Tuesday, April 13, 2010

The Good, the Bad and the UGLY.

I have been converted. I have crossed over. I am going to have to set up a new blog. I never thought it would happen to me. But it has. I am addicted to.......

CROCHET!!

It began about a year ago when I learnt how to make a granny square from that guy Mike off Youtube. Remember I asked for any scrap donations of wool as I wanted to make my dd a big blanket?? Well, I have finished it... but more about that later.

This passion really began with this lovely lady's photos:

ElizabethCat

Please take a moment and see how inspiring this girl's work is! Truely breathtaking.

So this then lead to me getting some of this:

IMG_0189

and with lots of help from the aforesaid lady, I was able to make my first African flower motif:

first african flower

Not quite sharp enough at the edges but a great first attempt.

This lead to this:

next blanket

which will go towards making a nice little blanket me thinks.

But back to the aforesaid granny blanket. This is definitely the "Ugly" in the title post but my dd loves it and I learned a lot through doing it. I even learned how to "join as you go" to join the squares up. Now I have some ideas about colour and organisation and so the next one will be oh so much better.

Granny blanket finished April 10

IMG_0201

IMG_0203

IMG_0206

I remember having a similar crochet blanket when I was a child and I used to do so much with it. I used it to play on. I used it as a tent between mine and my sister's beds. I used to comfort myself with it and use it to dress up as a queen! I hope my dd will get a lot of pleasure from it.

Sally, Barb, Tracy and I believe Lesleyanne and I are doing the At Home with Jane Austen by The Sampler Girl SAL which was in the Gift of Stitching magazine a year or so ago. I have made a measly start. This is the "bad" in my title. :( However, a start is a start and it is an enjoyable stitch too. Just wish I had all the threads doh!

At Home with Jane Austen

Here's the good. The very good in fact. I thought I'd save the best till last. My friend and I have been working on big big big baps (you know - the one my dad is now working on :S). Well, my friend, after many years of toil has finally finished her masterpiece. She didn't work on any other project in the 5 or 6 years that it has taken her to finish this. She says she is now going to hang up her needle! It truely is a work of art. Amazing. The design is from Golden Kite and contains lots of blends. I should know the title of this art piece but for the moment it escapes me. We had champagne to celebrate her putting in her last stitch. So without further ado....

Ta Daaaaaaaa!!

IMG_0198

Congratulations Michelle!

Thanks for all the lovely emails for the RAKs. I'll be getting on with a few of those soon. Thanks for your kindness and friendship.xx



41 comments:

tintocktap said...

Those African flowers are rather addictive, aren't they? And Elizabeth's crochet is really beautiful! Love the big blanket too - it must be about as big as my first blanket!

Christine S said...

So much to comment on in your post, Hazel! I think the blanket and squares you've crocheted are beautiful. I've done a bit of crochet and it's fun because it goes so quickly!

Congrats to your friend on finishing her design, it is stunning! I hope she frames it so she can enjoy it for years to come.

Carolyn NC said...

It's not ugly, it's gorgeous - I might have to take this up - now where's the best place to start?? Your daughter looks like she's thrilled! And The Accolade is what I've heard this pictured called by some designers, and it is just beautiful. Stunning, indeed. Any progress is good progress!

Gillie said...

I love the colours in the dd blanket -well done for mastering crochet, I learnt years ago - the poor woman had two of us lefties in the class! Gorgeous finish, not surprised she is hanging up her needle! Would love to swap address for possible RAK but I do live in the States!

Kathy A. said...

Tipping my glass to Michelle! What an amazing piece of art and beautifully stitched. She can be so proud!
LOL - crochet bug has bit hard. Love those stitches.

Marjorie said...

Your crocheted squares and blanket are so cool! I wish I could manage other needle arts but cross stitch seems to be all I am capable of, lol. Your friend's finished piece is just stunning!

Ranae said...

I love to crochet granny squares. I think I have posted one a long time ago.
Congrats! to Michelle, that is one awesome BAP.

Margaret said...

I'm so tempted to try crochet too! lol! I love the colors of those yarns! Nice that your daughter adopted that blanket you made. Love your Jane Austen WIP. And wow! I hope your friend doesn't hang up her needle! If someone can stitch something like that, she should keep stitching! Tell her congratulations!

Pam said...

My late mother used to crochet, so I know how wonderful those little granny squares can be. You dd's blanket is beautiful!! Keep up the good work!!

The piece that Michelle finished is just stunning!! Please tell her that I add my congratulation to the mix.

Dani - tkdchick said...

Wow that piece your frined stitched is The Accolade. I've got a very small start on it but my chart is by Gitta's not GoldenKite. It looks amazing I can't beleive she's going to hang up her needle!

Mylene said...

WOW! Hazel, great job on the crocheted blanket and squares.

Michelle's piece looks stunning!

Angela said...

That is an impresssive piece of stitching. I admire your friends ability to stick at it, I certainly couldn't just do one piece for 5 years although I've had some on the go for that long.

Julie said...

The blanket looks wonderful, i'm sure DD will love it and use it for lots of things, it looks so cuddly wrapped around her. I did try crotchet when i was younger and my gran showed me.

Huge congrats to Michelle, that piece certainly earned a champers celebration

Nice new start!

Barb said...

Hi Hazel any progress is progress and boy you have made crotcheting progress. It is years since I made a blanket for our bed before we got married ,hmmm now where did I put the crotchet hook lol.
Wow wow and more WOW to your friend it is absolutely stunning a well deserved celebration there.
I have started in the middle of Home so I have been roofing this week.

Sally said...

Oooh those African flowers are gorgeous Hazel! And I love the blanket! I can't get the hang of crochet at all!

Your start on At Home looks good! I'm enjoying really it.

Congratulations to Michelle on her BAP finish! It is stunning!

jane said...

wow, great blanket Hazel, great crochet squares too, I love to crochet but haven't done any in ages - must get out my hook again. What a fantastic finish by your friend - am I imagining it or did I see this at Nuneaton last year?

Sherry said...

Congratulations on the blanket! I never could learn crochet. My grandma was a whiz at it along with many other crafts and she tried to teach me but my hands just couldn't get the rhythm going.

Jackie's Stitches said...

Your African Flower is wonderful. I can't believe I've never seen one of them before. I know your daughter is going to love and treasure the afghan you made her.

Michelle's piece is AMAZING!

Louise said...

Hazel!

What a lovely post!
I love crochet too..but I think you have already become more professional than me at it!!
I love the blanket you made for your daughter. That BAP cross stitch is amazing..congrats to your friend. WOW!!!
I would love to learn how to do those little crochet flowers too..did someone teach you, or did you learn from a video?

Blessings to you Hazel my dear friend!
Louise in NC

corinna said...

your crocheting and color choices are a delight

your friends stitching is a masterpiece- what dedication!

Christine said...

Crochet is something I've never mastered so I am in awe of your amazing blanket.
Congratulations to Michelle on a truly amazing finish

Stitchabilities said...

That blanket is wonderful, I am currently learning to Crochet,(Thanks for the links) I hope to make something similar for my Daughter.
Congratulations to your friend that is some BBBBAP!! She deserves that glass of wine!

Carol said...

I think you blanket is spectacular, Hazel--your daughter looks so cute all wrapped up in it; she is a darling girl :)

And your friend's cross stitch finish--all I can say is AMAZING! Please congratulate her for me...

Karan said...

Gorgeous rainbow of colours there Hazel. Well done on persevering with the huge blanket for your DD - looks like she will enjoy snuggling in it. Nice start on the JA piece too - looking forward to seeing this develop. :0)

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

HURRAY! That is truly and utterly stunning, gorgeous work by Michelle! I'm just amazed!

Siobhán said...

Hazel, wow!!! I envy your talent with the crochet hook. I learned, but not well... I'm right handed and my teacher is left handed and I basically take a bunch of extra steps to do one stitch. I want to learn again. Thanks for sharing the flickr album--I'll share that with my daughter, who is much better at crocheting than I am. I LOVE your daughter's blanket!! So nice to snuggle up in. Your other WIPs look great, too. Congratulations to your friend for finishing such a massive BAP!

Mrs Twins said...

All these projects are absolutely beautiful. WEll done to you! Isn't Crocheting lovely? I thoroughly enjoy it. Youve made a great job of the African Flower too! I bet you'll be making a few more of them!
Hugs Suex

Brigitte said...

Your crocheting is amazing. I love how the blanket for your daughter turned out. Looks so gorgeous.
Your friend's stitched piece is just out of the world. What an accomplishment! Congratulations!

Tracy Dixon said...

Hun those flowers look great and I love Lily's blanket, I wish I could get into the crochet I really struggled when I tried it maybe a teaching weekend at yours is in order with my DVD and Congratulations to Michelle tell her from me it looks fantastic and I cannot believe she has finally finished it, has she decided to get it framed xx

Heidi said...

It has been too long since I stopped over to say hello and what do I get? Tons is yummy things to gaze at!!! First, oh my! I too want to learn to crochet and make a granny square afghan. I am teaching a friend to quilt so she wants to teach me to crochet. I love that African flower block! What a pretty afghan that will make. And the afghan for your DD is not ugly at all. Far from it, she is going to love having it.

As far as Michelle goes, please pass on a big congratulation from me. I hate to read she is hanging up her needle though. If you can make such a masterpiece, you can tackle anything. Her stitched version of The Accolade is fabulous!

Hugs from Holland ~
Heidi

Kristen said...

Love the crochet. I'm beginning to learn a little myself. Congrats on your friend finishing. WOW! What a finish!

Shirl said...

Hello, I just came across your blog looking for cross stitch. Great blog, your cross stitch is amazing and love your crochet.
Blessings, Shirl
Shirls Rose Cottage

glamlawlib said...

My Mum has an 'ugly' crocheted blanket on the back of her sofa, my nephew has dips on it for his inheritance he loves it so much. Your blanket was handmade with love and therefore it is 'beautiful' and you can see how much your daughter loves it. That's priceless!

Your friend Michelles stitching is amazing! Congratulations to her, that definately deserved a champagne celebration! :)

Vicky L said...

OMG! Your friend's finished piece is so awesome, gorgeous and absoulty BEAUTIFUL!!! It is one of my favorite piece of art and would love to stitch this some day. I am so amazed and I bet the picture is not doing its justice. Congrats to your friend.

Lois Evensen said...

Lovely crochet. Welcome to the wonderful world of crochet. Well, it seems you've been there for awhile. Nice blog.

Lois

Olga said...

Congrats on finishing the blanket - it's beautiful! Your friend's GK project is fabulous.

Lennu said...

Wow, you've been really busy crocheting, I love everything! I haven't crocheted for years, but I have made at least one pillow with those squares years ago.

Congratulations to your friend, what a great finish it is!

stitcherw said...

Love the crochet, it looks great. The colors in the blanket are so bright and cheerful, I can see why your daughter would love it too. The smaller squares, and the flower square, are wonderful. I can do regular crochet (single and double) in rows, but haven't attempted any shapes as yet. I'll enjoy seeing how your next project turns out.
Sue

stitcherw said...

Oops, forgot, your friends piece is awesome, I sure hope she keeps stitching. After a break I'm sure her fingers will start to itch to stitch again, she's so talented.
Sue

Christine said...

Beautiful !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Melissa said...

There is just something about an afghan made from Granny Squares. I love them. Yours turned out beautiful. :) Michelles project is just beautiful. :)