Joining grannies

I'm still working on the granny squares for workshops. I want a few patterns which students can choose from to practise the basics. This - with ends darned in and cord applied - will be a bag for a little girl.

I've been playing with mug cosies for some time. The problem with them is that they tend so stretch and fall off the mug, even when they are fastened. Here we have my latest:

You can see how much I enjoy darning in the ends!

This is 3 small granny motifs with a double crochet edging. When you get to the short end, you work into the back loop only. This gives a stretchy bit which will (I hope) make the cosy stay on. It's going to be fastened with 2 linked toggles.Students will get a pack - yarn, mug, toggles, pattern.

Today (day off) I'm going to be joining the motifs for my third hippo. Lynne came in yesterday with queries about motifs, so I thought I'd show you my method of joining. I always join as I go, so from the second motif onward, on the last round, this is what I do:

The motif on the right is finished, so I'm working the last round of trebles on the one on the left. When I get to a place where I want to join, I work one chain, then take out the hook. (If you lengthen the loop as you do it, you'll avoid accidents). I insert hook where the join is to be, and pick up the working loop again.

Work one chain, and then I continue trebles on the unfinished motif. You can vary the number of chains to get different effects, or even use none at all.

Next I'm going to work on variants of grannies - rectangles, and then one with a little granny in the corner.

People - well, one person - has asked about Teasel, the newcomer to our home. She is settling in well, though it has taken three weeks, and is gradually exploring the house. Here we have her after a session of mad torture of the fish given her by Amanda.



You will all have recognised that I am rubbish at photos. I know it's a combination of impatience and ignorance, but I want to be crocheting. I asked son Gareth for photos of Teasel, and not content with a plain ordinary photo, he comes up with Ghost Cat.




But being 'artistic', he can't do my photos for me: he has to be 'inspired' and have the 'conditions right'.

So you'll have to put up with mine.