It can’t just be me..?

Hello Creatives!

So I just neeeeed to vent on my situation with my crochet projects! 

First of all, I am a completely impatient person with ADHD.. 

So, when it comes to crocheted items that come in a pair, I am so excited to get one done (I’m currently half way through mittens!) and will complete it within the shortest time possible, but when it comes to the second one, I have ZERO motivation to start it, but REALLY want to complete the set! 

Here’s a few photos of my mitten process (just the one, because I can’t motivate myself to start the second):

My partners mum is coming to stay with us on Saturday so I am using that as motivation to complete them to give to her as a present! 

I’m that person that is constantly thinking of ways to improve the project I’m currently working on, or thinking of new projects to start, so as soon as I’ve woven in the ends and completed a project (or in this case, one mitten) I’m ready to start something new (aka not another mitten…) 😂. 

So although it has passed 9pm, I am going to try my best to continue watching The Killing on Netflix and start the second mitten! 

On another note, im definitely going to need a larger wool basket, or at least a separate basket for completed/semi-completed (ADHD got the better of me) projects! 

Please tell me this happens to you too? Whether it be crochet or something else?

Lana xxx 

P.s. If you read my previous post, George is well again and this set of norovirus didn’t stick around for long, thank goodness! That also meant that we were able to go keep our Valentine’s Day dinner booking and it was delicious! 

Project and life update… 12/02/17

Hello creatives,

So I’ve been really slow with progressing on any projects recently! With having my masters research project proposal due, and being between cars whilst mine was in the garage, I’ve been slacking!

Throughout the night last night my other half was up every hour after being hit with his third lot of norovirus! The poor thing is so unwell and the doctors will definitely be called first thing in the morning. It is not normal to have norovirus three times in 3 months! We think he could be picking it up from the hospital/medical school that he’s currently studying in. 

We have recently started trying to be healthy again after being seriously lazy with our eating habits. Healthy smoothies for breakfast and more home cooked meals! Yesterday’s was a homemade chicken and spinach masala and booooy was it gooood! (I was very impressed with myself) and I even made enough for leftovers today! 

As george was up sick all of last night, he has been in bed all day today, therefore leaving me with the day (and the telly) to myself! 

With all this time, what I should have been doing is starting my home workout routine, however I picked up the crochet hooks instead! Whoops! 

Between cleaning the flat after a week of visitors, and checking up on george I’ve managed to come up with this single crochet soft toy (not complete as you can see…). Don’t ask me what it’s going to be, because I couldn’t tell you haha, and the arms look a bit like chicken wings hahahaha! I’m just playing around with it at the moment, but I really like the idea of the limbs and body all being one piece!

More progress has been made on my chunky double crochet blanket, and I’ll definitely need another 200g ball of wool to get anywhere near done! I’ll have to find somewhere to take a full photo of what has been completed so far!

Fingers crossed that george recovers as it looks like we may have to scrap plans about his mum coming to stay with us next weekend as we can’t afford to spread the illness! It also looks like our Valentine’s Day dinner booking will have to be cancelled on Tuesday unfortunately (I’m gutted because it’s the yummiest fancy steak house, but obviously health comes first). 

Hope you have had a weekend full of rest!

I’ll keep you updated,

Love, Lana xoxo 

Project Updates – 3rd Feb 2017

Hello, creatives! 

I told you I’d keep you updated on projects, and that’s exactly what I’m doing, woo!

Current projects:

Bunny Soft Toy: 

I finally finished her! She’s got all her limbs now and is currently sat in my yarn basket waiting for her dress to be made! 

I absolutely love her and all her little imperfections. I can’t wait to develop on my soft toy technique (especially attaching/sewing everything together) and develop some patterns for you all! I need to work on the ears a little bit before anything can be finalised! 

Double Crochet Chunky Blanket: 

I absolutely love sitting on the sofa watching telly and endlessly double crocheting (US terms) away at this chunky blanket. I recently finished my last ball of yarn and have recently purchased another, I love the change in colours! 

It’s going to be a while before this is finished, but I’m okay with that!

Granny Square Blanket:

These poor squares have been neglected. Some of them have had a white/cream edge added to them ready to be sewn together, but I’m pretty sure I’ve only completed 9 out of about 40 squares! 

No photos of these!

Wooly Hat: 

Oops, mummy’s going to be angry! I still haven’t started it! I keep telling myself that it’s going to take such a small amount of time that I can put it off a little longer… 

Surprise gift for a best friend:

I’m half way through this now, it’s a little amigurumi animal (keeping the rest a secret however..) and it just needs patching together and some eyes before it goes in the post to her! Photos will be uploaded once she’s received it!

Added projects:

I know I already have too many on the go as it is (with a masters degree on top!) but I couldn’t help myself.

When I purchased the new ball of yarn for my chunky blanket, I also picked up some super soft chunky yarn fit for some baby bits! My eldest cousin being pregnant is one of the most exciting things for myself, my other 12 cousins and the rest of the family, and living on the other side of the world to them makes me want to crochet endless bits and bobs to post over!! 

I haven’t started anything yet, however I’ll be sure to update you when I do!

I’d love you opinions on my current projects as well as some suggested ideas for new ones!

Next update coming soon!

Crocheted with love, Lana xxx

Project Updates – 29th Jan 2017

Hello!

I’ve finally finished my first semester of my masters! woohoo! So in celebration, my other half and i celebrated by a trip to Ikea, a trip to the game store and a trip to HOBBYCRAFT!

Current projects: 

Bunny Soft Toy: 

So i’ve been making up a bunny soft toy to perfect my own pattern which im thinking of writing out and possibly making a series of video tutorials! There are so many imperfections, but i now know how to change those, and the improvements that need to be made for round two!

She’s currently missing arms (as im still playing around with the patterns for these), but here are a few progress pictures:

 

Double Crochet Chunky Blanket: 

This started with some leftover yarn that i had used to make slippers and a hat and got a bit bored of! I then bought the same ball of yarn again in a different colour, and find tis project super relaxing as i don’t have to pay much attention and the colours are very forgiving!

 

Granny Square Blanket:

This one is a slow process… i focused on it for too long, and now i find it hard to pickup again! Uh oh! But i will get there… slowly…

I think i’ll work on these a little more before putting any photos up, or else they’ll look identical to in y last post!

Wooly Hat: 

My mummy has requested a lilac wooly hat as she goes hiking every week, and the Scottish weather requires her to wrap up warm! I haven’t started this one yet, so i guess this is a reminder to myself to get a move on! She’s coming to stay with me in March!!

Surprise gift for a best friend:

So this one is a secret and again, it is a reminder to start! Its going to be so cute! I have recently received a set of new hooks, which are so dreamy to work with, and will make this little gift perfect!

I intend to keep you updated!
Crocheted with love, Lana xxx

Solid Granny Square Tutorial

Hello!

So i’ve recently restarted my youtube channel, not that there was much of it before, and will be dedicating it to crochet videos and possibly some lifestyle videos!

Today, i uploaded a video where i speak through a tutorial for crocheting a solid granny square and thought that i would type the pattern up to go along with it here to make things easier for you! I recently started crochet, and i’d love to share my new found passion with others, and give them an easy way to start off!

Heres a photo of the final squares (ignore the time and date in the bottom right hand corner, still figuring out the new camera!):

And here we go:

Hook and Yarn:
5mm Crochet Hook
WI Premium Acrylic Yarn from HobbyCraftUK

Terminology

This pattern is written in US terminology. And the conversion chart below, taken from Simply Crochet, should help you out with abbreviations.

These are the abreviations i will be using throughout:

ss (slip stich):  insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch, then through the loop on your hook. Multple of these create a chain.

dc (double crochet): yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch (three loops on hook), yarn over and pull through two loops on hook (two loops left on hook), yarn over and pull through remaining two loops

sl knot (slip knot)
ch (chain)
st (stitch)

Pattern:
Please click here for a clearer video tutorial -> YOUTUBE VIDEO TUTORIAL <-

Round 1: sl knot, ss 4 to create a ch, ss into the first loop ss of chain to crate a circle.
ch 5 (first 3 act as first dc, 2 act as corner). Into center of circle; dc 3, ss 2, dc 3, ss 2, dc 3, ss 2, dc 2, ss into top of ch. Total 3 dc along 1 side.

Round 2: ss 3, dc 2 into corner, ss 2, dc 2 into same corner, dc into following 3 st’s, dc 2 into corner, ss 2, dc 2 into same corner, dc into following 3 st’s, dc 2 into corner, ss 2, dc 2 into same corner, dc into following 2 st’s, ss into top of ss ch. Total 7 dc along 1 side.

Round 3: ss 3, dc into each st until corner, dc 2 into corner, ss 2, dc 2 into same corner, ss into all st’s until corner. Total 11 dc along 1 side. When you have reached the end, ss into top of ss ch.

Round 4 (final round): ss 3, dc into each st until corner, dc 2 into corner, ss 2, dc 2 into same corner, ss into all st’s until corner. Total 15 dc along 1 side. When you reach the end ss into the top of ss ch, ss 1 and pull tight. Cut yarn and pull last ss through. Use darning needle to sew tail into the square.

Hopefully your final product will look like the image above, please watch the video for clearer and easier instructions to follow!

See you soon!

Lana xxxxx

When a hobby turns into an ADDICTION!

Hello again!

I picked up crochet on the 28th of December 2016, therefore it has taken me less than two weeks to realise i love it (well this was established day one…) and develop this collection along with a woven basket! I have had so much work to do for my Masters Degree, and still do, but somehow i find myself crocheting over my work and distracted for a lot longer than i should be!

I AM OBSESSED/ADDICTED.

My winderful woven basket £4 from HobbyCraft filled with WI Acrylic Yarn.

Unfortunately it doesn’t show off all of my colours, but you can see my collection of granny squares im currently working on to patch together my very first blanket!

I managed to pick these yarns up for £2.20 each, with a 3 for the price of two deal on top, so i bought 6…

I really haven’t stopped, however since my first crochet post, all i have really completed are a bunch of granny squares and a fancy mandala inspired coaster. Have a look:

Mandala inspired coaster

Some granny squares, although there have now been more added!

Something i would love to eventually do is put up some tutorials and patterns of my own, however i am far from being expert enough to do this. My experience is all of less than two weeks haha! And a lot of the things i am able to do or would be comfortable filming are conmpletely covered on the internet. When i begin designing my own projects, i will be sure to share them with you all.

Im forever looking for new ideas and projects to start, so please please tag CROCHET in your posts as i am currently folloing the tag!

Lana xxx

 

New Hobby!

As busy as I have been, with approximately 12,000-13,000 words and an exam to be completed by the end of this month, and the christmas period being hectic and expensive as ever…

I HAVE A NEW HOBBY, I HAVE STARTED CROCHET!

One evening around 6pm when I was back home, i turned to mum and asked her if she owned a crochet hook and some wool, which ended up in me climbing into the loft and coming back filled with excitement.

The the aid of YouTube and other bloggers on this wonderful platform, I have become hooked.

Things I have discovered within the world of crochet:

1.  Crochet language is a thing
2. Crochet language comes in UK terminology and US terminology and it’s not two different words for different things/methods, it’s the same word meaning two different things – i know, confusing.
   1. e.g. US Double crochet and UK treble crochet are the same thing and US treble crochet and UK double treble crochet are the same thing… and it goes on.
3. Crochet language is usually abbreviated and even more confusing
4. I have given up on following other people’s patterns and make up my own.

It is a whole other addictive world but if you do plan on starting, I suggest you begin the way that i did, with wool from poundland and a cheapy hook! You will find out whether you enjoy it or not pretty quickly and at least that way you won’t have spent much money on it!

Heres a few projects I have completed. I started off with a straight panel where i tested different stitch types out, then a hat… or two, followed by one slipper sock, just one, and a mug cosy!!

Tester alert!

The start to a hat which went horribly wrong… i now know how to make a ball!

Hat number 1

Hat number 1

Hat number two, followed by the one and only slipper sock

Mug cosy

Mug cosy

Can’t wait to share my ongoing creations with you, it’s so rewarding!

Lana xxx