Juicy Lemon 'n' Lime Crochet Baby Blanket

I was commissioned to do a baby blanket.  I love commissions off this lady as she is always more than happy to step away from the traditional blue & pink stuff and gives me something interesting to do.

She wanted something pastel, colourful but neutral so I suggested this lovely lemon & lime coloured Baby Print yarn from Hobbycraft.

Teamed with a ball of white to break it up - although having made it I don't think the white was required at all, it blends in like it looks like it is part of the ball.

And so a lovely, soft, gender neutral baby blanket was made.  Big enough to use in a pram, car seat and later on, a cot.

A super chunky, ribbed crochet blanket.

I was asked to do a commission piece a little while back.

The yarn had to be super chunky and the design just a basic rib.

Sure, I could do that.  And I did.

I used the Soft & Chunky W.I. Yarn, which is a 70% acrylic / 30% merino mix.  The colour was a gorgeous shade of grey.

I actually loved this so much that I have a plan to make one for myself... eventually, once I have finished everything else that is.  (like that will happen!!)

I quickly found that I couldn't knot the yarn in as I went as it showed up quite badly, and I couldn't wait until the end of a row to restart a new piece of yarn as I would be wasting far too much, so I had to "splice"

I split apart the fibres of both the old yarn and the new one, then plaited them together before smoothing it out to be the same thickness as the yarn.

It worked really well and you honestly cannot see the joins.

This was a work in project, if you are wondering what the little tail is mid way up  - I have since trimmed it off   :)

The customer seemed delighted with this, as I would hope, because if not I wanted it back!   :)

Now, what colour should I make mine?

Sparkly Crystal Necklace / Bracelet / Earring Set

I have just finished a commission for a sparkly beaded jewellery set.

The brief was a bracelet and matching earrings - not too fussy, no colour, sparkly, on silver.

I got some gorgeous half silvered rondelle crystals from Hobbycraft in 8mm and 6mm sizes along with some silver plated chain and findings.

Each crystal is strung separately onto a headpin, then a loop formed before attaching it to a link in the chain.  As you can imagine, it took a little time  :)  But the result is worth it I think - lightweight dangly earrings, with plenty of sparkle.

The matching bracelet was finished off with a cute heart and arrow shaped toggle clasp.

The recipient must have like it as she came back and ordered a matching necklace to go with them.

I set to work again... pinning and looping.   I only put the crystals some of the way round as the weight of them stops the necklace from spinning and the clasp ending up at the front.

Again this was finished with the heart toggle.

It's a change revisiting old techniques, and putting the yarn down for a while.   ;)

It's all a big secret....

I have been quiet on the blogging front this week, have you noticed?  The reason is I have been making some bits and bobs for Hobbycraft HQ that I can't show anyone just yet.

But..... I can show you the gorgeous fabrics I have been working with  :)

And this one has got to be my favourite.... love elephants and love purple.

But all projects are in the post now, tutorials written, photos edited, now I can get back on with my massive "work in progress" pile  ;)