Getting all the WIPs in a row

Sometimes it's good to get an idea of what lies lurking in various baskets, bags and closets.  

So I bravely got out the various WIPs and PHDs to assess the damage...

First up, and most important, since winter is slowly creeping up on us: some blankets.

The Great Romany Blanket

Based on a photo I saw in a UK home decor magazine and done in pure wool, this is going to be one colourful and very warm blanket.  The DK's are not of the same thickness, so sometimes I hook with a 4.5, some with a 4, and I started without the a pattern, so the edges might be a little rough.

Pure wool is not the cheapest here, even though we are a wool-producing country! But, luckily for end of range sales, and stock clearance sales - it would seem that many hookers and knitters don't like better wool and/or are not willing to spend a bit more - and then I get 50g for R15 on a sale.
Happiness.

I started it last year, before the winter, didn't finish - although it might cover our feet now :-)

( Alessandra has started a similar blanket recently and posted a very nice, detailed tutorial)

For the spare bedroom...

Granny Stripe for the spare bedroom

Please have a look at this horrendous colour inferno, which only survived here for sentimental reasons.  No more time for that.  I entertained the thought of maybe using it in the whiteish spare room, but since too much white gets on my nerves and some other forms of colour was going to seep in eventually, this one had to go.  Enter the new Granny Stripe.

It started out as a stash buster, then I realised I wanted it to fit the queen-sized spare bed, so I gave the scarf-wide strip to my cleaner and promptly bought more stash at sale prices and started again. The colours are much easier on the eye, it has the retro look that I like and is a nice and easy hook when I don't want to concentrate. Done with Elle Pure Gold and a nr 5 hook to be soft and loose, and grow quickly.

 It is a long-term project though, no rush here.

Something maybe for the car?

The linen stitch stash buster

No, this is a real long term project, and a real stash buster.  All the last oddments will used here.

I saw Kristen's blanket at the Cosy Made Things, loved it, and just added the single line between bands.

And now to the PHDs and testers...

Crescent Moon, oh Crescent Moon!

(Something is happening here and I can't close this gap)

I  loved this pattern the first time I saw it.  Attempted it with high hopes with a blue alpaca - never again.  As beautiful, as soft, as utterly desirable as it is, I don't think I'll work with that again.  Too difficult, too felty, no.

So I tried other yarns, but then the wheels came off.  Didn't like it in DK.  Tried sock yarn with a small hook, sock yarn with a large hook. Currently trying two strand of bamboo DK, but it is going to either RIP or be frogged.

I might try it once more in a chunky, soft cotton plus thin tweed, as below...

The wide-neck poncho

The Graceful Shells Poncho seemed like a good idea, but it wasn't.

Once I disentangle all the tangles that come with working with two strands together, I'll give  the Crescent  Moon a chance with this combination.

And...The Rest

Rowan Ripple Cushion

The big, fat ripple cushion that was too small.  This is my Own, Personal, Soft, Snuggle Reading Cushion.

It is just too small  to fold in half :-(

So I still have to come up with a plan, maybe do a soft denim insert...I still thinking.

Yoga mat bag

The colours photogaphed very bright, very funny, but trust me that it will match the mat!  At first  it  didn't give me joy - either the sequence of the colour, or the presence of that beigeish/stoneish neutral that seemed like a good idea but. Is. Not.

But I decided to continue and finish the bag so I can use it. It's to be functional, not a showpiece :-)

Using this bolster cushion cover as pattern.

A blanket for Hartenbos Huisie

My sis suggested that we hook blankets for the two single beds in Hartenbos Huisie.  We took the colours in the pillows as starting point, and can each choose another colour or two.   The patterns will remain a secret to each until the blankets are complete - a secret small CAL!

I have a shortlist of two or so patterns, but have not decided.

A lacy, flowery curtain for Hartenbos Huisie

I saw a beautiful crocheted  window panel on Pinterest and wanted to do it for a small window in Hartenbos Huisie.  My sis had just figured out the circular pattern in one of my shop-bought scarves and we used that as a basis, with leftover yarns of the patchwork blanket.  After the holiday it went into hiding a bit, then I found the actual pattern for the panel...and had seven fits when it wouldn't work.

I couldn't get these circles attached as in the pattern!

And then I remembered ... I used another pattern for the circles...with a different stitch count...

I'll figure out the attachment still.

Flowery scarf for a dear friend

My friend Christina is moving to Germany after almost 20 years in South Africa. She loved the flowery scarves I made last year and asked that I make her one. I 'm using some leftovers from her and my stash and better get this finished before she leaves in June.

And this might Rest In Peace:

Endangered

I had grand plans for four cushions covers for the outside chairs and actually finished one already, a giant granny square.  The plan was to make each in a different pattern, and I started with small patches for the second one.  The random patches didn't look nice, the colours didn't work out, I frogged and I frogged.
Then I went back to an old favourite, the Summer Garden Square, took  out a few colours to resemble a Cath Kidston combo and was more happy.  But still in no rush to finish this.

And these are the WIPs.  Actually not to bad, since some are small, and some are long term.

Let me finish the yoga bag quickly!

Apologies for the poor photos. The framework for this post was upload via the Blogger app, and today I figured out that is the reason why the photos in my last few posts were not nice at all.  Could fix the last two posts, but alas, these originals have been hidden where I might find it only again next year .

One-a-Day Granny Cowl Scarf

A couple of us got together to knit/crochet a few things as part of the Knit-in-Public-Week thingey. The plan was to donate what we made to the school, to use as and where required.   So my contribution was this granny cowl, inspired by the lovely cowls Alice hooked down downer under in NZ

...and this beanie (which I promptly decided to keep for myself, and I donated another one that I bought new!). It's the first time a beanie fits nicely over my huge head, it covers my ears, and will be perfect for our December holiday venture up north to where it is very cold and wet.

I started thus with my own granny cowl, to match said beanie.  I will hook 7 squares, of 6 rounds each, using the colours in the beanie, but replacing the light blue with this denim blue:

The plan is to make one every day, as it goes so quickly, and next week I should be able to show off my granny cowl.

And then, some of you might ask...what happened to The Great Romany Blanket, that was going to be finished in time for winter??

Ah, yes...I'm still working on it...albeit very slowly...23 rows so far, and 23 chains.

I got a bit side-tracked.

But One-a-Day will again provide the needed momentum, so here I go!

In the meantime, have a cappucino and hook away :

 If you would like to participate in One-a-Day, please link your project in the Tuesday's Tallies at Carole's blog, Gingerbread Girl.

One-A-Day, or...A Production Line

...of African Fower centres: 29

(I got the mini-skeins of tapestry wool (new wool) for almost nothing, plus another bag for free - might have been in the shop for too long!)

The Sea-colours Ripple has grown to 17 double rows:

The GRB didn't really grow...but there's hope for this week.

How did you do?

One-a-Day... or, New WIP's!

Lot's of hooking going on here...

With High Hopes of a Europe visit coming Dec, I completed 7 of these...

and 9 1/2 bands of these for a friend's coming baby...

and The Great Romany Blanket is going to Get Started today:

with one of these:

I think the tomato red in the right hand corner.

Wish me luck, think of me!

And have fun with your projects. I love meeting for Tuesday's Tallies at Carole's to see what everybody is doing with their One-a-Days.