Quick crochet makeover

Here we have Exhibit A: a filthy, horrible, tippy-over kitchen stool. Inexplicably beloved by all who live here, it would be unforgiveable to get rid of it, but the grubby state was driving me mad...
So, after a few evenings in front of the telly with hook in hand, a new cover was created. It was quite simple, so there's no pattern: just keep working in rounds, increasing about every 10 stitches. For the pink and green stripes, I worked in the back loops only, to create a ribbed stripe. To make the sides, just work in rounds without increasing until it is long enough, then for the final 2 rounds, decrease about every 10 stitches. (And don't worry if it comes out a bit uneven or lumpy... once it is pulled taut over the seat, you won't even notice.)

So. It's still tippy-over, but at least it's pretty.

Approval: granted

Painting the fence

One of the big advantages of owning a home rather than renting is that you can paint anything you like without needing permission. (Of course, the downside is that you have to pay for it too...) So, last weekend we did just that.


Here is the before shot. This fenceline was crowded with shrubbery which blocked out a lot of light, so we cut that back several months ago. That only left approximately 18 square metres of corrugated iron to paint...


I chipped off some samples of green paint from the fence that was already painted, and we took it to the paint shop to match. The colour we chose was as close as possible, and it looked fine... until the sun shone on it! Then I realised that the colour we'd chosen (a lovely deep, blue-based bottle green) was completely different to the previous colour (brown-based, more of a khaki green). But only when the sun shines directly on it - in the shade, they both look extremely similar.

There was a little bit of paint left, so I painted over the old paint. I ran out just before I got to the end, but at least it's not so obvious now. I'm very happy with the way the fence looks - it freshens the whole back yard up. And now all that's left is to fill the border garden with my summer vegetables.

Vintage crochet

I made some motifs from a vintage pattern. I even used vintage cotton thread and an old steel hook. An enjoyable, if fiddly way to spend an evening or two. I am thinking about stitching these on a cardigan, perhaps with some embroidery and a pearl bead or two...