Pixie hat

This funny little thing is a hat - I had two balls of Noro Spring Thaw which were reduced in John Lewis so I couldn't resist. It was made from 7 long oval panels, knitted using lots of increases and decreases. It took a bit of concentration, but was quite straightforward. Once I had seven panels, I seamed them on the inside with a crochet slip stitch, which was nice and simple, although I think I should maybe have seamed it on the outside side with double crochet in a contrast colour, which would have made more of the panel construction. 

When I finally tried on the finished item, I realised the panels were too short and it made for a very strange, skull-cap kind of fit. I did knit a tension gauge swatch, but didn't really take a lot of notice of the results. There's a lesson in that, probably. Anyway, to make it a bit longer I crocheted a double-triple border all around the edge, which improves things, but I still don't actually like it that much. I'd rip it out, except that I'll end up with 8 short bits of yarn, which isn't very inspiring. A bit of a waste of one and a quarter balls of bargain Noro, all in all. 

Inspiration

Here are a couple of things I've found to be really inspirational recently. 

The great thing about blogs is that someone somewhere is doing something you'd never imagined. This selvedge project is amazing. God knows how long she has been hoarding selvedges for. I usually throw mine away (although apparently they're very good for waist stays as they don't give or stretch). Not only has she collected them all up, not only has she done something with them, but she's done something amazing with them. Kudos. 

Secondly, this is from December 2008 Livingetc. Apparently designer Natalia Pepe knitted wool flowers and stitched them onto a wool base. From what I can see of the flowers in the photo they look crocheted to me, but still, that's a quibble. Available to snap up for a mere £3,900. I've no idea what size it is, but for four grand I want it to be big. Very big. 

What I love about this is that it could be a fantastic way of using up bits and pieces of your yarn stash. The flowers are simple 5-petal single-layered things. It could take forever to get this many flowers together, but each flower would be the work of a few spare moments on the tube. At the very least it has inspired me not to throw away the little scraps at the end of a project. 

End of a WIP

For the sake of closure, here's a photo of the WIP I posted about in September here. You can just about see that it's now scalloped down both sides. 

I'm pleased with it, but haven't worn it yet. I also made a blue one while I was away, in a sweet merino/cashmere mix. It's a colour I'll never ever wear so if anyone wants it, they can have it. I've now made this scarf twice, and while it's super-easy and ideal for a single ball of yarn from the remnant bin, I'm bored of it and in need of a new single-ball-project.  

Incidentally, starting a new yarn was easier than falling off a bike.  

Red fishing nets

So, back from holiday, where I learnt to crochet properly on the plane on the way out. I actually completed a few little things while I was away, which I'll probably post at some point when I've got my holiday photos sorted out. 

For the moment just a quick photo of my most recently finished project - red fishing nets. 

Started messing around with a v-stitch on the plane back from Hong Kong and have completed these three little pieces, all the same width but of different lengths.

    

I'm thinking that I'll use them to make a scarf, spaced out with some blocks of knitting of the same width in a different colour. Whether that's likely ever to happen, I'll leave you to judge. 

A crochet WIP

My crochet is really really basic at the moment. I'm planning to smuggle a crochet needle and ball of yarn onto the aircraft to Australia in order to spend 24 sleepless, uncomfortable hours upgrading my capabilities, but this is where I've got to so far.

This is a scarf, and the scallop will go down both sides when it's finished. It's pretty easy as it's all double crochet (UK treble crochet) stitches, 3 rows straight and then the same stitch in the scallop pattern. Unfortunately the yarn broke, and as I haven't learnt how to start a new ball I'm a bit stuck. Once I've restarted there's only about another half-an-hour's work in it, so there's no good excuse really.

In the meantime...

The laptop cover is nearly finished, but I'm waiting to get hold of a crochet needle so that I can close the edges. In the meantime, here are photos of the much-hyped bikini. It's fantastic!

I have to admit to no intention of wearing it. Apart from anything, I've no idea how the yarn would react in water. Experienced knitted-swimwear wearer Jennifer tells me that sagginess is certain.

The strings are simply crochet chains, and the triangles are single-crocheted onto the chain. This was before I learnt how to crochet though so there's a twist at the bottom of one of the triangles. Since I'm not wearing it though, no need to do-over. Result!