Crochet Mood Blanket 2014

I have been inspired to start a new blanket in 2014, a mood blanket. For me it will be a blanket that is made of granny squares, made of colours that represent your mood in that particular moment. The idea is from a fellow instagramer mummy_stacey.

The project can be either made up of one square a week which would give you a small blanket of 52 squares, or one square a day which would give you a bigger blanket of 365 squares. I think I will choose the 52 squares challenge, as I have already got a lot of WIPs on the go already and this would make one square a day really overwhelming (as much as I would love to make a big mood blanket).

I have chosen some provisional colours for some moods, and I may have to add as I go through the year as I know I may feel more emotions than the ones I have currently got here. I also decided there is no point choosing colours I don't like to represent the more 'negative' moods and emotions, plus I think bold colours represent some of the emotions I have and same with having brighter colours for my more relaxed contented emotions.

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This is from mummy_stacey instagram, with 'THE RULES' since she is the one hosting it.

So, really the only rule is that you crochet/knit a square or stripe everyday (or once a week if that suits you better) in 2014 using a colour that you feel reflects your mood. The colour choices are totally up to you! I think it's important that you use colours that you like so that it doesn't get boring. Plus you'll want a blanket you'd like to keep after all that hard work!! The amount of rounds is up to you! I think I'm going to do 4 rounds as I think I'll find that manageable! Most people doing the 365 are doing 4/5, the 52 people are doing more rounds so they get a big blanket too. 

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I am going to post every Tuesday with my progress, I will have one square to show you every week and I will be joining as I go! I will be really interested in seeing the colours that will pop up on my blanket by the end of the year!

If you are on Instagram and you think this is a cool idea and want to join in, pop by mummy_stacey's Instagram! Since I don't think she is on blogger, I am going to see about posting a Mr. Linky on my weekly Tuesday posts. Does anyone think this is a good idea, would you participate....it will be a pretty big CAL/KAL!!

Last note, on Instagram Stacey has 312 people saying that they want to participate so far, isn't that insane?!!


That's all for now!

Take care,

Hazel x

My Hooky Joys of 2013

Hello lovelies, 

Hope you have all been enjoying Christmas time, and are all looking forward to the new year! It's that time of year where we all look back and reflect on things we did through the year. I had a good browse through my photograph folder and was surprised at all the things I have made in 2013!! Although not very surprised at all the rainbow-ness ha ha, I love my rainbow colours...so happy! I am still amused at the amount of scarves I made toward the end of this year, but they are a joy to make.

So there we have it.....a big collage of all my hooky pleasures of 2013!

I hope that yours will be the same.

All the best for 2014!

Hazel x

Christmas Scarf Madness

This year for Christmas I decided to make a few scarves as presents, and I am going to show you them all today since I don't have the patience to show you them individually every Friday! A few scarves I made didn't actually become presents, but I didn't show you them just in case they became emergency presents. 

The grey scarf and hat were made for my sister, I really loved the pattern in the scarf as its made up of lace clusters and the hat is simple as it is made with trebles and half trebles. The rainbow gradient scarf I made for one of my close friends is just a quick simple granny stripe, which looks totally amazing!! The dark red scarf which for my brother-in-law is made with half trebles which I worked into the back loop in every row to get the ridged texture.

I still have these three at home and I am not totally sure what to do with them he he, I would keep them for myself but I have far too many scarves already!! Although the cowl I am not too sure about, its made with Patons Ultra Denim which is quite soft and it's long enough to double up. 

Total scarf madness! Think it is time to switch back to blankets for another 9 months.

Hope you all had a good Christmas!

Take care,

Hazel x

A Little Festive Break

Hello lovelies!

I have finally finished all my crochet Christmas gifts! It is such a good feeling to have them done and still have over a week to Christmas! Not too bad eh? Though I have decided that I may take a little break from my blog for the Christmas holidays, I may pop on every now and then to read some blogs. However before I go, I will share a few festive that shows my love of wrapping Christmas gifts! This year I have decided to go for brown paper with pom poms for all the adult people I am giving gifts to, and giving normal wrapping paper to the children! I got the pom pom idea from a lovely blog Foxs Lane, the link is to a post that she wrote on using pom poms for gift decoration!! 

Don't they look gorgeous?!

You can even have a bit of fun with colours too!

I received these lovely doily decorated gifts from my sister This Girl Is... yesterday when we met for lunch and present swapping, and we also went to see her friend in a lovely Christmas Choir that was performed by Glasgow Arches Community Choir.

I couldn't resist taking a little festive photo of Jess sitting in front of the Christmas Tree!!

I only have two more nights to do at work and then I am off for TWO weeks! In which I plan to be merry, eat and drink! I promised to do a bit of cleaning in between all that as well!!

Hope you all enjoy the holidays.

Merry Christmas!

Hazel x

Bloomin' CAL....Boob Beanie

I still giggle at the fact I have made this, a boob beanie for an adult! 

I got the inspiration on how to make this hat from different boob beanie patterns on the internet that are designed for babies! 

You are probably wondering why on earth I would crochet something like this, well my work colleague asked me to make this a few months back, although I put it off mainly as I could never find a nice pink colour the nipple and areola. I settled on using King Coles Big Value Chunky in a dusky pink colour, and got cream for the skin part of the beanie. 

It is a fairly easy hat to make, the beanie is mainly hooked in trebles apart from the nipple which is made with double crochet.

My work colleague was completed awed at what I made, which is always a good feeling when you make things for other people.

Things certainly don't get boring in the land of crafts, do they?

I am joining in on the Bloomin' CAL with Chrissie Crafts and Ladybird Diaries, so check out their pages for more projects on the Bloomin' Crochet-A-Long

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That is all from me for now!

Take care!

Hazel x

Festive Giveaway Winner

Yesterday my festive giveaway ended and this morning I picked a winner!

The lucky person who gets to treasure this lovely craft book is Loopsan!

Congratulations San! I will contact you today about getting it delivered to you as soon as possible!

Thank you to all of you that entered this little giveaway!

Take care,

Hazel x

Bloomin' CAL.....Love Love Love!!

Hello!

It's a short post from me this week as I am suffering terribly from a cold and just want to snuggle up and be very lazy since I am just in from work.

Though I definitely HAD to show you the rainbow gradient scarf this week, I totally love love love it! It is such a shame its not mine. But.......I will make another!

Totally in love with it! (can you tell?)

I am joining in on the Bloomin' CAL with Chrissie Crafts and Ladybird Diaries, so check out their pages for more projects on the Bloomin' Crochet-A-Long

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Lastly before I go.......my festive giveaway ends tomorrow! I am giving away a Mollie Makes Christmas book....you are still in with a chance to win! Go and enter at my giveaway post HERE!

Festive Giveaway - Mollie Makes Christmas

Hello lovelies!

It is finally December, the month of happy festiveness! I have decided to celebrate this by doing a little festive giveaway with my Mollie Makes Christmas book which is filled with loads of different festive craft ideas!

All you have to do to get the opportunity to win yourself this lovely book, is to comment on this post and I am happy to deliver to anywhere in the world (so everyone and anyone can join). It is going to be a very short time giveaway as I will be picking the winner on Friday 6th December, so get commenting!

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

Take Care,

Hazel x

Bloomin' CAL....FO

Another week with no hexagons, although I think its fair to say that it is because Christmas is only around the corner and I am too busy making scarves! I have lots of different scarves that I have made and can't quite show you just yet. Although I think it may be safe to show you one of them!!

I made this scarf after a work colleague asked if I could make one for his girlfriend but in pink, it is using Sirdar bohemia yarn and a 15mm crochet hook (I kind of like it better than my blue one now he he). I have another scarf on my hook at the moment, and I will be able to show you that next week properly once I have more progress. 

Although I can show you a sneak peek! Its a navy yarn with the rainbow gradient going through it. I took this to work one night this week, and it became another commission as another work colleague liked it that much that he asked if he could buy it for his wife when its finished! I can't wait for Christmas to be over so I can show you all my FOs, I have quite a few he he.

For now I am officially saying that my hexagon progress is on hold until Christmas is over, and it will just be Christmas orientated projects from now until then!

I am joining in on the Bloomin' CAL with Chrissie Crafts and Ladybird Diaries, so check out their pages for more projects on the Bloomin' Crochet-A-Long

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The Tale of Two Cardigans

On Friday night after having a lovely Japanese meal, we decided to visit the Christmas market in Glasgow City where I fell in love with this woolly rainbow cardigan....totally in love! I mean the cardigan pretty much shines happiness. It had to be mine, and mine it became. I took it home, and it had a pretty intense smell to it....like a barn smell. Like anyone would at this stage, would be to follow the instructions given by the seller and wash it. Only after I washed it, it had shrunk.....it was small enough to fit my 8 year old niece. I was both amused and devastated. At this point, I was really confused and thought I maybe read the instructions wrong....but they said machine wash at 30 and that is what I did! In hindsight, I wish I took a photo of the tiny cardigan but I was that caught up in emotion that I never thought to. 

Once we both calmed down we decided the best thing to do would be to take it back to the market seller, who was very understanding as he did definitely confirm that it should have been fine during a machine 30 wash and even showed me in writing. I was offered a replacement cardigan of the same value at no extra cost, the only sad thing about this is that they only seemed to have one version of each cardigan so I wasn't able to get another one of the same.

The next nicest cardigan I seen was this one, which I am learning to love even though it is a little big for me (I ironically have thought about trying to shrink it a little). Even though they said we can definitely wash it in a machine 30 wash, I washed this one by hand and surprise surprise, it stayed the same size! Hindsight again, I wish I thought to do this with my first one....especially with my knowledge in yarns. However, I do know some yarns you can machine wash......so I think this is why I never thought anything of it when I threw my lovely rainbow cardigan in the wash.

I do love how pretty this one is as well, but it's not totally me....like you can see with the first cardigan (which is totally ME). With the rainbow cardigan in mind, I have decided I am going to try and make my own rainbow cardigan in 2014. I have never crocheted an item that I can wear like a jumper or cardigan, and I think this will definitely provide me with a new hooky challenge for the new year! Although I have contemplated taking up knitting again to try and knit the cardigan, but I shall see what the new year will unfold.

Have you guys ever had a disaster with clothing shrinking in the wash? I'd be very interested to read your stories.

Take care,

Hazel x

Funky Stitch Scarf

I have been requested to write a pattern for the scarf that I had recently been making, as far as I am aware this scarf is made using the moss stitch and I think it can also be called woven stitch as well. Anyway I shall get on with the pattern now!

For this scarf I used

Sirdar Hayfield Bonus Chunky in Light Grey Mix
Kauni Estonian Artistic pre-yarn in Rainbow colour
6mm crochet hook

I have written this pattern in UK terms.

Foundation Chain: Using the light grey yarn, crochet to desired length as long as it is multiple of 3 plus an extra 2 chain at the end of your desired length (I think I hooked a 300 ch length, plus the extra 2 ch which gave me a total length of 302 ch).

Row 1: skip 1st 2 ch, dc in 3rd ch from hook. Then *ch 1, sk 1, dc in next ch, repeat instructions from * to end the of row, working dc in the last chain. Turn.

Row 2: Ch 2, dc in first ch space, ch 1, * dc in next ch 1 space, ch 1, repeat from * to end of row. Turn.

Row 3: Changing to the rainbow yarn....Ch 2, 2 dc in first ch space, ch 1 *2 dc in next ch1 space, ch 1, repeat from * to end of row. Turn.

Row 4 – 5: In light grey, repeat as Row 2

Row 6 : In rainbow, repeat as Row 3

Row 7-8: In light grey, repeat as Row 2

Row 9: In rainbow, repeat as Row 3

Row 10-11: In light grey, repeat as Row 2

Row 12: In rainbow, repeat as Row 3

Row 13-14: In light grey, repeat as Row 2

My scarf is only 14 rows wide but if you prefer to have a wider scarf, you just repeat the pattern as you can see above....row 2, row 2, row 3, row 2, row 2, row 3, row 2, row 2. Once you have your desired scarf size, then you can weave in all of your ends to tidy the scarf up!

NB: The reason for the 2 dc in 'row 3s' of this scarf, is because the rainbow yarn is a little bit thinner than the chunky yarn I used so if you want to do something similar I would recommend using a lighter weight yarn where I have used the rainbow yarn. Or if you want to stick to using chunky weight yarn for row 3s then just do a single dc instead of 2 dc....if that makes sense? 

Well my pattern skills aren't totally awesome but I hope that makes sense to you all....if you spot any errors, just leave me a comment and I will fix it! Thank you!

Take care and enjoy your weekend.

Hazel x

Bloomin' CAL....Week 4

As promised, I am back this week for the Bloomin' CAL and I thought I would show you a photograph of an idea I have in my head. I am not a hundred percent sure that the colours are are where I want them to be, but its definitely very pretty. This week I am working on the blue hexies, and I have completed the centres and just need to border them.

I am joining in on the Bloomin' CAL with Chrissie Crafts and Ladybird Diaries, so check out their pages for more projects on the Bloomin' Crochet-A-Long

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Take care,

Hazel x

Scarf Obsession!

Good morning! This week I have been crocheting three different scarves and as per usual at this time of year...I can only show you one of them. I started this scarf yesterday, and I think I am going to love it when it is done. I am pretty much winging this scarf as I am not following any particular pattern so I will have to see how it looks when it is finished he he.

A here is a little hello from Jess too! Isn't she a total sweetie! 

Hope you all have been having a good weekend, its been so good to relax this weekend!

Take care!

Hazel x

Keeping Warm

Oh its getting really chilly in the evenings, it makes me really grateful for all the blankets I have spent weeks or months hooking up! Currently snuggled under my chunky ripple lap blanket, crocheting a scarf for a colleague. He seen me making a chunky blue scarf and asked if I could make him one for his girlfriend, except in a pinkish colour. I received the yarn today, and I am currently hooking that at the moment. 

I made this hat and scarf set for myself just over a week ago after picking up this yarn from the Hobbycraft Fair in Glasgow. It is Sirdar Bohemia, and it is so chunky and soft that it is great for the really chilly weather outside. It is so chunky that it requests you use 20mm needles/hook for it! It is such a bizarre size to use but I loved how quickly I hooked my hat and scarf up once I received my hook through the mail.

Although I have been a naughty girl and avoided doing my hexagons this week, which is why there was no post yesterday with pretty hexagons. I promise to be back on track next week, and join back in with Chrissie Crafts and Ladybird Diaries with their Bloomin' CAL. However I have been distracted by hooking some Christmas presents which I am sure you will understand as the pressure is on a little since it is less than six weeks to Christmas.

If you want to see more FOs, then go on over to Tami's Amis blog

Right! I am going to go back to snuggling and keeping warm.

Take care,

Hazel x

Bloomin' CAL....Week 3

Just a quick post to show you my Bloomin' CAL progress, I've bordered all the circles I showed you last week and this week I am currently working on making red circles and bordering them. I have decided to do one colour a week to make it a little bit easier.

I am joining in on the Bloomin' CAL with Chrissie Crafts and Ladybird Diaries, so check out their pages for more projects on the Bloomin' Crochet-A-Long.

Sorry I have been very short with this post, it's been a long and busy week.

Take care,

Hazel x

Bloomin' CAL....Week 2

This is my second week of joining in on the Bloomin' CAL with Chrissie Crafts and Ladybird Diaries, last week I only had a few hexagons but this week I have loads more as I have been mainly focusing on this project. I always crochet a bunch of centres first and then add the cream border to them after having so many centres, as you can see in this photo.

I have been contemplating adding more colours in, possibly different shades of the colours I have as I am not wanting to put any yellows or greens in this blanket. For now I am sticking with these colours until |I am definitely sure what I want to do with it.

I better go now, I promised my work mates that I would make nutella cheese cake for them for nightshift tonight. They kept requesting for some ever since I posted a photo of the first nutella cheesecake I made last week! It was totally delish!

Check out Chrissie Crafts and Ladybird Diaries for more projects on the Bloomin' Crochet-A-Long.

Take care,

Hazel x

Ta-dah! My Little Squares Cushion!

My cushion is all finished! When I mentioned on Wednesday that I really hoped to have it finished for today, I have been determined to get it completed. I am quite pleased as I only started this project two weeks ago and now it sits proudly on my couch! Unfortunately my lovely camera is dead and I haven't a clue where the battery charger is for it, so I have had to make do with taking the photographs on my phone camera. 

I started making the back of the cushion first, after I decided I wanted to make more things to make my living room more cosy. I think it took me just under a week to make the back before I decided what I wanted to make for the front of the cushion.

After a bit of searching around on pinterest and ravelry, one day I was finally inspired by Attic24's Little Squares Cushion and wanted make the front of my cushion something similar to what Lucy has made for her cushions. I have even used my special stylecraft dk stash to make this cushion, using nearly all the colours that I own. I crocheted both of the cushion sides together with purple yarn, and just crocheted the cushion pad in.

That's my cushion at home on my couch, along with my other crochet cushions. I think the couch is the most cosiest part of the whole living room and I love how colourful it all is with my hexagon blanket too! Speaking of hexagon blankets, I will now have undivided attention to make more hexagons for my newest blanket project!! Yay!

If you want to see who else has FOs to show off today, check out Tamis Amis blog!

Take care and have a good weekend!

Hazel x

Bloomin' Crochet-A-Long......Week 1

The past few weeks I have noticed a few friendly bloggers participating in a new Bloomin' Crochet-A-Long, Chrissie Crafts and Ladybird Diaries are both working on the Hexagon Flower throw that is in the Nicki Trench's Cute and Easy Crocheted with Flowers book. Another blogger friend A World of Imagination is working on a hexagon blanket too which is inspired by Attic24's hexagon pattern, and seeing all of these inspired me to start making hexagons for a new hexagon blanket....because why the heck not!!

I am using a pattern from Granny Squares book by Susan Pinner, this is a really good book for those who love granny squares, hexagons and stripes.The pattern I am using from this book is simply called Hexagon Blanket, although I am following the pattern loosely and putting in my own stitches because I never seem to be able to follow a pattern without changing something about it! I have only made a few hexagons, as I have been making these as well as crocheting my Little Squares Cushion. Once I have completed my cushion, I am hoping to do at least one hexagon a day for the CAL. The good thing about this CAL, is that there is no time limit and no specifications as to what you are to do as long as you post about it on a Thursday and hopefully have a completed blanket at the end of it! So mainly it is just a bunch of friendly bloggers making similar blankets at the same time as each other.

If you want to know who is all taking part, every Thursday Ladybird Diaries and Chrissie have a list of bloggers on her weekly Bloomin' CAL post. It would be a very good way to get some inspiration too!

Take care!

Hazel x

Little Squares Inspired Cushion

Hello! Hope you are all well, although I am not really keeping good. Had to go to my local GP this morning as I woke up with very bad conjunctivitis in my right eye (that's the nurses exact words!), they took a swab and gave me a prescription for an antibiotic ointment. I've also been told I'm not allowed to go to work with conjunctivitis as I work in a baby food manufacturing company because of the type of infection it is. I am very thankful it is just one eye, as the ointment has made my vision very blurry and I think I would feel helpless if I had blurry vision in both my eyes. Anyway on to a more cheerful topic, some crochet!

A little while back I decided that I wanted to make our living room a little bit cosier, as I felt it was lacking the cosy feeling whenever you walked in. I asked people on Instagram for some ideas and I got some suggestions like more throws (working on that), more cushions, more colour, a rug (working on that), colourful wall art...and I agree with all of those! 

So I started a new cushion cover, inspired by Attic24's Little Squares Cushion, as she is great when putting colours together! Although I think the colours I have put together are a little bit more vibrant than the ones that Lucy has put together....it's great how you can see the difference in people's colour taste!

This is the back of my cushion cover, I completed this a little while ago and its just waiting on the front to be completed.

I have made much more progress on the front of my cushion cover than shown in this photo, and I think I am pretty close to a ta-dah moment with it. Maybe Friday, being very optomistic!

I already have a spot for it in my living room, on the chair you see to the right as you enter the room. It will be the first colourful thing you see as you enter our little flat!

To check out other WIPs, go on over to Tami's Amis blog!

I am going to go back to hiding now!

Take care,

Hazel x

Minecraft Creeper Cushion

I made this cushion last Christmas for my friend, and was really tight on the deadline to make it that I never got to take a photograph of it. It is probably the most geeky thing I have ever made but I think it looks awesome. For you that don't know the reference, Minecraft is a game placing blocks to build anything you can imagine. There are monsters in this game such as creepers, zombies and spiders...so this cushion is based from a creeper. 

I think it was an excellent stash buster as well as it used up all the different green yarns that I somehow acquired last year. Definitely one of my favourite FOs! 

Want to see more FOs, check out Tamis Amis blog!

Snuggly Ripple Blanket

I finished my ripple blanket last week, and never had the time to take photographs of it to show you it until this week! It looks like I have made it just in time for the really cold weather setting in at night time now, its great for being cosy under while I am at the laptop or watching the tv!

I really love seeing it draped over my chair in my spot! It's handy having it close to me in case I suddenly get cold! To make this blanket I think I used around 3 balls of dark grey, 2 balls of light grey and 2 balls of red yarn for this blanket and a 7 mm hook. The yarn is Sirdar Hayfield Bonus Chunky, so it wasn't too expensive to make but is still warm and soft! It isn't a big blanket, ideal for keeping lap and toes warm and it was a great way to try out the ripple pattern too!

Oh! Happy 'I love yarn day'.....apparently it was today (shhh don't tell anyone....but every day is 'I love yarn day' to me!)

I hope you all have a good weekend!

Hazel x