Times are changing!

You might have noticed my recent cheeky name change. After much deliberation about what I want to do with my increasing interest in crochet, I've decided to take a bit more of a proactive interest in sharing my projects on this blog. Hopefully I can inspire some peeps and encourage more of us young bloods to take up hooking ;) Being a hooker is FUN.

Since my last post, which was quiteeeee some time ago, I've finished some quite large and some special smaller projects.

African Flower Baby Blanket

Made with love for one of my best friends who is due with her first next month (gender unknown). Although I'd really hate to count how many hours I actually spent making this one, I really, really enjoyed it - it was particularly special. Barbara Smith's beautiful African Flower Square Tutorial was my starting point - head here if you want to create your own.

Finished Product getting blocked

Hunted around everywhere for a cheap version of these kids puzzle squares - Kmart is your go-to!

Construction. Unwelcome helper, Miss Z.

What happens when you don't sew in your ends as you go. Left with a tangly nightmare. 

Can't remember what wool I used for this off the top of my head...oops.

Lalylala Amigarumi Toys (see http://www.lalylala.com/)

I've made quite a few of the funky cute Lalylala toys now - once you've done one, the rest seem to happen quite easily! Having a stitch marker is my biggest tip for anyone who want to create amigarumi toys and the like. I can't believe I did my first Lalylala toy without a stitch marker....I'm surprised it's bottom didn't end up around it's head.....

Meet Fibi the Fox!

I find these toys excellent gifts for friends' kids- girls and boys alike. I've recently finished another of the Lalylala toys but as I haven't yet gifted it...it can't yet be revealed! It's pretty cute....

Yoga (or "shopping") bag

After getting annoyed about having to take all my "stuff" to yoga without a bag (being my towel, water bottle, keys, wallet....those essentials), I decided to make myself something for a change.

Present for self

There's sooo many crochet bag patterns around, but I really liked this striped Textured Mesh Tote Bag - you can buy the pattern here. Couldn't get the colours for the bag I wanted, but what I did get I ended up quite happy with. I used Lily Sugar & Cream wool - it's brilliant for this type of thing (I'd probably find it too stiff for making much else than bags, bowls etc.).

Hopefully my next post won't be too far off - I've got a lot of projects on the go and about to start a new one tonight...perhaps a preview blog of the yarn I bought today might be in order...

Till then....be a hooker but don't judge me.

Lots of babies (and lots of projects!)

I'm quite happily occupied with my baby crochet projects at the moment. Tons of friends are having babies (I must be at that "age"...), and I absolutely love making things for their bubs. 

Based on the Attic24 Neat Ripple Pattern (http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/neat-ripple-pattern.html), I recently finished this for my friend's bub. Not knowing whether it was going to be a boy or a girl, I threw some crazy colours together, mixed up with black, white, different shades of pink and blue and even a fluro green. I really wanted a "Missoni" inspired colour scheme (but perhaps in more "fun" and kid happy colours). At first I was really unsure about the colour combination I'd chosen. I have a terrible habit of starting things, not being sure about them, then never finishing them. But I am SO glad I finished this one, because I think it came out looking pretty rad for the little baby boy that now has it in his pram!

Neat Ripple Blanket for Baby Boy H.

Baby blanket detail. It's really important when I'm making these baby blankets that the wool is nice and soft. Nothing worse than an itchy blanket...and a baby that can't even say anything about it!

Another friend is expecting a bub and I'll be able to reveal what I made for her after this coming weekend...although I get excited at what I've finished, I'd hate to spoil the surprise. 

Going to try get back into the Janie Crow Crochet Club this weekend too. Crochet Club started in February, and involves them sending you a pattern every month until you put it all together at the end for the "big reveal" (have a look at http://www.janiecrow.co.uk/jshop/article.php/9/crochet_club). It's pretty awesome as they send you all the wool and beading...all the way from the UK. Due to my home reno's/other craziness, embarrassingly I'm still stuck on the February patterns and haven't gone any further. Now I've finished my latest baby project though, it's time I started to catch up...! 

Where I left off...Janie Crow Crochet Club