another Project for on the Go

A few weeks ago I showed you a crochet square project I had finished. I still haven't sewn the squares together, but I have finished the green noil silk thread piece. *(see below for more info on the yarn)

I rather made the centre of this up and eventually it decided it would make a nice doily type thing in my cream and green accents lounge.

Because it was made up in my head, the edge was a bit more wavy than I thought I would like, so I blocked it (don't faint!) to get a more regular shape.

I quite like the fact that the centre shows a less predictable pattern than spokes of a wheel going out like most crochet that is a variation of a granny square.

And look! It goes well here.

Bit by bit we will get rid of the peachy coloured lamp and shade. But one thing at a time, as my husband likes them and I don't really put lamp purchasing high on my priority list when the current one still works.

So, now I have started something else interesting with a larger hook and a remnant cop of white cottony something I bought from Empress Mills for 75p.

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*Actually the thread was a green and a black thread together. Some places it was thicker than others - I suppose if woven would give the 'slubs'.

So I looked it up and here is the definition from Texere Yarns -
"Silk Noil (sometimes incorrectly called raw silk) comes from the use of very short fibers (called, appropriately, 'silk noils') to weave the fabric. The short fibers are separated from the long fibers during combing in the fiber preparatory processes before spinning.

Noil has a nubby feel with a low sheen. It resembles cotton in surface texture and sews easily. When these short fibers are spun into yarns, the resulting yarns have occasional slubs and specks that add to its appeal. Nubs vary between different weaves. Sportier in appearance, noil has the look of hopsack but is much softer...
... [The word Noil actually refers to fiber length, but is casually and usually used to refer to silk fabric made from short fibers.]"

There is a lot of good information on this page...Silk Information and Dictionary

Project for on the Go

For the last few years I have had a project on the go now and then. It was something that I could take along with me to do whilst on the train to London, sometimes on the road whilst heading to York (depending on my stomach!) and lately to take for something to do whilst visiting my MIL in hospital or in the home.

It started with a cop of soft thick cotton thread from Empress Mills. At this point I don't remember if I picked it up at a show or at their shop the one time I went there. I think it was probably a show.

I hadn't an idea for a finished project, (Well I did, I thought I would sash them with cream coloured leather, but soon thought better of it!) so I just decided to keep crocheting granny squares and worry about what to do with them later. Eventually I just decided to keep going until I finished the cop. When it was nearing the end, I did do a bit more in front of the telly to get it finished off.

And here they are!

The little pile of string was all that was left.

They were varying tensions due to the variety of times and places where I was making them, but most were similar. There were about 3 or 4 that were somewhat too loose in comparison, so even though I finished these a couple weeks ago, I have pulled the very loose ones back and started again. So, the finished amount is 52!

So, now I am thinking of what to do with them. I think I may just stitch them together to make a throw to go over one of the chairs in the lounge. The new furniture is cream coloured, so this would work. Sometimes the other throws which are more on the blanket side are a bit too big if you just want something round your shoulders.

So now as a take it along project, I am doing a 'make it up in your head' free form granny square from some green silk noil type thread I picked up from Texere Yarns.

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By the way, tonight I am giving a talk at a quilt group in Camberley. I am showing several of my fantastical garments.