From one little posy...

If you cast your mind back to prior my holiday, you may recall I was working on my posy scarf. Having got past the fiddly stage of working out the join, it just needed completing.

I can happily say it is now finished. Once in the rhythm of the join it flows quite nicely, but still takes a bit of concentration to make sure it's going correctly. It just needs to go on the blocking mat now so that it can be photographed in all its glory!

I had intended to then move on to a new design, and I've been having a little play!

After looking at the scarf and with my new yarn purchases I thought how lovely it would look as a shawl.

So I set about doing some colour swatches.

After eliminating one, I was undecided between the other two, and after posting my picture,the response was split too.

So I listened to my gut instinct and went with the warm soft pinks. I made a few centres, and now have started with the petals.

I'm hoping, as the joining will be the same in theory to the scarf it won't be too hard, but we will see, as we will be working in odd numbers in a row instead of even!

I still kept looking at my other colour swatch, and decided that this more contrasting colourway would lend itself nicely as a cushion. After more glances I thought how nicely a little hexagon would slot into the gaps!

So now from one little posy, we have a scarf, shawl and a cushion...

Double Chrysanthemum blooms...

Spring has arrived, and we have not one but two blooms that have opened out and blossomed

I've completed both the singular and double colour, retro, Chrysanthemum cushions

The monochromatic cushion was completed first, enabling me to have a play around with the pattern

The back I decided to keep simple with a giant granny square, as the focus point is the bloom on the front

Once a basic pattern had been formed, I wanted to see what it looked like by adding a second  accentuating colour. These really aren't my taste in colours, but surprisingly I absolutely love how they work together, giving an authentic retro feel to the design

I continued to mix the two colours across the back too

I found some great packs of buttons at my local charity shop, and this set were perfect (they look more yellow in real live!)

It felt great to get these both finished, as the end process always drags for me, partly as I can't wait to see how all the components come together, but also i've got another 50 ideas and projects that i'm eager to try out!

These cushions have great texture. This image is actually the back of the flower, I like how that looks too!!

I just need to capture some more images in good light, and get them listed in my Folksy shop!

As you saw last week, I have already made a start on the next product. The flowers are finished, and now I'm making another c2c square, but it's still not a cushion, I'm trying something new, any ideas??

Flowers & PJ's

So in my head I was thinking I could get both of my Chrysanthemum cushions completed for this week, but this is the problem, what my head thinks and what is reality are two different things!

I have pretty much completed one though, apart from the last couple of buttons to be sewed on.

I will get cracking with the second and hopefully fingers crossed they can have their special ta dah moment together pretty soon!

Until then I'll just leave you with a sneaky peak!

I did get a little side tracked at one point. I had been tidying the bedroom, which led to me sorting out my wardrobe, when I found a pair of P.J bottoms that had got a hole in. Now I'm sure the average person would just chuck them, but for me I saw potential! I sat down immediately and starting cutting them up in to strips, and before I'd got too far, I grabbed my largest crochet hook and started a circle.

I absolutely love how this looks. It has an amazingly thick feel to it, perfect to turn it into a basket. A fab quick, fun project I thought, BUT, it totally kills the wrist, and gave me a shooting pain up my arm. Gutted! I will persevere, but I will be sensible and do just a little at a time. I had set aside some jumpers to use too, and was looking forward to having a play. I don't know if it would help if I used a larger size hook, as I just went with what I had, which was only 6mm, so it does turn out quite dense! I will have a go, but all in good time....

I did do a cheeky little yarn order. Sensibly it was because I needed a joining colour, so I could actually finish an old wip,

 but as there was a drops sale, it would have been rude not to throw another pretty in the basket too!!

As I'm finishing projects. this meant I had nothing portable to do in lunch breaks. I decided to make some more flowers.

 If you remember these were from my monochrome cushion, but I have something different planned for these, but you'll have to stay tuned to find out what!

I'm still continuing with my floral mood blanket.

 It's growing well now, and I appreciated that it actually covers my legs now when I sew in the ends, as it was beneficial when we had a couple of chilly evenings!

That's all for this week, I hope to have more visuals for you next week...

Chrysanthemum colourways...

So it was back home and back to work this week, and it doesn't take long to feel like you've not been away! Not got much to show you this week. I've been continuing with my Chrysanthemum pattern, working it in the other colours. Starting with the orange flower

and squaring it off with the green

these colours are a bit out of my comfort zone, but i'm liking the retro feel of them

this cushion will need some serious blocking, but i'm liking how it's turned out so far

the weather has been a bit all over the place this week, makes us feel very lucky we'd had such lovely warmth and sun whilst we were away

Another month has slipped by ever so quickly. Time just flies so quick these days it leaves my head in a spin! This is a little round-up of April, sadly lacking in crafts, so I really need to make a bigger effort in May and see if I can keep with time just a little bit!

So i'm off to get my head down and my hook out, lets get cracking...

Until next week...

Chrysanthemum cushion..

So i've put my last cushion on the back burner for now, until I feel ready to show it some love again.

I spotted a pretty yarn in Tiger last week, so wanted to get stuck in and give it a try

I've seen a pattern made by many in various colours on pinterest. I've admired these images for awhile but been unable to find any instructions. 

I felt this yarn and this image was the perfect combination, so I dived in and gave it a go just from viewing the images. 

I'm really pleased with how this turned out.

But I wanted to take this one step further and try to adapt it into a square shape. I had no idea how exactly to do this but I just started working round and amazingly its been taking shape nicely.

Along with the lovely spring sunshine my floral mood blanket has blooming

I've finished work for the week, and now have the pleasure of a weeks holiday, starting with a little trip to the south coast

Star light, star bright...

So last week I showed you a sneak peak of my latest make. I'm trying a new yarn, made by Ice, which comes from Turkey. I had seen and heard alot about their range, and in the end could not resist temptation at the various different shades. I chose a grey/purple mix and I was pleasantly surpised at the softness.

I chose to try the star stitch for texture this time. It was actually featured in this months 'Simply Crochet' magazine, but i struggle sometimes with written pattern, I like a visual to understand, so I went back to my usual resource at the crochet spot site

Once I got into the flow of the pattern I enjoyed it, it has a nice rhythm to it.

I have completed one side, and part way through the next, although it will need to be blocked as its turned out a bit skew-whiff!

Also, I made an extra square for Linda's yarnbomb. Its fun trying out different stitches, and seeing how a square works out

I'm looking forward to seeing everybodys pieces put together, it's going to be a bright fun tree, and will certainly stand out!

We did manage to get a little fresh air in between our heavy work schedules this week. So we endulged in a little spot of geocaching, a great way to blow away the cobwebs. The first one we were unable to find as unfortunately the tree had been felled. 

But we had better luck with two others in our local village, two well disguised fun finds.

They are part of a set of ten, so we are looking forward to looking for the others in the future.