Gift bags and....writing!

I have decided that it may be more sensible to use up my stash with small items (which I'm more likely to finish, being more of a project, than a process, crafter) rather than large blankets which will never be made.



So, I've made a gift bag. Not sure what gift will go in it yet, but it is re-usuable and has used up some yarn from the stash that I liked but didn't know what to do with. The yarn is Matisse by Adriafil. I got it ages ago and it's pretty, but odd - it's an aran weight, but because it's made of 51% viscose (along with cotton and acrylic), it's got quite a soft drape - not sure that's what I want in an aran weight yarn. Naturally, I didn't buy enough to make a garment (quel surprise), but I've managed to use 2 skeins in my gift bag, so I'm happy.






It's a tunisian crochet rectangle, which I then joined into a tube, and used regular crochet to make the base, and the top.









Writing
I haven't mentioned writing for a while, but I've actually done some!

I had been putting off writing "Scattering" because I had been busy. But, rather more crucially, I'm still not sure where that's going, and if there's enough there for a 100,000 word novel.

However, a new idea has come to me. The working title would be too much of a giveaway of the subject matter, so it will just be called "DTD" for the time being, and I feel very enthusiastic about it.

Hopefully, this will be more of a goer.

Well, I can't have any of my own....

It worries me sometimes how some things can make me ridiculously happy or excited.



Why, for example, would the arrival of an ebay purchase from "Mr Polystyrene" (do you think that's his real name?) make me so happy?



But it has.



Maybe it's because I can't have any of my own.



Maybe it's because I feel like a proper designer if I have some kind of model.



Maybe it's because I'm a sad old woman who really should know better.



Whatever the reason, may I introduce to you....



The Kids!



Ladies and gentleman, these two fine individuals are Bert and Ethel (she was going to be Annie, but saying "Bert and Annie" sounded like Hootenanny, and frankly, once a year's enough for that").

Bert is wearing a flapper hat, adapted from a vintage pattern, whereas Ethel is modelling my latest creation, a "disappearing rib hat" made from my own pattern. (Does that make me vain? Apologies if it does). This is for my hairdresser and friend, Andrea.


The hat actually looks very small when it's just sitting on the needles, due to the ribbing, but it does also go around Bert's head, so I'm hopefully that it will be warm and cosy on Andrea.

Prepare yourself for a hat knitting frenzy (I bought a block, too!!)

Ah, those two - they make me so proud.......

The easiest hand warmers

This is a pair of ridiculously easy crochet handwarmers.

They used just under a skein (approx 200m) of DK weight yarn and a 4mm crochet hook.

Instructions (make 2 the same):

Make 46 chain.

Base Row: Starting in the second chain from the hook, work 1 double crochet (US term: Single crochet) into each chain (45 sts)

Row 1: 1ch, work 1 dc (US term sc) into the back loop of each stitch.

Repeat row 1 until 34 rows have been worked in total.

Sew up, leaving a gap for the thumb.

Told you it was easy!

Second published pattern for KAL Media

Super excited!



This period of activity is a fluke, and after this there will be a gap before anything else is in print, but I'm in another publication this week!




The entrelac edge idea came to me during the first half of last year (also looks great in two colours) but I wasn't sure what to do with it.


My non-knitting husband is actually surprisingly good, when I ask him "what shall I do with this stitch pattern?"


I think that this one was my idea, however, and I'm really pleased how it looks on. Because I am bigger than the average bear, I can never make mag pieces for my size. Plus, to be honest, by the time this little beauty went into the post, I was glad to see that back of it.


Delighted with how it looks, however, so just searching for inspiration now, for the next project.

Muse, where art thou?

First published pattern for KAL Media

Very excited.

I love Let's Knit, as we all know. But it's nice to think that more than one editor likes my designs.

I've been rejected this morning by Inside Crochet for a second proposal (it happens, I may be able to improve it and suggest it elsewhere), but that doesn't mean that I wasn't really excited to see this - my first design for them.

Of course, since the preview's been up, I've been obsessively watching the comments on Ravelry, to see what folks think. Generally the response has been positive. Some ladies like it, but showed it to their men, who didn't. Some ladies wanted a female version (perhaps.....). One person didn't like it, thinking it was a bit 70s. Well, it is a tank top.

However, in the end, we can't pander to our audience. I liked the stitch pattern, and I feel that it's come out okay as a finished garment. Now I've just got to keep coming up with ideas that the editors like, too!