Two totally unrelated matters

First, this is a picture of my latest crochet WIP, a tablecloth for my patio table. I'm using Frank O'Randle's Rings of Change pattern which is on Ravelry. Every row is different on it so it's quite a challenge. I'm using two strands of Scheepjesw Maxi crochet cotton and I'm really enjoying making it.

I've adapted it slightly. I needed a hole in the middle for the parasol to go through so I omitted some earlier rounds and started later on with a twenty chain hole. I've also missed out some rounds later on where there were 3-D dragon scales going on because a tablecloth really needs to lie totally flat. The scales would've been right in the red wine glass region. The thought of spilling wine that I could so easily drink is slightly shocking, so I've repeated some of the earlier flat rounds and then gone back to the pattern for the later rounds. It's a little ruffled around the edges as you can see in the second pic but I will be stretch blocking it so it'll lie flat when it's finished.

I don't think it's going to be completed before colder weather arrives with a vengeance but you never know. At least I'll be ready for next year and maybe with some matching cushions!

Another thing that is late and the totally unrelated matter mentioned in the title to this bloggage is that my greenhouse is finally arriving next Wednesday. We didn't realise when we ordered it that it was on a four week delivery .... we have ordered three greenhouses in the past and none of them took this long. It's a bog standard size and finish so I would've thought a stock item but unfortunately not. I have been impatiently ticking off the days and putting all my tender cuttings in the house at night.  MTM is taking some time off to help me put it up - another reason to hope this fine weather lasts!

Flight of Fancy Peacock wrap finished!

My #scheepjeswol  #scheepjesCAL2015 Flight of Fancy #teampeacock wrap is finished and blocked! During the week, I tried to describe my favourite way of wearing it to the Group but in the end a picture is better than words and here I am wearing it. I'm really pleased with it and have really enjoyed joining in with the discussions during the Crochet-A-Long, I'm definitely interested in doing another one.

The second photo is a bit shady but shows where I put the shawl pin a bit better.

A rear view showing how it looks from the back. I'm not doing a Morecombe and Wise impersonation (though some more sunshine would be nice), I am actually trying to flick my hair in a cavalier manner but I ended up just looking a bit camp! 

And of course naughty 603 trying to hide the shawl pin and misbehaving as usual! 

Nearly ready for take off

Our Scheepjes Flight of Fancy Crochet-A-Long wraps are nearly ready for flight. Above shows all my motifs prior to joining together along with what's left of the 603 Linen Soft (she just has to get in on ALL the pics!)

The last week and a half evenings have been spent joining them all together, I got finished on that yesterday but have found a couple of oopsies ...

To join the motifs together, there are two rounds of chain, double crochet (UK), slip stitches and picots. As the black circle indicates, I've forgotten one of my picots when joining this motif. I'd joined the rest of that row and nearly all of the following one before I spotted it. Since seeing that one, I've found another as well, that's the trouble with watching TV at the same time as crocheting!

I have figured out a way of fixing this fairly easily (ie without having to remove all the motifs I joined after the one with the error). So I continued on and finished all the joining. That's this evening's task. I'm painting a wall in the garden today so we can get the greenhouse delivered and put up in time for the Autumn.

All that's left to do on our lovely Flight of Fancy wraps is the final border. The pattern will be released on the Scheepjes Spring-to-Summer CAL 2015 group Facebook page later on this week. Then the whole thing will be blocked to open out the joining rounds and then I'll be able to wear it.

Am so looking forward to Wednesday morning!

Turning green

Hiya, 603 here again. My other numbered friends and I are getting on really well together in our Scheepjes hessian bag waiting for the Scheepjes CAL 2015 to start on the 10th. Here's 606 giving me a leg up to peer inside one of my owner's work boxes to see what she's doing. She tells me it'll be our turn next and very soon! We can't wait but seeing other yarn getting used instead of us makes us envious .... at least 606 is supposed to be that colour .... there's a real danger I may become green with envy too!

#scheepjeswol #scheepjesCAL2015

I'm a Peacock! (in the Scheepjes Spring-to-Summer CAL 2015 Flight of Fancy)

I have joined the Scheepjes Spring-to-Summer CAL 2015 (short for Crochet-A-Long)! If you don't already know, a CAL is where a group of people all make the same item in stages at the same time, comparing notes, sharing the joys and triumphs and asking for help if you need it on social media. It's also a great way to connect with other people all over the world who like crocheting.

This is a sneak peak at the Flight of Fancy shawl we'll be making, designed by Annelies Baes.

My Scheepjeswol yarn is already pre-ordered in the Peacock colourway, there's a choice of 3, you can be a Heron or a Hummingbird too! Deramores start dispatching the packs on 18 May; I'm hopeful it will arrive next week, we all start crocheting on 10 June. 

It's the first time I've ever joined in on a CAL, I'm really excited and I'm thinking it's going to be super-fun. The yarn sounds divine, a mixture of linen, cotton and acrylic. I'm so impatient for it to arrive! 

 #scheepjeswol #scheepjesCAL2015