I'M HAVING WHAT SHE'S HAVING

I have been going through some of my old knitting and crocheting magazines and these adverts keeps poping-up. One would think that knitters and crocheters aren't as "nervous" as most people but these medical companies obviously thinks the opposite. 

The adverts do make me laugh at the same time as I'm horrified that some people bought into them. Having said that. Maybe Sanatogen is reason why there are so many funky knitted clothes from the 60's and 70s? Thank you Sanatogen!  

RETRO MAT NR 2

For this retro mat I drew inspiration from one of my grandmother's potholders. Love that it has a 60s-vibe going about it. I'm all geared up to make more in lots of different colours.

I got a comment recently asking what yarn I use for apparel versus houseware items. And I guess I stick to "posher" yarns when it comes to items of clothing than I do for things for around the house. I'm a sucker for soft yarns like alpaca but the yarn I used for this mat is a cheaper craft cotton that I found in this newly opened wool shop in Oxford - Fibreworks.

It's funny how crochet is a seasonal thing as well. Most of the summer I crochet with cotton and during the winter it is all about the alpaca. :)

TEA-TOWEL BOMBAY

I have loads of craft cotton left! And what shall I do with it all? This seemed to be the best way of using it. Bombay is a heavy tea towel that can withstand the heat from a hot pan, straight from the oven, as well as being soft enough to dry one's hands on. This is the towel for every kitchen fanatic. I personally love the fact that I don't have to get the old oven-glove out every time I need to check what is going on in the oven. 

It is made using a simple double/single crochet (UK/US) pattern and it is funny what a bit of colour can do.  

IT'S A JOLLY HOLIDAY

I have just spent a week in Sweden were I visited a small town called Norberg. It's an old mining town from the 15th century with lots of pretty Scandinavian red wooden houses. I'm lucky to have parents who own a summer house out in the middle of Sweden as it makes for a great break from life in Oxford. 

While there I started on one of my most stereotypical crochet projects - a granny square blanket for a friend's baby. It's nice to get into the swing of crocheting again as I have been too busy writing my second book to make things with wool. 

RETRO MAT

A couple of weeks' back I was given a bag full of craft cotton. My friend who bought it thought that it was the same as normal cotton yarn and didn't realise that it is much tougher to knit or crochet with. So I ended up with it instead. I don't mind it being tough, but the natural cotton colour has discouraged me from doing anything with it. Drawing some inspiration from African patterns and the retro-looking doily that I made for my friend's wedding, I came up with this mat. It's funny how a little bit of colour makes such a difference to something that otherwise would just have blended into the background.  

SPRING CLEANING

Last weekend I had a visit from Crafty Magazine, which wanted to take some pictures of where I live. The house has never been this tidy. I'm not going to lie - it was an effort to make everything look nice and neat. Two minutes after they had left, everything was back to normal, with things everywhere. Oh well at least it looked nice for a brief moment. 

This is the start of one of the doilies, for my friend's wedding, based on this design. I don't know if I'm happy with the result yet. This weekend I'm going to Sweden so maybe I can find some cool inspiration from there.

SPRING TOILET MAT

I have worked on this project in stages. Rather than having a plan from the start I have just let it develop. If I'm honest I had no idea what it was going to become when I started but I'm pleased with the result. Goes to show that plans are not always important.  

LOOKING FOR SOME INSPIRATION

One of my friends is getting married in May and she has ordered 5 vintage-style doilies for the day from me. I must confess that I don't have much experience of crocheting doilies, so I thought I would get some inspiration from my countless vintage patterns. Looking at the different patterns I have realised that I have been quite gender-biased in my selection. Lots of cool patterns for guys but not that many doilies. I will have to browse some online resources for some inspiration instead.

I have been obsessed with hats lately. The photo above made me laugh. Either the man to the left is about to floor the man with the crazy-looking balaclava or he is about to kiss him. It could go either way. Life seemed more dramatic in the days before google maps.

STRAWBERRY BLOND

Couples of weeks back, I came up with this idea of crocheting a Strawberry hat. Not until this Christmas did I have time to sit down and make one. Thanks mum for the wool! Perfect for the spring like weather we have got here in Oxford. 

Fashion for women: knitted flowers skirt

Craft lessons: bead crochet