… from a piece of vintage crochet
… without doing any damage to the original piece!

You probably won’t remember, but some time ago I fashioned a sweet little shrug which people got pretty excited about. I said at the time that it was total fakery & that made me look much cleverer than I really am.

I haven’t found any of the square tablecloths at the op shop for the longest time & then a few weeks ago I got lucky (& found four in one store).

Obviously someone’s gran has spent countless hours on the hook working up the table cloths & I think it’s a crying shame to leave them languishing in the op shop. This little how to is totally non destructive as we are utilising the holes made by the original crochet pattern. So, at any time I can snip the line of chain & use the cloth as … wait for it … a cloth!

Please note…this garment is sized “one size fits some”. You’ll need to trial the shrug as it depends on the size of the original cloth etc.

Spending time with creative people who are a bit like you but a bit different too is where its at!

You get to bounce ideas off each other & little flashes of inspiration hit.

My eyes go a bit wide when I think of something new…so if we are having a cuppa & the eyes widen you know you’ve triggered something fun.

Just this week I’ve spent time with lots of people who are creative and think a bit differently…I like it. Get out there & have a coffee with a making-things-type-mate.

I’m working on something cute for a mate.

Happy weekend folks.

I’m using three strands of Ella Rae Classic Superwash held together (that’s equal to about 30ply) & a 15mm hook.

Hoping that this piece will curl in on itself & make something amazing. It’s very slow going…working with such big stuff doesn’t make for quick & easy handling.

More people making stuff & their creative spaces over here.

If you’re on Twitter (which I hardly ever am) you’d know all about my frustration with the blog yesterday…it was broken…I couldn’t post…I couldn’t even see the damn blog.

Anyway, in my steam-coming-out-of-ears haste to get the post up yesterday before the whole blog blew up in my face I left off a few(!!) rather significant (& helpful) details…geez Kirst…I think you’ve kind of lost sight of what this space was/is really all about.

Giving each other a hand…having a crack…trying new stuff…& maybe…sometimes…inspiring others to look at things a little differently.

OK…so the vintagey, picnicky bit of deliciousness from yesterday was hooked from a pattern found in 7 day afghans (mine is the 2004 version). The pattern is called perfect plaid. Here’s a link to the book from Delightful Books & Crafts. These guys deserve the sale in my opinion…purely for the name of their store!

I didn’t actually follow the pattern though. It seems that they may have confused the two colours in the writing up of the pattern. I just did what my eyes told me by looking at the finished blanket in the picture.

Yarn Details
I used Ella Rae Classic Superwash. The ladies at The Wool Shop advised it is about a 10ply. I purchased 6 balls of the pale grey, 4 balls of the dark grey & 2 balls of the green.  I’ve got plenty left over BUT I’m cool with that – I’m going to make a few pom poms for pip. My finished blanket measures about 1 metre square.  I’m happy with the width but should have used up a bit more yarn on the length because the stage 2 of the construction pulls everything in quite a lot!

I chose the yarn for a number of reasons…

• colour range
• size of ball – 100gm & 200metres (anything to avoid end weaving)
• price

Hook Details
I used a 6.5mm hook for the mesh & then a 9.00mm hook for the chaining.

Hope this helps you out!  Thanks for appreciating the blanket & for keeping me true to what it’s all about & reminding me this is a space I love & am proud of. x

with high level “squish factor”.

I totally chose to make this blanket because I had never seen anything like it & 7 Day Afghans promised it was quickest of quick.

It did take me more than 7 days…you could make it in 7 days though (if all you did was sit & hook 24/7). Best design feature is of course, the fringing. Only 1/2 as many ends to weave in!

The blanket is very weighty but still has a most excellent drape. I’m absolutely thrilled with this little number & think it will become a regular gifting project. I already have a request from The Big Girl for one of her very own.

Of course I like the reverse side better than the intended front. I’m really liking the vintage picnic vibe it’s got going on.