What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday?

I know I shouldn't start any new projects and I included on my This Year I Will list last year that I would finish crochet projects before any new were started and I have also included this aim on my 2012 goals.  But just between Christmas and New Year I was getting a little bored with the cot ripple and fancied something new and quick.

I also know I shouldn't buy any yarn either but I did on Friday.  Lots of it to be precise but I'll show you that when it comes hopefully later this week.  Just to tease you more I'll also be back with some sales bargains I just had to have.  Totally needed you know.  Needed to help me with this stash mountain I am hiding under.  Needed to help me achieve crafting goals for 2012.  You know, I just NEEDED!

Every crochet project I have on the go at the moment is large and I have around 95% to complete on all of the projects I have started.  I want something quick to complete.  The two scarf's I made for presents have given me the finish bug and I need a quick fix project.

As I started this new project last week, the last week of 2011, it doesn't count towards the breaking of finish crochet projects before new ones are begun goal I have set for 2012.  Well I have completely ripped off Heather's Pink Daisy Blanket.  I did try to make it a complete granny but during blocking I thought no, no, no.  It was just not right:

So I ripped it back a round and thought I must rip Heather off completely:

One little daisy round.....and then it multiplied!  I have 4 finished squares now, which I am really happy with for a few days work.

Look, I've even sewed in the ends as I've gone along.  Can't quite believe it can you?  Well neither can I.

Wonder how long I can keep this dedication up?  Probably not long as I go back to work today after a lovely 2 weeks off.

Pop on over to Julia to see lots of other crafty work desks around the WWW.

Oh My Oh My Oh My

Let me introduce you to my new 'current' crochet project.  On Monday night I read two wonderful posts by two fabulous crocheting ladies called Lucy and Heather and just thought I MUST join in.

Last year I started a ripple and after a number of stitches followed by frogging and then more stitches and more frogging and so on and so on I got this far:

Oh swoon at my lovely Cath Kidson project bag.  I <3 thee so much.

I didn't say I'd done much!  But the hours and hours it has taken me to get to this point is unbelievable.  This is my colour selection, with cream:

Without cream:

Not quite sure yet whether to use the cream but the length of time it will take to finish the petrol stripe I will probably have months to decide.  This ripple pattern is really the first time I have struggled with crochet and I find I am constantly looking at the pattern which means pretty slow progress.

Well, my yarn choice, rico baby dk, is not as gorgeous as what Heather of Little Tin Bird and Lucy of Attic24 have chosen to make their next ripples with but I am going to take part in their ripple along.  The idea of lots of ladies round the world all rippling along together, helping and encouraging each other truly inspires me.   I'm quite sure I will NEVER keep up with them all but if it get me motivated then all the better.  

These is Heather's lovely choice, Debbie Bliss DK Cashmerino (about £4 per ball):

And Lucy's, Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino (about £5 per ball):

Don't they just look fabulous.  Words can't express how much I am in love with the quality of yarn and their colour choices:

Both ladies have such an amazing talent for picking colours that work, contrast and complement each other so well.  I just don't have the confidence or the 'eye' to pick out colours of yarn as well as these ladies do.

Mmmmm, question is can I build up a stash of their choices to repeat their ripple blankets at a later date?  

It will certainly be buy a couple of balls at a time with the price of these yarns especially if I want to make a decent sized blanket (will need about 36 balls by Lucy's estimation).  But one thing I know for sure they will be so super scrummy and cosy to snuggle under as their choice of yarn is so fantasticly soft and yummy to the touch.


Heather has set up a flickr group for the ripple along which can be found here.  Over the weekend I will add my paltry effort to the group. Oh how disappointing it will look compared to the lovely ripples that are already there! Well I've got until May to get it finished for the new arrival, surely even I can manage that lol.

Thanks ladies for the inspiration x

Photo credits for Debbie Bliss yarn to Lucy and Heather.