Getting there...

So I've had a few more attempts at a shaped beanie over the weekend.

I'm getting better at it, thanks to Jennie's advice on how to mark the beginning of your round. Makes all the difference.

The shaping is coming along nicely, although my end result in sizing is somewhat unpredictable.

The first pattern was in a 1980's Womens weekly book and had all sorts of terminology I didn't understand. I get the DC, HDC, CH, SL ST... but was thrown by a few others MC, ISC and INC for example and they didn't have the key to their little codes anywhere, so I had to call in the big guns .... Mum to the rescue.

Seems MC = main color  CC1 = color change one and inc h tr means you have to increase hmmm. I reckon these pattern writers are LAZZZYYYY. Is it so hard to just write stop using blue and start using the red!

And how about saying... do two htr's in the next hole, then one etc...not just inc h tr, rep from *

My goodness, it's like learning Morse code. You know, the crochet bit is easy easy it's reading the lazy patterns that does your head in. Thank god I have my interpreter on call ( Mum xx)

So anyways, rant over...

I made this, which worked out well and to the correct size based on instructions from my 1980 Woman's day book.

Then I made this one following a pattern I found on Ravelry. Whilst it was my best attempt yet at having a shaped crown, the sizing was way off. It was supposed to be a 3-5 year old and I reckon it's 3 - 6 month old.

I think ... after googling and staying up far too late last night trying to conquer this thing, I think I'm doing it wrong. Well obviously! But to be precise I think I'm putting my stick into the middle of stitches and not in between the top two. That's the only thing I can think that might effect the out come. My stitch count is spot on, per round, so it's not that.

I dunno.
I have not been beaten though. I will carry on with my experiments as with each attempt I can see I am getting better.
I'm knowing where my rounds start and stop, counting my stitches... two little changes that make a big difference and hats are a perfect size project to test on. They don't take too long to do and they'll always fit someone.

I know I'd be too sad if I'd devoted that time to a Cardigan only to see it wasn't working and had to be unravelled.
But a few more attempts and I reckon I'm ready for a garment...

This perhaps:

 Pattern available here:

Oh ... blessed readers who are not into crochet...My apologies for boring your socks off.
Other types of crafting to resume shortly.
Jay xx

Is it a plane...

Is it a crocheted snow cone.

A pear cover perhaps?

Well no, it's supposed to be a beanie.

 One that is nice and shaped on top, not all cinched in like my last two.

Alas it is shaping up to look more like a snuggli for your pear.

Aint no human head gunna fit in there! 

And it has some weird pointy bit happening up top..

Sort of shaping up to be a form fitted crochet bikini perhaps!

Nope... time to unravel and start again me thinks.

I know where it all went pear shaped too. 

Some time around the bit that said, when you get to the end of that round start doing ...

Who can tell where it starts and ends. It's all one big circle. A circle that never ends. And who has time to count stitches.

Oh I know. If you don't pay attention Jay, you end up with nipple covers not beanies!

So I shall undo, start again and figure out a way of marking the end of a round.

Wish me luck.

Jay xx

Beanie attempt no.2

So after my not too bad attempt at beanie number one,

 I tried another one from the same pattern and came up with this.

I crocheted it as double instead of single...again to suit my need for speed.

Seems that doing stuff in double crochet renders it a bigger finished size. 

It was still a 48cm band and 20cm long but it's looser. Probably the best way I can describe it.

I also winged it and tried reducing stitches as I got to the top, so it was somewhat shaped. 

It sorta worked.

After this one I decided to search for a new pattern to experiment with in the land of the beanie.

Come back tomorrow for my 'Project, shaped beanie... FAIL'... 

Seems I still have a lot to learn in the land of the things made with yarn and a stick.

I will persist, as I hear practice makes perfect.

Jay xx

Printing...

On the print table today...

Jay x

It's not a scarf...

So today, I roused up some yarn I had lying around the house, grabbed the nearest crochet stick and committed to making something that was not a scarf.

Perfect time to start a challenge, what with being 11 degrees and pouring outside.
I headed to the newly joined, Ravelry site and searched beginners beanie.

It's a size 2-3 and I mostly followed the pattern except for adding a few rows of double crochet, which occurred purely out of my wish to get it done quicker.

 Although I quite like the effect.

I tried the finished hat on Mstr.Finn and found it to be to high in the crown, but then thought it was probably more about it being a bit tight and not big enough to pull down any further to fill the crown, hence my decision that it's a size 2-3.

Knowing it didn't quite fit my little one, I decided to add a flower and make it for a little girl instead.

I'm quite happy with my first attempt at crocheting something that was not a scarf, but will try to find a beanie that is more shaped on top rather then a square pulled in.

Tomorrow's mission.
Jay x

Something about this weather...

There is just something about this weather that makes we want be snug as a bug

 under a rug on the couch, knitting.

Image via here

Knitting or crocheting. 

I tend to be o.k at scarves or granny squares, but have never attempted clothing. 

So this winter, muchly inspired by Jennie's awesome efforts as a beginner, 

I think I shall challenge myself to knit a cardi and a beanie. 

Image and pattern via here

Of course it will be for someone represented in the infant category, or possibly a dolly...

have to realistic about my skills and patience on that one. 

The smaller the better.

Wish me luck.

Jay xx

Grand sale...

Big crafty sale happening down at the Grove tomorrow.

I've managed to hit the fabric shelves and have a BIG clean-out. So sad to see some go, but it has to be done. 

My home will breathe a sigh of relief for having a bit more free space.

I managed to rustle up...

Little pieces perfect for applique or fabric buttons,

Bigger pieces and by the meter for garments and bigger projects...

Test screen prints, great for applique' ...

 

and boxes a plenty of fabric. Vintage, jersey, craft and more...

Sale is one day only, including fabric from Polly Pratt, Starashan and the other designers down at Olive Grove too. So do pop down and grab yourself a bargain.

Jay xx

 

My boyfriends back....

Hey now, hey now...

After a week and a half of solo parenting,

 my man has returned from a trip with his mum,

 to gloriously warm Bali.

Twas his first overseas trip so he was mighty pleased to be having a break away

 from our cold winter for a little while.

After the initial shock of realizing that I had to get out of my pajamas each day to make sure the kids got where they needed to before the bell, we settled into some sort of routine. I learnt I could deal with spiders, change the light bulbs, take the rubbish out, dress and feed the children too.

All the single mumma's ...hats off to you. It's hard yakka doing it all on your own.

He had a delightful time away and managed to fill two memory cards with photo's. 

So nice to see him reignite his passion with photography. 

Of course it would seem the obligatory snap of man in skirt was had...

 along with many...

 many......

 and even more...

 pics of the wildlife.

I was just so glad to have him back. 

 Although the food lasted longer and the house stayed cleaner...hmmm 

 Nah 13 plus years together, I think it must be love!

Jay xx

Know someone crafty ...

Know someone crafty or are you a maker yourself? 

We are now taking expressions of interest from our handmade community, 

to sell your goodies at the shop I am a part of, Olive Grove Studios. 

'Open space rental' is a new incentive we have created to promote local artist/designers whereby you rent a space to display your goods in store. No working behind the counter or boring meetings, just a new home for your wares.  A perfect arrangement for those of you possibly to far away to work shifts, or who work a day job and craft by night.

Prices are comparable or less then having a market stall and for that your goodies are on display 7 days a week in our Fab little shop on a bustling Melbourne shopping strip.

For more info just drop us a line at olivegrovestudios@gmail.com

Jay xx

Gettin' stitchy with it ...

The weekend saw us visiting our new 'Masters' store for a family fun day. Now we don't usually visit hardware stores for family fun, no...
A member of our family works there and before their official opening, they had a little silent opening just for family and friends to have a sticky beak.
It's huge and clean and orderly and will definitely give OTHER big hardware stores in the area some major competition. The lighting dept, ornamental garden area and wallpaper section were all very exciting to my crafty heart.

But this isn't an advertisement for the new hardware store on the block, 

rather a beginning to how this triptych of hearts came to be.

The course I'm doing called for us to bring an element of a place that helps us dream... into our home. Having quite a small home, that is overly cluttered with the products of my craft addiction i wasn't entirely sure where I could fit an ocean! Calm water, expanse of sand, nothing but nature...

So I parked the idea and figured something would present itself soon enough. And sure enough whilst shopping on family fun day...Go Masters...I found this set of 3 canvas prints. Ocean, sand, pebbles, hearts. Depicts all the things I wanted it to. My only hesitation was the lack of color. So I decided to add a splash of red by stitching a few elements on each canvas.

Now when I look at them I sense wide open spaces,

 my feet in the sand and my heart in craft.

 A little corner to dream in.

Perfect.

Jay. x

Things that make you smile ...

I'm doing a fun little e-course at present and today's mission was

 to go for a walk and take pics of things that make you smile.

Thought I'd share them with you too.

Making wishes...

Holding hands...

Hearts in nature...

 

Plant devouring house ...

 

Natures confetti ...

Our Broccoli doin' the right thing in the veggie patch

 by growing up big and strong.

Guess there is lots of things to smile about, when you go looking for them.

Jay xx