Sunday, 27 May 2012

A stripe a day, keeps the grannies away!

Hello Lovelies!! Hope your all having a colourful weekend?!
Look at what the post man delivered earlier in the week!


17 scrummy balls of Stylecraft DK!! I ordered it from Masons last week and was very surprised to have it delivered three days later!!! VERY SPEEDY INDEED!!!
I love to order these Stylecraft assorted packs. Not only are they full of great colours, but they are also amazing value! This bundle of 17 different colours cost me only £25.50 (plus postage), If that isn't a bargain I don't know what is?!


Now I don't want to sound like a 'Yarn Snob', but I don't usually go for acrylic yarns.
My favourite yarns include a nice Cashmere or Merino, so soft and snuggly. The problem with always using fancy yarn.... is the price. It's soooo damn expensive.
So when the budget is a little tight, I find myself looking for cheaper alternatives. Acrylic yarn tends to tick the boxes in terms of price.
The problem I have with SOME acrylic yarns is that quite often  I find them to be just a little too plasticy for my liking. I want my yarn to feel luxuriously soft and not scrunchy and cheap.
For me Stylecraft fits the medium perfectly. Its great value but it doesn't feel like I've dropped down in quality. Its feels lovely and soft. There is such large selection of colours that you can't help but be drawn to it.
This is why I've used Stylecraft for many projects, Its acrylic that doesn't feel like acrylic. Look how wonderfully colourful it is when worked up!:




I ordered my Stylecraft with the intention of making another Granny Stripe Blanket (using the Attic24 pattern). A colleague of mine (Dani) had seen my crochet work and was so smitten with the Granny Stripe, that she asked me to make her one. I'm not usually so keen on making items for people when they know about it. I feel under pressure to get the project finished fast. Instead I like to make a project secretly and give it as a surprise, that way I'm under no obligation to get the project finished by a certain time.
This was different, It was for Dani!
Dani works at the theatre and is part of the wigs and make-up department. She is such a lovely woman! Always has a smile on her face and is so fun and crazy.
Dani and I help each other with our language learning. She speaks to me in English and I'll correct her when she gets stuck. Then she does the same for me in German, it's a win win Situation!
So of course when Dani asked me for a bright (like her personality) blanket, I got straight to work.

Dennis and I have both made granny stripes before. I made mine with Merino the first time around:


Dennis made his with the Stylecraft pack:


As I've just bought the Stylecraft pack, I'm going for a Granny Stripe similar to Dennis'.
Dani told me that there is no rush for the blanket so I'm making this a sideline project. A project that I'm always working on, but that doesn't always have to be my main focus. I hope that this way I won't get bored of it and will have time to work on other projects. :-)

With that in mind I've decided to do just one stripe a day. A stripe is taking only about 20 minutes to complete, so I should be able to fit easily one per day.
With the amount of stripes I'm hoping this blanket will be finished around early September. I'm thinking that's perfect! It will be finished in time for Autumn. So Dani will have a bright and gorgeous blanket to snuggle in during the cold Autumn and Winter months. I cant wait to give it to her!!


There we have it!! Day seven and I'm mid row on my 7th stripe. I'm giving the random colour approach a try, let's see how that turns out!

Have a glorious Sunday!!
Matt xxx
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Monday, 21 May 2012

I'm going to the zoo, zooo, zoooo......you can come too, tooo, toooo...

I've had a full day today and my energy doesn't seem to be dwindling! I know I only have one thing to thank for my energy boost....SUNSHINE!!
The sun is well and truly out here in Hamburg and We've had two glorious days off it!!!! It's sooo revitalising having the bright warmth of a sunny day break what's been a mainly dull month. I am very thankful for it!!!
I've had some free time from work and have been making the most of  the glorious change in weather. I thought I would use the opportunity to get outside and see the sunny side of Hamburg.  Some time spent in the park "Planten en Blomen", plus a trip to the zoo doesn't sound like such a bad way to spend free time :-)
I'm not going to bore you with describing every picture, Instead I thought I'd just lay them here on the blog (Can you tell I want to go outside and enjoy the last of the evening sunshine?).  You can glance at them as you feel fit........or just skip to the end as there does seem so be a lot of pictures! :-)



I love that we have such a luscious green park here in the middle of the city. It almost feels like we could be in the country side.


I'm always mesmerized by the flowers in the park. Pretty pastel colours....


Or bold and striking statements!


Delicate and magical!....... Make a wish!!!!!!


I find it interesting to see the softness of nature up against the harsher man-made objects. Somehow they fit together.





I like to go to the park, but I LOVE to go to the zoo.............It's FREAKIN AWSOME!!!!!!

I got to feed the elephants! Look a that BIG smile!!!


Race?



Mummy Alpaca:


Baby Alpaca:




"Cluck Cluck!"


"Tweet Tweet"


I'm thinking of growing a goatee?



"ROAAAAAAAAAAR!"

 

Take the plunge?


One of my favourite ways to spend a free day!!!
I hope you are all having a lovely start to the week....make it a good one!

Matt xxx
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