Well, as you can see, progress is pretty slow with the Ripple. It takes me a whole evening to do a row, and even then i have to only concentrate on that - no peeking at online TV programme replays (sorry Hugh and Kirstie) or talking to my husband, or anything like that. I still love it and want to be spending time with it, but there are so many other things happening too.
I had a slight colour crisis when I added that bright yellow, but I think I am ok with it now. I am just trying to decide what yarn to use next - white or green. I think white followed by green - yes? I have just ordered a light tangerine and a beige to spice up the mix a bit.
I just thought I would put it beside my lovely Ikea pillowcases to see how it would look, and I am pretty pleased with it - actually really thrilled with it, considering the fact that I could not crochet at all until a few months ago. I will try and move this along a bit, but I can hear the tinkling sound of crocheted snowflakes calling me
And now to some reading. Yes - the Christmas home style magazines are out. These are my favourites, and it just wouldn't be Christmas without poring over the sparkly loveliness in these pages. I am also still on a country village reading kick. A bit of gentle country crisis and intrigue in The Choir, by Joanna Trollope. Just getting into this one and meeting the various characters, but looking good so far. I am also dipping in (frequently) to Country Things. I love Alison Uttley - author of the Little Grey Rabbit stories, and other evocative books. This is one of her memoirs, growing up on a farm in Derbyshire in the early years of the 1900s. She writes here about listening to tales, toys, Christmas, country cures and farm kitchens. I bought this one, second hand online and was delighted to find it was an old library book, stamped "Lincolnshire County Council" I love books like that. My favourite is one of James's which once graced the shelves in Tulsa City County Library.
There we are then - lots of yarns to be going on with. I am happy to be joining in with Ginny at Small Things for Yarn Along once more. Pop over and see what everyone else is up to.
And I would also like to wish everyone celebrating this weekend a very blessed time.
Your ripples are moving along quite well... it is going to be lovely
ReplyDeletewow - that crochet is amazing. you've officially inspired my 2012 new year's resolution. a trip to tiree to get a neighbour to teach me - she always wins the prizes at the annual show. I mean, I could try and teach myself from online resources/books, but I think a few hours in her croft in 2012 would be an awful lot more fun!
ReplyDeleteThe ripple is lovely and the yellow is PERFECT!
ReplyDeleteRippling along lovely, and yes I thought white next then green. Looking forward to seeing your progress.
ReplyDeleteI haven't got the patience for such a large crochet project - *whispers* not really that keen on crochet after wanting to learn for so long and achieving that last year - will stick to flowers and motifs here I think, tempted by snowflakes too ;-)
Oh Jacqui I looooove your blanket, it is going to be so gorgeous. I really want to learn to crochet simply because I envy your blanket so much! Yes, white then green, perfect xxx
ReplyDeleteLovely colors -
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work - really, you've only been crocheting for a short while? Congratulations!
Blessings
Karen
You know, I bet that if you got an outside aerial it would fix that ripple effect.
ReplyDeletep.s. seriously, you'll never go far wrong with a tangerine, a much underrated colour rarely seen since the seventies (and I love it)!
You are doing so well with your ripple Jacqui, it's looking cosy and snuggly, must get out to the shop and buy me a little christmas inspiration, you can't beat a christmas magazine for getting you in the festive spirit. x
ReplyDeleteWhen you do complete this afghan, it is going to be a work of art Jacqui! I think it is absolutly beautiful! My Mother was a crocheter, but sadly it is not something I can do.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame that you can't work on it and do other things at the same time, but I think, little by litte, it will get finished and remember...it's a process, so enjoy it! :)
xx
I love your ripples. If you want snowflakes, you should follow Snowcatcher at http://www.snowcatcher.net/. Who knows, maybe you already do.
ReplyDeleteYour crocheting is impressive and so pretty...especially to someone like me who hasn't learned how to do it, yet.
ReplyDeleteBut I mostly wanted to say how much I feel the same...about Alison Uttley and used books with library stamps in them. I wonder if you know Alison Uttley's Christmas Stories? They are my favorite Christmas stories...so gentle and evocative.
wooow! is that going to be a blanket then? amazing. you'll love it forever.
ReplyDeleteLovely ripples, it reminds me of afghans my mother made me!
ReplyDeleteYour ripples are looking fab, and I love the yellow stripe, I think it fits in really well with the overall colour scheme. The blanket really does work beautifully with the pillow cases too :)
ReplyDeleteI love your blanket of ripples. The colors are working well with each other. I like the spontaneity of the colors and it does work well with the pillowcase. I am a novice at crochet, but I think your blanket has made a ripple with me. I believe one is in order after the first of the year.
ReplyDeleteThe ripple is just gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI loved the grey rabbit stories as a child and Joanna Trollope is a great wind down read.
Hugs San xx
Chiming in too that your ripples are lovely! A good project for January, when things slow down perhaps. I do love the crochet snowflakes..haven't done any for quite a while!
ReplyDeleteYour books sound lovely too!
Last day of work today for me, a nice 4-day weekend, so I will wish you a wonderful weekend Jacqui, full of many blessings!
meggs.xx
The ripple is looking wonderful and yes, the yellow really lifts the whole thing. You know, I really should use yellow more, so cheering.
ReplyDeleteAnd how can you be so neat already?
xx
Love the ripple. I too have been working on a ripple for 6 months. I take it out and add a row and then put it away for weeks : ( I started it out in wool in a bunch of colors but I was not happy with it so after weeks of work, I ripped it all out and went out to buy all the colors of the rainbow in cotton. Now I love it but that is not making me finish it any faster : ) Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteI just LOVE your ripples! The colours are beautiful... I have the same yearnings to crochet a snowflake... or two!!
ReplyDeleteRipples are lovely :) i have found it fascinating how the colours just seem to present themselves as you come to them, I love how it seems to have a mind of its own.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for crocheted snowflakes I can seriously recommend them! And to stiffen them just use a bit of watered down pva glue ;)
Thank you alhat. for you encouragement.
ReplyDeleteTracey - you are right = it is a process, and i am enjoying just
Meggs - have a wonderful long weekend. xx
Peggy - I didn't know about that blog, but i do now - thank you. x
LM - Tiree sounds nice - i am sure I could do a ferry hop down.
Lesley - Hello and thanks for visitnig - I do indeed have the Christmas Stories, and i am looking forward to the 1st December to bring out all our Christmassy books. It will be first on our reading list. So beautiful. I still remember my dad reading Brock the badger to my sister and I.
xxxx
wow... if thats what can be learnt in a few months i have no excuse to not start crocheting right now!! The snowflakes sounds a cute thing to start with!
ReplyDeleteBTW... i am currently snuggled under that very same Ikea set!!! Isn't it just so pretty!!
Lovely ripples! Looking good!
ReplyDeleteI have a snowflake desire myself. I may start a few because I need a break from my current projects.
Beautiful!!! I actually LOVE the bright yellow and I think it would look good next to that pretty dark green:) ~ Barefoot mama
ReplyDeleteOmg, that RIPPLE is amazing! Take lesson from the Amish quilts : it's he unexpected touch of color (not too much now) which absolutely *makes* the quilt. I had the very exact same dilema in my sweaters for nieces (on my blog, a few posts down) the greens and blues and well, there's that almost way too-yellow, but you know, it had to stay, but I hated it .. until it was ALL DONE, and all the colors together breathed *sparkle* because of it ! You'll love your yellow ripple just as well, I know it. You'll think 'wow, that yellow really sets it off, because of the fact that it constantly pushes it slightly out of symetry, or balance, or whatever. Wonderful !
ReplyDeleteOh, I love crocheted ripple blankets! Yours is looking lovely. :)
ReplyDeletewhat a lovely thing you'll have someday. it really looks like fun to do, i love all the colors.
ReplyDeleteWow Im impressed!! love your ripple blanket & colors look great.( pillow cases are nice too)
ReplyDeleteWow, I love your ripple! Can't believe you only recently learned to crochet> I am a knitter and long to learn to crochet but am put off as it looks so hard, any tips on how to teach yourself, or were you lucky enough to have a real life teacher?!
ReplyDeleteUltra clever Jacqui.
ReplyDeleteI'm off to the wool shop this weekend to get some 'beginners' kit and have a go.
your ripple is GORGEOUS!!! Patience....a virtue I have difficulty with sometimes!!! (I'm working on a granny that is "resting" now)
ReplyDeleteSo jealous your Country Living is out already--it seems I must wait FOREVER for mine to arrive here in the states (it's the only magazine I get anymore--everything else pales in comparison!)
I think it looks fabulous. Can't wait to see more of it as it grows..
ReplyDeleteIt may be slow, but its so lovely. I don't buy magazines, I dont feel they are worth the money, but I do feel Christmas has arrived when the Christmas Radio Times goes on sale lol, which inevitably has Dr Who on the cover (which was an added bonus when it was David Tennant).
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your reading.
V
xxx
Oh yes lovely lovely colours! It's going to be such a fabulous blanket when you're done! :)
ReplyDeleteyour blog is so lovely. it feeds my artistic soul with all the wonderful yarnwork and talk of beautiful Christmas decorations.
ReplyDeleteJacqui, not only is your actual crochet inspiring, but the fact that you're just learning is even more so! I second Journeys to Scotland - your blog is very nourishing. x
ReplyDeleteA Country Child is one of my all-time favourites. Time for a seasonal re-read!
ReplyDelete