Wednesday 1 June 2011

WIPs, glorious WIPs.

You'd think, with exams fast approaching, that my crocheting output would have declined somewhat in the last week. It hasn't!

I finished my first sock.


Haven't started the next one, though I did check and I should have enough yarn left in the ball to make the second without breaking into the other skein! So I suspect I will either make a second pair (slightly smaller, for me), or use it to knit some sort of shawlette. We shall see. I have to get the second sock done first! May start that tonight, at roleplay night, if I decide I don't want to face the fiddliness of the filet panel.

I also started my birthday present project.


This is just the first three motifs, I'm actually well ahead of this now, I just don't have a more recent photo to show you all! I'm almost finished, in fact. Just a couple more rounds of the edging to go, but I got to the end of the second skein of yarn on Sunday. I didn't feel like winding the third skein into a ball, so the cowl has kind of stalled since then.

I have to say, I am loving the alpaca/silk blend. It whispers through my fingers like, well, silk, really. The stitch definition is amazing. I can't wait to see what the cowl looks like once it's finished and blocked - I hope the blocking transformation is spectacular enough to warrant a spot on Ravelry's "Blocking - before and after!" thread as well. I still need to find buttons to use on it though.

Before I descend completely into yarn-snobbery, though, I did have a bit of a splurge in Hobbycraft yesterday. The Hayfield Bonus DK acrylic I use for my amigurumi projects and granny blankets was on sale, down to £1.59 a ball. So I picked up a few colours I needed for some upcoming projects:


Now I'm not going to say what most of the colours are for, because its my new super seekrit project. But the pink, well, I was so excited about my plans for the pink that I got hooking almost as soon as I got back from the shop (hey, it was a Bank Holiday and it was raining, what else was I supposed to do?).


It's a Hello Kitty purse which I'm making as a surprise gift for my friend's daughter. Millie has recently developed a passion for Hello Kitty, and last time I saw her she was very excited to show off her new Hello Kitty trainers. So I thought I would make her something Hello Kitty-ish as a present. I searched the Rav database for ideas, and this cute little purse jumped right out at me. I had all the colours I needed apart from the pink, which is of course needed for Kitty's bow, and the strap.


The pattern calls for worsted weight yarn, but I'm using DK because that's what I've got! It's also my favourite weight of yarn to crochet with. The bag is, therefore, coming out on the small side but since Millie's only nearly-four, I think I will get away with it. I even managed to bag myself a bargain in the fabric shop at lunchtime yesterday, an offcut of the perfect pink material to line the bag, for just 60p.

I think I will use the rest of the pink yarn, along with the purple and white I already have, to make pretty flower granny squares. Maybe cushion covers, or even a scarf or poncho.

To see more WIPs, head on over to Tami's!

18 comments:

  1. Fab sock! Love the colours.

    I'm also a huge fan of Alpaca/Silk - it's so soft. I try not to be too much of a yarn snob (my wallet doesn't allow it!) and acrylic definitely has its place, but I do love silk ;)

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  2. Wow!  I absolutely love the Hello Kitty bag, my girls would love it too.

    I love all kinds of yarn and I'm not a yarn snob at all, I tend to fall in love with the colour first!  Mind you I have just purchased some Old Maiden Aunt Alpaca/Silk and it's gorgeous, so maybe I might end up being a yarn snob too!

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  3. As soon as I started the Hello Kitty bag I realised just how awesomely cute it was going to be. I couldn't put it down! Even the sewing at the end didn't put me off :) It's a really quick, easy pattern.

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  4. My DD always liked to crochet during her finals, off and on when studying, she felt it was a great stress reliever.  Good luck on the finals.  Pretty socks

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  5. Thanks! I feel like I've mastered every procrastination technique known to man, after doing so many exams in the past five years. My house is positively gleaming, it's so clean!

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  6. Pretty sock - have fun doing the next one!!  Your motifs are beautiful!!  I love the colors of your new yarn!

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  7. Everything looks great! I love your sock. The Hello Kitty purse will be well loved I'm sure. 

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  8. I love all of your projects but that motif one is really stunning.

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  9. I've been afraid to do a crochet motif anything since my record with finishing afghans is very poor indeed.  I can't wait to see how it comes out!

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  10. I love the finished sock, and those motifs look just delicious.  The shine of the yarn is beautiful. 

    And the Hello Kitty purse is beyond adorable!  I've been a Hello Kitty fan since I was a kid, I may have to make myself one of these, but in like...coin-purse size.

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  11. Oh my goodness, the Hello Kitty purse is so cute it hurts!!!  :) I'm going to have to look that one up!

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  12. I used to eat large quantities of candy & snacks at exam time -- too bad I didn't knit or crochet back then! I like how your striped sock worked out -- very nice -- and the alpaca/silk yarn is just gorgeous.

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  13. Congrats on finishing your first sock!  That cowl is going to be beautiful even before blocking.

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  14. That's going to be an awesome Hello Kitty bag - good choice :-)

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  15. I was just thinking the other day I wanted to make a pair of crocheted sock. I love the yarn you chose for it!

    And now I'm all curious about your plans for your new yarn :P

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  16. Congrats on your first sock!  It looks great.
     

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  17. WOW, the motif is beautiful!!!!!! Also, major congrats on your first sock. It feels good, doesn't it!? Now you need to get jumping so you have a pair!

    That bag is adorable, and I think it's perfect that it's small since she's only 4!

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