miss marie's miscellany

Blackcurrant and orange cream

Hello! Long time no see, as I've been a busy bee, but things are a little quieter and I'm happy to be here again. Despite all that's been going on, I've tried and succeeded to find some much needed hooking time over the last week. I do find it very therapeutic and calming, in fact, I have been getting up early so I can do some before I go to work.......hmm, some might say that is going a bit too far, but I find it the perfect start to the day, a few rows of crochet with a nice cup of tea. A friend asked me to make a baby blanket for a gift ( yes, a commission, how exciting!) I made some squares using different stitches.

 

Purple and orange were requested colours, and I thought the cream set them off nicely. I decided to use all the squares in a random arrangement. You can see all the various stitches in the above photo; bobble stitch on the bottom right and top left, the top middle square is a new stitch to me which I found in one of my crochet books, angled clusters. moss stitch on the top right, star stitch on the bottom left and shell stitch bottom middle.  

The squares were really quick to make, it was the joining up which took ages. But it came together well,and here is the finished article.

 

The colours really buzz, and although they might not be everyone's choice for a baby blanket, I think I like the fruity combination:-)

 
The purple and orange wools are a merino /cashmere mix and the crean is lamb's wool so  it will be very cosy. 

I edged it with a row of treble crochet in each of the 3 colours and finished off with a row of crab stitch which I have become a big fan of. It is worked by crocheting from left to right which feels weird when you first try it out, but it's worth persevering with, the rolled edging it creates looks very fine.If you want to try it out, I found this video on YouTube very helpful:-)

 

I'm happy that this turned out so well, now I just need to find a new WIP to make in the mornings!
 

Seeing stars

Allow me to introduce my bright orange stars cushion cover; I woke up early today and did all the finishing off, buttons, buttonholes and last few rows. It looks lovely in the early morning light.

 

I edged this side of the cushion in pink crab stitch, another new stitch to me, made by making double crochet stitches working from left to right, which gives a rolled corded effect

 

I bought the wool on Ebay from one of my favourite sellers who I've mentioned before, Kingcraig Fabrics. This particular wool is a lambs wool and silk mix in an aran weight. It's lovely to crochet with (and knit too, I should think)and has a nice textured feel, especially in these 2 stitches which both have 'feel appeal'! 
 

 

The other side is made using crochet moss stitch in the same wool in a cream colour, it reminds me  of custard creams! I used some purple buttons to fasten and made an envelope flap for the button holes.

 

 

I am making another of these with pink stars, as a companion to this, finishing quite soon, I hope. 

While I was writing this post, the postman delivered a parcel with more of this wool in some lovely bright colours. Want to see?

 

I'll have to put my thinking cap on, what shall I make with these?!
 

 
 

 
 

Feeling peachy

Life is a bit work- dominated at the moment. Not much time for anything else. Except a little gardening; despite there being an autumnal feel in the air now, there seem to be lots of plants blossoming.......like this lovely peachy rose

 

and this calendula, brilliant vibrant orange

 

And I have managed to fit in some crochet too; here's a glimpse of the nearly finished cushion cover, burnt orange and raspberry looking lovely together

 

Just the buttons and buttonholes to be done and I'll show it to you!

I'm off on a short trip later today to Newcastle, surely some good photo opportunities to be had there, I think. It is for a job interview, so cross your fingers for me!
 
 
 

Stitchy stuff

I have learned 2 new stitches this week, the first is the star stitch which I really like......pretty too isn't it?!

 

How about orange?

 

This stitch is also called the daisy stitch, and I've found a couple of versions of it. This one is nicely spaced so you can see the flowers/stars - I found the pattern here.

The second is the crochet version of moss stitch; I've crocheted this in a lovely pale biscuit colour.

 

I knew the knitted version of this, also called seed stitch and this doesn't look anything like that. But I did a little research and discovered that there are 2 versions of moss stitch and this is very like American moss stitch. You can see the 2 different versions if you click here.

These are going to make some cushion covers, I thought the 2 different sides would be a good contrast in texture. Hopefully, there will be 2 and they'll be ready next week, all being well, if I can get my hook moving fast enough!
 
 

August collage

I can't believe August has been and gone, it flew by. I started with all the garden improvements, I went back to work, and did a humungous amount of crocheting. I took a trip across the sea, went on a hen night and I have painted, dug and chopped things down in the garden. Perhaps that's why August whizzed by, I have been very busy!

 

Granny ta-dah!

I've been working away on the big granny square blanket I showed off a couple of weeks ago, it has been quite a task! The rows were taking nearly an hour each by the end, quite an epic amount of crochet was taking place; but the weather has been so fantastic over the last week, I have sat in the garden with all my bits and pieces here

 

those small garden trugs are great for outdoor crafting! It's been lovely to enjoy the sunlit garden

 

and whizz round the blanket a few times.So, at last, I have finished! I'm breathing a big sigh of relief but I'm delighted with it. 

 

 
 I finished it off with some rows of double crochet using a mixture of the colours in the blanket, then a row of arch chain edging.

 

 

It used up a lot of wool, I have used 17 different colours! All the balls of wool were 100gs and I haven't run out of any colour, but haven't got much left of some and had to start a second ball of wool for a couple of shades.

 

But it is a biggie, here it is on the spare bed (double)

 

And here it is on my king size bed

 

It will be keeping someone cosy this winter!

My next project will definitely be something slightly smaller!!:-)
 

 
 
 
 

iCrochet

I'm a big fan of Sarah London and regularly visit her blog, it's always full of interesting things and her crochet designs and tutorials are fantastic. I was excited to see she has started a new blog, called iCrochet, which is a place for crocheters from all over the world to leave a link and photo of their latest WIP, a lovely compendium of hookiness, if you like. There are some wonderful things to be seen there already, so head on over and feast your eyes! 

 

 

My new hat

I wanted to make something quick and found this pattern at the Lion Brand website. I had some Crofter DK Fair Isle effect wool which I'd been wanting to try, and this seemed a good project for it. 

 

It only took me about 4 hours to make. Perhaps it's a bit mad to be crocheting hats in the summer, but it hasn't been too summery here in Glasgow of late, so I thought I might as well get myself ready for autumn days out in the garden!

 

Another self-taken photo of yours truly, I really must practice doing this a bit more! But you can see how cozy the hat looks :-)
 

 
 

Looking lovely in the garden this week

I was thinking how few photos I've taken this year of flowers in my garden, somehow up till now, there don't seem to have been as many as last year. But this week some beautiful colours have appeared .

Blue, blue anemone - this is sitting on the front doorstep, every time I go out, I have to stop and stare.

 

Pretty pink geranium

 

Frothy creaminess of this beautiful hydrangea

 

Lovely rose :-)

 

I love this two-tone geum, it's so unusual and the colours almost seem to glow, I find it mesmerising, especially when the sun is shining.

 

Green apples galore, it'll be a good harvest this year.

 

Cheery yellow calendula

 

All the bright and beautiful colours are having a good effect on my latest WIP, I thought I'd take a photo of it in the great outdoors.

 

Nearly finished! I'm loving how it's turning out, the random choice of colour is working a treat. I hope to be able to show you the completed blanket after the weekend.

 
 
 

 
 

 

 
 

July collage

This year is passing by rather quickly, I can't believe it's the end of another month. There's been lots of crochet, some trips away and a mix of good and bloomin'  awful weather, sounds about right for the good old British summertime!