having created some curiosity with the bumps in the last post - here is the next stage in the process!

My two friends, and a colleague of one of theirs, are striding out in London on Saturday night to walk the  MoonWalk.

They asked if I would help to titivate their bras, and with the theme of Outer Space we came up with a friendly alien design!

So.... meet the friendly aliens

Penny Brohn Cancer Care has a purple theme so all the aliens have followed suit!

This is a super chunky purple yarn with a shiny thread added whilst hooking. The hook was way smaller than suggested so the shape just organically happened!

All the aliens have needlfelted facial features!

This couple of soft aliens have two strands of purpley pink 100% wool, (one plain, one with a few greeny bits) and some of the shiny thread. 
All the faces are circles of crochet with various increases during rows to make them three dimensional!

It was amazing how much purple wool there was in my stash - I didn't think I was a purpley person!
Total bust-ed: 185g

Two purple acrylics and  a metallic purple made up the other alien faces. The metallic was the only yarn bought for the project.

The pairs of antennae are at this stage interchangeable.

They are made from:

a circular (well mostly!) piece of wet felt, with surface texture or design added, and a doubled piece of floristry wire sewn into the middle of the circle. 

The sharp ends were concealed with a scrap of yarn. 

Running stitch, sewn round, near the outer edge, was pulled gently before the floristry wire was bent at 90 degrees just below its loop. 

A small wodge of toy stuffing was prodded into the gap just before it was tightly pulled and sewn to form the squidgy ball at the top of the antennae.

There are no sharp ends protruding and the wire is designed to be coiled for added springy boingyness!

All faces and antennae have been handed over to the intrepid walkers to be sewn onto their bras. They can experiment with the optimum length and position of the antennae - for maximum impact and minimum impedance whilst walking!

However before hand over there was a chance for them to visit another habitat

a spring garden

 in the sun

Its been great fun working together on  this exciting project -
I've just received this fab photo of furry funky aliens ready to roll!
 I am looking forward to seeing more photos on their next journey  - walking the walk in the moonlight in London!

 

Wishing my friends all the very best as they step out with fellow MoonWalkers,

raising money and awareness for this very worthwhile cause.

Flashes of Inspiration...

Isn't it amazing where inspiration comes from and when it strikes?

This bloom is from Tracey's summer flower garland pattern..I love the shape and it seems to easily create a regular form...some others I have tried look a little lopsided...

it was perfect for a five year old's birthday card!

I have been hooking lots of trial pieces...I love using variegated yarns and often practise with some of my stash of colourful acrylics....I don't mind that the rows or rounds are not all one colour...during  a granny square I was reminded of the paintings of Ian Stephenson...he uses masses of tiny dots to make up his images (scroll down the linked page to see the image)

I have been inspired to make a granny bag based on the tiny dots in Ian's paintings....

I have bought the yarn...

but was diverted to use a little on my dad's birthday card, he too is a fan of Ian's work.

The day I was due to start the card my reservation from the library was available. In 200 Crochet Blocks for Blankets Throws and Afghans I saw lots of dots! So I learned to hook a bobble...and....

this became a crochet picture for dad - I forgot to photograph the finished framed feature!

Tracey's jubilee bunting also inspired a secret project for a special occasion coming soon....

Loadsa ends!!

 Fellow felters often inspire me, and recently   Gill and .Liz in particular.....so I'll be getting my colourful fluffy fibres, soap and trusty bubble wrap out as soon as possible...just to have a play...

I might even throw a few of these into the mix!

There's part two and three of Inspiration Flashes already forming....
watch this space!
Where have your flashes come from recently?