perhaps I have my mojo back!

So I finally have a photo of my gorgeous cardigan/shrug. I haven't actually worn it outside the house yet as I only sorted out all the yarn ends this morning. I think I may venture outside in it today as I go for lunch at a friends. The main colour is 'Haystack' from the Sirdar Supersoft Aran range. The other colours (navy, grey and burgundy) are from the same range. I followed the pattern from Issue 11 of the Simply Crochet magazine. It's called a Checkmate Shrug and is also on Ravelry I believe. The design is by Kyoko Nakayoshi, and although may look difficult, I would say someone who had been crocheting for just a few months could do it (like me!).

Still with crochet in mind, I have also finished this weeks #crochetmoodblanket2014 granny square. I struggled this week. I guess if you do a daily square is likely easy to sum up how you feel in one day, but over the course of a week? Hmmm. As it is, I've been feeling the love from beau this week and I've really loved the bright blue skies with glittering frost, and I like feeding that into the blanket somehow too. But overall, I've been feeling a little apathetic this week. I'm sure it's just the January blues, but that is symbolised by the grey. I haven't started joining as yet, I'm thinking I may make the join look very obvious and rustic. Likely any join I do won't look perfect anyway! So anyway, without further ado, here is week two!

I just love the heart in the middle. It's makes smile. The pattern is not mine, but can be found here.

And now? I have a Darth Vader hat I need to finish, and a bobble scarf I'm going to do with left over haystack. And here I was thinking my crochet block was in full force!

Christmas spirit

I'm really struggling with Christmas spirit this year. I think it may have something to do with the exceptionally good summer we have had. Plus it's still very mild, I'm not really even dusting off my winter coat yet. I'm hopeful as time passes, the excitement will build and I'll be back to feeling like a kid again by Christmas Eve!

We decorated the house last Monday. The tree especially looks very... interesting. We have a large amount of psychedelic colours on our tree. There is no theme, just gifts. I do love it, but I will admit sometimes I do think it looks like a 5 year old decorated it! I'm especially proud of the stocking hanging up this year. I made it a few weeks ago, during a sewing workshop. I love it.

As I'm almost done with the ridiculous about of wrapping of presents, I've started crocheting for me again. I've done a huge about of crochet recently but all of it has been for someone else. Presents etc. This one in really looking forward to seeing it coming to life. I've chosen the Shetland Shrug pattern out of the Simply Crochet magazine issue 11. I love both Simply Crochet and Inside Crochet magazines and have subscriptions to both.
The pattern is lovely and modern. I've chosen aran yarn also to make sure the gauge shouldn't be too far off, but instead I've chosen a lovely mustard colour (otherwise known as haystack), it's by Sirdar and I think I'll match it to a pale grey.

It's obviously very early days, but I'm looking forward to wearing such a great colour.

The hat for beau is complete but I'm very behind on the scarf. Beau is always around! I'll have to send him shopping or something equally suspicious to him!