Author Archive

10
Aug

My new WIP is a bright and cheery bag that has taken the crochet community by storm. The now famous “Lucy Bag” has got all us hookers in a frenzy. It’s even gone as far as the USA and Australia. Inspired by a lovely lady called Lucy, a Yorkshire lass, who simply loves bright coloured yarn for her projects. Her blog Attic24 is one of my favourites, I simply love reading it and eagerly look forward to new posts. If you haven’t read it and are an avid crocheter then you really ought to. She really isn’t afraid to work with colour.

So a little bit more about the bag. I’m using Rico Creative Cotton,  a 100% cotton yarn, in some beautiful bright colours. The yarn itself is an aran weight.

Top left to right:  Petrol, Cardinal, Turquoise, Mint, Royal

Middle left to right: Pistachio, Aqua, Tangerine, Light Pistachio, Light Yellow

Bottom left to right: Red, Emerald, Melon, Fuschia, Orange

I got the yarn from First 4 Yarns, who are based in Knighton, Powys. They have an online shop, too, where they do a special Lucy Colour Pack of 15 balls for £22.50. That works out at £1.50 for a 50g ball. Fantastic value for money. I did have to wait a little while for it, as due to the overwhelming popularity of the colours and yarn, they had to send off to the German manufacturers for 2 of the colours. It was definitely well worth the wait. It’s  a lovely yarn to work with, a little bit splitty but manageable. I would definitely recommend using this yarn for other projects too.

Here’s the start of the base

This is with a couple of of the side rows completed

It’s a very simple pattern, worked in treble crochet. Every row is done in a different shade, it means a lot of ends to weave but I’m doing them as I go along, rather than doing them all at the end. I’m using a 3.5mm hook rather than the recommended 4mm-5mm, to make the stitching a bit firmer. It also means the bag will be smaller so I increased into 15 rows for the base. The sides start at the row of Cardinal. The bag is for me as I could do with a nice bag to carry my current WIPs about with me.

For anybody wishing to make one, the pattern is available on Lucy’s blog. You can find it here. She also has made some lovely stripey blankets and granny square throws. They just want to make you want one now :)

Well almost …. :D Would you believe I run out of the Faded Jeans colour. Got plenty of the other colours left over so I reckon I must’ve had a dodgy ball sigh I’m about 22 pom poms short which is really a bit annoying, still it does look nice. What do you think?

I’m really proud of it and LJ is thrilled to bits with it. Sooooo what about the missing pom poms? Well I’m going to have to send off for some more of it from the US but what we’ve come up with is for some cushions to go with the rug.

In the same issue of Crochet Today they have a vintage pattern by Red Heart which has been given an updated feel using Pomp-a-Doodle yarn.

I’ve got some money sitting in PayPal so I’m going to make 2 of them for her. One in Faded Jeans and the other colour LJ chose was the Plush Plum. So I’ll be ordering them this week. Even if I can’t get the cushions done in time for her I can always send them on later.

So, now I’ve finished that project what have I got on the hook next. Here’s a clue

Those of you who crochet or are members of Ravelry will undoubtedly know looking at those gorgeous bright colours. For the rest of you, you’ll have to wait and find out ;)


Crocheted Smart Car

Originally uploaded by StartTheDay

Well I knew that you could crochet a lot of things but never a car!!!!

Here is a Smart Car completely covered in crochet posedly parked in Rome.

It’s a project by the yarnie graffiti people, KnittaPlease, as part of “Il Lusso Essenziale” festival in Rome. Designed by Magda Sayeg it certainly jazzes up the car’s image.

You can check out some more of their fun and wacky projects in their KnittaPlease blog