On the hook: Flowers, flowers and more flowers

The kids are back at school, the days are getting shorter, and the evenings are decidedly cooler. Autumn is arriving.

But there is no sign of flowers fading any time soon at my house...

Look what the postman brought me! I had pre-ordered this book a while back and forgot when it was due to be published, so it was a bit like an early birthday when this parcel arrived the other day.

This is Nicki Trench’s latest book, Cute & Easy Crochet with Flowers. I’m a big fan of her Cute & Easy Crochet book, and this new publication is just as chock-full of sweet crochet items. I won’t do a proper review of it yet, because I want to make one of the projects first – but last night I ordered some yarn to make these:

These are round placemats made with Zpagetti, the recycled T-shirt yarn. It’s high time I tried out this type of yarn, but I’ll never have enough old T-shirts to make my own skeins, so I bought some Zpagetti. It should arrive in a few days, so hopefully within the next week or two I’ll let you know how I’m getting on with the placemats.

I wanted to do a quick make from the book first, but this is what I really fancy making:

pretty, pretty, pretty!!!

But first I must finish my other crochet WIPs! The Blossoming Bag (a gal can never have too many crocheted bags) is *so close* to being complete.

Both sides are done, the handles are there, and I even found a lining fabric that coordinates perfectly – it’s difficult to see, but the teeny tiny dots on this fabric match the dark teal blossoms.

So what has got in the way of me finishing this bag? Grandma’s birthday, that’s what!

My grandma turns 89 this month. So what does an 89-year-old need? An iPad Mini, of course...

The family is all pitching in to get her an iPad Mini and whatever broadband thingy she needs at home to make it work. I’ll be able to Skype and “visit” with her all the time! I’m crocheting an iPad cover based on a pattern from Granny Squares, which I reviewed here.

I’ve adapted the pattern to fit an iPad Mini, meaning I just make fewer squares and edge it in two rows on each side rather than three. Easy! I’m also using just one colour of yarn, because that’s the kind of granny square my granny would prefer. She likes green, so I’m using some of the Sirdar Snuggly I have left over from the baby blanket I finished earlier this summer.

I have one side finished, which I whipped up in two evenings while watching telly. I’m joining the squares as I go AND weaving in the ends, which are two revelations for me! It was a bit slow in the beginning, but I stuck with it, and I am so glad I did. The project comes together so much more quickly – I am not faced with a zillion pesky ends to weave in afterwards, and I don’t have piles of squares to crochet together. It’s suddenly “ta-dah!” and one side is all done! This is the way forward...

I have to send this gift on Monday at the latest, so I’ll have a FO post very soon. Shhh! Don’t tell Grandma!

Chrissie x