African Flower Cushion

Another African Flower project, I really love this combination of colours and hope you do too. Staged on a single bed, you can see just how large this cushion is against the frame.  

Completed using Stylecraft Special DK in Saffron (yellow), White, Meadow (green) and Wisteria (pink) and using a 3.75 hook.

This close-up picture shows the reverse side.  Essentially the cover is a long rectangle-shape, overlapping at the back and joined at the side in double crochet stitch.  I plan to finish off with three pink buttons to hold down the overlapping African Flowers.
Destined to be a Christmas gift this time, more cushions in the pipeline.
Nellie P

Winter Warmers

Thought I'd show you a couple of mini-projects:


I followed Attic 24's Wrist Warmers and Bobble-Shell Edging patterns in a vibrant Stylecraft Special DK Emperor and a 3.75 hook.

A very simple but surprisingly professional-looking scarf.  Completed using half-trebles, lengthways.  Very satisfying to speed through the long rows with this basic stitch.  Once again, completed using Stylecraft Special DK in Khaki and a 3.75 hook.

The picture below gives a much better representation of the colour.  Finally, a scarf for my husband.

Nellie P

Little Sister Beanie

Here's a rather belated look at my first crochet hat.  It was made for a friend, undergoing radiotherapy, at the end of July.  Actually it's my third crochet hat, the first two went on to become bags, but that is another story.  

I used the Little Sister Crochet Hat pattern available from the Petite Purls web site.  I particularly like the shell stitches and detail around the crown.  I would happily re-make this for myself in a wool-mix for winter.

The beanie was completed in a DK cotton/acrylic mix and my habitual 3.75 ml hook.  The yarn, although very soft, turned out to be quite bulky so I ended up using measurements for a child - which fitted an adult nicely.
I embellished it further by adding a flower using Attic24's pattern.  The flower is detachable so can be moved around the hat or pinned to a jacket.
NellieP

Not the Baby Blues

Here's a thank you gift for I made for my neighbour.  A sweet little pram blanket for her six month old baby boy.  

It's made using the same Heidi Bears African Flower pattern I used before.  And joined on-the-go also using Heidi's method.  I used Stylecraft Special DK yarn and a 3.75 ml hook, my hook-of-choice for DK yarn.

Considering that I've only used three colours (light blue, turquoise and white) I'm very pleased with the result.  African Flowers are surprisingly easy and relaxing to crochet and lots of examples and documentation can be found online.  Do have a look at the African Flowers Flickr Group.  The joining method was also very simple and forgiving of slight irregularities. 

Here's the reverse side, also very pretty in it's own right.  I am now working on another colour combination...more to come soon.
Nellie P

Summer Garden Granny Throw Ta Da

Drum roll please.....
here it is finally.....
after four and a half months work.....
The completion of my first ever crochet blanket, Ta Da!!!  Look Look!!!

I am so pleased to have finished it and am so proud of myself.

Thank you to Attic24 for providing the instructions for the Summer Garden Granny Squares, the joining and the final edging.  Also thank you to Compact UK for crinkle-free border instructions.  I couldn't have completed the project without your virtual guidance.

It really makes me feel great just looking at it.  It makes me feel even better wrapping myself in it.  Wonderful blankety therapy.

Not forgetting some delicious stats:

120 Summer Garden Granny Squares.
8 Granny borders and then a final three-part shell edging.
Weighing in at 1.2 kg.
155 cm long by 135 cm wide.
Using just over 3.5 Kilometres of yarn (wow).
I used Stylecraft Special DK acrylic yarn throughout, approximately 12 balls of wool.
Total yarn cost, only £16 (double wow).
At least 50 hours work (and that's a conservative estimate), over the last four and a half months.

The blanket shall be adorning our bed.  That is until the arrival of our puppy next week, hmmmm think it will have to go somewhere safe until the chance of a chewing has abated.

Next blog - my blanket learnings.  All the things I have learnt and some things I would do differently next time.

Nellie P

Super Super Cute Dragon

I know things have been quiet on the posting front.  I've been hard at work completing my Summer Garden Granny Throw.  Having finally finished the joining of 120 squares, no mean feat at around 15 hours work, I am now zooming along the granny borders.  The final Ta Da moment is approaching fast!

In spite of my, quite frankly obsessive, determination to finish the throw I've been distracted by a couple of mini-projects.  The first of which, this little dragon, a gift to my daughter for working so hard at her maths.

This Dragon is once again from the Super-Super Cute Crochet book by Brigitte Read.  The wings were an addition by myself once I was assured that a dragon 'must' have wings.  Aside from these I followed the pattern faithfully using Stylecraft Special DK yarn in Lipstick and a 3mm hook.

When only half way through the main body section I could not believe he would end up the right shape.  Luckily lots of stuffing in the right places worked wonders.  He became 'cute' as soon as the back spines were introduced (Stylecraft Special DK in Bright Green).  Lovely to be able to make a little gift for someone I love.

Nellie P

African Flowers

I've been toying with Heidi Bears' African Flower pattern.  As I'm still joining my Summer Garden Granny blanket I'm not quite ready to embark on another full-scale blanket project.  Instead, I settled on a quick dangly hexagon for my bag.

I crocheted two African flowers, both in DK Cotton using a 3mm hook, so that they worked up quite firm.  Then I slip-stitched them together at the edge.

These two African flowers are actually back-to-back.  Something beautiful for my bag to hint that I crochet.


Nellie P

Crochet-on-the-go

I just wanted to say a big thank you to my friends in Dorset for this beautiful hand-made drawstring bag.  

The print is lovely, very pretty, a vintage look to it.  The bag is lined and has two internal pockets, just right for my crochet hook and scissors.

I use it as my go-everywhere crochet bag and it gets popped into whatever I'm carrying every day.  Well, you never know when you'll get a chance to crochet.

Many Thanks
Nellie P

Summer Garden Granny Update

Hooray, I have reached my goal of 120 granny squares.  After two and a half months work I'm feeling very pleased with myself,

and here they are in all their glorious colours.

The picture above shows them all laid out in their planned order, but looking at it again (not in the middle of the night) I can see a few swap-arounds to be made.  It's a bit like an enormous puzzle, trying to make sure no square is adjacent to a very similar one.

Yes, there's now the slightly daunting task of joining them all together, I shall be following instructions on Attic 24.  Let's see how it goes.  Deep breaths.

It really has made me smile laying out this patchwork of colour, better still, all made by me.

Nellie P

Whaley Gallery

I wanted to show you the fantastic mini-pics my daughter has made of Whaley.
My favourites are 'Whaley in Space' and 'Whaley the Queen'.  What a talented girl she is!

And who's this flying in? I shall introduce you to Big Bee very soon.

Nellie P

Forbidden Planet Amigurumi Competition

Forbidden Planet have just launched a competition to win the goodies above and look who's in the picture, yes it's Whaley again.  Sorry, by now you may have just had about enough of him but what the hell.  I also have to draw your attention to the marvellous Batman, crocheted by my fellow FP-Insider.  She has her own blog, My Tiny Box Room, which is well worth a visit.

Nellie P

Summer Garden Granny Update

After patiently crocheting away every day my granny square total is now 70.  Over half way to my goal of 120 squares.  Here's a sneak peak at the work so far.  Look at the colours! I've mixed and matched with abandon.

OK, so the more observant of you may notice that there are in fact 80 squares.  What can I say, my daughter kindly re-drew the Granny-O-Meter, then I laid them out and 10 had appeared from nowhere.

I am very excited about completing the project, well worth the perseverance.

Nellie P

Who would have thought it...

Here is Whaley starring in a Make Cute Amigurumi poster.  In the front window of Forbidden Planet London Megastore no less!

Happy Valentine's Day

I just wanted to quickly share my home-made Valentine Gift.  The hearts are from PlanetJune by June Gilbank and were quickly completed in acrylic DK yarn using a 3.0mm hook.  A very basic frame from Ikea, some table confetti and voila!  More satisfying than a shop-bought card any day.
Nellie P

Summer Garden Granny Square

Just so you know that my cravings extend beyond amigurumi, here's my latest project; a blanket of Attic 24's Summer Garden Granny's. It's been in progress for a month and so far I've completed 40 squares. My goal is 120 squares to make a family blanket. My daughter has drawn a brilliant Granny-O-meter to illustrate my progress.

I'm using Stylecraft DK acrylic yarn (and a 3.75mm hook)as recommended by Attic 24 and, in fact, purchased the 17 ball bundle from Masons. The yarn is very good value and great to work with, all the colours complement each other so I mix and match colours as I like. When the blanket is finished I'd like the kids to snuggle up and play 'pick your favorite square'.

At this rate I hope to be finished by Easter. I shall have to ask for regular updates of the Granny-O-Meter and will let you know how I get on with joining the squares together.
Nellie P

On the Beach

Welcome back to Whaley.  This time he's with his pal, Squiddly Dudley, at the beach.  My whole family got involved and had lots of fun assembling this diorama.  Thank you to the children for their sea shells and their directorial skills and, well, everyone has a boat lying around don't they?

Squiddly Dudley was crafted by my best crocheting friend,  using a pattern from super-cute Crochet by Nicki Trench.  

I own this book myself and would recommend it for any level of crochet skill.  I liked that each amigurumi character came with a background story.  The book also includes patterns for tiny crochet dresses and accessories that could be used with other projects.  This book uses UK crochet terms.

Say Hello to Whaley

Here's Whaley, only my third amigurumi project, but I am enormously proud of him.  He comes from Brigitte Read's book, Super Super Cute Crochet and took around 3 hours to make.

He was made using DK acrylic yarn and a 3mm crochet hook, I love this vivid colour.  I work for a publisher and he's currently making a splash (sorry) on our in-store posters.  He's a Superstar!

Having had a chance to look through Super Super Cute Crochet I would buy it just for the gorgeous pictures, especially the grey-kitten on page 16.  I would recommend this book for those with intermediate-level crochet skills who feel confident with the basics.  It's written using UK crochet terminology and it's now on my wish list.


Before I go I just wanted to say how surprised I am at how people react to amigurumi.  Whaley has produced a huge response, much more so than any scarf I might have spent weeks on.  I cannot exclude myself from this either.....a grown woman and already he's been named Whaley.


Ah, the craving for more cute Amigurumi has started.