Granny Square Blocking

Na 7 maande vind ek toe ook uit dat mens veronderstel is om sekere gehekelde blokkies te blok.  Iemand het iewers vertel van 'n tipe "peg board" wat hulle gebruik.


So, after 7 months of crocheting, I also learned that some granny squares need to be blocked.  I saw an idea for a block board on the internet.


Een Saterdag oggend roep ek toe vir C nader en verduidelik vir hom wat ek wil hê.  Gelukkig het ek 'n baie handige man en toe ek weer sien, het ek hierdie baie handige blok bord.


One Saturday morning I informed C that he has to get his tools.  We need to make something.  My very handy husband made me this amazing block board.

Soos wat ek die blokkies klaar maak, "ryg" ek hulle hier in en laat hulle daar bly totdat ek gereed is om hulle aanmekaar te werk.  Die pennetjies kan skuif om groter blokkies te vat en die lekker is.....verskillende grootte blokkies kan gelyk gedoen word.

As I finish my squares, I stack them on the board.  Here they stay until I'm ready to join them together.  The pegs can be moved to adjust to different size squares and even better.....different sizes can be blocked at the same time.

So maak mens:

• stuk hout plank of bord omtrent 25mm dik (board 25mm thick)
• merk gaatjies met potlood, 1,5 cm uitmekaar (mark out holes 1,5cm apart)  I used one of my finished granny squares as a guide)
• koop 5,5mm dowels (kom in lengtes van 1m) by hardeware en sny dit in die lengtes soos jy verkies.  Myne is omtrent 20cm lank en ek het 5 dowels gebruik. (Buy 5,5mm thick dowels at the hardware store.  Cut into lengths.  Mine is about 20cm)
• Boor die gaatjies dwarsdeur die hout....met boorpunt dik genoeg sodat dowels lekker styf in gaatjie pas.  (Drill holes all the way through the board.  The size of the holes should be big enough for the dowel to fit tightly.)
• Die dowels kan dalk klein bietjie grof wees.....maak dit vinnig glad met 'n baie fyn skuurpapier.  Skuur net liggies so twee of drie keer oor die dowel. (Gently smoothen the dowels with a very fine grit sandpaper, if necessary.)

En voila!  Jou eie "custom made" verstelbare blok bord.  Werk soos 'n droom.

Ta dah!!! Your custom made, adjustable block board is done and ready to use!


See you soon

Off the Hook

The beginning

 

 

 

 

Baby blanket for a friend.  I found this wonderful tutorial Neat Ripple Pattern by Lucy .  As a beginner I found her tutorials easy to follow and very inspiring.  This was my first real crochet project and also the one that helped me overcome the sudden shock of the empty nest.  I mentioned this in my first post entry.

 

 

Moving On

 

 

My mom moved to a lovely security village in September 2012.  I made her a blanket in her favourite colour, blue, for her bed.  I'll tell you more about the BIG MOVE later.  She loves her blanket.  The pattern, Summer Garden Square, is also from Lucy at Attic24.

 

 

Beach House (Huisie-by-die-See)

 

I'll tell you more about this special place later.  We bought our house exactly 2 years ago and most of my finished crochet projects found a special place here.

 

 

Winter is Here

 

My 3 colour blanket for cold winter evenings, Eva Shawl and scarf.

 

 

For my sister

 

My sister and also my best friend.  I made this for her bed at the beach house.  Autumn colours. The pattern is Circle of Friends by Priscilla Hewitt

 

Exam Blanket

 

 

My daughter is a student at the University of Stellenbosch.  She just wrote her mid year exams.  When she started writing, I started this blanket for her.  Exams and blanket done and dusted!

 



 

See you soon!

 





 









Eerste Blog

Hulle sê mens is nooit te oud om te leer nie.  So, hier gaan ons.  Ek is nie 'n skrywer nie, ek is nie 'n bekende, talentvolle en goedgeleerde wêreldreisiger nie.  Slegs 'n doodgewone vrou.  Getroud, met 2 kinders, half in, en half uit die huis. 

I am starting this blog for myself.  I'll see where it goes.  Maybe I like it, maybe I don't. Here I'll share my love for crochet.  My love for family.  For the sea and the beautiful mountains.

Aan die begin van 2012 vind ek myself skielik in 'n vreemde situasie.  Na  15 jaar van kosblikke, skoolboeke, krieketwedstryde en dans rehearsals is daar skielik niks.  My jongste verlaat die huis.  Sy gaan universiteit toe....1400 km ver by die Universiteit van Stellenbosch.

Stellenbosch.  This is where I grew up.  Still one of my "happy places". 

So, no more mom's taxi.  Lots of free time....what to do?  I sulked for the first month.  In the evening I sat in front of the television watching endless episodes of boring programs.  I could not stand it any longer.  I think I drove myself and my husband mad.

I dug up an old half finished project.  No, it was not a WIP (work in progress) it was simply unfinished.  Blocks in brown, black and cream I crocheted a year or two back.  So, I grabbed a crochet hook and finisned the blanket.  That was it....I was hooked. 

Elke aand wanneer die dag verby is, C by die huis is en ons voor die TV gaan sit, haal ek my hekelwerk uit en hekel dwarsdeur al wat 'n "boring" program is.  Luister tv stories soos die radiostories van ouds. 

I'll tell you more about each and every project I did since then.  Family and friends frowned....crochet is for old ladies.  No way....I joined the facebook group Ons Hekel and let me tell you...a whole new world opened for me!

Tot later!