testing.

Been having a play around with those mini skeins... just to see how far each will stretch, if making single colour motifs

These simple squares are approximately 6cm x 6cm, and I get 1 square per skein. Not that fussed about the small grannies, or the leaf. But I quite like the simple garter square.



Fun to play around with, but I can't see myself making an entire afghan this way.

Maybe another cushion cover? I still need to make more

Although I should finish that granny one first...

if one is good, then two must be better

So I suddenly realised that I didn't have a plan for the back of the granny cushion...

Option 1: I could leave it plain... but then I know it would drive me insane everytime it flipped over on the couch (and believe me - there is a whole lotta cushion flipping that goes on at our place!)

Option 2: I could work a different square for the back, and then I have the option of intentionally flipping for a different look... but then I know that I will end up favouring one side more than the other... and my least favourite side will be the one it always ends up on.

Option 3: Is the winner. The back will be EXACTLY the same as the front, so that it doesn't matter which way the cushion sits!

Now, I'll be the first to admit... it's not too often that I make two pieces which are an exact replica of one another... remember those socks I made? Even they didn't match!

they're so yellow!

Love daffodil season...

And since I drive past TWO daffodil farms on my way to work... well... it would be a crime not to stop and support local business, wouldn't it?

While you're admiring the daffodils... check out the table runner in the photo... I'll tell you all about it soon!

the granny treatment

Did you notice the cushion on the couch in my last blog post???

There's nothing wrong with it... except that it is a bit, well, too BEIGE for my liking!

So I've decided to give it the granny treatment.

One nice bright granny square coming up...



I've always been reluctant to use granny squares on cushions, because of the sewing involved... I mean... you simply MUST line them, they're too holey not to.

And the very thought of having to line them, has sent me running... because if I wanted a removable cover, then I would have to insert a zipper... and that's just all too scarey for my liking!

But this time I'm going to cheat a little.

Because the existing cushion cover is in good condition (well... it will need to be soaked for a few days in some napisan... but apart from the general grubbiness, it's in good nick) I can simply attach the crochet to the cover. I'll probably make a square for the front and the back, and then just stitch them into place.

That's the plan, anyway... and I'll try and remember to take some progress photos as I go... although sometimes I just get so caught up in the moment that I completely forget!

I had a visitor today...

And she came bearing a gift...



Thank you Dawnie-Pants!

Just look at all those mini skeins of wool on my coffee table - a whole 1.6kg worth of sample yarn!



Now, I don't have a plan for them just yet... for the moment they are still sitting on the table, for me to admire and fondle.

And the kids have been entertaining themselves 'fishing'... a game which involves stabbing one of my knitting needles blindly into the pile, and seeing what they can 'catch'

Clearly I have been blessed with children who are as easily amused as I am!

Now tell me... what would you do with all these tiny skeins???

meet little hootie...

Want to meet my friend, Little Hootie???



The pattern for this little guy is published in the October 2010 issue of Crochet World magazine... which is currently on sale.

I'm always super excited to have a pattern published in a magazine... and this time is no different. Even more so, when I discovered that Lisa Gentry and Mary Beth Temple have patterns published in the same issue.

If you've been following my blog for a while now, then you will have heard me talk about Lisa Gentry. She is a popular crochet designer, with incredibly well written patterns. In addition to that, she holds the world record for the fastest crocheter in the world! I've long admired Lisa's work - so it's pretty mind-blowing to appear in print alongside her!!!

Mary Beth Temple is not someone I've talked about here before. To date I haven't worked any of her patterns, or listened to her podcast - getting loopy - although I keep meaning to... it's on my 'things to do one day' list.

Actually, I haven't EVER listened to any podcasts... do you??? Which is your favourite craft one? Give me somewhere to start exploring the pod-world...

Back to Mary Beth for a moment...

A little while back, I did an online course which she was teaching, on 'designing for print media'... and as a result of that, I gained an understanding of the workings of print media, and how to go about being published. So, basically, in this issue I have been published alongside my teacher, which is an absolute thrill.

Thought you might be interested to see my original Little Hootie:



The original is my favourite, but I had to re-work him for publication. The changes included getting rid of the buttons as well as the felted wings, and making him in a readily available yarn. I think he has more character in his original format... I can't resist those felted wings with blanket stitch edging!

SO...

Keep an eye out for Little Hootie, and let me know if you use my pattern to make one of your own.

And don't forget to let me know about any crafty podcasts you like to listen to.

a goldfish moment...

Yes... I'm still here

Just not as often as I used to be!

I hadn't really anticipated the impact that working would have on my craft time.

Usually I work three days each week... so I figured that would still leave four days for all the other things that I love to do.

But it hasn't quite worked out like that!

Not happy Jan.

Ah well...

I finally got caught up with some crochet last weekend.

My Crochet Lovers Victoria group had a meet on sunday (well, not so much that the group is MINE as such, just that I am a member... you know what I mean)

As I was saying, sunday was crochet meet day... and I loved every minute of it. I haven't been along to a gathering in such along time, that it almost felt like I was the new girl. In fact, just as I was leaving home that day, Mr Goldfish teased that everyone would have forgotten my name, since they haven't seen me in so long!

I spent about six hours crafting and chatting... which is more craft than I have managed in the last few weeks put together!

Now, I don't know if I was distracted by all the chatter...

Or whether I am so put of practice with the hook that I have forgotten how to keep a straight edge on my work...

But look at this disaster: the edge is supposed to be STRAIGHT!!!