Starting another crochet project

Erm, yes - because I need another project on the go, but there’s no time like the present hey?

Remember those crochet threads I bought in Norfolk as part of a lucky dip of vintage threads, well I’m starting to put them to use. I’d run out of mini-skeins from my multi-coloured yet-to-be-decided item, but I was keen to keep the pattern going in my head. So without really planning to, I found myself starting another crochet project.

But before I tell you more about the new project, here’s the most recent additions to my rainbow squared thing. Thing, because I’m not sure what the squares will turn into yet - but at some point they will have a purpose.

My next box arrived while we were away and so I’ll be picking that up again too. I’m finding this pattern pretty addictive. And while it looks complicated, it’s actually pretty easy to remember. My challenge is coming back to it when the new mini-skeins arrive, and needing to relearn it.

What I needed was something to keep it going through the month, and that’s where the crochet threads come in. It’ll be no surprise that I’ve no plans for the resulting squares, but I’m sure inspiration will strike. Or I hope so anyway.

Not wanting, or needing, to buy anything to keep my brain working and my hands active I realised now was the time to dig out some of those crochet threads. In the end I settled on this neutral colour as there were 3 full reels, one that had been started and a small hand wound ball.

I couldn’t help but smile at the instructions to ‘buy sufficient to complete’ your project. If only they knew, and actually if only I knew. How do you buy sufficient for an unknown project, and how given the number of years since is that possible today? Exactly.

I quickly realised this would be an ideal project to take away with me, and so I needed something to put this in. A plastic bag didn’t really cut it. So when I found this square pouch, which the threads fitted snugly in, I had a project and a pouch to carry it in. The pouch was a present from mum and dad, and one that mum had made. I’m sure she said at the time, you never know when it’ll come in useful - and she was right.

Even the small metal crochet hooks fit into the pouch - it was clearly meant to be!

A crocheted heart

Quite often simple is best. And a spot of creativity can do wonders.

I’ve many crochet projects on the go, and most are larger items which will take a while to complete. A few weeks back - you can tell by the sun! - I felt like I needed to finish something, but wasn’t sure what. I’d started to sew in some ends of my vintage hearts throw, and being the magpie that I am, I’d kept the longer ends. Along with the scraps I’d deemed too long to throw away, but too short to be worthwhile using on a larger project, the blues - and I mean literally the blues - called me.

And so it wasn’t long before I’d crocheted myself a heart. My plan was a crocheted flower, but somehow this happened. I’d searched through several patterns, and this is a mix of many. It seemed to work well as a one-dimensional piece, and with a crocheted string soon added, it worked as a keyring.

I have it in mind to try a double sided version, adding some stuffing - but not just yet. For the time being though, my little heart of blues makes me smile every time I pop out the back. There’s definitely room for improvement, but as I said before simple is good, and so is done.

Succulents on the terrace

You’ll know I’m rather partial to a succulent or two, and so having been relatively ‘starved’ of ogling other people’s succulents when I saw these perched on the wall overlooking the main lawn at Standen, it didn’t take me long to be standing in front of them.

And I wasn’t disappointed.

I mean, who could be disappointed with the dusky grey pink variety above or the pink, orange and yellow flowers of the one below.

And that large rosette. Pure heaven. Though my succulents tend to do this, and migrate to the edge of the pot. I’m glad that that is usual behaviour, however frustrating that may be.

But I think the one that stole the show was this pretty, pale pink flower. How delicate, and how exquisite. And even better it let my iPhone capture its detail - always a winner for me.

That was quite an unexpected succulent fix, but one that I didn’t realise I would enjoy quite as much as I did.