RAINBOWS AFTER THE RAIN: 2

Hello Rainbow CAL-ers and welcome to Part 2 of our Rainbows After the Rain (RAR) CAL, which I will be hosting along with Andrea of KOKOPELLI DESIGN!

If you are new to the CAL please read the following posts first:

INTRODUCTION
RAINBOWS AFTER THE RAIN: 1

For Part 2 of the CAL (Poncho & Blanket) we will be making WHEEL OF TIME SQUARES, to remind us that in time our wounds scar over and the pain becomes less.   It is also a gentle reminder to make the most of each and every day so that we create good memories instead of regrets!

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To avoid confusion the Poncho and Blanket layouts will be published separately.    In addition some of the Poncho and Blanket Patterns will be published separately, as there are small variations in the squares.

BLANKET - PART 2 LINK:

WHEEL OF TIME SQUARE (2)

PONCHO PART 2 LINK:

WHEEL OF TIME SQUARE (2)

KOKOPELLI'S POST FOR PART 2

Please join our Facebook Group if you are joining in as all new and previous links can be found in the ZOOTY OWL CROCHET-A-LONG GROUP FILES

RAR PONCHO CAL: PART 2

WHEEL OF TIME SQUARE (make 10)

PATTERN TERMS:    US

YARN:  Elle Charity Chunky (12 ply).   Stylecraft Special Chunky is an excellent quality / great value alternative yarn.

HOOK SIZE:  5.50mm (I/9 US or 5 CANADIAN)

SQUARE SIZE:    The Layout Measurement of 15cm x 15cm (5.9inches x 5.9inches) for this square is based on the above yarn and hook size.  This measurement is also based on the Designer’s tension.   You may need to adjust your hook size up if you hook tightly or down if you hook loosely
NOTE:  The size of your square will depend on your choice of yarn thickness and hook size.   Should you choose to work exactly according to the RAINBOWS AFTER THE RAIN PONCHO layout, simply repeat the final round of the pattern until the square measures 15cm x 15cm (5.9inches x 5.9inches).  Gauge is not too important with this poncho. Yarn thicknesses vary somewhat from brand to brand as do the tensions of individual crocheters.  The most important thing is that your tension remains even throughout the poncho.
 
COLOURWAY:   Each crocheter may choose his / her own colour layout - colour changes / breaks are suggestions only.

SQUARES are worked in the round with Right Side Facing throughout.

IMPORTANT:  Read through pattern before starting to crochet.

Foundation:  Make a MAGIC RING or crochet 3ch, sl st into 3rd chain from hook to form a ring)

Round 1:  3ch (counts as 1dc), 11 dc into ring, sl st into 3rd of beginning ch to close.  Break off yarn
Stitch count:  12 dc

Round 2:  Join yarn in top of any dc, 5ch (counts as 1dc, 2ch);  *1dc into next dc, 2ch*; repeat *to* 10 times more.  Sl st into 3rd of beginning ch to close.  Break off yarn
Stitch count:  12 x (1dc, 2ch)

Round 3:  Join yarn in any 2ch sp.  3ch (counts as 1dc), 2dc into same sp as join;  *3dc into next 2ch sp*;  repeat *to* 10 times more.   Sl st into 3rd of beginning ch to close.  Break off yarn.
Stitch count:  12 x 3dc (36dc)

Round 4:  Join yarn in sp between any 3dc group.  5ch (counts as 1hdc, 3ch);  *1hdc into next sp between groups, 3ch*;  repeat *to* 10 times more.  Sl st into 2nd of beginning ch to close.   Break off yarn.
Stitch count:  12 x (1hdc, 3ch loops)

Round 5:  Join yarn in any 3ch loop.  6ch (counts as 1trc, 2ch), 3trc into same loop as join.  *4dc into next 3ch loop, 1fpdc around hdc, 4dc into next 3ch loop; (3trc, 2ch, 3trc into next 3ch loop)*; repeat *to* twice more;  4dc into next 3ch loop, 1fpdc around hdc, 4dc into next 3ch loop; 2trc into same loop as join.   Sl st into 4th of beginning ch to close.  Break off yarn.
Stitch count:  (3trc, 2ch, 3trc) in each corner and 9dc (4dc, 1fpdc, 4dc) each side

Round 6:  Join yarn in any 2ch corner.   3ch (counts as 1dc), (1dc, 2ch, 2dc) into same 2ch as join;  *1dc into each of next 6sts, skip 1 dc;  1dc into sp after fpdc;  1dc into sp before fpdc (crossed dcs);  skip next dc;  1dc into each of next 6sts;  (2dc, 2ch, 2dc into corner 2ch)* repeat *to* twice more;  1dc into each of next 6sts, skip 1 dc;  1dc into sp before fpdc;  1dc into sp after fpdc (crossed dcs);  skip next dc;  1dc into each of next 6sts;  Sl st into 3rd of beginning ch to close.   Break off yarn.
Stitch count:  (2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in each corner and 14dc each side.

 

RAR BLANKET CAL: PART 2

WHEEL OF TIME SQUARE (make 5)

PATTERN TERMS:    US

YARN:  Elle Charity Chunky (12 ply).   Stylecraft Special Chunky is an excellent quality / great value alternative yarn.

HOOK SIZE:  5.50mm (I/9 US or 5 CANADIAN)

SQUARE SIZE:    The Layout Measurement of 20cm x 20cm for this square is based on the above yarn and hook size.  This measurement is also based on the Designer’s tension.   You may need to adjust your hook size up if you hook tightly or down if you hook loosely

NOTE:  The size of your square will depend on your choice of yarn thickness and hook size.   Should you choose to work exactly according to the RAINBOWS AFTER THE RAIN BLANKET layout, simply repeat the final round of the pattern until the square measures 20cm x 20cm.  Gauge is not too important with this blanket. Yarn thicknesses vary somewhat from brand to brand as do the tensions of individual crocheters.  The most important thing is that your tension remains even throughout the blanket.

COLOURWAY:   Each crocheter may choose his / her own colour layout - colour changes / breaks are suggestions only.

SQUARES are worked in the round with Right Side Facing throughout.

IMPORTANT:  Read through pattern before starting to crochet.

Foundation:  Make a MAGIC RING or crochet 3ch, sl st into 3rd chain from hook to form a ring)


Round 1:  2ch (counts as 1hdc), 5hdc into ring.   Sl st into 2nd of beginning ch to close.  Break off yarn.
Stitch count:  6hdc

Tip:   for a nice neat centre use the same colour for Round 2

Round 2:  3ch (counts as 1dc), 1dc into same sp as closing sl st.   2dc into each of next 5hdc.   sl st into 3rd of beginning ch to close.  Break off yarn
Stitch count:  12dc

Round 3:  Join yarn in top of any dc, 5ch (counts as 1dc, 2ch);  *1dc into next dc, 2ch*; repeat *to* 10 times more.  Sl st into 3rd of beginning ch to close.  Break off yarn
Stitch count:  12 x (1dc, 2ch)

Round 4:  Join yarn in any 2ch sp.  3ch (counts as 1dc), 2dc into same sp as join;  *3dc into next 2ch sp*;  repeat *to* 10 times more.   Sl st into 3rd of beginning ch to close.  Break off yarn.
Stitch count:  12 x 3dc (36dc)

Round 5:  Join yarn in sp between any 3dc group.  5ch (counts as 1hdc, 3ch);  *1hdc into next sp between groups, 3ch*;  repeat *to* 10 times more.  Sl st into 2nd of beginning ch to close.   Break off yarn.
Stitch count:  12 x (1hdc, 3ch loops)

Round 6:  Join yarn in any 3ch loop.  6ch (counts as 1trc, 2ch), 3trc into same loop as join.  *4dc into next 3ch loop, 1fpdc around hdc, 4dc into next 3ch loop; (3trc, 2ch, 3trc into next 3ch loop)*; repeat *to* twice more;  4dc into next 3ch loop, 1fpdc around hdc, 4dc into next 3ch loop; 2trc into same loop as join.   Sl st into 4th of beginning ch to close.  Break off yarn.

Stitch count:  (3trc, 2ch, 3trc) in each corner and 9dc (4dc, 1fpdc, 4dc) each side

Round 7:  Join yarn in any 2ch corner.   3ch (counts as 1dc), (1dc, 2ch, 2dc) into same 2ch as join;  *1dc into each of next 6sts, skip 1 dc;  1dc into sp after fpdc;  1dc into sp before fpdc (crossed dcs);  skip next dc;  1dc into each of next 6sts;  (2dc, 2ch, 2dc into corner 2ch)* repeat *to* twice more;  1dc into each of next 6sts, skip 1 dc;  1dc into sp before fpdc;  1dc into sp after fpdc (crossed dcs);  skip next dc;  1dc into each of next 6sts;  Sl st into 3rd of beginning ch to close.   Break off yarn.
Stitch count:  (2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in each corner and 14dc each side.

Round 8:  Join yarn in any 2ch corner.   3ch (counts as 1dc), (1dc, 2ch, 2dc) into same 2ch as join;  *skip next dc; 1dc into each of next 7dc, 1fpdc around each of next 2dc; 1dc into each of next 7dc, skip 1dc;  (2dc, 2ch, 2dc into corner 2ch)* repeat *to* twice more;  skip next dc; 1dc into each of next 7dc, 1fpdc around each of next 2dc; 1dc into each of next 7dc, skip 1dc .  Sl st into 3rd of beginning ch to close.   Break off yarn.
Stitch count:  (2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in each corner and 16dc each side

Round 9:  Join yarn in any 2ch corner.   3ch (counts as 1dc), (1dc, 2ch, 2dc) into same 2ch as join;  *1dc into each of next 9dc, 1fptrc around each of next 2fpdc; 1dc into each of next 9dc;  (2dc, 2ch, 2dc into corner 2ch)* repeat *to* twice  more;  1dc into each of next 9dc, 1fptrc around each of next 2fpdc; 1dc into each of next 9dc.  Sl st into 3rd of beginning ch to close.   Break off yarn.
Stitch count:  (2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in each corner and 20dc each side (9dc, 2fptrc, 9dc)

Granny Bag & Scarf

I have probably said this over and over (and over)....... but so far my absolute favourite part of being a Stylecraft Blogstar was the  BLOGSTAR MEET UP on 4 February 2017.

Besides getting to meet all the other lovely Blogstars we were treated to a mystery pack of Stylecraft Yarns for Spring 2017.   Three stunning "vintage" colours were added to the Stylecraft Special DK range and I could not wait to try out a few colour combinations!

Aren't they just too pretty for words????

The three new colours are gorgeous together and so I wanted to add additional colours that would really make them stand out.   

Stylecraft Special DK "Walnut" and "Apricot" were the perfect choice for a vintage feel "Gorgeous Granny" Bag and Granny Stripe Scarf

The colours had to be divided carefully between the two projects to obtain an even balance.    For the scarf I used longish panels of Apricot and Mushroom, separated by shorter panels of Vintage Peach.    For the side stripes I used Buttermilk, Walnut and Vintage Peach edged with Apricot.   (I made the granny stripe for the scarf up and intend to use this it in a blanket design)

I used double rows of each colour for the bag in the following order:   Buttermilk, Vintage Peach, Apricot, Mushroom & Walnut. 

The pattern for the bag is available in my RAVELRY STORE

RAINBOWS AFTER THE RAIN: 1

Hello lovely crocheters and welcome (at long last!) to the Kick Off of our Rainbows After the Rain (RAR) CAL, which I will be hosting along with Andrea of KOKOPELLI DESIGN! If you have already been following along you can launch right in to this post.    If you are new to the CAL please read my INTRODUCTION POST first.

For Part 1 of the CAL (Poncho & Blanket) we will be making TRADITIONAL GRANNY SQUARES.

There was a picture in my head of the gorgeous photos I would take for this post........ and then it started raining and raining and raining (for close onto a week now!) ...... and no rainbow in sight!    So we will just have to make do with the not-so-great photos previously taken.

Pinks and Greens are an all-time favourite combination of mine, and the neon(y) shades available in the Charity Chunky were perfect for the bright and cheerful "Neonmelon" Blanket

Some Woodstock photos doing the rounds on the internet really inspired me to achieve a sort of "hippie rainbow" look with the blanket and poncho.   I loved tie-dying (just about every) t-shirts and cloths when I had a big outdoor craft space and a much stronger back and hands!.    I also did a lot of Batik work and so the colours and design for the circular parts were a bit of a swirl of ideas from cloths and wall hangings made in my really colourful younger years! 
To get the tie-dye look is just a little trick of alternating lights, brights and neutrals.    Think of the neutrals as the part of the cloth that are tied or waxed so they do not pick up on the dyes.
Also your outer layers of the "scrunch" pick up a heavier dose of dye, and the inner "scrunch" gets a much lighter dose.

The name for the CAL "Rainbows After the Rain" was not chosen lightly.   Grief is not something we "decide" to switch off one day, to suddenly become silly happy again.   I chatted to fellow Blogstar Phil of  THE TWISTED YARN about my apprehension that this title would give the impression that grief should somehow be measured and dealt with.    This was not just an idle "bloggy" conversation as Phil is actually Dr Phil Saul, an NHS clinical psychologist.   Phil kindly offered to put my intentions into words for me (she has a way with words and I knew she would be able to get this across way better than I would!)

This is what she wrote:

"If you’ve been reading here a while, then you’ll remember a previous crochet-a-long (CAL), ‘Wade’s Blanket’, which was named to honour a little boy who fought – and, tragically, lost – a hard battle against childhood leukaemia. That was two years ago. Wade’s family and Zelna’s family are close, and those were dark days, compounded by the loss of Zelna’s mother to motor neurone disease soon afterwards. For Zelna, crochet provided some small comfort through the worst of her grief. Those of you who have lost dear ones will probably be able to relate to the raw agony and rage and confusion of those days.

But what happens next? What happens after the early stages of grief – however long they last – have been endured? What happens when you’re ready to move beyond just putting one foot in front of the other, and you begin to lift your eyes from the ground, to look cautiously ahead?

That’s what this new CAL is about.

Nobody’s saying that grief magically goes away: of course it doesn’t. People often refer instead to making a space in their hearts to accommodate the pain, whilst carrying on. Because ultimately, we do have to carry on.

Rainbow After The Rain is about rediscovering hope. It’s about accepting the feeling of the sun’s warmth on one’s skin again, as gaps begin to appear between the rainclouds. It’s about daring to believe that there may be joy and growth ahead. And it’s about giving oneself permission to seek that joy and growth. It’s about finding peace and comfort, and about rediscovering the beauty of the world.

What on earth could possibly symbolise all of that better than a rainbow?

Each component of this CAL will offer a meditation on healing, with titles such as "Wheel of Time", "Ribbons of Hope" and "Somedays are Diamonds".

How does a Traditional Granny Square fit the theme?   There is nothing "uncertain" about a granny square - and the simple reassurance that the square WILL work out no matter what, is a great comfort!    The traditional granny square is timeless, like the words of a favourite poem by e.e.cummings:

"- how fortunate are you and I, whose home is timelessness:   we who have wandered down from fragrant mountains of eternal now

to frolic in such mysteries as birth
and death a day (or maybe even less)"

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To avoid confusion the Poncho and Blanket layouts will be published separately.    In addition some of the Poncho and Blanket Patterns will be published separately, as there are small variations in the squares. 

All new and previous links can be found in the ZOOTY OWL CROCHET-A-LONG GROUP FILES

BLANKET - PART 1 LINKS:

BLANKET LAYOUT

TRADITIONAL GRANNY SQUARE (1)

PONCHO - PART 1 LINKS:

PONCHO LAYOUT


TRADITIONAL GRANNY SQUARE (1)

KOKOPELLI'S POST FOR PART 1

RAR PONCHO CAL: PART 1

TRADITIONAL GRANNY SQUARE (make 10)

 
PATTERN TERMS:    US

YARN:  Elle Charity Chunky (12 ply).   Stylecraft Special Chunky is an excellent quality / great value alternative yarn.

HOOK SIZE:  5.50mm (I/9 US or 5 CANADIAN) 

SQUARE SIZE:   The Layout Measurement of 15cm x 15cm (5.9 inches x 5.9 inches) for this square is based on the above yarn and hook size.  This measurement is also based on the Designer’s tension.   You may need to adjust your hook size up if you hook tightly or down if you hook loosely
 
NOTE:  The size of your square will depend on your choice of yarn thickness and hook size.   Should you choose to work exactly according to the RAINBOWS AFTER THE RAIN PONCHO layout, simply repeat the final round of the pattern until the square measures 15cm x 15cm .  Gauge is not too important with this poncho. Yarn thicknesses vary somewhat from brand to brand as do the tensions of individual crocheters.  The most important thing is that your tension remains even throughout the poncho.
  
COLOURWAY:   Each crocheter may choose his / her own colour layout - colour changes / breaks are suggestions only.

SQUARES are worked in the round with Right Side Facing throughout.

IMPORTANT:  Read through pattern before starting to crochet. 
 
Foundation:  Start with a magic ring; alternatively crochet 3ch;   sl st into 3rd chain from hook to form a circle

Round 1:   5ch (counts as 1dc, 2ch),  (3dc into ring, 2ch) 3 times;  2dc into ring;   sl st into 3rd of beginning 5ch to close.  
 
Stitch Count:  3dc each side and 2ch in each corner. 

Round 2:   sl st into 2ch space;    3ch (counts as 1dc);  (2dc, 2ch, 3dc) into 2ch space;   (3dc, 2ch, 3dc into next 2ch space) x3;    sl st into 3rd of beginning 3ch to close row.    Break off yarn.
 
Stitch Count:  (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) in each corner.

Round 3:  Join yarn with a sl st in space between 3dc groups;   3ch (counts as 1dc) or crochet a standing dc,   2dc into same space;   *(3dc, 2ch, 3dc) into corner 2ch;   3dc into space between 3dc groups* Repeat *to* twice more;   (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) into corner 2ch, sl st into 3rd of beginning 3ch to close row.   Break off yarn.
 
Stitch Count:  (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) in each corner and 1 x 3dc grouping each side.

Round 4:  Join yarn with a sl st in space between 3dc groupings before any corner 3dc.  3ch (counts as 1dc) or crochet a standing dc,  2dc into same space;  *(3dc, 2ch, 3dc) into corner 2ch;   3dc into each space between 3dc groups to corner*  repeat from *to* twice more, (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) into corner 2ch, 3dc into space between 3dc groupings;  sl st into 3rd of beginning 3ch to close row.    Break off yarn.
 
Stitch count:  (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) in each corner and 6dc (2 x 3dc groupings) each side.

Round 5:   Join yarn with a sl st in space between 3dc groupings before any corner 3dc;   3ch (counts as 1dc ) or crochet a standing dc,   2dc into same space;   *(3dc, 2ch, 3dc) into corner 2ch;   3dc into each space between 3dc groups to next corner* Repeat *to* twice more;   (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) into corner 2ch;   3dc into each space between 3dc groups to start 3dc group, sl st into 3rd of beginning 3ch to close row.     Break off yarn.
 
Stitch count:  (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) in each corner and 9dc (3 x 3dc groupings) each side.

Round 6:  Join yarn with a sl st in space between 3dc groupings before any corner 3dc;   2ch (counts as 1hdc) or crochet a standing hdc,   2hdc into same space;   *(3hdc, 2ch, 3hdc) into corner 2ch;   3hdc into each space between 3dc groups to next corner* Repeat *to* twice more;   (3hdc, 2ch, 3hdc) into corner 2ch;   3hdc into each space between 3dc groups to beginning 3ch,  sl st into 2nd of beginning 2ch to close row.     Break off yarn.

Stitch count:  (3hdc, 2ch, 3hdc) in each corner and 12hdc (4 x 3hdc groupings) each side.

RAR PONCHO LAYOUT

RAR BLANKET LAYOUT

RAR BLANKET CAL: PART 1

TRADITIONAL GRANNY SQUARE (MAKE 5)

PATTERN TERMS:    US

YARN:  Elle Charity Chunky (12 ply).   Stylecraft Special Chunky is an excellent quality / great value alternative yarn.

HOOK SIZE:  5.50mm (I/9 US / 5 CANADIAN)

SQUARE SIZE:    The Layout Measurement of 20cm x 20cm (7.9inches x 7.9inches) for this square is based on the above yarn and hook size.  This measurement is also based on the Designer’s tension.   You may need to adjust your hook size up if you hook tightly or down if you hook loosely

NOTE:  The size of your square will depend on your choice of yarn thickness and hook size.   Should you choose to work exactly according to the RAINBOWS AFTER THE RAIN BLANKET layout, simply repeat the final round of the pattern until the square measures 20cm x 20cm.  Gauge is not too important with this blanket. Yarn thicknesses vary somewhat from brand to brand as do the tensions of individual crocheters.  The most important thing is that your tension remains even throughout the blanket.

COLOURWAY:   Each crocheter may choose his / her own colour layout - colour changes / breaks are suggestions only.

SQUARES are worked in the round with Right Side Facing throughout.

IMPORTANT:  Read through pattern before starting to crochet.

Foundation:  Start with a magic ring; alternatively crochet 3ch;   sl st into 3rd chain from hook to form a circle

Round 1:   5ch (counts as 1dc, 2ch),  (3dc into ring, 2ch) 3 times;  2dc into ring;   sl st into 3rd of beginning 5ch to close.

Stitch Count:  3dc each side and 2ch in each corner.

Round 2:   sl st into 2ch space;    3ch (counts as 1dc);  (2dc, 2ch, 3dc) into 2ch space;   (3dc, 2ch, 3dc into next 2ch space) x3;    sl st into 3rd of beginning 3ch to close row.    Break off yarn.

Stitch Count:  (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) in each corner.

Round 3:  Join yarn with a sl st in space between 3dc groups;   3ch (counts as 1dc) or crochet a standing dc,   2dc into same space;   *(3dc, 2ch, 3dc) into corner 2ch;   3dc into space between 3dc groups* Repeat *to* twice more;   ( 3dc, 2ch, 3dc) into corner 2ch, sl st into 3rd of beginning 3ch to close row.    Break off yarn.

Stitch Count:  (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) in each corner and 1 x 3dc grouping each side.

Round 4:  Join yarn with a sl st in space between 3dc groupings before any corner 3dc.  3ch (counts as 1dc) or crochet a standing dc,  2dc into same space;  *(3dc, 2ch, 3dc) into corner 2ch;   3dc into each space between 3dc groups to corner*  repeat from *to* twice more, (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) into corner 2ch, 3dc into space between 3dc groupings;  sl st into 3rd of beginning 3ch to close row.    Break off yarn.

Stitch count:  (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) in each corner and 6dc (2 x 3dc groupings) each side.

Round 5:   Join yarn with a sl st in space between 3dc groupings before any corner 3dc;   3ch (counts as 1dc ) or crochet a standing dc,   2dc into same space;   *(3dc, 2ch, 3dc) into corner 2ch;   3dc into each space between 3dc groups to next corner* Repeat *to* twice more;   (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) into corner 2ch;   3dc into each space between 3dc groups to start 3dc group, sl st into 3rd of beginning 3ch to close row.     Break off yarn.

Stitch count:  (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) in each corner and 9dc (3 x 3dc groupings) each side.

Round 6:  Join yarn with a sl st in space between 3dc groupings before any corner 3dc;   3ch (counts as 1dc ) or crochet a standing dc,   2dc into same space;   *(3dc, 2ch, 3dc) into corner 2ch;   3dc into each space between 3dc groups to next corner* Repeat *to* twice more;   (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) into corner 2ch;   3dc into each space between 3dc groups to beginning 3ch,  sl st into 3rd of beginning 3ch to close row.     Break off yarn

Stitch count:  (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) in each corner and 12dc (4 x 3dc groupings) each side.

Round 7:  Repeat Round 6.

Stitch count:  (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) in each corner and 15dc (5 x 3dc groupings) each side.

Round 8:  Repeat Round 6.

Stitch count:  (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) in each corner and 18dc (6 x 3dc groupings) each side.

Granny Jeanie Scarves

Long, extremely hot summers are pretty much a given if you live in South Africa.

Up in Johannesburg, the air is usually very dry and most days you can hear your skin being slowly baked to a crisp!   I have a very sensitive skin which dries out quickly, so I go through quite a few  tubs of body butter each month!

Hubby and I would often fly (occasionally drive) down to the Coast.  A short stay at one of the beautiful resorts dotted along our coast was just the ticket to rehydrate our crispy Johannesburg skins.   It was on these little trips that we began planning and plotting a move to the coast.

Fast forward.......... We have now been living on the Hibiscus Coast for a little over 13 months.    It has been horrendously hot for all but 4 of those 13 months.    Add to that the high humidity and instead of being baked (like in Johannesburg) we are being boiled!   Neither hubby nor I thought that the humidity would be more depleting than the dry heat.   Small mercy is that May, June, July and August, bring much milder weather in which a lot of crocheting can be done!!

We received 1 ball of each of the 4 shades (Dixie, Memphis, Delta and Texas) of the new JEANIE DENIM LOOK yarn in our Spring Blogstar Meet Up goodie bags.    I had planned on  making a beaded wrap incorporating all four colours, but it was way too hot for such a big project, and I just could not wait to try out this gorgeous aran weight (10ply),  60% Cotton / 40% Premium Acrylic yarn.

400g of Jeanie was enough to make two GRANNY STRIPE SCARVES.     I love calling them Granny Jeanie Scarves!     I don't know any grannies called "Jeanie" but from the name you would imagine an eccentric, rather hip, yarn obsessed old girl with snow white hair and sparkly eyes!

I made one for me

and one for hubby:

It will probably not get cold enough here at home to wear a scarf - but they will be quite handy when we travel to colder parts.   I love the denim look as it will go with most of my clothes - a bonus when packing a suitcase!