An Exciting Week for Crochet

Friday again, and so far the resolve to blog each week is holding fast. What an exciting work week this has turned out to be! 

My design for a crocheted clutch bag in Rowan Original Denim was shortlisted for the competition I entered. It is organised by Unwind Brighton, who are running an online poll to decide the winner. Clearly the lacy knits are in demand right now, and I am languishing at the back with a pair of pretty socks, but I don't mind one bit- I'm just delighted to have been shortlisted. And more than that, I am happy with my design. It was clearly worth making the new sample and getting the pattern ready- sometimes the pressure of a deadline is just what's needed!

The voting ends soon, but if you wish to show support for my offering, you can vote here  

Gosh, I haven't even mentioned the Really Big News yet: as of yesterday you can go and buy Knit Now magazine, and you will find my pattern in the crochet supplement! This is a big deal for me, and I am over the moon. 

It seems like such a long time ago that I pitched my idea, then received the good news that I had been selected. Then there was the day when a courier brought me the utterly gorgeous Malabrigo yarn (in my favourite colour, what a lucky coincidence!), and also the milestone day when I learnt to write (and read!) crochet charts, and now here it is, my creation on a newsstand near you (or you can buy it here). 

Kate, the editor, and her team have been nothing but helpful and supportive, and I so hope I get to work with them again. 

Photo: Dan Walmsley for Practical Publishing

Inspiration came from an old Western film, which luckily for me fitted perfectly with the 'Frontier Spirit'  theme. The negative spaces are designed to look like the traditional Lone Star quilting motif.

It was this undertaking which really kickstarted my design brain, in a way that I haven't flexed it since coming up with my degree show at university (also Wild West themed- what a strange coincidence. In fact, I wrote my dissertation on Cowboy Style. Yes really). Having worked on a few quite structured projects recently, I am now developing something light and lacy, as well as an idea for an Afghan... not to mention half a dozen other ideas swimming round my wooly brain.

Here is a little snap of my outdoor sanctuary, as promised. 

And just one amusing thought to leave you with: this week I blew up my vacuum cleaner. It was quite dramatic! But thanks to my mum I now have a spiffy new one, and cleaner floors than I have ever had. It has a special pet attachment: it turns out that this is perfect for getting threads and yarn off carpet!

Seven Days On

Friday again, and my next blog entry as promised.

What a difference a week has made to my view out of the window! My little unloved patch has turned into a sanctuary, where I have passed many happy hours this week sitting out in the clement weather, and gazing out over in the occasional downpour.

Largely thanks to somebody lovely, I have tubs of lavender plants, a re-located Christmas tree, a re-potted bay tree, some new tubs with flowers... not to mention the weeding that has been done, the bins hidden from view, and the window cleaned. And this person wasn't even the one I was planning to ask for help- how lucky am I?

During the last week I also took advantage of the sunshine and hand washed all my hand knitted/crocheted winter warmers to pack away for the summer. That was very satisfying, to see them all laid out for me to survey. The memories of making things combined with the memories of wearing and seeing others wear your creations is really lovely.

I was glad of the sun: this hat took 2 full days to dry!

Also this week, I finished a crochet jumper, plus I finished and blocked my Margaret's Garden 

I also crocheted a shrug with a view to designing one of my own (designs designs designs- my creative brain seems to be going bananas at the moment... I am just going with it!)

I entered a design into a competition, which involved completely re-making my sample, writing the pattern in full, and taking some pretty photos. There was no entry fee or anything, so I had nothing to loose... fingers crossed for me!

I received some exciting news about teaching somewhere prestigious later in the year, and also final confirmation of something else I have been alluding to for a while, which by next Friday I will finally be able to tell you all about.

How did I find time to teach my regular crochet class, and my 'Getting Going Sewing' ladies in Petham? The seamstresses are doing particularly well, and there will be a beautiful crop of canvas bags by the end of June. Several of them are planning to use their creations as knitting bags, which I find quite thrilling. 

The Friday Blogger

I received some useful advice recently regarding blogging: a wise lady suggested to me that it is useful to pick a regular interval between blog entries... and stick to it! And so, seeing as how my blogging has always been completely erratic I have decided to try to become a Friday blogger. Wish me luck!

What news...?
I have designated May as my month of finishing as many unfinished jobs as I can, which means:

I have finished writing up and listing some patterns (for which I have been on some jolly photo shoots),

My crochet classes continue, with a batch of beautiful cushions coming together nicely,

I have started to teach my canvas bag course again, to a full class of wonderful ladies who are not only very capable but also very appreciative,

Despite my resolve not to start any new projects I have an exciting new idea I am working on,

I have learnt how to join yarns with a braided join (necessity being the mother of eduction),

I have decided to become a fully crazy-old-lady type of member on ravelry by changing my avatar to a cat picture,

...and I still have some very exciting news under wraps to share in the next week or so!

Off to take some snaps on one of my favourite little excursions

I have also discovered a new little corner of my house in which I can sit and be productive. This is good, except that I look out onto an under used and unloved patch of outside space. It is crying out for a mini makeover. Now, anything outsidey like gardening is not my strong point (I am saving that pleasure for my retirement ;-) ), so I will have to draft in a little help, but perhaps I will be able to post a picture when my view is prettier. I have only succeeded so far in reinstating a washing line to hang my crocheted washcloths on. They take so long to dry that I wanted to air them out but still have them in easy reach.