Crochet, crochet everywhere... in my house

I'm having one of those explosions of creativity.

And the house is a bloody mess.

All actions of domesticity have been abandoned, except for a brain fart I had yesterday when I found myself accidentally cleaning the oven.

People who know me will find this dreadfully out of character.

I've got three or four potential projects on the go which means if I don't rein myself in, none of them will get finished!
 
In the process I have created a crochet nest.

I read this interesting article in Simply Crochet magazine recently where Kat Goldin (in her regular column) describes the special nest she has created where she crochets on the couch. I have one of these. There is a spot in the corner that is ample ass sized, surrounded by all of the things to suggest a large, yarny Bower bird lives there.


Firstly I have been making mandalas.  Or doilies. How about Mandala Doilies? Mandoilies! They are mandala-ish but being used as doilies.
Here's some of what I've made so far.


I am loving making them.

 
I'm using bright coloured cotton yarns and they whip up so fast. I can make at least one in an evening in front of the telly, then start on another before I drag my exhausted body off to bed at ridonkulous hours.


I must admit it's not the crochet keeping me up, it's the bloody addictive binge tv on the Netflix! I've powered through 3 and a bit seasons of Arrow, halfway through season 2 of Daredevil and my personal collection of the X-Files.




I have been trying to perfect the stitch counts so they are regular, and easy to understand for when I publish the pattern.  I also really really want to make them into Youtube tutorials too. But it takes a while to make a good Youtube vid. So when I start to think about writing the patterns up, editing them into printable PDFs, writing a video tutorial plan, filming and editing, I feel a little overwhelmed and pick up another project!

Which has been my Stevie Bird pattern...
I thought that because Stevie Bird is such a popular little pattern, that I would also make a Youtube tutorial for it!

But I hadn't made any Stevies since last year, so I printed my PDF out and started making one.


Then I discovered a few ridiculous errors! How did I ever publish this with such glaringly bad mistakes???

I've made 2 Stevies in the past couple of days (whilst also making Mandoilies) and am currently updating the webpage pattern and the PDFs. Then hope to make a video tutorial for them.


My personal "veg out" project which I'm also making is a cardigan which I found on Ravelry.

It's called the Turnberry Cardigan which was designed by Drew Emborsky and is available for free.

I have a bag full of purple merino Superwash which I purchased for another project which I decided not to complete. Hopefully this one will turn out ok.


Do you have a Yarny Bower Bird Nest?

Comments

  1. I'm in love with your little birdie!! I would like to make one. It would look cute without the messy cage and food and water requirements. :-) Now.. I have often wondered about people calling doilies mandalas.. but maybe they think that calling them mandalas would distance themselves from the little old grey haired ladies in rocking chairs that are associated with making doilies? LOL! But.. the first part of "mandala" is man.. and mostly women make them.. so shouldn't they be WOMAN-dalas? :-) I love your nest and I have one too.. but it's not something I'd photograph as it's a big old crazy mess. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  2. Hello. Those little birds are adorable! What a cute idea. And, I love your mandoilies; such bright colors and design. I too have a little nest for myself when I knit or crochet. My ideas to make things seem to get ahead of my actually making them. Its fun though, isn't it? Have a great week, Pat :)

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  3. Love all your creations, those mandalas are beautiful and the birds are so tweet

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  4. I love the bright and cheerful colours on your mandalas, makes doilies look a whole lot more interesting.

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  5. I love the Mandoilies .... great word... a lot like a Mankini! I think I might have to use that!

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  6. Ha ha love the mandoilies too. Oh my word I 'command' the sofa with endless bags of yarn when I crochet - I do have a rocking chair too but it's in the conservatory and although it's heated it's not a comfy space to sit on a chilly evening. Love your little birds- does one of them look like your budgie?

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  7. Your wonderful birdies are so so cute, I think your so clever to write a pattern, (I can't even crochet a granny square)
    I have an area of crafting goodness too but mine is the kitchen table which sometimes overflows to the ironing board (for measuring not ironing) and the cooker top. :)

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  8. The mandalas are very pretty, and I love the birds, especially the second one. I am always appauled at myself if I find an error in a pattern. But I think sometimes the eye see what it wants to see.

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  9. Love your makes - all so gorgeous! Loving your nest- think i have the same atm :D x

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  10. I love your blog! hill air eous! WHY oh Why don't we all switch to charts? The old long written way is soo old fashioned. Just draw out the chart- label it with the symbols- note the yarn and hook info on the same page and you are done- as a bonus, those of us who have crochetted a while- we don't need page after page of instructions and explanations which are usually included for beginners. You can still do a tutorial but it wouldn't be mixed up with the pattern. Everything can be put on the chart-similar to the Japanese patterns which are the most thorough. I for one would be so so thankful! The old way is too tedious, both for the creator, and the consumer.

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  11. I love your blog! hill air eous! WHY oh Why don't we all switch to charts? The old long written way is soo old fashioned. Just draw out the chart- label it with the symbols- note the yarn and hook info on the same page and you are done- as a bonus, those of us who have crochetted a while- we don't need page after page of instructions and explanations which are usually included for beginners. You can still do a tutorial but it wouldn't be mixed up with the pattern. Everything can be put on the chart-similar to the Japanese patterns which are the most thorough. I for one would be so so thankful! The old way is too tedious, both for the creator, and the consumer.

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    Replies
    1. Nice to meet you Connie! You know what would be awesome? If someone invents design software so that all you need to do is make a thing, take a photo of it, upload it to the software and then it automatically writes up the pattern for you! Then life would be perfect!

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