I just love this hat!It is warm and light. Super quick to make and only uses 2 balls of Cleckheaton Mohair 12ply.I think, nearly all serious yarn hoarders have a ball or two of Mohair laying around and just don't know what to do with it.I struggled to find a name for this hat, so I asked on one of the Crochet Facebook groups. I got suggestions of winter sounding names, from several people and while I was not completely happy with any of them, they got me headed in the right direction for a name.I gave the pattern out to the four people who had helped me decide on the name.The pattern has been tested by my fabulous testers and they produced some beautiful hats.So if you want to 'Kiss a Snowman', the pattern is now live on ravelry and Etsy
Pumpkin Spice Hat.
If you have read my post 'A Journey for a New Design', you would know that this hat and I have history.This hat stubbornly refused to be finished!The pattern itself took me forever to get the stitches just how I wanted them, to get that effect of two colours. Frogging, frogging and more frogging!Throw in some swearing!Running out of Yarn! And one hat in the naughty corner, via air express!Well I am very pleased to report that I won!The hat is completed and now out to testing with my fabulous and long suffering testers!At times I do wish I had been better at math in school than I am. Calculating stitches for different sizes tends to give me a headache. But I got there in the end (Well I believe I have. I will have to wait on the reports from my testers to see if I am right). The hat will be available in Child, Teen and Adult sizing.I also think (coincidently) that this is rather a well timed hat. I used Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury 10ply/Aran. One of the colours is Pumpkin Spice. Just in time for Halloween!I rather like this yarn as it is just as its name describes 'Luxury'.So to the 'Pumpkin Spice' Hat, I say 'You thought you would get the better of me, but I won!'I also have to say that if you don't own a pom pom maker, put one on your Christmas list as these things make Pom Pom making a breeze. One of these days I may do a 'how to' on using them.Keep an eye out for the pattern coming very soon, to a ravelry, etsy, Love Crochet store near you!I won!
More Than a Crochet Hook!
Yes, Yes! Crochet is my quiet place. The calming thing in my life! But I do, do other things. When I am not working on my own property, helping my husband with our business or at the gym (I am a gym junkie), I also enjoy painting and any form of art (well most forms).Over recent months, I have taken an interest in Resin Art. Not the type where you just pour the resin on to make pretty patterns. I make a base for my art with air dry clay. I then attach it to a mdf board. The resin is then mixed with acrylic paint, ( I have rather an expert in the family, on all things resin as hubby started working life out as a boat builder). I love the depth that I can get working with resin. I am slowly finding what works when starting to pour and what doesn't. I have also moved from using art resin to resin that is more specific, to boat construction and I find this works better and actually dries better.I find it a little amusing, that I am now the one playing with resin. When I met my husband he was always covered in the stuff. I remember prior to our wedding, he was on a resin and glue ban, about a week out. He also spent a lot of time scrubbing his hands to try and make them clean enough for the wedding. No doubt I would have married him anyway, if he had turned up with his hands partially stuck together with resin, but he did try to get them half respectable. So it is a little bit of a reversal.So now when I am not tangled up in yarn, I am covered in resin. So watch out crazy crochet, resin covered person on the loose.Some of my resin art is for sale. I just finished a yacht piece and it just needs framing now. One of my favourite pieces, (which I may keep for myself) is my fish resin art.My mind has always been a whirlwind of ideas when it comes to being creative and I just love the outlets of crochet, art and anything else that happens to jump into my mind.I love finding that item in an opportunity or thrift shop and knowing I can repurpose it into something wonderful. A few of my favourite things to wear, was once something else, till I attacked it.So from time to time I may put up some of my resin art on this page. I am just about to start my next piece and the ideas are buzzing (or rattling) around in my head.
We Have Skills! Zombies Beware!
While I am not going to be getting any job offers as a I.T. Tech any time soon, my computer skills are not too bad. And I have always been able to type quite fast. A few years of high school typing class, is something that seems to have come in handy in life. Probably one of the few classes that have. Learning how to make a banana fritter in cookery, sure never did. I hate bananas!BUT.... I don't know everything! What does that button do? And where do you stick this piece of Code (without being rude). Widgets, plugins and I, are not the best of friends.I was lucky enough today, to have someone help me to tweak, some of the settings on my blog. This someone was on a first name basis, with these widgets and plugins.I got talking to this person as I marvelled at his skills, knowing how to do things on the computer, that I wish I knew. I think he also learnt a few things about crochet (whether he wanted to or not). No doubt much of the information, would go into the 'I really never needed to know that' box, and that is okay. I know my son's are totally not interested in my crochet and while my husband tries to pretend he is, I am sure he could live without it. It isn't for everyone! My daughter does tend to, ooh and ahh, over what I make and I chalk that up to a darn good reason for having a daughter. While I don't think she will be grabbing a hook any time soon, but she is supportive of my need to be a hooker.Today I showed my computer whiz, one of my crochet patterns and we talked about the hours it takes to write a pattern and produce a finished item that others can make. The process of testing the written work, to try and make sure it doesn't have boo, boo's in it. Uk terms vs USA and the many things involved in the pattern writing process. I think he may have been surprised.I know many people look at those of us who crochet and instantly we are shoved into the 'Granny' corner. (no offense to any Grannies out there). Crochet isn't just for Grannies. People of all ages crochet.Thing is, we all need to stand tall and proud. We have skills. We know things!Crochet is creative. Whether it be, by someone else's pattern or your own grand design. It uses math skills and techniques that take time to master. We speak another language and we use terms like 'frogging' and W.I.P.S. Crochet is a fantastic stress reliever. Trust me on that one, as I have a grown child, who is a professional in a very dangerous sport. Crochet is useful!I also stand by my theory, that if ever there is a Zombie Apocalypse and the world is falling apart, people will be begging me to make them a rug or jumper. And did you know that I have seen people crochet with wire? A chainmail suit has to keep those zombies teeth away. And if that fails, a crochet hook to the head of any insistent zombie, will also come in handy.So for those who don't appreciate a handmade crochet item, take note. Whoever made it, has given up many hours of their time to produce this masterpiece. So marvel at their skills and make them feel their work means something to you.And if anyone wants a crochet chainmail suit, any time in the future, please form a line to the left. Image is of my Wish Upon A Star Cushion. Find the link in my Paid Pattern section of the blog.
That First Row
I keep asking myself, why I keep starting new designs. It's not as if I don't have enough!I have about a million on the go at any one time. Then an idea just jumps into my head and before I know it, I have started another one. Some could say they are multiplying like rabbits at my place.I can't say I am a fan of that very first row. It is usually slow and tedious. You can't just breeze through it. It seems to take forever! What did you do today dear? I started a row on my scarf. Anything else? Nope! No, not really!I hate it when I finally have that row done and realise that I must have counted wrong and I have one too many chains, or stitches. Or maybe not enough. If I actually get it right and it works out fine, I am rather chuffed with myself.This one is going to be a scarf. It is designed along the lines of a blanket I am also designing (which is only partially done as I have too many WIPS).It's kinda like a sickness! You know, you have a million WIPS and don't really need another one. But then I did have that dark grey yarn, just begging to be used. And I think it is going to look really pretty. That is if I ever get it done.WHAT THE HEART WANTS SCARF. Coming Soon to a ravelry store near you. (or just a click away)
One Ball of Yarn!
I was going to write about my red yarn on my interstate trip but……….., I had only taken a few balls of yarn (well a truckload really as I have stated how I pack to travel in other posts).I ran out of Stylecraft Batik in Storm and was sure, really sure I had one ball left at home.
On arrival home, I went to the spot where it should be and no Storm. So I tore through the plastic stacking containers that it could possibly be in. Nope! Of course by this time I was getting a little frantic, I was a woman on a mission. Yarn was flying everywhere! I went through the yarn cupboard and every possible little spot that I shove yarn (and there is a few).If anyone had come across me in my search they would have seen me throwing balls out of the way. Nope, Nope, not here!I eventually had to come to terms with the fact that, I did not have another ball. How annoying!
I only have one and a half rounds to go in this colour. How selfish of the Yarn! To add to the annoyance I have approx 10 balls of Batik looking at me and not one of it is the colour Storm.I stared at all the Batik I had, for quite a while, hoping one would turn into the colour Storm, but my powers or perhaps my magic wand were just not working today.So I have placed an order.
Of course I cannot just order one miserable ball. That would be silly wouldn't it? It would be lonely! It just would not do!My order grew slowly, (well not that slowly, as I wanted this and this and this) and I am now, not sure, but the company may have to hire a private plane or a cargo ship, to ship my parcel. It may well take up way too much room anywhere else. My Leadlight Design is stuffed into the naughty corner with my Pumpkin Spice hat.
And so I wait in Frustration for that one ball of yarn!
What to Expect!
Occasional Posts relating to Crochet!Probably posts relating to the designs I am working on.A lot of rambling on about Crochet.IF you are lucky a helpful hint or two.
I have been hesitant to create a blog as personally I don't know if it is for me or not. It is the obvious next step for someone who designs to have one, but not everything is sunshine and rainbows. I will see how it goes and if I find anyone raining on my parade (due to this public platform), then I guess I will cut and run. This blog is for my crochet and so for those 'Storm clouds' who hover in the background waiting to pounce, I say go wreakk your havoc on someone else for a change! What you won't find herePerfect Grammar and Spelling. So if you happen to be a Grammar and Spelling Freak, then move along.To Kick things off!The picture is of my Dearne Headband. This is a free download available on my Ravelry Page