abowerbirdsnest: wool

Showing posts with label wool. Show all posts

As I mentioned on on the Craftmas post, Team #renbecwen will be working our way through Attic24's Moorland Blanket over the coming few months (look at me being optimistic, as if my chronic slowness won't see me lagging behind the others).

We've all been long-standing fans of Attic24. She was one of the first craft bloggers we all fell in craft-love with, and quickly because a regular topic of discussion - "Have you seen what Attic24's been making?" "Did you read about that lovely market Attic24 went to?" "Oh, that is SO Attic 24!"

In 2010 we undertook what my memory is telling me was our first concurrent project, the Granny Stripe. Even to this day it's one of my favourite craft projects, not only for the end result, which is draping the back of my lounge as I type this, but for the fun we had comparing our respective blankets.

It was Attic24 who taught us join-as-you-go granny squares which was a complete game changer, especially as it came when we were doing our so-many-squared mood blankets.

At present, Renae and Wendy are plugging away at their twin Hydrangea Stripe Blankets. Thus far I have resisted the urge to pit them against each other in a "She's winning, now she's winning!" kind of way.

photo by Renae

What can we say? Attic24 is our collective craft-crush. So bring on the Moorland blanketing!

Moorland Blanket

by Rebecca Johnson on Sunday, November 19, 2017

As I mentioned on on the Craftmas post, Team #renbecwen will be working our way through Attic24 's Moorland Blanket over the coming f...

Way back at the start of 2014, Wendy and Renae tried to talk me into joining in on the #moodblanketchallenge2014. I was pretty adamantly against it, thinking that the last thing I needed was a visual representation of what was still, at that point, a pretty tight-holding depression. Having that right there in front of me seemed like a TERRIBLE idea. I caved, because that's what you do when good friends ask you to do something (and, come on, it was a pretty cool craft project), but I was pretty sure I would hate it.

Oh how I hate to be proven wrong.

Not only did I not hate it, I actually found it helpful in the exact way they wanted it to be. On my worst days it was hard to crochet those squares, but at the same time I had, securely in my hands, direct proof that those bad days WEREN'T all my days. I could point to all the good days and run my fingers over them, remembering how I had felt then. While I started the year in a terrible streak of greys and blues, it soon got to the point where I was counting good streaks, and that was wonderful.

It was lovely to crochet my squares alongside Wendy and Renae, but even better than that was all the people around me who, even though they weren't actively participating, became involved all the same. We had a streak of weddings in a short period of time so they brides picked out their squares (the two tone ones). Luke and Nicole would ask me what my colour would be for the day. Ash instituted a whole new mood category ('epic' was required as something higher than merely 'happy'). And best of all was Kira wishing me "yellow days" or messaging me after a particularly good day with all of us together and just matter-of-factly stating that it had been a yellow day for all. It was beautiful to have my friends support me in such a meaningful way without them probably realising how great it was.

I managed to finish the blanket on time (okay so I just scraped through) and thought I'd share a little bit of it's journey...

I wouldn't be me doing a project like this if I didn't offer up some stats, so here you go, have a little pie chart.

There was a bit of hesitation on all our parts as to whether or not we'd be doing another blanket in 2015 - funnily enough, I was the first to sign up! I think having the opportunity to shop for more (and this year prettier) wool was definitely a large part of the decision making process.

I splurged (but not really, thank you massive sale!) and bought nice wool this year as I was discouraged using the acrylic last year. I selected the Morris & Sons Estate yarn in a huge array of beautiful colours, double the amount of last year. But the best part is the wonderful colour names,..

Mood Colour

Happy Nasturtium

Busy Jacaranda

Tired Swimming

Stressed Crocus

Thankful Venetian

Content Tuscan

Angry Marine Green

Brave Posy

Anxious Mild Mint

Grey Clay

Creative Limelight

Loved Tomato Sauce

Epic Party Pink

Excited Petunia

Sad Clear Sky

Mood Blanket 2014

by Rebecca Johnson on Thursday, January 01, 2015

Way back at the start of 2014, Wendy and Renae tried to talk me into joining in on the #moodblanketchallenge2014. I was pretty a...

As of today there are 60 days until Christmas.

Okay, who had a little bit of a heart attack? Surely not just me?

Thankfully, my Christmas knitting list is fairly short. I don’t knit/make a lot of gifts as I don’t have a great deal of crafty friends and making for non crafties is always a bit hit-and-miss. Having said that, there are a few extra things that have snuck onto the list for 2011 and I’m going to have to knit with a superhuman speed to get it all done… and I think we’re all aware that I don’t have that degree of speed.

Let’s just call it a challenge, shall we?

Since I am therefore supposed to be knitting, I shall bid you a quick adieu and leave you with this glimpse of the wool I received in the post this morning and will be starting work with this afternoon. I would tell you what for but I know that one of the recipients is likely to see this post sooner or later and I wouldn’t want to spoil (yes Lisa, I do mean you, try to guess which colour is yours).