Busy, busy, busy . . . .

I can't believe how quickly this last few weeks have gone by!

I can't remember what I've done, and when, except, of course, for the fact that I seem to have completed a lot of things, craft-wise, except my May challenge, the Ocean Wave Throw :(

I'm not sure whether it's because of the pattern itself, or if it's the yarn I'm using, but I can't seem to concentrate enough on it to finish what I've started! Mind you, I did have to undo half of it, as I'd gone wrong without realising it - and that definitely helped in my losing any real interest in it. But, as I always try to complete whatever I've started, I'm going to soldier on with it, even if I don't finish it in time for the challenge end, on the 15th May! :)

What had got me busy, however, is a complete set of outdoor clothing for a baby - for my future step-grandchild, to be exact :)

This is my second attempt to make an outfit for an actual baby, and I'm pleased to say that it came out the right size this time :)

I chose Lemon for the colour, as we don't know whether the new baby is a girl or boy as yet. 

I used my new batch of Red Heart Super Saver Yarn to make it, and it has turned out really lovely and soft - I also used some pretty organza ribbons for the ties.

I'm really very pleased with this little outfit, and I've enough yarn left over so that, as soon as we find out whether it's a girl or boy, I'll be able to make some leggings to go with it, choosing the style to suit the baby :)

I have to confess that I have actually made a nappy cover (or Diaper cover, as they say in the USA), and it was supposed to go with this set as well, but I didn't realise until I'd almost finished it that it's for a 3-6 month old baby, and not the 0-3 month that the outfit is :/

I'll be sending it along anyway, as it will fit eventually :)

I used exactly the same yarn for it, but I took the photo at night, using electric light, and the colour looks totally different to the rest of the set, which I took using natural light - I didn't realise it made this much of a difference, so I guess I'll be trying to take any other photos of things I make during the daytime from now on! :)

Once I'd finished the set, I did a little bit more of the Ocean Waves throw, but then I received a parcel from a friend, which contained a doll she has owned since she was 3 years old. I had told my friend that I'd crochet a few outfits for Muriel (the doll), as she had just come back from the Doll's hospital, and needed something different from her usual outfit :)

I've just completed the first outfit, and am now starting on the second one. For the first one, I decided to crochet a Red Riding Hood outfit, as I had some lovely red yarn I wanted to use. I had to adapt a couple of patterns I'd found, as Muriel is 21" long, and the only patterns I could find were for 18" dolls. I used the patterns to create a skeleton of the shape, but I totally changed the crochet stitches used, and I also changed the finishing touches, and this made the design uniquely Muriel's :)

Here's the complete outfit:


Here's a photo of the dress:

And here's a close-up of the dress, and the choker I made to disguise the neck joint of the doll:

I also decided to complete the outfit by making some pantalettes to match the dress :)

I had fun making all this, and am now using my friend's favourite peach colour to create a more modern-looking outfit for Muriel. Once it's finished, I'll put a photo on here to show you :)

In the meantime, I also created a couple of things for my daughter, made from some yarn given to me by a friend. The yarn was 50% Cotton, and 50% Acrylic, and I had just enough to make a top, using a great tutorial that Clare, from BobWilson123 fame, made on her site:

The pattern can be found at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDZl1DiwqEc&feature=em-uploademail



I also made a pair of footless sandals to go with the top:

The tutorial for these, and two other versions of the same, come from Clare, too, and can be found at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2R-kYIkPW0&list=TLilQkHWfFhFM

As my daughter has just left after staying for a few days, I've also got a small list of things she'd like me to make for her - a head wrap in 2 different colours and yarns, to keep her dreads out of the way, and a couple of bikini tops, also in different colours and yarns :) 

Once they're finished, I'll post some pics on here so you can see how I did with them :)

And, in between all of this, I really must try to finish that Throw! Lol

Two more down, and the third still lagging . . .

 . . . but I guess that's par for the course when illness interferes with creativity!

I know I should be concentrating on the Ocean Wave Throw that's this month's challenge with The Crochet Crowd, but I have to admit it takes more concentration to do than I seem to have at present, so it tends to be left in the background while I craft other, more easily created, and definitely more fun to create, things :/

I've managed to complete two more items since my last post - a cute little wrist pincushion, and a bed for my cat, Kushka.

The pincushion is in the shape of a frog sitting on a Lily Pad, and I followed the pattern only as far as crafting the frog itself was concerned. Although I need patterns still, I do like to add my own little touch to whatever I do, and with this, I actually crocheted the Lily Pad, whereas the pattern called for a felt one - and as I don't happen to have any felt handy, I looked up a pattern I had for a Lily Pad, and made it myself. It was just the right size, as it happens, so I'm very happy with the result :)

Another thing I added, was a tongue for the frog, as I felt he looked a little unfinished without one :)

As usual with me, it's not the best sewn together of frogs, but I don't expect miracles with my arthritic hands, and am just glad I managed to do it at all :)

The pattern is one that is meant to sit on the wrist of the user, so I sorted out some suitable elastic, and sewed it to the bottom of the Lili Pad, and it looks quite good when worn, so that made me happy, too :)

There was also a choice in the pattern to add a magnetic pad to the mouth as it's sewn together, to hold a needle or pin, and I did add one, but found it isn't really strong enough to work behind the layer of yarn and padding required - if I make another one, I'm just going to have to get stronger magnets, or just not bother at all.

I took quite a few photos of the pincushion but, due to my inexperience with cameras, only managed to get two reasonable ones, so here they are:

It was fortunate that I had a plentiful supply of different safety eyes to make a selection from, and as soon as I saw the eyes on the frog, I knew I'd made a good choice, as they really seem to bring his character alive. The added tongue definitely gives him a cheeky look! Lol

The cat bed I made, wasn't to any particular pattern. I just created a large circle for the base, using single crochet throughout, then I crocheted a tube to surround it, using double crochet this time, and which I then stuffed with the usual safety fibre filling. I then sewed the two parts together. 

I actually used three different strands of yarn for this, in Dusky Lilac, Turquoise, and Black, and I think they made a really nice pattern as they were crocheted together. It certainly makes up for being such a plain bed, and Kushka seems to like it okay :)

All-in-all, it's been a very productive few days, but I know I've got to get back to creating that throw soon, as I really like the five different colours I've chosen to crochet it in, and I'd love to see the completed effect!

I guess I should take my own advice when I say to you, Keep Crocheting! :)

Two down, and one to go . . .

 . . . and then I will have finished the three projects I started last week :)

I finished the second Turtle Pincushion - the one I promised to my good friend, who saw the first and fell in love with it, and I'm very pleased with the way it turned out. I had decided to make this one slightly different from the last, which it was, as I used a different green yarn, as I'd finished up the last of my Red Heart Yarn on the previous Turtle - but I also sewed on a free-hand pattern to resemble the markings on a turtle's shell - it might not be anatomically correct, but it gives the idea :)

I've taken a couple of pics, although they're not as sharp as usual, but it'll give you an idea of how it looks:

I'm very happy with this one, so won't mind handing it over to it's new owner soon :)

My second project, a coiled cushion for our 17-year-old Terrier, Fred Barker, was completed today. It's the first time I've attempted to do something like this and, although it was extremely awkward to do, I'm happy with the result - as is our Fred :)

I used up all those bits and pieces that tend to get left after a project is finished - mainly the multi-coloured, or striped yarn, that wasn't long enough to make anything else with, and I doubled it up with a plain light lavender yarn I have plenty of, to give strength to the cushion. 

It is all washable on a low heat, but we're using a cover over it to save the wear and tear :) 

I made the front section a little lower in the main outer ring, so that Fred doesn't have to stretch to get in it, bless him. He's got arthritis in his back legs, and they're very stiff because of it, so we do what we can to ease things for him :) 

But I know that Fred loves it, as he hasn't stirred since we put it down for him, so we're all happy :)

My third project, The Crochet Crowd May Challenge, is only really just begun. I've done 11 rows of the Ocean Wave Throw, and there are still around 69-70 more to go but, as the challenge only officially starts tomorrow, I'm not worried about finishing it in time :)

In the meantime, as I don't enjoy just working on one project at a time, I'm going to be making a much smaller cushion for our cat, Kushka, to lie on, and I'll also probably have a go at one or two of the other pincushion patterns I've got. It will keep me occupied, and out of trouble, so I'm sure it'll all get done soon enough :)

Keep on crocheting :)

Finding new patterns can be so exciting!

As I'm still feeling the after-effects of the virus, and don't have much stamina for large projects as yet, I decided to look through all my patterns for something quick & easy to do. As it happens, I came across a series of patterns that I'd forgotten I had, so I looked through them all, and came across some for pincushions :)

Now, a Craft friend of mine has just opened for business, sewing all sorts of gorgeous things - including some Owls that I would die for! So, as I thought of her, I decided to make up one of the pincushion patterns as a gift for her.

Although she loves owls, I couldn't find a really nice pattern to use, so I opted for my favourite of the saved patterns - a Turtle - that I thought would be idea to hold her pins.

So, here it is, in a view from above:

And here it is again, in a side view:

Here's a link to Milly's Facebook page, where she sells her beautifully crafted stuff:

https://www.facebook.com/MillyanaTrees

As I've now used up all the remnants of my Red Heart yarn to complete this, I'm now waiting - rather impatiently - for another delivery from America :)

After I'd finished the Turtle pincushion, I thought it would be nice to make a pincushion for myself, and so I sorted out a few more remnants from my Yarn Stash, and made this cute little pattern of a cup of tea. It came out a little crooked, as I overstuffed it, but I'm very happy with it, as it does what it was made for :)

and here's a view from the top:

I've enjoyed doing these so much, I think I'll use up a bit more of my Yarn Stash remnants, and make a few more from the other patterns I've got :)

At least it'll keep me occupied and, along with some more baby blankets, and maybe a neck pillow or two, it will keep me happy until I can make a start on my Crochet Crowd Red Heart challenge :)