Wednesday 11 March 2009

WIP - revisited


I have got this granny squares throw out to have another go at it. I haven't looked at it for at least a year maybe? You know how some WIP's are! Plus the colours aren't 'this season' somehow but I'll stick with that. Well since I started crafting again a couple of years ago I think my 'skills' have come along quite considerably since I started this throw. Now looking at it I am NOT enthused with the finish or final quality of it.

I joined the squares by a suggested method of using single crochet, but either I did not take any time or put too much effort in it originally or it doesn't suit the yarn, I just know it is NOT right.


So I am unpicking it all (what I have done so far as it was unfinished in size) and adding another round of crochet to each square which 'looks' much much better to me and I will sew it up this time to see if I can get a flatter seam. That was the problem with it, the single crochet seemed to make the seams too tight somehow.




Well I have got 18 new squares done now only another 100 or so to go!!

Hopefully I may just finish this now and it will not remain a WIP for much longer.

Sunday 8 March 2009

Lace making


I am enjoying making this strip of crochet lace edging. Even though it involves using the teeny-weeny hook it is very relaxing and quite pleasing to see it grow and develop. I did start the same pattern a little while ago using black thread but I didn't like the feel and look of the thread, so I have changed to a white thread - much better. The finished piece, about 1.5 metres long, is going to edge the bottom of a plain white roller blind. (Click on photo for a detailed look at the stitches).


This is the book where the inspiration came from. The pattern I am using is suggested for edging a towel (which would be really nice) and there are lots of other very pretty projects in this book. I would love to get my hands on an antique plain linen sheet/bedcover and make the edging for that.

Saturday 7 March 2009

Planting time


The chitted, early potatoes are now under their new soil blanket. These are Sharpe's Express.


and these are Anya. I love their knobbly, bobblyness!



some are going to be grown in buckets. I planted these on a bed of soil, one to a pot and just covered them. As the growth comes through I will top up the soil to just below the leaves until they are clear of the top of the pot.



others I have planted directly into the soil and covered them with ridges of soil and I will just cover these with a mulch of grass clippings (in about 4-6 weeks time) rather than heap more soil on them.



Newly discovered 'superfruit'?


No - Ranunculus 'claws' - otherwise known as Persian Buttercups. I am going to grow these for my cut-flower project that I have given myself for this year.