No resolutions, just some crochet

Crochet Collar

Rather than bore everyone with a post about new beginnings, resolutions and so on I've decided my first post of 2013 shall bore you with pretty crochet instead. At least there are nice photos.

Back view

Front detail

Over the holidays I like to make more frivolous things, especially for myself. So, this holiday I've made myself a pretty crochet collar and a dress (potentially to be worn together.) Before Christmas I tend to spend a lot of time making stuff for other people which is great and I enjoy it but afterwards I like to be a little bit selfish!

Indigo dress

Dress sleeve detail

I really enjoyed making this collar. I got the pattern from Ravelry and it's simple and easy to follow and I'm really pleased with the results. I used a 4 ply cotton yarn in a plum purple colour and a 4mm hook. The dress was from a New Look pattern and was an interesting make as there were lots of darts and shaping bits involved. I used a denim type fabric in a dark indigo and as a consequence my hands looked like smurf hands afterwards!

Cool shadows

Pattern detail

More cool shadows

Crochet hearts

I've also been playing around with making some crochet hearts, ready for Valentines day maybe?

Happy New Year everyone!

Caterpillar Costume

Next Monday is May Day. Which means parades, which means costumes. I run an art group every other Monday evening for adults with learning disabilities and for the past few weeks we have been working on our costumes and scenery for this years May Day Parade. The theme is Alice in Wonderland so we've been having fun creating psychedelic swirls, madness mushrooms and mystical flowers.

Psychedelic colour experiments

I've also been busy making a Caterpillar costume for one of the people in the parade. The person in question came to me with a picture of a costume she'd found on the Internet so we made a pattern and (temperamental machinery excepted) I've cracked on and made it. I'm really hoping that it fits because I'm not going to see her before the parade so if it doesn't work we could have a small problem! The body is made from jersey, with clothes line appliqued to the edges to give it a wiggly caterpillar effect. The feet are velvet and the collar, supported by vilene and garden wire, is a heavyweight cotton fabric that I found for very cheap. When I told the shop assistant what it was for she looked at me like I was insane, I then tried to explain which I think made me sound even more crazy so in the end I gave up! This is the costume spread flat, hopefully next week I can show you what it looks like on. If you happen to be in Penrith on Monday come and see it for yourself!

Flatepillar!