Pages

Translate

Sunday 30 September 2012

a block, a daisy and a granny finds a home ...


This week is one that flew by so very quickly - I am very happy that I managed to finish block 3 of the throw - and here it is!


 
The pattern for the Krista throw was part of a Spotlight promotion and is accessible via the link: http://www.facebook.com/events/113761348749961/#!/Spotlightstores/app_371522569543043

 
Giving a granny ...
One of the practice blocks made in the beginning of this journey as part of the tension test found a new home this week. The teal coloured granny square is made in one of my favourite colours and when I saw that someone was making a blanket in support of a friend trying to quit smoking I knew that this little square would be finding a home soon.

To accompany it I thought a little daisy in the corner will be super cute - and set out to improvise the little flower. As you can see it took me a few trial runs to create a likeable daisy and I'm very happy with the end result and hope that it fills the receiver of the blanket joy every time they look at it!
 
Design a daisy ...
Select & attach a daisy ...
 
 
The final granny ...
 
 
I also setup a pintrest board this week and before long found that so many ideas and inspirations clipped there - highly addictive methinks. Spent quite a few hours just looking at pretty crochet pictures and clipping some pretty ones to the board. http://pinterest.com/goldenpixies/
In google and pinterst there is one pattern that keeps on popping up - it is a super cute amigurumi koala bear. With Christmas coming up soon and charities calling for toys I'll be trying my hand at making this little bear. Maybe I can even find someone who'll crochet along (CAL) with me and we can double the bear making efforts!
 
Thats me for this last day of September. Have a very good week - warm pixie smiles coming your way. xo
 
oOo

Sunday 23 September 2012

A correction, a block, a lesson and a discovery

First a correction. Last week's post showed how I bought 100% wool online for my Krista throw and then ended up not using that wool in the blocks made for the posted photos. That is because I thought to do a trial run of the blocks in an acrylic worsted yarn and save my wool until my skills have been dusted off, and that's why the finished squares in the previous blog had different colours to that of the wool!
 
The pattern for this week's block is at:
http://promotions.spotlight.com.au/Facebook/Block%20of%20the%20week/spotlight_block_of_the_week__02.pdf
 
A lesson or a gripe...
 
So last week I made a pretty big deal about making a trial square to get the tension right - and may I say that I was pretty chuffed with myself for doing that little exercise. Running low on white 8ply (worsted) acrylic yarn off to the shops I went for more of the exact same brand. Halfway through making the second square I discovered to my utter horror and dismay that the tension was all wobbly and not at all the same as that for the previous block - even though it was the exact same brand and colour of yarn, bought at the exact same retailer with the only difference being that my purchases happened one year apart!

Back to the drawing board for me to determine the crochet hook size that will give me the tension I desire - 3.5mm being the new winner - then I quickly remade the blocks for weeks 1 and 2 again. What a difference as you can see last week's square for block one next to the finished [albeit wobbly] block two in the top row - and the remade blocks on the bottom row. It will be tighter and slightly smaller but it will be as I like it.


Now about that discovery...
 
All these trial granny squares I'm making will not be wasted. A couple of weeks ago I came across a Yahoo group called "Knit4Charities" - they also have a website at http://www.freewebs.com/knit4charities/.

The squares I don't use will be donated to them and go towards one of their causes and thus not be wasted at all.

In addition to my Krista throw I'll also be scouring around for a toy pattern or two to make as a contribution to the Knit4Charities Christmas drive. More on that next week, and hopefully the blog's colours and theme will get better as I become more familiar with blogging.

oOo

Sunday 16 September 2012

My personal challenge - week one's block is complete!


Hurrah my wool has arrived and I'm super chuffed with how beautiful these colours are - the latte and almond are 100% wool; the blue is 100% cotton. I am super excited to start my projects!
  

Now to start the Krista throw. This was actually a promotion run by Australian Retailer Spotlight [click for more about Spotlight] who created a Facebook page and event for a CAL (crochet along). Even thought the event has finished the group is still there and after seeing the pictures of their throws I am totally motivated to make one of these for myself.
 
Even though the actual promotion has finished running the patterns for the blocks are still available online and I'm going to work my way through them. First step is to familiarise myself with the first pattern, its called "Spotlight block of the week 01" and is online at http://promotions.spotlight.com.au/Facebook/Block%20of%20the%20week/spotlight_block_of_the_week__01.pdf
 
After I make a few of these I'll see if I can find someone who will CAL with me so that I'll stay motivated and complete the throw - its so pretty!
 
So how did I go...
 
Week one's square is a good ole fashioned "granny" - and the pattern calls for a 6.5mm crochet hook to have a final crochet square of around 22cm.

Of course I only have a 6mm hook and will need to improvise so I thought to make two squares to see how they look i.t.o. size and tension.  
 
I made two squares with 8ply or worsted yarn and used a 6mm crochet hook for the block on the right and a 2mm crochet hook to make the block on the left.


From the trial blocks I learnt that the block on the right is 22cm and so I made my block for week one with the 6mm hook.
  
And here it is - tadda - week one's block, TICK!

 
Oh I can't wait to start week two - this project is a good way to dust off some of the ole skills and come out of it with a beautiful blanket at the end!
 
oOo

hurrah I'm starting my blog

from www.golden-pixie.blogspot.com
posted 09 Sep 2012

Today I ordered wool online and am looking forward to start my KRISTA crochet blanket/throw. Part of the order is for 100% pure wool and the other for 100% pure cotton - both these are in 8 ply and will be my first ever order from a mill!


The KRISTA throw consists of 25 (twenty five) crocheted squares - the pattern for these are free on the facebook page for Krista Crochet Group. I might add some extra squares if the blanket is too small or even omit a square or two if its too big.

 
And the reason this excites me so much, even with more than 30 years of crocheting, is because my corporate career recently ended. Now I have a bit more time to pursue the activities that give me joy - and also rediscover some of my hobbies and designs.
 
oOo