Pink?

"Please will you pass me the ball of pink wool?"

My teenaged son dutifully made his way over to the basket of wool to which I'd gestured, considered it's contents for a moment, made his selection and promptly threw it to at me.  (Teenaged boys do that I've noticed, throw everything.)

"That's not pink!" I said.

"Yes it is."  He said (looking at me as if I was slightly mad).

Guess which one he chose?

The one on the left.

The one that Debbie Bliss has named Peach Melba.

It's not the first time we've had this argument.

It would seem that colours are subjective.

Either that or he's colour blind.

xxx

Winter Means ...

Swaddling in woolly goodness.

Dry skin (and don't get me started on itchy bits!).

An extra blanket.

Comfort food.  Now is not the time to be counting calories.

Extra down time.

Lots of lovely sleep.

xxx

Definitely Not A Selfie

It's really hard to photograph a hat without including your face.

The irony that 'selfie' has today been named as the Oxford English Dictionaries' word of the year is not lost on me.

It's Vanessa's fault!  As soon as I saw her looking so adorable in her woolly red hat, I wanted my very own.

Impatient as ever, I picked up my hook and made it up as I went along!  I wanted a sort of slouchy affair which I decided would be more forgiving than anything too styled.  I started by crocheting a circle and, when it reached approximately six inches in diameter, I continued my rounds without increasing.

It won't win any prizes for hat design but it's deliciously cosy.  Given the sudden drop in temperatures today, that suits me just fine.

Ugh!  I need a haircut!

xxx

Giveaway Result

Number 7, Jacquie!  And, you know what, I couldn't be more delighted!  Jacquie, I'll be in touch

my love.

Thank you so much for your entries.

Enjoy what's left of your weekend you lovely people.  I'm off for a foray into the jungle …*

xxx

*I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here - the only UK reality television programme worth watching, in our opinion!

A Just Because Giveaway!

If you are familiar with my blog, you'll know how much of a massive Katie Daisy fan I am.

I decided to treat myself to her 2014 calendar and, just as I was about to press 'checkout', I thought how nice it would be to treat one of you too.  So I added another.

May I therefore present my 'Just Because Giveaway'.

Each page features one of Katie's beautifully illustrated quotes, measuring 12"x12".  Perfect for framing when the month is done!

If you fancy the chance of winning a calendar, please become a follower of my blog if you're not already, and leave a comment below.

This giveaway is open to international followers too.

I'll use the random number generator thingy to pick a winner at 8:00pm next Sunday, 17th November 2013 (GMT).

Good luck and thank you for being you.

xxx

PLEASE NOTE : GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED

The One In Which I Pose A Question

I've had a rotten week.  One that's been hanging over me for a while.  It's been full of appointments (including two very lengthy ones in the dentist's chair).  I always do that - engineer all my grotty things to fall within one week so that when the dreaded time comes, I hold my breath, put my head down and plough through it, knowing that it will soon be over.

And finally it is!

HOORAY!!!

Anyway, feeling just a touch lightheaded with relief, I thought it would be fun to put a scenario to you.

You're crocheting (or knitting) yourself a scarf.  You've got about fifty perfectly executed rows under your belt when you suddenly notice that you've dropped a stitch, (crocheted through one loop instead of two) near the very beginning.

(I know you can't see it very well from this picture but, trust me, it's there.)

Would you not give it a second thought?

Would it bug you so much that you'd just have to unravel?

Would you bury it in the depths of your 'WIP' basket, promising yourself that you will deal with it 'some other time'?

I would just love to know what your reaction would be and how you'd deal with it, if at all.

xxx

Edited to add : Bless you all, you're just too lovely for words!  I did a quick straw poll in my own household - two of us wouldn't bother at all with the mistake but the other two struggled!  I'm a perfectionist so, yes, it did bug me enormously but I didn't unravel it.  Nearly but not quite.  I had a strict word with myself and have decided to embrace the imperfection as a fitting reflection on a pants week.  If it had been any more noticeable then it would have been for the chop!!!

Coiled Rose Crochet Pattern

I wanted to make some crocheted flowers for a scarf I'm working on (yes, another) so was having a play and came up with the sweetest little coiled roses.

Aren't they pretty?  So easy peasy lemon squeezy too.

Want to see how I made them?

(Using English terminology.)

Leaving a tail of approximately 6 inches, chain 21 (20 and 1 for turning).

Row 1 : Starting in the second chain from the hook, work 2dc in each chain to the end of the row (40).

Turn.

Chain 3.

Row 2 : Work 2tr in each stitch to the end of the row (80).

Tease your work into the desired rose shape with the beginning at the centre (you'll find it should want to naturally coil because you're making it top heavy, so to speak).

Now poke your starting tail through the middle and tug quite firmly.

Secure your ends.

That, my dear friends, is it!

The smaller pink rose was made in a similar way but with a starting chain of 11 (10 and 1 for turning) and I worked 2htr in each stitch, rather than 2tr, in row 2.

You could have fun playing around with the size of your finished rose by beginning with more or less chains, or using a different sized hook, (I used 4mm for these).

I daresay there may be similar patterns out there in the ether but, as with all my tutorials to date, feel free to do with it what you will but please direct all credit and adulation my way! ;-)

By the way, I used the 'medium fat bottomed leaf pattern' from here for my leaves.

Why are you still here?  Go grab your hook and pimp some woollies ..!

xxx

For my US friends …

UK dc = US single crochet
UK htr = US half double crochet
UK tr = US double crochet