Monday 13 May 2013

Round and Round the Colour Wheel

Well hello again lovely readers - it's nice to see you here again and I hope that 'everything in your garden is lovely' - as the saying goes! Speaking of gardens, I have been really happy to see all the gorgeous spring pics of gardens and surrounding country walks and woodlands in some of the lovely posts coming from UK. Thank you so much for the sweet memories they awaken for me!

As I reached the end of my previous post you may remember the postie had just arrived with my parcels of Stylecraft Special DK yarn and I was all excited. That excitement increased considerably  as I tipped out those beautiful bundles of colour; well wouldn't you get a bit stirred up at such a sight?

I gazed at the mountain of colour; I squeezed and cuddled it, and patted and stroked it; and then I began to mix and match and arrange and re-arrange, all the time happily clicking the camera lens - these pics are only a few of the many I actually took!

Anyway, I had decided that when this yarn turned up, a largish portion of it would become my next hookie blanket - and so it is fast becoming a rainbow of colour and I'm loving it. What brightness - it's almost dazzling - and it's not only me who has a fondness for this new project - take a look at this: 

Our little Pika doesn't always co-operate when we need her to pose for pics so I apologise that these  are not very sharp and clear (and besides, the lighting was bad that day), but this is the only record I have of the work in progress at that stage!

With this blanket I really took time to work out my colours beforehand - even made swatches and recorded them in the sequence that I chose to use them, for a rainbow was high on my priority list. The lovely thing about organising this part carefully is that I could later decide on the colour-row-count as I progress, depending on how everything is shaping up - I like having that option! I also enjoy having the choice of whether to continue repeats as set in the first few rows or instead, reversing the colourways - again, when I see how the project is developing.


As you can see here, the blanket has grown a bit since Pika laid her cute little body on it, and I did decide to reverse colourways just after I had incorporated each of the chosen colours - see the purples, that's when I turned! You will also notice that I have not kept to the original colour-row-count. What a boring world it would be if we didn't have choices eh!
This is my second ripple blanket; I chose only five quite muted colours for the first and crocheted it in pure wool, whereas this one is acrylic, weighs in much lighter, and encompasses sixteen colours. I love them both. The pattern and inspiration once again comes from Lucy at Attic 24

Before this lovely yarn arrived I did begin another project - I can't not have something on the hook - so I'll give you a little peek at it. This pattern came from Simply Crochet magazine, issue 3, and they reference it back to Susan Ritchie at Mrs Moon www.mrsmoon.co.uk

I very much like this little blanket and am enjoying the change of colours: it will be a lap/knee size whereas the rainbow ripple is going to be rather a lot larger!

Also I really fell for a picture of some little baby shoes in the same issue of Simply Crochet and decided over the weekend to give them a try. It seems like the cotton yarn used in this pattern is slightly thicker than the one I am presently using from my stash, for the one shoe that I have completed is rather on the small size even for a baby, but will fit a dolls foot - somewhere down the line! Something else to think about? I may leave completion of this project until I see a doll crying out for a pair of shoes!

It is ever so sweet don't you think? It even has a double sole!

I'm going back in time a little now - just a few months or so - to show you a couple of cuties I made from 'The Gnome Craft Book' by Thomas and Petra Berger (pub: Floris Books).
The first pic is of  the Reading Gnome, and the second is the Grass Elf.
Then I put asidet felt and pipe cleaners and such like and took up the crochet hook. Like I keep saying, how dull if we couldn't make choices and 'ring the changes'.

A huge thanks to each of you who leave me such pleasing messages - I love reading them and appreciate the effort and time you take to do so - just as I love visiting your blogs and interacting with you all. I am so glad that I took the plunge and jumped into the blogging world for I've 'met' so many lovely people in the few weeks since I began!
Very best wishes to all of you!

Joy x








30 comments:

  1. such wonderful cheering colours, beautifully put together in your ripple blanket, and how I love those baby shoes! Simply crochet has such delicious patterns, but at the moment I'm just looking not making! so it's lovely to see your handiwork! Emmax

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    1. Hello again Emma - gosh you are 'quick off the mark' - I only just posted! Thank you so much for your lovely comments - I am very taken with Simply Crochet, and agree wholeheartedly with what you say, delicious patterns indeed! Joy x

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  2. Gosh Joy you have some projects on the go, busy, busy, busy! I love that double sole so cute. That ripple blanket is coming on a treat. Thanks for checking out my little dresses, glad you liked them and the story. Jo X

    http://joeveryday19.blogspot.co.uk/

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  3. Hi Jo - so nice to hear from you again - like Emma, you too are quick off the mark, and I'm really happy to read your lovely message, thank you!
    Your little girls are lovely and I really do think you are doing such great things with them; they'll remember when they get older and be so grateful to you, quite apart from the wonderful nurturing NOW that is surely encouraging them into creative thinking and doing! Well done you! Joy x

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  4. Wow Joy you said I'd been busy! I think you have won the award for busiest haha. Lots of lovely yarn, the blanket you've started in the ripple stitch looks amazing lots of bright colours and little Pika looks like the perfect model!
    I like the simply crochet blanket too, perfect lap size I love the flower in the middle just adds that bit of something to it.
    The Grass Elf is amazing my daughter would love that she loves all things elves and fairies.
    Any tips with the kitty ears would be welcomed I've come to a stop...
    xx

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    1. Hey FB - welcome back and I do appreciate your lovely remarks, thank you! You'd love Pika in real life - she's a real personality - she doesn't need to talk - she has us well trained!!!
      Yes the little flower granny blanket is very sweet - I won't make it much bigger now.
      You may need to look into making your daughter something along the lines of the grass elf - oh no, not something else!!!
      Now then - how do I explain about the kitty ears: first mark the actual sides of the body (scrap of yarn hooked in?) then DC 8 or 10 stitches for the first ear (4 for front and 4 for back of ear) whereupon you join the ear together (on the inside edge of head )with a slip stitch.
      Then continue for 3 or 4 rounds on these stitches, gradually decreasing a couple of stitches near the join as you go and it should form a nice little peak at the top. Does that sound right?
      Then you join in your yarn on the other side and do the same thing. It's easy to neaten up afterwards with your ends of thread. Do partially stuff body as you go and it will be easier to finish stuffing top of head and sew together middle stitches with needle and matching yarn. Let me know if this doesn't make sense? Joy x

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    2. Oh now that sounds more like it! I think I will be able to follow it ok. Will let you know how I get on.
      Oh don't....not more things to make for my daughter! haha x

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  5. Such bright colours they are wonderful I really am a colour junkie the brighter the better. The blanket is amazing I so envy people who can crochet properly mine is very eccentric more like one handed knitting. The faeries are loving your elves and gnomes I will have to go and check out the book. Sarah x

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  6. Hello again Sarah - lovely to see you back visiting again! Thank you so much for your lovely compliments - and I was wondering if you'd given yourself a fair chance with your crochet, I mean, are you being hard on yourself? Maybe you haven't had much practice at it?
    I was actually thinking of you when posting the elf and gnome - do check out the book for it's quite amazing the amount of choice in there Then you can make little friends for your faeries!!! Joy x

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  7. My, what a pretty blanket! All those colors are so yummy. I keep looking back to see what colors you have to give me ideas for my next project. Since I have been busy with all my quilts, I am missing crochet more and more.....especially when I see yours!!! Beautiful!
    Hope you have a wonderful week,
    xx Shari

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  8. Oh thank you so much Shari - it pleases me no end that you are so impressed with my blanket!
    I have quite a few colours yet, not chosen for this blanket, that will make another more gentle easy going one but that will have to wait - can't have too many projects on the go at once, can I ! Or can I???
    I understand about you missing your crochet - you produce such wonderful results with your hook and yarn, but you know, there's a time and place for everything and at the moment you are doing such a splendid job with your beautiful quilts.
    I wish you a fantastic week also and happy crafting,
    Joy xx

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  9. Beautiful beautiful colourful yarn! I love all your crochet in this post, just gorgeous, but I am really quite in love with those little shoes!
    M x

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    1. How lovely to hear from you again M and thank you so much for taking the time to leave me your sweet message; I'm so glad you like what you see. Yes those little shoes are so very cute aren't they but, just be sure to use a 'substantial' weight yarn if you decide to make them. My cotton, although 8ply, is a little on the fine side. Joy x

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  10. Ah - your coloured yarn really pops out and your dog sets it off just nicely. :)

    I've just found out my sister-in-law is pregnant so I will be on the look out for baby clothes patterns (not forgetting that I have about 3 unfinished blankets!) and I think those booties are going to go on the list.

    xx

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    1. Hello again Hazey Bee - I'm glad you looked in again, always lovely to have you for a visit and a wee chat!
      A new baby on the way is wonderful news - all the best to your sister-in-law and family!
      I had no reason at all to make those shoes other than totally falling for their cuteness and I love baby clothes. In past years I have knit so many bootees I couldn't count them!
      Simply Crochet includes so many lovely patterns in their magazine - do give them a go! Joy x

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  11. you have been busy Joy! your new rainbow blanket should keep you in a colouful mode! I see you have some lovely greens there, hard to find sometimes. The little shoes are very sweet. Also nice to have another blanket to rest with from the colour! have a good week, Heather x

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  12. Hello Heather, how nice to see you here again and thank you for leaving your lovely message. The colour range is quite wonderful in the Stylecraft yarn and I do like the bluey greens especially. Yes the 'flower' blanket does provide a restful break from the bright colours - all states of mind covered! I have plans for another gentle blanket with the other Stylecraft colours I bought - to keep me balanced! Joy x

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  13. From one Joy to another love your blog x

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    1. Hello Joy - how nice you've found me and joined in to follow my blog - welcome aboard and thank you!
      Joy x

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  14. Hi Joy
    Thank you so much for being a regular visitor to my blog I love receiving your lovely comments. Your ripple blanket is beautiful I think I might like a rainbow blanket.
    Hope you are having a good week
    Sue x

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  15. Hi Sue - I'm delighted that you paid me a visit and thank you so much for your lovely message.
    Yes, rainbow blankets are so nice and allow so much scope in the mixing and matching - maybe that'll be your next project?
    My week is going well thank you and hope yours is also!
    Joy x

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  16. Hi Joy, love your blog. I'm now a follower. Im a crochet addict. I try other crafts but always go back to the crochet. Like the rainbow colours, very inspiring.

    S xx

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  17. Hello S - I'm very happy to have you here - welcome! Thank you for your lovely message - I am an addict too - especially with this rainbow ripple - just can't wait to see how the next row of colour will look and how it will affect the overall appearance of the blanket. I think this could be dangerous!!!
    I'm about to look you up at your place and in the meantime I'm wishing you happy hooking times! Joy x

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  18. Hi Joy, I am so glad that your yarn arrived. You got a much bigger pile than I did. But I will have to order again. This time round I seem to have bought muted colors but they are so pretty and I am making attic 24’s ripple blanket as well. I am having the dilemma now of whether to repeat my colour rows or totally randomize ( is that a word?) them. I love symetry so I will probably just repeat the same pattern over and over. I thing it would bother me if they were mixed up but it is hard to decide. It's a shame we can't attach photos to our comments. If we could I would show you my progress. We have had a lot of rain Busselton way and it is feeling rather cold at night now. Enjoy your beautiful projects.

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  19. Hi Jen - lovely to hear from you again and I wish you the best with your rippling!
    I took a lot of time choosing my colours in the first place and then, although most times I too like 'uniformity', I decide as I go how I'm going to stripe it - but still keep to the same colour order basically. I find this keeps some excitement in the process and I just love to watch how the colour pattern develops and changes the overall appearance of the blanket.
    Whichever way you choose to go - just enjoy it!
    Our weather patterns have been similar to yours by the sound of it - and of course we're into Autumn now - time for mother nature to wind down, rest and prepare I guess.
    Happy weekend to you! Joy x

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  20. Hello Joy, thank you for your comment on my blog. It has been lovely to meet you on the blogosphere!
    I can see that crochet is your thing, as well as colour and cute dogs. I love colour and one day I will finish my granny square blanket but right now, I am surrounded by fabric and quilts. I do however leap around the craft world, being a craft " floozie"....:-)
    Variety does keep one fresh.
    Chat again soon I hope.
    Susan

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    1. Ah Susan - thank you so much for your lovely message - and do keep on floozieing - your doing such a great job! Joy x

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  21. Hi Joy, you have a beautiful blog! Happy mid-winter here from the South of Africa!

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  22. Hi Pigtails - and thank you for dropping in and leaving your sweet message, as well as becoming a follower.
    We're into winter here too and having some very cold nights - but still some sunshine too most days!
    Have a lovely weekend!
    Joy x

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