I Paid My Money And Got A Surprise

I am always ordering bargain secondhand knitting or crochet books. The one I got yesterday and the one I got today I ordered blind. There was no description of what was in the book. The one that arrived today was just described as Exciting Crochet by Muriel Kent. I took a chance. Paid £2.81p and waited.

It certainly is exciting and challenging too. Beverooni will laugh and perhaps be a little jealous when she sees that most of the patterns are Tunisian with some Broomstick crochet (as on the front cover) I have all the hooks and I have tried Tunisian a couple of times. Now I really do not have any excuse as I like so many designs in the book. They may not be high fashion but they are certain my kind of designs.

Classic Chanel style waistcoat where the stitch looks close enough to be so warm. I love the pretty trim.

Interesting textures in the pattern stitches for this jacket. I think I would prefer slightly stronger colours though.

A basic warm winter jacket with useful pockets.

I am not as keen on this jacket but the stitch could be useful for something else.

Another pretty waistcoat that seems to be worked in mohair with a fancy yarn for the stripes.

A page that shows examples of the stitches on some of the projects in the book.

A full length coat in a slip stitch stripe pattern. Once again I would change the colours.

This is a straight neck long sleeved sweater. It has an interesting stitch pattern. Stripes but with block patterns within the stripes.

These are a couple of sweaters in broomstick crochet. Although I did learn the technique years ago I found it rather awkward holding the overly large knitting needle that is used for this method of crochet.

I could have made a hat for the Royal wedding if only I had this book then!

Another waistcoat and collar that don't seem to be as openwork as some of the broomstick crochet can be,

The coat looks very pretty but I think that I would worry whether the fabric was firm enough to stop it from dropping downwards. It does look like it is crocheted in mohair so it won't be as heavy as normal yarn.

An afghan in striped for you afghan lovers. I am very bad at making anything so large in one piece. I have only made throws etc when they are done in granny squares. Apart from that the largest blanket I have ever made was for a baby.

These bright pop up laundry baskets are a very cheap option for storing some of my stash to keep it tidy. My pile of wool descended on me the other day like an avalanche. Hopefully netting some packs in these will stop it happening again when I pull the bottom pack of a pile!

 I have started another top for my niece with the remainder of the Silky Look from her Doris Chan jacket. I would have done more but I was crocheting last night and I was a bit tired and I misread the pattern. When I awoke this morning the mistake was glaring at me so I had to unravel a whole ball. It's maddening when that happens but the motto is don't crochet half asleep!

Oscar the cat has gone missing. My ex neighbours accidentally let him out of the door and they haven't seen him since. I am really worried as if he tried to come back to his old home then he has to cross busy main roads and a motorway exit and entrance. I am trying not to think what his fate might be and hope that by shouting him in the neighbourhood where he is living now they will eventually find him.