first hurdle

Well, I fell at the first hurdle with the ripple blanket, the first hurdle being the correct crochet stitch. It does help.

I sat and hooked my way through the chain, the beginnings of the ripples and the stripes, and then began to realise my work looked nothing like the pattern photograph. But I was too idle to get up and check in another book to see what I should be doing. Finally, I shifted myself and discovered that I'd been doing single, not double, crochet. Ho hum. That's what comes of being lazy.

I decided I liked the effect enough not to unravel the strip, and Phoebe very kindly suggested that it would make a good scarf for Josie the giraffe who apparently needs one urgently (as well as a new eye). She was right, my bungled blanket looks just great on Josie.

However, when Phoebe had gone to school I sneakily put the 'scarf' on Stanley, the pink bear I knitted last year and, secretly, I think it suits Stanley better. He even looks quite intellectual in an Oxbridge-student-gone-awry sort of way.

So, I have to start my ripple blanket all over again and reconsider my time-frame. Mmmm, better not say too much as I'm clearly not yet a thoroughbred crocheter, by any stretch of the imagination.

Comments

[Julie]

I think Stanley looks great in his muffler. Isn't crochet fun (and satisfying)? Quick results and pretty textures. I knit, but love to edge my knit pieces with crochet, which is something I learned from my mother. My daughter crochets very well, and has been making socks for Christmas gifts. I don't know that I've ever seen crocheted socks, but I have a feeling I will see some very soon.

[Violetsrose]

You'll LOVE this:

http://historically-inaccurate.blogspot.com/2006/12/toile-tats-cushions.html

[vanessa]

oooh! That's a lovely taster of what's to come, and I very much look forward to seeing the new start. Courage!!

[Vicki in Michigan]

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit????

:-) :-) A perfect book for a pink knitted bear in a gorgeous new scarf to be reading. :-)

[hoyan]

Soon every savannah and forest creature will be wanting this exclusive scarf. I look forward to seeing the blanket!

[Verrito]

wow! i love the scarf!!! it's great! and Stanley is so lovely....

*_*

[Cara]

Lurker here, but I just had to comment. When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit was my absolute favorite book when I was a girl. I have the dogeared copies in my shelf right now and might just have to read it again. Thank you for the memory!

[Mary K. in Rockport]

Oh, my older daughter loved that book. It was part of a graduated approach to Holocaust reading for little girls, followed by "Number the Stars," then "The Diary of Anne Frank," of course.

[Krawuggl]

I love the colours, they are so bright and cheerful. And what a great coincidence, I am doing right now a scarf in this pattern and thought, what a great pattern this would also be for a blanket. It took me, like you, some rows to get into the rhythm, but I like it alot, it always reminds me of Missoni-patterns. I just finished the crochetting last night and now have to weave in a hundreds of threads, you are much more clever than me to have crochetted them in along your way. Looking forward to see your new start.

[Nonnie]

I think Josie and Stanley both look good in the scarf so maybe you need to do another wrong one before you get it right!

[Annalea]

I must say, I love Stanley's sweater--and the fact that "he" is wearing pink. :o) Color use in the US is often so gender-specific . . .

As for your crochet--except for the small detail of correct stitch, your construction looks flawless. The ripples are even and neat, and I think once you get going with double crochets, you'll find that the afghan positively flies by. I crocheted a ripple afghan in king size for a friend's wedding gift, and while it did take me quite some time, it didn't consume my entire life for the duration.

Keep on . . . I'd love to see further progress on your foray into crochet.

[kirsty mitchell]

haha my friend chris has a scarf precisely like that one that i made him and he *is* an oxbridge student gone awry! we royal we) portsmouth students who've yet to go awry are wearing a black cabled rowan big wool scarf taller than ourselves this winter. have to admit, if my winter coat wasn't patterned, i'd be wearing the same as my oxbridge counterparts.

when hitler stole pink rabbit was one of my favourite books in primary school.

[Gaile]

The scarf idea is cute! I love it on the bear, he's quite adorable. As for crochet, you'll get the hang of it all quick enough.

Love your photos, they are always inspiring.

[Pamela]

Stanley is adorable, especially in the scarf. Josie looks like an agreeable sort, I'll bet she'll let him borrow it from time to time. Is there a pattern available for Stanley?

[Lynn in Tucson]

I read that book! What a blast from the past.
The "huggies" are well turned out at our house as well. Mama Bunny just got a new pair of shoes to match her bathrobe. I did make her a scarf last year but have not yet tackled the hat that would accomodate her ears. Haven't made her mittens yet, either....

[Georgia]

I killed myself laughing at that last photo. Oh, I do love Stanley. And I do love your wicked sense of humour. I'm very eager to see your blanket.

[Beth S.]

Is there really a book about Hitler and a pink rabbit? How incredible!...

I don't remember the title of the ripple stitch book you're working from, but if it was published in the US it will use different nomenclature for all the various crochet stitches. I think you subtract one to get from US terms to British terms (i.e. our triple crochet is your double crochet--or is it the other way around? Suddenly I'm not sure which way it goes, but there is a difference, I promise.) I wonder if that's what brought you to grief the first time around?

[Monica]

This made me laugh and love your blog even more. The surprise element keeps me hooked.

NOTE to Violetsrose: the link you provide is fabulous! (I have already forwarded it to three people). It was so weird seeing the black and white toile sofa because yesterday Jane posted the picture of a room at the Hotel du Petit Moulin so I went into the hotel's website and one of the rooms there has a black and white toile next to an orange chair. I have that same color in my living room and I thought the toile looked fantastic next to it so I decided that I must have some black and white toile next to my orange banquettes. Then today, your link with a whole sofa in black toile! Thank you!!!

[di]

The last photo there made me laugh out loud. I love your sense of humour!

[catherine]

The single crochet ripple makes a perfect scarf! (and the colours look fantastic). Stanley is a very handsome boy. Your photos have inspired me to whip up something equally smart for my daughter's beloved Woolly bear. He is getting smaller as he gets older and his current jumper swamps him.

[Rose Red]

Beth S is right - US and UK crochet patterns use the same names for different stitches! very confusing!
UK double crochet is US single crochet; UK treble is US double crochet. UK doesn't have a single crochet stitch - that's usually a good way to tell, if you can't otherwise.
But it does look great - especially on Stanley.

[Kelly]

It does indeed make a lovely scarf. I have an afghan made like this (in double) from a dear friend of the family, I love it!

[barbara van asch]

Thanks for your lovely blog which I first came across reading A Ervilha Cor de Rosa. It is very inspiring, congratulations on the good work (and the tasteful approach to kitsch!). It makes you feel in touch with the good things in life. Have a nice X-mas and the happiest New Year. Cheers!

[Dorothy B]

I love how it looks as a scarf. Especially on Stanley. I'm tempted to try that out myself for my nieces. They would love something like that. That stitch is a favourite of some of the ladies around here. My daughter has a blanket done with it in pink and white.

[Amber]

One of my first and most important stuffed animals was "Giraffey". We once had a very kind veterinarian who would glue his felt nose and/or mouth back on every time we had to bring in our cat. I hope the new eye comes through, the better to see the new scarf in full perspective. I'm with Phoebe on this one - I think it's best on Josie.