Saturday 19th November
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| 323/365: ooh, look what I've got! |
I've found another 'happy place'! I was given a really warm welcome at The Woollery yesterday afternoon and V helped me choose the things I need for my first project ... I'm starting with something really simple and will attempt to crochet a cowl/infinity scarf, so something I'll definitely use. There's enough wool to make two or I can save what's left and start building a stash so I can be a proper blogger! I'm following an American pattern (I understand the difference between the UK and the US instructions) and if I get stuck for any reason, I've been told to go back and V will help me sort it out.
It also offers the possibility of adding to my list of social activities. The Woollery offers one-to-one tuition, group classes and workshops, some of which interest me. In January a crochet along course is starting where you learn new stitches and create a blanket by the end of the course; it's for all abilities and as it'll be a small group V is able to give a lot of support at the level each person needs. I'm not sure how long the course is but I'll give it a go. Other courses include beginners crochet, beginners knitting, sock knitting for all abilities, and amigurumi crochet and they also offer individual tuition as and when needed. The book I bought is the one she recommended and I plan to read it before the crochet along starts in January.
I didn't get much of the cooking done yesterday as I spent most of the morning chatting with M and then a good part of the afternoon chatting in The Woollery so I need to get that done and out of the way this morning. I have to wait in for a delivery anyway so as soon as the kitchen work is finished I will be starting the crochet. If you happen to hear any cussing or swearing it'll probably be me!
I love the colors of the yarn you've chosen! The Woolery sounds like a fun and welcoming place and I like the idea of having workshops and group classes, etc. I hope you have fun with the crocheting. Does your sister know? Have you told her yet? :D
ReplyDeleteIt is a very friendly place. From what I understand V deals with knitting and crochet and her husband/partner (not sure of the relationship) is known as The Sock Man and deals with that side of things. I'm really hoping I can get into the crochet and knitting. I haven't told my sister yet and won't until I've finished two or three items 😂
DeleteLOL - and that sounds fantastic. A great discovery!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the stash - believe me, it is all too easy once you start. Your cake looks beautiful and I am looking forward to seeing photos of your creations. xx
I will try to be sensible about accumulating a stash. If I do eventually end up with anything resembling a stash it's more likely to be fabric rather than wool ... but who knows what the future may bring?
DeletePhotos will follow if I manage to produce anything vaguely resembling the picture on the pattern! 😂😂 xx
Be careful if you are starting a stash, it can get out of hand very quickly. Socks look difficult to knit, but infact they are simple, just follow the instructions, even though they will sound strange to start with, and at this time of year, hand made socks are sooo good.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I will be careful. The Sock Man at the shop talked me through knitting socks and I will join his next session (don't know when it is though). In the meantime I've found a Youtube video for slipper socks (like tube socks) which look comfy and will be my next project. xx
DeleteWhat lovely colours in your wool. I hope you enjoy making your cowl, the crochet along in January sounds fun. I have done a lot of crocheting over the years. I have made a double bedspread, baby blankets, I used to make my Mum crochet tops in cotton and baby cardigans, jackets, bonnets, dresses etc. for various friends' baby's.
ReplyDeleteI got rid of my wool stash last year all except for some purple wool. I don't think I could justify having more as my stash for cardmaking is STABLE (Stash acquired beyond life expectancy). Helen S.
Thanks Helen. I grew up around people knitting but none of them did any crochet. My sister does some crochet now but prefers knitting. I'm hoping crochet will be easier on my hands (arthritis!) so it's worth a try and I really hope I enjoy it. I very much doubt I'll get to your standard though ... that all sounds amazing.
DeleteYour STABLE cardmaking stash made me laugh! xx
That yarn is lovely. And I am surprised there are differences in crochet instructions between the US and UK. Not crocheting or knitting myself, I would have assumed everything was in stitch count. The good thing is that I'm quite unlikely to hear your cussing all the way over here. ;-) Just kidding - enjoy!
ReplyDeleteCopied from Google .... Both UK and US crochet terminologies use the same stitch names double crochets, trebles and double trebles, but are indicating different stitches! A UK double crochet is a US single crochet, while a US treble is a UK double treble .... and so on.
DeleteI don't know if that will confuse me or not but there is a video demo of the cowl I hope to make so I should be okay. I have pretty wool to play with and it doesn't look too difficult so I'm hoping it falls into the fun category rather than an ordeal! xx
Oooh, good luck! I look forward to seeing how it turns out. Can I put my name down now for a pair of homemade socks? I definitely approve of the handled hooks - I bought myself a whole set and only use those now. I didn't have a problem with the stick-like hooks but prefer the other type. I have kept the stick hooks in case I am ever tempted to try Tunisian crochet but that is a very uncertain "case"! I find the US terms more logical but can follow patterns written in either "language" AS LONG AS THEY STATE WHICH THEY ARE USING! On more than one occasion I have started making something posted by a British person, only to find they have written the pattern in US terms and not said so. Infuriating to have to unravel it all and start again! The Woollery sounds wonderful. (I am not jealous. I am not jealous. I am not jealous.)
ReplyDeleteThanks, I'll need all the luck I can get! Yes I can make you a pair of socks ... expect delivery sometime in the year 2045 as I will need to practice 🥴
DeleteI only realised the pattern I've chosen is using the US terms because V told me ... she just looked at it briefly and knew.
The Woollery feels like a good place, friendly and helpful. I'm hoping I can pick up the crocheting and knitting and get involved in the groups and courses they run.
If there is an easy way of "just knowing", do tell. A photo of the finished item helps, and obviously if there is a diagram alongside the written pattern, that is totally failsafe, coz you look at the symbols. Sometimes, if single crochets are not mentioned you can guess it might be a UK pattern but that is not failsafe as it might just be that sc's are not required for that particular item. A craft shop I know of used to run courses and things as well but a) not that close to me and b) it's since closed down. Boo! L and I, for different reasons, have stopped going to craft group but she has found out when the Christmas lunch is and feels she should attend. But she wants me to hold her hand! Gah. I am wondering about that as it might be a gentle way to ease myself back in with a view to possibly going back some time... if I want to.
DeleteI'll ask if I remember. When she looked at my chosen pattern all she said was that describing the wool as 'worsted' meant that it was American, plus there was also SC in the instructions.
DeleteGo for it! As you say it may help keep a foot in the door to return at some time in the future.
Yes, fair enough, but it can be a minefield. eg My robin pattern calls for "DK or worsted weight" and all the spellings are British ("colour" / "grey" etc.) then you go through the pattern and find it happens to contain SCs. It's intriguing that there came to be two sets of English language terms - was one set translated from one language and the other from another? (Rhetorical wonderings.)
DeleteIf I go to the Christmas meal it will be out of loyalty to L as the prospect of sitting in a busy pub with 10 people I haven't seen (or missed) for two years doesn't appeal. Don't want to be ill for Christmas! My last vaccination was a year ago and still no word on a booster :o( I can easily enough go back any time but although most of them are nice enough, they are a couple of generations older than I am, and all knitters. Besides that, I'm not on Whatsapp so when plans are changed, which can happen at a moment's notice as they are all retired and able to chop and change, I don't find out unless someone makes the effort to tell me; there have been wasted journeys in the past.
I see what you mean. I'll ask next time I go over to the shop.
DeleteWith what you're saying I think I'd protect your own Christmas and give it a miss.
Oh yeah - stash. It's amazing how quickly it grows. Mine is quite out of control and just in the past fortnight I have bought three skeins of brown yarn before settling on the right shade. :o( Which reminds me, I've made a couple of things recently which I haven't posted. Will do that now.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is ... I'm a collector at heart so I know that if I really get into kitting and crochet, a stash will undoubtedly follow. I'm only kidding myself if I think otherwise. It's more likely to happen with the dressmaking though ... fabric is one of my weaknesses!
DeleteOh if you are deliberately building up a stash that is a different thing. My problem is leftovers from small projects; buying one extra to benefit from the Hobbycraft 3 for 2 offer; buying wrong shades because the right one is not there, then trying to find the right shade elsewhere; buying stuff which I think I like, only later to decide I don't. Actually that's rather a lot of problems isn't it! And I also have a bag of oddments that a crafter gave me when I was doing the mini snowmen a few years ago. I thought she was so kind at the time and now I realise she was probably quietly thrilled to see the back of them! ;o)
DeleteYes that is rather a lot of problems. At least mine is singular ... I just have no willpower. You know how tempted I am to buy plants when I go to a garden centre and I used to be much worse with fabric! I can see it could become a problem! Especially as I've just found out there is a Hobbycraft store near me 😂😂
DeleteHobbycraft is a sinkhole! (And I always have to check out the preserving stuff too!) I can sympathise with your fabric fetish as I love stopping to look at it, feel it, admire it... I am no seamstress but if I were I am sure I would have another problem to add to my many. On the subject of sewing, I received something rather special recently. I will post about it in due course!
DeleteAnd I have just spotted that they have Black Friday offers!
DeleteCrochet always seems so complicated to me! I am in awe of your project and deeply envious of that yarn.
ReplyDeleteI am a fan of the extremely inexpensive Marriners Yarns, and they have some 'how to crochet' videos out https://www.youtube.com/@marrineryarns1692 so I may pluck up the courage to join you, when I've finished outstanding projects....
I can't wait to see the cowl!
I don't know how I'll get on with it yet but I am keen to give it a really good go. Go on, we can learn together 😊
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