u3a Eye

My Easter Bonnet. Rather than buying artificial flowers, I crocheted them all, including the busy bee! Top tip, stiffen the flowers before placing them on the hat or just like the real thing, they'll wilt! I did cheat with the leaves though. 

A large knitted cushion cover, very supportive and cosy to lounge on, I made for my daughter. It is knitted with 2 strands of d/k yarn, I found this a little hard on the fingers, so I had another smaller project on the go at the same time, to rest those old fingers.I then bought a cushion to put inside, she loves it.

I knitted Santa Claus on Boxing Day for my grandchildren. As you can see, as it’s Boxing Day he’s in his jogging bottoms and comfy cardigan, having a day off after all his hard work. I loved making him, though there was a lot more to it than I’d anticipated, and the beard was a bit of a challenge! My grandchildren love him.

Advent calendar. Combined crochet, knitting and sewing to make this calendar. Must confess that no pattern used and guessed sizing as time was getting short. Made it in 2019. Also put Christmas decorations in the pockets to hang on the tree (button stars).

The five yarns used are acrylic and one of them has a hint of sparkle. Each rose and leaf is crochected individually, then they are pinned onto a polystyrene, half circle wreath form. The wreath 30cm form is covered with a crocheted sheath. The pins I used here, are diamonte headed corsage pins for the roses and these are intentionally visible. The leaves are pinned on with pearl headed dressmaking pins, which can't be seen.

During lockdown I could only get hold of three colours in chunky yarn, so for all the others I had to use 3 strands of DK for each square.

The free downloadable pattern was a bit short on some details so I had to adapt some measurements to make it work. Luckily, my granddaughter, for whom I made it, is delighted with it!

I make crochet toys using the Japanese Amigurumi method and ran a u3a group to teach others. I made these for my cousins grand daughter who loves the characters from Disney's Frozen.

I inherited ends of wool in many shades from my mother and grandmother. This jacket is one of the projects to use it. I invented the pattern. Basically the shape is a circle, knitted radially using part-rows. The armholes are made simply by leaving a gap along an arc of the circle. After knitting the body, I pinned it to an existing jacket and made paper patterns for the sleeves, then knitted them to match the pattern.

My trio of Highland cows, mum Morag, dad 'prize winning' bull Angus and calf 'Wee Lass'. I used chunky yarn and worked to a pattern that I purchased online so can't share the design. 

Crocheted from scraps, leaves and flowers stiffened with wire, woven into the stems. Inspired by Wimbledon colours - looking forward to watching the next tournament!

My Cro Che Guevara. My crocheted graphgan of Che Guevara, made for a friend. I modified cross stitch pattern and created the pattern in Excel. It was worked in double knitting yarn with a 3.5mm hook. The piece measures 56cm by 71cms approximately.