Verb: pootle
poo-t(u)l To move in a leisurely unhurried way,
with no real purpose


Sunday 8 June 2014

A job done and a bit of a Jolly ...

 
 
It's done ... I did it !
I managed to complete 'The quickest blanket in the world ' in time for my friends Birthday.
It took exactly a week to make, and that was with normal everyday life carrying on at the same time.
Now I can absolutely assure you I am not particularly speedy when it comes to crochet, and nor did I spend twelve hours a day working on it ( working full time soooo gets in the way of crochet ! ) its just that the chunky wool works up so quickly.
I never normally time myself when working on things but this time I did, just out of curiosity really.
Each ball of wool, and I used 16 in total for the main bit of the blanket, took an hour to crochet, and then I used one more chunky for the border and one ball of DK for the ruffle. The border took 4 hours to finish. The stitch I used for the main bit of the blanket was Half Trebles with two rows of Double Crochet for the border, and then three Trebles into one stitch for the ruffle edging.
Fascinating stuff huh ?
Gosh, I really must be turning into quite a crochet geek I think -
sorry if you have all now lost the will to live on this one.
Aaannnnyway ... I quickly took some photo's of it...
 
 
... and although it did look really very scrummy on the top of the basket in my bedroom ...

 
... I did wrap it up and give it to Claire,
and she loved it !
Yay !
 

After all the crocheting I took a little time out on Friday this week as there was an
event going on very near where I live and once I'd seen it advertised there was
absolutely no way I wasn't going to go.
It was taking place in a tiny hamlet just outside of Bath called St. Catherine.
The list of stall holders was quite mouth watering and to top it all off there
was a Cabbages and Roses ( my most favourite clothes in the world ) sale stall there.
 

The wiggly windy drive through the country lanes to get there was absolutely
beautiful , so amazingly green and lush, all single track though so I was very glad
I had chosen to go on the Friday rather than the much busier Saturday.
 Several times I wondered if I was actually going the right way, especially when I was
checked out by this rather curious lamb who was right in the middle of the road
and seemed to be looking at me
 in a  'What are you doing here ? ' way.

 
I got there in the end and wow.... I felt as though I had walked right in  to a
copy of Homes and Gardens.
It was a complete feast for the eyes, set in the most idyllic cottage garden that ran down to a brook, tucked away right at the bottom of a valley.

 
I strolled, and looked ,


and oohed and aahed ...


 
... and I just may have shopped a tinsy tiny bit too.
You see, one of these dresses had 85% off and the other two 75% ... what's a girl to do ?
And then , of course, I needed a basket to put them in !
 
 
It was a truly heavenly morning out,
 
 
and one of the stalls there, Will and Bea, have pretty much captured
 the whole thing in their gorgeous collage of photo's.
 
 
One other very exciting thing that happened this week was that I received
 'Highly Commended' in the results of Deramores Blog Awards.
I have to confess it did bring about quite a bit of squealing and jumping
  in the office that morning.

 
See, look , there I am at the bottom, second in from the left
 - squeal !
 
And just one more thing before I go...
if you would like to help me celebrate my first Bloggy Birthday at the end of
June don't forget to enter my Birthday Giveaway either by saying hello in the
comments below or on my Facebook page here.
 

 The two winners will be picked out of a hat on the 24th June.
Thank you to everyone who has entered so far ... it has been so lovely to hear from lots of new followers this week and to be able to pop over to visit lots of new blogs.


 
 
 Have a good week.

44 comments:

  1. What a fantastic outing, there always seems to be something going on 'down south' . I guess it must happen here 'up north' but not sure where. Happy Sunday. Anne x

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    1. You see Anne I wish Yarndale was nearer to me ! Grass is always greener ....
      Have a great week
      Kate x

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  2. Oh wow Kate if I had attended this event I think I would of died and gone to heaven. It looks wonderful. I think you showed a lot of restraint in only picking up three dresses and a basket. So glad your friend liked her blanket but really what was there not to like it's gorgeous and colours has such subtle tones. I wish I had been a fly on the wall when you realised you had the award from Deremores such an accolade in your first year of blogging.

    Can't wait till the 24th and the announcement of the winners of your giveaways.

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    1. Oh Mittzi, it was amazing - like being lifted up and put down in your dream place.
      have a great week,
      Kate x

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  3. I think I would have ruined my wallet if there was such an event here nearby... Plus I'm sure that that little lost lamb would have come home with me ;-)... Such a cutie...
    I'm still amazed with the speed of your crocheting - gosh, only one week ! And you combined that with full time work ? Question, how much coffee did you have that week ;-) ?

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    1. That lamb was so funny - he looked so indignant that I was wanting to come by !
      Have a great week Ingrid,
      K x

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  4. Absolutely gorgeous blanket Kate! I'm not surprised your friend loved it. That looks like such a lovely day out, everything looks beautiful.
    Congratulations on the blog awards too! Very well deserved.
    Marianne x

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    1. Thank you Marianne, there was a fair bit of excitement it has to be said.
      K x

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  5. Kate xx That looks like my kind of day out. The kind of day where you leave your purse at home for fear of bankruptcy by tea-time lol. Totally delicious!!

    The blanket is lovely, well done you on finishing it in record time. I always love your colour choices. I remember I made a prayer shawl under similar circumstances and it is amazing how much you can achieve if you use every spare moment wisely [I think I put myself on an internet ban that week].

    I have entered your Birthday Bloggy Giveaway already but if I say 'Hi' again here do I get my name in twice?? No?? Oh well, worth a try lol...

    hugs as always

    S xx

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    1. Absolutely you get your name in twice !!
      Have a great week Sharon, K x

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  6. Wow, the blanket you've made for your friend is wonderful. I can't believe you made it so quickly! I love the colour you've used and the border too. You know, I am a total crochet geek so all the better with the info, thanks! Sam xx

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    1. We can be crochet geeks together then !
      K x

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  7. Well done you! The blanket is so nice, and I love the neutral colour. Congrats on the blog award!

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  8. Oh what a beautiful post! Dreamy, really, the blanket looks so cozy and gorgeous, and the brocante is just exquisite! I don't think I would have left, I would have taken up house in one of those stalls...Love the photos!!! Chrissie x

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    1. I didn't think about that Chrissie - I should have just set up camp shouldn't I !
      K x

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  9. Lovely post, the photos look fab. What a brilliant morning out and that little sheep is sooo cute. That blanket certainly did grow quickly and looks beautiful. Well done with the deramores comp, well deserved xx

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  10. Congratulations on the Deramores result, so well deserved!! The blanket is SO gorgeous. And that fair, well truly drool worthy. Have a great week, Sarah xo

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  11. Blimey, a blanket in a week, I am WELL impressed! That is awesome, and I bet the chunky wool gives it a wonderful weight and warmth (as well as the added bonus of being very quick to work up). A massive well done on the Deramores competition, you really deserve it, you are a talented crocheter. x

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    1. Thank you Gillian for your sweet words, K x

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  12. What a beautiful day out !
    Lovely pics.

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  13. Well done on getting your blanket finished in record time, I will definitely go down the chunky yarn route if I need to get something done quickly from now on! Your visit to the Brocante looks like my ideal morning out - love those dresses and what a bargain, you couldn't possibly have left them there! Congrats again on the blog award, what a nice bloggy birthday present. Have a lovely week.
    Jane x

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    1. Hi Jane, You should definitely give the chunky a try - its very satisfying, K x

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  14. Congratulations in the awards!!! It looks as though there was tough competition to be up against so that is even more highly deserved if you ask me - not that you did of course!! Your trip out looks lovely, and indeed just as you say like the set of a yummy magazine, what a great treat. Hope that you have a good week. xx

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  15. Suprecute cottage garden! Congratulations in the awards!Have anice week!:::Silvia

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  16. This is a lovely post, Kate! Your blanket is beautiful and you made it so fast! Love the sweet ruffle edge, a perfect finish. Your outing looks amazing, I would have loved it too :) And big congratulations on your award, it is so well deserved, I remember reading your post at the time and thinking how great it was then! Well done!
    Helen xox

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    1. Thank you Helen, I did have a big smile on my face all day !
      Kx

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  17. You know Kate, I was convinced I had your blog in my feed, but i've made sure it's firmly there this time! Wowzers that blanket is amazing...and all the better when it's a blanket that can be completed in a short space of time! Hurrah for chunky yarn!

    Your dresses are gorgeous too, what a find, and at such a bargain, they just had to be had....guilt free!

    I love trips out like that and it looked like you had a super day!

    Have a great week too and hope the sun stays shining for you!

    Vanessa xxx

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    1. Thank you Vanessa, I have to admit I was pretty impressed with the chunky wool and the Stylecraft wool is so reasonably priced too.
      Very happy to be on your feed, its lovely to see you back again,
      Kate x

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  18. Congratulations on your Highly Commended, it is very well deserved and you should be proud of all you have achieved here. The blanket is absolutely lovely, such fantastic textures. I love the sale you found, I wish I could have gone too, I live less than an hour from Bath, so in theory I could have made it... Your photos are wonderful though, so that makes up for missing it. I hope you have a good week Kate. CJ xx

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    1. How cool would that have been , to have met up for a cuppa ?
      Have a great week, K x

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  19. Love your wonderful blanket, I'm very new to crochet but I feel I could give this a go!!! x

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    1. It really is a good, easy project, definitely give it a go ! Thanks for dropping by, K x

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  20. So excited for you on your Honourable Mention! Very well deserved m'dear.

    And yay for quick crafting, says the mug who always picks laceweight yarn to work with ... will I never learn?!

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  21. I cannot believe that you made that blanket in a week! Your friend will love it. I wonder if you are tempted to make second one to keep, it does look nice in your bedroom. And congratulations on your "highly commnded" - how exciting.
    Caz

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  22. Wish I'd known about that event. It looks like it was a wonderful day out! xx

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  23. Keep finding so many lovely blogs to follow, such great photos! Can't crochet but love to knit. A blanket may be my next project x

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  24. I love your blanket - I've just found your blog but would love to join in the birthday giveaway if that's OK x

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  25. I just came across your blog and I dare say I love i! And the blanket you crocheted in one week - it's just gorgeous. I haven't had the heart to start a blanket until now, because I know that I'm quite impatient but if someone is able to do such work in one week, maybe I should start a blanket, as well. It looks just wonderful! Viola (www.colourcrochetlove@blogspot.com)

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