Cross Stitch and Craft Cafe 2026 - come on in and join us!!

Coxy11

Lol @Auti - but seriously annoying that the yarn wouldn't frog. I'm using up my Stylecraft DK yarn on the toppers as have many part-balls from blanket kits I've purchased over the years. The topper group on FB say this is the best yarn to use as it's durable in bad weather and doesn't fade in sunshine (if we ever get any).

Have been to the theatre twice this week (get me!!). Tuesday in London seeing High Noon, and last night at the local theatre in Canterbury seeing A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong. Both enjoyable for different reasons, and very different genres.

I didn't get to crochet any butterflies on Wednesday night as too pooped, so will have a go this afternoon once I've done my housework chores. Will post a photo of topper once it's up!!

Charly27

Welcome @Sea_Shell, thanks for the inspiration. As @Coxy11 and @nmm know, learning to crochet has been on my list for a while. How did you learn? Do post photos.

Love the cushion colours @Auti and glad to hear you’ve made it through both chemo and radiotherapy.

I’m on track with four seasons just the last quarter of the design to do. Still enjoying stitching it. I love the designer’s use of white space so you don’t have to stitch every part of the fabric!

Coxy11

mwahahaha topper up under the cover of darkness. The secret crochet-er of (insert village name here)!!

Auti

that is amazing @Coxy11 - it is beautiful :)

Wish I lived near to see it close up - you should be very proud and I hope everyone appreciates it and the effort.

Funnily enough I am using the same wool as you used to crochet a mosaic crochet blanket - it has leaves and acorns on it - it is really strange having to cut the yarn at the end of each row so I can only crochet with the right side facing. Never done this before so will keep my brain busy!

Theatre sounds good - and the butterflies are happy making me smile :)

Coxy11

Thank you @Auti xx I made the butterflies this afternoon and sewed them onto the base then wired them so they stand up. I’m only 5’ and the postbox is the same height so I needed them to be seen.

Next project is an Easter theme to go up at the end of March 🐇

Auti

@Coxy11 - you are one inch taller than me! x

Sea_Shell

@Charly27

After knitting my blanket, I saw a set of crochet hooks on special in Aldi, and as I had a few oddments of wool left over I decided to buy them.

I then watched a few tutorials on YouTube and gradually I got a little better. And now I can say I've learned a new skill at 54.

Crochet also seems so much more versatile than knitting, in that it's easier to make shapes and 'things', as I'm not a very good knitter.

The big plus is if you drop a stitch, it's just one loop!!

I'm planning a trip to my local independent wool shop next week, hopefully, with a list of supplies for the projects that I now have floating around in my head.

A blanket for my Mum

A cushion cover

A lightweight summer cardigan

A contrasting colour to apply some flower applique to my existing blanket

As for photos…I might post some up that I haven't already put on my FB page, as I don't want to be "recognised" here by anyone IRL. (Slim chance I know…but call me paranoid!!)

daisy_1571

Please both come and visit me soon so I can tower over you at my lofty 5'3" 😆 I never get to feel like a giant other than one time a lady asked me to lift down something for her in a supermarket - me!! Shocked blue face emoji required 😆 I walked on air for the rest of my shopping

Gorgeous pics, very nice items

Dxxx

Sea_Shell

Also, where are the best (cheapest) places to get crochet patterns from?

Downloadable PDFs? Printed "old school" patterns from a shop?

Crochet magazines…but a bit hit and miss what they have in any one issue.

Charly27

@Coxy11 that looks great. Like @Auti wish I could see it in situ, clever you. The post toppers always lift my spirits anyways.

Thanks @Sea_Shell I think I need to finish this cross stitch and then just go for it on the crochet. I know where to get free cross-stitch patterns but not so much crochet. Luckily I have a couple of books so I guess that would be my first stop after online videos to get me started!

BW from a giant at 5ft 7” who always wanted to be shorter! 😂