I first saw these folded fabric flowers on Crafty Ginger’s blog, and I immediately knew I wanted to make some. Here are my first attempts:

I think they turned out well. I like both petal styles, and the faux pearl centres are pretty.  Lots of things would be brightened up by a little fabric flower accessory – I think I’ll be making more of these!

I keep losing my crochet hooks… I’ve ended up with 3 duplicate hooks because I can never find the right size hook when I need it. I realised I needed a roll-up case where I could store all my hooks, arranged by size, and then I’d always be able to find the right hook.

I spent ages planning before I started cutting the fabric, and the whole thing came together very quickly (except the knotted strap, but I couldn’t find a ribbon to match the trim, so I thought I’d make my own… and it escalated from there).

I’ve written up a tutorial for how I made this. 

Here’s the finished crochet hook case (as always, click the images for larger versions):

There were times when I thought I’d never reach this point, but my 63 squares afghan is finally complete! It all came together really well, and I’m really pleased with the finished piece.

Final dimensions are 2.00m x 1.55m (79″ x 61″) and it weighs 2.1kg (4.3lb). It’s so large I’m having difficulty getting a good picture! Here is is on a (double) bed: 

And here it is on the sofa:

(click for larger versions of the pictures)

Yay!

I have been challenging myself to enter the whiplash contest on whipup every month:

• I crocheted a bag in July (bags)
• I refashioned a skirt into a dress in August (wardrobe surgery)
• I crocheted a hat in September (hats)
• I made a bracelet in October (accessories)

Every month I take the theme and then figure out something I can do with it to challenge myself and to create something I like. I’m sure if I made different things I would have a better chance of winning, but that’s not the reason why I enter.

But here is November’s brief:

“NOVEMBER is officially ALT CRAFT month – Non-traditional crafts with an edge
Use of alternative materials with traditional techniques or traditional materials with original patterns”

I have been thinking it over for 2 weeks and I cannot think of anything I could make that would fit into this category. And then it came to me: I am not alternative. And maybe that’s okay – I make up my own designs and patterns, so my work is not entirely traditional or derivative. I’ve seen some amazing alt-craft projects on craftster etc, but I admire them without wanting to do something similar. I like the things I make, and I don’t want to put time and effort into making something that doesn’t “fit” with me.   

Maybe I’m not alone in this… There are suspiciously few entries this month (only 5 at the time of writing) – a lot less than usual. Maybe everyone is too busy, or leaving it to the last minute, but maybe there are others who feel the same as me.

Kudos to the folks at whipup for creating whiplash and the amount of crafty brilliance it generates each month. I’m not criticizing their choice of theme. I just wonder: is ‘alternative’ now the only way to be cool? Have I just pigeonholed myself into the ‘unhip’ corner? I am proud of my work the way it is and I don’t want to feel pressurized to change my style (even though the pressure is probably all in my head).

And that’s why I’m not going to enter whiplash this month.

Yes! There is a light at the end of the crocheted afghan tunnel… I haven’t been blogging each square, as I always crochet them in the evening and then it’s too dark to take a photo when I finish. But I only have SIX squares left now (plus all the joining). Today I tried laying them all out for the first time:

If you ignore the gaps and the curled up edges (and the labels), it kind of looks like an afghan, doesn’t it? I’m pleased with the colour scheme, too. That’s a double bed by the way – this is going to be a LARGE blanket!

Wow… I’m somewhat relieved to see that it looks like it may all come together in the end.  5 blues and 1 green to go!