You may remember this purse, which I made while on holiday over the summer (summer! Remember that?! Damn you Greenwich Mean Time, I want British Summer Time back). I sewed this sari-type lining into it a few months ago, but deleted the shot I took of it by accident before I had a chance to post it up. So here it is. Nothing else worth mentioning about it I don’t think.
Three quick things
Forgot to say! The hat went down a treat – both mother and baby were delighted. Or at least I think Mae was delighted, though it may just been a touch of wind (that’s the baby I’m talking about, not the mother – no idea how her wind was).
And on another note, just wanted to say that the paltry number of updates on this blog is no reflection of how much I’ve been crocheting but has more to do with the amount of time I already spend on a computer. After 10 hours sat at my desk staring at the web and writing stuff, I quite often run out of steam when it comes to my personal blogs. But I’ve got some bits to stick up soon, so I will have to be a bit more committed to Good Hooking.
And finally, we’re (Shiny Media) hoping to launch a crafts blog soon. If you want to write for it, or know anyone who might like to contribute, let me know! You can email me on editor[AT]shinyshiny.tv . And if I take ages to respond, please don’t take it personally – I’m all over the place these days and so is my brain.
Crochet Blanket – my life’s work
I learnt to crochet a while back now and just like most learner hookers, I started with basic Granny squares made out of three trebles (US double double crochet). Actually, I think they may have been double trebles come to think of it… Anyway, I started with granny squares and made quite a few squares , returning to it over the years as my interest came and went. At some point – though I forget the exact timeline and details – I’m pretty sure I unpicked the whole lot of the them and started again from scratch. The history of this blanket – when I started it properly and how long it has taken me – has fallen out of my brain for some reason. But there are two things I do know: it’s still very far from finished; I’ll probably unpick it all fairly shortly and start again. Again.
The very idea that I’ll unpick it yet again (as well as the initial unpick and re-start, I’ve unpicked countless squares as well as the white joining rows more times that I care to count) is sending my boyfriend into fits of sighs, but this time it’s not about me being all anal and overly perfectionist – it’s because it’s so weighty that it’s starting to pull itself apart. If I do end up unpicking, I’ll feel very sad, but also a little pleased that I can get back some of my favourite wool colours – and have the opportunity to create something even better that will be more sturdy. Those big double trebles, with those large squares (incidentally, trying to find 4 colours that look good together without repeating designs is frankly impossible – hence that bright orange monstrosity you can see) are just a little too volatile to survive standard blanket-based activities (sofa lounging, bed warming etc etc).
But even if I don’t unpick it and decide to carry on (maybe add a backing sheet that will help to hold it all together), I can’t imagine when I’ll ever finish it. It’s a huge beast of a thing, and there are loads more squares to add on – not to mention all those tiny joining squares to make and sew into the gaps.
Crochet Baby Hat
So this is my latest Louisa Calder work of art. Looking at the ridiculous pixie hats, I thought to myself “just who in their right mind would be willing to step out sporting one of these ludicrous hats in public?” and then the answer came to me “a small child without the ability to protest”. Since my friend is just about to pop out a new recruit for the sisterhood (ie, she’s going to have a baby girl), I thought I’d make little Mae a hat that would be the cause of future embarrassment for her. Her head will hopefully be about the right size by the time the weather requires head attire (if my calculations are correct).
I haven’t quite finished it off yet – I’m going to make it yet more foolish looking by adding some much needed ear flaps – but I’m pretty pleased with it so far, especially as the design was all created freestyle, based roughly on Louisa’s basic hat design with a few modifications from me.
The amazing Louisa Calder
I can’t keep away from Louisa Calder for long, no matter how much I may giggle at her indifference to professional finishings off and her cheerful habit of making things that any sane person would feel entirely humiliated to wear in public. On the one hand I’m bemused (and perhaps even a little exasperated) by her obsession with making everything in double crochet (US sc) no matter what, and her unfathomable need to finish everthing off in such a botched manner that it looks like she grew bored and gave it to a toddler to stitch together. On the other, I love the bright colours she uses, the way she creates neat little “bird in flight” effects and the fact that she really does go to town with the crazy designs without a care for taste. Check out these ties for starters. Can you imagine anyone actually wearing these things?! And what’s with the random way they get larger and smaller? I mean I’m pretty lax at finishing things off, but if I were to publish a book of my creations I think I might start actually finding out what this “blocking” business is all about.
Still, if I had to pick a crochet spirit guide, I think it would have to be Mrs Calder. And now I’m looking at these ties, I’m suddenly seeing the next trendy ironic Hoxton boys fashion appearing before my eyes.
Previous Louisa Calder creations: Crochet Laptop Bag| Crochet Bag | Mobile Phone Case
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