I have been unusually quiet on the blog, even for me. I think really I had run out of things to say – projects to share. You might have noticed last year that I wrote a monthly column for Inside Crochet magazine. It was an excellent discipline, the monthly deadline, the keeping to topic. But I wonder if really I began to run out of thoughts and words to say.

At the same time the change of homelife – with the young man flying the nest -shifted the crafting thinking. This blog and my crafting adventure really blossomed through the parenting years. it would be quite sensible to assume that with less responsibility, surely more craft adventures would follow. Somehow that doesn’t seem to have happened.

So there you are – much like the summer and autumn, the winter has been a continuation of ‘stash-busting’. If you want to go all psychological about it, I’m sure we can make some links between clearing out the old to make way for the new. But even in the simplest terms, its a good idea to reduce down the overflowing collection of yarn.

So what have I been so busy doing. Well there is a new book in development. Quite small items – but lots of pattern writing. Whilst that ‘work’ was being done I took my Stylecraft Special DK stash and made a collection of 3 small baby blankets. Two are in clear primary colours, the third was in more pastel tones. All three were joyful to make. I liked the play of the beige neutral with the pop of colour. Stash busting is surely the best way to get your cro-jo back.

I have begun to make a new blanket pattern, which I am delighted with and very soon I will share that development with you. I am making a very large version of the blanket and due to the fun I have been having with the smaller baby blankets I am going to make a small version too.

I hope you have enjoyed making over the winter and hopefully with the brighter weather I will begin to share more here as well. Happy Weekend x

If I was well organised. Or indeed if I learnt from years of last minute organising I would start my Christmas making in August. But I don’t. In fact the conflict is clear in my head. I want to hang on to the last warm sunny summer days and I don’t feel inclined to start a new season quite so early.

How do people in retail or magazines manage to put themselves in full Christmas mode in July? I don’t think I could do it. This year I have sought to live in the ‘now’ season. I have been very slow on my crochet projects plus there is a new book being designed in the background. So in many ways there is little to show you.

If there has been a theme for my crafting endeavours it would be ‘stashbusting’. In the summer I happily worked on two blankets for our son. The battenberg rainbow blanket is so very glorious. I love it so much. Even though I have made nearly four blankets this year, I am not done. I have a new one in my head and so I will go and prepare for this little idea to be my festive project. You know what I mean, the project which you snuggly up with in the quite moments between festive activity.

i have managed to do a little Christmas making. There were some rather pretty off-cuts from the liberty print quilt I made in early autumn. I used these to make some cute lavender sachets for my closest friends. If you are inclined there is an excellent tutorial on the Purl Soho site. They have always been so generous with their crafty ideas. I continue to love their website for inspiration. Don’t worry I don’t think any of the recipients read this blog, so we are no ‘ruining-the-surprise’ danger. These are not lavish gifts. But they are made with my own hands and there is a sprinkle of love thrown in. I do realise that I prize a handmade gift highly – hopefully my pals will love them too.

So what else will I be making? Well this evening I might settle down to a traditional bit of Chocolate Orange Cosy making. Sorry if this is very ‘British’ but we have a traditional chocolate gift made by the confectionary company ‘Terrys’. For a very long time I have enjoyed making cosy’s for these oranges as a gift. They are ALOT of fun and a very quick make. So there you go. Time is ticking and I promise myself I won’t get stressed, but rather lean into the festive joy and slow down to make and enjoy. Happy December!