Friday 23 May 2014

Craft books 2

Hello

A few weeks ago I posted about a recent purchase I'd made of three craft books. I thought I would share with you another craft book I have - this one a knitting book, and here it is....


The Knitted Home by Sian Brown.
(Coincidentally it has the same title as one of the books in my previous post.)
Look at the cute little green basket by the side of the chair.

 This book was a Christmas present from my eldest son a couple of years ago. I gave him a list of books I'd like and let him choose one to buy - he told me he chose this one because he thought I could knit things for our home.
I love the throw pictured below - those cables look so chunky!

As I said in my previous post, I don't often make things from my craft books - I prefer instead to browse through them and use them for inspiration, but I was determined to make something from this book.
Not long after I received this book we bought some new bedroom furniture and I decided the dressing table desperately needed some mats to protect the surface. Then I noticed the pattern for the placemats below - look at the stitch definition on those mats!

So I decided I would knit a placemat and use it on my dressing table.....
...and here is the result.

My crochet edging is a little ruffled but I'm generally happy with the result.
(The little tin was a gift from my daughter - she brought it back from a skiing holiday with school - she knew I'd love the design and colours of it - and she was right!)

And as I was happy with the result I made another one, this time edging it with green.


 Unusually for me, I even used the yarn that they used in the book, which is Patons DK 100% cotton. I have fallen in love with this yarn.  I am using it to crochet my stripey blanket which I have posted about here and here. So the green and pink yarn edging my mats are the same green and pink in the blanket pictured below, so it will all match.... once the blanket is finished.


 Other tempting patterns in the book include this throw knitted in a very smooth yarn, so different to the chunky throw above.

And we all love this large cushion with larger-than-life leaves (the colours are much brighter in the book than in this photo)


And this is the photo on the back cover - a pile of yarny goodies!!


I wonder which are your favourite craft books.
Wishing you a happy weekend - an extra long one for those of us in the UK!
xXx


(Please note: this is not a paid advert, it is just my review of a book on my shelf)

12 comments:

  1. I haven't seen this book before but will keep an eye out for it the next time I'm in a bookshop. The projects not only look interesting but useful too and I love the colours. And well done you for making those placemats. They're lovely! Your crocheted blanket is coming along lovely too. Have a great weekend! x

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    1. Hi Marion, this is one of my favourite books, as you say, the projects are interesting and useful. Hope you have had a good weekend
      Caz

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  2. Love the mats! I'm always looking for recommendations on yarn as I get very confused by the choice available out there, so I will definitely be investigating Patons DK. Enjoy the bank holiday weekend - lets hope we get some sunshine!

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    1. Yes, I am always on the look out for new suggestions for yarn - I tend to stick to my old trusty favourites. The weather has been a bit mixed here - hope you have a good weekend, and managed to put your feet up!

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  3. It looks like a gorgeous book with many lovely things to make in it. I love that your son bought it for you. Lovely mats for your dresser and your blanket is looking fantastic.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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    1. Yes, it makes the book extra special that my son gifted it to me - that's why I was determined to make something from it.
      Caz

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  4. That looks like a really nice book. I love craft books, I especially like Nicki Trench's books. The placemat you made is really pretty. I like your stripy blanket...I have just finished a stripy crochet blanket too with similar colours to yours. Hope you are enjoying the long weekend!
    Marianne x

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    1. Thank you for your kind comments Marianne - hope you have enjoyed the long weekend too, I think I could do with another one very soon!

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  5. Hello Caz, Such a lovely book, I adore the small cable blanket, it just makes you want to curl up on the chair and snuggle down for the afternoon - lovely !
    Your stripy blanket is really coming along, I love your choice of colours.
    Have a good week,
    Kate x

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    1. Hi Kate, it is gorgeous that blanket isn't it? Hope you are having a good week!

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  6. That is a very tempting book, although sadly beyond my skill level. Very inspiring ideas inside though, thanks for sharing.

    I really love your crocheted striped blanket, the colours are gorgeous. x

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    1. Thank you Gillian for your comments on my blanket - it is a loooong project!

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Hello, thank you for dropping in on my blog. I hope you found something of interest and I would love to read your comments.
Caz xx