So random.

I'm granny stripping.

I'm aiming to use up a lot of the odds and ends of balls of yarn that I've got rolling about here.

I'm making it queen sized to cover the foot of our bed in the winter-time, to warm our footsies. That means it's 441 stitches long which makes it sloooooooooooow going. I'm not certain how wide it'll be just yet. I think I'll know when I get there.

And I'm trying to choose the colours randomly. Not shut my eyes and grab one random, but more like pick each colour when I have finished the last. No long term plan.

I'm not so good at the old random. I prefer to have an order mapped out before hand. I feel more comfortable when I know where I'm going, what it'll look like in the end.

So this is a challenge for me.

Late last night after I finally popped the hook down and lay in bed I decided to rip it all out and start again in the morning. To hook a blanket that graduates in colour and shade through the spectrum. I know that would look good and it would be safe.

But this morning I changed my mind. I am going to keep going with the random. It's challenging me but so far I like the results and I am hoping that when there are lots of stripes, that the colours will blend a bit and the order wont be so important.

I think I can do it.

How about you? Do you do random? Or do you like a plan? Can you paper bag piece your quit layout ie. take the cut pieces of your quilt out of a paper bag and lay them as they come? (is that right Jules?) Can you randomly choose colours as you go? Do you have the end in sight or do you just make it up as you go along?

Whatever the weather, I hope you and yours have the most marvellous weekend.

Love Kate xx

How to crochet ric-rac.

Hey there!

What are you up to this fine Monday morning?

Since my post last week, I've had so many emails and comments asking about the recipe for homemade, hooked ric-rac, that I thought I'd do a little how to.

Before we start there are a few things to keep in mind.

• I am using US crochet terminology.
• I usually use a size 2 hook but its fun to experiment. The smaller the hook-the smaller the ric-rac, the bigger the hook, the bigger the ric-rac.
• I use 4ply mercerised cotton but its fun to experiment with different plies and yarns.
• My words describe the picture above them.
• The stitches I am using are chain (ch) and double crochet (dc). If you are not familiar with these stitches just ask Mr Google, there are hundreds of great tutorials and videos out there to show you how.

Ok, let's get into it.

STEP ONE - Chain four.

STEP TWO - dc into the fourth chain from the hook, ie. the first chain you made.

STEP THREE - Do another dc into the same chain as in step two, chain, then do a final dc into the same chain.

STEP FOUR - Chain three.

STEP FIVE - Turn your work so that the crochet you just did is up the top as per the photo.

Then do two dc's, chain and another dc into the chain space from the previous round.

Then chain three. and turn.

STEP SIX - Repeat step five until you reach your desired length.

Always ch3 after each cluster and then turn.

Fasten off.

Stitch onto skirts, socks, quilts, cushions, frames, cards, dresses, tops, pants... anything really.

Here's the whole thing again in crochet language;

Chain 4 (only this once)

(2dc, ch1, dc) in fourth chain from hook, ch3, turn

(2dc,ch1,dc) in ch1 space from previous row, ch3 turn. Repeat this line until you reach the length you want.

I hope this all makes sense.

Please let me know if you have any problems with it.

Why don't you add your ric-rac projects to the Ravelry project page, I'd love to see some pics of what you make.

See ya!

Basket of Craft.

This is the basket that contains all the current knitting and crochet projects I am working on. There are bundles of wool piled in different places around the house, but these are the right now, can't live without, must have with me all the time items.

This basket travels with me from room to room at home and then out of the house to school assemblies, waiting rooms, friends' houses, cafes and car trips.

It contains my knitting project which is sadly at a standstill as I have run out of that beautiful wool and the shop was closed when I went to try and buy more yesterday.

Lots of crochet hooks, needles for darning in ends and scissors. I will one day soon sew up some type of lovely bag for these items to be carried in..

My granny square thing that possibly could become a laptop cover.

A partly completed beanie.

A bowl.

Some gorgeous wool that I had to buy because the shop is next to my hairdresser. I used most of another ball of this over the past 2 nights to make the skirt of a dress but unraveled it this morning when the tension was funny on one side.

And some random balls of cotton and wool that might inspire me because of the beauty of their colour or the loveliness of their texture to create something wonderful.

I am loving how portable these wool crafts are.

When I was in my twenties I drove up to Byron on holiday with my sewing machine in the boot of my car. I could not be without my craft for any period of time. Not much has changed since then but let me tell you this basket is slightly more convenient than my Bernina.

Flowers & Bowls.

Yesterday I caught the train ALONE to Melbourne.

One hour and eight minutes each way with nothing to do but listen to the music of my own choice and of course crochet.

I took masses of wool and cotton with me and lots of different sized hooks because I had no idea what I would feel like making.

On the way there I made the flower brooch in the above photo and the grey one below.

I also finished the sides of this bowl that I had started the night before.

In Melbourne we had a family ceremony for my Grandmother Lucy who died last January.

As part of the ceremony we placed these tiles on her grave.

5 tiles, one from each of her Great Grandchildren.

After an incredibly emotional day in Melbourne at the cemetery and then at my Grandfather's for lunch I was exhausted on the way home.

I put my headphones on, selected a Suzanne Vega album and then crocheted myself into a trance.

I went round and round the bowl.

The hook went into the space, the yarn went around and through.

Over and over, all the way home.

Little Stitches.

How things have changed.

The other day I was in Ballarat to pick up supplies when I pulled up in front of this shop.  Only 6 months ago that sign would have made my heart beat a bit faster.  I would have raced inside and grabbed arm loads of those awkward, long bolts of fabric, dragged them through the aisles and to the counter where the checkout chicky would have gritted her teeth at my request for a meter of each. 

I would have chosen spots, stripes, plains and florals because I might need them one day.

Like I said, things have changed.

I now know I have plenty of fabric at home and unless I start making women's wear I am set for a long time to come. 

This time I was looking for yarn.

These delicious colours in cotton, wool and bamboo.

These small balls are what makes my pulse race now and they are so much more convenient to carry around the shop in a little basket while I make my decisions.

While hunting the internet for crochet washer patterns I have come across some cute teacup patterns which I haven't been able to resist. 

The pink one is from here and the purple from here.

As far as I can understand from my small amount of research amigurami is the Japanese art of crocheting little, cute objects. It uses cotton and fine crochet hooks.

After making 2 and a half cups and saucers I have learnt that amigurami single crochet (sc) stitches go through both loops of the previous stitch and that it is best to mark the start of each row, I used a safety pin.

There have been lots of form versus function debates raging through my head while I have been crocheting these mini stitches. After crocheting washers and dishcloths these don't seem so practical or useful but there are some very thirsty dollies about to wake up in their cradles who would love a tea party, I'm sure.

I hope you have a great weekend wherever you are.

Squares and Washers.

I have been making crochet squares.

I am really enjoying playing with colours and new techniques.

I love the wool over and through action of crochet.

I love that the stitches are relatively limited so working out new effects is doable even for a beginner like me.

I have joined a washer swap organised by Jellywares.

It is my first blog swap and my first attempt at a washer.

Each swapper has to make a washer and send it and a five dollar bar of soap to their swap partner within the next month.

I love this whole new world of craft and swaps that Foxs Lane is opening up to me.

I love the idea of making a washer.

Until now all the washers in this house were shop bought and machine made but not any more.

Apparently in years gone by girls used to make washers in home economics at school and members of families each had their own.

Obviously I have some practicing to do.

None of the washers I have made so far have ended up as wide as they should and there's something a bit strange going on with the holes in the right side of the one below.

Perhaps I am using the wrong size hook or the wrong ply cotton.

But the best thing of all for me is the practicing.

I just can't stop.

The patterns for the top three squares are from 200 Crochet Blocks by Jan Eaton.

This book was a gift from my Mother-in-law to her Mother-in-law a few years ago. After her Mother-in-law died, she gave the book to me, her Daughter-in-law.

The Daisy Fancy Dishcloth pattern came from here.

The Scalloped Washcloth pattern came from here via here.

Building The Stash.

I've been sewing for many years now so my stash is quite substantial.

I've picked up bits and pieces all over the place. 

I know the sort of sewer I am that I need to be prepared for when inspiration hits and what particular materials I will need for my next project.

So I have plenty of fabric of all different weights, some printed, some plain, some new, some vintage.

I have lots of different coloured cottons.

Zillions of zips of different lengths, colours and weights.

Bias binding,

And elastic.

Then there are the desk drawers full of bits and bobs.

See what I mean?

I'm well set up for whatever new sewing project takes my fancy.

So the question I'm asking is; how does one build a wool stash?

I have a few bits of balls of wool left over from Jazzy's blanket. Bren's Mum gave me some of her leftovers and there's some unidentified bits and pieces rolling around.

But when I'm sitting in front of the fire at night and I pull out my hook to get started, there's not the materials needed to complete anything substantial.

When I read a tutorial for a groovy beanie, scarf or vest I'm unprepared.

So tell me you yarn lovers out there, is it something organic that just happens or are there some necessities that every stash should have? What is the fat quarter of the yarn world?

Hip to Hook June 2009

Despite the fact that yesterday was the first day of the school holidays, I had to leave the girls with Bren and race off to the post office to swap the little piece of paper with my name on it for this exciting package.

About a month ago when scouring the internet for any information I could find about crochet, I came across Sarah London's crochet club Hip to Hook. Once a month you pay your membership and Sarah sends you a package containing some wool, some useful crochet information and a pattern of the month.

It seemed mine had arrived.

Once I had the parcel in my hand I dashed to the closest cafe. I couldn't risk going home and having to share the contents.

Inside I found two balls of wool one cream and one lolly pink, neither of which are colours I usually work with or choose but I'm experimenting with a new craft and I have to be open minded.

The first pattern I found is for a bicolour octagon.

The instructions are easy to follow with the added extra of step by step photos on flickr.

I was thrilled to find that I could complete the octagon easily.

I really enjoyed crocheting this new shape but I'm not really sure what I would ever do with them because I think that if you joined several together you would be left with diamond shaped gaps between them.

There was also a pattern for a square within a square to utilize all the the scraps of yarn.

This too was easy to follow and make.

I've had enough of these colours for now. 

I think I might make both these shapes up later on with coloured wool that is more to my choosing.

Thanks Sarah, it's been such fun!