Sirdar Bamboo Wool

Here is a trial pattern pixie hat I made with Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo ............

Specially developed to be incredibly soft, gentle and smooth for Baby, this yarn is a new blend with natural bamboo and wool fibres.

Great colours and really nice to crochet with........

I am working on making the pattern available soon.

Rowan by Amy Butler

A quick word on Rowan yarns - and what's new - I found their new yarn accidentally in John Lewis in Milton Keynes whilst travelling north to visit family for the weekend.
Apparently, this yarn just hit the store shelves that week - and I am surprised - it is now a couple weeks since I bought the yarn and Rowan still don't have the new yarn listed on their website - was hoping to view the colour chart etc.
Here is a page which gives us an intro to what is coming..........
http://www.knitrowan.com/amybutler.html
I love the yarn a blend of 50% merino wool and 50% cotton - beautiful colours and perfect for my project.
It is definitely my favourite new yarn - soft and warm and perfect for toddler hats, scarves and mittens (see previous post)........ and I think will be perfect for grown ups as well.
So....... I am hoping their colour charts will be available soon.......
Here is a snapshot sample of some of the colours I bought....... and finished hat and mitten (see previous post)

my focus was finding an olive green in a natural fibre yarn...... and then a contrast in purple/lilac....... the best colour combination luckily was the Rowan by Amy Butler and Rowan Wool Cotton -  both are delightful and work well together........ so happy !

Baby Scarf Set

I am always amazed at where some crochet requests lead me.........
now I am crocheting keyhole scarves for one (1) year olds......
I really enjoyed making this set - a request from a special customer.......

My standard pixie hat and mittens and a keyhole scarf.

Finding the right colour was a bit of a challenge and then making sure a natural fibre yarn carried the colour.............

After some disappointing searching - colour charts on internet not matching the yarn etc. and then even the colour charts with yarn seemed to be a different dye lot and just wouldn't do at all......
patience is a virtue..... they say..........
and yes I managed to find the right yarn .........
I was just searching too soon..... the yarn had just arrived on the shop shelf.......... thank you Rowan by Amy Butler and Rowan Wool Cotton............ a perfect match.

Divine colours and both yarns crochet together perfectly - same tension and weight.
A soft and smooth DK weight yarn - providing warmth and comfort with 50% merino wool and 50% cotton blend.  Definitely my new favourite yarn.

As I started crocheting I knew straight away I love this so much........
I must get a couple balls more of a few other colours..........

and yes when I finished the scarf set - I just loved the way it came together - so I made a second set - with a different contrast colour.  Just couldn't help myself............

How perfect is that???  now where is that grandchild?

Focusing the Mind

I crochet for relaxation

the mind relaxes and the body relaxes

stress is released

I am calm

each stitch I am

a mindful awareness of the present moment

I become

an objective spectator

of my thoughts

they come, they go

I don't follow

no pressure

the brain slows down

Counting slowly

as I breathe

each stitch

I work, I think

attention on the stitch

mind still, body still

active attention

Meditative crochet

guides me now!