Starting a Rainbow Hoodie for a Little Mermaid in Banana Land

It's a miserable autumn day. 
What a wonderful excuse to stay inside and crochet!

Before my backside finds its favourite groove in the couch I did need to attend to some important little creatures.

Jerry (Hall) & Violet the guinea pigs needed a nice clean hutch with some extra straw for warmth.

So they came inside for cuddles with Sonofagun No.2 whilst I braved the chill and drizzle to muck out their house.



Guinea pigs are funny little creatures. Especially these two. One gets jealous when you're patting the other! They make that freaked out squealy piggie sound until you start patting her, which then changes to contented guinea pig purring and chattering. Then the other starts protesting because she's not getting pats! You have to find a way to pat both grumpy buggers at the same time!



With fresh sawdust and lots of hay stuffed in their castle and around the back for warmth and tunnelling, I popped the girls back in to Casa Guinea. They then ran around exploring and chattering to each other in their happy piggie way. Now I could get on with some crochet! 

A friend in Banana Land (Queensland) asked me via Facey if I could try making a cute Hoodie for her gorgeous little girl.  It's available as a free pattern on Ravelry by Marken of The Hat & I.


 It is absolutely adorable. It calls for worsted weight wool. The Google told me in the US this is like an Aussie 10 ply. We normally use DK or 8 plys here. And Banana Land is kind of hot. And when it's not hot, it's not cold either. In winter they shiver at a measley 19 degrees.  That's celcius. 

Soooo I've been faffing around with this one a bit. 
At first I used DK and a 3.5mm hook even though the pattern required a 5.5mm. 
It was obviously way too small.  You can't tell from the picture below, but this is the size for a 3 year old.  And Banana Land friends little girl aka The Little Mermaid (because she's an absolute swimming legend) is about 9 or 10?



I then have switched to 2 strands of DK and a 5mm hook.  This is giving the right measurements or gauge but will be way too thick for Banana Land.
I'll finish this one, then I think I'll do another in single strands, smaller hook but work out the extra chains etc required.

That pink, it's so bright!  My eyes! My eyes are burning!!!!

Last night was our usual Saturday night Hooked on Crochet. But instead of cosying up on the couch with our men and crochet in front of a movie in the comfort of the loungeroom,  we made it a family affair and took the Sonofaguns to the cinema to watch the latest Avengers Age of Ultron movie. 

And we took our crochet.
Yes, seriously.

We did have a few peeps look at us oddly when we pulled out wool etc.
A few curious souls even asked "how do you see what you're doing?"

The Blonde Bombshell is making a beautiful baby blanket for a soon to be new arrival in her family which just requires rows and rows of bobble stitch.
I started another placemat which is rows and rows of DC so we didnt really need to see what we were doing. Every now and then I used the light of the movie screen to check I was going alright but that's about it. 
Here's the Blonde Bombshell just before the lights dimmed and the movie started.  Many apologies for the blurry pictures!




And here's the start of my piece!


Do you have a Crochet Buddy? Or even a regular movie night?

It's often hard to find time for these things especially when you've got little grommits who zap your energy. But finding time to incorporate this kind of thing once a week or a fortnight can be so beneficial. Give it a go!

If you haven't already, pop on over to my Facey page and say hello.  I love new friends and sometimes post random mostly crochet related stuff which doesn't end up in Blogland.

Also pop on over to Handmade Monday and check out some other crafty blogs!




xox
Louise
The Red Haired Amazona 

Comments

  1. I do love your wiggies (as we call them in our house) or guinea pigs!

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    1. I think thats a cuter name. I'm going to call them The Wiggies from now on. Although I used to work with a guy with the last name Wiggins. And we all used to call him P Wiggie (like P Diddy).

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  2. The little piggies look so cute, as does your lovely hood! Your friend certainly won't lose her little girl in all those bright colours!

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    1. Hi Clare, thank you! It does stand out doesn't it!

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  3. I've never thought to take my crochet project to the cinema, makes perfect sense though, you are just sitting there for several hours - that's loads of valuable crochet time!
    Did you enjoy the film? My son went on Friday and loved it.

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    1. My thoughts exactly! Sitting still for 2 hours, may as well do something with my hands!
      I loved the movie. We're big superhero fans in my house. I'd happily go back and watch it again because there was visually so much going on!

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  4. What an amazing shaped hood, and even better that it's in rainbow colours! Hope you figure out the size you need ok!
    Hookin' in the cinema, well that's a new one to me :-)
    xx

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    1. Thank you. I love using the rainbow colours too! I'm finally 6 rows in to the actual piece and it's looking promising!

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  5. 19C is a HEATWAVE up Here! [Ottawa] ;-}
    Are you using a synthetic yarn or Cotton? I use a worsted weight 4-ply cotton with a 5.5mm hook - the stuff they use to make Washcloths with. - BERNAT Handicrafter or LILY Sugar'n Cream - Actually, they're the exact SAME yarn, just branded differently from Canada and the U.S.
    Anyhoo, it crochets up well, although sticks a bit if knitting.

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    1. 19 degrees. Phew! That's when we start feeling cold here in Melbourne!
      I'm using double knit acrylics for this and a 3.5mm hook. I love using 4 and 8 ply cotton to crochet with though as I've been using it for the cloche hats. It's so easy to work with!

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  6. The guinea piglets are so cute. Like the look of the hoodie.

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    1. I'm glad you like it! lets hope it turns out alright!

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  7. Aww your little guinea pigs are so cute :) I love the bright colours you're using for the hoodie, it will look fantastic when its done! x

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    1. Thanks for stopping by! The thing i love about Guineas is they've got so much personality! I'm glad you like the colours on my hoodie!

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  8. That will be a very pretty hoodie when you've finished. Fancy taking your crochet to the cinema, I've never heard of that before :D Your little guinea pigs look sooo cute :)

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    1. My crochet buddy and movie reviewer The Blonde Bombshell put me on to it. She goes to the movies at least 2-3 times a week and always takes her latest crochet WIP along with her!

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  9. Love the guinea pigs! So cute! And crochet in the cinema... I'm making that happen!

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  10. Your Piggy Wiggies are adorable, great names too.
    I don't do the cinema very often but I think they'd frown at me if I got my easel and paints out :) You've got the right idea with the crochet. I love the rainbow hood, I hope you're going to do the pom pom too. :)

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    1. Hi Jan! My Sonofagun No. 2 wanted to name them both Gip! And insists they're boys because apparently he doesn't like girls! I'm hoping to pop the pompom in but the Little Mermaid has said she doesn't want any. Maybe the next one!

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  11. I'm very impressed with your ability to crochet in the semi-dark, I don't think I'd manage it. I love the bright colours for the rainbow hoodie.

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    1. Hi Lucy!
      It can be a bit tricky but that's why I took along an easy project that doesn't require any detail or attention! Thanks for visiting!

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  12. Sweet guinea pigs! Gorgeous colours for the crochet, and crocheting in cinema rocks! I have a self-date night every Thursday, it's just me and the Newf, Fergus, while hubby goes to football and I settle down with chocolate, Scotch, a movie and some sewing, bliss. Creative Blessings, Tracy x

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    1. Tracy you're living the dream! Awesome self-date night! Creative blessings to you too!

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