hear hear

I spend a lot more time crocheting these days than I ever used to. You got that already, I know. But think about this – do I want to have only my own thoughts to entertain me while my hands work? I don’t THINK so. I’m a terrible conversationist and I’d bore me in no time. DVDs – yes, now and then, but I’m not a big tv watcher and I get tired of images coming at me from a screen for too long.

Enter Andy the Android.

Andy was an unwanted gift to Rob from someone (who doesn’t read this blog, by the way) and now he is mine. Rob introduced me to audible.com and now I have some Hiaasen, some Deaver, some Palin, and some Bill Bryson to keep me company while I beaver away. A great technological stride for me, that is! Today’s beavering so far has been spent on the flowers in the photo, another ten to hang on the silver tree in a little girl’s bedroom.

Back soon x

Daisy in my heart pattern

Reblogged from crochethome:

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Ch 5, join with sl st to first ch to form a ring.

Round 1: ch 3 (count as dc), crochet 15 dc into the ring. Join with sl st to 3rd ch of ch3, (16dc)

Round 2: ch10, dc into 3rd ch space, dc in nex 4 ch spaces, you have now 3 ch spaces left, hdc into next 2 ch spaces, sc into last ch space (first petal made), sc into next dc of previous round, *ch 7, turn your work and make dc into 3 ch space of previous petal (that is how you connect petals all the way round), turn again, you are now working on a right side, ch 3, dc in next 4 ch spaces, hdc into next 2 ch spaces, sc into last ch space* (second petal made), repeat from * to * until you have 16 petals in total.

Read more… 126 more words

Daisy in my heart - how can you NOT be itching to make one or four of these!?

I need a man (part 2)

More experimenting with slippers for men:

Going for a tweed look now, with natural and a dark grey cotton combined. Higher at front, squarer at toe. The ones pictured are a size 8/9. Have to say, uses up a lot more yarn than the women’s ones, and of course most men have BIGGER FEET as well, so will use up even more yarn per pair and will take longer in the making. Rob tried one of these on and said,  ”Wow, this is even comfier than a stokie”  (I think you have to be South African to know what a stokie is, sorry.) but he didn’t comment on the look of them.  Richard saw the photo and said, “Hmmm, for my demure side” – frankly I have no idea what he meant by that.

So, once again – Brad? James? Frank? Mary-Anne’s husband? Rugged and manly enough for you? Seriously, all comments appreciated and taken seriously.

Back soon x

magnificent submit

The whackiness of drivel spam sometimes makes me laugh out loud. This is my favourite so far – “Thanking you for magnificent submit.” You’re welcome, freaky spam bot.

Meet Hattie. She was made for me by Steve, one of the wonderful woodworkers we’ve met through being at Kirstenbosch Market.  She’s as light as a feather and can display 10 hats at a time and, because she’s a table stand, won’t get blown over if there’s wind. Pic out of focus, sorry. My bad. Bad and lazy.

Next up, two wooden boxes that were taking up space without purpose at Rob’s flat: I’m not in the mood for painting right now so I decided to wallpaper them with newsprint. I have to say, I’m not entirely sure that this really is the way to go, but if I don’t try I’ll never know. I’ll do the tops and one bit of the insides and then, if I think it looks stupid, will just have to do something else!

Still working on Tammy’s cushion in aubergine, lilac and willow, but nearly finished. The middle was the flower from the afghan in Issue 3 of Simply Crochet, but I changed things a bit after the row of cream. The purple cotton I’m using isn’t Vinni’s and I’m finding it a bit thinner, so I felt a smaller stitch than a treble was called for. I’m pretty much just making it up as I go along now. I like that about crochet, although it’s not an approach that works with cooking.

Last thing for today, the winner of the Jam Tarts facebook give-away last week for a frog beanie was Mary-Anne from Woolhogs.

She said she was thrilled but felt “undeserving” – not sure why, maybe because we know each other (only through blogging), live in the same city, have the same interests, etc.  I told her she won fair and square.  Life’s random, so things seem  coincidental some times.  That’s how random works.  I wish we could give away a frog beanie to everyone who entered and shared and liked, because you are all lovely people who would all look good in one :-)

Back soon x

trying to finish one thing before starting another – as usual

I’ve managed to work a whole two rows of the Spring Fling since last week. At this rate, it’ll be ready to wear when I’m 72.

And this is what I’m really really itching to start on today.

It’s Sarah Jane’s Seafoam Fantasy Shawl, and I bought the pattern from her new shop on etsy.  I also have this pattern of her’s (which I won last year – I always think I never win anything but actually I do!):

which will be so absolutely perfect for the winter we have on our horizon. It’s already bitterly cold in the mornings now (Alex has been eyeing my converted leg-warmers but I’m a very selfish mother most of the time and she ain’t gettin’ nuthin’ hahaha) . I love the idea that it can be a cowl or a hat, depending on one’s mood (and the wind chill factor).

Back soon x

I need a man

wait, that sounds wrong – I mean, I need a man’s opinion!
I’ve had two orders for slippers for men, so needed something with a squarer shape and more ‘masculine’ look. I decided to purchase another pattern from Tara Murray on etsy at Mamachee because her womens’ slipper pattern has been such a hit and I love it.

Here’s my version for the boys:

and I’d really like a man to comment on (a) the colour, (b) the shape, (c) the button strap, and (d) anything else? Maybe a man wouldn’t be keen to put anything crocheted on his big manly feet at all? (although the fact that I’ve already had orders suggests otherwise). I am still searching for a cotton or yarn equivalent to the chunky natural one I use, but in different colours. I have even asked a hand-dye company if they would dye for me but apparently it wouldn’t work well on very thick and already-twisted cotton. Using two strands of DK cotton doesn’t work either, it’s still too ‘floppy’ for slippers.

Anyone? Rob? Brad?

Leg warmers? No, thanks.

Yesterday Doreen gave me a pair of leg warmers that she’d made ages ago.  I have no need for them, having the kind of legs that are so naturally well-covered they keep themselves warm.  But I liked them, and like things to be useful, and I remembered Alex’s friend Dani who came round the other day and was wearing these:

They look like caterpillars. Dani’s mom had bought them for her and she didn’t know where, but I knew something would come of this idea.  So, I unpicked a small section of the leg warmer seam, blanket-stitched around it and VOILA – wrist warmers!

And yes, I am still in my cruddy old dressing gown and yes, I am deliberately covering my left eye (it was red and puffy when I woke up today, it’s such a glamorous look, you can imagine).

I might still work a row of dc (UK dc, that is) around the top and bottom edges, but I might not. I think I like them just like this.

Doreen gave me something else, too. I don’t know why, I haven’t done anything particularly special to deserve it, but she’s very generous. She actually said, “Listen, if you don’t take this stuff, when I’m dead my daughter won’t know what to do with it and she’ll chuck it all out, so just take it now.”

Her daughter, who I’m sure is a very nice person and wouldn’t just throw anything away thoughtlessly, has, however, lost out on this INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL granny square blanket. Sorry for you, Linda. It’s now on the back of my couch and it has transformed the whole room. And, of course, it makes me think of Doreen who, at 82, is one of the most inspiring and kindest and funniest and sharpest people I have ever been lucky enough to have in my life.

Back soon x