Watering can...

My watering can was made from Robin DK acrylic yarn, with two strands held together.

I started with creating an oval base in double crochet (UK terminology), once it was the size I wanted I did one row of triple crochet, this helped the bend to be flexible.  Then plenty of mindless double crochet until it was the size I required.  I added a handle, a spout and water (or blue yarn) inside.

Originally I wanted there to be teardrops hanging down from the spout, however once in place they just kept tangling.

So I got scissor happy and gave them the chop, so only water threads remain.  It is not perfect, but I think it looks pretty good!

Craftbomb!

If you go down to Glasgow Botanic gardens today you might just have a surprise!

This week is voluntary arts week, and to celebrate this there has been a craft explosion at the botanics.  The Arctic terns have flown in specially.

I even got reunited with my tern briefly!

There are crafted birds, carp, kites, pompoms, flowers, bugs, stars, to mention a few.  And there is my watering can, pouring over everyone who walks in to the Kibble palace!

You can see more pictures of the craftbomb over at Voluntary Arts Week.  And I'll share how I made the watering can soon.

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It's ok...

Spring is here.

My new hat is on the needles.

It is mont-royal by tshep.  I can't think of this hat, without humming 'Don't falter' by Mint Royale.

I am continuing my yarn destash, and using some Sirdar Majestic that I was given for this hat. 

Also I have a rather bright green crochet project on the go, for a very special Craftbomb - more details coming soon!

Winter is finally allowed to happen...

Seven years ago I lived in a very cold flat.  Seven years ago my mum taught me how to crochet granny squares.  I put these two together and had a brainwave, "I know, I'll crochet a granny square blanket for the bed".  What a great idea.  Have you ever started something, without quite realising what you are getting yourself into?  This was definitely one of those projects.  I previously blogged about this blanket here, here and here.  And last night I finally finished the blanket - hurrah!

Here are four things I have learnt about making a granny square blanket:

1. Pick a yarn that isn't about to be discontinued.  I really liked the tweedy look of Sirdar Donegal, what I didn't realise was that after I had brought half the quantity for the blanket, it was discontinued.  Cue some panic buying on ebay.
2. Make BIG squares.  I made this blanket from some rather cute and compact 10cm squares.  In hindsight I would have made my squares much bigger.  This blanket is made from 256 of those cute and compact 10cm squares.  They stop feeling quite so cute after the first 100 or so.
3. Crochet them together.  Crochet is way quicker than sewing.  Yet for some reason I started to hand sew them together, and then continued this way.
4. Leave a long tail on each square to aid joining them together.  For the majority of the squares, I left a short tail, sewed it in, and then had to use a separate piece of yarn to join the squares together, creating extra work for myself! 

So finally 256 granny squares, with 12 rows of granny stripe border, over and done with.  I have ignored washing and blocking, in favour of putting straight on the bed.  I can confirm the blanket works, and it is certainly very cosy!

Getting colder...

It is forecast to get very chilly at the end of the week.  In preparation, I have finished my slipper socks.

I have cold feet all the time.  I wear socks to bed in the middle of summer, so big cosy socks are a necessity for winter.  These socks are rather chunky and a little silly.  They were made using two strands of double knitting yarn, rather than the worsted the pattern called for, and 5.5mm needles.

One thing to remember is that these are rather slippy-slipper socks, and should not be worn on the laminate floor!  With warnings to prepare for winter, I pulled out my granny square blanket.

This has been ongoing for 7 years, this year I am determined to get it finished!  I was pleasantly surprised by how much I had done, I have finished sewing up 200 squares, only another 50 squares to sew and then a border...  And in other news, Mark has been guinea pig shamed!

Put a Bird On It!

Have had a busy few weeks away, now to update this blog!  Just before my holidays I took part in another Craftster swap, this time 'Put a Bird On It'.  Not a Portlandia themed swap...

...but a swap celebrating our feathered friends.  My swap partner, Becky Button likes kakapos, so after finding this template, I set to work to make a journal.

 

 

I also made a embroidered felt budgie needle case and a crochet bird (using the great pattern from Attic24).

 

 

 

As an extra I also sent Go Wildlife comic, featuring a kakapo cover star.

In return, I received a bumper package.  Three adorable felt ornaments - a puffin, owl and robin.

These are going to look amazing with my felt guinea pigs! Two amazing tote bags, featuring a pied wagtail (my favourite bird ever!) and a cheeky seagull!

 

Plus buttons and all sorts of goodies!

 

This was a great swap to take part in, you can view all of the other swap packages on the Craftster thread.

Russian Doll Doorstop

I think she might be the bouncer at the Doll's house! 

This very cool doorstop was made for me by my mum :)

Olympic Yarnmobbing!

Hampden stadium will soon host Olympic football matches, so Scattercraft are planning on decorating the surrounding area with crafty goodness.  To contribute I knitted a fair-isle football, adapted from this pattern by Erssie Knits.

I also went along to a craft drop-in yesterday at Make it Glasgow.  There was yarn, wine, cake and good company.  Perfect for creating crochet flags.  And even mrTrekky got involved with sewing a football pitch!

Butterflies and Flowers...

I recently took part in a UK only swap from Craftster.  My swap partner was the very talented loukr (check out her website Dearest Jackdaw... beautiful!).  Inspired by her love of nature, I knitted catching butterflies from tiny owl knits.

 

 

I used Rowan wool cotton for the mittens, so they won't be too hot.  For the butterflies some Sheena Anne Mohair Look that I found in a charity shop, I knew it would come in handy one day!  The pattern was easy to follow, full Ravelry details here.  I'm so tempted to try some other tiny owl knits patterns, as they are very cute!

 

Also in the package, I made some crochet flower brooches and badges.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great fun, and I can't wait to receive my swap package in the post!