Next Project

Well I have finally started my next project. I am making a blanket in tunisian crochet. It took me a while to find out how to do this kind of crochet.  I eventually downloaded a great book to my kindle called Learn Tunisian Crochet by Tara Cousins. It is a really good tutorial and teaches six different stiches, with step by step instructions.  I found it very easy to follow and would recommend it to anyone wanting to learn this type of crochet.

I have crocheted a few cushion backs in tunisian crochet, and really think they give a lovely finish to the cushion.

Here is my latest blanket - it has taken me several days to get this far, so I think it will be several weeks before it is complete!

Dog Sitting and Opening an Instagram Account

I have been dog sitting this weekend.  Here is Scruffy looking all relaxed.  I think he likes coming here as he gets lots of walks and games.

I have just set up an Instagram account. I must admit that I didn't have a clue how to use it but actually it is a lot easier than I thought it would be. In fact I much prefer it to Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest. The only problem I have is that photos have to be uploaded from my phone and most of my photos are on my computer.

I find taking photos on my phone quite difficult. I can't seem to hold my phone steady whilst pressing the screen and most of my shots end up out of focus. Something I will have to address if I want lovely, sharp photos on my Instagram site.  Here is my link https://www.instagram.com/julieannr75/

What shall I make next?

What shall I crochet next is the question that has been playing on my mind for the last week. I have just finished my striped blanket, which I am very pleased with.  The yellow, orange and gold are very bright and cheerful.

I wanted it to have a special cover, so I decided to make a cushion cover for it.  This means it now has two uses; as a blanket, or as a cushion.  I am very pleased with the result.

Mulling over my next crochet project, and not wanting to be sat idle, my eye fell on a knitting pattern for a lovely baby blanket.  Now knitting is not my favourite thing to do - I much prefer crocheting - but I so loved the look of the baby blanket decided to give it a go.  All went swimmingly until I tried to knit whilst watching television. Needless to say I have had to undo most of my knitting. I have started again and have found that if I write down the repeat for each row, on a separate piece of paper, I can follow the pattern a lot more easily.  (Here's hoping).

Focussing my mind on the knitting helped me to decide on my next crochet project. I think it will be another striped blanket.  I have picked out the colours, but have yet to decide on a design.

In the meantime, will crack on with the knitted blanket, but will give the television a miss when I am knitting.

What's not to like

Knitting and coffee on a sunny afternoon - what's not to like?

I have been joining in with the Winwick Mum sock-a-long.  I have never knitted a sock before and it is something I had not even considered doing.  In fact I had rather gone off knitting in favour of crocheting.  However, my sister kindly enlisted me in the sock-a-long, so I thought I would give it a go.  Well after several false starts, I have finally made a pair of socks. Not perfect by any means, but a pair of wearable socks at least.  I never thought I would say this, but I have thoroughly enjoyed knitting the socks (using 5 DPNs - I didn't even know what DPN referred to before I started). Christine Perry is the inspiration behind the sock-a-long.  It is thanks to her tutorial that I am now competent in sock knitting.

Here is the link to her blog click here if anyone would like to give it a go.  I can thoroughly recommend it.   So, thank you sis for introducing me to this lovely event.

A walk at Vicar Water

The day might be cloudy and gloomy, but we still found plenty to cheer us up on our walk around Vicar Water.

Whilst walking the dogs, or rather being pulled along by them, we came across a woman walking a beagle. She had apparently encountered Ty and Dottie before because as soon as she saw us she turned and sped off the other way. Unfortunately the dogs had already clocked one another, so a furious barking match took place, with Dottie having the last bark as usual.

Walking The Dogs

On our walk today Dottie found half a carrot, a parsnip, a mouldy crust (all of which I managed to stop her eating) and something disgusting under a hedge, which she beat me to.

I did manage to spot some lovely spring flowers though.

Cushion Completed

Well, I have now finished my cushion and am ready for the unveiling.  What do you think?  This is the front of the cushion. I have crocheted granny squares around a central flower motif and used the join as you go method to join the squares together.  I used Stylecraft double knitting wool as they have so many colours to choose from and it is so soft - it is lovely to use.

This is the back of the cushion, which I have completed in Tunisian Crochet.  The back is in two parts, so that the cushion pad can be removed.  It is held together by six pink buttons.

What is it about buttons. I can't resist them. When I was a child I loved to play with my mum's button tin. My children were the same. If you think about it, they are quite educational; colour sorting, counting, matching.  Anyway I think the buttons really finish it off nicely, so it can be reversed for a different look.

I am now on to my next cushion, more of which later.

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