Pretty little cardi

My friend at work is having a baby and that just happened to create the perfect excuse to try and crochet something fitting for a baby girl [the blanking mending went on a two day hiatus]. I stumbled across this pattern, the Princess Cardi on Lion Brand and being a "novice" at crocheting clothes I thought why not. After having a few technical difficulties with the tension  [it stated it required a 4mm hook but my version wasn't getting anywhere near the stated size, being over an inch and a half short so a move to a 5mm hook was perfect] it ended up being a gorgeous little coat in this pomegranate pink. 

It was a very simple pattern made up of half trebles throughout [UK term] so I messed around and created a half treble come treble curving edging around the collar and bottom. Just finished off with a cutey little pink button thifted from the HUGE button tin we keep. It took less then a day to make [it was just stop start due to work].With the pattern being free and the two 100g double knitting wool only costing £2.90 just made me realise how much more cheaper it is to make baby clothes into comparison to buying an equivalent. Plus I have 3/4 of a ball of wool left [more for squares!].

But the result has made me rather broody and wanting babies ... oops.Or maybe it is utterly rubbish? Who knows!

Still a work in progress ... I like my long ends

The finished front

My thrifted button which was lucky enough to be the perfect colour match

The fancy shaped edging I added at the bottom of the cardi just to jazz it up a little.

Tadaaaaaa!

And if you have any ideas for the York trip [see yesterdays blog] please share them! We need ideas!!

We lovebirds need your help, bloggers

Me and JJ have a week off together next week while he's jetting in to visit me and we could do with some ideas just so we have a huge possible list of things to do. And what a better place to ask then via my blog which JJ helps out with anyway, and his was his idea. I might work in York and live near it but i'm off to pretend to be a tourist for the week. 

Apart from being oh so very hyper about having a week with the love of my life I just can't wait for us to have 'us' time. So the question I pose to you dear readers is; what can the American and the English girlie do together that's cheap [actually it doesn't have to be cheap but shhhh], fun and a little different in York?

 They can be BIG ideas or little ones. Places to shop, eat, gaze at or even avoid.

Standards and doilies?

Keep forgetting I've made a mountain of doilies [two of which were made while I was away] and never got around to posting them. An article linked on Raverly regarding Dora Ohrenstein's article regarding if there needs to be the introduction of "standards" within crocheting like [using her example] you'd find within music, particular opera. 

In a way I get her point to an extent but I think she's stereotyping to make her point. She's trying to state that people are attracted to the more chunky, quicker, thicker "easy" patterns rather then complicated patterns like doilies. I think in a way it's the result of the society in which we live not the fault or a measure of the crocheter. With consumerism and commercialism we've grown into a "have me now" society and mode of being. Therefore "easy" patterns reflect this. But that is not to say this makes the crocheter any less of one, or less talented. Anything that keeps crocheting going and being passed down should be welcomed. I think any introduction of standards would only create a hierarchical system of perhaps those who see their selves as above and beyond a mere scarf or granny square crocheter. A crocheter is a crochet whatever they make.

But that is just my view for what ever it is worth. 

However her paragraph regarding doilies made me smile. They seem to be now a somewhat neglected into the era of vintage crocheting rather then something people are seen to still be making;

"Take a good look at any doily you can get at a flea market for $5 and you will see some pretty awesome handiwork. The stitching is usually beautiful, and the design concept -- extraordinary!  How did the designers of them come up with these intricate patterning ideas, and know how to keep their circle flat (in the case of round doilies).  This is way before computer models!  Further, they represent a compendium of historical techniques:  motifs, ways to attach them, ways to create all kinds of patterns and figures using stitches"

 However, going on to suggest that because we are in a standardless craft;

"doilies, and a lot of other examples of high level crochet, are not given their due, because the expertise that went into them is not valued, nor understood."  

Yet you can be a mere novice, a crochet expert or someone that's never touched crochet to value the craft and talent required to make one. Right? Even by dad can see a good bit of crocheting and he wouldn't know how to start! Doilies have been what I really used to teach myself how to crochet on my second amttempt after all the years had passed since making that blanket using my gran's old patterns. I think the challenge of their shapes, patterns and designs made it an appealing challenge. They may be a bit "old fashioned" but i've found them an ideal soft place to display my compact collection upon.

Either way here's my latest batch;

From top left; 'Luzern', 'Paris' [close up] second row from the right; 'Paris', 'Starfish', 'Siena'. 
Luzern, Paris and Siena patterns were taken from; The Prettiest Doilies, 1989, while Starfish was taken from Twilleys of Stanford Crochet for your home 1976.

How cute?!

How cute is this crocheted Noah's Ark blankie?!

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I found it while searching around on the Raverly website [it's under Noah's art blanket]. Its so cute, it makes me want to have babies just to make it. I love how neat the above blanket is, very professional!

It's cute to see all the other peoples versions of it too. It's what I love about Raverly, not only for its community but to be able to share your projects and see different versions of the same thing. I just end up queuing a load of projects every time I log on!

Just another project to add to the future to do someday, one day list!

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The next BIG project

I learnt to crochet way before I was properly interested in being crafty. I'm not really sure why I wanted to learn, or even how it came about. I tried learning to knit countless times but I couldn't and still can't get my head around it. Maybe crocheting seemed the better alternative at the time. 

I can't remember how old I was either when I started learning but i'm thinking I was somewhere between 12 and 15. My minds rubbish enough that I can't really remember making my first crocheted "thing" - a blanket made up of granny squares, all I remember is running out of my first lot of background colour and having to get the next nearest shade. The final result, this blanket [right] is how I learnt to crochet. I finished the blanket and at the same time I finished crocheting until I inherited the hooks and books from my gran last autumn. 

What I made was this huge 345, 4 inch piece granny squared blanket to fit a just over the size of the average single bed in 15 X 23 length rows. To be honest it's a bit too big and it weights a tonne but it keeps me warm on the coldest of Yorkshire nights and was one of the things I loved looking forward to getting into bed and snuggling when I was coming home for visits when I was away at university for four years. 

 

However there are some problems with it these days. I made this blanket without the proper understanding that you only get with time and experience for the need to fasten off and leave a decent [yet sewn in] end to your yarn. Night time pulling and being kicked around as seen just a far few of the yarns parting company in a number of ways. 

A far few of the squares have lost their insides, their edges just flapping open. One had its trail of wool still dangling, another had totally parted from the corner with only one edge still intact.

So as of last Sunday while watching The Open I began unpicking the poor thing. So far 20 odd squares have been regulated [no worries the wool will be reused]. Luckily most of the injured squares lie weirdly on the last two lines around the blankie. Bar about three so very close to the centre [gutted]. Patches will be hopefully reused with a new strip added around the edge in a gorgeous variegated pink yarn.  But do I keep the squares granny in design for the new strip? Or favour one of my favourite square pattern that i've used in my recent Americana cushion cover - I've heard the pattern being termed under numerous definitions from the Afghan to cluster square [but its the one in the picture at the bottom].

Its going to be the pretty little BIG project to jump back and forth between my work days, one thing I hate about not being a lady of leisure is missing out on all the days I could be busy crocheting and making things! And hopefully one day it'll still be lasting the test of time for perhaps my own children to curl up underneath.

Who says fashion and golf don't mix?!

Especially with John Daly's ode to his American homeland with these smashing stars and stripes trousers!

However ... if they were pj bottoms I would TOTALLY wear them. But don't you use love them? Daly's always had a bit of a reputation when it comes to the gordiness of his leg-wear, but I think it always adds to the enjoyment, least he can be seen on the middle of any fare way. Even The Telegraph admitted that "Golf will lose something when John Daly is forced to stub it out" but that's mainly in reference to his smoking.

Shame he didn't hold up his good run on the first day or that little [I can call him little seeing he's two years younger then me, although its strangely weird when famous/in the media people start to be younger then you are, makes me feel strangely old] Rory didn't top his -9 lead from Thursday. 

Anyway ... yes I am strangely admitting my golf obsession. I secretly long to see a PGA golf match. But shh my secret.

Oh and it's off to be more then hard going back to work after having two weeks off. I really don't want to go back, i'm getting my boredom bug from it. Hmmm. 

Step into a secret garden

One of the things I enjoyed the most about Dumfries and Galloway is that it really is a hidden gem. Not being overly touristy and therefore not heavy advertised places along the "tourist" trail are relativity quiet and compared to the rest of the UK overly cheap [think £4 entry in to a garden and castle here - Castle Kennedy, compared to perhaps double that back in Yorkshire].

Hidden away on the road to Stranear is a hidden little former castle and it's landscaped gardens. When Castle Kennedy was originally built it was constructed upon a natural island, surrounded by loch's. Now the same lochs proved a micro climate influenced by the gulf stream offers the environment a changing a fresh landscape of plants in comparison to the rest of the UK. 

Destroyed by fire in 1716, rumour has it by a maid which failed to put a fire out properly, Castle Kennedy now is the focal point of the estate. One that holds acres of woodland, a walled traditional garden, a monkey puzzle run and a huge, huge water lily pond.

[Bottom left & top right] although I loved the creeping trees and brushes growing up, out and into the tumbling castle, it seemed somewhat more of a Victorian folly, as a focal point for gardening rather then what it formally was. Which I guess is why it never got rebuilt or made more visitor friendly. I guess in a dream like, favour the tourist it would have been somewhat more romantisied if they could have made the castle more open to creep and crawl inside rather then closed off. But in the era of "health and safety" I guess this is a long gone occurrence.

What makes a walled garden traditional is its sense of your basic, floral and gorgeous smelling plants. Approached through a a creaking iron gate reveals its sound of buzzing bees, a gardener seeing to his weeds, and the shade of the nearby woods. Hidden behind a large stone wall, its act like a huge sun trap, sheltering the visitor from the breezy Scottish wind while offering a clay red backdrop for flowers and trees alike. 

If you fancy a castle, some romance, miles of wooded walks and pretty flowers you can't go much wrong.

How to find the best place in the house ...

.... is to follow the kitty cat!

Or maybe Edders is getting ready for a holiday we don't know about yet?!

The highlands of the low lands

They claim, well the tourist information and boards claim that Dumfries and Galloway is the Highlands of the Lowlands, and you can more then see why. Think the Highlands meets the Lake District but with a hell of a lot less tourists mingling around and getting in the way. As a totally undiscovered area it's not the best if your wanting a break filled with museums and inside things to do, it's more of a back to nature, get up into the hills, forests or beaches while being blown and more often then not, drizzled on.

As a landscape it was gorgeous as the pictures show

The view over the Loch towards the site of King Robert's defeat of the British Army in 1307. This is reputed to be the first battle in English history to use guerilla tactics with the Scots throwing stones down the mountain upon the heads of their English rivals. A huge marker stands at the site of the above photograph in the Glentrool Forest Park north of Newton Stuart. [click on the above image for a larger copy]

One of the great things about Scottish Forest Parks, or at least the Galloway version is that they are free to visit. They are a hive of activity for walkers, mountain bikers and tourist alike. Often with a small tourist information place and miles of car drives, view points and footpaths both on and off road.

It is landscapes, environments and wildlife like the above that is influencing my love for photography and getting a "proper" hi-tech camera. Here is for dreaming for the time being.

4th of July squares .... [just 8 days late]

With an American boyfriend I have an increasing affection for American things. Finding the "4th of July" pattern in what's become my Granny Square crochet bible by Jan Eaton I found the perfect excuse to waste some of the spare wool. I've been working on the project on and off for a few weeks, for some reason it's become a bit of a jump and learning curve going from dollies to squares. Anyway without boring you all with the details here is the finished article. 

The adapted 4th of July pattern, changing the top and side middle pieces from the original.

The back with a pastel based design

Baby meeeeeerkats, simples!

I guess the main highlight mainly because of the sere amount of enjoyment of visiting the Galloway Wildlife Sanctuary just outside Kirtcumbright. Insert small print about the issues people have with zoos; I know there is a spilt when it comes to "zoos" but these animals were often rescued from poor housing conditions and given a new chance or where born there. All the pens where huge, green and were in marked contrast to some of the conditions you'll find in zoos.

Anyway the meerkat babies [both nameless] where born at the start of June and had only recently started to be brought up out of their underground borrows by their mum. They loved rolling, biting and playing with each other in the summer sunshine while their parents take in turns standing guard with a cheeky stare at their visitors. They were totally characters. I know the British have a slight affection for meerkats since the "simples" car insurance advert and they don't fail to entertain.

But there is the important side, while they are cute they aren't pets whatever image the adverts like to depict.

Cue the caption

Sorry I seem to have vanished off the face of the earth. Being away from blogger coincided with trying to have a break away from the world of blogging, to try and refind myself you could say - I think I got very worn down with trying to find something fun, and new and interesting to say alongside the vast sea of more interesting blogs then my own. Being worn out at work wasn't helping and for the last week I was away with the folks on my jolly holidays.

They ended up going to this small town [Wigtown] in Dumfries and Galloway - I just cheekily tagged along. It's very much a very forgotten part of the Scottish tourist trail, but it's just as beautiful as any of the other more tourist perceived Scottish areas. 

But anyway, as a slight "i'm back" I thought i'd leave you with this happy little creature I saw the other day at the wildlife sanctuary. Pictures really do say a thousand words. So enter your captions if you will - there's nothing to win, just a bit of fun!