Finally back on track

Good morning

I hope that you are all well on this miserable day, pouring with rain, dark and cold here in the north again.

I really feel much better this week, back in to doing things at last, here are a few of my projects at the moment...

Bright blanket

The blanket I started to work on at the NEC show is finished, it is the bright blanket pattern using different colours.

I have also started to make a piece of beading for this years tea light design, the pattern has been done for some time and the ladies in my class have been working on them so that they will be done for Christmas, I have not made a sample one for a few years.

Caught up on my knitted squares from Simply Stylish knitting as well, working the continental way of knitting has really speeded up my knitting progress and now I like to do these small squares, not sure yet wether I would prefer knitting to crochet as knitting still seems slow to me.  Sorry to any knitters out there......

I have also started a Christmas tree kit from Pinflair which I bought a few years ago, I have not had time to start it until this week.

So far so good... I have not made too much mess yet, I am not very good with glue, it gets everywhere. This is the first time I have used bookbinding glue and it seems to be very easy to use, and a lot less messy.

Last night I started on a new design, it started out as  a doll and has ended up as a square, the doll is shelved, oh dear I thought that the brains were back in gear, perhaps not quite.

Finally not crochet related but I went to my local WI yesterday and enjoyed the talk very much. 

Pat had designed and made beaded flags and flowers from over 30 countries.  

Just amazing !!!

She was also selling these lovely trees and flowers in tiny pots for charity

Oh dear just look at the time it is almost 10am, I have a pile of ironing to do before I can do any fun stuff,

keep warm and crochet !!!!

Ali xxx

Poinsettia, Patterns and Patchwork

Poinsettia

This week I have reached a record for how long a poinsettia plant will last from before Christmas
These plants usually die before Christmas arrives, but this one is amazing it is flowering now.

Patterns 

Breaking news

I have reduced all my toy patterns on Ravelry and Etsy to £3.00 each, this is to make things simpler at the shows.

I have been tidying up and have found a crochet calendar from 2009. 

These calendars are full of lovely designs almost 360 every day has a new pattern or a second part, so the are not 365.  I am not so sure I would ever make the slippers, I like the grape cluster though.

Patchwork

At last this week I have had time to use my sewing machine, I have made a purse, a bag and a quilted simple bag which needs a fastener and edging..

All were kits I have been storing in a drawer for some time, I pick them up at the shows and forget to make them or don't make the time to make them.

After the last show at Birmingham I have been having a few weeks of time off designing the crochet patterns and leaving time for me to do other things, dare I say it but I have been knitting as well..

Knitting is not my favourite occupation :-)

I have joined another part work for knitting in the hope that I will get to like it more, my Mother was a great knitter she was never without something on the go..

I hope you all have a good week, at least the sun is shining here today, I am going to get on with some jobs that really need doing, I would rather be crocheting or sewing...

Happy days

Alison xxx

Crochet - A - Long and knitting

Good Morning

Feeling good this morning I've been clearing out wool and other items on Ebay and had lots of sales this morning, our house is so full of all my crafting things I need to clear out lots of card making, beading, scrapbooking and woollen items before we have no space at all left for us.

Just to show you all that I do other things beside crochet

Here is a blanket from a knitting project that is almost finished 

How I hate sewing things together crochet joins are so much easier.

It was made from a partwork magazine that I have been doing for many years called Big and Little Knitting Projects.

See picture below for the finished blanket there are 56 squares and I have enjoyed doing it very much although I can knit its not one of my favourite things to do.

I don't like big knitting projects with lots of stitches but I really enjoy making squares as they were more manageable to fit in with other projects.

Finally back to the Crochet A Long...

Don't forget it will start on the 1st March

4.50 hooks at the ready

with double knitting yarn my test one is being made in different colours 

just to show you that it can be made in any shade

Goodbye for today love to hear from you 

Alison XXX

My Crochet Library Collection

Hello,

I have been crocheting for over 40 years over this time I have collected hundred of patterns and books mainly on crocheting but also other crafts such as knitting and much more.

This is one of my book shelves at the moment...

A close up of a few books in my collection.

I thought I would review a crochet book from time to time on my blog.  

This week, I am reviewing 'The Crochet Stitch Bible" by Betty Barnden which I have had since 2004. This book is still available on Amazon for around £10.  The book is divided up into stitch types such as textured, mesh and trims.  Each stitch has a photo plus a word description and a graph which is good because you can easily see how the stitch should be worked. The book is colourful and has very clear pictures which helps you learn new stitches.  

I like this book because the stitches are in English terminology but if you can read the charts you can use this book if you are more familiar with US terminology.

The only thing I don't like about this book is it is spiral bound which could wear out with a lot of use over time. 

Knitting and Stitch at Rheged in Penrith

Last weekend my husband, Phil and I went to Rheged in Penrith for the Knitting and Stitch show.

Setting up the stand...

The show was very busy and we met lots of lovely people and also sold lots of patterns.  We hope to do this show again next year.

We had a bit of time to explore around Grassmere, Aira Force, Ullswater for a few days after the show.

Free Spring Iphone Pattern

I have just finished making and writing the pattern for a Spring themed iphone cover which can be found on my website.  This is a simple to crochet pattern using a 4.00 hook and cotton double knitting.

Free Spring Iphone Pattern