Random Drops of Wooliness!

One of the highlights of the summer is our annual picnic with some friends we see just once a year.

We meet in a park around teatime, usually on the same bench, share news, play random games with a frisbee, laugh, watch the sun set and stay until the sky has become dusky and the bats are flapping!

This year was no exception and emboldened by my confident friends and family I did something I had been itching to do for ages! (Following many other brave woolly folk - including Zoe)

Firstly 6 woolly items were hooked!

Two of my butterflies

a random flat flower

and one with a hyperbolic vibe...

By now I was really in the swing, had not been following any patterns...just going with the flow...in the sunshine...I could feel more experiments germinating!

This spider is just a sphere with four strands of wool tied on 

(two on each side making eight legs in total)

and with 3 trebles into each stitch of a row of  20dcs...

 ....a curly caterpillar!

They were packed into a bag accompanying the picnic, and when we were all together in the park each of us picked out a woolly item and chose a location to drop or hang them!

 The spider, one butterfly and the wibbly wobbly flower were hung by our three friends on a strong oak (described by one of them as a tree of life)

 

The light was fading and the breeze blowing!

We attached ours to a willow..

So after a long time I have been brave enough to be part of a collective that decorated an open space  (whilst busting 22g!)

The best news is that another friend who regularly walks through the park has reported that the oak is still blooming with the flower and the oaken butterfly is still fluttering!

Birthday Bag!

A special little girl turned six this week, here is her pressie!

The bag was hooked a while ago. 

The front is based on the granny square my friend Tracey designed for Craftseller magazine

 Once the square was complete the back and inside were made from continuous alternating colourful rows of trebles.

It had hung around in my nearly finished box awaiting something to line it 

(that did not require sewing!) until I found a little purse that just fitted the space perfectly!

The finishing touch - a handle in a simple row of chains using all four colours...

You might think you have seen it before....

...same first three rounds...

grannies are soooo versatile!

This months Inside Crochet has lots of gorgeous granny inspired projects,
thanks to Tracey I have been able to indulge in a copy!

As the bag was made before I was stash-busting I am only counting the handle 

which hangs out at a surprising 29g !

Happy Birthday J!

Recharging....

The school holidays are coming to an end here....

we have enjoyed lots of beautiful warm sunshine,
 lazy mornings, fresh air
and family time.

we were spectating, not participating!

 A few books have been devoured,
new technology installed (yet to be mastered!),
music has filled the air....

its been a chance to recharge batteries,

although I usually need a few days to get back into the weekly routine.

Its also been an opportunity to recharge the stash!!

I love looking at fellow bloggers thrifty finds
(and have been in awe of  Wendy's keen eye as seen on September Violets).

A while ago I found these gems in charity shops:

Some of the threads and the cream cotton have already been put to good use!

My stash has also been boosted by these beautiful skeins that were part of a very generous lady's down sizing.

The shop they were purchased from closed down more than 20 years ago!

Some bright acrylic from the same source will be used for some winter scarves for charity.

Whilst recharging there has been some
crochet hooking,
designing,
a bit of a spin,
oodles of ideas

 and lots of photos for inspiration....

so with some of  the creations....

I'll be back...

(we watched the Terminator Quadrilogy too!)

Dobby the Free Elf!

Here he is...Dobby the free elf!

Thanks for all your comments and guesses! 

The fabulous pattern  - so smooth to follow - is from Lucy Ravenscar

Little Folk amigurumi

He has needlefelted eyes and mouth

The cool evening sunshine was perfect for a photo shoot

Lounging around!

 

Dobby was given his shirt by Mr RW!

Love the shape of his nose!

Dobby's been given to a new family! He's still a free elf and enjoying his new home!

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 ?!

Anti-stashbusting!

I had some wonderfully colourful birthday presents a couple of months ago

These two cakes came from an exciting new crafty shop recently opened nearby.

 It caters for all stitchers!

It was difficult to choose from all the exciting colours and textures; a fabulous feast for the eyes and fingers!

Very helpfully a winding service is offered for a donation to charity..well worth it to save the air at home going blue!

The wool below is 55% BFL and 45% silk 4ply  in Lemon Rind, it is sooo soft, has lots of yellow tones and is one of the shops own hand dyed yarns.

I'm sure I'll be back for more of their wonderful unique colourways.

These vibrant colours are a Superbiffle - Carousel from Easyknits.

As the choice was so tricky RW Jnr had the final say on this one!

I had taken a photo of some Easter blooms earlier in the week we went shopping, as I had been captured by their colour combinations and thought it might be useful for future projects.

 When we returned home I wondered if we had all been influenced by the vibrant tulips?

Another present I received, from my sister-in-law just shows how much she gets my love of colour, and bags!

My fabulous friend Tracey from school and blogland picked up a thread I had mentioned and sent me a new toy!

I have had a couple of spins! 

The first was really a non-starter, but after a bit more reading and video watching I did get moving and a bit of fluff was spun!

As I usually hook or felt small pieces I am aiming for some arty yarn with plenty of colour, variable texture and weight (just as well!!) so hope to use some of the future spun yarn in my projects!

Whilst adding to my yarn stash I am busting my fibre!

I am really pleased I have been using some of my collected wool in the stashbuster challenge as it has made me appreciate the new additions even more!
I wonder what this will be.....?