Winter Projects

Two posts in as many days! This has never happened here before but I'm
posting this today because I'd like to join Jennifer's Winter Project Link Party
  for November. I really enjoyed joining in last year, getting to see what others
are making and seeing their progress through the weeks and months. I'd like
to take part again.

This is one of the projects I'm currently working on - Kazuko Aoki's
Gardening Sampler. I discovered her cross stitch book at the local library
last summer and just love all the beautiful motifs she had created combining
her love of gardening and embroidery. If you're a fan of those two things
you have to have a look at this wonderful book.

I started on this sampler sometime in July. It's a Christmas present for
my mother-in-law and I thought back then that I'll have plenty of time to
finish it before December. I suppose if I had been focused and worked on it
steadily, it would be finished and framed by now. Unfortunately, I got
distracted by so many other things - books, crochet, television, to name just a few -

and have only worked on it sporadically over the past months. So at the moment
it's still very much a work in progress. I don't think I'll get it done by Christmas.
It's not as portable as a crochet or knitting project and it's trickier to work on
now that we have darker and longer evenings. I really should have made hay
while the sun was shining more brightly last summer. Oh well, it will get finished

sometime this winter and it will be an Easter present instead. Good thing
I didn't make any promises on this one.

And here's on of those distractions I've been talking about. It's in the latest issue of
Mollie Makes and when I saw it I just had to make it. I decided I needed a really
warm, chunky scarf and I might not survive the winter without it! So here I am
busy with crochet and it's all about scarf making at the moment. There are also
plans to make hats for the girls as well as Christmas cards and decorations. I guess
my sampler will have to wait then.


Thanks to Jennifer for hosting this party. Thank you also to everyone who have
visited my blog lately. Thanks for welcoming me back- I'm really glad to be here!
Have a great weekend!

Winter Projects

My crochet blanket, which is my big project this winter, is still
a work in progress. I picked it up again after Christmas, after all
the festive bustle had calmed down and added three more rows
of colours.  I was working on a white row when I ran out of yarn and
so it had to go back to its basket while I waited to get some more.

The yarn stash has been replenished but the blanket remains
 folded away on top of the basket (shown here being held up by Lulu) because I'm currently distracted by another project.

I have been planning to start on this particular project after
the New Year and the couple of days when I didn't have the right
yarn for the blanket gave me the chance to do so.

As you can see it's a cushion cover with big, bright colours which
I love. The making hasn't been so straightforward though. I realized
as I crocheted the first petal that the finished cushion might be a
bit too big. I looked at the pattern again and sure enough it says
21 inches across. It is too big! So I've had to unravel most of it and
start again. I've had to adjust the pattern and it's taken me awhile
 to figure it out. I've written it all down in my note book and that's
been a great help. That and stitch markers. I'd be lost without them.

Once I've made all the petals I'll take a break from this and go back
 to my blanket which is just perfect timing because the weather's
going to turn much colder next week. It's now long enough to cover my
lap and drape down my legs. So it might still be a work in progress,
but it's already quite useful- the perfect winter project!


I'm joining in with Jennifer's Winter Project Link Party.
Have a lovely Thursday evening!

Winter Projects

I've scarcely made any progress with my crochet blanket since
 my last link up post. I have, however, been busy with lots of other
things. I have been making Christmas cards and decorations with
my girls and I've also made some presents. So far I've finished
a crocheted cowl and pot holder for my mother-in-law and I've
just made Markie's request- 'a scarf like Nanny's but with lots
and lots of colours.'

Lulu wants the same thing as well but I'm making hers with
these little granny squares. It's coming along nicely and I'm
enjoying using all these colours. I think it will be finished soon.

And this is a bunting for a friend's baby girl. It's all purples and
greys with bits of pink - very sweet and very girly. I've sewn all the
appliques by hand and my main job today is sewing all the pieces
together. Fingers crossed it will ready before we see both new mum
 and baby this weekend!

So not much to report about my blanket but hopefully progress
will resume once all the festive crafting, making, and preparations
 are over!


Joining in with Jennifer's Winter Project Link Party.


Have a lovely weekend!!

Winter Project Update

Joining in again with Jennifer's Winter Project Link Party.

My crochet blanket here which I started making sometime in September
has grown over the past month. I think it's now twice as long since my
last link up post. I'm quite surprised actually but also very pleased about this. It's still very much in the making process but at least it's growing
despite the other projects that have lately been occupying most of my
crafting time.

A few weeks ago I couldn't resist making this crochet bear bag
which was a hit with my girls and of course I had to make another one.

 I've chosen a fox this time and I've made all the bag pieces now. They're just waiting to be sewn together and the handle made and it's done.

I've also started making gifts for Christmas. This one's
for my mother-in-law. I'll show you the finished item soon.

Also for my mother-in-law, a crocheted cowl. Well, hopefully. I'm still
not sure about the pattern so I'll see how how this goes. I also have
 a bunting to make for a friend's baby and maybe crocheted slippers
 for my girls

With all these it does look like I won't be able to make as much progress with my blanket in the coming weeks with me even busier with present making. But I'll try and pick it up whenever I can. I have a feeling it will
be my little refuge when all the festive making, decorating and other goings on get a bit too much. A cup of tea, quiet time in a corner with
 my blanket......now that's a happy thought!


Hope it's been a good week for you all. Enjoy the weekend!

Blanket Making

I'm joining in with Jennifer's Winter Project Link Party. My winter
project is a blanket that I started making last month. I wasn't really
planning to make one. I bought some discounted cotton yarn at the
beginning of summer hoping to make another shawl for myself
but I sort of fell out of love with the idea over the school holidays.

I thought a blanket or throw for the living room is more essential
and will get more use so that's what I decided to make instead.
 I'm usually wary of starting big projects like this because of the size
and the amount of time it takes to finish them. I've tried making a
blanket before. My first attempt had the granny chevron stitch which
was nice but I couldn't decided what colour yarns to use and gave up
on the project after just a few rows.

 I've done better with my second try. My granny square throw is now
 a good size but it's been months since I've taken it out of the basket
 and worked on it so it still remains just a WIP.

But I'm feeling more hopeful and positive about this new blanket.
With Lulu now at nursery twice a week, I have more time for making
and crafting so it should get finished, and I'd be very pleased if this
can happen before Christmas. I'm sure it will. As they say, third time lucky!

Having said all that, I'm actually going to take a break from it
next week while I make a costume for Markie and I'll be starting
making Christmas presents too. But I'll always be picking it up
and adding stitches whenever I can. I like it so much I really
can't leave it for long, so fingers crossed for more progress to
report here next time.

Thanks to Jennifer for organising this link party. Do visit her
wonderful blog if you haven't already and you can also have a look
at what everyone else is busy making this autumn and winter.