The weather has been lovely for the past few days, so today I broke out the cropped trousers and a short sleeved t-shirt ..... only for it to be chucking it down with rain all day, and very cold!!! You can see in the photo below how wet it is ..
It is however a perfect day today to stay in and craft and I've been super busy in my craft room all day. A lady had posted on my local crochet facebook group asking if someone could crochet up a little kit for her that her friend wanted - both she and the friend weren't able to do it, so I said I could help. It was a little elephant kit, from Aldi I believe, and he turned out like this ...
Super cute or what! And just when the cuteness factor couldn't get any higher, I crocheted up this little sheep for another lady's church group ...
... isn't he adorable! I tell you what though, doing bobbles in an amigurumi toy is NOT for the faint-hearted, its given me terrible neck ache, and was soooooo fiddly! The lady who wanted him had also posted on the same facebook group asking for volunteers to make her some sheep for her church project. I'm planning to do a few more for her but in a different pattern as I'm not going near those bobbles again!
I also quickly hooked up a little daffodil keyring for my friend Helen in Wales ...
... Helen runs a glamping and camping site called Frowen Fields and is going to be selling these in her farm shop. The Frowen Fields site has an amazing glamping pod ...
... decorated beautifully by Helen ...
... in a gorgeous location, steeped in nature.
We're having a dilemma with pricing the keyrings, its so hard to do with handmade items. They don't take long to actually crochet but each flower has 14, yes 14, ends to weave in, so another fiddly job which does take time. Oh well we will see what happens! I want to support Helen and vice-versa so hopefully a few will sell.
Did I mention before that I am making some blankets for our local hospital? They need various sizes including 25" square for wheelchair users, and I think this is also a nice little baby size too. One of my things for 2022 is to crochet one hospital blanket a month in an effort to make a dent in my ridiculous stash. I'm doing well so far, and have completed three. I managed to get the borders finished off today.
Two are in a variegated cream, brown and grey yarn ...
... and one is in a lovely olive, mauve and cream colourway ...
I decided to give the olive, mauve and cream one a purple border which I think works really well.
With all that crochet I fancied a wee change, so, for the first time in years, I got out the knitting needles this aftrnoon. I've decided I need to learn to knit socks. I watch the Cherry Heart podcast, and Sandra makes so many amazing socks, I want to give it a go. Well, suffice it to say, I won't be wearing new socks any time soon. Actually I hardly ever wear socks, so I don't really need to make some, but its become a personal challenge now. Its not going well. I'm following Winwick Mum Christine's Sock-Along posts and using this Sirdar Heart and Sole sock-yarn ...
... but the DPNs! OMG! Its like wrestling with an octopus, I can't seem to get the hang of it at all. The bit where it transitions to the next needle is all gappy and gapey and looks terrible. This is what its looking like on my DPNs. A bit of a mess.
Maybe I should try a circular needle, will that help do you think ? Any and all advice from all you lovely sock knitters is very welcome. In the meantime I shall be ordering said circular needle and giving it a try.
Til next time,
Jillxx
I love sheep!
ReplyDeleteAnd daffodils too.. they were my wedding flower.
xx oo
Thats so unusual for a wedding flower, but I bet it looked really pretty!
DeleteJillx
That elephant and sheep are lovely and so are the blankets! I prefer to knit socks on dpn, myself, as I don't like circular needles. Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. :)
ReplyDeleteMaybe I should persevere with the dpns, argh I don't know!
DeleteJillxo
Oh my goodness you have been soooo productive!!! OK, so I am a crocheter who occasionally dips her toe into sock knitting world and I also use the Winwick Mum sockalong tutorial every.single.time. as I still haven't got the courage to move outside the bounds of knit row, purl row! I find knitting makes me feel like Edward Scissorhands. All those extra pointy bits! I use long circular needles and whilst at first the big long loopy extra bit felt weird, after a few rows I got the hang of it and there's a smoother transition from one needle to the other as you loop around. I've now finished 5 complete pairs of socks! But I am not a fast knitter so it takes me a couple of weeks to finish a pair of socks if I work at it uninterrupted (without working on other projects). Good luck and persevere! I love my handmade socks! xox Louise
ReplyDeleteLove the Edward Scissorhands reference, that exactly how I feel lol
DeleteJillxo
Your bobbles have come out brilliantly despite all the fiddliness. I don't knit socks but am making sleeves at the moment and have found it easier to have the stitches spread over 4 dpns with a fifth needle to do the knitting. I'm not sure if that will make it worse or better for you. Ha!
ReplyDeleteThe bobbles are actually inside out, I simply cannot get them to stay on the right side!. Yes I think I've seen 5 dpns being used, maybe I will try that, thanks
DeleteJillx
What sweet little critters!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you are able to knock out those blankets like that. It would take me years...years to finish one.
I do the blankets in the evenings watching telly, I don't think I'm fast at all but maybe I am ?!
DeleteJillxo
The elephant and sheep are super cute. I haven't tried amigurumi or socks but I must give them both a go.
ReplyDeleteLovely blankets and a great idea to support hospitals.
Have a good week x
Thankyou, hope you had a good week too,
DeleteJillxo
What beautiful work you do, Jill! You’ve inspired me to use up my yarn stash and crochet some blankets to donate.
ReplyDeleteHappy St. Patrick’s Day 💚☘️💚
And Happy St Patrick's Day to you too!
DeleteJillxo
I love the elephant and the sheep. So cute!
ReplyDeleteWonderful blankets you make for hospitals as well.
Enjoy the week...
Thankyou, they are fun to make! Hope you had a good week too!
DeleteJillx
you do fabulous work, so sweet that you were able to help those ladies with the little characters. So sweet of you to make the blankets too, so pretty.
ReplyDeleteThanks, they are so fun to make and I like the fact you get a finished object quite quickly!
DeleteJillxo
Hello! Such lovely work you do! And I love daffodils! Have a cozy evening!
ReplyDeleteDaffodils are the best, aren't they, just so full of hope for the coming seasons
DeleteJillx
Hello! Thank you for your visit to my blog. I love all the items you've been making. It's good to connect with other bloggers. Have a lovely day!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome! I will definitely be back!
DeleteJillxo
Love all your crafting projects. I make all my socks with Winwick mums pattern. I use the circular needle she recommends right from casting on. It seems to work with one one tight row to persuade. Only use dpn for the heel and toe. B x
ReplyDeletewinwick Mum seems to be the one to use!I've ordered a Sock Wonder thing so will see how that goes!
DeleteJillx
The elephant and sheep are so cute, amigurumi has been on my list of things to learn for the longest time but I still haven't given it a go. I can knit socks though, funny how we all have different skills. I learnt on dpns, it's just a case of practice makes perfect, I think we all struggle at first. Make sure that you pull the yarn tight as you change from one needle to the next to prevent ladders. I use magic loop on circulars sometimes now but it's just the same, you still need to pull the yarn tight as you change needles. You could have a go at a shorter circular needle so that in effect you're just knitting round and round, but they tend to make my hands ache.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I'm sure lots of practice is needed. I'm going to try a circular needle once amazon delivers it!
DeleteJillxo
How kind you are crocheting those beautiful blankets. As for your sweet elephant and adorable sheep....so, so adorable. Oh my, I can well imagine those bobbles were very tricky to do. Ooh...that glamping pod, how fabulous it would be to experience a little stay in it. It looks so very comfy.
ReplyDeleteHelen's pod does look gorgeous doesn't it, she has decorated it so beautifully :)
DeleteJillxo
Top 'o the morn' to you, Jill! Thank you for your visit to Panoply. I stopped by, and have fallen into a rabbit hole by this and your prior posts! Your crochet crafting is amazing, and I can understand your dilemma with pricing the daffodil (♥). But for those of us who love handcrafted items, we will spring for a higher price, knowing the work involved (and our love for the items!). All your handcrafted items are so fun. The prompt on one prior post was in the snowdrops on your visit at Basildon Park trails. We recently moved to a cottage home with a few landscape plantings that are unfamiliar to me. While overgrown and not blooming as they should have, I think I had snowdrops which I thinned out last week. Perhaps next year I will know the answer as I whip my beds into shape. Happy to get acquainted with you! I know you're on Blogspot, but I can't find an easy way to follow your blog by subscription. Would love to though.....
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting! I will try and set up the thing where you can follow me.... watch this space ...
DeleteJillxo
Loved the elephant and sheep but I thought Alan looked a bit grim! The crochet blankets are gorgeous and if you can crochet so beautifully DPN are a doodle, I am a sock-a-holic and love making them altho none at the moment. Just a bit of practice and you'll get the hang of it. I found wooden square DPNs best as the stitches didn't slip on them .
ReplyDeletePoor old Alan LOL
DeleteI will persevere with the socks then , but might try a circularneedle instead.
Jillxo
We're having the same weather here in Colorado, except our lovely sun and warm temos turned into snow this morning! Your crocheted critters are so fun, but do look fiddly. I really love the daffodil, though - my favorite flower!
ReplyDeleteThey are fiddly , but fun to do, and I like that you get a finished object quite quickly!
DeleteJillxo
Gosh your crochet is so beautiful Jill! How I wish I could crochet ... maybe I will try to learn this year. Your wee animals are just adorable. Please send the rain our way as it is Oh So dry here ... no rain for a couple of months & everything is looking sad.
ReplyDeleteI will do my best rain dance for you!
DeleteJillxx
elephant and sheep are very sweet! have you tried Lucy's daffidol pattern from Attic 24, few less ends than 14! Happy crocheting
ReplyDeleteOh I never thought of checking for a pattern by Lucy, thanks for the tip
DeleteJillxx
Geesh you're a wizard with the needles Lady! I wish I had 1/2 that talent - but I'm so happy to see you share your gifts with the world. The little critters are SO ADORABLE!
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping we'll have rain in our forecast (they're saying it may be snow - aack!) Have a blessed weekend. xo
You have a great weekend too Carrie,
DeleteJillxo
The elephant and sheep are just precious, but do look fiddly. Your blankets are beautiful too. They will be greatly appreciated. I will be following your sock adventure with the circular needles. You can send any extra rain our way. We haven’t seen a drop since December and we are nearing the end of our rainy season.
ReplyDeleteI started with the circular needles today, so far so good!
DeleteJillxo
You are so talented! I absolutely love the muted colours in those hospital blankets.
ReplyDeleteWednesday was awful here, it never stopped raining all day but the last couple of days have been glorious. xxx
Thankyou so much!
DeleteJillxo
Hi Jill.Well I love knitting socks, but have only recently found Winwick Mum who I love! I always knit with dpn's and find that it is best at the end of each needle to knit one stitch off of the next needle before changing needles. Does that make sense? Great work on the crochet and a good way to stash bust. xx
ReplyDeleteIt does make sense yes, however think I am converted to circular needles now!
ReplyDeleteJillxo