It’s all in the ripple…

Published on July 29, 2014July 29, 2014 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin9 Comments

Rippley, colourful, squishy, gorgeous, playful, bright, fun…

all of the above could be used to describe my Happy Ripple.

happy ripple — neat ripple by Lucy – Attic 24

I am so thrilled with it! I don’t want to gift it.

wish I could keep it!

happy ripple in progress

it was so much fun to hook

happy ripple 1 — bobble edging makes this blanket fun

and the bobble edging just gives it that extra special something!

happy ripple — such a rhythmic pattern to hook

all of the pattern details can be found here and here is the link for the bobble tutorial.

xxx

Messing about on the River

Published on July 28, 2014October 14, 2014 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin9 Comments

Well, not much done this week in terms of anything to show you guys, but there has been some work in the background that shall bear fruit very soon.

Instead this week has seen a lot of this

sun cream

and lots of this

and lots of ice cream!

and some messing about on the river with friends…

lazy days with friends

We spent the day in a gorgeous little place called Hampton Loade, not too far away and splashed the whole sunny day away!

serene

DSCF4786[1] — how far do you think I can throw it!

DSCF4803[1] — boys, boys, boys!

DSCF4796[1] — Mr R

I so nearly completed the Happy ripple… honest I did, just gotta weave those ends in! I cant wait to show you… It’s such a playful blanket and has the most amazing edging on it, that was so much fun to hook. I have learnt a new technique with this edging and am putting a tutorial together for it, because I think I need to share the joy I had hooking it with you all… so watch this space, I will pull it together over the next few days! So for now I will leave you with a picture of my al fresco crochet corner…

crochet corner — my little spot!

and the yummy alpaca yarn that I have for my next project… a summer scarf

too lovely to hide away while it waits to be hooked!

xxx

Roses and Posies tea cosy

Published on July 20, 2014October 21, 2014 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin13 Comments

Roses and posies tea cosy

So this week has seen the start of the Roses and Posies tea cosy by Nicki Trench. It is the tea cosy that you can see on the front of this book….

Nicki Trench book

So here is my progress this week…

components for roses and posies tea cosy designed by Nicki Trench

I really enjoyed whipping up these roses and hooked them all over the place this week, mostly in the car, whilst waiting for one or more of my Little Robins (as their social life is so much better than mine!!).

tea cosy wip — naked tea cosy

these little roses are gorgeous to hook

and here it is my second Finished Object

roses and posies tea cosy by Nicki Trench

If you knew my friend, then you would know that she is just going to love this tea cosy!!

Tea Time x

I have also made a start on my scrappy afghan… I want this to be huge at least big enough for Mr R and I to snuggle under together, so I’m not even going to do the maths and work out how many squares… as that may be rather disheartening to know! But, this is the width and I’m x3 rows in, so I’m a happy Robin. It’s a long term project always in the back ground, but always a joy to hook. It’s a bit like having an old friend that you get excited to see, you know you can always pick up where you left off from, easy and relaxing and just a pleasure to be with, well that’s this blanket!!

tiny little granny squares

I love a simple granny!

The happy ripple is almost done too, no pictures this week, but there will be some next week… About x5 more rows and a border and it will be done ready to gift at the end of this month.

Continue reading “Roses and Posies tea cosy” →

A Happy Ripple

Published on July 13, 2014February 5, 2019 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin17 Comments

A Happy Ripple

Progress this week has been good… despite a trapped nerve! I have started the ripple afghan by Lucy over at Attic 24, which I am making for a friend at work who has just been made redundant… that bit sucks!

I have chosen happy colours, so that she can snuggle under a rainbow and remember that she will be missed greatly, but also that their is a bright future ahead of her. So with out any further ado here is the proof of my progress!

happy ripple in progress

ripple so far

I have also made a start on the headbands for bowdazzling a charity for young girls undergoing chemotherapy….

basket of headbands

Nicky Trench flower

circle headband — one dot headband

pastel band — dotty headband

bow headband

small bow headband

turban style headband

So there you have it week 2 wrapped up x

Around the World in 64 Squares…

Published on June 6, 2014December 1, 2014 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin21 Comments

I joined a group on Ravelry back in August 2013 called the Global Square Exchange. It is a fab group of ladies from all around the world who swap squares both crochet and knitted… the beauty of this group is that there is no pressure or time deadlines and you can just dip in and out as life lets you… which gives the whole group a really relaxed feeling, which is definatley what I like about it the most.

first swapped squares received

So off I went about swapping squares from all around the world. Some from very far away…..

some from a bit closer to home!

Squares from all arond the Globe, India, Australia, USA, Germany and Finland as well as the UK.

My only request was any colours, any design! Which was a big thing for me as I love to plan out colours and designs and keep lists and make lists and generally be in CONTROL!!

I cant describe the lovely excitement that rises in you when the postman drops that little parcel through your door, or how a carefully placed parcel on the kitchen table enthuses your energy after a long day at work. It is joyful!

To see what has been created lovingly especially for you, each square stitched and parcelled up, sometimes with extra goodies such as tea/ coffee, postcards or a little letter, stitch markers, ribbon, buttons, recipies, bookmarks, patterns, pens, stickers for the boys and sometimes even yarn itself, caused me to feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

I think too, I should mention how oozingly happy it is to make someone a parcel also. To send it off and then to wait to hear that it arrived and that its owner is as delighted as you are. So all round happiness. Everyone could use some more of that!

Slowly my squares were accumlating in number and I stored them in an allocated basket, wandering honestly if I would ever put them together, or if I would ever have enough to make a blanket. I decided I wished to make a camping blanket as if I’m honest, I thought that the randomness of the squares, although individually beautiful, would not coordinate into a handsome blanket, so a tent may be the perfect place for such an object, where usefulness succeeds prettiness. HOW WRONG WAS I!!!

friends around the globe x

I honestly dont think I ever imagined that random squares could make such a beautiful blanket, not only is it beautiful, it is quirky, bespoke, and totally gorgous!…. I am definatley taking it camping, and then definatley keeping it on show and snuggling in it!

This blanket has become very special to me…. perhaps because it has connected me with people around the world whom I shall never meet, but who have become special to me through this project. And I have learned that planning and order have their place…. but actually to surround myself with the things that I love, whether they match or not makes my life richer x