It's a wrap !

♥

 I'm not quite sure how I did it, more mind over matter and a stubbornness not to be beaten than anything else I think,

but I have actually managed to work my way through the 5 pages of pattern and it is finished...

my Juju Loops wrappy shawl is completed !

I have really, really, really enjoyed my brief journey back to the land of knitting and whilst I have missed the crochet simplicity of just hook and one stitch it has been good to have had the challenge of working on something entirely different.

Yes, there were times when the language was more than a little fruity and yes, I did undo it 3 times before I eventually knew what I was doing... 

but I'm so glad I kept at it because I keep looking at it now and thinking "I did that ! "

I love all the tiny bobbles, and the loopy pattern that just magically materialised as I worked my way through, and I particularly like the curved shape around the back.

My poor husband definitely breathed a sigh of relief when I had completed the last row as every time he tried to say something when I was working on it he was met with.. " Shhhh, I'm in the middle of a row.. "

and he's even said since how glad he is to see the crochet back !

The pattern gives two variations so that it can be made in either laceweight yarn or 4 ply and mine was made with Rowan Pure Wool, 4 ply, an absolute dream to work with.

And so , there it is ..... and I love it !

 BUT,  

and I hardly dare admit this after all the hard work and you can quite definitely call me perverse,

I'm still not sure if I'm a wrappy shawl type of person .. I know, I know !

I love them on other people, and I love the idea of them - but will I use it, I don't know !

And even more perversely I have even bought some absolutely scrumptious spring green wool to make another one .... I am beyond help.

And, worse than that, I have since also knitted another pattern up from the same book, 

more of a wrap this time, 

just to try that too.

I've yet to take pictures of that one but I'll put them up soon.

♥

Aaannnyyyway .. wraps aside, how lovely is this sun ?

I know I'm not the only one making the most of it as all of your lovely blogs are so full of it too.

Long may it continue for months to come.

We have the most gorgeous flower bed in the garden at the moment, underneath the apple trees, and every time I look at it it just fills me with me glee.....

 

I'd love to be able to take the credit for it and say that I lovingly worked out a planting design, but it would be completely untrue as that's just how it was when we moved in !

I think the birds must really be loving our garden too at the moment as we have some new neighbours moving in - he literally looked right at me when I took this picture.

 

I was so surprised when I first saw him because look how close the birdhouse is to our kitchen window, I had only really put it there for decoration.

Its quite a time waster watching the happy couple making their little home comfy, they're backwards and forwards all day.

Its a lovely sight to see.

 

♥

 

With this weekends sun calling me out into the garden I have started a mini makeover on a little forgotten corner, tucked away at the back of the house.

As you can see the before photo's are really nothing to write home about,

 

 

but with a bit of weeding, and 'borrowing' of pots from around the rest of the garden,

 

 

its already looking a lot better.

 

 

My plan is that it will be my little tucked away crochet corner as its in quite a nice sheltered area, as well as being beautifully hidden away so that no-one can find me !

I have managed to find this not too expensive all weather lounge set from Wilko's that's hopefully winging its way to me right now,

and I'm hoping it will be just right when it arrives.

♥

 

In the meantime normal crochet has been resumed as I embark on Immi's Uni blanket,

 

and for those who asked I have managed to put pen to paper this weekend and

 write up the pattern for my Stripy Perpetual blanket.

Its just up on the sidebar to the left.

 

♥