Finishing and Announcing

I have been analysing my granny square blanket A LOT (you know the one I made for the Janaury Defi'13). And there was something wrong with it. Not an obvious 'wrong' (ie the colours were not wrong), but it did not look finished. And I did not like it. After a bit of blog stalking - one of my favourite pastimes - I came across Faustine's own granny square blanket (made for the same Defi'13) and I could see that she had a really nice finish. The solution was simple she said, the last row is a single crochet row made of a contrasting yarn - of course!

Once I started, that was it. I knew it was right for the blanket. I had some grey Cocoon left - not a full skein, but just enough for this last row. I really like the effect, it looks like a blanket stitch and really finish off the granny square (so no temptation for me making it even bigger!).

So guys, what do you do when you know there is something wrong? Do you have a standard solution or do you try to find similar projects on blogs? or do you just give up...

Anyway, did I mention an announcement in my title? I sure did... I am SO exciting about this. To thank you all for coming to my blog, I will have host my very first GIVEAWAY whilst we are on holiday. I set myself a threshold of people visiting my blog and I passed it - and that is really rewarding!

So Friday this week, all will be unveiled. I think you will like it - it is not just for knitters, or for patchwork... more a home thank you giveaway... It will be open for a bit more than a week - so plenty of time if people missed out. All you need to do is follow me!

Put your hands up those of you who thought I was pregnant?

Defi'13 de la decoration

We are the 13th of the month and it can only mean one thing - it is time to link up to Defi'13! This month we had to make something for your house.. Pretty easy - I had loads of ideas. And I managed to make... one, I suppose at least it is one. This is probably the most simple - yet the most expensive (it literally eats yarn) - crochet pattern. The giant granny square blanket.






Pour ce Defi'13 de la decoration, j'ai decide de faire le plus grand des granny squares. J'avais beaucoup d'autres idees en tete bien sur, mais je n'ai reussi qu'a finir (et en fait commencer) ce projet. Pour ne pas me sentir trop nulle, j'ai quand meme ajoute un coussin que j'avais fait l'annee derniere en patchwork. Le granny square au depart c'est tout simple, le probleme c'est en fait son cout - j'ai arrete de compter le nombre de pelotes dont j'ai eu besoin - c'etait trop deprimant.

The yarn used is mainly Rowan Cocoon - and it worked - much better than in my Cadence! I know now how I can use it in the future! I used 4 different shades of grey and you may remember that yellow yarn from Baby Longlegs I used for that slouchy hat! The hook was a 5.5 mm. This is the colour scheme of our bedroom - except that when on the bed, well it just not the right effect. So the grann y square is going to the little room - aka my hobby room with the cushion I made last year. It actually works very well there - so pleased. Would have been really upset if I could not show it off in my house!

J'ai parle il y a quelques billets de cela de mes malheurs avec la laine Cocoon de Rowan - je la trouvais trop lourde et pas facile a travailler. J'ai perserve et ca a paye! J'ai utilise 4 nuances de gris, et ai fini ma derniere pelote de jaune de Baby Longlegs - que j'avais utiliser pour ce projet. J'adore cette couleur. Le crochet est un 5.5 mm. Pour celles qui suivent mon blog, il s'agit effectivement de la palette de couleurs de notre chambre, et en fait ce granny square etait pour la chambre. A part qu'en dessus de lit - ou en bout de lit - ca ne va pas du tout. Ca ne rendait vraiment pas. Donc le granny square est maintenant dans mon bureau, sur ma chaise made in IKEA.

This was a great project for the winter as whilst doing it - in front of the TV (so great after Gingko!) - it was on my lap the whole time, keeping me warm! Brilliant! If you have not done any crochet before, I would definitely recommend this project - it is really easy to do and it grows very quickly (at the beginning). The only problem is at the end, when you need a skein for only one round (hence the expense). As far as the change in colours is concerned, I think at the beginning it was based on a 6 round basis, and then on what I had left... I made a very quick sketch, that I follow quite loosely.

J'ai adore ce projet, apres Gingko qui m'a quand meme pris un peu de temps et beaucoup de ma concentration, c'etait quasiment trop facile... Non pas vraiment, parce que ce n'est pas facile a manier quand on a utililse toutes les pelotes de Rowan de son magasin de laine (bon peut etre pas toutes, mais une bonne partie). Par contre ca tient au chaud tout au long du projet, et en plein hiver c'est quand meme super appreciable. Je recommende ce projet a toutes celles qui n'auraient jamais fait de crochet avant. Ca grandit tres tres vite au depart et ca rend vraiment bien pour un point assez basique. Un autre Defi'13 releve!

Another Defi'13 done!

{Granny Squares - Buy it or Make it?} Noas' Libellule obsession

Hello peeps! Happy Friday! Is everyone looking forward ot the weekend? Anything exciting planned? We are off to our last wedding of the year. And then, that is it, nothing planned, weekends are free... and I will be catching up with some craft. Yipee! And definitely some granny squares. It was really fun to put this post together - and I am super inspired... Will you be?

1. Scarf, House of Holland, ASOS; 2. Kid scarf, Super Soil; 3. Pincushion from Namolio, Etsy; 4. Christopher Kane Crocheted Pencil Skirt, Net-a-Porter; 5. Christopher Kane Suzie Crochet Effect Leather, Net-a-Porter; 6. Blanket from the Knitbox, Etsy; 7. House of Holland Tights, Asos; 8. Cushion cover from the Bayleaf Studio, Etsy.

What I love with granny squares is a) it is quite easy to make, 2) you can make them as big or as small as you wish, and 3) it is all about colour coordination. And suddenly you have your own vintage, or modern homemade home - or a new scarf (I love the House of Holland one)!!

So you are asking how? how can you make those beautiful things? I was hoping to make the tutorial... but did not get a chance in the end (a combination of work really kicking off and catching up with sleep). However Adaiha makes it look super easy at her tutorial page.

I have just been on Ravelry to see what comes up if you search granny squares: 4,092 results that include aprons, slippers, colourful cushion covers... If you want inspiration, this is the place to go!!

Have a great weekend guys! And have fun wherever you are!