Dog Blanket - Part I

This is going to be a blanket for my dog, and is the project I started to 'use up' the old wool I found. However, having decided on the size of the blanket, I ran out of old wool before I finished so had to go out and buy new! I colour-matched as best I could but figured it didn't matter too much for a dog blanket.

So here's what I did ...

First I found a nice hexagon crochet pattern on the internet (here) and decided on the colourways (I did this randomly, no real process here apart from making sure each colour appeared once for each round):

HEXAGON	1st Round	2nd Round	3rd Round	4th Round
B	Orange	Green	White	Blue
Y	Blue	Black	Orange	Yellow
W	Green	Yellow	Red	White
O	Red	Blue	Yellow	Orange
X	Yellow	Red	Green	Black
G	Black	White	Blue	Green
R	White	Orange	Black	Red

Then decided on the size of the blanket and layout for the hexagons and started making.

I'm working with DK wool on a 4mm hook. So far I have all the full hexagons finished. I'll post again when I've decided how I'm going to do the half-hexagons :)

Blogging again

Ok, so I've decided to start blogging again!
I'd like to keep track of the things I'm making at the moment and to share some of my ideas and patterns.

I recently found some of my old toy-making wool at my Mum's house and my brother's mother-in-law had sent a bag of her spare balls of wool, so at the moment I'm knitting and crocheting. Projects and patterns to follow ... !

Craving

Didn't get much time for IF this week, I was working on something else but I hope you enjoy this sketch instead.

Dodos

Dodos are things with small stubby wings,
Which don't work too well for flying.
When danger surrounded,
The Dodos just floundered,
And most of them ended up dying.

Dodo numbers were waning, the few left remaining,
Said, "Now is the time to take action!
To take to the skies,
And avoid our demise,
We have to invent a contraption."

"What we need are wings, not these little things",
Said one of the still-alive Dodos,
"Something of size,
So up we can rise,
Like brilliant, feathered torpedoes.

Work began fast, on wings which at last,
Would keep all the Dodos from harm,
And when they were done,
They all had some fun,
Flying around in a swarm.

Now they are shy, they hide in the sky,
And some people think they're extinct,
But that's just a theory,
And incorrect really,
They just don't care what we think.

May's pink dress

My niece, May.
She's not fond of chips but will happily eat raw lemon :)

Photo edited in Photoshop.

Bean & Pea

I know a bean, takes a pea for a walk,
They tend to go out when the skies have gone dark,
For if anyone sees them they stare or they scream,
“Look! There’s a pea being walked by a bean!”

But Pea needs his walk and Bean likes a stroll,
So out and about after dark they both go,
Up through the alley and down the side-street,
Avoiding the places where people will meet.

Maybe, if you’re ever out in the night,
And you see two small shadows disappear out of sight,
Perhaps you’ll have witnessed what few ever see,
A bean who’s out walking his little friend, Pea.

Bryony's Pandas

Bryony’s Pandas live in her head,
There’s Norbury, Victor, Rhonda & Ted.
Norbury is old, with a long panda beard,
He often gives council and is always revered.
Victor is macho, brave and hard-wearing,
His valor is great and he doesn’t like swearing.
Rhonda is dazzling, a true panda beauty,
She’s graceful and stylish but never is snooty.
Ted is so tiny, a miniature bear,
His soft under-belly is void of bear hair.

Together these pandas, in Bryony’s head,
Keep her from danger and being misled,
They fight with the things from nefarious minds,
And watch over Bryony all of the time.
There never has been, and I doubt there will be,
A group of head-pandas more mighty than these.
I’d tell of adventures these pandas have had,
With monsters and ogres and everything bad,
But stories of courageous panda-based scraps,
Are valuable secrets, best kept under wraps.

Circus

Some watercolour doodles I did a while back with my 'basic' kit - sketchbook, water, pencil, size 2 brush and tube of Payne's Grey.