Crochet
My grandmother taught me how to crochet when I was 12 years old, which is 43 years ago. I made a red raffia bag with a draw string, and 3 red, yellow and green potholders. I am still using the potholders, and no, I've never sewn in the ends! :-) One of them caught fire recently when I left it on a hot stove burner, so now there are 2 very tired and shabby potholders left. I have since made new ones, but I always reach for the vintage ones first!
After that I haven't done much crochet, until I ended up working in a yarn shop a few years ago. I remember my grandmother had a granny square blanket with all the colours of the rainbow. I suppose she made it from leftovers. I remember always trying to find 2 similar ones, and I never could. I always said I wanted to have a blanket just like that, so I took out my crochet books, and taught myself to make a granny square. It took me a while, but I have my blanket now.
After that I haven't done much crochet, until I ended up working in a yarn shop a few years ago. I remember my grandmother had a granny square blanket with all the colours of the rainbow. I suppose she made it from leftovers. I remember always trying to find 2 similar ones, and I never could. I always said I wanted to have a blanket just like that, so I took out my crochet books, and taught myself to make a granny square. It took me a while, but I have my blanket now.
The grand-cat loves it too!
Sophie's Universe, designed by Dedri Uys. This is the first CAL (crochet along) I did, and the first time I did anything more difficult than a granny square. The very clear instructions and videos helped a lot.
I made this blanket for my niece's first baby, and my sister's first grandchild. I used a combination of patterns. Their nursery has a bunny theme, so I found a bunny pattern which I adapted for the centre. I used chenille yarn, as I wanted a fluffy bunny. I was thankful for that when I wanted to "grow" the bunny. I couldn't see what I was doing, but that also means you can't see any mistakes, so all is good! I just added extra rounds until the bunny was the correct size. I used the Charlotte square by Dedri Uys, but I made the centre plain, and appliqued the bunny to the square.
I based my bunny on this pattern:
http://lovethebluebird.blogspot.co.za/2012/04/spring-bunny-tutorial.html?m=1
You can find the Charlotte pattern here:
http://www.lookatwhatimade.net/crafts/yarn/crochet/free-crochet-patterns/charlottes-dream-pattern/
I grew the blanket by adding rounds of another CAL, Around the Bases:
https://keitopalette.wordpress.com/2016/01/01/around-the-bases-atb/
I based my bunny on this pattern:
http://lovethebluebird.blogspot.co.za/2012/04/spring-bunny-tutorial.html?m=1
You can find the Charlotte pattern here:
http://www.lookatwhatimade.net/crafts/yarn/crochet/free-crochet-patterns/charlottes-dream-pattern/
I grew the blanket by adding rounds of another CAL, Around the Bases:
https://keitopalette.wordpress.com/2016/01/01/around-the-bases-atb/
The new mom opening her gift.
Atlanticus, designed by Vanessa Phillips. I did the CAL in 2017 with Vinnis cotton DK.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/atlanticus-cal
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/atlanticus-cal
Sweet Caroline, designed by Helen Shrimpton.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sweet-caroline
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sweet-caroline
A Walk in the Garden, designed by Helen Shrimpton. I used Vinnis Nikkim cotton DK.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/a-walk-in-the-garden
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/a-walk-in-the-garden
This was my holiday project when we went away last year. I used the leftovers of my Sophie to crochet this cover for a past-its-prime pouffe that belonged to my mother in law. A nice, no-brain activity.
I did these cushions in cotton (Vinnis Colours Nikkim DK), May 2017. The two cushions on the sides are A Momentary Eclipse, by Vanessa Phillips, the centre cushion has the Pondoland Square (Jen Tyler) on one side, and the centre block of the Ross Poldark blanket (Catherine Bligh) on the other side. So if I get tired of the one side, I just flip my pillows!
Links to the patterns:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/a-momentary-eclipse
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-pondoland-square
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ross-poldark-2
Links to the patterns:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/a-momentary-eclipse
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-pondoland-square
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ross-poldark-2
I found this pattern in a magazine, and did it in double knit cotton yarn. This was back after I'd found my crochet mojo again. I was amazed that I could actually follow a pattern!