Working It Out

I bought two lots of cotton yarn to make myself tops, so I've been looking on Pinterest for inspiration. I really like this top, but it couldn't track it back to a pattern. I did find instructions for the stitch on MyPicot crochet site, here. I experimented crocheting the stitch with three different size hooks.  I think the biggest one, 6 mm, is too loose and floppity. The smallest one, 4 mm, is not bad, but a bit stiff.  The goldilocks one is 4.5 mm, in the middle of my sample.

So I have the stitch, but not a pattern. I'm using my favourite knitted top as a template:

More Maids

I'm making progress on the Maids of Honour edging, though there's been a lot more un-tatting than I usually do. The pattern requires some concentration. I have a nasty habit of forgetting to tat the small ring. Make the next chain and then find there's nothing to join it to! The size 70 knots have to be loosened with a pin, but I am impressed that the Coats thread is not damaged by un-tatting.

Floormat

I've finished my doormat in double filet crochet. I like it. Looks a bit 1960s psychedelic. It measures 45 cm by 60 cm. It didn't take as much cotton yarn as I thought it would, so I have some left over for other experiments.

Round 5

I'm on track with the Spring doily, round 5 is done.

Blocks

Some of the cotton yarn I bought on Tuesday was for practising double filet crochet. The tutorial for this pattern is here. It's going along well, in spite of the fact that it turns out the orange yarn is double knitting and the black 4-ply. I need to pay more attention when shopping! What am I making? A mat to go outside my front door. It might just startle the owl who sits sometimes above the door, but there you go.

Maids of Honour

When I was looking for thread for the Spring doily, I found this ball of size 70 thread. Just the thing to tat a handkerchief edging. I've been wanting to tat something else from Mary Konior's Tatting with Visual Patterns. I've chosen Maids of Honour. I'm working with one shuttle and ball thread - the yellow shuttle is there for the hook. I"m very good at losing small crochet hooks but I figure a bright yellow shuttle will be easier to keep track of.

Shopping!

We had to go to Kimberley yesterday. It's a much bigger town than our nearest town, there are shops with greater variety and lower prices. Of course I had to visit a couple of them! I wanted beads for a specific project, but it's possible that I got a bit carried away. Such delicious colours. Luckily I didn't get carried away in the yarn shop because it is very tempting. I bought cotton yarn to make myself two tops, knitted or crocheted, I haven't decided yet, and a front door mat. These supplies should keep me busy for a while anyway.