Long-awaited ta-dahs

One of the reasons I started my blog nearly two years ago is because I wanted some inspiration to finish my works-in-progress. I finally, finally finished one of my favourite WIPs:

Ta-dah, Ta-Dah, TA-DAH!!!! I could hardly believe it when I stitched the last stitch of this Dr. Seuss homage. Sam-I-Am shouldn’t have taken so long, really. It wasn’t the most impossible embroidery, it was just rather slow going at certain stages so I felt the need for a break. Sometimes for months. Ah well, we got there in the end!

Little Flower loves it, so it will go in her room, which we are currently redecorating. She actually was the impetus to finish Sam-I-Am; she loves Green Eggs and Ham so much and can read it by herself now. She saw the embroidery and asked if I could finish it specially for her – how could I say no? My five-year-old bookworm...caught here on my iPhone after her bedtime, she snuck out of bed to read more of the story!

Hey! Get to bed!

My New Year’s Resolution was to not buy any new yarn until I completed the mountain of crochet WIPs I accumulated last year. I need to tame my inner fickle magpie, flitting from one project to another when a pretty new yarn pops up in the shop!

So far so good (nearly, I did buy some Smooth DK on sale for £1 a ball, but that doesn’t count – who could pass up that kind of bargain?). My big finish this week was the gorgeous Textured Throw from Erika Knight’s Crochet Workshop:

A most inviting seat, no?

I started this throw months ago using King Cole Gypsy super-chunky yarn and a 10mm hook. It works up so quickly, but it took me ages because shortly after I started it, I began teaching more and more crochet workshops and leading the crochet clubs linked with each venue’s classes. 

I’ve had so much fun spreading the hooky love, but it has taken a big bite out of my own personal crochet time. I have to make sure I don’t get RSI by crocheting into the night when I’ve been teaching during the day. So projects are slow going, but very satisfying nonetheless.

This is the perfect winter blanket, soooo snuggly warm!

I also managed to finish a new shawl...

How much do I adore this shawl? I fell in love with Louisa Harding’s Amitola yarn, and opted for a colourway out of my comfort zone of pastels and neutrals. The vivid blues and rich browns were too tempting to pass up.

After drooling over images online for weeks, I broke down and ordered Puur Haken by the super-talented Maaike at creJJtion. No, I don’t speak the language, but yes, the photos are inspiration in themselves, and the diagram gave me all I needed to create the zomersjaal myself!

I love the shell pattern so much, I made creJJtion’s fingerless gloves, also using a shell pattern, with Louisa Harding Orielle yarn – a Christmas gift for myself, I couldn’t resist the subtle gold thread running through the yarn, giving it a little sparkle!

Onward and upward. I have a cushion to finish, then a pretty pink scarf, oh and a poncho-sweater-type-thing I forgot I even started about a year ago! Don’t mention the hexie blanket...I think there’s a ball of chunky scarlet yarn partway hooked into a snood...then I’ll attack those spring yarns in their juicy colours...

Happy crafting!

Chrissie x