Cowl

Hope you are well ,no doubt you are feeling the chill in the air.  Oh my giddy aunt , its almost that time again.  I will not say the word as lots of us are feeling under tremendous pressure every time the word is uttered . Are you ready? , certainly my daughter is ready , my brother has bought all his gifts.
I am not ready.

I'm sure you have noticed my beautiful poopy brooch . Made out of glass from a lady I found on instagram @flamingbeads. Beautiful workmanship ,she is  a true artisan. The detail is so amazing .Incidentally, she makes gorgeous stitch markers that I have ordered I will share as soon as I get them.

Every year I try a give everyone a handmade goody .This yarn is a thick super chunky yarn. All you need is a large 10mm hook and away You go. It is deeply gratifying working with thick yarn, a cowl can be made in a matter of a few hours.

The burgundy yarn is from  Araucania  .I can't for the life of me remember  the name as I threw the label away without writing it down , it is a discontinued yarn that I bought  some years ago . Araucania hails from Chile, these beautiful natural yarns are kettle-dyed to produce amazing tonal variations, with no two hanks quite the same.

This is one of my daughter's favourite colours but one I have never liked as it was the colour of my school uniform . I loved school just hated the fact I wore burgundy from the age of four until I was sixteen . However , this isn't for me so feelings set aside the yarn was finally  been used .  I  must say I quite like the colour and it will suit her perfectly.

I am a crocheter but I am also a sucker for knitted stitch. I adore it but it does take so long .The solution is provided by the fabulous  camel stitch, hump stitch.

In my stash I have a few balls of Rowan yarns , Big wool. One cowl  is red and black, a ball of each was used as I want to be able to fold it and wear red on the outside one day and black on the other as the moods take me. It is so squishy and so warm. Ohhhh, you really cant beat the properties of wool.

 I also had a skein of  BC garn Manu, a super soft baby alpaca ,again using my crochet amour 10mm hook. I am going to add another shade of blue from the stash to create the same two coloured  thicker cowl . I have edged the burgundy one with a lovely edging called Crab stitch

.

I am enjoying making these cowls, the stitch is quite addictive ,I had to order some more yarn .Good old drops andes to the rescue.  It is on sale at the moment. It is  such a lovely wool and alpaca mix at a fraction of the cost of the Big wool.  So far I have made three, a few more and  I can tick off things of the 'C' word list. I will add little brooches or buttons to make each a bit more personalised. 

I used this  wonderful pattern from Pink Milk a great blog. Do try this pattern I swear you wont be able to stop 

Published in a book

 HAPPY NEW YEAR

I trust you all have recovered from all the festivities .I hope you have had a lovely christmas filled with lots of over indulgence.I know I certainly have. I'm now on a healthy eating plan and slowly getting back in the swing .

 

Im sorry that it has been so very quiet here in my blogland but in the real world I have been very busy.I have been working away on a secret project. The wonderfully talented superwoman Claire Montgomerie has had yet another book published.I say superwoman as she has not only published a new book , she is a new mum and editor of Inside Crochet magazine.Claire asked me if I would like to work with her .

 

I couldnt quite believe it, but sure enough she really did want me to contribute to her new book ,Fashion Crochet.

In Claire words

" I wanted to write a book that showcases how wearable crochet is - it is often relegated to homewares - and with so much on the catwalks, I wanted to use the modern pieces around to inspire the projects"

I could not wait to start.



 

I designed two patterns

This is my first pattern, it is a beach cover up , or not .It is made in gorgeous cotton.I love white cotton when my girls where younger every summer I would make them a white cotton sundress .For me it evokes hot summer days and balmy evenings.

 

This is my  flower corsages can be worn singly, in groups or as a necklace or around a neckline.Each flower has a brooch back as each flower can be worn as a brooch ,on hats and even shoes.

 

The book has so many amazing patterns if you go to Claire's blog you will  see all the beautiful patterns.Im so thrilled and very honoured to have my work published with such wonderfully talented designers.I ordered my copy and it sits with pride of place on my bedside table.