Crochet extravaganza 2011

Throughout 2011, whenever I had a spare moment, the chances are that I was sat, hook in hand, crocheting up a storm just like in this picture. Here is a summary of sorts, in glorious multi-colour, of some of the things that I made over the last 12 months, as a fair few of them were created pre-blog and haven't had a chance to shine online......

I began the year with a rather ambitious project - my first giant blanket. I picked out the colours in nice calming shades of blue and purple and got the wool for my birthday and then began hooking up giant squares of half double crochet to make a warm and sturdy patch-workish blanket. This has kept us nice and warm all year and I can confirm that it is the perfect blanket for keeping warm at nap time...

In February I hooked up a pretty flower shawl for my mum...

made a string of crochet hearts for my lovely man for a valentine's day surprise (like pretty much everything else that gets put up in this flat it's stayed up ever since, hehe)...

and I started my granny coat (a project that kept me busy well into March)...

In April, I whipped up a wee crochet purse for a present...

and then got going on this rather bright granny lap blanket for my nan as a little easter present...

At the start of May I spent a week in the Welsh mountains, climbing hills, spotting butterflies and birds, drinking around bonfires, and crocheting up a multicolour flower shawl for myself....

I made a steady stream of crochet slippers throughout the year for various people. These are a pair that I made for myself in June...

In July, I finally thought of a use for the leftover wool from my flower shawl and hooked and stitched up this granny square bag (used everyday since)...

In August, I got busy with bobbles and hooked up my bobble berry cardigan in time for autumn, although it's only just got cold enough to appreciate its cosyness...

In September I began this diamond patchwork blanket (documenting my progress regularly throug October and November, but failing to show you the finished item. The edge is long since finished and even all the pesky ends are well on their way to being tucked neatly away now, so expect a final ta-da anytime soon)...

In November, I hooked up a happy yellow birthday hat (I've also made a fair few others of these in various shades of the rainbow over the year. It's a happy, easy pattern)...

In November, I gave into my scarf addiction and whipped up this circle shawl...

And seeing as the gifts have all been given, here's a few other projects I completed in December. A ripply, bright, happy blanket...

And a granny circle scarf....

Phew, that was fun! I can't wait to get started on some new projects for 2012!
x

DIY: Easiest Christmas garland ever!

Here's how to add a bit of festive charm to your home with a very simple garland....

You will need:
Felt, in festive colours (I used green and red)
Ribbon, in festive colours (I used gold and green)
Glue
Paper for a template

1. Decide what festive message you want to create for your home. You can be as imaginative or as simple as you like. I went with the basic "Ho ho ho!" because it only required 2 letters! I also decided to make some pretty stars. You could use any festive shapes, such as holly leaves, Christmas trees or candy canes -use your imagination!

2. Make a template for your letters with paper. Make sure they are clear and easy to cut out.

3. Carefully cut the shapes out of your felt. It might help to draw around the templates on the felt first. This way you can arrange the template to get as many shapes out of your felt as possible. Use contrasting colours for an extra pretty garland!

4. Glue your shapes onto your length of ribbon, taking care to space them evenly and to leave space at the end to attach your ribbon to the wall. Make sure to protect your worksurface with newspaper or you might accidentally glue your garland to the floor/table (I know this from experience!). Leave to dry for a few hours or overnight. You can make short garlands to hang over doorways or in the window, or make extra long ones that go all the way across the room!

This one goes all the way across the room


This little one goes on the window with some tinsel :)

5. Hang your lovely garland! At this point I recommend putting on some Christmas songs. Mulled wine is also an excellent refreshment to sip whilst admiring your handywork :)

x

Autumn leaves: a garland DIY

I love autumn leaves, they're so colourful and bright. One last burst of life before slowly but surely, they detach themselves ones by one and float to the ground. I have a special theory of my own about why the leaves change colour. It involves a team of well organised fairy folk, many tiny pots of paint in all shades of red, gold, yellow and brown and a many a well-coordinated sleepness night of leaf painting mischief. Whatever really goes on in the treetops, I like to collect pretty leaves all autumn long. Many of my big heavy books are hazardous once taken off the bookshelf, as opening them causes a flurry of carefully pressed leaves to fall out. I put them in year after year and forget about them. Inevitably they fade and become so fragile and delicate that they are in fact useless. This year, I wanted to put some of them to a more decorative use instead of hiding them away to be forgotten about. So here's what I did.

1. I collected leaves of different colours and shapes.

2. Once home, I wiped them clean and then coated each side with a nice thick layer of pva glue before leaving them to dry overnight.

3. I cut a length of ribbon and then carefully stapled each leaf to the ribbon, spacing them out carefully so each one could be seen and admired. (this was quite a delicate process and caused a couple of the smaller, more fragile leaves to tear. Itn hindsight, i might have been better to glue them, but I wanted instant results and this worked nicely enough).

4. I bluetacked my new leafy garland to the wall.

5. I stepped back to admire it :)

Here it is, in all its leafy autumnal glory hanging on my wall....

And some close-ups...

Hopefully the layer of glue will preserve the leaves so I can enjoy the garland for a few weeks whilst the rest of the trees change colour....

Why not make a leafy garland of your own? x