My Crafting Chronicles – September 2024

September has come and gone in a flash for me – I did that thing where you think you have more time than you actually do and end up running around like a headless chicken. We started our long awaited bathroom renovation (note ‘started’ – finished is a little way off!) and I also began teaching crochet classes as well as supporting my youngest child with her 11+ tests. It was about as busy as it could possibly be, which meant very little time for crochet, though I still managed some. I have to say most of my projects are as unfinished as my bathroom though!

Works in progress

There are a few WIPs on the go currently, mostly really simple things like a crochet baby blanket. I tech edited the pattern for the blanket a little while ago and I loved the way the border worked. I haven’t done the stripes in the same way as the pattern because I was using donated yarn to crochet for a local charity. It is a variegated yarn, (I’m unsure of the brand) and I matched the pink and the yellow with some yarn from my stash to bulk it out a little and to add extra stripes. This blanket is almost finished, just a few border rounds to go. It was the picot border round that actually made me want to make it as the crochet picot effect is made in a really creative way.

I also have an amigurumi project on my hook, the Blackberry Fairy from a supplement in Simply Crochet magazine. I love to decorate my conservatory dresser to celebrate the seasons and it’s been a few years since I crocheted anything for my autumn dresser so it seemed a perfect make. I’m using cotton yarn, which is a rarity for me after a horrible episode of repetitive strain injury after overdoing cotton yarn projects. I tend to reserve it only for projects like this now, I’d certainly not crochet anything very large using cotton. (As an aside, I’ve discovered cotton blend yarns are an excellent compromise!)

I’m not 100% happy with her hair, in fact it is pretty terrible but I’m just going to pretend she looks a little scruffy as she’s been stuck in a bramble hedge and leave it at that. Her wings are currently being stiffened with spray starch and then I can assemble her clothes and sew the wings on. I’m hoping that by the time that happens I will have been able to tidy the conservatory (currently full of tools due to the aforementioned bathroom renovation). Then the dresser display can be put together and she can take her new place for the next couple of months. In the photo she has a granny square covering (almost!) her modesty. Her real outfit is much prettier!

Finished objects (FOs)

As you might already have gathered, this month is short of those! However, I did finish another baby blanket, a pattern test for Off the Hook crochet. The pattern is called In the Mood and uses the tapestry crochet technique to make a fabulous geometric pattern. I made squares until I was almost out of one of the colours, then added border rounds until it was the required size for the maternity ward which is supported by the local crochet and knitting group. I tried to create geometric patterns to mirror the real pattern without detracting from it. I was pretty pleased with it, although the squares had to be hand sewn together and I’m not especially good at that (I prefer to crochet them together). Once the other blanket is finished I will send both blankets, along with a hat and cardigan, to the lady that takes them all to the hospital.

Crochet design

This month has been quiet on the design front, with just the release of a striped dog sweater pattern, which you can find here. I originally did it for a paid partnership with Hobbii Yarn, but the pattern wasn’t selected so I decided to publish it myself as all sausage dogs need an autumn/winter wardrobe don’t they? It was made to measure for my miniature dachshund, with instructions for how to adapt it. Being made with aran weight yarn it’s a very quick project so I can see me whipping him up a few more!

Crochet classes

I’ve no idea why it took me this long to start teaching crochet, given that teaching was my career for so long, but it was worth the wait. I started classes at the beginning of September in our local village hall and I absolutely love it! I have two groups and both are for beginners. Wow, the progress over 3 weeks is just phenomenal and although I only had 6 weeks planned, they have all asked if we can carry on. I felt for a while that community was a missing piece from my business – I’m part of several amazing online communities, but in person ones were lacking.

I’ve met some great people who all want to learn to crochet for different reasons and I leave feeling uplifted after every session, seeing everyone so pleased with what they’ve learned and overcoming all of the tricky bits of crochet. Making the handouts takes me a bit of time each week, but I see it as valuable time invested for future crochet lessons as those documents will be there for me to use time and time again.

Everything else!

This month I have been working on our bathroom and developed some excellent demolition skills, as well as learning how to mix limewash. Our house is approximately 250 years old, perhaps more, and when the old, damp render fell off the wall it revealed limewashed bricks so we have decided the best thing for the building is to just use appropriate materials. It is incredibly messy to apply (especially indoors) but looks lovely when it dries!

I’ve also been working on my sawing skills as the apple tree in our garden has died so we are going to cut it and down and season the wood ready for the log burner. I’ve removed the lower branches already, and the rest will come down when we get some help. The garden was a real draw to us buying the house and it’s a shame the tree has died but it will keep us warm and my husband will save some of the wood for woodturning too. I’m hoping to replant a tree in a different location as I’m concerned about the soil in that corner not being very good as the hedge there is also dying.

I’m enjoying seeing the changes in nature as autumn rolls in, we’ve collected conkers on the school run and enjoyed making apple and bramble crumble. The evenings are drawing in and I’m beginning to feel the urge to light the log burner and put the electric blankets on the beds. It does feel as though autumn has arrived very early this year though. Our dog wears his hi vis coat and light up collar on walks now to help keep him safe, he really is quite an amusing sight!

It certainly has been a busy month, I’m hoping October is just a little calmer.