Love Your Stash CAL Roundup

The Love Your Stash Cal is at an end and we thought it would be nice to recap all the things that we managed to make in just three months, using only stash yarn and finishing wips. We have really enjoyed  participating. A battle of wills ensued, as I have been very driven to complete lots of projects using stash, whilst Miss C has been a little frustrated with me as she loves to start new projects and purchase new yarn. We reached a happy medium and I think we have done really well. You look at some projects, like the yarn buddy, that only needed the pocket sewn on and wonder why on earth you didn't just finish it? 

1.  Deep Forest Crochet Beanie - Using chunky yarn that was gifted to us I made a gift for my sons birthday.
2.  Cake Cozy - Using 8 ply acrylic held double I made a handy cake cozy for me, as I really needed one to keep my yarn from rolling around.
3. Crochet basket - Using 3 strands of 8 ply acrylic yarn held together I made another very useful basket to store yarn.
4.  Screwball Ice Cream Shawl - A shawl using yarn from stash that was not suitable for another project made a beautiful shawl.
5.  Gelato Gloves - An unfinished project from last year that is now completed and ready to wear.
6.  Little Stories Cowl - Using yarn that I purchased last year, I made this gorgeous cowl in this lovely purple yarn.
7.  Little Stories Cowl - Using yarn that was left over from a blanket, Miss C made a charcoal cowl and used some pretty yellow floral buttons.
8. Little Stories Cowl - Using yarn left over from the border of the Victoria Shawl Miss C made another cowl.
9. Victoria Shawl - A shawl Miss C made last year that needed the ends sewn in and blocking is now completed.
10.  Soft Petal Button Wrap - A wrap that was started last year and sat awaiting a button and the ends sewn in,was completed my Miss C.
11.  Project Arm Bag/Basket - Using two strands of 8 ply acrylic from stash I made this basket. It has turned out perfect and I will be making another for my mums walker.
12. Yarn Buddy - A project that was forgotten about for around 18 months was finally finished. It only need the pocket sewing onto it.
13. Key Largo Lace Wrap - Miss C was originally planning to make this as a wrap, but it was a cotton gradient cake and by the end, she was a bit sick of it! She made it shorter, and joined the ends, making it into a cowl, which she really likes.
14. Dish Scrubbies - A very useful birthday gift using tulle from another project.
15. Pan Protector - Whilst getting out a fry pan for my mum, I noticed she used boring paper towels to protect them and I remembered I had seen the pan protectors in a magazine. I thought I could crochet her one of those for her birthday. I simplified mine a little and didn't do the embellishment in the centre.

It was really fun participating in this challenge and I think we have done very well with what we achieved.

Until next week,

Samantha & Miss C xx

Crochet Shawl Spectacular

We have been busy working on our crochet garments and finishing our last few projects for the Love Your Stash CAL. This week we thought we would showcase some of our beautiful crochet shawls. Shawls are one of our favourite items to make. Miss C in particular loves them. There are so many gorgeous patterns and lets face it you can never have too many! 

Amazing Grace Angel Wing Shawl

I have made two of these stunning shawls and I just love the frilly border. The first one I made was with a gradient cotton cake and it is one of my favourites. The second one was for Miss C and I used sock yarn which was glorious to work with and used a contrasting cream border for a bit of pop on the edge. It does work up quite slowly as you are using a 4 ply yarn and by the end there are a lot of stitches, but the finished result is so worth it.

Courtship Shawl

We have made a few of these in different colours for ourselves and gifts. It is a well written easy to follow pattern and makes a beautiful  thick cosy shawl as you use an Aran weight yarn. We didn't do a gauge swatch, so ours didn't end up quite as large as the designers, but still lovely.

Screwball Ice Cream Shawl

This shawl has been my nemesis. The finished result is absolutely stunning and I believe it was worth it. I learnt a new stitch the bobble stitch and it really gives the shawl impact. Would I make another one......... I don't know!

Halo Shawl

It took Miss C a long time to find the perfect pattern for this magnificent Kid Mohair Yarn. It is an easy to follow pattern and looks amazing. She is very pleased with it after blocking, it really opened up.

Virus Shawl

This was the very first crochet shawl that Miss C made when first started crocheting two years ago at age 11. Looking back at it now, she can see many mistakes she made being a new crocheter. She has since made a couple more and really enjoys the pattern. It is the perfect pattern for gradient yarns. It is easy to follow, engaging and works up quickly.

Fragrant Shawl

The fragrant shawl was the first shawl Miss C made in a 4 ply cotton gradient cake. The pattern was easy to memorise, and didn't take away from the beauty of the yarn. It is a beautiful soft drapey shawl and gorgeous to wear.

Victoria Shawl

Miss C's Victoria shawl is one of her favourite shawls ever. It is Stylecraft Batik DK yarn in the Mushroom and Plum colourways. The pattern is gorgeous, it is easy to memorise, but keeps you interested the whole way through. She will most definitely be making more.

Such Simple Shawl

Miss C had a yarn cake and was looking for a shawl to make. She  was drawn to this one as it was the same yarn. She only had one cake so hers is smaller, but is perfect to wear around your neck as a neckerchief style. It is a simple easy to work up pattern.

Until next week

Samantha & Miss C XX

Nightmare Screwball Ice Cream Shawl Completed!

Work has begun on our winter garments! We are making sweaters and cardigans. Miss C has made two beautiful crochet sweaters before and is now making a gorgeous colour work sweater. For me it is my first ever cardigan.

Finished Objects - Crochet: 

The troublesome Screwball Ice Cream Shawl, as mentioned in this post is finally finished! More unpicking and frustration was involved, however, I am so thrilled that I persevered with this crochet project, and now have a beautiful shawl to wear. The yarn used is  Stylecraft Batik DK in the "Indigo" & "Rose" colourways.

Some of the yarn leftover from the shawl, and some additional yarn that Miss C had frogged from a Waroo shawl she made and didn't like, will be used to make a Desert Irony Poncho by Kathryn of Crafternoon Treats. This yarn will be perfect for this design as it is the same yarn she used in her pattern. As some of this yarn was Miss C's, I have decided to make it as a gift for her. The colours are; Mint, Rose, Graphite, Indigo, Silver and Heather.

What's On Our Hooks:

Samantha:

I have just started my first crochet garment, the Up North Cardigan, a free pattern by Make & Do Crew. After searching for the perfect pattern I finally fell in love with this one. Yarn is Bendigo Woollen Mills Bloom 8 ply in the Marble Statue colourway, which is looking fabulous. I hope this will be a real staple piece in my wardrobe.

My Project Arm/Basket as mentioned here has been put aside, whilst finishing the shawl. The middle section is completed and I have made some progress with the sides. I hope to have it finished soon.

Miss C:

Miss C has made great progress on her crochet Prim sweater. It is her first ever colour work garment and she is enjoying it, even though it is very slow going using a 4 ply yarn and alternating colours every second row. The colour work is finished, and she has separated for the sleeves. It seems to be fitting really well, and she can't wait to finish it!  Bendigo Woollen Mills Multicoloured sock yarn in the Pastel Dream colourway as the main colour, and Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury 4 ply Navy as the contrast colour.

Her Little Stories cowl is coming along nicely, using Bendigo Woollen Mills Classic 8 ply in the Smoke colourway. The buttons that she has chosen are bright and fun and I think that it will be nice to have a pop of colour on this plain cowl.

We are working together to make more crochet Gelato gloves as part of the Love your stash CAL, which finishes at the end of the month. 

Until next week,

Samantha & Miss C xxx

Handmade Gifts For Upcoming Birthdays.

For as long as I can remember, I have always made handmade gifts for my family.  Looking for inspiration and planning the things to make is so much fun. Handmade gifts are considerably more thoughtful and personal than buying something from the shops. This year we are trying to hand make the majority of our gifts, whilst using what we have in our stash.

The Winter Wishes Scarf by Sweet Potato Three is now complete and I am really happy with it. A stunning crochet birthday present, which I am sure the lucky recipient will love. I enjoyed working on this pattern and have already started another one.

Number 1 son showed an interest in beanies. As his birthday is in winter it is a perfect crocheted gift for him. Using the Deep Forest Beanie pattern by Ninoska Benitez Vásquez and some lovely chunky yarn that was kindly given to us Miss C made the perfect crochet gift. 

Number 2 son expressed a problem with having to put his hand towel and bath towel on the same towel rail, causing his hand towel to fall off when removing his bath towel.  I thought that I could sew a Quick and easy towel topper using a free pattern from Treasurie, for his upcoming birthday. I absolutely love her blog and Youtube channel, which has tutorials that are quick and informative. I repurposed an old shirt that was the perfect colour, to use for the top and a towel that I already had.

Another birthday gift that Miss C has been working on is some crochet dish scrubbies made using tulle. She has made these before and they are fabulous. Once you have used them you will never buy store bought ones again! They last really well and get stubborn stains off dishes with ease. A quick and easy project that makes a very practical gift.

Until next week

Samantha & Miss C xxx