The finished cardigan!

In my last post I wrote how I'd just started a gorgeous cardigan from Linda Permann's book, Little Crochet. I'm so pleased to say that I have finished it!

It's a great pattern and it has some lovely stitches and finishing that I've just fallen in love with. I used Rico 100% cotton yarn and even though the stitches are moderately loose the cardigan is super snuggly (and surprisingly heavy!). It took me around a fortnight, working an hour or so a night so maybe 20 hours in total? 

I'm so pleased with it. The size came out a little bigger than expected but that means more growing room!

I finished the cardigan off with two purple polka dot buttons and it looks great!

Can you tell I'm pleased?!? 

Hooking in the new house

I'm very pleased to say that I'm back hooking again, after a substantial break. I don't know wether I lost my crochet-mojo or that life got in the way with the move and everything else going on in the background!

I've not been crocheting for myself either, which is a big change! A lot of the WIPs on the go at the moment are for IQ. I was bought the Little Crochet book by Linda Permann for my birthday last year but didn't want to make anything from it because I knew IQ would grow out of it, probably before I'd even finished the piece. Ha! All of the items in the book are the sweetest things, from blankets and bears, to ponchos and jumpers and with so much to choose from I felt a bit stumped as to what to start first.

Funky legwarmer

My first project started from the book are the Cozy Crawlers leg warmers. I've been carrying IQ a lot recently (in my new fancy-schmancy Ergo Sport!) and as the weather is about to turn much colder, I thought these would be perfect for keeping her pokey out legs warm on our daily walks. I've decided to make them out of Patons' Smoothie DK cotton yarn. It's an absolute dream to work with and the variegated colour-way means the leg warmers are looking pretty funky! I've finished 1 leg warmer and am having a bit of a break before I start the other one, as 60 odd rounds of extended single crochet makes my hands hurt after a while.

The next pattern I've started from the book is the gorgeous ribbed cardigan. I just adore the pointy elf like sleeves and motif yoke. I've gone a bit 'out there' the the yarn I'm using and have chosen Rico Baby Essentials cotton in a sky blue. I've made a few of the motifs and am halfway through the back. The shaping is so clever, using a mixture of HDC, DC and TDC the bottom has so much body and shape. It's looking so gorgeous, I can't wait to finish it up already. But, it's taking me quite a while as I've only got a limited 2 hours or so each night to work on things. I really hope I can finish the cardigan before the weather turns really cold.

The start of the cardigan

I've also been working on a few other projects for some special little people who are making their first appearances to this world over the next few months. I can't share on here though, as I know one of you (Samboy) will see!

See, told you I've been busy!

The granny square blanket grows... and I've started a cardigan.

The huge granny square is coming along OK. I can just about manage a round a night at the moment but as they're taking an AGGGGGEEE to complete, they're limited. I often find that if I'm doing lots of repetitive stitches like on this blanket, which is a gazillion double crochets, I start to get RSI pain in my wrist and hands. I do try and switch up my needle-holding style every few rows but it doesn't seem to help the pain - just slows me down!

I have also started on another project. While rummaging in the acrylic yarn box I came across two part-balls of hayfield bonus aran (worseted to my US readers) and thought, I could make a nice Spring cardi out of that. After a bit of searching on Ravelry with the keyword cardigan and size 9mm hook (yes, I was feeling lazy) I found this GORGEOUS cardigan. It's modelled by the fantastic Erykah Badu (love her!) and is from Vickie Howell's book Pop Goes Crochet. I have seen this book in a local buy-everything-for-cheap shop. I may go back and get it...

Isn't it gorgeous?

The pattern is for a calf length cardigan but as I'm such a short-arse I decided to alter the length and make it mid thigh length. It's crocheted completely in Arcade Stitch which is one I've never worked with before and I have to say I LOVE it. It's a relatively simple stitch once you get the hang of it and it looks fab.

The two colours of aran I had were Olive and Heather so I decided to create a striped version.

I finished the back piece on Monday night and made a start on the left front side piece when the unthinkable happened. I. RAN. OUT. OF. YARN. nooooooo!!!! I had no idea that the arcade stitch would use that amount of yarn. Oh well, good job they're on 3-2 at Hobbycraft at the moment! Hahaha

I hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend. What are you crafting at the moment? Anything for a new spring wardrobe?