My favourite type of matting.

Well hello there! Isn't it ever so nice to be at the beginning of the weekend? I must admit, I'm feeling a bit tired. I have myself partly to blame, because I've just been sucked into the site that is Ravelry, searching for patterns for crochet dresses, (31 pages), and then going to the knitted dresses section (over 80 pages, I gave up through lack of stamina). I fancy crocheting, or knitting a dress. That would mean abandoning all my unfinished projects, so I'm just going to have to exercise a bit of self control, and put it off for a while.

I did knit a dress once, from Lily Chin's book, where she uses big yarn. But I obviously got the tension completely wrong, because it turned out to be a bit short, and so is now officially a jumper. It was the guage instructions that stumped me at the time, the instrustions were to work out the guage over cables! I gave up, just couldn't see how you can count the number of stitches in a row over a cable pattern.

I'm getting a little side tracked here.

I've also realised that my normal method of revealing what I'm working on, (as in showing you a piece at different stages, leading to the big reveal), has been diminished by my first photo of this post, revealing the finished hooky mat, the one I said I'd show you, in yesterday's post (where I revealed the proddy mat I'd finished).

The hooky mat, in the first photo, has a very different look to the proddy mat above. I prefer the first, hooky mat . Maybe part of the reason is the large area of navy in the heart cushion, I really don't like using dark colours, but that's what we were provided with on the course. I managed to sneak the brighter colours in, from my own stash of wool fabric. I also prefer the detail you can achieve with hooky mats, rather than the big, bold statements you get when prodding.

To get the best effect with looking at this craft, you really need to see them from a distance. I'll take a photo of my hooky mat (the one with the flowers on it), from a distance, when I've made it into a cushion cover, then you'll see the full effect.

I have my next design already drawn up, and stretched on a frame. A frame, I have to add, that was made by my lovely husband. He also made the stands. He's really quite wonderful. I know just how fortunate I am to have a husband who is a DIY'er and a great maker of things. Very fortunate lady indeed.

I'm positively itching to get started on it, but first I have to cut about fifty jumpers into strips. Yes. Fifty at least. Well, heigh-ho, I suppose I should get going on it then, shouldn't I?! Have a lovely weekend, take care, and see you on Monday.
Love Vanessa xxx

Comments

[mlle paradis]

Liking the hooky mat quite alot Vanessa. And of course your own color choices. When I first got to L.A. I saw a lady in an orange crocheted dress that was quite see-through with bright pink underwear underneath. That was very exciting! She had giant 60's sunglasses and of course a floppy hat. Looking forward to your new dress. Happy Bonfire Night!

[Gerry Hook]

Guess you'll spend the weekend being a cut up! ! ! !

[audra]

Hi Vanessa,
have you see the crocheted skirt and top,in the August/September, issue 3, of Inside Crochet,pg 46?
Love your hooky cushions.
Hugs Audra

[TheMadHouse]

Wow, when you put your mind to something you definatly get going!!

[Isabella Golightly]

I love ravelry, but it can wear you out! Love the rugs, too, keep it up!

[Sarah - Jane down the lane]

You're very clever reallY!

Looks brilliant Vanessa, well done,

Sarah x

[sue]

You are right this cushion is the better one,lovely and bright.I also have a husband who is good at DIY,as you say very handy.Have a good weekend all that cutting up will be worth it.

Sue xxx

[Lynne]

Like you, I have fancied this craft for years but haven't tried it mainly because I have lots of other projects to finish first. Shame really as living near to Ashington I could have joined them at Woodhorn, (if only I hadn't been working).
I remember my Grandmother having one that she had made in front of the fire. That was in Cheshire, she was a Lancashire Lass. I'm not sure what our name was for them.

[Penny]

This is lovely, Vanessa. I said on your last post that it made my hand ache to look at it, can you use a cutting wheel to cut up all those jumpers? hope you've been enjoying the same lovely weather we have today, Higgins and I went to the beach! love Penny

[paintdropskeepfalling.wordpress.com]

I was 'hooked' by your last two posts!Did anyone else make that corny joke! They are both so lovely I couldn't choose a favourite. What an inspiring hobby - I would only have thought of making a bath mat! Looking forward to the next one.

[Steph]

I'm impressed with your determination to search for the hooky dress...I still have such a dress as a WIP...for 2 years now...it's the Nico dress and is so gorgeous..but I think it maybe more realistic to look at finishing it formy grandchildren ! Loving the rugs and cushion though.

[Karoline]

Love the hooked mat, very cheerful.

[Tamara Erbacher]

Wow! What a beautiful mat...I dare not pay too much attention though for fear of yet another craft and yet another reason to have UFO's lying all around me! So for now i will sit back and enjoy all your amazing work. Well Done! Tam xo

[Mojca]

I’ve presented you with a blog award, I hope you don’t mind! I really like your blog and highly recommend it to anyone who likes colours and pretty things!

[Sarah - Jane down the lane]

Hey Vanessa,

Thanks for your really lovely comment on my Lace post, it was so nice of you and I am all smiley as a result! you're lovely!

Sarah x

[Lucy@attic24]

Love your latest hooky hobby, it's ace!!!!

I went on a one day workshop to learn hooking last yr, but it was a lot finer than your woolly jumper version :: I hooked yarn through hessian, and it's very effective I have to say (you can see my hooky picture on my blog here :
http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2008/04/hooking.html)

Isn't it great to explore new things,,,I'm desperate to try mosaic, patchwork, and needlepoint as an addition to my crochet/textile stuff, ahh so little time!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Lucy@attic24]

sorry, my link went a bit wrong there vanessa, try this:
http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2008/04/hooking.html

xxxxxxxxxx

[Erica K]

The hooky style was the only one I'd known before...I absolutely LOVE that cup o' flowers. It's just your style. It reminds me of some of your paintings you showed once...