2 months!

Really, it's been 2 months since I posted?! Wow....

Well I guess I do really have an excuse, I've been really busy and worn out making this little bean:

We're all very excited, none more so than Robyn who wants her baby brother or sister to come out *soon*!!! So the fatigue has really hit my creativity, although now I'm 15 weeks along the tiredness seems to be fading and I have finally finished my crochet along shawl:

I really enjoyed making this, especially as it's the most complex pattern I've tried and I did it by following the chart rather than the written pattern! It's called the Elise Shawl and you can find it on Ravelry

I have a few festive makes to turn my attention to now, then once Christmas has been I'll be making baby things! We have our second scan in about a month and we hope to be able to find out baby's gender, so I should be able to colour co-ordinate my new makes! I'll have until Easter as my due date is Saturday 7th, which is Easter Weekend.... and no we won't be calling baby "Jesus"!

I hope to be in a much more creative mood now and get back into visiting my bloggy friends, I've missed you all but have been too pooped to pop by!

Crochet catch up

Wow, 4 weeks and no blogging feels like longer to be honest!

It's the summer holidays here which doesn't effect us too much to be honest, the local sure start centre runs a summer programme for toddlers so we have things to keep us busy. Some sessions are better than others... Robyn particularly loves the crafty fun ones, the messier the better!

I've been crocheting up a storm, 2 friends have had babies so I've made 2 ripple blankets:

I'm also very nearly finished a wrap in soft grey for me to wear at a wedding we're going to next month. This is an early WIP picture, it's much, much bigger now!!

My other crochet project is an Elise Shawl which I'm doing as part of a CAL (crochet along) on Ravelry. For the first time *ever* I'm following a crochet chart and for this particular pattern it's much easier for me to follow than the text pattern! As above this has grown significantly since I took this picture (you'll have to excuse the shoddy quality of this shot it was taken on my phone!)

OH and I are off to the Olympic Park in Stratford this week for the test Basketball games! Will be great to see the Park up close rather than in passing on the train, can't wait! Other than that not much planned here other than keeping Robyn occupied which is easier said than done let me tell you.. in September she will be starting playschool twice a week and I really think she's ready for it now!!

Crochet creations

I've taken this rare opportunity afforded to me by Robyn having a nap (not something she's done regularly since November 2010) to create a photo mosaic of my crochet creations. I just wanted to be able to see them altogether in a Pinterest* stylee to see if I had a specific style or colour fondness. I'm not sure that I do! As with most of my life I seem to be rather eclectic in my tastes! For example a playlist I created on my ipod recently feature David Bowie, Queen, Jimi Hendrix, Thin Lizzy, Take That, Robbie Williams (well th

at had to happen seeing as I was lucky enough to get a ticket for their recent Wembley gig!), the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, songs from the Glee soundtracks, Michael Jackson, Guns n Roses... etc etc etc!!

I should be trying to finish this crochet ripple blanket, as I started it last week for a friend who was rather heavily pregnant, now she's a Mummy to a little baby girl so I'd like to get it finished asap. I'm still a little worried that it seems a bit "boy-ish" in colour, despite the lovely peeps on Ravelry saying otherwise. I'm thinking that a yellow shell border or a crocheted daisy may girly-fy it a bit!!! But first I think I need to wake Sleeping Beauty so we can have some lunch, it's almost 2pm!!

*Pinterest - a great web/mobile app to create virtual pinboa

rds of all the great inspiration you find around the net. I've already made a couple of foodie items found there and employed a couple of household tips too. It's fab!!

Fellow yarn lovers can find me on Ravlery under the user name traceychorley, I look forward to seeing you there!

Poncho reveal!

So last night I finished off Robyn's poncho and I couldn't be more chuffed with it! She was a bit stand-offish about this morning but did give in an model it a bit earlier for me. I'll have to get better pictures of that tomorrow as a) she was shattered after 2 hours in the park and looked like she'd been dragged through a hedge backwards, and b) the picture is on my ipod and I can't figure out how to add it here!!

Anyway all I can say is that this pattern was a doddle to follow, the first time I've used just a chart and I think I may well make some more as gifts. I added a cord on my mum's advice as the head opening was a little big (I made it that way as I knew Robyn wouldn't wear it if it were too tight and also want the poncho to last!!!) and I think I'll crochet up a couple of flowers to add to the end of the cord, once that's done I'll post a few pics of Robyn wearing it!
Unfortunately I now have to spend this evening ironing as I've done nothing all week as I've been hooking up a storm! Oh well, no rest for the wicked!

Thanks again to Le Monde de Sucrette for the pattern.

Poncho love

I know it may seem crazy, it's the hottest day of the year by a long long way yet I've been crocheting a poncho for Robyn! Oh well, it will probably be freezing cold again next week!

I think we only need 3 or 4 more rounds and a shell border before it's done. I've loved it from the first round and thankfully so has Robyn. The neck is a little wide than it probably normal but I know Robyn will hate it if it's too tight, also we should get more wear out of it this way.

I found the pattern on ravelry, it's from Le Monde de Sucrette

Granny lap blanket

Just before I settle down to watch the Monaco Grand Prix and carry on hooking up a sun hat for Robyn I thought I'd share this blanket that I finished earlier this week as a present for a friend's birthday:I made it using yarn I had in my stash, 16 5-round granny squares and 4 larger squares called Willow which I got from 200 Crochet Blocks. It's a truly fabulous book and I urge anyone who loves crocheting blocks to look into it, I borrowed it from my sister when I started crocheting earlier this year and when she asked for it back I really missed it!

Friday Thrift

It's not often that I go for a mooch around the charity shops in Rayleigh, but today I just fancied it. So Robyn and I hopped on the bus and that's where our luck started. I only had a £10 note and as the bus driver couldn't change it he let us on the bus for free!! As we got off in town I asked if he could change it and he said not to worry! How nice was that?!
We went into 5 different charity shops and I bought something in each one, that never happens!
Robyn did pretty well, one kid's craft book for a £1A couple of Disney books, for 50p each and a magnet animal book (the magnets are now stuck on my lounge radiator) that doesn't look like it's ever been used for £1I got these crochet patterns for 10p each and a teeny tiny 1.5mm crochet hook for 10p too!
I also got this lovely Readers Digest sewing book for £2
and this embroidery pattern booklet for 70p which I'm giving to my Mum!
Finally I bought 2 vases which match my kitchen/dining room really well!
This little one is just the same colour as the dark teal tiles we have on the kitchen wall, bought for £2
and this is my piece de resistance, it matches almost exactly the paint we have bought to paint the kitchen and dining room walls. Isn't it a beauty! It was the most expensive item I bought today at £8.50 but I couldn't leave without it! I doubt I'll get so lucky next time I go rummaging, fingers crossed though!

Creative Space

Another Thursday and another Creative Space. This week I'm working on making these granny squares into lap blanket using up some left over cream and pink yarn that I found in my wool bag as a gift for a friend (I'm pretty certain she doesn't read this so it's ok to share this pic!). It can only be a lap blanket as I don't have much of the cream yarn and I have no idea what it is as it had no band on it. It's DK weight and really smooth, I'm sure I only bought it to practise crocheting when I first tried to learn and I'm really sure that it was bought because it was the cheapest one in HobbyCraft!! If anyone has any suggestions as to what it may be I'd be grateful!! I suspect it's a synthetic cotton effect yarn as it's made of about 6 strands... but I could well be wrong!

I'm also very pleased to be able to share with you my finished summery mesh shawl/scarf. It was adapted from a pattern in Cute & Easy Crochet by Nicki Trench. I used a heavier weight yarn so it didn't go quite as far and it is more of a scarf than a shawl, but I am happy as larry with the finished item!

Creative Space Thursday

I'm working on this granny square lap blanket using up some left over cream and pink yarn that I found in my wool bag as a gift for a friend (I'm pretty certain she doesn't read this so it's ok to share this pic!). It can only be a lap blanket as I don't have much of the cream yarn and I have no idea what it is as it had no band on it. It's DK weight and really smooth, I'm sure I only bought it to practise crocheting when I first tried to learn and I'm really sure that it was bought because it was the cheapest one in HobbyCraft!!

I'm very pleased to be able to share with you a picture of my finished summery mesh shawl/scarf. It was adapted from a pattern in Cute & Easy Crochet by Nicki Trench. I used a heavier weight yarn so it didn't go quite as far, but I am happy as larry with the finished item!

That's all for this week - let's hope blogger isn't broken any more and this post finally gets posted and stays up, fingers crossed!!

catch up!

Well, it's been a couple of weeks and for that I apologise, I do, however, have a reason/excuse. This Wednesday Robyn came down with the dreaded Chicken Pox which would explain her general grouchiness and clinginess of the past fortnight.

So our plans for this long weekend have been completely scuppered as we're stuck at home until her gazillions of red spots clear up. I thought I'd write a wee blog post.

I realised I'd not shared this photo of a cute crochet pin cushion I'd made for my mum as a Mothers' Day gift:

So, crochet is still my number one hobby obsession at the moment, although my creative mind is turning to thoughts of a hexagon patchwork quilt... oh and gardening, well we've been spending a lot of time in the garden and for the first time in the 6 years that we've lived here I'm really happy with our outside space. It's been resplendent with tulips and I now have just a dozen or so waiting to open up and they look like they'll be corkers!

Pink fluffy tulips:

Crochet hexxy throw, it's getting bigger!:

Crochet mesh summery shawl/scarf, using Sublime Cashmere, Merino, Silk blend.. it's so soft and crocheting up really fast! I'm following a pattern from my newest crochet book, Cute & Easy Crochet by Nicki Trench. A fabulous book!

I'm now under orders from a spotty Robyn to help her draw picture of Peppa Pig and Tinker Bell in her "Scientific Fairy Journal" (a quote from her current favourite Tinker Bell film, the Great Fairy Rescue). Hopefully she'll get over the Chicken Pox soon! She watched the Royal Wedding dressed as a bridesmaid yesterday... I'll get the pictures from Colin and share soon!

Crochet hexagon throw

It's a work in progress, 13 hexxies down, quite a few more to go!

So far, so good... although Robyn now wants a Daddy lion and a Robyn (baby) lion, and I think a penguin too!! Oh yes and a big squishy Lucy owl.. I think I'm going to be busy...

Bernard the Owl

And so he is done, and I think Robyn loves him!

As with all her toys she has named him Bernard (pronounced with the emphasis on the "nard" after the head-elf in the Santa Clause film). All her toys are named either Lucy (another character in this film!) or Bernard, it's March but we've watched it twice this week! I think I could quote the entire script for this film now!!

Back to the hexxy blanket this weekend, must take some pictures of that, hopefully we'll have some sunshine tomorrow.

Creative Space Thursday

Today it's all about owls. I bought this cute little specimen in the charity shop yesterday for the princely sum of £1.50! I've been working on a hexagon throw this past week and everyday Robyn has said the hexxies look like owls eyes and asked me to make her an owl. So, we have put the hexagon throw to one side for a couple of days whilst I try and make an owl - without a pattern. I guess you could say I'm "winging" it!!

Don't forget to stop by Kirsty's place to see more creative spaces.

Apologies for the picture today - it's so grey and dull here (again!) that I just can't seem to do any better!

Creative Space Thursday

My creative space this week has been all about finishing the rainbow Granny Square:

Robyn loves it - her first words upon seeing it were "Wow, I love it!"

I'm now starting on a list of smaller crochet projects, a few gifts to be made before embarking on something different, and for once, for me!

I bought this lovely soft DK Smoothie yarn at the weekend and intend to make either a granny square blanket/afghan (I'm not entirely sure what the difference between afghan and blanket is?) or a throw made from crocheted hexagons or african flowers. I need to get the small gifts made and spend some time persuing ravelry and flickr for inspiration!

I won't have much time for crocheting this weekend as Colin and I are off to see the NBA Basketball at the O2 on Friday night, we also are planning a once in a blue moon shopping trip for Saturday (we all 3 of us need new clothes) and we have the in-laws for Sunday lunch before they babysit for us that evening whilst we're out at a comedy gig. As much as this is all fun stuff (shopping on a Satuday is not so much fun but needs doing) I'm kind of looking forward to a quiet week next week! That is until Friday when I'm off to a quilt show with my mum and sister.... crazy times!

Don't forget to stop by Kirsty's place to see more creative spaces, always inspiring!

Creative Space Thursday

I'm pleased to report that at last it feels like Spring here today, not least because the sun is shining and the chilly air has gone but also due to the bright rainbow granny square that I'm currently crocheting!

I'm also pleased to report that the bag in my last post is finished and I've also made 2 hats this past week: 1 as a gift for a friend's new baby and the other for Robyn (she declared she *had* to have one after she saw the one for baby May!).

Don't forget to pop by Kirsty's place for more Creative Spaces!

Creative Space Thursday

Some very relaxing in-the-round treble stitch crochet for me this week. This is going to be either a bag or a basket, I've not quite decided how I'm going to finish this... handles or a turn-over top. Either way it's very cathartic and I'm enjoying this... by the way the colours match the new tiles in my kitchen!

Last week's Creative Space squares have now been turned into this little bag for Robyn, who has declared it as "beautiful".

Pop on over to Kirsty's space to mooch through more Creative Spaces this Thursday.

Granny Square Bag

The little stack of squares that featured in Thursday's Creative Space post have now been blocked and stitched together to make a bag! I'm really pleased with how this has come together and how quickly it has too... now what to make next?

I have some teal, slate and cream chunky wool but I'm not sure what to turn that into.. am thinking some kind of storage basket to use for work in progress. Watch this space!

Notes:
This bag was Totally inspired by Lily/Sugar’n’cream. I used a different granny square design (Tricolour Square, design 35 from 200 Crochet Blocks book by Jan Eaton) and after blocking the squares I simply joined them with a row of double crochet (UK stitch). Handles are 2 lenghts of granny stripe.

Creative Space Thursday

A very portable creative space for me at the moment.. I've been crocheting on the sofa, at the kitchen table, even in bed. I couldn't be happier!

I've finally figured out how to read granny square patterns, these squares have 6 double treble clusters in them.. get me! I never thought I'd know what that meant, let alone be able to do it! (I am easily pleased)

Pop over to Kirsty's space to see lots more links to more creative spaces!

Crochet crazy

As you may have gathered from my last couple of posts lately it's all about crochet here!

I've wanted to learn for years, since my sister Kate started making amazing stuff around the time her son arrived on the scene. Well, until I stopped working in London and became a full-time mum I guess I didn't really have the time and/or focus to do it. Now things are different and I can triple treble stitch a yo-yo flower almost (almost!) without thinking about it!

Thanks to inspiration and encouragement from my crochet Twitter friends I've also managed to finally work out how to read patterns and have produced 3 different granny squares woo-hoo!

I've made a fair few beanie hats and ruffle scarves and have just this weekend finished my first proper "grown-up" project: a ripple blanket for Robyn. She already has a gorgeous one that Kate made for her when she was born, and I had envied the ripply-ness of it since that day. I can't believe I've been able to make one!! AND Robyn seems to like it!

I have to say a huge Thank You to Lucy at Attic24 for the clearest ever Neat Ripple Pattern and the bucket-load of inspiration to be found on her blog - go visit it now!

I'm now making a bag (another of Lucy's patterns!), although now I'm 14 rounds into it I'm not all that sure about the colours so it may end up becoming Robyns!

Folksy Friday - crochet patterns

Following on from last weeks crochet materials inspired Folksy Friday this week I've found 6 fabulous patterns available to buy or download on Folksy, I think I'll be pootling over there to purchase some of these!
Click on the link and you'll be taken directly to the stores, enjoy!