It's all about crochet this week...

This week I have neglected my knitting in favour of crochet. All the main pieces of the Phoebe jacket are finished and there are just a couple of metres of yarn to spare. I breathed a sigh of relief when I realised that I was just going to have enough. I then bought some Cygnet Aran to do the edging with and it looks a pretty close match. Hope to get this one finished soon. Meanwhile, a rummage through my stash revealed a few yarns that I had forgotten about. Ages ago I bought some Debbie Bliss Cotton Angora in a sale. I used 3 balls of this fabulous purple colour to make a curly wurly scarf and a matching hat. The scarf pattern is from the book First Crochet and the Cotton Angora is the very yarn used in the book. The hat is from Vogue Knitting Crochet Hats On The Go. The hat book is excellent and I plan to make several more hats from this one. I liked the set so much that I made another in pink. This one has also been gifted to a friend so there may have to be another for me. I enjoyed the crochet a lot and it inspired me to make something more colourful. This lovely scarf is the main reason that I bought Vogue Crocet Scarves Two. I need to make a few more flowers and attach them. Admittedly, the last little bit of any project always seems to be my stumbling block - but I am hopeful of a result on this one soon.I'd like to wear it before the warm weather returns.

Here comes Phoebe

Phoebe is looking good - I think that I may just be able to get the main pieces done from my charity shop purchase of black wool. There probably won't be enough for the borders or belt but I think if I can find a close enough match it won't notice too much. I just don't want to run out with half a sleeve to finish. Being quite chunky, Phoebe is crocheting up very quickly. The pattern is simple but with enough changes to keep it interesting. If this gets finished it will be the largest thing that I've ever crocheted.

I did a little more work on my Grownup Bonnet. The recent spell of good weather has eroded my enthusuasm for this project a little. It will be finished ! I am determined not to add to my pile of UFOs this year

Oh no, not more neckwarmers !

I gifted my last pair of Ladylike Lace Gloves to Clare the Bear and immediately had to make another pair for myself. I raided my stash and found some Cygnet 4 ply that was going to be for socks that never got knitted. So, here are my pink Ladylikes...

I love them - they are fun to crochet and great to wear. They took less than one ball of yarn.

I particularly like the ribbed effect on the palms.

I know that these neckwarmers have become a bit of an obsession lately but I just love them. Two more flew off my needles last week. The green one is Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk DK used double. It is so soft and a lovely shade of green - this one is for me. The second is Sirdar Denim Tweed dk doubled up and is for Clare the Bear. There is enough left to make matching wristwarmers.

I have done really well for yarn in charity shops lately. Last week I found 8 balls of Lopi in my local Oxfam for a couple of pounds the lot. I have been meaning to make the lovely felted bowls from One Skein for ages and this stuff is perfect for felting. Once I started there was no stopping me and I made two large bowls and two small bowls from just two balls of the Lopi. I am planning to try a felted bucket hat with some of the leftovers. Another charity shop yielded a huge bag of black aran weight yarn that feels like pure wool. I am hoping that there will be enough to crochet the Phoebe jacket from Rowan's Arabesque booklet. It will have to be doubled up but I really hope there will be enough yardage. This is such a great pattern but would work out quite expensive if I purchased the recommended yarn. If I can make it from my £2.75 bargain wool it will be cause for celebration. Swatching tonight !