Skill + 1UP – 2KCBWDAY2

Skill + 1UP – 2KCBWDAY2
Look back over your last year of projects and compare where you are in terms of skill and knowledge of your craft to this time last year.

I was a bit concerned after reading todays topic as I don't really think that I have learnt any new skills over the past year. Instead I think that I have been fine tuning the skills I already have. For example it was around this time last year that I started to work with Japanese crochet patterns. I bought the book Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts - Lacy Crochet and began working on patterns using the diagrams rather than written step by step instructions. 

Kyuuto! was a wonderful book for a beginner because it had basic written instructions. The blanket that I made recently was from another Japanese book, this time with no English whatsoever. Although the patterns look daunting at first I now find them easier to follow than written ones. I do still struggle occasionally with small parts that I don't quite understand but so far have been successful in just winging it.

As for the coming year I would like to learn stitches such as the front post double crochet. Every time I come across a pattern that has such stitches I am put off. Maybe this is a touch of laziness on my part because I understand what I am supposed to do but have convinced myself that its too complicated.


I would also like to try some freeform crochet. I had a go once and it was fun so I would like to do some more. It would be good for me to loosen up a bit.


Is there anything that you would like to learn? Or is anything that you think that I should learn? I would really like to hear your thoughts on this.


Much love.
 x

Ps. If you are interested in learning to work from diagrams as opposed to written patterns, may I suggest Crochet Adorned by Linda Permann. The reason I would suggest this is because it has written instructions as well as diagrams. It also has information explaining the different symbols. I just wish that I had found it earlier, it could have been very helpful.

Happy Hexagons

Hello my lovies, how are you today? I hope you are well.

It is very dark and dreary today in my neck of the woods. Not good picture taking weather at all. Luckily the sun came out yesterday and I used the time to take some pics of my recently finished project. I have been longing for colour and brightness to counteract the greyness of winter here in the UK and decided to make a colourful throw. I found a pattern in the same Japanese book that the pattern for the flowers came from.

When I posted about the flowers a couple of you lovely readers asked which book they were from. Now, I am usually very careful about letting you know where I get my ideas and patterns from but for some reason I forgot to say in that post. The book is called PRETTY COLOR CROCHET and KNIT GOODS 2...

And it is available from a lovely seller here.

There are many lovely, colourful patterns in the book and I fell in love with this image...

...and decided that I had to make my own. How could I resist?

I added a white border as I like to have a little bit of white to make the colours pop and here is how it came out...

It's not a very big throw, just a nice size to put over your legs whilst watching tv and doing a bit of crochet. The hexagons are quite easy after you have done the 1st one so it's quite a quick project and a good way to use lots of yummy colours.

If you are having a grey day today I hope that the colours have cheered things up a bit. 

Take care, much love.

x