Latest Crochet Makes

Well it's happened. 

I have a feeling that the reason I procrastinated about learning to crochet for so long was because really, I knew it would be addictive. I have spent enough time reading blogs and on Instagram to know that housework gets left undone, to-do lists are left unticked, and entire days end up wrapped around the hook once the crochet bug has been caught. ...But I'm very happy about it!

I never want it said about this blog that I am a crafter in pursuit of perfection, which is why I try to show my projects, wonky shonkyness and all. As a crochet newbie I'm yet to make anything without a few flaws, but that's all the fun of the learning process, and of course producing anything handmade. 

So after finishing the bunting for Bea the next thing I made was a couple of chunky snoooooooods, the pattern had been recommended to me as a good one for beginners by Claireabellemakes. I'd actually started one of them before the bunting, but found that crocheting round in circles was a little confusing - I couldn't see where the next stitch was because the fabric curved - but once the bunting was complete I found I was sufficiently practised to crack that, and produced two snoooods over two evenings. Very satisfying after fifteen years of spending weeks at a time knitting scarves!

There wasn't anyone around to help take a photo of moi in one of these snoods, so here is a very grainy, dodgy selfie on the evening I finished the first one - my mum had the honour of receiving this fine portrait (cough) to cheer her up (cough) when she was working on a night shift. I'm sure she was very proud. (Cough cough).

Moving swiftly on... my next crochet make was a little impromptu, in that my gran passed away, and I had decided that I wanted to wear a white rose to her funeral service. She was a proud Yorkshirewoman, and having lived myself in Yorkshire for seventeen years now, including four in her native Leeds, I felt it would make a nice emblem to wear on the day. The problem was that the night before I had a crisis of confidence about wearing a real rose, especially as I'd chosen not to wear black, in case others thought it was more appropriate for a wedding than a funeral. So, at 9pm I hopped on YouTube and sought a speedy tutorial for crocheting a white rose. This was the result...

I really enjoyed making it, and felt it made just the right statement on the day. I've whipped up this peach one since and am positive there will be many more to come - they make such nice presents and embellishments after all.

Next up, a pair of slippers for my mum's birthday this week. I spotted this rather lovely soft yarn - 30% wool  - for £2 a ball on Doncaster market, and as it reminded me of a pair of slippers my mum had owned previously I took it as a good sign! 

This was my first attempt at adapting a pattern. I used the how-to in Makery by Kate Smith but found that by the time it came to binding off the finished slipper wouldn't have fit a child. Luckily it was just a case of keeping on building the rows until I had the right size. I also decided to add straps to help them stay on. My favourite part was choosing the buttons, as always!

A foray into cotton for my last makes. I found a kit for making coasters among my Mollie Makes freebies, but found the pattern a little tricky for my skill level. So I used the yarn to have a go at Yvonne Eijkenduijn's supremely pretty coaster pattern (US) instead and after this one turned out a little dodgy...

This blue one turned out nicely. I'm keeping and using both of course, it's like having my own personal crochet journey dotted around my home!

So, a yarn order has been made, but that's it; no more until I have got some other tasks done!

Have you got any crochet blog recommendations for me?