Yarn Along

I am an excited Granny with two new Grandbabies to cherish next year.  Consequently my crochet hook has been in overdrive with another blanket on the hook.  Another red blanket in a large granny square pattern.

I have also hooked up a few Prince/Princess crowns for a photo prop when they are born.  Exciting times!  I am doing them in a few different sizes, one is bound to fit.  They are such a quick make and are ideal for using up oddments of yarn.

 

I am still reading the same book as last week A Highland Christmas, there are just not enough hours in the day at this time of year.

 

 

Joining Ginny over at Small Things for the yarn along, a weekly get together to exchange ideas.  Pop on over to see what others have on their needles/hooks and are reading.

 

See you soon.

 

 

 

Yarn Along

With news of 2 new babies to cherish I have concentrated my crochet on baby blankets with the odd gift for Christmas thrown in.  I finished the border on the granny square blanket, which I still love and is probably one of my favourites.

 

I have done an oversize baby ripple blanket so that it will be ideal for a toddler to snuggle into.  The colours whilst working on it were quite soothing, it was a pleasure to work on and an easy pattern once you had completed a couple of rows and got into the rhythm.

 

 

The third blanket is a large granny square with a thick border, the colours shown are not a true colour of it.  The light is playing tricks, it is actually a bright red with a burgundy border and looks quite impressive.

 

 

The bottom picture is a truer match to the colour.

 

I have just started to read  A Highland Christmas but have not formed an opinion yet.  I am so busy with other things that I am not reading very much at all.

 

 

I am joining in the yarn along with Ginny over at Small Things.  Pop over and see what others have on their needles and are reading.

 

See you soon.

 

 

 

Yarn Along

With the exciting news of two more babies extending our family, the crochet hook has been in overdrive. 

 

Granny squares using some beautiful squidgy baby yarn is a must.

 

 

I was so good and sewed the ends in as I went along, not like me.  It is so much easier to do that and saved such a lot of time at the end when I was crocheting the squares together.

 

 

64 granny squares crocheted together with a shell border, making it a feast for the eyes and the perfect throw for a cot.

 

 

I am pleased with the overall finish of the blanket and because it is larger than a normal size baby blanket it will last for a lot longer and can be used as a throw on a toddler bed too.  The colours are quite muted so will integrate well with any additional colours that are used.

 

 

I am reading The Woman in the Fifth by Douglas Kennedy, not my usual style of book but it caught my eye on a car boot sale.  It is  a Tesco book club  book and comes highly recommended, I am reserving judgement until I read a little more.

 

 

I am once again joining Ginny over at Small Things, why not pop over and see what others are creating and reading.

 

See you soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yarn Along

I have a couple of little projects on the hook, stowed away in preparation for Christmas and birthday gifts.  The basket is starting to bulge in the craft room so an alternative storage place needs to be found.  Gone are the days when I have to keep everything hidden from prying eyes.

 

In particular this week I have been working on another baby blanket.  I am quite pleased with the end result and love the vibrancy of the yellow mixed in with a more pastel shade and white..

 

 

The border is quite enchanting with bobbles.

 

 

I have stitched on a wooden handmade button in the same shade of yellow which gives it quite a professional look.

 

 

Using a scrap of the pastel lemon yarn I also made a duck wrist rattle, filled with love.

 

 

Matching up beautifully with the ripple blanket from last week, not forgetting the penguin.

 

 

 

I am reading a true story The Step Child by Donna Ford, another savagely honest memoir of a child's abuse at the hands of her stepmother.  Heart rendering...

 

 

 

I am once again joining Ginny over at Small Things for the weekly yarn along.

 

See you soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yarn Along

This week I have been crocheting in preparation for a new baby so I have been working on a blanket using some beautiful soft double knitting yarn in greys, yellows and white.  I have just finished sewing in the ends which is the worst bit for my and so now only have a little border to do.

 

 

I have also made a little pram toy, a penguin with a bell inside which is rather sweet.  The penguin was made in continuous rounds,  using the amigurumi method.  It took a little getting used to but was a success in the end, not a method I particularly enjoyed.

 

 

 

It does make a nice set, so pleasing to the eye. 

 

 

 

 

I have been browsing a lot of magazines rather than reading a novel as I have had a busy few weeks with family visits.  I am once again joining Ginny over at Small Things for the weekly yarn along.  Why not pop over to see what others have got on their needles/hooks.

 

See you soon.

 

 

Yarn Along

I have finally finished off projects started, sewing in ends and blocking which is a lovely feeling.

 

I have started to make a record of gifts made and who I want them for, its a lovely feeling to know that I am giving something made with love.

 

 

I have started yet another lacy shawl, I love the pattern and the yarn this time is a lovely smoky grey which is perfect for who I have in mind.

 

 

I am reading Thin by Grace Bowman, a memoir of anorexia and her recovery,  a really sad heart breaking account of her addiction to starvation.

 

 

I am once again joining Ginny over at Small Things, why not pop over and see what others have on their needles/hooks and what they are reading.  Have a wonderful day.

 

See you soon.

 

 

 

Yarn Along

Whilst not a lot of actual crochet has been achieved here at Mamas Mercantile this week,  I have however achieved so much.  I have spent a couple of afternoons sorting through the hundreds of patterns I have and decided which projects I am going to do for gifts for everyone for Christmas.  There will be some secret crafting going on from now on.

 

I made that sound like a chore, I can assure you it wasn't.  It really was a pleasant few hours.  The next task is to sort through the yarn and match the chosen patterns to appropriate yarn.  I am hoping that I can use yarn that I already have and therefore do a little stash busting in the process.

 

 

These are a few that I have picked out, now I need to get those fingers working.

 

 

As you can see, not a lot of progress made on the shawl.  I did however finish reading the Snow Geese, it took awhile to get into but is well worth the read  Williams Fiennes has a rare talent for descriptive writing and takes you on a mesmerizing journey.

 

I am once again joining in with Ginny at Small Things for the weekly yarn along.

 

See you soon.

 

Yarn Along

I have had an enjoyable week with crochet, still making accessories in preparation for the Winter and some for gifts.  I have completed a scarf this week using a Helen Ardley pattern from issue 13 of Simply Crochet magazine.

 

It works up quite quickly and uses just chains and treble stitches.  I have also started another lacy shawl which I love.

 

 

The pattern can be found in issue 29 of Simply Crochet.

 

 

 

Reading has been slow again this week so I am still reading Snow Geese.  I have however been constantly using A Field Guide To The Birds Of The British Isles.  There are so many birds constantly in the garden at the moment so I am using the book to identify them.  My husband and I have spent many a happy hour at the window just observing, hence the lack of reading.

 

I am having a giveaway in celebration of 100 followers, so please feel free to pop back to my previous post to join in.

 

I am once again joining Ginny over at Small Things for the yarn along, why not pop over and see what everyone else has on their needles/hooks.

 

See you soon.

Yarn Along

 

I am a woman on a mission this week, using the Sara Huntington's pattern in Issue 28 of Simply Crochet I have completed the frilled neckerchief.  It is worked in rows and then a ruffle added at the end.  I am quite pleased with the overall effect. 

 

 

I didn't use the yarn recommended by the pattern but I think it was a good result anyway and looks quite stylish.  The yarn is so soft and a mixture of vibrant colours so it will bring to life a plain jumper or jacket come the Autumn. 

 

I have also crocheted up a scarf using a Rachelle Blondel pattern.  It was so simple and quick to make up and has such a lovely chunky texture.  All that it needs is some lace to finish it off. 

 

 

I love the vintage feeling that this portrays.

 

 

Decisions, decisions I can't decide which trim to use...

 

I would definitely use both patterns again they are both quite stylish and simple to crochet up, the one with the vintage trim is such a quick make taking one evening to do.   

 

I have been a little remiss on the reading front and have only managed a few pages here and there this week.  I am still reading The Snow Geese.

 

I am joining Ginny over at Small Things for the weekly yarn along, why not pop over and see what everyone else has on there hooks/needles.  gsheller.com

 

See you soon.