She's a crafty one...

Every so often I get the urge to do something creative, if you've read my blog blurb you'll know that I'm a big fan of crochet.  In truth I don't have much talent, but I do enjoy it and I find it relaxing, so when the mood takes me I like to try my hand.  The main problem that I have is that I'm useless at following a pattern, it all comes down to thinking that if whatever I'm making isn't exactly the way the pattern says it should be, I decide it's gone wrong, lose interest and move on to something else.  If I "go rouge" and do things my own way I can't go wrong, only take a different course.  I find I finish more projects if I stay away from patterns...

So, I thought I'd show you what the crafty bug has had me doing lately:

This blanket is pretty much my nemesis.  It's been hanging around for a long old time now!  In actual fact this picture isn't exactly up to date either, I have since completed a third row, but I haven't sewn them together yet.  That Baby asked me to make her a bright colourful blanket to go over her bed, and this is the result.  It's my go to project when I have nothing else on, which is probably why it seems to be taking ages to finish, it's already huge!  I love the fact that I don't need to have specific wool for it and that I can just use up whatever is left over from a real project.

I recently finished my hot water bottle cover, another project that seems to have been hanging around for a while.  This was my first foray into bobbly crochet and I rather like the effect.  I'm pretty happy to have finally finished this, albeit just as the weather seems to be taking a turn for the better...

Ahhh, the bee and the chick.  I made the bee because That Baby asked for one, we used to dress her up in a bee outfit when she was little and I've always associated little fuzzy bumble bees with her.  This particular specimen also looks a little fuzzy because This Baby took a liking to it and she's given it a pretty good chewing.

The chick on the right hand side was a trial run of a toy that I wanted to make for my friend's baby when he or she arrives in June.  I like to have go at a rough copy first if I'm making a gift so I can get my head around what I'm doing, usually I cock it up somewhere along the line.  This particular chick has one massive wing and one tiny one, a bit like Nemo.  Still This Baby doesn't seem to care and she's given it a lot of love.

I was asked to make a pink strawberry the other day and this is what I managed.  Terrible picture quality for which I apologise. I can't say I love it and I'm not particularly proud of it, but I knocked it up in about an hour and my little madam was pleased as punch.  

Finally this is the chick toy I have made for my friend's baby.  I decided to switch materials to a bamboo/silk/wool blend as I wanted it to have a smoother finish and I'm pretty pleased with the result.  It has a rattle inside which was a pain in the 'arris to get in!

The problem that I have is that I tend to think everything I've made is crap and I find fault with it, so obviously I'm not JUST going to give her a home made crocheted chick as a baby gift, I'll make sure she has some proper presents to go with it.

What do you think?  Any favourites?  Is the chick an ok present, or should I just keep it for one of my own little ones?   Some feedback would be much appreciated!

Love, love,