By Helen

crochet snowdrop…

Yesterday, on my way home from work, I saw something which made my heart sing.  I saw my first snowdrops of the New Year.  Not just one snowdrop: but a whole carpet of them, little white jewels,  little clumps of loveliness…

I was sooooo pleased to see them: they are a reminder that, no matter how cold and wet the UK is at the moment, Spring is on its way.  I was also pleased to see them as, for the last few days; I have crocheting a snowdrop, to share with you all.  I first crocheted a snowdrop a while ago: but somehow, I was never truly happy with it.  The one I have been working on is, I think, better: not perfect, but definitely better.  So, here it is. 

You’ll need green and white yarn, a hook the appropriate size for the yarn (I used a DK with my trustee 4mm hook, needle and scissors.

First crochet the stem, crochet 23ch…

ss into each ch, but stop before the last ch…

6dc into the last ch…

Bring the working yarn between the stem and the hook, ss to join the round…

*1ch, dc into each dc, ss to join* (6 stitches).  Repeat *-*. Finish off and weave in the ends…

Join the white yarn in any dc..

Into dc *[dc, htr, tr, dtr, tr, htr, dc, ss]…

Ss into next dc, into dc [dc, htr, tr, htr, dc, ss] ss into next dc*…

Repeat *-* until you have crocheted six petals (three small ones and three large ones), ss into first dc to join, fasten off…

Using your finger, shape the petals…

Thread wire through the stem, been careful not to snag the yarn or leave bits of wire on show…

Ta-dah…

Hope that wasn’t too fiddly?  Let me know!

Happy crocheting! 

xxx

crochet garden: book review…

It has been a long time since I have treated myself to a new book about crochet.  This isn’t because I haven’t wanted one: oh, no – quite the opposite.  There are soooo many excellent crochet books out there; it is difficult to choose just one. One of my very lovely friends gave me a book voucher for Christmas, so I decided to indulge and purchase a shiny new crochet book.  I love buying new books.  I love the whole process, the browsing, the flicking through pages, the never knowing what delights are to be found between the pages.  Decisions, decisions…I’ve looked at Crochet Garden by Suzann Thompson a few times, but always put the book back on the self, thinking do I need another crochet flower book?  Well, yes I do!  Don’t we all?

The book is full of hints and tips, even for experienced crochets.  Who knew about needle-joining, for the perfect finishing off?  Genius!  The book is brim full of truly beautiful illustrations…

The patterns are clear and easy to follow.  Though there are no charts.  What I really love is that the book, really does offer something a little-bit different, from other crochet books.  The variety of flowers to be crocheted and the use of suggested colours and yarns are just brilliant.   I can’t wait to get crocheting…

Thank you Suzann, a really amazing book! 

Xxx

Ps – I don’t think it makes any difference (but just so you know) the patterns are written using American crochet terms, so you will need to do a little bit of translation! 

quick crochet coaster…

After using the same breakfast bowls for the last umpty years, I decided it was time of some new ones.   After spending time browsing the home-wear shops of York, walking away from some very beautiful (very expensive Polish pottery) I cam home with some very plain white bowls.  There is something I like about eating of plain white crockery, it somehow feels right.  I was pleased with my new bowls.  The pleasure lasted right up until I used them.  I should explain.  I like to start my day with a hot-steaming bowl of porridge.  Now, I know the porridge-purest of you will be shocked at my next sentence, sorry.  I cook my porridge in the microwave.  I have attempted to cook it on the hob, slowly and lovingly, but it somehow just doesn’t work for me.  Then there was the occasion when I was left, at a re-enactment, to cook breakfast on an open fire.  I am still apologising to a certain someone (you know who you are) for the pan then he manfully spent the next three hours cleaning with chainmail! Yes, it was THAT bad. For porridge, for me, the microwave really comes in to its own.  But my new lovely plain white bowls are rather rubbish in the microwave: they get soooooooooo hot you can’t actually hold them to sit and enjoy your porridge.  What is a girl to do?  Crochet of course!  After a happy few hours I had four crochet granny-square coasters…

They were crocheted from some very chunky Rico Creative Filz: which given that it is 100% wool, will over time felt with the heat from the bowls, but that’s ok.  I love the denseness of the stitches that the wool gives…

Once again crochet to the rescue: and breakfasts no-longer involves burring hands…

Perfect!

crafty Christmas…

Well hello: and welcome to 2014 – it’s lovely to see you again!  Did you have a good Christmas?  I really hope so.  I have to say that Christmas here is York was lovely, though if I am very truthful it already seems like a long time ago.  And if I am even more the truthful: by the end of the holiday period it was lovely to regain control of my home!  I won’t go as far as saying it was lovely to go back to work: as inevitably that can with it’s own challenges!

Over the holidays I did manage to fit in lots of time, for little crafty projects. Want to see?

Repairing my much loved Christmas singers, which my Grandma and I made when I was little…

Check out, my earlier handwriting…

Upcycling curtains, so that Christmas guests had a little more warmth and privacy…

Crocheting a pot-cover for our teeny-tiny Christmas tree…

Starting crocheting a new phone-sock…

Contemplating starting crocheting a jumper…

I am very much looking forward to 2014.  This year I’ve even made some New Year resolutions.  I don’t usually make New Year resolutions, seeing then as unachievable.  The start of this year feels different, somehow – perhaps it is because I enjoyed 2013 soooooo much, that I wanted it to continue in 2014.  2014 really has a lot to live up to!  With my New Year resolutions, I decided to focus on doing more, rather than giving up things or doing less.

Top of my list for 2014 is more fun, whatever form fun takes, I intend to embraces it whole-heartily! 

I’d also like a new job, or new place to work.  Towards the end of 2013, lift got a little crazy: with me working four jobs (one regularly part-time and three casual, but all seemed to coincide over the last few months of the year).  Maybe I should be aiming for one job, in one place?  Nah – I’d be bored!  One thing is for sure: there will be more craft classes – my next one is in March, where we’ll be making Spring flowers.  Maybe I’ll see some of you there?

Lastly, I’m also going to be truer to myself.  This, again, started towards the end of 2013.  In 2014 I fully intend to follow the words of Dr Susses…

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”

Hope that you are ready for the journey, fun of crochet, craft, life, laughter and fun…