CAL as-we-go stripey blanket, week 4!

This week was relatively straightforward, mostly DC (US terminology) and HDC rows. 

We had the addition of the bobble stitch this week though!

I liked the look of this in Hannah's post but mine just don't look as good!

They're not very bobble-y, but at least they provide a bit of contrast.

Hannah has stated that week 5 is a fun one, so I'm looking forward to that as I've already been enjoying what we've done so far.

The next instruction or guidance post from Hannah should be up tomorrow :)

Here are my pictures from the week (apologies for the low lighting in some - I usually crochet in the evenings after work)

I added a new colour in this week too. Just a subtle bit of turquoise. Hopefully I'll be able to use it for a thicker stripe this week and it'll stand out a bit more :)

CAL week 3!

Oops!

I kept meaning to blog about this and I can't believe it has taken me this long!

I finished week 3's rows on Thursday and week 4's rows are already out now!

I won't say too much on this as you've probably seen it all on other blogs, but here are my pictures from the week!

As you can see, I started using my stitch markers this week as an easy way to keep track of my stitches! It made it a lot easier on the rounds where Hannah said the count number being right was very important.

Beauty post - new nail varnish!

I recently purchased Popcorn and Coral Gum from the Miss Sporty Clubbing Colours range. I've wanted a pastel-y yellow nail varnish for a while now so picked this up last weekend!

Superdrug had an offer on Miss Sporty which is why I ended up with Coral Gum as well. I also bought a tinted lip balm.

I'm a bit disappointed that Miss Sporty don't put the colour names on their bottles, so I had to look them up online at Superdrug - here as I couldn't remember the colour names for this post!

At the time of writing this post I've been wearing Popcorn for 3 full days (2 coats, no top coat) with only a slight chip, which I think actually occurred in the very short time it took for the polish to dry.

This is possibly the quickest drying polish I own. I like my nails to be completely dry before I apply a second coat, but even then it only took for me to paint each nail (both hands) once and I could start the second coat!

In this colour I'm not entirely happy with the finish of 2 coats so am going to try a third in the hope of completely opaque colour. I still hold out hope for Coral Gum though as I've read good things about other colours in the range.

Overall, not a bad polish for £1.99!

Rose earring

Finally posting the rose earring I mentioned a while back.

I have a confession to make though...

I've only made one earring!

I find crocheting with a 2mm hook a little bit fiddly, it takes a lot of patience and I crave the feel of yarn and a larger hook. That means I have to take my time with smaller projects, and do other things in-between. So a small project turns into one that takes a lot of time!

That being said, I should really start the second of the pair, as I'd like to make at least 3 more pairs in the next 4 months!

Wish me luck!

Anyway, this is what they'll hopefully look like to wear! :)

CAL week 2!

This week I tried the Catherine wheel pattern for the first time!

Hannah, who is running the CAL, said it needed to be crocheted loosely, so I used a 6mm hook, instead of the 5.5mm hook I have been using.

I still had some trouble with the stitch though, and ended up pulling back 4 rows and starting them again!

Glad I did though as the blanket now sits straight instead of being a bit of a rainbow..

There were a few more rows this week as Hannah realised a lot of us steamed through last week's

Even with the frogging and re-stitching of the Catherine wheels I managed to finish these rows yesterday afternoon, having started them Sunday morning (and not being home most of Sunday). Not bad going I think!

Eagerly anticipating next weeks again and I'll be linking up a picture of my blanket so far on the ravelry page for the CAL :)

CAL as-we-go stripey blanket: week 1!

When I saw that Hannah from Not your average crochet was running a CAL I knew I wanted to join in. I had initial doubts though as the project was a blanket and I wasn't sure if I could take on another big project like that. I'm so glad I did though as I whizzed through the first 5 rows on Sunday!

First job was to start my foundation row:

Yes these are my baby feet that I showed you the other day! (Size 2.. sob!)

Next was the HDC (half double crochet - using US terminology) round.

This is one of my favourite stitches and I really should use it more!

Row 2 was the double crochet row!

Then this was topped off with 3 "granny stripes", or rows of clusters.

And that's the end of this weeks rows!

I have been good and sewn the ends in as was suggested, but that was after I took the pictures!

Here's Hannah's first 5 rows..



Click the picture to go back to Hannah's original post!

I can't wait to get started on week 2!

Mile of Mice!

I have been planning to send off a little mouse for a very long time now..

I saw the posts about them a very long time ago now, thought they were pretty sweet, but that was about it!

Then after my crafty session with Tom's nan, Sue, earlier in the year, I decided the mouse would be a perfect little thing to make to carry on my knitting.

(I've since done no more knitting.. oops, bad me!)

ANYWAY

The mice are to raise awareness for the Alzheimer's Society and you can find more information about them here.

My own little mouse may be a little bit plain compared to some others.. I only used one colour! But he is made from the lovely African Expressions yarn 'Joy'.

I think I made him on 3.5mm needles as I don't have 3.75mm which the pattern suggested and finally sent him off last weekend!

What do you think of him?

Are any of you planning on sending off some little mice?

This weekend I..

Moved house..

Started my CAL blanket...

And made a rose earring....

I have a few posts waiting to be written now to catch things up and I have a LOT of posts to read.