Piers (The Beast of a Blanket!)

A few months ago I was asked to create a blanket to match a swatch of wallpaper a customer provided. I love a challenge, especially as my preferred yarn Stylecraft Special is unfortunately lacking in the Duck Egg shade that would have matched best.

So, after much deliberation I settled on the shades below, and also to get the balance right between neutrals and turquoises I decided to do a completely random colour order for the first time ever.

7 weeks, and many crochet hours later, here is the finished result!

Piers' vital statistics are as follows:

Size: 1 x 1.5m

Starting chain: 196 + 3 for turning (using 4.5mm hook)

Rows: 144 (not including straightening off rows)

Yarn: Stylecraft Special DK

Colours: Cream, Parchment, Mocha, Silver, Grey, Sherbet, Turquoise, Petrol

Hook Size: 4mm for main body & 3.5mm for edging.

As with Bert, I have used the neat ripple pattern by the fabulous Lucy at Attic24 (attic24.typepad.com) for the main body of the blanket.

Again, the edging and straightening off is my own creation, but you can find good instructions at Attic24 or www.littletinbird.co.uk.

Please leave me a comment if you have any questions or think I've left anything out. I'm always happy to help a fellow crafter.

L

Xx

Bert The Blanket

Hello!

When I finish a blanket and post it to Facebook & Instagram I always get so many people ask me about my makes that I've decided to pop a little post about each blanket here on Blogger so people can find it all in one place.

Bert!

Size: 70 x 90cm

Starting chain: 140 + 3 for turning (using 4.5mm hook)

Rows: 92 (not including straightening off rows)

Yarn: Stylecraft Special DK

Colours: Cream, Silver, Cloud Blue, Aster, Denim.

Hook Size: 4mm for main body & 3.5mm for edging.

I have used the neat ripple pattern by te fabulous Lucy at Attic24 (attic24.typepad.com) for the main body of the blanket.

I straightened the edges using a modified version of Lucy's instructions and the edging is my own creation. I haven't had the time at the moment to write instructions but Lucy has a nice edging tutorial too.

Don't forget you can see updates of my crochet escapades on Instagram and Facebook (links in the sidebar)

If any of you still keep track of my dusty little blog then please, please say hello! I promise not to be a stranger anymore.

L

Xx

How Do They Manage It?

Hello!

When I restarted this blog, I completely promised myself I would blog at least once a week, and I would become super organised like some of the other lovely crafty/etsy selling/bloggers out there (see claireabellemakes.com for instance). However, I appear to have failed so far. Oops!

I'm completely in awe of the people who manage to find time to network, craft, be a mum & blog. I just don't seem to have enough hours in the day :-)

My last fortnight in pictures goes a little something like this...

1. I made a very purple stripey blanket to match an equally purple pram.

2. We enjoyed the sunshine, I discovered loom bands, my youngest celebrated her birthday, and I enjoyed a week off from work :-)

3. A dolls blanket from my Etsy shop went on a mammoth journey across the Atlantic, so I made a new one to list there :-)

And Finally! Inspired by the sunny weather I made a Sunshiney stripey blanket.

I feel like I've packed lots into the last few weeks, but all this loveliness has meant no extra time for blogging (boo-hiss).

This week I'm making yet another blanket, a lovely sunburst blanket someone has ordered for their new baby, I've even brought a sneaky bit of crochet to do a lunchtime to break up the monotony.

I'd love to see what's been keeping all of you busy in blogland!

L

Xx

Monochrome & Red

Hello!

This weekends weather has been pretty dreary to say the least, we had a busy weekend with the tiddlers as my youngest celebrated her 2nd Birthday. It feel like yesterday I brought her home from the hospital and crocheted her a baby blanket.

This week I've been kept busy finishing off the Red Sunburst Granny pram blanket I gave you a sneaky peak of in last weeks post. It's been made to match a Cosatto Yo in Busy Betty and I'm really really pleased with how it's turned out.

It was my first time using the continuous join method and it was such a dream to join as I only ended up with 3 ends to sew in at the finishing stage.

It was a project totally different to any colour scheme I've used before. One of the beauties of making things for other people is they come up with colour choices I'd never dream of using myself.

I'm already nearing the end of my latest order too, I've had a bit if a surge in crochet work rate this weekend, probably because of the weather and new toys keeping my kids occupied!

Away from my crocheting, I've been pondering on how to increase traffic to my etsy shop, and I've once again been bowled over by the generosity of fellow crafters in giving their time so freely to give me advice and support.

Both Ruth from Blue Eggs & Tea (http://blueeggsandtea.squarespace.com) and Claire from claireabellemakes (claireabellemakes.com), have been amazing and a real confidence boost. They've also given me loads of pointers, which I'll hopefully be able to implement over the next few months. Please pop & say hello, they both have lovely Etsy shops full of beautiful bit & bobs.

I have a week off from the day job this week so hopefully I'll have lots of crochet goodies to show off next week! 

L

Xx

Hello! Back Again (At Last)

Hello!

After 369 long days, I've finally got round to dusting down this blog and returning to the lovely little world of all you crafty bloggers out there. Much has happened in the last year, the lovely yellow blanket I last posted about has long been wth a new baby, and I've been busy making blankets for plenty of other babies and to refill my little Etsy shop with stock.

Here's just a little snippet of some of the things I've made...

I'm finding making blankets for other people so fulfilling, especially as people never cease to suprise me with their colour scheme choices, which gives me a chance to work with some lovely color palettes that I'd never have dreamed of using myself, including a beautiful blanket in shades of red & orange.

All in all it's been a great year, but I've missed my little ramblings over here on my blog, I love all the crafting talk over on Twitter (come and say hello! @mrssnufflebean), but sometimes 140 characters isn't enough :-)

If any of you are on Etsy or Facebook, please let me know too, I love having a mooch through other peoples pages :-)

I'll leave you with a snippet of my latest blanket and I'll be hopefully able to write a post about the finished item next week!

L

Xx

Mr Crocodile's Nautical-ish Blanket!

Well Hello! I haven't been around for a while, mainly because I've had nothing crochet related to report and my evenings have been taken up beavering away with this little lovely! (Those of you on instagram will have seen endless idenical photos of this as a WIP!)

 

A few months ago a friend asked me to make a blanket for her son (Mr Crocodile), and it just happened that I'd bought some lovely blue hues of Stylecraft Special DK on a whim from Lemonade Yarns, so it must've been fate as I instantly knew the colours would suit him down to a tee.

 

Its taken ages, its big (He's 6 so it needed to be bigger than my normal stuff), and there were times when I felt like I'd never finish it! But here it is... (Apologies in advance for the dark photos, its sooo sunny here that I couldn't get decent photos in my normal place and I was too impatient to wait until the sun swings round)

All of it!

Close Up

 

Scrunched Up

 

Folded Up!

 

 

A couple of the edge

 

 

I think I've finally settled on a method to edge my straight stripey blankets. I do 3 crochets across 2 rows, it produces a lovely even finish with no ruffling at the edges :-)

 

I'm at pains to part with this one, its so lovely and calming but I know its going to go to someone who will hopefully enjoy many hours snuggled under it.

 

Next I'm going to tackle a crochet Giraffe! So watch this space :-)

 

Im off to enjoy the sunshine with the tiddlers.

 

xx

 

A Long Long Time Ago...

There's not much going on in my little world at the moment. I'm still plodding along with my latest blanket, but there's only so many photos of a blue and stripey WIP I can post without sending people to sleep!

Talking of sleep... Snuffly seems to really like her new blanket, here she is in action (or inaction), with it :-)

 

Anyway, having recently rediscovered Instagram, I've been looking at all the lovely things people make and wishing I could make stuff as lovely as that! I was daydreaming being able to make patchwork quilts, when I realised one was staring me right in the face :-)

 

I made this 13 years ago for my GCSE project. I daydreamed that one day it would be used for my children, and it still makes me smile every day I see one of them using it. Infact when I was trying to photograph the back today, S remained stubbornly unco-operative and refused to move. I decided my blog isn't about perfectly lit and posed photos, so he's included in the shot of the back :-)

So, this post has become about things I have made, rather than things I am making. Next up is the blanket I made when pregnant with Mr Bean :-) Not my best work, nor to my current colour taste, but it was the first blanket I ever made, and I can still remember resting the squares on my bump! (I miss my bump, it was a handy crochet table). Again, apologies for the alphabet background, I have to quickly snap photos in the 2 minutes the tiddlers are occupied!

 

 

My tension is all wibbly, the blanket is a bit heavy (its 100% cotton which I always find a bit heavy), and in hindsight, its a bit girly. But I hope Mr Bean will appreciate the effort when he's older.

 

I'm pondering subscribing to Simply Crochet, as it looks really good, but I'm going to try and get hold of an issue first so I can see if its worth the money, or whether my money could be put to better use (Yarn Hoarding!)

 

Anyhoo, off to do some domestics.

 

xx

Snuffly's Stripey Blanket!

At last! Its done!

10 months after I hoped I would have a blanket made, and 18 months after I should have started it, our youngest, Mrs Snufflebottom finally has a handmade blanket!

In a way I'm glad its taken as long as it has, as I actually love the fact by making it after she was born I could make a girly blanket rather than a neutral one (We didn't find out what we were having), and since having her, I've discovered stylecraft and a palette of Pinks & Greys that again I wouldn't have considered pre-birth.

Anyway, back to the blanket...

 

All rolled up...

 

 

Close up of the colours...

 

 

I had a lovely picture of it folded in her cot, but everytime I upload it, Blogger rotates it and it won't let me rotate it back! Doh!

 

The Facts:

 

Yarn: Stylecraft Special DK in Raspberry, Silver, Pale Rose, Cream, Pomegranete, Plum, Grape and Grey

 

Hook: 3.5mm

 

Size: 72cm x 104cm (A bit long and skinny, but it works fine in her cot, although too big for her buggy which it was originally intended for)

 

Edge:

 

1st round - I worked a row of DC across the bottom and top and did HTC along the edges to steal a bit more width. I still haven't cracked the ends of the rows, but I worked 3 HTC across every 2 rows and it appears to work ok.

 

2nd round - I worked TC in raspberry all the way round.

 

3rd Round - HTC in Silver.

 

Final round - TC in Grape.

 

UPDATE!! Blogger behaved and let me add the photo!! :-)

 

 

To Frog or To Add... Help!!

Today I feel a bit deflated! I've been beavering away trying to get E's blanket finished so I can start something new, and I think I've got a bit carried away with myself...

 

This is when I wish I hadn't caved into my controlling side and done a repeating pattern... If I hadn't then it wouldn't matter when I had to stop, but I had my eyes on 2 more colours (Dark Grey & Raspberry) to complete off the blanket. Now I think if I do that its going to look more like a table runner than a blanket... So the question is to:

 

1. Frog it back to the last row of raspberry, when it'll be a bit too short and squat but will conform to my colour scheme.

 

2. Add the 2 more colours and hope it doesn't look ridiculous when its got the edge on.

 

3. Leave it as it is, but always have the niggle that I ended mid colour sequence.

 

I wanted it to measure 70cm by 90cm, the average sized pram blanket. Its currently 70cm by approx 97cm which is why it just looks poopy. :-(

 

Any advice much appreciated, I think I'm going to go and sulk in a corner until someone comes up with a faboulous way to fix my problem.

Humf.

Plodding Along...

Helloo

 

First of all, not much to report on the Crochet front, its our first day "at home", this week after a busy few days at work and baby groups. I love Thursdays, its my day to breathe, relax, try and sort the house out and hopefully, soldier on with Mrs Snufflebottom's blanket.

 

Its shaping up nicely, I am still completely in love with the colour scheme, and think I will make another one afterwards and try and embrace a less controlling side of me and do random width stripes as they worked so so well on the cushion that because the inspiration for this blanket. Heres a sneaky peak of it, alongside my other WIP.

 

 

(Phew! Better light in the house today.)

I also, whimsically agreed to make my friends son a blanket to snuggle in, so I have 2 blankets on the go at the same time. Luckily, I've run out of yarn for his blanket which gives me an excuse to soldier on with Mrs S's while I wait for more to arrive.

In other news... Today I have an honourary editor to my blog... Mrs Snufflebottom no less!

She is currently busy bashing the desk and making sure I do as I'm told. She also seems to be partial to Jessie J and Robbie Williams as she keeps having a little dance! She also seems determined to prevent me from getting anything useful done by squealing every time I sit her down to play. Even the Jumperoo won't occupy her this morning. Demanding little lady...

Anyway, I'm off to try and get a bit more crochet done. Sorry I had nothing entertaining/meaningful to report!

 

Kissingtons.

xxx

One of a kind

Normally I try to restrict my postings to being about Crochet, as its my only outlet to talk about it (other than twitter), as hubby just thinks I'm a bit of a nerd for enjoying it so much.

 

But yesterday I just marvelled at how cute and lovely Mr Bean is :-) I love the way he's still at an age (2), where he is entertained by the simplest of things. Yesterday he was busying himself with the incredibly important job of sticking clothes pegs on every available handle. (See Below)

He loves to potter, doing things that mean so much to him, but to an adult mind simply don't make sense at all!

 

He also loves clocks. Big ones, small ones, digital, analogue.. You name it, he's enthralled with it & he's regularly to be found pottering around with watches all up his arms. (See below).

 

 

It just shows that even from when we're teeny, we all have our little quirks. He likes watches & pegs, I like crochet and picking lovely squishy thread. I'm going to embrace the weirdness individuality of my children!

 

Back to crochet... (I knew I couldn't write a whole post without including some crochet!

 

I'm currently in a conundrum about picking threads for a baby blanket for a friend. As far as I'm aware, they don't plan to find out what they're having and I find Apricot/Peach/Lemon/Mint a horrible cliche and I don't think I could bring myself to crochet in these colours AT ALL.

 

Luckily, twitter exists, as my little fledgeling blog has maybe 3 readers (on a good day), so unfortunately a plea for help will probably go unanswered. Thanks to the lovely fellow crocheters in the twittersphere,  I think I have decided on this yarn in White, Silver & Pistachio and I think I am going to do a ripple. I would love to add arctic blue or smokey rose, but I think gender specific colours are a no-no (I made Mr Bean a blanket when pregnant, and I think the pink I added with the blue makes it look too girly).

 

I'm itching to click the order button, but unfortunately (or fortunately), I really must finish Mrs Snufflebottom's blanket & the blue/grey blanket for my friend before I let myself start another.

 

Oooo is that nearly wine-o-clock?!

 

*Potters off to fridge*

Who Knew Grey Could Be So Colourful...

Although I only just posted about falling in love with mini-blankets, I decided I really must finally make Mrs Snufflebottom the blanket I've been meaning to make since before she was born. On one hand I feel guilty, as I lovingly spent weeks making Mr Bean a blanket before he was born, and I attempted to make her one, and yep you guessed it, Mr Bean lay claim to it as his "Boing Boing Blanket" See this post.

However, I think it might have been fate, as last week I stumbled across the loveliest colour combination, and I knew it was destined to be her blanket colours! So off I tootled and ordered some new Stylecraft (Does anyone else get excited like Christmas for new yarn?!)*

And here it is... Pinks, purples & greys, so subtle and calming, can't wait until its finished!

 

And so it started... (Again, you'll have to excuse the shocking lighting in these photos, they're just iPhone snaps as I didn't have the energy to the the camera out)

 

..And it grew...

 

 

...and then I noticed this...

 

 

..Yuck!! I'd done 9 more rows since the mistake, otherwise I would have unpicked it all and started again, I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my crochet.

 

Anyway, back to the point, I tweeted a picture of it growing and one of my friends asked me to make one for her little man, and now suddenly I have 2 Blankets on the go, I've decided to have a "day blanket" and an "evening blanket". You know what they say about variety... (and yes, I am completely aware I am a little bit strange).

 

Here is the second one.. this time I'm using my own colour choices (soo excited that I didn't steal someone elses colours for once). I'm hoping it works as it grows, we'll see...

Phew i'm up to date with my blogging! Special thanks have to go to Mrs Snufflebottom who had a daytime sleep for the first time in days and to Mr Bean who has sat next to me colouring and made an impromptu appearance in a photo. :-)

Off to make a warm cup of tea, the one I made has gone ice cold and even I have my standards!

Huglettes

xx

 

*Does anyone else feel like a wannabe American when they say Yarn... It just doesn't feel right. :-S

Better Late Than Never...

Well, this post was supposed to be written about a week ago when I finished my "circles in squares" mini blanket, however, my children have had other ideas, Mrs Snufflebean is currently struggling to cut a tooth which means I am thin on the ground for time to do anything (and yes, that includes sleeping. *yawn*)

 

Anyhoo, I started this blanked with the intention of making it into a big blanket for Mr Bean, but somewhere along the line, I fell out of love with Crochet Squares, I just can't get them to sit right when I crochet them together, and I'm a bit finickity which means I always hate how I can never quite get the border square. So... That meant that halfway through making it, the blanket got downsized (heavily), and will now make a lovely dolls blanket for someone. Here is it in all its teeny weeny glory... (P.S apologies that my pictures are a bit pants compared to others in blogland, but I've discovered we have rubbish lighting for photos in our house. I think I'm going to have to resort to outdoor photography when the weather improves)

 

 

 

And here is a perfect example of what I mean about the borders... I just dont think they ever look right...

 

And here it is in a little squidgy curly swiss-roll type thingy... (You have no idea how hard it was to get this photo so the light was right and so that it was in a location that was nice and plain and didn't include family-related mess clutter!)

Right, I'm off to immediately write the second post I've been inteding to write for a week, apologies for the splurge of posts but I must get up to date with my news!!

 

TTFN

 

xx

All Good Things...

Since last blogging I have had a mini-lightening strike in the crochet department. As many others do, I love to follow Lucy over at Attic 24. One of her latest projects helped a great cause for comic relief and she made 2 of the cutest little dolls blankets.

Anyhoo, I love to crochet but don't always have the time or energy for big projects as the tiddlers take up most of my time, so I decided of embark on a copy of the mini ripple dolls blanket and I have to say I'm a smitten with the size, ease and complete cuteness of the blanket. I definitely feel I've found my calling with mini crochet!!

 

It all started off with a first attempt at a ripple, isn't it wibbly and pretty!

... And it ended with the cutest, little ripply blanket (see crochet hook for size guide!). Which granted, could do with blocking out, as my tension was a little bit iffy.

 

I was most proud about being able to make the ripple straight(ish!), I've never done it before, and as I was copying the mini-ripple pattern from Attic24, I had to make up my own method for making the edges straight. I'm actually a teeny bit giddy over my ability to do it!! Its soooo cute.

 

Here it is all rolled up and teeny, sorry for the backgroud, the light in my house is not great today as the sun is low in the sky, so the only place the light was OK was on top of the printer!!

 

I'm just in the process of finishing off my second mini-blanket (It was intended as a normal sized blanket, but mini-crochet has downsized it), and then I have just had a eureka moment with a colour scheme I've been trying to find for Mrs Snufflebottoms pram blanket (She's 9 months old and I still haven't got round to making one!). I am going to use pink & grey in a total rip off from Sharon at Annie's Place! (I'm hoping she'll be nice enough to let me know what colours she's using as I can't quite guess the colours from her picture)

Right I'm off to stare at the computer screen to try and work out these colours, I MUST order them today, oo it feels like christmas!

Its Been A Long Time...

Ooo hello,

I just realised life has taken over and I haven't posted anything in a long time (not that I'm actually sure anyone even reads this!). I have been busy keeping the tiddlers happy and contented and have been crocheting away like a little busy bee, but as yet I don't have another finished item to show you.

I'm still plodding along with this blogging lark, even though I'm beginning to lose a little faith in it. So many other people seem to have such lovely photos and stories, and it makes my rambles seem, well, rather mundane!

 

Anyway, on a more positive note, here is a little photo bomb of bits I've been up to since I last blogged...

 

 

 

 

 

1. A potholder I made it a fit of restlessness for a friend. I used the pattern from Color 'n' Cream, but used up old thread.

 

2. Port - Yummy. Don't need to say anymore really!

 

3. Cut myself on a wine glass, but the consolation was I got to use one of my Hello Kitty plasters!

 

4. I bought this fab Stylecraft Special DK shade card from Masons. It means I don't have to try and guess the colours from my computer screen!

 

Back to the present. This week I have mainly been battling with an endless amount of washing and cleaning. I often fail, much to the despair of my husband! (I am not one of lifes naturally tidy people). I have also been working simultaneously on 2 new blankets, one for Mr Bean and one for a friends daughter using up the lilac tones from my Lucy pack that just aren't "me". I will try and take some photos, but currently time is at a premium and my tiddlers win out every time.

 

Toodle Pip! xx