sampler

Inspired by my baby steps in embroidery on Carina's blog hop, I picked up this neglected Alphabet Sampler kit a few weeks ago. I bought it from Alicia Paulson's Rosy Little Things shop way back when. The kit sold out but if you are interested the pdf pattern is still available here.

I am in love with the base colour of the embroidery, and love that the design is screenprinted on to the fabric. It is helping me practice my embroidery stitches without too much thinking as the colours and stitches are all specified in the notes.

One thing I changed from the supplied kit was the needle. I found the short thin embroidery needle a pain and kept pricking myself. I wasn't enjoying it. I don't think that the work suffers for using a larger needle and it keeps me happy. 

I'm also liking the embroidery crewel that comes with this, for those of you who haven't used it its a yarny sort of thread, different to the flosses I've used before, it doesn't separate as much as the floss and seems more immune to snarls, I like it. It looks much like the floss in the embroidery too, despite its woolly feel.

I've discovered too that embroidery is a great travel craft! Small, portable and involving minimal tools. Check! Perfect in fact for throwing in the bag as you walk out the door. Just the thing for our recent Hawks Nest trip.

I would be interested in knowing what needle the rest of you use. And your preference for floss or crewel? Or any clever advice. As usual, don't look too closely, and yes it is crumpled, from the travel you know!

learning to crochet

One of my major priorities when packing for holidays is organising what craft/art I'm going to take with me. This is usually decided at the very last minute and its not unheard for me to be printing knitting charts or trying to find a sketchbook as the rest of the family are getting in the car

Does that sound familiar? One of the nice things about blogging is hearing other crafty types admit to the same compulsion. Seems I'm not alone in feeling twitchy if I don't have a project at hand.

When we left to go north back in December I threw in a couple of balls of wool, some random crochet hooks and a printout of the Bullseye blanket pattern that Kate made so beautifully on her recent roadtrip. I so loved her version that it inspired me to try one last time to master this skill.

It was only on the trip home that I pulled out the hook and yarn. Luckily the Bullseye is quite a simple pattern and with lots of unravelling and practice I finally got the hang of it. By the time we arrived home I had a small circle and was feeling like I could crochet, at last!

I love how quick crochet is. I've quickly finished the central circle of one square and started on the darker frame. Its not perfect but I'm happy. Google has taught me to single crochet, half double crochet and beginning a circle with the magic ring. I've even gone back and tried some projects that I've failed at before - Kate's Crochet Rick Rack and Christina's simple flowers. I might even have ordered a few more yarns to lighten and brighten my stash.

How about you, do you need a holiday craft and what has it been? And what should I crochet next! Its so exciting to have all those new possibilities in front of me.