Crochet lesson

For a while now I have wanted to learn to crochet. I did crochet a blanket of granny squares about 30 years ago - someone showed me how to make a square and join them together. I just kept repeating until I had enough. I have also improvised edgings a couple of times - but without knowing what I was doing, or being able to read a pattern.

My friend Susan (well, one of them, I  have a number of Susan friends!) also wanted to learn so I approached another friend who is an expert crocheter. Jennifer readily agreed to teach us and we organised a time - on my birthday as it turned out - and took the plunge.

I chose a pattern that I thought would take me through a range of techniques and stitches, but be manageable. It is Cosmos Cushion by Elaine Walker which I found through Patternfish.

We spent a most enjoyable afternoon learning the basic stitches on a little sampler. I could manipulate the crochet hook without trouble, but it is taking me a bit of practice to get the rhythm of double crochet as opposed to single crochet - not to mention programming myself to think either American or English terminology.

I originally intended to use up odd bits of left-over wool, but quickly decided that would not work with what I had to hand. A trip to Spotlight, therefore, has set me up with what the pattern suggests - 4 ply cotton in very attractive colours and I embarked on the back of the cushion.

At the next lesson, after a bit of homework, I discovered I had strayed from double crochet and invented my own stitch - so a bit of unpicking was in order.

Once I got into a bit of a rhythm and progressed on the fairly straightforward back, I moved to try some of the motifs for the front.

Left are my first attempts - Jennifer got me started by doing the green base square for me.

I managed to do a few more before the demands of the Embroiderers' Guild Summer School kicked in.







There are a few errors in these - but I'm making progress - and having a lot of fun!

Amazing Birthday Present

Today is my birthday and I wanted to share a present that I received from my just-about-lifelong friend, Vivienne. We met at primary school when we were 10. We were in the same class for 2 years then went to High School together for a few months until Vivienne's father's job took her family many miles away.

We wrote to each other regularly thoughout high school, then met up again at university, kept in touch by letter when first teachiing, then marriage and children moved us to different parts of the country. In the last decade our correspondence has shifted to electronic communication. It is a great thing to have a friendship as long as this - longer than a long marriage and older than adult children. 

Vivienne is a knitter and knitted me an amazing scarf for my birthday today. It immediately put me in mind of Jenny Joseph's poem, Warning: When I am an Old Woman I shall wear Purple - as indeed Vivienne had intended.

 I couldn't figure out how the scarf was made.Fortunately, Vivienne had anticipated this and taken some photos. 


It is magic - knitted with one ball of acrylic yarn like thick mesh ribbon .Vivienne used Katia, a Spanish brand.

The frilled effect is achieved with seven stitches on number 7 needles, knitting into the top of the yarn, teasing out the yarn as you go to make the ruffles.  


I can't wait to try this yarn myself.


In the meantime, however, I have a beautiful ruffled, decorative scarf that I wore to lunch today with Jim and Adelaide friends of 39 years standing.

It is wonderful to have reached this age, to have friends and family who share my journey with its experiences, joys and sorrows - and to be in touch with so many others who share my interests.


I feel very blessed. I am also on the look-out for a red hat.