Granny Square Cardigan

Finally the granny square jacket for my daughter is made, and she has left for her course studying fashion in Brighton. I wrote previously about when I started making the squares for the granny chique look. It was a close thing getting it finished, with me running in ends up to the night before she left. Will it get worn? I'm not sure, although she is planning to join the surf club, and I can imagine her sitting on the beach in it after a swim. I would really quite like one for myself, maybe in more muted colours, but will take a break from crochet for a while.

It really did take a lot of work making it. I had the idea to try and make the squares look a bit like a stained glass window, but after joining a few by just sewing together with black wool, I realised that they really needed a black crochet edge. Also that gave it a much baggier look. The sleeves, neck and button bands, and bottom rib are knitted. My crochet skills really weren't up to improvising those parts. 

So feeling a bit sad at the moment, but hoping she will have lots of exciting times.

Granny Chic (and Crochet Technique)

 

I have been busy making some granny squares, as my daughter has asked me to make her a top. She sent me this photo, to give me a bit of an idea of what she was thinking, and at the moment I am just working on lots and lots of squares.

 

We have a joke that her style is granny chic. We both enjoy a charity shop or boot fair, and recently she seems to go for clothes that we both call granny. (Beige jackets, embroidered cardigans, you know the sort of thing. (I hope this doesn't sound like I am being rude, as I am old enough to be a granny, although will nover be a chic one.) At first I would try to put her off, but somehow she seems to be able to put these clothes together in such a way that it turns into "granny chic". It makes me a bit sad that my mum is not still alive, as I think they would have a great time comparing their Edinburgh Woollen Mill tops, and sensible rainwear.

So if the granny square top works out, this will just be part of the granny chic look ...  I will keep you updated.

I do occasionally crochet, but really I am a knitting gal. Part of the problem is I don't crochet enough, so every time I decide to have a go, I have to get my books out and reteach myself the basics. The other problems are I can't follow a diagram pattern, and I am really, really slow. 

But this time I decided to use Youtube to remind myself how to make a granny square. Here is a link to the tutorial I used. It was really good, but what I realised on the first run through was that I was crochetting as a knitter - wrapping the wool around the hook, instead of hooking it. Kept having to pause the tutorial, as I was probably going at less that half the speed. I don't think I had realised this from following instructions in books, so am a real convert to the youtube tutorial, and am trying to work on my technique. When this top is done I may try and branch out to another sort of block. If you can suggest any for a learning novice I would really appreciate it.

I wonder if someone who regularly does crochet, knits in a different way. Hmm ...

 

Crochet and Knit Cushion

I mentioned that I was having a go at crochet for a change, and was aiming to make next a blanket or throw. Two problems came up: first that I only had so much wool, and second I am not very quick. 

I see other crafters, who seem to be able to knock off a blanket in a few weeks, and am amazed by how they manage this. When I showed my husband the pile of granny squares I had made, his first suggestion was that we just have a large set of coasters! Can you imagine me rolling my eyes? My daughter wanted me to create a jacket, but there really weren't enough for that. A cushion seemed a good answer, and then I had to send off for a cushion pad. 

For the back I only had a small selection of colours left, so decided to knit a square on the diagonal. Really pleased with how this turned out. Julie from Sum of Their Stories told me that her nan used to combine knit and crochet in one project, using which ever worked best. Have you ever made something using knit and crochet? I would love to hear about it. Or perhaps you have combined two other crafts in an unusual way.

I also wanted to mention the wool I used. This wool came from my sister-in-law, and was a kit for a fair isle jumper that she did not want to make.  I have got so much pleasure from this wool, as it is all the same ply, and has been used in so many projects, so "thank you". Here are just a few.

 

Just a reminder that there is still time join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for February. I would love to see what you have been working on.

 

Crochet Bucket Hat

I have been doing a bit of crochet. Although I have tried a few times before, I really don't know what I am doing, and find it very difficult to follow a pattern, or even harder a diagram. But with a bit of help from some youtube tutorials I have managed to make my daughter a hat. 

I first found one video that explained how to make a circle for the top. Then another one that showed me how to make a basic granny square for the vertical section. I then I continued with my circles for the brim. The idea was to make a bucket hat - the sort you could perhaps wear to a festival, if they ever take place again. 

I am not sure that this first effort will ever be worn out, as she was a very reluctant model, but it has sort of inspired me with crochet. I can see that it might be easier for making some of my small round creatures, where I have to work really hard with knitting and short rows to get curves. I also quite like that you can stop at any point mid-row. 

So for the moment I am making granny squares. The simplest sort, but I may try and branch out with some more complicated ones at some point.

 

Just a reminder that you can still join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for January. I would love to see what you have been working on.