Raspberry Ripple

It may be the new year, but winter is definitely stating its arrival.  Its white here this morning not from snow, but frost and fog. I think when Ive written this post I need to go for a walk in he woods and crunch around the firs (anything to avoid the ironing)

In winter I tend to turn my hands to more textile stuff, yarn and fabric.  This Christmas break I've finished my Mums granny square blanket, completed my patchwork lap quilt (for goodness sakes don't look at the stitching, I haven't machine quilted in ages and we have some right wonky lines) re-edged a crochet square lap quilt that was annoying me and started and finished this in the space of three days.

Oh this makes me happy, the colour, the texture (chunky knobbly aran yarn) and the fact that I made the pattern up with alternate rows of double and treble stitches using a largish crochet hook.I got the inspiration from one of my favourite bloggers Lucy from Attic24 especially her recent cosy strip blanket.

Sitting in front of the TV, catching up on the whole of Downton Abbey and Scott and Bailey wrapping yarn round a hook, pulling it through loops and watching the scarf (well to be honest its more of a wrap because its so long) grow was, well a good way to spend a couple of days.

Hugs

Jo

xx

Granny chic

I haven't really been very creative lately, the old inspiration seems to upped sticks and gone AWOL and to be honest I just haven't really "felt like it".  I did made a birthday card for my husband and a sympathy card for a friend at work and last weekend I was creative in the kitchen baking but that's about it.

But I did finally finish my big granny square blanket last night. 

 

This has been on the go for months, it sits (or should that be "sat" as it now "sits" on the arm of the sofa waiting to be used) in a basket on the hearth in the living room. I periodically pick it up and do a few more rounds whilst watching TV.  I love crochet like this, it doesn't need me to follow a pattern and the rhythmic nature of looping the tactile thread is quite calming.

It's good to get a project finished and there are other unfinished projects in the wool basket like the bagpus scarf but what's really calling me is the lovely soft alpaca wool in gorgeous fawn and light brown neutral tones I got at a NEC craft show last year.  

This time rather than one huge granny square I think ones about "so big" (I was holding my hands up, but that doesn't really work in a text document does it so I reckon about 8" square- hold your hands up and you'll get my drift) joined together in with slightly off white / creamy alpaca.

I need to go shopping I don't think I've got enough wool.

hugs

jo