The Post-Christmas Craft Comedown
My blogging will is not here today. I’m not really here. I’d rather be doing my crochet. I’m looking over to the other side of the room to where my current WIPS are. Getting the balance between making stuff and blogging about it can be tricky! The problem today is that I’ve seen all this stuff, like, ages ago! I love writing a craft blog, I really do, but I also must find the time to do the thing I write about. It’d be a bit futile if I didn’t do any craft, wouldn’t it?!
I probably made this little fabric basket in October. I use a great tutorial for making these (it comes in two different sizes). Go Here for the instructions on how to sew a little fabric basket.
I made up the pattern for this bag. I must make another and, when I do, I think I’ll do a sewing tutorial. This will hopefully happen at some point this year; it’s on a list of things to do, but so are lots of other crafty things! I also want to do a crochet version with bamboo handles as well!
This project bag annoyed me. I forgot to add interfacing, and it’s all floppy. The recipient didn’t mind, and I guess that’s what counts.
I made this crochet basket with it simple crab stitch edging a few months ago, and it was meant to have another to nestle within. It hurt my hands to crochet with such bulky yarn, so I didn’t make the other one. I think I chose a hook a size that was too small, which is what made it painful. The yarn itself is a t-shirt yarn from Flying Tiger and felt beautifully silky to the touch. I don’t know who has actual T-shirts that silky, not anyone I’ve met.
There’s no pattern for this one; I made it up.
Aran Weight Crochet Cowl
This crochet cowl was lovely to make. Very quick, too. I used two balls of Drops Alaska, and the pattern is from a new book by Nicki Trench: Crocheted Scarves and Cowls. I bought it from The Works around November.
Waffle Stitch Cushion
Ages ago, I’d wanted to make a crochet blanket using waffle stitch. About 100 grams of yarn into the project, I realised that the stitch was a massive, greedy yarn eater and it wouldn’t go as far as I’d imagined. I frogged it and went in the cushion direction.
It’s an 18″ cushion, and I did 70-something stitches across with the old Stylecraft spesh DK. Love it. But it was a present, so I gave it away.
It looks very tight-fitting but cushions like negative ease for their crochet jackets. Otherwise, the fabric stretches out, and you get a baggy, saggy cushion.
The Kelpie Hat
This is the Kelpie hat by The Crochet Project. Such a lovely yet simple stitch! I had to tinker with the number of stitches because I used a thicker yarn than recommended. This is a Malabrigo aran weight yarn. I can’t remember the colour name, and I don’t know where the label is!
Another Red Crochet Cowl!
And this cowl is a free crochet pattern called the Lacey Shells Scarf. I reduced the number of stitches so that it was a cowl and not an infinity scarf.
Think this is Drops Nepal. Maybe three balls … 4? A couple of years ago, I made the infinity version in a brown yarn, and I wore it for about two years solid.
There really was so much more that I intended to make, and time ran away from me. I also gifted lots of Christmas decorations. Crochet baubles and lots of felt things were great for giving as little extras.
And now I’m going to dash back to my crochet pile and hide in there. It’s a lovely place to be.
Great projects! I’m so with you on the crafting/blogging about crafting inner turmoil! 😊
I loveblogging but I love making stuff more! That’s the right way round though, isn’t it?!
Absolutely! 😊
I know exactly what you mean!! Trying to juggle it all.
Love that second bag with the round handles, surely, I could manage it ha!
That red cowl is lovely too , I made a little one the other day, I’m living it in at the minute
I bought 5 pairs of those bamboo handles from Amazon so I’ll deffo be making more bags. Just need to remember to take pictures as I go and then I’ll have a tutorial!
Oh great !
Some really super projects. Especially the first one and the crochet cushion.
Thank you! The cushion is my favourite, I bought two more cushion pads but when I’ll make those up, I have no idea!!
So many lovely projects! I love the bag – making me want to go get some handles and make one! Well, first learning how to might be helpful xD I also really live the bowl, love the colours of it!
Thanks! The bag is really easy to make. I will definitely get round to a tutorial at some point. It just won’t be any time soon! x
I’ll look forward to it when you do – I can wait! (especially seeing as every single craft thing I own is stuffed away in boxes while I work on repainting and reorganising my space so for the next few weeks I can’t actually make anything – it’s a nice forced craft break! xD)
What a fabulous bunch of makes!! love them all, particularly that gorgeous cushion. Thank you for posting about them…….. Enjoy your crochet now!
Thanks! Yeah, I think the cushion might be my favourite too. Today is gonna be a crochet day! 🙂
Oooh, I’m glad you dragged yourself away from your crochet to show us these! I LOVE that cushion, and please do share your bag tutorial when you get a chance… I have a pair of bamboo handles that have been lurking in my stash for years, and I’d love to give them a home 😀
The more I think about it, the more I want to make it so hopefully the wait won’t be too long. Plus, I’ve got lots of WIPS and running out of bags to store them in! 😀
Ha! Tell me about it! It never ceases to amaze me how crafts can expand to fill every available space in the house… 😆
Oh yes, the constant balancing act between being online with your craft and then actually doing it!! Yes, I struggle with that too, although having the online presence has been a massive motivator for me! Enjoy being in that pile of gorgeous crochet! 🙂
It’s an excellent motivator! Since I started blogging my output has gone down but I still manage to churn out enough to just about satisfy my crafty urges! 🙂
Finally I’m getting a chance to catch up with your lovely blog, and I can drool over the AMAZING cushion again… Love it! I hope you are all cozy in your crochet pile again. I want to dive into mine but I really need to tidy up the Lego that is all over the house 😩😩😩 xx
I’m finding it harder and harder to keep up with my favourite blogs. 🙁
I’m gonna dive back in to the crochet in a minute. I’m ignoring any mess today. Mostly it’s laundry but I just can’t be arsed….:p