Friday 25 September 2009

Announcing, Announcing, Announcing

ANNOUNCING THE FIRST EVER, LOWER CLAPTON SALVATION ARMY CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR.


Yes you heard it here first. On November 28th, 10am - 2pm. Address and proper poster here soon. Stall holders wanted. High quality hand made crafts only. If you are interested just leave me a comment here. Now you can follow the exciting adventures of yours truly as I try and make enough stuff to sell, so far I have two pairs of gloves, one hand bag, two small purses and 6 assorted tiny bags. The other day I sat down and timed myself and it took me two hours to crochet one glove. Me thinks its going to be an uphill struggle.

Thursday 24 September 2009

The Great Clapton Scarf Disaster


Here is my lovely ruffle scarf, or at least it would be if it had worked out! I started out with one pattern that I wanted to change, decided I didn't like it and restarted with a mixture gleaned from free patterns on the internet. After nearly finishing the lilac border I realised I wouldn't have enough yarn so I frogged that row (that's knitter speak for unraveling) and started it again. After about 200 stitches I found that even with the revised row there still wasn't enough yarn. At that point I gave up and cut off the first bit of the darker purple rows and tied/sewed up the resulting mess. Not good enough to sell but now what do I do with it, use it myself, I have tons of scarfs! Or recycle the yarn which is getting desperately bitty after frequent frogging. Ah well I suppose it's a learning experience.

Monday 21 September 2009

Knitting!


So here is some knitting. These were the first small circular projects I made. I tried using four needles but then went to majic loop. This is much better for me. The pattern is here. In crochet I will hopefully start some soon! I am trying to make some stock for a craft fair, at this rate I will have one pair of gloves and a hat...watch this space.

Friday 18 September 2009

More Links


I wanted to post this on Thurday but I couldn't find the right link. This is the blog for the person whose yarn I made those lovely gloves from. Lots more lovely yarn to buy here.

This is a photo of the blankets I am making for the girls. The pic's are not too good as they were taken indoors. I haven't worked on them over the summer as it was too hot to have a huge crochet blanket on my lap, but when I finish the 'Central Park Hoodie' that I am knitting I will turn my hand to finishing these. Only a few rounds to do but they are so big now that each round takes a few hours of interrupted work. I could do it quicker if I totally concentrated but who gets much time like that?

Thursday 17 September 2009

Why do children love the autumn?


Yes it's true as the chilly breezes start to blow and the first of the leaves fall my children get really excited despite the fact that last Saturday was stonkingly hot nothing deters them from there conviction that autumn is on its way.

Why do they like it so. I can just about remember going back to school in september, kicking the leaves aside on my way home and counting the days till christmas. I loved winter too, as do my children, my teenager even did when he was younger. (I don't know what he thinks nowadays, he doesn't talk to me anymore).

Yet us adults always bemoan the colder days and longer nights. I am torn in two over autumn. Part of me remembers the childhood happiness and also I feel renewed in autumn. The kids are back at school, I have time to myself. For knitters and crocheters this is the best time of year we can go back to lovely warm and cozy yarns and plan and make all our pressies and things to sell for the holiday season.

On the other hand I too find myself getting depressed as the nights draw in and I dread the cold which grinds me to a halt. I think about the dead time of winter, January and February when nothing can cheer me up.

We should be more like our children, they seem to be natural optimists so perhaps if we remember our own childhood or look to our kids we can view autumn in a better light.

Don't worry my next post will be about crochet, or even..knitting.. On that subject I have posted those gloves and the patterns for them on etsy and folksy so please check them out, you can use the links at the top of the page.

P.S hope you like my picture of clapton pond!!

Wednesday 9 September 2009

Clapton Crochet Chatter AKA Hackney Knitter Knatter


I have been mentioned on a local blog http://davehill.typepad.com/claptonian/ so if you are local to Clapton and a crocheter let me know. And if you crochet or knit or have always wanted to know how but didn't know who to ask. Come and meet me and other nutters oops knitters on Friday mornings 10 till 12 at Clapton Salvation Army, 122 - 124 Lower Clapton Rd. That's the building behind the trees opposite Rowhill Road. There's also a coffee shop (where we host our group), and charity shop.
Free tea and coffee and hopefully a bit of a giggle.

Tuesday 8 September 2009

Cats Love Mushy Peas


Yes its true and you read it here first, what does this have to do with crochet? You may well ask, nothing actually but since I decided this was musings from a crocheter then I can muse on anything really.

Years ago I had a cat who liked to lick out tins of mushy peas, then the other day our cat Sniff leapt up on a chair next to our bin and started to eat some mushy peas that I had just thrown in there from the pan. Why? The only thing I can think of is that the mint in mushy peas tastes like catnip. Any thoughts..

Crochet..I am very pleased with these fingerless gloves. I designed them myself and they are going to be the second pattern I am going to sell. To see my small range of crochet items and accessories click on the links to the left.