New addiction

Good morning. I've got a bit a of time whilst I wait for the floors to dry to let you know about my new passion. It's crochet. My mum has been trying to teach me for years but I just couldn't do it. I've been inspired by the fabulous blogs that I visit ( see list right) to try again. I bought a magazine that included some wool ( not good to use as it turned out but okay for practising with) and settled down to try it. But again my attempts were rubbish and I got disheartened., still I don't like to give up easily. It was a good excuse to purchase more yarn so armed with 10 balls of acrylic ( a mix of Hayfields, Cygnet and Boyes own Dk) I tried again. The yarn made all the difference it was so easy to work with, and here are the fruits of my labours. 

I've made all these in a week. I can't put it down now! Do you want a closer look..

  

not bad for a newbie, do you think it looks neat? I'm following a pattern from Attic 24's blog, she has really inspired me, I also used her pattern for the jar cover below. I made that just before school pick up yesterday. 

I haven't abandoned the knitted blanket if you're wondering, I have decided to crochet 10 squares and then knit 5 squares and so on. I think the granny blanket will be finished first though as it comes on quicker, I can do a few squares a day quite easily now.

                                                     On a different note we had to chop down a Cordyline at the weekend as the bad winter weather had killed it off. It's a bit sad really because my Dad give me it as a baby plant off one of his years ago and it flowered for the first time last year. Still the birds and chickens have had fun picking all the insects out of it but I need to clear it away now.

Just time to show you my potatoes chitting in the sunroom. The varities are Belle De Fontenay and Arran Victory. I've grown the Belles for a few years now but the Arrans were new to me last year and what a revelation, they were delicious. They made fantastic mash, so a definite for me again this year. If you dont know what chitting is, its letting the potatoes shoot a little before planting out to give them a head start in life. Just put them eyes upwards in an egg box and leave somewhere light and frost free for a few weeks and they will sprout little shoots rather than those long spindly ones that occur when they are left at the back of the cupboard.

Well the floors should be dry now, and I've got to go and meet a friend so see you next time.