LMLM Crochet Patterns

This, again was made in anticipation of baby Tommy who was finally born last night after 3 days in the hospital- poor sister!  Before the baby shower they told us that the baby needed a mobile so I looked up ways to crochet a mobile, but there was nothing without extra props and I didn't have the time or the money. Then I found this one which I printed a pattern for and got to work. It was great fun and I loved being able to use the variety of colours in the rainbow. Two raindrops are missing because I ran out of time, but these can be added on later or not at all because I love it how it is. Welcome Tommy. 

My new nephew Thomas was born this morning to a very exhausted sister. We are so proud and I love him already. It feels like torture not being able to meet him until next weekend.  Anyway, we had a baby shower last week and I was out of money to buy an extravagant gift so I looked at my pile of wool and I scoured the Internet. The first thing that takes my eye is a yellow blanket with a duck head. I go in YouTube to remind myself how to make a crochet ball and most tutorials are decent. I did this using yellow wool and used the black wool to add crosses for eyes. Then I took some orange wool and crocheted into a square. I folded this square diagonally into a triangle and sewed it on to the head as the beak. Next, and this was spread out over 5 days between calls at work and in the small minutes I had to myself at home, I crocheted a large granny square. Once the square was done I sewed the head securely into the centre, crocheted two more little orange squares and sewed them onto t...

I self published my first novella. I am so pleased with it.  Please buy it here in digital format.  http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00EYG28S8/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?qid=1378539322&sr=1-5&pi=AC_SX110_SY165

This is something I didn't think I'd get the chance to try until we moved out of our small flat and into a house with a garden, but I went for it. I saw how easy it could be on an episode of Kirstie's Style. On eBay I found a vintage Lloyd Loom style storage stool. I bought it and when it arrived here I saw just how hideous the fabric on it was. It was a kind of brown crushed velvet that had aged badly. I didn't waste any time. I ripped up an old Ikea pillow case and lined the seat and had some left over to make a cushion cover. The inside of the stool was plain wood and old and marked so I ripped up more fabric. The result is something I am proud to show in my bedroom and makes perfect storage for me wool (some of it!)  And inside... All it took was a staple gun, some pretty fabric, an old cushion and a sewing machine. I am so happy with it. Now all it needs is a lick of paint, but I think I will wait until we have a garden to try that. 

It was meant to be a blanket with a crochet tree sewn on. I Google image searched a crochet tree and then copied it from eye. This is my version:  I am really please with this so I took it a step further. I crocheted a blanket green along the bottom and blue on the top for the grass and the sky respectively. Then I wanted to add a sunshine, cloud and flowers. So I made them using the appropriate coloured wool and with the help of the magic circle technique which I learnt with YouTube's help. Then I decided to add a little brick house. Many thought this looked a different style to the  rest of the bits so I felt deflated as if the blanket was ruined.  This is where I got to:  Finally I had a genius idea. Add little animals. My wool stock was limited and I was in Italy so there was no way I could buy more. Until I went to Auchan and they had a wool shop. Here I picked up pink and in this way I made a piggy and another and another until I had three little piggies and a ...

I wanted to make something for my nephew to play with. A toy he could treasure knowing that his aunty lovingly made it for him.  The trouble is, well, I'll just show you... And the back...  So the video on YouTube made it look simple and the their monkey turned out beautifully. It was like a monkey from a toy shop. Anyway, I suppose it was my first attempt and It doesn't look too bad. But it won't have the effect I was hoping for. I'll keep trying!  Crochet is amazing and it makes me so happy. 

I followed a video on YouTube to make this chick from yellow, red and beige wool. It was easy, fun and fast; only took around half an hour.  I was looking for something to make as a last minute gift, but I'm still too proud of my little creations to give them away. As soon as I'm a pro these will be under everyone's Christmas trees. 

Two days off from work and one day at work between calls I made my first useful crochet creation. A handbag!  Now it's full of holes so don't go leaving any loose change in there, but it's perfect as an alternative for a canvas bag.  For example I could keep my lunch box in there, groceries or my water bottle. It could even work as a baby sling!  I have loved making it and can't wait to make more useful crochet creations.  Next up is blue wool and a little something for my favourite little man:

Now this is something I took directly from Kirstie's Homemade Home. A woman took hessian sacks and scrap material and turned them in to funky rugs. Now that is something I can do.  I bought the hessian material which is really cheap online and bought the rag rug tool which is called a bodger, also cheap online.  Then I took old clothes (all Dave's) and cut them into strips.  (The floral fabric isn't Dave's! It's some scrap I had left over. Just in case you were wondering!)  Then you draw a design on the hessian and try to keep within the confines of the lines. As you can see I am no artist. Anyway, it's coming along, but it is very time consuming and I keep underestimating the amount of fabric needed. Anyway, it's a practice round; I'm going to make a really big one for the lounge eventually. Updates and photos to follow. 

Nonna had done crochet for as long as I can remember. She makes blankets and scarfs to sell on for charity. Recently my mum started as well. She makes blankets for my baby nephew and little hats for my cousins. My sister does crochet every now and then and she recently made a crochet rose which is beautiful and I very much want to copy it.  Anyway, I just thought crochet was something people did when they had too much time on their hands. That was until I received a crochet hook and wool and watched a YouTube video. It's faster than knitting and gives a prettier pattern with more ease.  To begin with I was just practising, but when I discovered the shop Wool in Bath I became an avid crocheter!  Is there anything more wonderful than buying wool?!  So mini projects have begun. I even took my needle and wool to work and made some granny squares  That was using this wool:  And now I'm making red squares to mix in with the colourful squares to make a pretty patt...

The thing is I also work full time at a call centre for Sky and I'm picking up overtime to pay for the wedding. This leaves very little time to do the things I love.  Watching Kirsty's Homemade Home while knitting before work really helps to keep the creativity flowing. Everyday I would see something I wanted to make. One day they were making quilts and that was that.  I found some of Dave's old blue t shirts and cut them into squares. I also had some blue china pattern fabric which was already in squares. Then I sewed them together to form one big square. Next I bought some blue polka dot material and a quilt to go inside. I sewed it all together and this was the end product:  And it now lays in Zak's cot as his spare quilt. I'm so proud of it and can't wait to make another. 

Then I ordered a sewing machine and a sewing box and threads and fabric and a new hobby was born.  Maddy was visiting from Florence and we found some gorgeous fabric and had an amazing idea. She was my model and my creative partner. I was the seamstress and the stress part was huge.  I didn't measure her properly. I just fitted some material to her body, held it there and sewed. But the end product was perfect.   If it were for me it might be a little longer and have sleeves, but Maddy likes it. All I have to do is finished off the hems and she'll be partying in London wearing it.  The idea came about as a money making scheme, but it has ended up as more of a hobby and sucks out more money than I can afford, but I don't mind because I am loving it more than food anyway!  The next day before work I knocked this little beauty together: And then this one: And the sewing machine adventures are just beginning. 

I have become obsessed with crafts and all things hand made. It's relaxing to do and wonderful to use something that you have made.  Knitted clothes have always been my favourite. They make winter bearable (and comfy!) I was looking through eBay (which I use for buying and selling in equal measures) and I found knitting and crochet kits. The kits came with patterns, needles and wool. I ordered them and they arrived in the post.  When I looked at the patterns I wanted to give up. What does K2 mean?  Then I remembered YouTube.  I found a video by a woman from Boston with great nail polish  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwKR6X5Re4Q  and she taught me how to cast on, knit and purl stitch. There were times when I wanted to give up and not bother, but after watching the video enough times it finally sank in.  I haven't actually made anything yet, but I've been practising different stitches and knits. I'm still very much a beginner, but I am ...

... I was reading Children of Liberty by Paullina Simons, my favourite author, but a poor book, but that's another blog for another time. So I was on the sofa and in walks Dave (the love of my life) holding a pink box. He sat next to me and we exchanged the smile of two people who know their lives are about to change forever.  Next he fell on to one knee and opened the box. The ring was beautiful and exactly what I wanted (it was almost as if I'd chosen it...) He said, "Libby Clare, will you marry me?" and I laughed and cried. How long have I wanted to hear those words in that order? About four years. Of course I said yes and we had the best day of our lives. We went to La Tasca , a tapas restaurant and discovered the greatest food ever (again, another blog for another time.) This heart shape features our names and the date we were engaged. It was a present from my sister-in-law and it was made by a friend of hers  https://www.facebook.com/Pebble...