Karoo Vintage MAL

On I trundle with the Karoo. What a challenge and an adventure.

Part 6 is complete

I’m now halfway through Part 7 and then there is an edge.

These colours felt strange in the middle of a heatwave a few months ago, but I’m so enjoying working with them now.

Yesterday afternoon, I was sitting in the Park whilst my grandchildren played with their friends after school, the autumn leaves were falling around me, my blanket on my lap whilst I worked on it, and the warm October sun on my face. That to me is a slice of heaven right there!

The design is by Jen Tyler of Hooks n Tales. Stylecraft Special DK and a 4.5mm hook.

Pattern on Ravelry.

You can find the list of colours on my Ravelry Page.

This pattern is not for the faint-hearted! and there are literally 100s of ends to sew in, but I do really like the result.

I’d like to make this pattern again in different colours, but I’m not sure when I will be ready to dedicate so much time and attention to such a big project again.

It is very demanding!

Whist sewing in all those ends at home in the evenings, I listen to the radio – this fabulous music programme keeps me company – available on iPlayer for the next 29 days.

Joining in with Ginny’s Yarn Along

 

Silent Sunday in the Karoo

Karoo Vintage Mystery Along

Jen Tyler of Hooks ‘n’ Tails is another fabulously creative crochet designer.

Her style takes a bit of getting used to

but so worth it if you can cast pre-conceived ideas to the wind and go with her!

This pattern is a Mystery even to Jen herself, she is making it up as she goes along and each week gives us another few rows to work on. The pattern starts with a flower and then We’re OFF! on a voyage of discovery.

Texture, overlay and all sorts of avant garde instructions follow.

If it were not for the videos, I don’t think I would ever be able to follow the patterns. They are clear and well written but the stitches and methods of achieving them are unconventional, often taking a bit of working out and it makes my head spin.

Even the videos are not easy to follow.

They are not tutorial videos, but more Jen racing along with her crochet hook and me scampering behind trying hard to keep up! Sometimes I re-play the video 4 or five times to work things out.

I have just arrived at the end of Part 3 and it measures 67cm (26″)  square.

This project is like going on a Crochet Safari – you have to keep your wits about you and you never know what exciting new experience is round the next corner.

It is fun! And I have to concentrate so hard that all other worries melt away for hours on end – so therefore it also gets to be relaxing.

If you want a crochet adventure, this is definitely the right pattern for you!

There are plenty of other brave explorers who have picked up the challenge and you can see all their amazing work on Instagram, Facebook and Ravelry.

Details:

Karoo Vintage Mystery along by Jen Tyler

4.5mm hook and Stylecraft Special DK in woodland colours.

I loved working with Woodland colours for my Woodland Ripple so much, I was just waiting for another project in which I could use them again.

Joining in with Ginny’s monthly Yarn Along.

I rarely read books nowadays but I do listen to stories and dramas on the Radio whilst I crochet and The Little Ottleys has been a delight to listen to whilst going on safari in the Karoo.

 

Pop

Our last One-a-Week Photo Challenge Prompt – it has been a wonderful year of getting together each week with Cathy and all the wonderful entries for our challenge. Thank you so much to each person who sent an entry and each person who left a comment – it has been a really lovely way to get to know you all. When I think of the entries I think of inventiveness, creativity and blogging friendship.

When we put POP as the prompt for December, I imagined the pop of Champagne corks and Party Poppers – and I did try yesterday to get some action shots of both – but they were all terrible photos! So – as I often do, I scrolled back through my Photo Library looking for a ‘pop’. I didn’t have to go far to find some POPcorn stitches

The Amanzi Block by Jen Tyler is full of them!

They are great stitches for adding pops of colour and texture.

Here is a You Tube clip showing you how to crochet a Popcorn Stitch.

I have been making this pattern using different colour orders – all in Stylecraft Special DK and a 4.5mm hook. The top one will be felted as a table mat, the bottom one is heading towards becoming a cushion cover.

The backs are a fascinanting pattern too

So it is farewell to a weekly Photo Challenge which I have been doing for 3 years now – every week for three years – I’m impressed that I have managed to do that.

It all started as Blue Daisyz 52 week Challenge in 2015, and then 4 of us joined forces to create a new challenge for 2016, and this year it was Cathy and me. It has been fun!

I’m looking forward to seeing your POPs! Please leave a link in the comments.

~

The new Monthly Meet-Up will be on the first Tuesday in Jaunary

the prompt is

SPARKLE