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Tuesday 24 January 2012

psychedelic crochet drugs

Time for a crochet post, don't you think?
Even though it doesn't feature on this blog nearly enough, I always have some crochet on the go.
It is also one of my busiest craft classes at work and so far I have taught 18 students to crochet and most of these have now entered a dangerous state of wool addiction. I do feel a bit like a drug pusher as they turn up at the shop week after week, glassy eyed, clutching cash and gasping for "more wool, more wool, please, just one more ball!". I do always warn them at the start of the 'Learn to Crochet' class that it is extremely addictive!
The Rooster wool I bought for the shop back in July has been a great success and I am now awaiting a huge delivery of Sirdar, Sublime, Patons and Regia sock wool any day!!! (see what I mean about feeling like a drug pusher!)
I have also noticed some crochet action on a few other blogs recently - Lynz has just taught herself through You Tube videos. Way to go Lynz! It's not easy to learn that way, much better to come to a nice workshop with me :)

I have another friend's special birthday coming up soon (in fact a have quite a few this year!), so I thought I would get started now on a lovely blanket which I could potter away at for the next few months. I started off making these hexagons, above, with Rooster aran wool. The pattern is from the same book as the Roses and Daises Blanket I made for my niece's wedding last year, and is based on a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt. 
But it just wasn't doing it for me. It just looked a bit blah. So I have abandoned it and turned to my favourite crochet blog Attic 24 for inspiration.
And found it straight away on Lucy's gorgeous blog! Granny circles, perfect! I am currently obsessed with circles inside squares as a quilt pattern so this just shouted out to me. This is an old project of Lucy's, adapted from a vintage crochet book, and made into a gorgeous blanket by a friend of her's and featured here.

Lucy promised to note down the pattern very soon, but I couldn't wait and liked the challenge of working it out myself - which I did! Not sure if I have done it exactly the same way as Lucy, but I love it! 
And the difference between these squares and the earlier hexagons is that I just can't take my eyes off them! A great crochet design should be totally mesmeric and every square you finish should fill you with joy. This design is a particularly potent psychedelic drug, and I am hooked (haha)!
But what of that amazing African Flower Blanket you were working on a year or so ago, Jo? 
Well I am STILL working on it! In fact I love it so much I don't think I will ever stop, but just keep adding more and more flowers until I become crushed under the weight of wool - what a way to go!! (I think this is known as O.D.ing on crochet!).
NB I have now put together an inspiration pack of some of the wools I used to make the Granny Circles which you can buy at our website here

19 comments:

  1. LOVE your crochet eye candy! I'm quite fancying learning how, and would love to take one of your classes, but I'm not sure I (or my family) can cope with another addiction!

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  2. GORGEOUS!!! Love crochet blankets! Next month I'm buying another "lucy pack" to start work on a new one :-)

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  3. I love this crochet afghan. Just beautiful. Hugs

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  4. You are so right, I confess I'm addicted too! Those squares are beautiful, it will be a lovely blanket. The hexagon one is amazing, so colourful. xx

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  5. No wonder you can't stop, those African Flowers are fab.

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  6. Lol, you definitely do need help... Afraid it won't be me being your knight in shining armour, I'm itching just looking at all that wool ;o)

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  7. Your crochet is fabulous and completely inspirational. I'm teaching myself how to crochet and finished my first dishcloth yesterday....Today a dishcloth....tomorrow a crochet blanket muuwwwaahhhahhaahhaahhaaa! I'm in Perth, Western Australia, but if I was in Perth, Scotland, I'd be hopping on a train to take your classes!

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  8. All your crochet is so bright and cheery - I love that blanket!

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  9. I am putting 'learn to crochet' on next winter's 'to do' list for sure!

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  10. Ooh, Jo, I really Love the blanket! Daughter #1 is my crochet queen, I wonder if she'd be persuaded to make sonething like that?

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  11. Nice to find your blogg, very nice crocheting, love this squares!! Maria

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  12. Gorgeous crochet! I'm currently collecting yarn for a blanket of my own but I'm not doing well, I've only got four balls at the moment! The African Flower blanket is fabulous!

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  13. Amazing Jo. I have been looking to make a crochet rug for some time, and am going to my sister's for 10 days. You are wonderful - your African Flowers rug is wonderful, and I can't wait to get started. I wish I had known you were in Edinburgh as my sister and I came there in Sept. 2010. Our Grandad was born there.
    Thanks again so much
    Sue from New Zealand

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  14. All lovely - must get back to my crochet projects!

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  15. Completely gorgeous,i do love crochet but i feel i can only make granny squares,i cant follow patterns at all they confuse me too much ,ide love to try something new xx

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  16. Oh my that is one amazing quilt. Love it.

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  17. I don’t think many of websites provide this type of information. Buy weed overnight shipping

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