Pretty Little Finds

I was going through some of the many photos that we have (is it just me but since having a digital camera there seems to be hundreds more photos that we now have compared to what we might have had with an old camera that takes a film roll?). Anyway, I came across some photos of some op shop finds that I found a few months back and thought I might do a little sharing.

I love the embroidery work that has gone into these.  It's makes me wonder about the past and who might have been sewing away to complete them.  Was it some young girl putting together a set for her hope chest, or someone who already had an established home and wanted to pretty it up, or were they a present for some one's kitchen tea? 

I know there has been many a debate on line about finding treasures like this in op shops, should they be kept in their original state or can they be re purposed to make other pretty things?  For me at this stage, I think I will leave them just the way they are and admire their pretty-ness.

And also included in my finds was a wonderful little egg cup.  I try not to create collections on purpose, but I have noticed that I already have about 8 of these little beauties all in different colours.  Oh well, if they make me happy then what can it hurt?

What's your best treasure find?

Anna
XO

Granny Ripple blanket

I love to make gifts for family and friends and there is nothing more special than making something for a brand new little person.  I know I have mentioned this before but I really do enjoy it.  A few months back a friend of mine gave birth to a little boy, Little X.  And although I should have finished his gift by now I am sad to say that I am a little behind.  It did take me a few weeks to figure out what colours I was going to use and I wasn’t sure on what style of blanket to make.  I knew I wanted to crochet one but what style, pattern, stitch was I going to use.  I ummed and arrhhed about it for quite a while and then I found this...

http://thelazyhobbyhopper.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-to-crochet-granny-ripple.html

I had not come across Pradeepa’s blog The lazy hobby hopper before but when I mentioned it among the girls in craft group it seems I was a bit behind the times.  Wow what a blog.  One very clever, creative lady making some beautiful crochet work to be inspired by.  And now I was ready to make Little X’s blanket.  So here is my progress report.  It’s about a third of the way through and still going strong. 

 

At this stage I am still trying to decide on what type of border I will put on it once it’s finished.  Do I just do a plain single stitch and picot edge, do I try to fill in the half triangle spaces to give it a clean look, or do I just leave it how it is?  Decisions, decisions...

I must admit one thing I wasn’t so sure of when making the blanket was how to end a row and begin the next.  When I originally looked at the pattern by Pradeepa there wasn’t instructions on how to do this and I know since then that she has added extra details on how she has gone about doing this but I decided to do mine a little different.  To me this gave the edges a neater look and will make it easier to put on a border (if I do decide to do one).

I now have lots of lovely tails to weave in (sigh).

It's a bit hard to see in this picture but once I have finished the last cluster of 3 (treble: English/Australian terms, dc: USA terms), I then chain three and do 2 (treble/dc) in the top of the last stitch), then do the next 3 cluster in the space as per the pattern.  Hopefully the diagram below makes it a bit easier to understand.

On another note, do you like my ladder (my wonderful prop)?  I found this on a neighbours hard rubbish pile.  Yes, I know that it’s now illegal to take things off hard rubbish piles (in my local area) but look at it, how could you not take it home.  Better to be at my house being appreciated then ending up in land fill or being pulled apart for firewood.

I hope you all are having a lovely weekend.

Anna

XO