FO: Cowlishness

So, I wasn't going to buy myself any more yarn this year.  I have enough stashed that, should the inevitable zombie apocalypse happen, I will have enough to keep me hooking for at least two years - and that's really how any crocheter should be measuring their stash.  But I digress.  Last week, I was feeling down and stressed and PMSing big time.  Obviously, some new pretty yarn was the only medicine.  So bought myself a couple of skeins of Lincraft Prism:


ooohhhh aaahhhhhh

Inspired by this, I wanted something quick and mindless for a bit of instant gratification.  And, wah lah, a lovely squishy cowl that adds instant colour and warmth.

I had nothing better to do in the 30c heat than model my new woollen cowl.

Want to make one?  Just get some squishy 10ply yarn with long colour repeats, start with around 57 foundation single crochet (fsc), to get to your desired length and then dc back and forth for your desired width.  I finished with a row of sc and then sc both ends together, with a twist to form a moebius.  Easy peasy.

As an aside, I googled 'cowlishness' and look what I found!  Is't it just lovely?  Knitted, but sometimes that can't be helped :D  I don't think I could pull it off though.

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Linking up with Tami's Amis FO Fridays, and Fiber Arts Fridays at Wisdom Begins in Wonder.

***CATURDAY PLUG***

I'm trying to start a *thing*.  I don't really know the rules around these things, but because I love The Kitten so much, I always want to share her awesomeness with those around me!  So, every Saturday will be Caturday at My Grandmotherly Ways.  Every Caturday I will post a picture of The Kitten, and maybe some other feline related stuff.  I will add a widget which will allow you to link up with me, so you too may participate in Caturday and show us your furbabies!! Hope to see you back here on Sat.... er... Caturday!!

WIP: Actual progress and jumping on the bandwagon.

Hello Wednesday!  I got a lot of great comments on my post last week, pursuant to which I exposed myself and my list of shameful list of WIPs.  Very happy that I could make some of you feel better, by either drawfing or drawing comparitively close to your amount of WIPs (I'm looking at you Andria, HillyT, Laura, Jocelyn and heather). 

I was also very enthused on the love for my TARDIS, so I will hopefully pick that one back up soon!!

And from now on, I will show you only actual progress made during the week. 

This week has been a crochet-a-thon.  I had a three hour train round trip on Sunday, perfect hooking conditions to work on my Blissful Flowers Shawl.  I've pinned out a section of it here so you can see the pattern.  It's natural state is bunched up, as per the picture to the right.  This will be rectified in blocking I'm sure.  

The best thing about this shawl is that the rows get shorter instead of longer.  All the shawls I've made thus far get bigger as you go, so you don't feel the progress.  This one is going to get super fun as the rows ger shorter!  I am currently on motif 55 of 144 (~40%!!).

I am now into what I call the 'skeleton' of the skein to the left.  I have peeled away its skin.

Ok, this next one is a newbie, but I'm not counting it as new because what I wanted was a set for a baby girl, and it became clear this one which I shared last week was going to be too big, and I am just not in the mood to faff about getting it the right size, ok?  Jeez get off my back! 

So instead I've selected this pattern for a baby set.  There are a lot of pretty versions out there, though mainly just the cardi, but I am making the bonnet and booties too.  Then the fun part - I get to satisfy my urge to make a ripple blanket by making a ripple baby blankie to match!  It's slower going than I would usually like, I believe due to the 4 ply yarn, the 3mm hook and crocheting into the back loop, which I dont engage in very often. Purty though!!


Progress shot taken in terrible lighting to the left, beautiful daylight photo of my magnificent stitching to the right.

Sooo.. thats the crochet.  Now I need to confess that I've jumped onto the bandwagon... the Hunger Games bandwagon.  (Party because Gingerhaze makes great comics about it and I wanted to be in on the joke.)  I haven't seen the movie yet, but I just haven't been able to avoid the hype, so I started the first audiobook this morning.  It's interesting enough, but it annoys me that there is so much hype when there is existing, very wonderful, stories about this same premise out there (Battle Royal?  The Long Walk?).

So, linking up with WIP Wednesday at Tami's Amis, Ambassador Crochet, Yarn Along with Ginny and Frontier Dreams.

***CATURDAY PLUG***

I'm trying to start a *thing*.  I don't really know the rules around these things, but because I love The Kitten so much, I always want to share her awesomeness with those around me!  So, every Saturday will be Caturday at My Grandmotherly Ways.  Every Caturday I will post a picture of The Kitten, and maybe some other feline related stuff.  I will add a widget which will allow you to link up with me, so you too may participate in Caturday and show us your furbabies!! Hope to see you back here on Sat.... er... Caturday!!

Oh stop it you!!





Aw shucks, Lisa from Tea and Craft gave me an award!  Thank youuuuuu!  I love Lisa's blog, and it's so so so lovely to think she likes me too ^_^  I've never met Lisa, but I feel we are kindred spirits (just pop over to her blog and read her 'About Me'.  Grandmotherly much?? :D)

This award also comes with the following *rules* :

• Thank the person who gave you this award. That’s common courtesy
• Include a link to their blog. That’s also common courtesy — if you can figure out how to do it
• Next, select 15 blogs/bloggers that you’ve recently discovered or follow regularly. ( I would add, pick blogs or bloggers that are excellent!)
• Nominate those 15 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award 
• Finally, tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself 

Seven things about myself, oh lordy I really don't want to bore you to tears so I'll do my best to keep it short.

1. I LURVE Crochet (duh).  It's a bit of an obsession.  I have mini-panic attacks about not being able to do all the crochet I want.  What? I've only got ONE lifetime to do all these projects?? Sweet Jesus!
2. I used to hate cats.  I don't even know the reason why.  I begged and begged my parents for a dog for the longest time.  Now I'm the totaly opposite, and couldn't imagine life without The Kitten.  *Shameless Plug:  see the bottom of this post for details about how you can participate in Caturday!!*



This is what a gratuitous photo looks like.

3. I swear a lot.  If you hang around me too long, you will start dropping a lot more F-bombs than you ever have in your life.  It's very contagious.
4. I don't have my driver's licence.  I'm 28 years old.  Most people find this fact abhorrent. 
5. I don't approve of marriage and/or weddings.  I find the whole topic unsavoury and out of date.  Everything from engagements, to the ceremony to stupid fluffy dresses.  Ugh.  I will never get married.
6. I got my love of crafting from my mum (didn't we all?).  She used to make everything from our clothes, porcelin dolls and wedding cakes.  But I learned to crochet, and am now teaching her :D
7. Speaking of teaching crochet, I have two "students", whom I refer to as my Crochet Biatches (R and Ang).  They are my work colleagues, who I encouraged to pick up the hook about 11 months ago.  We now have regular crochet meetings during our lunch breaks, and it tickles me pink to have wonderful friends to be able to chat with about granny squares, trebling, scarves and shawls!  I picked up the hook not knowing anyone else who engaged in the craft, and it's so so important to have people around you to chat with, and for that I am very grateful to have my Crochet Biatch Club.

And now, the 15 blogs I am passing this award on to, in no particular order:

1. Misadventures in Craft
2. Being careful not to twist
3. Be by Belinda
4. Isamo Crochet / My Place on Earth
5. Chickiedees
6. Don't Drool on the Wool
7. eclectic me
8. Hook and Yarn Creations
9. Made in Oxford
10. Last Yesterday
11. Stitch by Stitch
12. Tecrin Tries
13. Sweet Little Stitches
14. Hazel's Crochet
15. Hilly Town Blue

Now, go get yourself a cup of tea and a biscuit, put your feet up and hopefully find yourself a new favourite blog (or two, or three) to read!!

***CATURDAY***

I'm trying to start a *thing*.  I don't really know the rules around these things, but because I love The Kitten so much, I always want to share her awesomeness with those around me!  So, every Saturday will be Caturday at My Grandmotherly Ways.  Every Caturday I will post a picture of The Kitten, and maybe some other feline related stuff.  I will add a widget which will allow you to link up with me, so you too may participate in Caturday and show us your furbabies!! Hope to see you back here on Sat.... er... Caturday!!

Caturday II

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I had enough interest in my inaugural Caturday post last week to encourage me to add a Mr Linky!

The plan is simple, every Caturday (Saturday) I will show off a picture of The Kitten, and maybe some other random felis catus stuff I encounter (Suggestions most welcome in this respect).  Then I will invite you to show off your furbaby by adding a link to a recent post!  It would be great if you post on Saturdays too, but I'm not going to get my knickers in a bunch if you link to something else. 

Today's photo(s):  The Kitten is lounging around in the sun on a mat in my bedroom.  The Kitten loves mats.  She hates tiles.  She will either sit on the edge of the carpet, or trot briskly to the bathroom mat where she will proceed to roll around, look at you upside down and stretch.  She will also grab the mat with her claws and move it around so its a veritable shmozzle when next I enter the room of bathing.  

The Kitten at her best.

Today's topic:  puking. 

The Kitten does her fair share of puking.  One of her favourite places to puke is one of these aforementioned mats (there see, my ramblings had a reason!).  I would love one day to make this lovely needlework pattern on a cushion. 

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Bonus: fortuitously, one of this week's cat vs humans comics was on topic!
 

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Is your kittty a puker? 

Please add your kitty related link below!

FO: Dahlia the third and pins

I completed my THIRD Dahlia and gave it to its most deserving recipient, my Crochet Biatch, R.  Only one week late for her birthday.  I think she liked it!  She peeled off her scarf and two cardigans she was wearing to keep herself warm from the chilly office aircon.  Even though this is not a shawl for warmth, more for decoration!!

Here are some before and after pictures.  I just love the transformation from bunched up to lacey and drapey that blocking does to this shawl.    


Including the obligatory 'photo including feet' which is just so fashionable in blog land.

  Oh, you'd like some stats?

Pattern:  Dahlia Shawl (duh)
Measurements: Blcoked to the recommended 70" x 35"
Yarn:  Bendigo Woollen Mills Classic 2ply cone.  Great yarn, I will be using more of this.  Just so economical and wonderful results!  It turned our really lovely and soft.  I only used 140g of the 200g cone.

And finally, modelled by the lovely Crochet Biatch R herself!!

Blocking is great isn't it?  Although this blocking this shawl is always a pinning marathon.  I used 226 pins for this sucker!  (Yes, I have a thing with counting...)  On top of that, I couldn't find my tin of pins, you know the one, with the pictures of pins on the tin?  So I had to go to TWO different supermarkets to find some more.  Seriously, first world problems. 

And to make matters worse one of the heads of the pins fell off while I was madly pinning and I it stabbed me! And I had a couple of anomolies.  Meet Blunt Pin and Two Head Pin.  I was trying to use Blunt Pin and getting increasingly frustrated until I actually looked at it and realised it was blunt.  Gah!

Yes, I really did take close up pictures of pins.  I thought you'd be interested. 

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So, with number three finished I am putting my foot down and instituting a "No moar dahlias" rule! Onward and upward to different things!!

Maybe just one more..

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Go to Tami's Amis for more lurvely FOs.  Now!

Also linking with Creative Friday at Natural Suburbia :D

WIP(s). Taking Stock

Holey Moley I have a lot of WIPs.  A LOT.  I think I lamented this fact a while back, but again, the amount of little project bags dotting my living space has made me feel anxious.

So today I wanted to air them out, and hopefully full disclosure will set my mind at ease!   I warn you that you might actually be bored to tears by this, and I'm sure a lot of you will be all 'TL;DR' but whatevs!  This is mah blog and I'll do what ah wahnt!!

Imma start with the newbies.

1.  Blissful Flowers Shawl.  Making this for my crochet biatch, Ang for her birthday in May.  Her choice of pattern and colour (the colour is very difficult to photograph, its a lot nicer in real life).  Such a clever construction!  A way to make a billion motifs without having to cut the yarn!  Genious!  I am enjoying the challenge of a new pattern.  The pattern is from Kristin Omdahl's  Seamless Crochet.

Brought to you by my super exclusive and very fashionable Pandora vinyl tote!

2.  Baby set.  Another first, my first time working a Japanese pattern.  At first I was like waaahhhhhhh??  I'm usually quite good with diagrams, but the back of the bonnet had me stumped.  For a day.  Then I was all, whatevs, I got skillz, Imma do this!  And I did.  

Brought to you by my awesome Dark Days Down Under tour tote I picked up at the book signing!

3.  Neat Ripple Scarf.  Just grabbed a left over skein of King Cole to try this Lucy pattern out. I'm planning a ripple blanket (pfft after I get through my current WIPs) and seeing which ripples turn me on.  Though I love Lucy, this pattern just wasn't pressing my buttons, so I think i will opt for the ripplier Ripples of Happiness.  Happiness > Neatness anyway, right?

Bow down before my blurry photography prowess!!

4. Amigurumi BTTF Delorean.  Seriously, no joke.  Freestylin' this for my man.  I got so excited he actually asked me to crochet him something, I thought, woooo fo' sure!  I made the bonnet and the windscreen, then run out of puff because I couldn't work out how to make a slope.  Watch this space though! 

Brought to you by my spiff Yarn Bucket!

To clarify, this is a Delorean from the Back to the Future Animated Series. Yes, there was an animated series! 

What up Marty? (via)

And some other stuffs you may have seen before.

5. Hitchhiker.  Nothing new here.  Move along.  

wait wait WAIT! I keep this project in one of my home made GRAB BAGS.  Yerr I made these myself.  Pattern here.  If I can make this, being a spaztasitc sewer, so can you!

6. Gauzy Gathers Scarf.  Haven't actually touched this is aaaagggeesss.  Such a shame because it will be such a cute scarf.  I did a few rows when I got my new bamboo needles, and the yarn likes the bamboo much more than ickle plastic, but it's so fiddly I moved onto different garterlicious knitting projects and left this one to hiberate.  Sweet dreams little scarf.

Brought to you courtesy of this lovely plastastic flower tote!

7. Stepping Stones Cardigan.  This is a FAIL, with a capital F.  I can think of other 'F' words I'd like to use in relation to this cardigan too.  It's not that bad I suppose, but just so FFfffffrustrating that I spent SO LONG on it only to discover it doesn't really fit.  I am just leaving this one alone in it's bag so it can have a think about what it has done.

Presented to you inside a lovely pink foldable flower tote!

8. Aran Toggle Wrap.  This was supposed to be a gift for mum, for her birthday in SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR.  Oh I am a terrible daughter.  Butbutbut there's only so much green mock seed stitch a girl can take! 

Shamelessly presented in a Glassons shopping bag, which is slowly growing too small for this behemoth of a project!

9. Pink Bear.  I made this during some lessons I was giving to my crochet biatches.  Crochet biatch R chose the pattern, but I don't think any of us finished it!  Mine just looks weird, like a cow's udder, so I am not feeling very enthused to keep going.

Again, courtesy of a home-made grab bag!!

10. TARDIS. Oh the TARDIS.  This is one of the first things I ever started making when I taught myself to crochet.  But then I got distracted by all the pretty pattens.  A running joke in my family is someone asking me 'so how's the Tardis going' and then me punching them in the face.  Never fear, my Tardis is going to be epic when it's finished.  I will have a wooden box made for the inside, and the top will come off as a lid and I will put things in the box! 

TARDIS lives in a shoe box.  Sowwy TARDIS.

11. Summer Garden Granny Square afghan.  Another project started early on in my crochet career, when I was dazzled by brightly coloured grannies and had no notion of the agony that is weaving in ends.  I now have a deal with my mother, She gets this as a gift if she weaves in the ends!  Fair enough right?

Kept in a rather fetching The Age shopping bag, available annually with your copy of The Age (probably the Sunday edition)

So, all my WIPs in their respective project bags lie in wait in a tub in my lounge room, next to a much lovelier looking tub filled with recently acquired yarn that will one day become a ripple blanket.  If and only if I can make some headway with my current projects.  But then again, there's no crochet police so maybe I will just start it anyways...

Linking with WIP Wednesday at Tami's Amis.. go go go!

ETA:  Linking with Ambassador Crochet too - why not!!

What time is it?

 Cake time!!

schmowzow!

My sister and I (and the rest of the internet) love Adventure Time.  She had a birthday recently, so I made this awesome cake for her!

Inspired by this one, my cake was not perfect.  The buttercream icing was not white enough (you can see the different shades of yellow on the left v right of the cake as the icing got warmer) and the cake itself was a bit undercooked!  I felt very off my game!  But my sis was suitably impressed, and that was what I was going for.  So, do you think I got the likeness right?  

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Here's a progress shot.  I made two muffins for his 'ears'.  Are you impressed?

And here are a bunch of other adventure time cakes courtesy of the internet!!

Row 1: 1, 2, 3
Row 2: 1, 2, 3

I'm linking up with Make Something Monday over at Sarahndipities because, why not!!