Sunday, March 25, 2012

A Granny A Day

If you've been wondering where I've been for the last 2 weeks well I have been lost in the pursuit of all things crafty. After a bit of a creative hiatus, I have finally reacquainted myself with some of my old favourite hobbies. Instead of sitting here in the evening tapping away on the laptop, my fingers have been busy engaging in a host of delicious things like knitting, and oil painting, and restoring old furniture, sanding, and varnishing, and oiling, and turning pages of books and the "newbie" - crocheting. I've become quite obsessed with it all! So much so that I get to the end of the day and literally can't wait to head upstairs and get started on one of the millions of projects I now have on the go.

It all started when I joined Pip's "A Granny A Day"group. This is where you crochet a Granny Square A Day or if you're new to crocheting like me, you learn to crochet and then proceed to do as many Granny's as your little heart desires.

I Didn't want to launch right into the creative stuff with a meltdown because I couldn't master a chain stitch on the Granny Square so I decided to warm the fingers up with some basic knitting. The first night I knitted until 2 in the morning. It is quite addictive. It really is. So I had a few knitting projects on the go, and then I found a couple of pieces of furniture from the op-shop and salvage yard requiring some love so I made a start on those, then I started a painting. And then I got absorbed in a good book. And finally in amongst it all I learnt to crochet yesterday.

So that's where I've been. 

I've been having a wonderful time. But what I'm not quite used to is starting so many things and having them all on the go at the one time. It's so unlike me. I normally start a project and finish it before starting the next. I'm quite loyal like that. Reading is a classic example. I have NEVER read more than one book at a time. I actually tried to read two novels at once, just as an experiment, because I do strange things like that to myself. I had to stop almost instantly as it just didn't right. I didn't feel like I was giving it the full undivided attentive it deserved. Odd. The same cannot be said for this new foray of mine into all things creative. I have become quite the craft tart, flitting about from one project to another, with lots of things on the go but nothing yet to show you. It's fun and interesting to have lots of choice at the end of the day. It feels a bit naughty and I kinda like it. So I will just continue on and I'll probably have an abundance of things to show you all at once in the next week or so!

Anyway, without further ado, here is my very first Granny Square!!! 





I'm really quite pleased with myself. This was just a practice one but I'm going to move straight onto making a little rug. I think it looks a little spindly but hoping a slightly tighter tension and possible smaller hook will make them look a little fluffier? Not sure. Any crocheter's out there?

They really do look more tricky than they are but all credit must go to Pip for her amazing step-by-step tutorials. The lady is amazing. And just when you think you're not going to get there, she'll throw in some encouragement in the way of "that's it, Petals!". How can that not bring a smile to your dial.

So do head over to Pips if you would like to learn to crochet.

And in the meantime, tell me, are you a loyal crafter doing one project at a time or are you more of a craft tart like I am at the moment?

Image from Meet Me At Mikes

16 comments :

  1. It sounds like you've been having a great time and welcome to the crochet world. Your granny square is great. I wouldn't have thought the tension too loose.

    Ok, I'm guilty, I'm a terrible craft tart. At the moment I am crocheting a scarfe, knitting a cardigan and I am in the middle of sewing a dress. And the problem is that I keep thinking of new things I want to start. I'm not loyal like you in the book department either. I'm terrible.

    I've tried to blog and knit at the same time and I've got myself in all sorts of trouble.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ahh, sewing - another thing on my list this year. But I worry sewing will interfere with my nighttime TV viewing, the other activities are quiet so I can do both at once :-)

      Delete
  2. I love the term craft tart - I'd never heard it before but I can definitely relate to it; I've got waaaay too many projects on the go at the moment, each one becomes my favourite for a while and then inevitably it's on to the next! Craft tart is the perfect description.

    With your crochet (and I am by no means an expert) I do think that a slightly tighter tension may solve the problem and if your yarn is slightly skinny, it does tend to respond well to a smaller hook. (you can even combine 2 skinny yarns together to make a thicker one). If your squares end up a wee bit smaller from using the smaller hook, you can add another round.

    Mega well done on your first granny square; you did very well. I really like the colours and for your first granny I've gotta say I am impressed! Keep up the good work!
    Happy hooking from a fellow craft tart
    Jo:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jo, thanks for that. I did try a smaller hook late last night and I think it's made a huge difference :-)

      Delete
  3. Oh Mel, you gorgeous girl! So fabulous to see you today - I wish you'd told me about starting crocheting! I want to make a granny rug as well. I have one my grandmother made but using black as the joining colour. I want to do one with white in between. Roll on our crafternoon! I have a crochet hook but must source some wool. Spotlight, here I come ☺. J x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like the white in between too and Spotlight has done VERY well out of me lately :-)

      Delete
  4. Oh I'm definately a craft tart over here, I have too many things on the go, I really must learn to focus. Your squares look great, I am going to pop over and have a look at the tutorials, I would love to try that too, we are off to Tassie in a week to stay in a beautiful home, perfect going away activity.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for popping over here. You will have a ball in Tassie!!!

      Delete
  5. I am so not a craft tart. I once blocked about being the "anti craft". I think you are very clever though. The granny square looks pretty good to me!

    Take care and hope you are settling back into being in one spot.

    xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well I'm doing all this while I'm watching telly at night so it really isn't eating into any time. As for me crafting with the kids though, not so much!!

      Delete
  6. Oh well done Mel, I think your granny looks gorgeous, so neat and I love the colours. I need to take a leaf out of your book. Every night I think to myself how I must devote more time to my craft, but end up tapping away here at my computer, naughty naughty. Anyway, keep going with your lovely grannies, can't wait to see the finished product xo

    ReplyDelete
  7. The only thing I can crochet is a Granny Square, and that is all down to Pip's tutorial's, I recommend them to everyone. I just need a lot more practice now. Your square on the other hand looks spot on :D

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yes, the tutorials are so easy to follow. If only all the tutorials out there were made like this :-D

    ReplyDelete
  9. Learning to crochet has been on my to-do list for a while. Thanks for the reminder. I'll have to check out the tutorial.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow, you did so well.. this gives me hope!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am so not a crafty person, I have lots that I have attempted to start and never finished.
    I am a very loyal book reader though, only one at a time same as you.
    I think you're doing a great job Mel. Hope the crooks are growing well!

    ReplyDelete