Category Archives: Handmade

Pink…….

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Photo by Madison Inouye on Pexels.com

Ok so this last week has been all about shades of pink and this week I’m continuing using pink. I’m not sure why I’ve been drawn to the colour pink as it isn’t normally a shade I’d deliberately choose which got me to thinking a little about the colour and its meaning.

Did you know there is such a thing as colour psychology? This suggests different colours can affect mood, feelings and even behaviour. Pink is usually considered to be a calming colour often associated with love, femininity and kindness. Pale pink shades are often described as relaxing whereas bright and vibrant shades are thought to be stimulating. Whilst pink has been demonstrated as being calming it has also been found that this effect doesn’t last and in fact the colour can cause agitation the longer the exposure.

Colour preferences are often related to personal experiences or cultural influences. So if you are drawn to a particular colour you can usually relate it to fond memories whereas if you don’t like a specific colour it can be because they associate it with unpleasant memories.

I can’t say on reflection that the colour pink has any positive or negative memories for me, so why did I choose to use a variety of shades of it? Firstly, because I happen to have a good variety of pink shades in my stash and thought it would make for a different version of the fancy Nancy mandala by Dedri Uys.  Secondly, I have a pattern that has been playing on my mind and so decided to purchase some cheaper acrylic yarn (not my normal yarn of choice) to try out the pattern.

I think the mandala has turned out well and looks pretty; it was also my first time adding beads to a piece of work and definitely won’t be my last.

Now this new yarn although from one of my favourite companies for cotton and wool I am not really feeling this acrylic, which is beautifully soft but I’m not liking the way it is crocheting up (I’m not sure it’s the right yarn for the pattern!) and I’m struggling to get my tension right and of course there’s the colour – perfect for a ballet blanket I know but I just don’t like it. I love the pattern though and will be making it again but probably in a cotton mix. The pattern is the Juliet Blanket by Owlbhooked.

Scheepjes Colour Crafter Yarn and filet crochet

The blanket uses filet crochet which is a technique that uses just two stitches, a treble and chain (uk), It creates an open grid-like crochet made up of solid blocks or runs of treble stitches separated by spaces – the chain. This builds up the pattern or picture creating a pretty openwork piece of work.

I will continue and complete the blanket to practise the filet technique before purchasing a more suitable yarn as I don’t have enough of any one particular colour in my cotton stash.

What are your thoughts on colour? Do you like pink? Does it evoke positive memories? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Stay safe. Until next time.

Mandala Pattern: Fancy Nancy by Dedri Uys

Yarn: Scheepjes Catona 100% Cotton

Blanket: Juliet Blanket by owlbhooked

Yarn: Scheepjes Colour Crafter 100% Acrylic

WiPs

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Flower garland

Well I can honestly say that I have done very little if any crochet since I completed the garland, I can’t decide if I’ve lost my crojo or feeling guilty that I have a few wips, for those not in the know a wip is a work in progress, or just want to do so many other patterns I don’t actually know what to.

So what have I done? Well just to try and tidy my mind I spent a day sorting out patterns and this has now added to my confusion as I discovered some that I really want to do but don’t have the appropriate yarn and because of the size of my stash and a self imposed ban on buying anymore yarn for the foreseeable future I am now feeling rather fed up and like a young child having a temper tantrum I’ve stamped my foot and gone into a sulk, so nothing is progressing.

So there I think I have just answered my own question – I’ve not lost my crojo  I just don’t want to do what I should be doing! All the more irritating as I can see two of the wips.

As England starts to open up on the 12th April, meaning non-essential shops will be allowed to start trading again and cafes, restaurants and pubs with outdoor areas being allowed to serve meals and drinks – I am starting to think about meeting up with a small group of friends for regular crochet and coffee or knit and natter depending on the individuals preferred discipline and hoping for somewhat warmer weather and that our choice of cafe will happily accommodate us for a couple of hours. It will be good to get back to some sort of normality. So maybe that is my opportunity to work on a wip, probably the V-stitch stash blanket I started last summer as it isn’t complicated therefore allowing me to chat without forgetting what I’m doing. So does this then allow me to purchase some new yarn to start a filet crochet blanket or using something from my stash to make a wall hanging or mandala? My eldest daughter has put in a request for mandala, could this be my inspiration and therefore delays the inevitable purchase of new yarn for a little longer? But I really want to do that blanket…

Now with a heartfelt tinge of sadness I’m sure you will all have heard by now Prince Phillip has died at the age of 99yrs. This has caused great sadness across the country (UK) and I’m sure the world. Although it was inevitable due to his recent illness and impressive age, his presence at the Queen’s side, albeit from behind the scenes in more recent years will be missed.

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh 1921-2021

I’ll sign off now, until next time keep safe.

Easter Eggs!

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Pink Easter Egg with embroidered daisies

I have continued making Easter eggs this week and this got me thinking ~ What is the connection between eggs, bunnies and Easter?

Firstly, Easter is probably the oldest and most important festival of the Christian church as it celebrates the ressurection of Jesus. It could also be associated with the Pagan Goddess Eostre, who represents spring and fertility, as Pagans celebrated her in a month that was known as Eosturmonath in Old English which often fell just after the spring equimox and is likely where the word Easter originates.

So what about easter eggs? I hear you ask!

The spring equinox marks when light is equal to darkness and then continues to grow. Pagans celebrate this period as a time for renewal where eggs take centre stage probably due to the fact that hens lay fewer eggs during the winter months and also the egg is a symbol of new life.

The decorating of eggs has a long history with decoratively engraved ostrich eggs being found in Africa that are approximately 60,000 years old.

Decorating eggs, as an Easter tradition, dates back to the 13th century. Many cultures have their own traditions regarding egg decoration .

In Christianity the thought is that eggs were forbidden during Lent so people began painting and decorating them to mark the end of the period of penance. The church continued with this tradition, decorations became more ornate the eggs were often given as gifts.

From the 17th century Easter started to become ‘commercialised’ with egg-shaped toys being made for children. During the Victorian era cardboard and satin covered eggs were given, they were filled with small gifts and chocolates. During the 19th century Carl Faberge, made highly bejewelled eggs for the Russian Czar and Czarina, he made 50 in total, these have become highly prized, If and when coming to the market selling for millions of pounds.

Today, eggs are still decorated as they are a fun activity for children to do.

Today Easter is associated, by many people, by the overwhelming amount of chocolate eggs available rather than the Christian celebration of Jesus’ resurrection or the many other religious festivals and traditions. So has Easter become a festival of chocolate?

Now what about that Easter bunny?

Well believe it or not he goes back a long way, he actually pre-dates Christianity and has his origins in Paganism as rabbits were the most potent symbol of fertility and along with the egg, the start of all life, was often considered to have magical powers. To this end children would leave out their Easter bonnets or caps for the coloured eggs that the Easter bunny would deliver if they had been good.

Scheepjes Catona Yarn
Bunny face Scheepjes Catona Yarn

Having made lots of pretty Easter eggs I then thought I need an Easter bunny or two. Well here is the first completed bunny face and another nine to complete. What am I planning to do with all these bunny faces? Well you’ll have to wait until next week to find out!

Last Easter I made small bunny bags, these were rather cute and when gifted full of mini eggs were much appreciated by the little people in my life.

I look forward to writing again next week, which of course will be Easter and I’ll show you what happened to that cute bunny face.

Bye for now and keep safe.

Bunny face pattern my own

Yarn: Scheepjes Catona

Pink and Blue Easter Eggs with embroidered Daisies pattern by @alistar_toys (I did adapt this pattern a little). Yarn used: Hobbii Rainbow 8/4