I used one 30 metre skein of rope from Bunnings and a hand carved hook (you can check that out here). You could/should use your fingers but I tried that and frankly my brain just doesn’t work that way. I found I needed to at least hold the hook so I knew what to do next.

Anyhoo, I’m chuffed with the giant granny square. It’s only two rounds and measures about 35cm square. The smallest absolutely loves it and of course it represents part 2 of the neon bedroom. Yeah, I know I said I was going to set up a faux room but in classic Koo style I find that my expectations of the time things take and the effort required to move a house is NOT one bit like the reality.

Are you making or baking or clicking or sticking? Pop in to #mycreativespace and play along.

Project Details
30 metre skein of neon rope from Bunnings (yes I used the lot)
giant crochet hook
a couple of hours of my time (yes it would normally take ten minutes but it’s hard to wrangle rope).

…I wish.

I just want to sit on the sofa and hook for the next however many days it takes to finish of the house warming gift I have started making for … myself!

I had this grand plan involving super chunky yarn and a 15mm hook. I thought it would be speedy quick but it’s not working up as fast as I’d like. In true Koo style I wanted it yesterday.

Despite having to be up at 4am this morning I sat up until midnight with hook in hand. The blanket has grown to the point that it’s now warming my lap as I work. Is there anything better than that, I ask you?

I have completely blown the budget on this project. I think I might as well have decided to make the thing from spun gold! You can read all about that here (& see more creative spaces too).

I spent most of this week with a hook in hand and I managed to get a number of “made with love” presents hooked up. My sister has been eyeing off the cowl neck warmer thingy for some time now so I made her one.

Hers is more delicate than the smashed avocado because she’s kind of a delicate person. I increased the air to stitch ratio. I’ve gone for a more even spread of air and stitches.

All this is very technical isn’t it? The facts are…

Yarn: Sublime Chunky Merino Tweed
Hook: 9mm

Chain 52 (or there abouts) slip stitch to join.

Round 1
Chain 3 to act as first treble.
*Treble into next chain stitch.
Chain 1 skip 1 chain*
Repeat for remainder of round.
Slip stitch to join.

Round 2
Chain 4 to act as first treble & chain 1.
*Treble into chain 1 space below.
Chain 1*
Repeat for remainder of round.
Slip stitch to join.

Round 3
Chain 3 to act as first treble.
*Treble into chain 1 space below.
Chain 1*
Repeat for remainder of round.
Slip stitch to join.

REPEAT Rounds 2 & 3 until you’re satisfied with the look & squidge.

You can check out more creative spaces here.

After I posted the neck-warmer-cowl-thingamajig I had quite a few requests for a “how to”. Honestly, you really don’t need it…it’s so simple. Just a giant tube really.

BUT…
I used 1 ball of Patons Wilderness 100gram ball – 110 metres (sadly discontinued)
If you can get your hands on a ball do – it comes in a delicious range of colours
If you can’t track a ball down then about a 12-14ply of your choosing should be fine.
9mm hook

THEN…
I chained 52 & slip stitched to join.

Round 1
Chain 3 to act as first treble.
Treble into each chain stitch.
Slip stitch to join.

Round 2
Chain 3 to act as first treble.
Treble into next treble stitch.
Chain 2, skip 2 trebles.
Treble into next 2 treble stitches.
Chain 2, skip 2 trebles.
Continue working this pattern then slip stitch to join.

Round 3
Chain 3 to act as first treble.
Treble into next treble stitch.
Treble 2 into chain 2 space.
Continue working this pattern then slip stitch to join.

REPEAT Rounds 2 & 3 until you run out of yarn. For me that was 13 rounds.

I love this neck warmer. It has just the perfect level of collapse (sometimes hard to achieve with crochet). It’s a serious science don’t you know…the “air to stitch ratio” I call it. I love the chunkiness of the stitches and the squidge factor is extremely high.

If you’re looking to move on from a granny square then this is absolutely the very next project for you. You should have it knocked over in a couple of hours.

Find more creative spaces here.

A promise is a promise isn’t it? I’m just getting in too…

This is another of my one-ball-wonder neck warmer cowl thingos. I was wearing my brown one a couple of weeks back and a sweet girl admired it and she really liked it. So I made her one. I love a bit of warmth around my neck but I’m not a such a fan of a scarf. They tend to come unwrapped and the ends annoy me so anytime I can cowl instead I do.

I flat out love Patons Wilderness and I’m super sorry they discontinued it. I think I’m going to duck up to the wool shop tomorrow and see if I can’t find an alternative.

Just for the record this was colour number 0506 – if you can track it down it is divine!