Thursday 30 October 2014

Mini Finitos

Welcome to my new followers - another few have joined us - and many thanks for your lovely comments. I've really enjoyed reading them all.
 
This post is just to let you see some of the mini projects I've finished since coming back from my holidays. Do you remember the Hebridean wool I bought on Skye? You can read about it here if you don't or this is the first you've heard of it! I used the wool to knit the husband a new hat for the winter. Here it is. Just a simple cabled beanie but he likes it. It isn't cold enough to wear it yet; he has that pleasure to look forward to. I probably only used half the ball, so when he either loses the hat or pulls it to bits in the thorn hedge, I'll be able to knit him another one.
 

This next project was actually crocheted while I was on Skye (started here and completed here). I started making a bowl thinking I would use it to store odd balls of yarn. But while I was crocheting I thought it would be nice to use the bowl to display some heather. So, since coming home, I've put heather in the crocheted bowl and here it is. The heather is set straight into the bowl without anything else inside. I'm really pleased with the results. I like the way the bowl isn't completely rigid and sort of slumps a bit.





Now here is something really, really strange. When I made the heather bowl I thought I was doing something reasonably unique. Certainly not following a pattern or even replicating something I'd seen and liked. The book below is one I got about four months ago and think it has lots of gorgeous patterns in it. I flicked through it a few times when it was new and started a cardigan (which has been left to one side for now).


After coming home from my holiday, I was looking through the book again to find a pattern for a hat, and look what I found!! A crocheted bowl with, admittedly not heather, but similar looking flowers in it. Is it just a coincidence? Or did I see this picture months ago and make my heather bowl because this image was stored somewhere deep in my subconscious?



Anyway, I found a pattern for a tam that I thought would be nice for making myself a hat with the alpaca yarn I bought on Skye (read about it here). I worked a strand of King Cole Cosmos yarn along with the alpaca to achieve the sparkly effect.


Here I am modelling the hat. I wear it even though it isn't really all that cold yet. It's not just about being warm, is it? I love this wee tam and I've had many compliments on it.



These squares are finished and blocked though not joined yet to make a bag. While loading the photos for this post I went off and ordered leather handles. Susan, who writes Simple Cozy Living, suggested that I try bittersweetbasketsandsupply.com for leather handles and I was very impressed with what they have to offer. Thanks you Susan for pointing me in the right direction.


My peg loom arrived while I was away so it was great to unpack it and get weaving as soon as possible. I did a few small pieces first to practise; I'll show you them another time as I'm going to use them for small wall hangings. Here is my first proper woven scarf. What do you think? It's made using Stylecraft Swift Knit Super Chunky in Wedgewood. I'll show you more about the peg loom another time. I posted about wanting to get one way back here and Ingrid of My Funky Crochet let me know that I could get a loom from Jenny's Crafts and Soft Furnishings. Thanks Ingrid!



I think that will do for now. For those of you interested in the cotton blanket - I've had to put it aside for awhile as I want to make lots of things for Christmas. I want to make so many things!! All the best. Leave me a comment please about my mini finitos and let me know if you like them.

29 comments:

  1. I just love your new hat, it is a really great shape, and I love the sparkly bits, too. Your model hat is exactly what I would love to own. Did you make it? x

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    1. Yes I made it. It's a polystyrene head that was going to be thrown out. I covered it with flowers torn from old gardening catalogues.

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  2. Hi Gillian,
    Love all your projects, the hat is very cool.
    Pics are great, thanks for sharing.
    Cheers, Anita.

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  3. I'm impressed ! so many projects at the same time !!!! every thing is great ! thanks for sharing ! have a lovely week end !

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  4. They're all wonderful projects but I just love both the basket with heather in and your hat. I have to say that I think your basket with the heather looks much nicer than the one in the book and it will be a lovely reminder of your holiday on Skye.

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    1. Thank you - that's really kind of you to say.

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  5. Hello Gillian

    What wonderful small makes, I just love your Tam, it's brilliant especially the added sparkles. Oh my word I ADORE your heather basket it looks so much better than the ones in the book. I'm so looking forward to see the wall hangings.

    luv
    irene
    xxxx

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    1. Thanks! I just might make some more for other flowers too.

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  6. My goodness, what wonders you have made. I do love all of them...especially your heather bowl. Such beautiful colors.
    Wishing you a lovely weekend.

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  7. Oh what pretty makes! The heather bowl is so pretty and a really great idea! xx

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  8. Hi Gillian, wow your heather filled bowl is stunning. I love your granny squares ready for the bag, the blocking process is really showing the detail, looking forward to you reveal.
    Have a lovely weekend.
    Helen

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  9. This is inspiring me to crochet. I think I might find a crochet hook somewhere I know I have wool. Love the heather colours so pretty x

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  10. My goodness you have been so busy you are making my head spin. Love everything you have made, those grannies are amazing.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  11. Gosh loads of projects to share.... I love the heather bowl, and I have the Crochet Noro book, totally gorgeous :)
    Jillxo

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  12. Hello Gillian! Lovely to see all your projects together here!
    I'm happy you managed to get a peg loom and made your first scarf with it!!
    I'm in love with your granny squares, they look so pretty, I love your colour palette! The bag will be great!!!
    Your tam and knitted hat are also beautiful and show off the yarns you chose!
    But that little heather basket is just adorable (I remember seeing it in earlier photos). Maybe it's because the wool is a similar shade? It just seems to go with each other perfectly! The Noro ones in the book also look stunning, but to be honest who would want to use good Noro on a basket??!!! It would turn out pretty expensive!
    Looking forward to finding out what you will make next, as always, I love your great photos! :)
    Have a relaxing weekend!
    Love, Ingrid xx
    http://myfunkycrochet.blogspot.be

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  13. You've really been busy, Gillian. I love all of these creations. Your hats are beautiful. The sequined yarn is so nice, what a special touch. I love the basket too, it looks very pretty with heather in it. I hope you're having a good weekend.

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  14. Lovely makes, Gillian! I love your hat very much and the sparkly bits, and the decoupaged model is a wonderful idea! Your basket of heather is so pretty. It is strange how you have an idea and then find it later somewhere else! But yours is your own and has its own special look!
    Happy weekend!
    Helen xox

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  15. I love the colour of that heather in the bowl. As ever, I am amazed at how you manage to achieve all of this.

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  16. I really like your bowl of heather and I think that it is much prettier and nicer than the one in the book! xx

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  17. Love, love, love! the bowl with the heather in it! I think it may be my favourite of all the things I've seen on blogs this week!

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  18. What a great idea with the bowl and heather! I'm thinking lavender now and dusting off my hook for some crafting!! Have a great week xx

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  19. Oh so much fine needlework is so fun to work on.
    Good new week to you.

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  20. the granny squares are beautiful Gillian :0) and the heather...mmm, lovely. mari

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  21. So many beautiful finished projects! I've seen quite a few crocheted baskets around lately, but I love how they can all be so different depending on type of yarn and hook size. Yours looks stunning with the heather inside it. And both hats are really nice, great colours and very snug looking. x

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  22. No, it isn't just about being warm
    :^) Thank you for sharing yourself here.

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  23. Good grief you have been busy! Love all your makes, the yarn you've used for hubbys hat is lovely. The bowl with the heather looks amazing, just right. And your hat is gorgeous too, I do like the pattern. I will have to have a go at something similar as a change from the cloche hats I've been crocheting. Love the grannies and the loom scarf too, its a lovely colour and it must have been fun playing around and experimenting with the loom. You've been very creative!
    Have a lovely weekend Gillian
    Gill xx

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  24. I am keen to see other things that you make on the peg loom. I am sure with some experimentation with different yarns and patterns you will be more pleased with the results. I got a loom kit for my birthday last year but have barely done a thing with it.

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