Nayu's Project Progress #36 Random blankets

I've been busy!

As promised in my last post this one is all about what I'm working on craft wise at the moment! When I'm up for crochet I'm putting together this very small pet blanket for someone. There will be a second one made of smaller squares, but I'm using oddments to attach the squares using the join as you go method - Google it to find the info. It's a super easy method that saves so much time and removes the need for lots of sewing. I always use this method now, and you can see the blanket increase in size here. 

Almost there! Sorry it's fuzzy

Tada! All finished!

 Originally I was doing one big blanket, but for some unknown reason I did both big and little squares which actually couldn't be put together, hence it becoming pet blankets. I have since done an extra row, which I'll show you with the small square blanket another time, which I know it will be well received, and I'm extremely excited about the project I'll start once this one is finished!

Nayu's Project Progress #35 Chocolate themed blankets

I wonder how many of you will have some chocolate by the end of this post!

 It's been far too long since I've done one of these (no I'm not telling you how many months...) but I want to share what I've been up to lately. I've been doing a bit of craft, some on a blanket which I'll show in another post that's already for someone, but the blankets featured in this post will be for sale soon (start of April for the finished one) when I reopen my shop (it needs a bit of tweaking after my mega meds which I'm currently recovering from). 

Here's a peek at what one looks like, with cream and two shades of brown.

Most people like chocolate, and it's all I've been thinking of while making these blankets - the yarn looks like all three types - white, milk, and dark chocolate! 

Here it is!

 I love making what are often called 'granny' squares and putting them together using a seamless method called 'join as you go'. They are easy, require no pattern, and it's fun watching the blanket grow over time. 

I thought you might like a comparison picture for the chocolate ^u^ I wanted a smaller blanket, so I started another using the same colours but this time in a different pattern. 

Now this one looks more like those chocolate buttons...

Going round and round has it's own charm, just like 'granny' squares (or medalians as some call them). Both are relaxing in their own way. I didn't sew in the ends of the previous blanket until the end, when I had loads to do. This time I'm doing the sewing in every 4 rows, so I get a bit of rhythm with the crochet, not stop-start at every row. 

I hope this inspires you to get creative - it doesn't have to be with yarn, it can be sewing, colouring in, gardening - whatever you love have fun!

Nayu's Craft Time #15 My weekly experimental time!

Time to experiment!

On the day I'm pre-scheduling this post the sun is being chased by some clouds, but the sunshine streaming through the window is lifting up my spirits. Remember how I recently explained how Wednesdays is my sewing day? Well, the last few craft sessions I've spent a fair amount of time playing with yarn and doing a few experiments. I can't share any with you yet as they haven't developed into anything substantial, but it's led me to carve out some experimental craft time each week. 

What will I do with this?

The reason I'm setting aside time is because I can easily see all my time going to playing with ideas while I get distracted instead of focusing on making crochet blankets which I both need and want to make. By having a set time I won't restrict my ideas whenever they strike - I'll simply jot them down and explore them in my allocated time. I confess to not quite having figured out when that is - it will be at the weekend, either Saturday or Sunday depending how busy I am on each day. So let's say my experimental time will be at the weekend! 

I don't expect to show you anything for a while - I am still experimenting, and my creative self is mulling over ideas trying to work out what they could be. Before setting up Nayu's Crochet Dreams I never thought I could actually make up my own pattern and create something with crochet. I stuck with the reliable granny square. Well, I have made up my own borders, which I'll post about another time, so it makes sense I'll start to experiment with granny square shapes. I often don't have the head space to count and focus, which is why making things up is so fun! That I don't have to worry about copyright. It might be a while before you see the results of my experiments, but rest assured you will see them in due course!

Playing with yarn is so much fun! This chibi is knitting rathr than crocheting. Bye for now!

Nayu's Craft Time #10 Pet blanket paw print prototype progress!

Paw progress!

Sorry this wasn't posted yesterday - my internet played up so I had to give up on using it.

As much as I'd hoped to be writing about what can influence my crochet style, I'm opting for a shorter post of the progress on my pet blanket paw print prototype - trying saying that several times in a row! This time it wasn't a migraine which made me switch my post plans, thankfully. I'd unexpectedly had to have my super strong pain meds yesterday, which I usually have every 5 week, because I'd been having a pain flare for the last 2 weeks and needed my body reset, which the meds sort of do. I'm feeling heaps better than I was, albeit a bit tired because continuous severe pain is exhausting. I'm mostly used to it, but extra high levels wear me out.

Never fear tho, it doesn't stop me (much) from doing crochet! This has been on both Facebook and Twitter, but as you can see I'm making progress on my paw print. Please ignore the different styles of borders to the squares - since it's a prototype I'm experimenting with how I join the squares together. Due to the extra time it takes to make something like this there will probably only be 1 paw print per blanket, but I'm sure none of you will mind that. I'm hoping to work on it a bit more today, but since I've got several hours of reading planned I don't think I'll finish this project today. 

Remember there are some fab competitions which need entering! You can win a blanket made by me (worldwide competition)

win an audiobook of your choice  (US/UK only competition)

Nayu's Craft Time #6 A guide for when something goes wrong

Step 1) Hide yourself from the horror of failing...

Step 2) Take a break if you can. You'll get a fresh perspective when you come back to the task, and be calmer too.

Step 3) Try again with extra determination!

The quote I'm thinking of is 'If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.'  I've no clue of the quote's origin, but if you're really eager you can always Google it. 

I personally like my 3 step version which makes sense in the next paragraph. ^o^  This week I haven't done a lot of craft work because I've been ill and off work for some of it. I was in the minus category of energy levels, so it was anime, light shows & reading which saw me through it. 

I'm on the mend and this afternoon will be back to working on my 3rd attempt at figuring out how to get a paw print on my upcoming pet blanket range. I will do a more comprehensive post once I'm successful with it which will include the failed first attempts, but for now let's just say the first attempt wasn't at all right. The second attempt was nearly there, but was rather fiddly and would put me off making more than 1 of them, which defeats the point of the blankets. The current 3rd attempt so far makes sense to me, in theory should work, and has sparked off other ideas for other blankets like it. I'll let you all know when a prototype is ready to show you. 

There will be paw prints somewhere on the blanket! Picture source

Nayu's Craft Time #3 My crochet kit

This is where the crochet magic happens! The basket, not the table.

Today I thought I'd show you my crochet tools. I got this basket as a present from some friends nearly 2 years ago. The cute ballerina koala which has a bell that chimes whenever I move is it from when some of my family visited other family who live in Sydney, Australia. 

I will chat about my crochet hook another time, as that information is for a full post and I'm trying to keep this brief as although I went to work today after being off sick yesterday, I'm still feeling peaky & need rest. The problem with this weekend it's time to take my extra strong pain meds which make life rather interesting until Sunday. You can find out more on this post at my other blog Nayu's Reading Corner.

The yellow ribbon which you can see in the main picture is from this!

A keepsake from my childhood

This little bag is from my childhood. I had a matching outfit which may have been a dress. I must have kept this because of how cute it is. I can't remember when I started using it for craft, but I keep my scissors, hook & sewing in needles in there, and I put any ends which I cut off in there too. I do periodically chuck them in the bin, but usually only when it's too full to use ^o^

I plan on working on my idea for pet blankets tonight, while listening to audiobooks and maybe watching some anime. 

I hope that whatever you're doing tonight you enjoy it!

Coming Soon #1 A new range of blankets!

A colleague at work today had a brilliant idea for another range on Nayu's Crochet Dreams - pet blankets! She helps out with a cat charity, and has dogs of her own so know how useful blankets can be. My cat was a rescue cat, who was found by builders in a shed emaciated, with a broken leg and a broken pelvis. She spent months in recovery after surgery, and I know blankets were used to keep her comfy. Blankets not only provide extra warmth when it's colder, but they can be a great comfort to our four legged friends. 

Belle just happened to be near my competition blanket when I took photos of it - I couldn't have got a better pose if I'd tried! She's 7, and very funny. The blanket will be washed before sending on ^o^

I'm not revealing my full plan for the pet blankets, but I promise it is something very cool if I can figure out how to do it. I'd love to hear if there are any particular colours you would/wouldn't like for your furry friend. My cat has an attitude the size of an elephant, so much so last year she refused to sleep in her bed for over 6 months because we changed the blanket. Thankfully I know many cats and a few dogs who aren't as fussy, and with the cute idea I've got your animal will love the forthcoming blankets as much as I do! 

Now tonight was going to be spent reading, but what with having to get groceries for both me, my cat, and my birds, I'm going to settle with anime and...crochet! I may be able to finish the Desert Dewdrop Dreams blanket which you can see in the right menu -> Whoohoo!

Little beats a purr filled hug!