Improving, Some Follow Ups and Mosaic CAL's

 Thank you all for all your best wishes for my recovery from Covid, it was horrid! I'm hoping that I never get it again, I tested negative on the 15th day but it has left me with a cough and my voice is so hoarse, it hurts if I talk much so I'm resting it as much as possible, I'm hoping that there's not going to be any lasting damage because my throat was very sore for quite a few days and the continuous coughing didn't help.  I am trying to increase my exercise every day, my appetite has returned and food tastes almost normal again.

Onwards and upwards I hate to dwell on illness lets talk about nicer things like little grandson number two  I actually got to meet him for the first time yesterday.

Baby Julian

I was happy to see him wrapped in the little blanket I had made for him but he was wearing a crochet jacket which his mummy had bought from Etsy and I couldn't help thinking why buy from Etsy when he has a grandma who is more than willing to make him anything he needs but DIL said she had gone a little crazy with buying him far too much stuff than he will ever need. I'm already planning what I can make him for when he gets older.

More good news which I didn't want to share until we were sure that all was going to be ok, if you remember grandson number one Mikey's mummy lost a baby a couple of years ago but now she is pregnant again and due in February, she is having a boy as well so I'll have three lovely little grandsons.

Tedds Poncho

Ted was so happy with his poncho and wore it for the Abba Tribute 

Ted Wearing His Poncho

Apparently it was a great show and everyone had a fabulous time, I was so sorry to have missed it, Ted says he is looking forward to wearing his poncho to many more Red Hatter events and thanked me with a crochet pattern booklet and a gift voucher for a yarn store bless him I didn't expect anything I enjoyed making it for him.

I was asked to make a pair of thumbless mittens for my  friend Carols granddaughter, Carol  loves to crochet herself but is partially sighted now and finds it difficult to crochet. She asked me the evening before I was due to meet her, I was determined to make them that evening and have them ready for her the next day. After almost completing one mitten I came to the conclusion that it just wouldn't do, it had almost no stretch and her granddaughter would find it hard  to put her little hands into them. Although I love crochet items you can't beat a knitted rib and so I quickly made these little thumbless mittens for her, I managed to make one the evening before we met and I sat knitting the second one in the garden centre where we met.

Alyana modelling her mittens

I can't wait to make her and Carols other granddaughter some more it's lovely to make things for little girls, I'm thinking cute little sweaters with hats to match 😀

That trip to the garden centre was my first time out following Covid and my friend Jan joined us there, she had brought along a bag of crochet granny squares which she had been asked to join into a blanket for Macmillan, she knits and crochets for them but she had never joined squares to make into a blanket and wanted my advice.  I offered to do it for her...

A nice and easy project which took no time at all

It measures 38" x 42" and it's made in chunky yarn and will make a lovely throw or lap blanket.

So it's been quite a busy two weeks and now I'm looking forward to a Mosaic Crochet crochet along which starts at the end of this month.  It's hosted by Rosina Plane and it's called Sonia's Holiday Mosaic, this is the blanket/throw..

I'm going to make it for my daughter, I already have some of the yarn and I'm in the process of ordering the rest. You can find the details here if you fancy joining me. It's that time of the year when lots of crochet alongs are being announced and I get quite excited and end up buying lots of patterns while they are discounted, another one that is starting at the beginning of November is this ....

Happy CAL hosted by Tinna Thórudóttir

A very easy Mosaic Pattern which would be great for beginners.

Today I will will be doing some sewing, I need to catch up on my embroidery..

I'm determined to get it finished before the end of the month.🌝

Have a great week ahead.💗

Click here to see all the great parties that I will be linking with this week.

Jennies Throw

 I did it thank goodness got it finished in just the nick of time, it's her birthday today so I'm going to pop along to her home later today and drop it off. I put the last stitches into the double border yesterday evening, so it was touch and go whether or not I would finish it in time. I do hope that she will like it.

This size of this blanket measures 120cm 90cms the perfect size to snuggle under on a cold winters evening.

I've combined two of Rosina Plane patterns Letitia's Garden and Flora's Fauna and it's taken me just over two weeks to finish it.  The blanket consists of two types of  mosaic, overlay and inset, once they are crocheted you can't really tell the difference on the front of the blanket but you can on the back.

I much prefer the overlay type of mosaic, I find it much easier and I prefer the look of the back of the blanket too. The inset is fine if the design in small and repetitive but it's more challenging when the design becomes larger and more complicated. 

Sewing

On the sewing front Part three of Festive Forrest is done, the Christmas trees. 

I'm still enjoying this but I did feel a bit pressured last week  because I really needed to finish Jennies throw, now that is done I can relax into this and the Stitch a leaf a day below. Part four is the critters and that will finish off the panel.

Stitch A leaf A Day This October

I am finding this more challenging than I though I would, I have tried several stitches but trying to get them to look ok inside a tiny leaf is more difficult than I thought this is where I am now....

1. Leaf Stitch
2. Lazy Daisy
3. Fishbone
4. Fly Stitch
5. Closed Cretan Stitch
6. Trellis Stitch
7. Button Hole stitch
8. Rhodes Stitch
9. Chain Stitch
10. Herringbone Stitch
11. Net Stitch
12. Satin Stitch
13. Vandyke Stitch
14. Running Split Stitch

I'm a couple of days behind and I'm going to enjoy sewing those today, type of stitches yet to be decided.

I'm pleased to report that my bathroom is almost done there's just a few little finishing touches left to do, I will be putting up a post just about that soon, more for myself really to look back on. I have tried my new bath and shower and it was heavenly, you don't realise how much the little things like taking a shower or a bath mean to you until they are taken away, two weeks of washing at the kitchen sink and sticking my head under the tap to wash my hair was no fun I can tell you haha.

My kitchen is arriving next Wednesday and I'm hoping that it will be quicker and less intrusive than the bathroom makeover has been but I have a feeling that that's just wishful thinking.

Today I'm going to start the process of clearing out kitchen cupboards, where I'm going to put the stuff I haven't quite decided 🤔 Lots of things to think about today.

What will you be up too whatever it is I hope that you all have a great Sunday 😊

Linking with Kathy's Slow Stitching Sunday

Click here to see the great parties I will be linking to.

Getting Into the Flow Of Things

 I have just had a count up and it appears that I have I have five things on the go at the moment.  I have discovered my best strategy is to keep doing a little work on everything each day if I possibly can then everything will finish in the end. It's not always easy because if you are like me there is the initial excitement about starting a project but all too often that excitement fades as a another new project steps into the limelight.

There's too much distraction out there too much inspiration, but isn't it wonderful to have a passion for crafting, it's that which keeps me going.

Many months ago I started making a little cardigan for NHAP they were asking for bright cheerful cardigans for children of all ages and this is the finished result

I'm not actually sure what age this will fit but at a guess maybe an 8-10 year old.  I found the pattern here 

I found it very difficult to follow in fact most of it was guess work, it certainly wouldn't be easy for a beginner crocheter that's for sure, however I'm pleased that I have a finished item and I think that it fits the brief, I found all the yarn I needed for this in my stash, hopefully some little girl somewhere will enjoy wearing it.

The blanket I'm making for my friend Jennie is coming along, I'm now sure that it will be finished in time for her birthday next Sunday. I'm almost ready to start the border and I'm hoping that I can show you the  finished blanket next week.

The sewing is coming along nicely too here is part two of the  Festive Forrest CAL candy canes and the birds, as I mentioned before I was having difficulties with the owls face well this I'm afraid is the best I can do, I don't think that it's too bad at least it doesn't look scary like it did before.

Part three is out now and it's the  Christmas trees  I have actually finished sewing those and am now trying to choose a colour for the little gifts hanging on the tree.

I have also started sewing Stitch a leaf a day I couldn't resist, we are sewing a leaf a day using a different stitch for each one, it's fun because you can try out stitches that you haven't used before so far these are the stitches I have chosen

1. Leaf Stitch
2. Lazy Daisy
3. Fishbone
4. Fly Stitch
5. Closed Cretan Stitch
6. Trellis Stitch
7. Button Hole stitch
8. Rhodes Stitch

I'm really enjoying sewing these leaves, some I have taken from Stitchdoodles and others from youtube, my sewing isn't the neatest but I don't think that will matter once the whole tree is done.

I'm looking forward to sewing another leaf today after I have been to see my little Grandson Mikey he has been poorly with Covid so it's quite a while since I have seen him.

I hope you all have a peaceful slow stitching Sunday😊

Linking with Kathy's Slow Stitching Sunday 

A Finish and a Start

 I thought that it was about time I gave this lovely blanket it's time on the stage.  I finished it a few weeks ago but have not had time to show you until now.  I am talking about Flora's Fauna Blanket of course and here is the lead up..

Week One  - The Ladybirds

Week Two - Snails and Hedgehogs

Week Three - Acorns

Week Four. - Squirrels

Week Five - Leaves

Week Six - The Owls 

Week Seven - The Butterflies

Week Eight - The Border

and here it is in it's full glory ta daaa.....

I embroidered this little message on the back. not the neatest of stitches but readable almost..

I have yet to gift it to Mikey, I'll wait until the weather gets a little cooler, I'm thinking it will be a lovely little throw for him to snuggle under in the evenings while he watches TV.

Stats..

It's Flora's Fauna Mosaic Crochet Blanket which was a CAL run by Rosina Plane.  You can find the pattern here.

I loved making this and I can't wait to get started on the next, the HoHoHo blanket I showed you in my last post is going to have to wait because I have set myself a huge challenge I would like to make a blanket/throw for a lovely lady called Jennie, she's in my u3a and suffered a stroke late last year.  The progress she has made is amazing, it has affected her mobility but she is driving again and does try to attend as many u3a events that she can.

I'm hoping that I can complete this in time for her birthday mid October, if I can't I will gift it to her for Christmas, my progress so far..

Still a long way to go.

Why aren't there more hours in the day because I have found something else that I would love to do and it's The Festive Forrest Stitch A Long it starts tomorrow! and it's hosted by Stitchdoodles, I have bought the pre printed fabric and have all my threads at the ready, I have no idea where I will find the time as work on my bathroom starts next week can you imagine the disruption! 

You can find information about the SAL here

Click here to see some of the great link parties I will be linking to.

A Quick Hello and a CAL

 Hello all you lovely people, I'm just dropping by to say hello and to let you know that I'm fine and still around and to tell you about a new CAL that is coming soon.

 I have lots of issues that I'm trying to deal with at the moment and they are eating up my time.  Some are health related and others are home improvements.

 I am hoping to replace my bathroom and kitchen but it's proving to be more stressful than I ever thought possible. I could write a book about the ups and downs and they haven't even started the work yet, my builder keeps moving the date back so I organise everything for that date then it's pushed back again, now the date is set for around the last week of September.

I'm looking for kitchen reviews, so far I have had a quote from Wren and Howdens so if any of you have had any dealings with them I would like to know or perhaps you could recommend another company, I'm looking for budget range I can't afford high end although it would be lovely if I could.

HoHoHo CAL

It's another one from Rosina Plane the same designer who ran the Flora's Fauna CAL which I took part in and I did finish the blanket which I will show you once I have some decent photos.  

The HoHoHo CAL is starting on the 16th September and runs for 6 weeks.and the price of the pattern is discounted until the end of the CAL with a further reduction from Rosina's Facebook page, you can read all about it here

Wouldn't that make a lovely Christmas gift and if you follow the CAL it will be ready in plenty of time for Christmas. 

In case you are wondering yes I have purchased the pattern you know me I can never resist haha, if you haven't tried Mosaic crochet yet I urge you to give it a go it's so much easier than it looks.

Right I'm off to wash the car, it hasn't been washed for months and it's white so I'm sure that you can imagine the state it's in.

Have a great weekend and I will try to get round to say hi to you all and post more regularly! 😘😘

Little Things

 It's reassuring when something so simple gives you a warm feeling and thankfully so many little things have the power to do that for me.

My lovely friend Babs always passes on her Woman's Weekly magazines once she has finished reading them and look what I have found in the 30th May issue....

I know I said that I wouldn't be doing anymore cross stitch after completing the the Twelve Days Of Christmas Sampler as I found it a huge strain on my eyes but as always never say never because when I saw this my heart gave a little lurch and I just knew that I would have to make it. No pressure or time scale, I'll work on it when I can, I can't wait to create my own little Summer Seaside Paradise.

Another thing I love about the Woman's Weekly is the Book Club page, they write some great book reviews and I nearly always find at least one that I fancy, I like light hearted easy reads something to escape the doom and gloom and awful things that are happening right now, I'm looking at Summer Fever by Kate Riordan. I will go to the online library for my area and reserve it if it's available, it may take a few weeks to get to my local branch but that doesn't matter at all. I like the fact that it always introduces you to new authors and if I enjoy the book I usually go on to read more of what they have written.

Another thing that made my heart lurch this week was this free cardigan pattern from Underground Crafter here

A little bit different and very cute don't you think. As I mentioned before NHAP are asking for colourful cardigans age one to teens so this will definitely fit the bill but I won't start it until I've finished the one I'm working on. I have just the sleeves to finish and then I will reveal. 🙂

Flora's Fauna blanket is coming along slowly, the snails are done and the hedgehogs are emerging, the next part of the the pattern is out but it will be a while before I get there there's no rush.

Trying to finish those hedgehogs will be my priority today.

The garden is beautiful at this time of the year but still the weather disappoints, I have been wanting to paint my decking since last year and I started this week, I got just less than half done and it has rained on and off since, showers weren't predicted today but we have just had one anyway, I'm glad I didn't put my washing out. 

The Lily's are in full bloom right now aren't they beautiful...

I hope that the little things are putting a smile on your face this weekend, take care until next time. 😘😘

Linking with Kathy's Slow Stitching Sunday

A Mosaic Crochet Cushion and a Loveliness of Ladybirds

 Thank you for all the lovely comments on my last post, it's good to know that it's ok to have a lazy day now and then, I did get dressed by the way but I have to admit crochet was still pretty much the order of the day, I didn't manage to finish the ladybirds that day but I have now and here they are ta daa....

The Ladybirds..

 Aren't they cute! 😊  I know that I'm always saying mosaic crochet is easy and it is, however if you try to work with more than two colours at a time it can be more tricky, but I was determined that the ladybirds would look like ladybirds making a whole lot of extra work for myself. Never mind I'm happy with the result and I won't be as pedantic with the rest of the blanket or I'll try not to be.

Did you know that A group of ladybirds is called a Loveliness - I didn't but how perfect!

The Cushion..

Here it is the long awaited cushion. It didn't take me long at all to crochet the tiles, the beauty of this pattern is it's in one piece so no sewing of squares. Although there are 72 tiles to choose from I only selected two for this cushion and I'm happy with how it turned out.

The blanket at the back is this one here

I used fabric for the back which I found in my linen cupboard, I cut it from the back of a cushion cover which  I'd bought years ago and had never used because it was too big. 

I had intended to insert a zip, but the zip I ordered from Amazon arrived broken, I didn't want to delay so I just used good old fashioned press studs for the closure

I used just over 200 grams of Hayfield Sundance Dk in shades Cherry pop and Whitesands which I had left over from making the blanket above.

The Pattern Is Azul and you can find it here.

My garden at dusk

I just love this beautiful climber, I took a cutting from my garden in my previous home and I'm so glad it took. It blooms practically all summer

and the beautiful David Austin Charlotte Rose another cutting from my previous garden,  this year is the first one it has done so well😊

I hope you are all having a great Sunday, I will be going for a long walk with my friend Barrie and there will be a Sunday Lunch at the end of it, I'm watching the weather and hoping that it doesn't decide to rain.  When I get back my son, DIL and little grandson Mikey are coming to visit, then this evening I'm hoping to continue with Mikey's blanket, this week is part two of the CAL and I have already started

can you see the snails starting to emerge?

Take care care until next time.😘😘

Linking with Kathy for Slow Stitching Sunday

A Lazy Sunday - Three things

 Can you believe it's 11 am and I'm still not dressed. I have been up since 7 30 but I picked up my crochet hook whilst watching the news and got quite carried away.

One

The new CAL Flora's Fauna began on Friday and I couldn't get started on it till late last night. I get so excited when starting a new piece of work don't you? 

The little creatures in the first part of the blanket are ladybirds and I just love to see the picture develop row by row.

I must admit there's not much to see so far but if I just sit here in my sunny conservatory and do nothing else but crochet I could have a row of little ladybirds before the end of the day.

I have no idea how this little Mikey blanket will turn out because I have to be led by the yarn I have in my stash, the little creatures could turn out to be any colour and that's part of the fun of it.

Two

I have progressed a little on the Bohemian blanket I showed you last week, I have now tried all the shapes that are needed to complete the blanket, they need blocking but you get the idea.

I'm thinking about making it into a bed runner to send to NHAP for someone with dementia but I'm in no hurry, this is an easy pick it up and put it down project that I can do between other things.

Three

As if that wasn't enough I have something else I'm itching to start, NHAP, have asked for bright happy cardigans or sweaters for children aged one to teens, it's ages since I made a cardigan and I've found a fabulous pattern which I will share once I get started. I have the colours all ready although they could change depending on my mood, lots of stash yarn fighting to come forward and be part of the design 😂

Now I think I had better get dressed and do something other than crochet for a while, they say it's not good for you to sit for long periods, something about exercise is good for you, what a drag🤦🏻‍♀️

As always we have blustery winds and intermittent sunshine so my exercise will be out in the garden with brief periods of rest with crochet hook in hand. (View from Summerhouse)

What are your plans today? Whatever they are have a lovely Sunday and a very happy Father's Day to all those Dad's that are celebrating 😊

Linking with Kathy for Slow Stitching Sunday

Something a Bit Different

 It's still crochet but a different technique ..

I saw this on Instagram ages ago and really wanted to try it but haven't had the time, now I'm between projects I thought this was a good time to give it a try.

I wasn't sure at first it's very much like the c2c technique but it forms a diamond, you have to make half diamonds to get the square shape which I haven't tried yet.  It's very much in it's initial stages and I have no idea how this is going to turn out but it's a great stash buster and I'm enjoying the process thus far. 

It's called the Modern Bohemian blanket and you can find tutorials on YouTube none of which are in English but the videos are easy enough to follow they can be found here and here the pattern can be bought on Ravelry here

Have any of you tried it?

I say I'm between projects because I'm looking forward to starting a new CAL it's called Flora's Fauna and it's hosted by the designer Rosina Pane....

Ladybirds, snails, hedgehogs, acorns, squirrels, leaves and butterflies, what's not to love 😊 

It's made in Mosaic Crochet of which I am a great fan, did I mention that before haha, I'm trying to use stash yarn for this but I will have to probably buy the odd ball here and there and it starts on the 17th June, the pattern is discounted now so it's a great time to buy it if you don't have the time to make it now but intend to later.

All details can be found here

I hope that Summer is going well for all of you and although you must be sick of me going on about the weather it has not been great here, I'm not a great fan of  blustery winds and showers that appear from nowhere it makes it hard to plan anything constructive.

The predominant flower in my garden is the foxglove at the moment, they have self seeded around my garden, I'm amazed that they can remain upright in the winds. I love foxgloves, they can scatter their seeds all over my garden and I will be delighted as will the bees they love them.

My Cordyline has sent out two more flower spikes this year the scent is filling the garden, the flowers soon fade, I find them very strange but quite beautiful and the bees love these too.  The Cordyline always looks very tired after flowering I think it must put most of it's energy into producing these flower spikes and I'm always afraid that it won't recover but this must be the third year that it has flowered so hopefully it will build up enough strength to recover and go on to produce more next year. I always cut the spikes down once they have flowered so that the tree doesn't put even more energy into producing seeds.

I have finished my cushion which I'm delighted with and will show you soon and I intend to do some embroidery this afternoon I'm trying a stitch I haven't tried before the bullion stitch so that should keep me busy.

I hope you are all having a lovely Sunday, take care until next time.😘😘