tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48291434596965943842024-03-06T08:22:03.296+00:00The HookeryClaire Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11391160862270406447noreply@blogger.comBlogger256125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829143459696594384.post-1596731918072917172016-06-03T13:05:00.000+01:002016-06-03T13:05:26.298+01:00Dog Days and DIYIt's fair to say, we have had something of a splurge of DIY here at Hookery Towers. I finally tackled the spare room, so that this...<br />
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Has been toned down a bit, to this...<br />
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No longer will our guests wake in the night to find a cartoon zebra (alas, just out of the shot above) giving them the eye. It's only taken three years to get round to...<br />
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Needless to say, I had a little helper. And by helper, I mean liability. Darling Doris was keen to get involved and somewhat put out when she was banished to the garden. <br />
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Still, the promise of a walk with her brother was suitable recompense and given how many coats of paint were required, I needed the fresh air too.<br />
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In other news, my mind has already turned to Yarndale in September. This has been prompted by the fact that next week, the Yarn Man cometh. There is no greater fun than a visit from the yarn salesman with a carboot full of new lines. Wahoo! I've also been fiddling with some new crochet projects, but they'll have to wait until they reach their recipients before I can share on here. In the meantime, there's a teeny wee offer for you to brighten up your own yarn baskets (and make way for some new stuff post Yarn Man cometh-ing).<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/FromTheHookery?ref=shop_home_edit" target="_blank">So do pop in to the shop and say hello!</a></div>
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Claire Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11391160862270406447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829143459696594384.post-11861162643988257092016-04-26T07:18:00.001+01:002016-04-26T07:20:48.707+01:00Doris<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5ElQn2I9Wfc5b-HXus0bE33eLA7ARGsHK5BWqTbQEZUS0x1Wm6_8gudiSMhGyKC0bD_bBoX5pK7Ko1PYNfe16hzTkDjkqkohXGaj95Znw5DG-hAmPMo5qca84dSWONECcnX5koX0gSE/s640/blogger-image--300331747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5ElQn2I9Wfc5b-HXus0bE33eLA7ARGsHK5BWqTbQEZUS0x1Wm6_8gudiSMhGyKC0bD_bBoX5pK7Ko1PYNfe16hzTkDjkqkohXGaj95Znw5DG-hAmPMo5qca84dSWONECcnX5koX0gSE/s640/blogger-image--300331747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCXz5QRGzv3NW7yJ6vDgVVIkXhtGZ9UsctTJlUKKmEY3bQZr64xO1Ebr6F13adINSLGfyeA7woz4lm79ThpzlCme2fUEn6dWO3Rap77BkkXZM9ZJCWryhi9-XndZW60yN4cZxVodsllc/s640/blogger-image--1180818415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCXz5QRGzv3NW7yJ6vDgVVIkXhtGZ9UsctTJlUKKmEY3bQZr64xO1Ebr6F13adINSLGfyeA7woz4lm79ThpzlCme2fUEn6dWO3Rap77BkkXZM9ZJCWryhi9-XndZW60yN4cZxVodsllc/s640/blogger-image--1180818415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi343cRZ3ei2RsxCLAC86VESyXPsX5jfZy8X0K1CQvKdMSQRZyBJ9mheQ5I7rRkDw4DObrK9AtcohILUuFNThoVcOlPlU0N7I_3o797K2rSVJEXnfH_Brk8qzhzY8Noe7Ypan5mjcciUl8/s640/blogger-image-384520817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5olR_Xb98hyzU0LJTNaEme7qZ_f-zlnmTm4vUQUkqpgQSf7MIydf3QhQdXWmOpgqGsusQeue2pez-YzJy1gAdVI_tjFyGlVe4P9N10xtVXah183n_7PXr3TAmi0DOPV1qSaf5xiQezU/s640/blogger-image-661057588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5olR_Xb98hyzU0LJTNaEme7qZ_f-zlnmTm4vUQUkqpgQSf7MIydf3QhQdXWmOpgqGsusQeue2pez-YzJy1gAdVI_tjFyGlVe4P9N10xtVXah183n_7PXr3TAmi0DOPV1qSaf5xiQezU/s640/blogger-image-661057588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5olR_Xb98hyzU0LJTNaEme7qZ_f-zlnmTm4vUQUkqpgQSf7MIydf3QhQdXWmOpgqGsusQeue2pez-YzJy1gAdVI_tjFyGlVe4P9N10xtVXah183n_7PXr3TAmi0DOPV1qSaf5xiQezU/s640/blogger-image-661057588.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi343cRZ3ei2RsxCLAC86VESyXPsX5jfZy8X0K1CQvKdMSQRZyBJ9mheQ5I7rRkDw4DObrK9AtcohILUuFNThoVcOlPlU0N7I_3o797K2rSVJEXnfH_Brk8qzhzY8Noe7Ypan5mjcciUl8/s640/blogger-image-384520817.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCXz5QRGzv3NW7yJ6vDgVVIkXhtGZ9UsctTJlUKKmEY3bQZr64xO1Ebr6F13adINSLGfyeA7woz4lm79ThpzlCme2fUEn6dWO3Rap77BkkXZM9ZJCWryhi9-XndZW60yN4cZxVodsllc/s640/blogger-image--1180818415.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSB9wVYPHUiSqg2Oj7cGRtMhjDERomJlw4nMl94q5Q286FVIf_Z4xnToziJsJmt2p0WvrpAiEW_oXpGP4D-luL4SOQjZqzLtpKZL_KmkrXnyK06y74foE_TxRYJhQmnA6mJ4jLNx9aI0/s640/blogger-image--2072118442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSB9wVYPHUiSqg2Oj7cGRtMhjDERomJlw4nMl94q5Q286FVIf_Z4xnToziJsJmt2p0WvrpAiEW_oXpGP4D-luL4SOQjZqzLtpKZL_KmkrXnyK06y74foE_TxRYJhQmnA6mJ4jLNx9aI0/s640/blogger-image--2072118442.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvtU6k_q75b3SovTCg4Xf0p1mZQ6IBuqO8xZr9yzyKnFg8PzpDTH4SWD6yF8WWC5XlblORgK9RltNd8czTJ_EeX9YGr7uaMTL-Xx0ITO-bPGSGVA9z4TOde7IacRPH6jkxJdlfssJouA/s640/blogger-image-1347793809.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I have a new 'helper'. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">She's called Doris.</div>Claire Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11391160862270406447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829143459696594384.post-39286581135861087512016-04-24T17:24:00.001+01:002016-04-24T17:32:30.634+01:00A reshuffleBeen a while, I know. I sort of have excuses, sort of don't. I definitely lost the crochet mojo for a while. Then I lost the yarn mojo. Though actually, I really just lost the listing mojo. I had moved the yarn over to my own website, but the hassle of listing everything, of trying to find a suitable solution for stock control that didn't cost the earth (doesn't exist) and that didn't eat up hours and hours of my time was driving me a bit nuts.<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwupj4ilqxioJ0sIUzzMp6wo9NQY3GQnXitt32Sd7K5DiSnrP9Ur9iIRJ1o23D-lpfCyTNJLTb8tR6wVa6j3aehN0Wl3Ds39vz-9rRotsMisvASn6fe3yOphSG4gNi9e7HnSwnw1IWAP8/s640/blogger-image-1709199602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwupj4ilqxioJ0sIUzzMp6wo9NQY3GQnXitt32Sd7K5DiSnrP9Ur9iIRJ1o23D-lpfCyTNJLTb8tR6wVa6j3aehN0Wl3Ds39vz-9rRotsMisvASn6fe3yOphSG4gNi9e7HnSwnw1IWAP8/s640/blogger-image-1709199602.jpg"></a></div><br><div><br></div><div>And that's what it boils down to really: time. While I was away trying to wrestle my own corner of the Internet into submission, the world moved on. I recently had cause to have a peek at Etsy again and it dawned on me that it would be quicker, cheaper and easier to list everything there. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jNbf3KPCMyb0T1gcq8pwTRkBHu76vzyIzjtv7gZNixSIiIOWCXl7DaesVLjlb-iHL5_8nXfU3JQ7d50gN06CqVTAkeB6NgTiZeDqlHQlwSByITXCtluZypCU_chBsHYOAmAW0aarwSQ/s640/blogger-image--1260079926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jNbf3KPCMyb0T1gcq8pwTRkBHu76vzyIzjtv7gZNixSIiIOWCXl7DaesVLjlb-iHL5_8nXfU3JQ7d50gN06CqVTAkeB6NgTiZeDqlHQlwSByITXCtluZypCU_chBsHYOAmAW0aarwSQ/s640/blogger-image--1260079926.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>In a nutshell, here's why...</div><div><br></div><div>- I can list stock from my phone, which means I can take, edit and upload pictures without endless faffing between devices.</div><div><br></div><div>- I can list exactly what I have. I never found a suitable, economic solution for having oodles of yarn but different dyelots. On the old site, it was difficult and time-consuming to list. Etsy doesn't care how many listings/products I have, so long as I cough my $0.20.</div><div><br></div><div>- people are more likely to contact me if they are looking for something specific. Etsy's just a bit more chatty like that.</div><div><br></div><div>- it's a LOT cheaper overall. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDCQLHftMy8XS4m2LnuPBarGSk7wBGeqxnEJ3CPsLVZVjqCwmb1Ju2-TDpNL4mEDEWI8XPWJVVdnwfU5vpwkwRPRdSJpgdxN6Wzv9BAsTDtOEq4KVAjlNfmbmpqwGCcTOxMypnKfhC0XY/s640/blogger-image-612984280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDCQLHftMy8XS4m2LnuPBarGSk7wBGeqxnEJ3CPsLVZVjqCwmb1Ju2-TDpNL4mEDEWI8XPWJVVdnwfU5vpwkwRPRdSJpgdxN6Wzv9BAsTDtOEq4KVAjlNfmbmpqwGCcTOxMypnKfhC0XY/s640/blogger-image-612984280.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div>So now if you hit the 'yarn shop' link on the website, you'll find yourself on Etsy, in a shop called FromTheHookery. It's gradually filling up and I am gradually finding my way through organising everything (although at the moment, it's all rather lumped in together). In the meantime, why not pootle across and say hello? </div></div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRe__ddmx1tU-Gs44BpHkO-lLnIMnKdzMp9dx8Z5L0LuZZJPQ2SNdSsA0MOgM_oxefoHhme679yDB3cDoA-wzkMvh4nPsfeFK2-P90Q5iZh3xi9MmGWT3qKT4fP7Pdm6e7cP2AtPtJYz4/s640/blogger-image-836830091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRe__ddmx1tU-Gs44BpHkO-lLnIMnKdzMp9dx8Z5L0LuZZJPQ2SNdSsA0MOgM_oxefoHhme679yDB3cDoA-wzkMvh4nPsfeFK2-P90Q5iZh3xi9MmGWT3qKT4fP7Pdm6e7cP2AtPtJYz4/s640/blogger-image-836830091.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/FromTheHookery">https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/FromTheHookery</a></div><div><br></div><div>And if you are looking for anything in particular, do get in touch!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Claire Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11391160862270406447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829143459696594384.post-54866629607139729472015-08-18T18:18:00.002+01:002015-08-18T18:37:39.504+01:00Book review: Edward's Menagerie: Birds... and a giveaway!<div style="text-align: center;">
*Blows dust off blog*</div>
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*Swipes at cobwebs*</div>
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*Sweeps away biscuit crumbs from last time she was in here*</div>
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*Settles with mug of tea*</div>
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HELLO!<br />
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Been a while, hasn't it? Sorry about that. Life gets in the way and all. It's been a bit quiet around Hookery HQ lately, but now it's time to wake things up a bit. Having been so quiet, I have nothing to tell you about what I've been doing, so let's have a look at what someone else has been up to, shall we?<br />
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If you've been to any yarn-y type show or fair, you will almost certainly have come across TOFT. Some of you may remember that last year, Kerry Lord (founder and director of TOFT) wrote a smashing crochet book called Edward's Menagerie. Well, unlike lazy old me, she's been busy lately and so there's a sequel - <a href="http://www.thetoftalpacashop.co.uk/PD.aspx?product=PATTERNS/books/-Edwards_Menagerie_Birds_Book_by_Kerry_Lord" target="_blank"><b>Edward's Menagerie: Birds.</b></a><br />
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Perhaps the most exciting thing about the new book is that the TOFT range of yarns has had to stretch a bit to accommodate it, <a href="http://www.thetoftalpacashop.co.uk/PD.aspx?product=yarns/DK/-Eds_Birds_Yarn_Offer" target="_blank">so some new colours have been added</a>. Well, how else are you going to make Sophia the Flamingo?<br />
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The book is clever. Like its predecessor, anyone can use it, even if you've never held a hook in your life. There are basic body shapes which are common to all the patterns and whether you make a dove or a peacock pretty much depends on how much of a challenge you fancy. As soon as you've grasped the basics, you can crack on with your first bird. If you're a pro and have been whipping up complex projects for years, fine - skip on to the more advanced patterns and have a play with some colour work. It's a book for anyone at any level.<br />
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The patterns are cute. Seriously cute. If you're making for small children, great - lots of long legs, necks and beaks to grab hold of and drag about. If you're making for yourself, they'll look equally sweet sat on a shelf or desk. <br />
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Also, she's thought of everything. If you've ever felt short-changed in the past by a pattern that ends with something along the lines of 'stuff body parts and sew together', then you'll be delighted to find a little section at the back which takes you through the nitty-gritty of things like assembly, stuffing for that perfect cuddly-toy consistency (rather than toy-about-to-burst consistency), sewing in ends and all the rest.<br />
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The layout of the book is easy to follow. There are full-colour illustrations for each pattern and it's a great book to flick through and just enjoy. There are 40 patterns in all, so really rather good value at £15.99, and <a href="http://www.thetoftalpacashop.co.uk/PD.aspx?product=PATTERNS/books/-Edwards_Menagerie_Birds_Book_by_Kerry_Lord" target="_blank">if you buy it direct from TOFT</a>, there are 10 bonus patterns too! <br />
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Now, the giveaway...<br />
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If you've ever fancied spending a day ogling 200 alpacas, squidging luxury yarn and scoffing nice buns in a coffee shop, this is most definitely for you. The lovely people at TOFT are having a bit of a jolly on Friday 28th August to celebrate the new book, with free workshops and farm tours. To win a family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children), just leave a comment below. I'll pick the winner on Saturday night (the 22nd). NB: TOFT is based in Warwickshire, near Rugby, so you'll need to be able to get yourselves there.<br />
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<br />Claire Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11391160862270406447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829143459696594384.post-39193063970390139042015-02-08T12:14:00.001+00:002015-02-09T12:42:09.838+00:00Back on itI've been making an effort to set aside some crochet time of late. Remember the weather blanket? I've been playing catch-up with that.<br />
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I'm currently up to mid-September and have just hit a big long stretch of bright blue. </div>
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It's good remembering late summer warmth on these chilly days when the temperature is hovering around zero. Looking back through my diary, I'm reminded how great September was: Erik arrived and there were warm, sunny hacks with Bailey (when I was still just his sharer).</div>
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We may have started the week with snow, but I did manage to squeeze in a bright sunny hack today on the Ginger Beast. Funny how all you need is one bright day to feel like Spring is just around the corner. That said, Hector's not taking any chances...</div>
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The mercury will need to rise a bit further before we can prise him out from under the duvet! I expect he'll appreciate another blanket being added to the collection...</div>
Claire Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11391160862270406447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829143459696594384.post-70847234790110835772014-11-29T20:53:00.001+00:002014-11-29T20:53:30.574+00:00Of horse and houndIt's been a while, hasn't it? <div><br></div><div>Sorry!</div><div><br></div><div>I do have a pretty good excuse though. I have been more than a little busy with two new additions. The first, I mentioned in my last post, Erik. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNcawNHUMx8rru49hr4pOwnKwQQ0UozOepMb6zSnPl129s1FBBwi0focFI9jAido8nQqLGuSNXq_l6zpnJ7PuY4pVdkaUz7ihVrb8GjcV04OJtxY58BuS2Pusy4uUYwYA9N0Bk_iXeiA/s640/blogger-image--1130245692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNcawNHUMx8rru49hr4pOwnKwQQ0UozOepMb6zSnPl129s1FBBwi0focFI9jAido8nQqLGuSNXq_l6zpnJ7PuY4pVdkaUz7ihVrb8GjcV04OJtxY58BuS2Pusy4uUYwYA9N0Bk_iXeiA/s640/blogger-image--1130245692.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Erik thinks balls of yarn are great toys and crochet hooks are just fab to chew. Consequently, crochet has hit an all-time low here.</div><div><br></div><div>The second came as a bit of a surprise to me too. Meet Bailey...</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYSOgqoWzINBisvRMu71byKJ7T3qFVkuNNxZ_ey7PU-v6eMGNTktGLSEHladP480vDml3kdEux1AmC7kKK8UFXudXQ90w9_82I_saoYxo0I05MLXzc1eOqK5BoMWRx9hnk0_Qsg6mqdw/s640/blogger-image--1821379272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYSOgqoWzINBisvRMu71byKJ7T3qFVkuNNxZ_ey7PU-v6eMGNTktGLSEHladP480vDml3kdEux1AmC7kKK8UFXudXQ90w9_82I_saoYxo0I05MLXzc1eOqK5BoMWRx9hnk0_Qsg6mqdw/s640/blogger-image--1821379272.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Yes, indeed, a horse!</div><div><br></div><div>And in the midst of this, I owe you, dear reader/customer quite a big thank you. Bailey eats a lot of hay. The month-long run on Creative Twist Super Chunky should keep him scoffing until the New Year!</div><div><br></div><div>PS - I'll get back to crochet posts soon, honest!</div>Claire Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11391160862270406447noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829143459696594384.post-532092917816267202014-10-12T15:15:00.000+01:002014-10-12T15:15:29.510+01:00The Calm After the StormPhew! It's been a busy month here at Hookery HQ but things are just starting to slow back down again. The day job has been gathering more than its usual momentum as we move into the Autumn Term and The Hookery itself set out on the road to Yarndale. I'll not bore you with the day job, but now that I have time to kick back with a cup of tea and a biscuit, let me tell you: Yarndale was fabulous.<br />
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I had a brief wobble about it just before we headed up. Would it be as well-attended as last year? What if last year's 'novelty factor' had worn off? Should I take the same stuff as last time? New products? How much handmade? How much yarn?</div>
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In a nutshell: I needn't have worried. It was bigger and better in every way and the organisers pulled off an absolute blinder! My little stall (and I do feel little in comparison to most sellers there) did a roaring trade. Customers I met last year came back to say hello again and I even caught up with a school friend who I haven't seen for about 14 years (hi Jen!). And of course, I met oodles of new customers too. </div>
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Once again, it was brilliant to get out and meet people face-to-face, to see people's reactions to yarns and patterns and products, and to chat and swap tips and recommendations. </div>
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After last year's show, I had a huge list of things to change and do differently this year. This year, there's really only one thing on the list: <b>hire a bigger van</b>! I already can't wait for Yarndale 2015!<br />
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PS - Apologies for the poor photos, they were hastily snapped before the hoards descended...</div>
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Claire Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11391160862270406447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829143459696594384.post-88063575027062958012014-09-21T17:52:00.000+01:002014-09-21T17:52:51.496+01:00Still here*blows away cobwebs*<div>
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Hello?</div>
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Hi there!</div>
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Remember me? </div>
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Gosh! Been a while, hasn't it? Sorry about that.</div>
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So, how have you been? It's been pretty busy here at Hookery HQ. The day job is busier than ever and the yarn shop has been ticking along. I'm impressed by all you people buying your <a href="http://www.thehookery.co.uk/rico-creative-twist-super-chunky.html" target="_blank">super chunky yarn</a> and <a href="http://www.thehookery.co.uk/patterns.html" target="_blank">jumper patterns</a> in August. Thank you for keeping me busy - I've never had a run on a yarn in August before! I suspect there may be a few woolly parcels under Christmas trees come December...</div>
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In other news, I have a new helper:</div>
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This is Erik.</div>
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Erik is awesome.</div>
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The cats beg to differ, but they'll come round in time. </div>
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And when I'm not indulging in the heady scent of puppy paws, I'm panicking about Yarndale which is only a week away. A WEEK!</div>
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See you there!</div>
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Claire Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11391160862270406447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829143459696594384.post-62395642798273596902014-07-20T10:37:00.000+01:002014-07-20T10:37:37.801+01:00Out of SeasonI know it's typically British to talk/complain about the weather, but I am a Brit, so for those of you reading this on distant shores, bear with me.<br />
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Oh my giddy aunt it's HOT! <br />
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Sweltering hot. And the storms! I seem to have woken up to lightning more times than not in the last week.<br />
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Being a pale-skinned northerner, I am suffering somewhat. The regular slathering-on of factor 50 means that I have trouble gripping my gin and tonic in my suncreamed hands and if I walk anywhere, I have to flit, ninja-like, from one shady patch to another. Is it any wonder I am in denial? The only suitable place for me to be from now until circa mid-September is in a giant freezer, so this last week I've been indulging in a spot of out-of-season snowboarding at the <a href="http://www.snozoneuk.com/" target="_blank">Snozone in Milton Keynes</a>. I had this last week off and can wholly recommend first thing Monday morning for a quiet zoom down near-deserted pistes with no lift queues. Oh, and an ambient temperature of -5. Hurrah!<br />
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My crochet is also in firm denial. Normally at this time of the year I am making small things: baubles, appliques, cards, things that you can make in a jiffy between scoffing ice lollies. Not this year.<br />
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If you follow me on <a href="http://instagram.com/the_hookery" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, you'll know I've become a tad obsessed with the v-stitch (check out <a href="http://www.lemondedesucrette.com/2014/07/09/lovvvvvvvvvvve/" target="_blank">Le Monde de Sucrette's vintage blanket</a>!). Consequently, the only thing coming off my hook at the moment is snoods. I made one for me...<br />
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...and liked it so much, I decided to add a couple to <a href="https://folksy.com/shops/TheHookery/collections/232568" target="_blank">the shop</a>...<br />
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...because that's just what people are shopping for in 30 degree heat: snoods!<br />
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*sigh*<br />
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<br />Claire Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11391160862270406447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829143459696594384.post-20343679056438430502014-07-02T16:42:00.000+01:002014-07-02T16:42:33.995+01:00Half way<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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It's July. The year is half way through and consequently, so is the weather blanket. </div>
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The weather has definitely picked up. I've got a definite splotch of darker blue from a week of glorious weather which had everyone stretched out on their sun loungers while the ginger among us bathed in factor 50 and clung to the trees in search of shade.</div>
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Seeing it spread out across the back of the sofa, it seems to have grown almost out of nowhere. I jot down the colour in the diary each day and then at the weekend, I spend an hour or so (depending on how many weeks I've got to catch up) adding to the blanket.<br />
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I'm very much enjoying it. I admit, it looks a bit weird and the spread of colours is maybe a bit odd at first glance. </div>
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I think the first days of 2015 might have to be taken up with embroidering a little patch to explain exactly what it is.</div>
Claire Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11391160862270406447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829143459696594384.post-58074994307437929652014-06-01T15:41:00.000+01:002014-06-01T15:41:03.502+01:00June? Already?I don't know quite how, but May has pretty much passed me by. I was dimly aware of it at the time, indeed, there were a few memorable bits and overall, I think it was generally quite enjoyable, but suddenly, somehow, I found myself turning over the calendar this morning for the first day of June.<br />
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JUNE!<br />
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So, what's new? Well, there has been a spot of reshuffling in the Sewing Room to make space for more shelving.<br />
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Of course, about three days after the shelves were assembled and stacked and looking beautiful, a batch of yarn that I'd had on back order arrived and now they're rammed. Ah well.</div>
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I had grand plans for the garden, but have so far been thwarted by some irritating decking screws. You know the square drive ones? The ones that are described in DIY shops as 'professional' deck screws? Those. Actually, don't get me started on the decking. The screws are the only 'pro' bit about it...</div>
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Anyway, while I've been grumbling about the decking, the pots that I brought from the cottage (and whose contents have been patiently waiting to be planted out) have burst forth. There's a definite whiff of honey and lavender in the air from the alyssa and er, lavender.</div>
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A couple of weeks ago, I noticed that there were sparrows everywhere. This weekend, there seem to be robins at every turn. The bird feeder empties as fast as I can fill it and the days are punctuated with screeches from squabbling starlings.</div>
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And there has been crochet. If you subscribe to the newsletter, you'll have received the <a href="http://us8.campaign-archive1.com/?u=e9fa560bb2b910c75910de08a&id=547540122e" target="_blank">Daisy Hexagon pattern</a>. If you read Craftseller, you might have noticed <a href="http://www.craft-seller.com/blog/free-project-exclusive-copyright-free-crochet-flower-brooch" target="_blank">this quick little brooch project</a>, and if you've had cause to venture into my living room, you'll have spotted that <a href="http://eidelweisshookery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/fashion-cotton-big.html" target="_blank">this</a> has now become a cushion cover and is awaiting some poppers to finish the closing.</div>
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So maybe I did do something with May, after all...?</div>
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Claire Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11391160862270406447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829143459696594384.post-88475769607958628872014-05-10T09:51:00.000+01:002014-05-10T09:51:02.310+01:00This & ThatI've been on a bit of a go-slow since my last post. In fact, I don't think I've really gotten going again properly post-Easter Bank Holiday. Consequently, the crochet had been a tad erratic and the mojo is at a low ebb. The <a href="http://eidelweisshookery.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/weather%20blanket" target="_blank">weather blanket</a> continues to grow, of course, and there has been little bit of fibre fiddling, which resulted in these...<br />
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I wasn't entirely sure what to do with them though, and then I saw <a href="http://www.talesfromahappyhouse.com/2014/04/a-crocheted-chevron-filofax-cover.html" target="_blank">this blog post </a>about a Filofax revamp. I recently swiped The Beloved's old FF, so it might be about to get 'pimped'!</div>
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Just when I thought I'd never recover the mojo, two things happened. These arrived...</div>
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...and this was published...</div>
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And between them, they've terrified me into action!</div>
Claire Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11391160862270406447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829143459696594384.post-78471831065118922142014-04-23T11:45:00.004+01:002014-04-23T11:45:58.211+01:00Patterns, picots and general exhaustionI mentioned a couple of posts ago that I would be writing up the pattern for those super-handy little hanging baskets, didn't I? Well, they're done! You can find them in my <a href="https://beta.folksy.com/shops/TheHookery/collections/196121" target="_blank">Folksy</a> and <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/FromTheHookery?ref=si_shop" target="_blank">Etsy</a> shops in both UK and US terms and they're just £1.20. You can find the yarn, <a href="http://www.thehookery.co.uk/rico-fashion-cotton-big.html" target="_blank">Rico's Fashion Cotton Big, here</a>, where it's only £2.90 a ball.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bC_tp2EtI5g-DsxZLV_98wcUVRyEymehh3rfbezQNV9_ZtnJNt4a5FmUkgCWIjpp1UIM7_dtBW0vLdndpPYIHxc7mDf6lDRuNKCOXm7A0Qty2wedPTnYqNGQWbJq-5O-oG2KVp6783I/s1600/IMG_0354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bC_tp2EtI5g-DsxZLV_98wcUVRyEymehh3rfbezQNV9_ZtnJNt4a5FmUkgCWIjpp1UIM7_dtBW0vLdndpPYIHxc7mDf6lDRuNKCOXm7A0Qty2wedPTnYqNGQWbJq-5O-oG2KVp6783I/s1600/IMG_0354.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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In other news, my day job has an annual event, a conference, which is a Big Deal. It's a lot of work, and from January until Easter, it's a bit full on. I'm always glad that Easter brings chocolate in abundance - by this point in the year, I need the sugar (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it). So now that Easter is over, and the conference is done, a weight has been lifted. I've got a few days' grace to dust myself down, catch up on some sleep and tackle the pile of little projects on my desk that have been put aside until later.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheg-15R4cPIwc0sutH5_PuOCbMGLK1qU3j5WIwmTwsXzrrJaedT0v55G7XsAjRcwbQEMuJBlMe8FbfsN2tERMPJ7IaqRCxofgZd9yzsWmkVIyRWGgsA-bvRd-SbUyv-fNWSq0FmQSMr5c/s1600/SAM_2928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheg-15R4cPIwc0sutH5_PuOCbMGLK1qU3j5WIwmTwsXzrrJaedT0v55G7XsAjRcwbQEMuJBlMe8FbfsN2tERMPJ7IaqRCxofgZd9yzsWmkVIyRWGgsA-bvRd-SbUyv-fNWSq0FmQSMr5c/s1600/SAM_2928.jpg" height="564" width="640" /></a></div>
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One such project has actually been my companion during the conference. I once read somewhere on a knitting blog of the pleasures of 'vanilla knitting', well this has been a sort of vanilla crochet. Easy crochet. The type of crochet you can do with your eyes shut, or watching the telly. Crochet that requires no brain input. I am of course talking about the granny stitch.<br />
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A while ago, I made a very simple granny shawl out of some chunky mustard tweed. It was such a satisfying project that ever since I've been hankering after making another. So I did.<br />
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I decided I needed - yes, NEEDED - a spring shawl. Not as big as most shawls, I don't need to be swaddled in it, just something to keep that piercing spring breeze out. I'm very pleased with the finished product, not least because I had just enough yarn in the basket of leftovers and half-started balls. A simple edging in a darker shade with a little picot detailing finished it off nicely and like the main body of the shawl, it required zero conscious effort. Hurrah for picot!</div>
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The light green is Paton's Eco Cotton DK in Lime (70), a shade that I think is now discontinued. I found a batch of it on eBay when I was making the <a href="http://eidelweisshookery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/the-ripple-revealed.html" target="_blank">ripple blanket</a> and had a few balls leftover. The edging is Freedom echo DK, but having lost the ball band, I can't tell you what shade - the dark green one, assuming they still make it.<br />
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I did have good intentions about blocking this little lovely, and it kind of needs it as the border yarn is on the thicker end of DK weight, but it didn't happen. No sooner had I snipped off the last sewn-in end than The Beloved suggested dinner at the pub. Well what could I do? I put down my scissors, swept my new shawl round my neck and trotted out of the door. It's been on active service ever since. Ah well...Claire Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11391160862270406447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829143459696594384.post-8589163513053233242014-04-11T14:30:00.000+01:002014-04-11T14:30:09.647+01:00Square #100Yesterday, 10 April, was the 100th day of the year. It was a fairly standard spring day. It didn't rain, there was sunshine and it was reasonably warm. A pale blue day.<br />
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This is square #100. Can you believe it? 100 squares of 'my-general-impression-of-the-weather-on-that-day'. </div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">As you can see, already this year we've had some amazingly bright and sunny days (sunscreen days, in fact!). Three of them, on the trot!</span></div>
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And there have been a few patches of not-so-great weather. Welly-boot-wearing, puddle-splashing weather.<br />
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I can't wait to see what it will look like after the next hundred days!</div>
<br />Claire Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11391160862270406447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829143459696594384.post-35578348397932830052014-03-30T17:54:00.001+01:002014-03-30T20:02:57.542+01:00Fashion Cotton BigProbably the best thing about running an online yarn shop is testing out new yarn. I feel I have a duty to do so. You can't walk through the doors of The Hookery and squidge, stroke and squeeze yarn for yourself, so I absolutely have to write posts like these. Ah well...<br />
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There are a few new yarns in the shop this week, one of which is <a href="http://www.thehookery.co.uk/rico-fashion-cotton-big.html" target="_blank">Fashion Cotton Big</a>. It comes in a nice bright range of colours (with a couple of neutrals for balance) and it's a chunky cotton yarn. As soon as the nice man from Rico showed it to me, I wanted to get cracking with it. Rico have been very clever with this line. You can pretty much pick your colours at random and they'll work. Very clever indeed.</div>
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Anyway, the yarn. Chunky 100% cotton, for which you'll need a 7mm hook. It didn't disappoint. Smooth to use and not nearly as 'splitty' as I was expecting. In fact, if you're a beginner, you'd do well to start with a ball of this. I had a few goes at random stitches before settling on 'a thing' to make. Not only is it not very splitty, it holds up very well to being crocheted up and unravelled a few times. </div>
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So what did I make? An old favourite, that's what...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">004 Melon</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">004 Melon + 002 Lime</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">004 Melon + 002 Lime + 006 Turquoise</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">004 Melon + 002 Lime + 006 Turquoise + 001 White</td></tr>
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This is half of a cushion cover. I have yet to decide whether to make the back out of more granny squares, one big granny square, or something altogether different. It's a cushion that will live in the conservatory, and probably also see some action in the garden, so I like the tougher, thicker cotton for it. </div>
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And if you think this reminds you of something I've made before, you're right! I didn't notice until I was a few squares in, but <a href="http://eidelweisshookery.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/problems-with-pink.html" target="_blank">I've made virtually the same cushion before...</a> It's not exactly the same pattern, but the colours! How did that happen?</div>
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When I'd finished the piece above, it struck me that this could be the perfect yarn for making storage baskets, so I moved down a hook size and set to work.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">007 Medium Grey + 002 Lime + 004 Melon</td></tr>
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Again, I wasn't disappointed. It's perfect. I'll be hooking up more of these. This one is in the sewing room now, and Sebastian has adopted it.</div>
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Apologies for the blurry picture - he wouldn't hold still.</div>
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I shall be writing up the pattern for these little baskets soon.</div>
Claire Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11391160862270406447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829143459696594384.post-16724306942135655392014-03-25T17:21:00.000+00:002014-03-25T17:21:45.760+00:00The Happy Happy Blanky... and associated terror!If you follow me on <a href="http://instagram.com/the_hookery" target="_blank">Instagram</a> or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hookery" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, you might have caught sight of something bright on my hook lately...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhyi3oLmXY-hiF0mVk6N0l7w_-5tSS-RtCzWbisDjCoo0A5nwSfIyNdgPA14bQYbLicAbpwvA3J4AFgiDxJlvz6UacSYGXkqbBmDz0AQ7hBR0ujh1ip95jclTpOFpZ7FYBfm5vojuDgo/s1600/happyhappy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhyi3oLmXY-hiF0mVk6N0l7w_-5tSS-RtCzWbisDjCoo0A5nwSfIyNdgPA14bQYbLicAbpwvA3J4AFgiDxJlvz6UacSYGXkqbBmDz0AQ7hBR0ujh1ip95jclTpOFpZ7FYBfm5vojuDgo/s1600/happyhappy.jpg" height="398" width="640" /></a></div>
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This little lovely has been a delight. Well, sort of. I started it towards the end of the summer. In fact, if you were at Yarndale on the second day, you might even have seen me working on it. It worked up pretty quickly and the colours are just a delight: bright and punchy and made to go together. They're the best of friends.<br />
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And then I ran out of yellow.<br />
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And the yarn supplier ran out of yellow.<br />
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And for AAAAAAAAGGGES, I was second on the waiting list for when yellow came back in stock.<br />
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And then it arrived. Hooray! I could crack on and finish my happy happy blanky.<br />
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Wait... that yellow... it's a different dyelot. I can tell it's a different dyelot...<br />
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And so for a brief spell, the happy happy blanky was actually a grumbly grumbly blanky as I pulled out row after row to get back to the first row of yellow. Then I started again.<br />
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And soon I was past the point at which I had started unravelling.<br />
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And soon it became a joy again.<br />
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And then it was finished.<br />
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It's not a massive blanket, but a good size for a pram or a cot, or for tucking your toes under while watching TV.<br />
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It's worked up with a 7mm hook and Rico Creative Cotton Aran. The larger-than-recommended hook means that the blanket has a brilliant floppiness and flappiness, or 'drape'. It's also deliciously squidgey.<br />
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So why the terror? Ah, well. I might have gone and written it up as a pattern and I might have gone and listed said pattern for sale. It's available on <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/FromTheHookery?ref=si_shop" target="_blank">Etsy</a> and <a href="https://beta.folksy.com/shops/TheHookery" target="_blank">Folksy</a> in either UK or US terms, whichever you prefer.<br />
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My first pattern for sale. Eek!<br />
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I made copious notes while I was working on it and I've read and better read the final version. I've even remade it in miniature to check the border instructions. The pattern includes a tutorial for the stitch with pictures and everything.<br />
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There's something really quite nerve-wracking about it though!<br />
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<br />Claire Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11391160862270406447noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829143459696594384.post-18379871724089367832014-03-19T10:52:00.001+00:002014-03-19T10:52:15.430+00:00Out with the old: in with the newIt's been jolly busy here at Hookery HQ over the past few days and there would appear to be newness everywhere.<br />
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For starters, you can now sign up to a Hookery Newsletter. Oo-er! There's a doofah on the right there to enter your email address.<br />
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What else...? I met the nice salesman from Rico yesterday (who is new) and we spent the morning looking at new yarn samples. I ordered a lot (nothing new there...), so look out for them popping up on the website in the coming weeks.<br />
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Ah yes, the website. Never leave your web editor open on your laptop while you go to make tea. Especially if there happens to be a cat in the room. I came back to find cat #2 stretched across the laptop, batting the mouse with his paws. The website was in total disarray, so...<br />
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...as you see, the website has been re-jiggled. I've been meaning to do it for ages, so I suppose I should be grateful to Hector for forcing my hand. And as you can see from the screenshot above: I'm now offering free UK shipping on orders over £50. That's new!<br />
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Whilst in the midst of my tweakings, I finally got round to listing various bits and pieces that I should have added a long time ago. If you were at Yarndale, you may have picked up some pompom makers, knitting dolls, crochet kits or sock stop at the stall. <a href="http://www.thehookery.co.uk/accessories.html" target="_blank">These are all now on the website</a>. Also, a bunch of new colours have been added to existing lines. There are new colours in the <a href="http://www.thehookery.co.uk/rico-creative-cotton-aran.html" target="_blank">Creative Cotton Aran</a>, the <a href="http://www.thehookery.co.uk/rico-baby-classic-dk.html" target="_blank">Baby Classic DK</a>, the <a href="http://www.thehookery.co.uk/rico-creative-twist-super-chunky.html" target="_blank">Twist Super Chunky</a> and the <a href="http://www.thehookery.co.uk/rico-creative-melange-chunky.html" target="_blank">Creative Melange Chunky</a>.<br />
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As you know, The Hookery is run out of my sewing room...</div>
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*looks guiltily at pile of yarn in the living room* </div>
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...so new lines on order mean that old lines have to budge up and make some room. There's an end of season sale on a variety of yarns and all the patterns. Prices start at 99p for individual patterns, so <a href="http://www.thehookery.co.uk/sale.html" target="_blank">get over there and grab a bargain while stocks last!</a></div>
Claire Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11391160862270406447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829143459696594384.post-37271406552373389852014-03-13T16:34:00.001+00:002014-03-13T16:34:44.909+00:00SpringThere's no getting away from it, Spring has marched through the door here at The Hookery and announced itself in no uncertain terms. There are flowers in the garden, cats sunbathing in patches of warm sunlight and today I worked in the garden. Not gardening, no (alas). I sat at my laptop, doing my day job, out in the garden.<br />
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Cat #2 kept me company, as did a particularly fat bumblebee and a selection of birds on the feeders (who don't half make a mess of the flowers beneath!).<br />
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I am resigned to the fact that for (I think) the first time in my life, I have had a snow-less Winter. I have to admit, it feels strange. Everything seems slightly out of kilter and a bit like we've skipped ahead a month or two, or like Autumn has lasted for the longest time ever.</div>
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Still, it's hard not to get that tingle of excitement when the shops are full of daffodils and tulips, and there are scruffy, fluffy bluetits swooping to and fro.Claire Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11391160862270406447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829143459696594384.post-39733840305782378442014-03-11T07:34:00.003+00:002014-03-11T07:34:57.256+00:00Fiat lux!..and then let that light have a crochet lampshade. This weekend, I finished a most satisfying project. It was one of those projects that lurk in the back of your mind for weeks, months, years, even. Every so often I'd return to it, give a mental poke, a prod, finesse it a little and then pick up something else. I don't know what took me so long, but in the end, I'm glad I waited. When I finally picked up the hook and yarn for this project, I knew exactly what I was going to do. That said, the maths were still to be worked out - how many stitches round the frame, how many rows for the perfect tension, and the perfect tension is essential to show off the pattern properly - too loose, and it will be all saggy; too tight and the pattern will look uneven.<br />
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I'm pleased to say, this one tripped off the hook perfectly first time. No unravelling, no restarting, no problem. You may even have seen it in progress, as I keep finding it lurking in the back of shots on my camera and phone...<br />
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Here, have a closer look at the finished piece...<br />
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The pattern is the same one that I used for <a href="http://www.eidelweisshookery.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/The%20Mutant" target="_blank">the mutant blanket</a>, if you've been around long enough to remember that. The blanket was made in mega-chunky cotton and required a 10mm hook. This little beauty is made in 10 count cotton and used a 1.75mm hook.<br />
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I've yet to get a good shot of it on a lamp. but here's a couple of hasty shots taken this morning in the sewing room...<br />
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I love the halo it makes on the ceiling. Over the weekend, I happened across it in the late afternoon when the sun was streaming through it (I'd left it on a windowsill) - it decorated the whole living room in spots of light.<br />
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However, fabulous as this project has been, it has not been without casualty.<br />
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When I'm working in crochet cotton, I often find a needle stretches the fabric when I come to sew in the ends, so I use a crochet hook in a smaller size to pull the yarn through. As you can see, the hook in the middle didn't make it. Also, I don't know what it is about 10 count cotton, but whenever I use it in a project, it's always a project that requires the crochet to be stretched over a frame of some sort. There comes a point when 10 count cotton can be a bit like cheese wire.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbB8a4_Oa9RmMNRpOGE2nTz19_W3BT41r7D-kyrP48Md4vxe93IRd6waqd81_odf2DSXAJ9MGWrmVqfQy0FOjOUBe-lGwxEHqH4kM0sOouYDO0jNmjrzGqod7ss6GPyFqfTI38j7DRAEI/s1600/IMG_1889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbB8a4_Oa9RmMNRpOGE2nTz19_W3BT41r7D-kyrP48Md4vxe93IRd6waqd81_odf2DSXAJ9MGWrmVqfQy0FOjOUBe-lGwxEHqH4kM0sOouYDO0jNmjrzGqod7ss6GPyFqfTI38j7DRAEI/s1600/IMG_1889.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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This photo was taken about an hour after I'd finished crocheting! Will it dissuade me from doing it all again though? No. I've got another empty lampshade frame sitting in the sewing room and a white version of the above would be lovely!<br />
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Providing a suitable photo opportunity presents itself, the shade above will be <a href="https://beta.folksy.com/shops/TheHookery" target="_blank">in the shop</a> this week.Claire Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11391160862270406447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829143459696594384.post-9744248699343002912014-03-03T12:00:00.000+00:002014-03-03T12:09:23.005+00:00Weather BlanketI thought I'd share a project that I've had ticking along in the background since New Year. You've probably seen various sky blankets or scarves around the craftier corners of the t'interweb already. I was particularly taken by <a href="http://bugsandfishes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/how-to-knit-sky-blanket.html" target="_blank">Lupin's sky blanket</a> a couple of years ago and really, really wanted to make my own. There were just two problems - I'm a dreadful knitter and sewing up 365 squares would be enough to make me run screaming from the room.<br />
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So it was filed away in the back shelves of my mind along with a variety of other projects. All through the fabulous weather of 2013, I was wishing I had started this project. By 1 January 2014, I was about ready to burst. <br />
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*drumroll*<br />
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So, Dear Reader, I present to you the weather for January and February 2014 as depicted through the medium of the granny blanket.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsj5yqGPOsYcyW9Fnb88iWK9_6WZcXt-MhrqJL5N9KnHIFCrLou6c5yeZbGaD6fxFkHtudpsrRDMNFn2YV8CNWA-6nGzlEuE_4GcRbtBrVrzc6arYGoCxzCJqll-GyiSo10IL3hi5lVwg/s1600/IMG_0216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsj5yqGPOsYcyW9Fnb88iWK9_6WZcXt-MhrqJL5N9KnHIFCrLou6c5yeZbGaD6fxFkHtudpsrRDMNFn2YV8CNWA-6nGzlEuE_4GcRbtBrVrzc6arYGoCxzCJqll-GyiSo10IL3hi5lVwg/s1600/IMG_0216.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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It looks a bit wonky because this was a hurried photo. As I was taking it, I could hear the familiar thun-ka-dun-ka-dun of Cat #1 ambling down the stairs to see what I was doing. Seconds later...<br />
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And then...</div>
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So I had to relocate. At the grand old age of 16, bannister-walking is no longer a sport of choice for Felix, so come with me into the hallway where I shall show you more...<br />
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It's made up of three-round granny squares and joined on the go to keep sewing in to a minimum. Hurrah! It will be 18 squares wide, by 20 squares long, which will give me 360 squares. The remaining 5 days will give me the colours for the border.</div>
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I'm just not organised enough to check the sky a the same time each day, so I'm going with my general impression of the weather each day. That way, if I miss a day, I can usually remember that say, on Tuesday I had to defrost the car and on Thursday, I got soaked going to the Post Office. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6w6zxK18qRg6vygTeuiyNvIsKBCA0j_YfUMZn5c25fJYScwJx-aqWcawdWGvECJmKEhVmlc-pM9CElPZjhgDsn6P9UK2icUpV_kzr4mE3Z_dzulEsOqgPyG16IQuU90WpfeuufPxMq4/s1600/IMG_0230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6w6zxK18qRg6vygTeuiyNvIsKBCA0j_YfUMZn5c25fJYScwJx-aqWcawdWGvECJmKEhVmlc-pM9CElPZjhgDsn6P9UK2icUpV_kzr4mE3Z_dzulEsOqgPyG16IQuU90WpfeuufPxMq4/s1600/IMG_0230.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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I'm using <a href="http://www.thehookery.co.uk/rico-creative-cotton-aran.html" target="_blank">Rico Creative Cotton Aran</a> in shades of blue, grey and white. It works up fantastically quickly with a 5mm hook and has a pleasantly blanketty drape to it. Excuse my foot in these pics. Toe-chewing is still a valid sport for a 16 yr old cat. Slippers were hastily donned...</div>
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As we all know, the weather's been pretty a-typical for the time of year. Looking back at the blanket, there have only been about three hoar frosts and a day when it sleeted. This time last year we were knee-high in snow.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3pgVrCpfjImVkdl_WgW96tnmFQowwlfYMMTr5E-EuE6KTuqdByXSxuWisCDreAlsIjvvWNZTSwH3FaWV0zkyY-qeAAQpsFxdMj0RbokHfKH5UXKulb-eBSYNxnuKvTyh2AWh3ijJC-mU/s1600/IMG_0232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3pgVrCpfjImVkdl_WgW96tnmFQowwlfYMMTr5E-EuE6KTuqdByXSxuWisCDreAlsIjvvWNZTSwH3FaWV0zkyY-qeAAQpsFxdMj0RbokHfKH5UXKulb-eBSYNxnuKvTyh2AWh3ijJC-mU/s1600/IMG_0232.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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We have had one spectacularly bright, crisp, perfect Spring day though. The type of day when the sky is a proper knock-your-socks-off blue. The type of day that comes along to remind you of summer, just when you think you might as well get your wellies surgically attached, you seem to be wearing them so often.<br />
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So there it is, my weather blanket. It's nice having a big project on the go which sort of paces itself. I like making blankets and I usually go all out at them, so other projects get cast to one side. I can only do a square a day on this though, so I usually save them up and do them at the weekend.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-2rpXqRdmDONqfqpXAnuhytPTtTeCLWQg5R7843_dakC4jZznGUmqRlPHZj3CEgES7ggPyEAEHYvJUzbEeYx-yxDqP2KnkkJVtEr09gqdYqQu-Nb2da0Z0amyFnVBSxIT3imQ0sljSw/s1600/IMG_1656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-2rpXqRdmDONqfqpXAnuhytPTtTeCLWQg5R7843_dakC4jZznGUmqRlPHZj3CEgES7ggPyEAEHYvJUzbEeYx-yxDqP2KnkkJVtEr09gqdYqQu-Nb2da0Z0amyFnVBSxIT3imQ0sljSw/s1600/IMG_1656.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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If only Creme Eggs were self-rationing...</div>
Claire Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11391160862270406447noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829143459696594384.post-42242846177133970802014-02-18T12:44:00.000+00:002014-02-18T12:59:40.268+00:00Under the Paw!It's all got a bit cat-flavoured here at The Hookery of late. More so than usual, anyway. I sat down the other day to make a few bits of stock for the shop and rather than making more existing lines, I ended up with some new ones instead.<br />
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<a href="https://beta.folksy.com/shops/TheHookery" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfyLjuZmJIbWwO5Rt6MH1vW7d-zrfXsdUIJqttqQBfVNmnJ2T1yQp8bwvlK6_QHMWZQYs7baDyGaIOCKq5wTnF8nisOk0lbLX7KEe5uQhcARuqwp6ECoBUnKScWI-EjdSRpoyzSpZj6o/s1600/cat.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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This little guy is one of many (a litter?) of cat keyrings that flew off my hook over the weekend. He and his buddies are sitting patiently in <a href="https://beta.folksy.com/shops/TheHookery" target="_blank">the shop</a>, waiting for a new home.<br />
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In other cat/crochet news, the <a href="https://beta.folksy.com/shops/TheHookery/collections/89391" target="_blank">Skelly Fish</a> were featured on <a href="http://coolforcatsuk.com/" target="_blank">coolforcatsuk</a>, which has prompted a number of them to swim off to new homes too. Hector has looked on with some disappointment as I parcel them up. I think he thought they were all for him. He's extra-protective of his own fish now!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBrm_kx2Bf3CMkNR4SS3N39iHHFctLhuL2eGN4rkYgPLaD4TElsBkZJ2cqq1W0MI_aHRmOcXdI2a1TktKZuGzcPpoKx98S1iXsRkvYBhOZtDMcm-G07wJq7lpV8TZuVID3eqgSwg7AQk/s1600/skelly-fish-cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBrm_kx2Bf3CMkNR4SS3N39iHHFctLhuL2eGN4rkYgPLaD4TElsBkZJ2cqq1W0MI_aHRmOcXdI2a1TktKZuGzcPpoKx98S1iXsRkvYBhOZtDMcm-G07wJq7lpV8TZuVID3eqgSwg7AQk/s1600/skelly-fish-cat.jpg" height="640" width="412" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mine!</td></tr>
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Meanwhile, in a corner of the living room, Felix has been quietly napping, oblivious to Hector's worrying and my frantic parcelling...<br />
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Ahhh... Everybody loves a granny blanket.<br />
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Especially me.<br />
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Hard to evict a sleeping cat though, isn't it?<br />
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I'll wait until she wakes up. Won't be long, right...?</div>
Claire Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11391160862270406447noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829143459696594384.post-40211803799632748752014-02-11T17:30:00.000+00:002014-02-11T18:44:59.659+00:00GreyI like grey. Along with green, blue and brown, it's a ginger girl's best friend.<br />
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But, you know, there's a time and a place for everything. Even grey.<br />
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We should be up to our knees in fluffy white snow by now, not wading through floods under grey, rainy skies. So, in an effort to combat the misery of said grey, rainy skies, there's 15% off all chunky yarns in the shop until 28 February, just enter the code SOGGY at the checkout.<br />
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If you're feeling the cold, I suggest some <a href="http://www.thehookery.co.uk/rico-creative-twist-super-chunky.html" target="_blank">Twist Super Chunky</a>. If you're looking for man-friendly shades, have a look at the <a href="http://www.thehookery.co.uk/rico-creative-melange-chunky.html" target="_blank">Creative Melange</a>, and if you need something bright and cheerful, you definitely need some <a href="http://www.thehookery.co.uk/rico-essentials-super-super-chunky.html" target="_blank">Essentials (yes, ESSENTIAL!) Super Super Chunky</a> in your yarn basket. There are other lines in the promotion, anything with the word 'chunky' in the title has 15% off with the code.<br />
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<a href="http://www.thehookery.co.uk/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidC5DA2nO_7a29jhfqtx9Rm-VzseWZi2H4ubBOjCUtBfcZ1pmYliRIUSSet8ldq7Yj_mfcFIO6HhvODRfmt_0FimmaHr8-MTQo9JZCvLFDgpUcCW2ROv-1SvUYXt14pObzxygG-DKY6ww/s1600/super+s+chunky.jpg" height="450" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Claire Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11391160862270406447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829143459696594384.post-42318929887589120892014-02-04T13:18:00.000+00:002014-02-04T13:24:02.300+00:00The BlanketI promised you a while ago that I'd be back with pictures of the large granny blanket I finished recently. It's taken a while, but here for your viewing pleasure is the blanket in all its stripey, granny-stitched glory. Enjoy!<br />
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And all made out of scraps and leftovers (well, okay, so I bought one ball of mid-blue to stop it getting too green and brown...).<br />
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Claire Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11391160862270406447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829143459696594384.post-32031759524396916662014-01-29T18:36:00.004+00:002014-01-29T18:36:49.622+00:00Lately...<div>
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It's been a bit grey here of late. In fact, we've had some spectacular foggy mornings. I like fog. Admittedly, it makes the commute a little more er...interesting, but it has a similar quality to snow in that it somehow quietens everything and makes it seem still and peaceful, even as you're whipping along the M1 in the commuter traffic. Of course, one problem with dark foggy mornings which clear into prematurely dark afternoons is that there's not much light to photograph things in. I did promise you the chance to give the recent granny blanket a proper ogling, but so far, no pics. Sorry! </div>
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In other news, and possibly related to the prevalence of fog, I have finally bought paint for the sewing room. Grey. Not the purple-y grey that I inherited (see below), but just plain grey. In fact, imagine the colour of the wall in the pic below, but without the purple-y tones.</div>
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These are egg cosies, by the way. I am already thinking of Easter. I have even managed to list them. Next up on the making list is more rabbits (do you remember <a href="http://folksy.com/items/3095562-Bunner-" target="_blank">Bunner</a> from a couple of years ago? I'm hoping he'll make a reappearance in the new shop). And I'm still plodding on with the baby jumper pattern - it was road-tested on a real baby at the weekend, so they'll be in the shop soon too!<br />
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Oh, and there has been a birthday.<br />
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Yes, again.<br />
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It doesn't feel all that long since the last one.<br />
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Surely not a whole year?<br />
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Ah well, these are taking the edge off the shock...<br />
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<br />Claire Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11391160862270406447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829143459696594384.post-49424689679582536702014-01-19T17:25:00.001+00:002014-01-19T17:25:17.030+00:00Something new...ishI've made baby clothes before, but always as gifts. I have to say, I do quite like making them - cute little projects that can be whipped up in an evening. That's about as close to instant crochet gratification as you can get. Also, I really want to add a third wheel to The Hookery and start selling patterns (yes, I know I have patterns in the shop already, but I mean my own patterns).<br />
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So recently, in between the tax return and the granny blanket, I have been working on this.<br />
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A cute little short-sleeved jumper pattern, written for use with Rico Baby Cotton Soft.<br />
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It's been a lot of fun. A bit frustrating at times, but the nice thing about crochet is that it's very maths-y and geometric, so with a little imagination (and occasionally, a calculator *ahem*), you can work out quite a lot before breaking open the yarn.<br />
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The shape and the closure are now just as I want them, and it's a top-down pattern. Who doesn't love a top-down pattern? Now I'm on to the sizing. I have a couple of friends with conveniently-aged children/nephews, and test garments are currently in progress. Fingers crossed!Claire Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11391160862270406447noreply@blogger.com1