{ Mu'Mu }

Going for the Yarn Look

In one of my more lucid moments last week, I had the good sense to buy yarn. Buying yarn does not need a reason, but I had a reason anyway - I wanted a variety of colours in the stash instead of the slew of teals, mustards, greys and blues I have amassed.

Because in my lucid moment of yarn buying I envisaged myself in Ramadan sitting contentedly in the chair crocheting blankets for the coming winter as I did dhikr whilst my children played co-operative games whilst also doing dhikr. And singing kum-by-ah. Holding hands.

In my perfectly lucid, tea-drinking, eating cake moment this was how the coming month was going to be. Ah, yes.

Then Ramadan came; the children did not sing kum-by-ah. I am not sitting in the easy chair crocheting whilst hymning the praises of my Lord. We are not playing co-operative games and being angelic. No. We are in the crash position. We are wondering why, of all religions to pick, did we choose Islam and not Buddhism. We cannot be arsed to pick a crochet hook up. We may even entertain evil ideas of what could be done with a crochet hook. We may even be in bed letting the babes watch DVDs all day. That's the reality.

So, instead, the yarn stays tucked up ready for cake-eating days, in it's little rack under the table by the easy chair. It has gone from being a stash to an art installation, from yarn to decor.

And I think I quite like it like that.

Lap Blankets

A couple weeks back I rustled up this lap blanket in the lilac colourway, and it reminded me of the other lap blankets I made way back in winter, sitting waiting for spring, which I had forgotten all about!

So a show and tell of sorts. Lap blankets, no batting and a crochet edging instead of bias, which are great as summer weight bedding or picnic blankets!

I love the old, vintage fabrics in these. They feel so soft and each one is unique.

Why not give them a go?

Done

Ta da! My first ever (albeit small) crochet thing. I had wanted something to cover the back of The Chair and nothing was working, so as I set to work figuring the granny out, I had an idea in my little noggin about what it would be when it was finished - a lil tiny blankie to cover the chair.

I edged it, AND I even blocked it.

It isn't perfect, I know. But I now feel confident for bigger things!

GIP :: Granny In Progress

This is my first ever attempt at crochet - my first crochet project and my first (but hopefully not last!) crochet throw/blanket/thing. I have a lot to learn. But I have learned a lot.  I have actually enjoyed the process a great deal and being able to granny square? Dude - I've joined an unformed club of women across our planet who now have the ability to turn our living space into the 1970s interior from hell.

Uh, and weaving in. Should do that as I go along shouldn't I? Yeah, I thought so...

Feeling kinda crafty...

This weekend has been kind of full, but without really knowing what has been achieved. Just full. And tiring.

I'm busy painting and decorating - I get these 'good' ideas into my head and I have to do it THERE and THEN. It involves a lot of primer and coats of paint and new handles and, oh my lord, drilling and polyfilla, and scraping gloss paint off lino, and, well aren't you tired just thinking about all that? I'm still not finished, and I've got a bee in my bonnet about cleaning and rearranging the shelves in the kitchen because the jam might be mixed with the tinned beans *hyperventilates* and I don't remember the last time I scraped the marmite off the shelving and *hyperventilates* tea stains from the insides of the cupboards (animals, I live with a load of ANIMALS I tell ya). It all has to be pristine and clean.

On the upsides I cleaned the fridge without having to be told...

Add to that ferrying children to classes and a frigid Sunday morning beside a rugby pitch and the MUD this left in my lobby and it's safe to say I am through with the weekend now.

Oh, but the saving grace of crafting! Sweet sewing machine of mine, how I love thee... a little bit of stitching and I can feel the tension and tiredness lifting, and even though I still might be a bit weary, after a good dose of making, it's all good. A good, satisfied, achieved-something, tiredness.

Granny Evolution

Apparently, for every one person who knits, three crochet. I have to admit that until now crochet has been a bit of a non-starter for me. Whereas I had my memories of my mother teaching me to knit as a child to fall back on when I came to (re)learn to knit a couple years back, NO one has ever taught me to crochet, and the books I read just simply made. no. sense.

Last year, however, my sister patiently taught me how to crochet, and although I now had the skills I still had no desire to utilise these skills. Crochet didn't do it for me.

Well, something obviously happened. I think I over-dosed on Dottie Angel, because all of a sudden I was determined to learn how to Granny Square. Oh yeah. And it was hit an miss for a while; I have abandoned little woollen circles all over the house, but this time I stuck at it. And I think I might be getting it...

And I think I like it...