psychedelic crochet drugs

Time for a crochet post, don't you think?
Even though it doesn't feature on this blog nearly enough, I always have some crochet on the go.
It is also one of my busiest craft classes at work and so far I have taught 18 students to crochet and most of these have now entered a dangerous state of wool addiction. I do feel a bit like a drug pusher as they turn up at the shop week after week, glassy eyed, clutching cash and gasping for "more wool, more wool, please, just one more ball!". I do always warn them at the start of the 'Learn to Crochet' class that it is extremely addictive!
The Rooster wool I bought for the shop back in July has been a great success and I am now awaiting a huge delivery of Sirdar, Sublime, Patons and Regia sock wool any day!!! (see what I mean about feeling like a drug pusher!)
I have also noticed some crochet action on a few other blogs recently - Lynz has just taught herself through You Tube videos. Way to go Lynz! It's not easy to learn that way, much better to come to a nice workshop with me :)

I have another friend's special birthday coming up soon (in fact a have quite a few this year!), so I thought I would get started now on a lovely blanket which I could potter away at for the next few months. I started off making these hexagons, above, with Rooster aran wool. The pattern is from the same book as the Roses and Daises Blanket I made for my niece's wedding last year, and is based on a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt. 

But it just wasn't doing it for me. It just looked a bit blah. So I have abandoned it and turned to my favourite crochet blog Attic 24 for inspiration.

And found it straight away on Lucy's gorgeous blog! Granny circles, perfect! I am currently obsessed with circles inside squares as a quilt pattern so this just shouted out to me. This is an old project of Lucy's, adapted from a vintage crochet book, and made into a gorgeous blanket by a friend of her's and featured here.

Lucy promised to note down the pattern very soon, but I couldn't wait and liked the challenge of working it out myself - which I did! Not sure if I have done it exactly the same way as Lucy, but I love it! 

And the difference between these squares and the earlier hexagons is that I just can't take my eyes off them! A great crochet design should be totally mesmeric and every square you finish should fill you with joy. This design is a particularly potent psychedelic drug, and I am hooked (haha)!

But what of that amazing African Flower Blanket you were working on a year or so ago, Jo? 

Well I am STILL working on it! In fact I love it so much I don't think I will ever stop, but just keep adding more and more flowers until I become crushed under the weight of wool - what a way to go!! (I think this is known as O.D.ing on crochet!).

NB I have now put together an inspiration pack of some of the wools I used to make the Granny Circles which you can buy at our website here