Finished: Whirl 1

 

I finished my first whirl! What an adventure! This is the first proper shawl I’ve made and not run out of yarn! I ordered the Whirl from my local yarn place and picked it up that night! I knew I wanted to make this pattern as I love it and the name has a special meaning to me. Working with the Whirl was amazing, I used a 3.5mm hook. No knots or random joins and the colours just flowed. You can feel the quality compared to the cheaper options. This took about a week to make, it was very slow at the end!

Pattern: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/erigeneia

yarn: https://www.coastalyarnco.com.au/collections/scheepjes-whirl/products/scheepjes-whirl-blueberry-bam-bam-755

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Crocheting a Wedding

 

 

Girls, I’m getting married! And because i am crazy I’ve decided to incorporate as much crochet as possible.

I have always loved the bunting used at Yarndale, really loved it. And now I have the chance to make it for an actual event. The reception space loves the idea and is keen for me to go over the top! I figured I need about 80 metres to fill the space. Each motif is 18cm with blocking, so I think i’ll need about 400 triangles. Help me! Here’s some fun facts, each triangle weighs 8 grams, and takes about 15 minutes. This doesn’t include end weaving, or blocking. I might invest in a steam iron to block with. I’ve not bothered with blocking before, but this pattern really needs it.

So apart from miles and miles of bunting I’m also going to make flower garlands with a whole bunch of cotton. I’m going to use my thrifted crochet table cloths for the tables (luckily only 4 tables). Pinterest is filled with crochet bouquets but I don’t really like them, also my bouquet is real flowers.

I might attempt a wedding dress, who knows though! What else can i make, realistically?

How to: Crochet and travel


I enjoy both crochet and travel and have mixed them together on a lot of occasions. Crochet is one of those hobbies that can be really portable and can fill in those long hours. I crocheted on my USA trip and have come up with a few pointers and tips for anyone interested.

Size. Don’t bring a giant double size blanket with you. It’s heavy and not practical. Bring something small or something you can sew together later. Make a few granny squares, a baby size blanket, a scarf, beanie, or shawl.

Limit yourself to only a few colours. The last thing you want is to juggle 15 different colours. This takes up space in your bag and increases the risk of misplacing something. Stick to 3 balls of yarn. If you must bring heaps of colours rewind them into smaller balls.

Storage. Project bags are a must. I have several made of cotton or organza. The opening is a drawstring allowing it to be fully closed but still be able to draw up the yarn. I travel with a normal sized handbag which allows for 1 ball of 100g 8ply yarn. This is an awesome size as it isn’t too bulky. Watch out of liquids in your bag (or nature) from spilling on your project.

Hooks. While it is legal to carry hooks on Australian international and domestic flights you should always check with your airline. I’ve had mixed results in having to open my bag and prove that it’s just a hook. With my first flight with hooks i was so scared they’d take them off me I brought a plastic hook! I hated this and it slowed me down. My next flight saw me take my ‘good’ hook and wasn’t any drama. I also took my hooks through security at The Pentagon, One World Observatory, and The Capitol Building in Washington with no problems. This info may change at a later time 😉

Looks. People will look, people will be curious. It’s something you have to deal with. I go into my own world and don’t even think about it, my sister seems to notice it more.

Goals. Don’t set goals, enjoy your holiday. If you don’t feel like crocheting, don’t do it.

Finished: Purple Sunday Shawl

If i like a pattern there’s a good chance I’ll make it a lot. I finished my first Sunday Shawl and instantly wanted to make another. I did want to mix it up a bit, cause i like to personalize everything. I found this yarn at Spotlight and grabbed a pack. Then ran back and grabbed another when I realized it was not 4 ply and more like 8ply. So I hate trebbles, not good when this pattern is mainly that! So instead I worked double crochets. I work much faster this way. Due to the limited yarn I had to change colour in the body of the shawl. I wasn’t Continue reading Finished: Purple Sunday Shawl