It’s been a bit of a funny week in the BAM household. It’s as if spring’s early arrival has set a clock ticking in my head, warning me that time is running out to finish all the things I thought I’d get done over the miserable colder months. I know it’s daft, but it’s been difficult to shake that nagging feeling that I should be getting more things done, things that have absolutely nothing to do with the weather! I’m my own worst enemy most of the time, so to escape that ticking sense of doom, and cheer myself up in the process, I made this:
Can you see it amidst all my crafty clutter? I’ll give you a clue: it’s blooming lovely!
It’s not quite the shelf edging I had planned, but when the urge to crochet pretty little flowers pops into my addled brain, it seems kinder not to resist. Besides, the results have cheered me up! They also inspired me to dig out a terracotta pot that I picked up at a charity shop last year. I have three of these little pots and I’d planned to make a crochet garland of flowers to go around their necks. One down, two to go!
I used 4ply cotton Drops Safran for the flowers, which isn’t mercerised so it is slightly muted in comparison to Drops Muskat.
When I was making the daisies I found I needed to go down a hook size from 3mm to 2.5mm, and it’s amazing how much difference such a small change can make!
Half a mm to go from loopy blooms to perfect petals!
I might be brave and try my hand at crocheted daffodils next. I have a large jug full of the real thing in my living room at the moment, and they smell absolutely wonderful!
I love the brightest yellow daffodils best with their large, vulgar trumpets!
My cats seem to be the only ones not embracing the milder weather. Usually when the good weather rolls around they are out sunning themselves on a shed roof somewhere, but one barely bothers leaving the bedroom, and the other two rarely leave the living room.
That fat white and ginger lump preventing me from taking a photo of my stripey blanket WIP is Meredith.
That’s Oliver. The sky blue lump to the left of him is the waistcoat that I crochet, and he gets a claw caught in, panics and unravels. It’s very much a two steps forward, one step back kind of project.
It’s a battle sometimes to keep my crochet free from rogue cat hairs, but if it’s something I’m making for myself I don’t bother trying too hard to shoo them away. Oliver is particularly fond of snuggling up in my crochet, and often stands kneading it with his giant paws for several minutes before curling up in it. Naughty boy.
Right, that clock is ticking again! My other WIPs will have to wait for another post. I have flowers to make!
Oh, and don’t forget Handmade Monday over at Handmade Harbour!
those flowers are so gorgeous, really lovely colours. Meredith looks like such a cute cat! 🙂
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Don’t be fooled! That cat is 50% evil 50% crazy! She loves running round the room at chest height with dirty paws, whooping like a demented monkey! She pounces on everything that moves (especially my yarn) and tries to terrorise our other two cats. So naturally we adore her.
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hehe sounds like she would get on great with one of mine. He consistently howls until I stroke him/feed him, jumps on everything and paws whatever Im working on. we would be lost without him 🙂
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She’s a terror, but she seems oblivious to how much she annoys the other two. She can be more like a dog sometimes, all boundless energy and enthusiasm.
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I find it endearing most of the time, until my project gets scratched up or muddy printed! 🙂
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Your flower creations are lovely. I love the bright colors! Oliver and Meredith are adorable. My cat Lilly loves to sit on my unfinished crocheted blanket and paw it. I guess they are all the same. Have a wonderful week.
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Thanks! I love that my cats enjoy my crochet too, but I really should trim their claws more often to minimise the damage they do when they get caught.
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Gorgeous cats! What a great name Meredith is! I have a bunny called Oliver! I do recognise the flowers. They’re beautiful and perfect in this format!!
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Thanks! I forgot to reference the book I used for the flowers: 200 Crochet Flowers, Embellishments & Trims by Claire Crompton. I have it on my Kindle and it’s great for inspiration! 🙂
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Your flowers are lovely. Both your bunting and your pot garland. Don’t beat yourself up over your self-imposed deadlines! Life is busy enough. (I too am guilty of this ;))
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Thanks! I always have so many ideas that no amount of time is enough to make them all.
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What a lovely way to brighten up your shelves. My cat isn’t too interested in my WIPs but my toddler is – and she can certainly cause chaos at times!
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I’ve come home to find my WIP in the kitchen, the ball of yarn still in the living room, and a trail of yarn leading between the two proving that the cat ran around the coffee table THREE times before untangling herself. She’s either an evil genius or she’s run head first into the wall one too many times.
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Fingers crossed your cats continue to use all your lovely crocheted pieces to snuggle up against and don’t get their claws out for a bit of ‘redesigning’ ;))
Seriously though, your flower bunting is beautiful.
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Thank you 🙂 90% of the time all three cats are fast asleep, but they do pack a whole lot of crazy into that last 10%!
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I like you kitty-cats. They’re so adorable. I think it’s sweet of them to donate their fur so your crafts will be unique and special.
Your flowers are lovely. I’m crocheting alot of flowers for the first time this year. I’m getting better at it. Going by your other flowers, I’d say if you made daffodils they’d be really pretty.
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That’s a very sweet way at looking at the furry nuisances. Unfortunately one of my sister-in-laws is allergic to cat hair so their contributions are very welcome if I’m making something for her, my brother or their daughter!
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