roman sock

From little acorns...

I wish I could knit as well as crochet but I don't have the skill and patience! I do, however, find it sad that there is a little rift between these two glorious fiber camps. So I wanted to think of crocheted gift for knitters, so we could all give gifts and make friends!

Introducing.....the Sock Acorn

It is just big enough for a skein of yarn and the socks you are knitting!

Then when you want to work on them you just pop your socks out...

and then secure your skien in the acorn to keep it safe from dust and annoyances and keep on knitting!

I have now finally finished a project I've been working on for ages and my time is my own again!!!!!!! So I will be rejoining blog land with a passion!! and I should have much more time for crochet!!! Yay!!!

I plan to be writing some more patterns, so I was just wondering if there was anything in particular you wanted me to write patterns for?

Roman Sock's Blogaversary

Wow - Roman Sock has been around for a whole year!! I am so completely chuffed. This is the longest I have kept any sort of journal and I never thought a virtual thing could reach across oceans and make me the most amazing friends.

So over 40 projects, 14 patterns, 87 posts and 653 comments (Oh my gosh!) later, I owe everybody a massive thank you!

This is going to sound like a crazy thank you speech (stand back Gwyneth) -  but I don't care!

Thank you June, Maritza, Bethany, Lindsay and Bri for helping me through this crazy blog thing. Your help and support has been invaluable.

Thank you to all the amazing people that actually made my patterns! How cool is that!!! You can see some of their brilliant work on the Roman Sock Flickr Link and everyone who bought something from Little Diversions from Roman Sock on Etsy.

Thank you Cassie from Bella Dia for sparking a Owlet craze!!

Thank you to all the amazing sites that featured my work including Craft , CraftyCraftyTV , DIYLIfe , Squidoo , Softie Central, Plush You, Crochet Pattern Central , Craft and Found, A Crochet Toy Chest and Lime&Violets Daily Chum.

Also thank you those lovely bloggers who blogged about this site! Fia Lotta Jansen , Groke Park, Crafting Creatures , LoopyJess, Cthulhu Crochet, CfKnits , Yarnigras , Quirkiest, Way Out Wear, LizzyJo, Knitting Frog, ChefHades, Ellielabelle and of course Soto Softies

A special thank you goes out to Monika for supplying me with glimmers of sheer joy!

I must have left loads of people out so please forgive me and know I appreciate you too!!

So, over the next year I promise lots more patterns made even easier to use and tonnes of crochet cuteness! Any other ideas?

little bunny foo foo - the truth

I love the natural world and adore making mostly realistic looking creatures but lately I have been wondering if I could design a slightly more traditional amigurumi. So cue this little bunny - I think I am going to call her Meitje.

She was lounging in the glorious sunshine today!

playing in the dadylion leaves

and of course shaking her booty

I have heard some very funny stories about the white lies parents tell children and the 'Doh' moments people have when they find out what they held as a firm belief was not true at all!!

My mum and dad told me that the little sprout bit in each peanut was poisonous - I still have problems eating peanuts even though I know its not true.

I have a friend who's dad told her that a car's lighter was actually a self destruct button ( An exhaust with smoke coming out) She only found out that wasn't the case when she had her own car and someone pressed the lighter in and she freaked out.

Someone else was told their Alsatian had been selected to be a police dog even though he was 7 or 8 years old, her boyfriend had to break it to her the other day.

It's a terrible and hilarious responsibility negotiating the path between protecting a child's feelings and wellbeing and them make a fool of themselves in their 30's!

It is the last day of voting for the Softie Awards so please please vote if you haven't already! Click Here

Vote Mini Twinks (Only if you want!)

Little Lamb

Little Lamb is an amazing charity run by Lindsay and Maureen. They make donated crochet and knitted squares into amazing blankets for babies, children and adults who need them! I was completely chuffed when Lindsay asked me to make them a mascot. It has taken me a little time....but here she is.

She likes relaxing in the grass

Smiling

Standing round

and having a good old sit down

I hope she was what Lindsay had in mind.

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I watched Miss Austen Regrets tonight, what a brilliant show, so powerful, well worth watching if you can possibly track it down.

Today I have felt incredibly lucky for being here, happy and healthy. I am unbelievably lucky and I need to spend more time enjoying it, rather than worrying about the future. It's strange how difficult it is just to let go and enjoy - afterall there is no way of knowing what is going to happen, so it's all about the journey!

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I thought in the style of Julie Andrews and her favourite things - wow it's not often you can say that - that I would end each entry with something that makes me happy.

On my bedside table I have three little trolls: one supposed to represent my Oma (Grandmother); one my mother; and one her sister Fredy. I used to play with them every time I visited my Oma and thought they were just the most precious things. Now they live with me and every time I see them I am reminded of just how amazing women are! My mum is also coming over to vist me soon - it's going to be fun!

Frog pincushion pattern at last! and a tiny bird

Hi everyone, Thank you so much for your appreciation over the years. Just to let you know I have relaunched the Roman Sock Shop and you can now find it at romansock.com.

I am so sorry it has taken so long to post the frog pincushion pattern! It's finally ready - and you can download it here: Download frogpin.pdf

I have been taking more glasgow pictures ( I know! It's boring now!) which you can catch on flickr if you fancy a little scottish distraction!

I have been utterly enchanted by Maritza from Soto Softies other blog inside the softie machine. This post on Yellow really struck a cord.

For the first time in ages I actually had a very small amount of time to crochet - so I made this very small little bird. I am going to try some different sizes!

Brushed Crochet

 

Hi everyone, Thank you so much for your appreciation over the years. Just to let you know I have relaunched the Roman Sock Shop and you can now find it at romansock.com.

I thought it was high time I did a proper tutorial on my 'Brushed Crochet Technique'

http://littlegreen.typepad.com/romansock/brushed-crochet.html

I was frustrated one day, around a year ago, when I discovered that fluffy yarn didnt make fluffy crochet creatures. So I used Twinkle's slicker brush to try to pull out the hairs - and wow! I was really impressed with the results.

I have been using the brushed crochet technique, creating fluffy crochet creatures, since then and these are some of the creatures I have made.

Here is a little sample of the tutorial:

 

Hope you like it! - I love seeing other fluffy creatures!

Raggs and an apology

I have been a very lax and naughty crochet blogger far too concerned with real life and learning a new city. I am now on a crochet program - and have amended my naughty ways.

This little creature is a mini version of a very adorable dog called Raggs belonging to the wonderful Monika. He will soon be winging his way over to her, and is already dreaming of adventures with alpaca.

He has been hanging round my new back garden (Well I say mine - it is actually shared with all the flats in this block, but hey! I am going to enjoy it)

I think he has been enjoying his play time! He has no need for the brilliant Cesar Milan! Unlike Twinkle, with whom we have been using lots of Cesars techniques and now have a relatively well behaved Pomeranian - who would have thought.

I think he enjoyed himself!

The post keeps crashing so part 2 in a minute!

Something practical and something inspirational

My day has been split between fun and watching something truly inspirational.

So starting with the fun! I have finally made something practical!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Simple things make me happy. Here it is, a little frog pincushion. It was ridiculously easy to make, and I think quite cute?

I made two versions: one which was sewn on to the lily pad; and one which stuck to the lily pad with magnets.

The magnet one works....if you don't flail your hand. If you flail your hand it rains cats and frogs....

But you can use the lily pad as a pincushion on its own and the frog as a stationary pin cushion so all is not lost even though my magnets are a bit rubbish.

If anyone is interested I can put together a tutorial; he was scarily simple to make.

Now moving on tho the inspirational. My brother sent me this link for a talk by Randy Pausch called The Last Lecture. If you haven't heard about Randy he is a professor at Carnegie Mellon University who is also struggling against pancreatic cancer. The lecture is about achieving your childhood dreams, but more than that its a guide to living, a guide that makes you want to be better, have fun, and more than anything learning to appreciate and love those around you.

I found it completely inspiring, you don't realise how much we just move through life without really thinking about making ourselves and those around us happy. If you have a free hour, use it watching this. It has genuinely altered me, which is truly astonishing.

I also watched his lecture on Time Management which is a great condensed guide, with all the best bits from 7 habits and the 1 minute manager perfected. Its like a crash course in leadership, business and achievement. I think its relevant for everyone and really pulls out some crucial life lessons that mean you have more time to have fun!

I was moved a lot watching them both, but wow did I learn. One of Randy's objectives was to help others realise their childhood dreams, and I for one definitely feel more on that path! 

Highlander - The Cow

I have finally finished this little guy for a swap over at The Needle. I should have sent him on Monday, but he just took me so long! I think it's because he is bigger than my usual creatures. I love Highland Cows and this little baby seems to be a very fluffy specimen.

I still remember the first time I ever saw a Highland Cow. It looked like something from the past, a great big beast too fluffy and too innocent for this day and age, like it should have died out with the Mammoths, but they are very real!

I went for a walk in Dalkieth Country park yesterday, and after carelessly strolling through a field noticed that there was a sign on the gate "Danger: Bull In Field" hmmm. Even though I could clearly see there was no bull I was petrified. Somehow I imagined this huge bull, would just appear right next to me and charge. Absolute irrational fear - maybe I am never going to make a country girl.

The walk was stunning though, and you could just imagine Edwardian ladies taking a turn around the estate. Sometimes I wish I was born 150 years ago - then I realise just how much freedom we have and I remember to be grateful to be here now.

The feet and the joints are made with vintage leather buttons, which are just amazing! I love that they have had a previous life, probably snipped off old tweed jackets and now a part of a new softie. It's a bit mind-boggling, really.

I have become obsessed with this whale, I just have to make myself one isn't it just adorable? Sea creatures! You just have to love them!

A Job and a Weevil

I have had a very manic time of late, leaving a job, trying to move city and just get by! So I have been slightly AWOL from Roman Sock. But I am back and have a whole week and a half off!! Before I start my new job. Ahh, at last time to crochet.

I have done a little work on the site and you can now find me on Etsy!!! Yayyyyyyyyyy Little Diversions from Roman Sock.

Here is my new little creature:

(The Suncatcher eyes are extraordinary! I am so impressed with them!! and shall be ordering tonnes! Thank you Michelle!)

I once made a batch of muffins, a long time ago when I lived with my parents, which my dad really liked because they tasted so crunchy. Later on that day my mum found the entire baking cupboard was infested with Weevils. I never told my Dad.... Extra protein!!! Can that ever be really bad?

The Wise Weevil, sitting sage-like.

Scurrying

Contemplating the sky

Locked in an epic battle with Twinks.

This is the first of a series of rain forest creatures I would like to make from the book Rainforest.