A pretty crochet collar

I've been quiet here as I thought I had nothing to show, yet a quick glance at my photos showed two as yet unmentioned makes. Two! So you shall see me again soon-ish. There has been some making but what is missing is some bright day so that I have a hope of taking a passable photograph. I suppose there have been moments of brightness over the last few weeks, though these moments have been so fleeting that I have dashed outside either to sit or garden and not given a moment's thought to the fact that now is my chance to take a photograph or two. Hopefully when we have a prolonged sunny spell I shall seek some shade and retire inside where I shall spy my abandoned camera and click happily away. Until then please make do with some seasonally inappropriate crochet.

This is 'Collar' from Sarah Hatton Knits '10 Simple Crochet Projects' - a gorgeous booklet with its matt pages, beautiful photographs and simple projects. So many more that I plan to make. I shall add them to the list. 

The pattern suggests, and I actually did use, Rowan Softknit Cotton, purchased from John Lewis. This is the colour seaweed and it is such a gorgeous cotton to work with - soft, drapey and squishy. I made the longer version, sewed on a button from Great Gran's tin and proceeded to wear it lots. I do already have the wool for the shorter version, so you may see that soon!

A pile of clutches

I seem to be making piles of things at the mo... a pile of clutches here, last time it was a pile of tees. I've been saving up similar makes, waiting for a brighter day to photograph them but the brighter days have been replaced for the moment with grey and rather than wait for who knows how long, the gloomy photographs will have to do. And anyway some of these were quickly photographed before being parcelled off to friends in the gloom of winter, so at least all the photographs will look similar.

First in the pile is my favourite

I love, love the fabric. I was a lucky duck and won a giveaway of some fabric of my choice hosted by the delightful m is for make . Such a tricky decision!  Finally I selected this fabric, Kokka Fabric's half rounds from the charms collection. Or is it half round charms? Not sure, and I can't find it at m is for make anymore. It is gorgeous though - gold gently sparkly scallops on canvas. Thank you Kate! 

This was made for a friend. Oh, and I may have made one for myself too! So happy that I found some metal zips that I like... finding nice colours with an attractive zip pull in the UK has been as tricky as finding nicely coloured leatherette. These are from Bobbin Girl and have a pleasingly shaped doughnut zip pull and a good choice of colours. Didn't think to check my zips were sewn in the same direction. Oh well, I won't be using them at the same time.

Next is one made for a friend from a barkcloth remnant found at Fabric Rehab

There are two of them, not just the same clutch photographed twice, because as luck would have it there was enough fabric to make myself one as well. Is it possible to have too many? I am carrying my pretty jelly basket most days now that summer is here, and these are also great used as a pouch for car keys and anything else of a size that may easily tumble out of the jelly basket. Actually, now that I think about it the keys are too big to fall through the holes of the jelly bag, it's more that I feel they and other small things are vulnerable floating freely in the bottom of the basket. So I need pouches. And lots of them. And look, odd zips again.

I have realised that no fabric is safe from my clutch making...

A pile of birthday tees

 I don't seem to have shown many makes on here recently... I blame the garden calling to me at this time of year. Actually, not so much calling as yelling, pleading with me to please rescue the plants before the ever invasive weeds encroach once more and smother the prettiness. Every year the garden's natural instinct to revert back to the field it once was wins. Possibly it is a bit easier this year?

And when I do finally make an appearance here, all I have to show are the simplest of makes. There are more, but they need photographing and well, you know... the garden. So birthday tees. The first made for our own P

 And then a couple for friends at school

Happy birthdays P, Magnus and Fred!