Week 20 - Water Damage!

I have been after this book for a while.  I found a copy on eBay so I snapped it up, only to be told, about a week later, that it was no long in print, so I got a refund.

Then I went to Amazon and was surprised to see a few copies available on there.  I made my purchase & waited.

And waited.

It seemed to take forever to arrive but it finally did on Thursday & I was delighted.  Once the package was open, I flicked through the pages with a smile on my face, imagining all these amazing stitches on my stripy blanket, but then my smile turned upside down

The reason for this?  Water Damage! 

Yes, from page 117  onwards there was water damage, but even worse, from page 151 onwards the pages where actually stuck together

I contacted the seller, who gave me a refund.  Great, but now I had a badly damaged book.  I tried to steam the pages apart, but it was no good as they ripped and tore.

My search therefore continues!

The lovely Judy Heminsley, who I met via Twitter, kindly asked me if I'd like to be interviewed for her website this week - "Unusual Home Working Jobs" being the title of this particular post....

http://www.workfromhomewisdom.com/2014/05/20/unusual-home-working-crochet-teaching/

Hope you enjoy the read!

My Triangle a day blanket is now up to date & looking FAB

Last Saturday I took a Private Group Class for a Mum who was celebrating her 81st birthday on that very day, along with her two daughters.

We went through all the basics together in the 1st hour, as they all fancied a "refresher" even though they did already crochet - they all learnt something new, I was told.

Then Mum needed to go through a pattern she was stuck on.  I took a look at it for her, and in my 3rd attempt of deciphering the written text, we got there! 

In the meantime the Sisters followed a pattern to make a little Rose Brooch.

JP came to class on Wednesday - she's hooked on Mandala's since our last lesson & can you see what a great idea she's come up with!

She puts a strand of each colour she's using through the sieve's hole & then, pops the colour strand she's actually using though the handle!

In class we started to make our own Mandala

And now she's been given the homework of adding a new round - she's already emailed me, so I now have some homework to do!

Interestingly, the photo below is of the 2 mandala's we started, but each made in a different colour scheme - they look very different don't they?

JP also kindly left this very lovely review about my book

on Amazon's website this week....

I am very lucky to have Ali as my teacher - after only 5 lessons I have learnt so much from her and she explains it in a way in which you can really understand crochet. I bought the book because I found that even though I was taking so much in each lesson, there would be little niggly things/steps that I would forget when I was back home on my own crocheting. It was such a good buy! It's like having Ali home with me :) the traffic light system along with really helpful photos of the steps really help you visual what you need to do. I find the explanation in layman terms very very helpful as I am a beginner and it really does help you remember what you need to do for each abbreviated step.

This book really helps people at different beginning stages of learning crochet especially if your brain goes blank for a moment and you can have a quick read of the explanation :) I really cant wait for her future books!

Isn't that great feedback?

 Wednesday Night's Beginners class produced great results!

Homework was completed

Working in rows 

And in rounds

And they all started to make Granny Squares which was very thrilling

Thursday's Class, who are now very "intermediate"

came in with lovely flowers

Made with DMC

And one lady revealed - probably unknowingly, her hook addiction!

I know you are reading this ML so don't blush, but your hook collection is now more extensive than mine.

Last but not least is the Friday Crochet Class that I take in Shaftesbury at Sparrow UK

It was sadly the last class of the workshop & they all worked so hard

They were keen to learn colour changes and JAYGo, so we crammed a lot in.  It's fortunate that this is a small class so I was able to accommodate them their request.

More next week!

And finally my latest copy of Inside Crochet has arrived (it's available in the shops now) Issue 54

Another FAB issue packed with lovely makes by some very talented designers including Tracey Todhunter who's hooked a wonderful footstool in rainbow colours - I MUST hook one of these!!

If, like me, you have long hair and wear it in a pony tail a lot, do you ever wonder what to do with your pony tail,  when you want to wear a beanie?

Well in Issue 54 your find the solution!  Hook a Pony Tail Beanie - designed by yours truly!!

(All last 3 images are courtesy of Inside Crochet - Tailor Made Publishing)