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