Tuesday 6 October 2015

A Winter Project

I posted about the Spice Of Life Crochet Along that I'm taking part in a couple of weeks ago so I thought I'd show you where I've got up to so far.

The crochet along is running for a number of weeks and new parts of the pattern are released on Sandra's Cherry Heart blog each Tuesday. I've decided that I'm not going to rush just to keep up and that I'm going to crochet along in my own time. So far, I've managed to complete the part of the pattern which was released two weeks ago, I've got last weeks part printed out ready to go and there's another part which has been released today which I've yet to print.


I'm using Rico Classic Baby DK, a yarn I've never worked with before, in the colourway which Sandra suggested. I'd have never put some of these colours together myself but I'm loving the way in which they're working out. I'm also impressed with the yarn, it's 50% polyamide and 50% acrylic and it's beautifully soft and so easy to work with. I love the way in which it drapes too, I think this will become more noticeable as the blanket grows.


I'm joining in with Jennifer's Winter Project Link Party over on her Thistlebear blog. Do pop over and take a look what it's all about, and how about joining in with the fun? I'm sure many of you have projects on the go for winter.

If you've joined in with the swap I'm organising and haven't yet contacted your partner, can you please do so as soon as possible. You can find a list of who you've been partnered with in my Twelve Days Of Christmas Swap Partners post. It would also be very helpful for me if you can let me know when you've done this so that I can keep track of what's what.

48 comments:

  1. I have a few ;) winter projects lined up and 1 on the go. I have contacted my swap partner and a waiting for a reply. I am off to Neath later so will be having a scout round to see if I can find something to start me off.

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    1. I'm sure there'll be more projects popping up over winter, there's so many things I want to make but not enough hours in the day. Thanks for letting me know you've contacted your swap partner, I'm sure she'll be in touch soon.

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  2. Beautiful colors! I thought about doing this CAL, but I already have many going on :) In my favorites on Ravelry so I can go back to it!
    Look forward to seeing your blanket grow!
    Ali
    www.simplysummerstreet.wordpress.com

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    1. I'm loving the colours, they're not ones I'd have chosen myself but I love the way they work together. I won't be keeping up with the CAL but I still enjoy working away at my own speed.

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  3. The blankie is looking great, Jo. Nice and cosy to be under whilst you're crocheting it too!

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    1. I'm liking how it's coming along. This is the sort of project you want over winter, something that's going to keep you warm whilst working on it.

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  4. I'm loving your CAL blanket, the colours work wonderfully. I haven't done a CAL so maybe that should be one of my goals for next year.
    Michelle and I have made contact for our swap, thank you again for organising it xx

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    1. I'm hoping that I'm going to learn some new stitches along the way with this CAL. I joined in a sockalong earlier this year but this is my first CAL. Glad to hear that you and Michelle have made contact, the swap's going to be so much fun.

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  5. Keeping you busy and looking good. Flighty xx

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    1. I'm pleased how it's coming along. Crochet is so much faster than knitting, it seems to grow so quickly.

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  6. Hi Jo, thanks for joining in! This blanket is going to be so beautiful. I really like the way it incorporates different crochet techniques. I'm sure you will learn a lot and create a lovely blanket in the process.

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    1. That's what appealed to me about this crochet along. I may have made a few blankets now but I still consider myself a beginner where crochet is concerned so I'm hoping that I learn some new stitches along the way with this. The link party is a great idea and I've already found some lovely new blogs to read through it.

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  7. Already in touch with Gill, and raring to go.
    I'm enjoying the crochet a long, but you know I work fast. There's no prize for being first, so enjoy the ride. Why not? The colourway looks really good. Mine is the Stylecraft set and they are far more subdued than I would choose myself. But I will follow the pattern perfectly or else!!!

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    1. That's great news, I'm sure we're all going to have lots of fun with it. I love the colours that have been chosen, not ones I've have picked myself as I'd never have thought they'd work so well together, but they do. I'm very surprised you're sticking to the pattern, but you do have your second blanket to go off piste with.

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  8. My partner and I have exchanged addresses and I'm working madly on her gifts.

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    1. That's great news. I think there'll be a flurry of activity between now and the beginning of December getting all the gifts together.

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  9. My partner Rebecca and I have exchanged emails. Just need to exchange our addresses. Busy working on the gift selection now. Will email my address over to her in a moment.

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  10. Your blanket is looking good! One day I will improve my crochet skills and make something that doesn't turn out wonky!!

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    1. I'm hoping that this CAL will improve my crochet skills. I still consider myself a beginner so I'm hoping that I can learn some new stitches along the way.

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  11. Love your rug and colours so far. I'm just a little further ahead, but not too sure about the colours I've got and think I may do another one as well in much softer colours at some time as I'm enjoying it immensely. Jo and I've left comments and as she's been so ill. I've left her my email on the comments, but she's not been back to me yet. I'm sure we'll have lots of fun with the swap, so thanks for organising it. Take care.

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    1. I like how each row is different from the last, I know I'm not that far in to it yet but it's certainly holding my interest. Glad you and Jo have both been in touch with each other, you're welcome.

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  12. That does look a great pattern Jo, and I like the colours together.

    All the best Jan

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    1. I love how there's so many different stitches included in the blanket and the colours are quite quirky, certainly not ones I'd have chosen to put together myself but I love them.

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  13. I love the colors. They were perfectly together!

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    1. I think they do too. There's such a good range of colours in this particular yarn, plenty to choose from.

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  14. Ooh it's looking good, Jo. I've put the Spice of Life on my list, I'm making myself finish some other WIPs first though. Hoping to link up with the Winter Project Party too xx

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    1. I love how it's started and I'm enjoying making it so far. The good thing is that you don't have to work along with the CAL, you can go at your own speed or even start it once the CAL's finished. Looking forward to seeing your other WIPs.

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  15. A beautiful looking throw, love the stunning colour choices. Just popped over from Jennifer's link up, looking forward to watching your progress.

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    1. I'm really pleased with the colours, not ones I'd have chosen myself, just goes to show that you should use ones you don't ordinarily go with.

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  16. What a good start. I love the blue and white part. I'm sure it'll be very cosy.
    Lisa x

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    1. The yarn is so soft, perfect for snuggling under. It's definitely going to be very cosy.

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  17. Hi I got in touch with my swap partner but I forgot to tell you... Thanks for organising. Eleanor

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    1. Thanks for letting me know. You're welcome.

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  18. Thank you for the visit, your blog is lovely, I think these link parties are a great way to meet other bloggers, your spice of life going to be beautiful, I'm using stash yarn for mine so am a little restricted with colours, I started it last night and have just finished the granny stripes and I'm loving it so far, like you I'm taking it slowly and just fitting it in with other projects, I must pop back again to look at some of the lovely things you have made, have a lovely evening. :) x

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    1. I think it's a great way to meet other bloggers too. I'm loving the Spice of Life CAL too. I'm in no rush to get through it, I love the process of making a blanket so I'm quite happy for it to go on for a while. Thank you for visiting.

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  19. It looks really great Jo! My partner and I have been in touch and swapped details already! xx

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    1. I'm certainly enjoying working on it. Thanks for letting me know, I hope you have a lot of fun with the swap.

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  20. I am so impressed with your work. I've never seen anything like your row of blue and white . . . there must be a unique trick to doing that. I found this link party from visiting my sweet blogging sister Teresa Kasner. I am having so much fun seeing all the beautiful work and really wish that I would have paid more attention when my mother was teaching me to crochet . . . oh so many years ago.
    I noticed that you have a low crab blog on your favorites list, so now I'm off to visit it. My husband is diabetic so I cook our meals to accommodate his health issues. I want to live a long and happy life with my man by my side, so I've gotta keep him healthy :)
    Happy to meet you.
    Connie :)

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    1. The blue and white are just clusters of trebles, it's how they're placed which gives them that appearance. It's so clever how the same stitch can look so different when used in different ways. I taught myself to crochet a few years ago. I seem to remember my grandma trying to teach me when I was a child but though I could knit, I don't think I was really bothered to crochet. Like you, I wish now that I'd paid more attention then. I hope you enjoy looking at The Low Carb Diabetic blog. I'm not diabetic and don't live this lifestyle but Jan usually puts up a new recipe each day which certainly gives me lots of ideas. Keep keeping your man healthy and thank you for visiting, I shall be popping over to visit you soon.

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  21. Hi Jo! I love the blanket project you are working on. It will be fun to watch your progress and cheer you on through Jennifer's link party. Happy stitching!

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    1. I'm thoroughly enjoying working on this CAL and seeing how the blanket works up. The variety of stitches is certainly holding my interest.

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  22. I've read about this crochet along in the latest issue of Inside Crochet. I think it's a great idea to do it at your own pace and time, that way you're not rushed and you'll enjoy the making process even more. I'm looking forward to seeing your progress. Enjoy! Marion

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    1. I didn't realise the CAL was in Inside Crochet, I first learnt about it on other blogs. I'm really enjoying working on it.

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  23. Your blanket is lovely Jo. The yarn gives a good stitch definition. Hope all goes well with it, I think you will be finished long before me :-) x

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    1. I'm really pleased with the yarn, it's one I've never used before but it's lovely and soft and crochets up so well. There's loads of gorgeous colours in it too.

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  24. Your blanket is beautiful Jo...I really must get to grips with learning to crochet, Maybe I should put it on my New Year's Resolutions list for next year....I just can't seem to hold my yarn properly. x

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    1. I'm really pleased with it so far. I taught myself to crochet a few years ago with the help of a book and You Tube tutorials. It's quite tricky learning how to hold the yarn but like anything, it's all about practice. Eventually, it just clicks and then it all slots in to place.

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