What a brilliant night we had on Wednesday. A night of show and tell, holiday hookery photo competition and, of course, food.
In our photo competition we had 6 entries and an amazing 3 tied for first place which just goes to show the calibre of the entries and the photographic skills of our members. Not wanting to exclude the three non-winners by congratulating the winners I will not name anyone. Suffice to say that as it was all just a bit of a laugh and something to think about on holiday, each entrant was awarded a small token prize because, after all, it isn't about the winning but about the taking part. The photos are below but you can see larger versions elsewhere in this blog. Oh, and this photo is pre-voting just so that you don't know who the 3 top secret winners are.
We all brought along (and artistically displayed) our completed items for our show and tell. Some members were absent so their items aren't on display. Lindsay gets the top award as she travelled back from Glasgow just for hookery and came straight from the boat. There are many more items already 'on the hook' already. Some Brownie Guides, passing through the halls after their meeting, were quite amazed by the display of work.
To give you an idea of our output over the summer months we have made ...... Deep breath ...... 2 cafetiere cosies, 3 rosy posy tea pot cosies, 2 blankets/throws, 3 afghans, 3 beanie hats, 6 scarves, a bobble hat, 1 pair of slippers, 2 patchwork bags, flowers (geraniums, Russian poppies and roses), a hand grenade (better not to ask!), hair decorations to go with school uniforms, pretty crochet trims for tealight holders, a ripple blanket, mittens, 2 cat-design blankets, 1 baby blanket, a pram cosy, a wonkey donkey, a teddy, mug warmers, jam pot covers and a full set of clothes (dungarees, jumper and hat) to fit a baby-sized doll which is to be auctioned for charity
plus10 St Mungo hats. Most of these items have come from our favourite
textbook and pictures appear elsewhere in our blog.
As usual we were good to ourselves and had yummy edibles. This week, as it was our final night of summer hookery, we brought along some extra goodies. Lynne brought her home made, mouth-watering, Victoria sponge just ooooozing with jam and real cream. Niqi had made some scones (still warm) and brought some of her delicious homemade strawberry jam to go along with them. Tea break in the staffroom will definitely NOT be like this on a Wednesday night unless someone speaks to the boss?
We have now reached the heady heights of 15 like-minded women meeting up
every week for crochet, a chat and a cup of coffee - wow! Alas the group will be splintered for the next few weeks due to work commitments. Hookery in the Bookery will recommence as term starts again on Monday and the 'founding 3' - Patricia, Mags and Heather - will be back in the library. Back we go to where we three started nearly a whole year ago - thanks Mags for both you and your ripple blanket. How is it progressing, by the way? All others of the summer's newly enthusiastic members will continue to Hook @ The Dock and will remember us (temporarily) absent friends. So, you may see some confusing posts from two locations on the same day but, fear not, we haven't fallen out and there is no disharmony in the ranks. After Christmas we hope to hook on alternate Wednesdays at The Dock and Chez Moi as before.
Until the next time .....
The end of the academic year and therefore of our evenings in the Bookery approaches. So here are the first year's offerings! We think that Hookery in the Bookery started somewhere around October/November 2011, so it's actually not quite a year- which makes the accumulated output more than slightly impressive, I think! In the picture we have four completed blankets, one nearly completed blanket, one not at all completed blanket, one scarf, one very clever buggy cosy, and seven flowers! Not in the picture we also claim another blanket and another scarf! Well done, all!
Let's get me out of the way first. It won't take long! One not at all completed ripple blanket, but it's coming on well, and could be finished in time for next year's Show and Tell! One prototype corsage, one corsage, one felted corsage as prototype brooch!
Heather's first blanket- fast stitch (see next picture), fabulous yarn- see comment from Heather for details- Heather, leave details in a comment!
Patricia's fast stitch- pattern, please, Patricia! Patricia's first blanket?
Attempt at arty shot of Patricia's second scarf!
Heather's second blanket- granny square in great colours, with Patricia's second scarf.
Patricia's four flowers- carnation at back is fabulous- another pattern, please, Patricia!
Heather's granny squares are all done for her third blanket, and she is joining them all together, possibly as I type!
The frankly amazing buggy cover, with flower- all Patricia's.
Patricia's granny square blanket- can't recall if it was her first or second???
And another shot of Patricia's flowers! Not shown is Gail's gorgeous granny square blanket, produced in two months by someone who learnt to crochet two months ago! I'm amazed and delighted at what you can do with nice people in a nice place in a nice way. Obviously most of the hooking is done in homes around Newtownabbey, but the thinking and comparing and learning from Patricia has mostly been done, I think, at the Bookery. And that has been a fine thing indeed!