Turning Cartwheels

The sun is shinning, the washing is drying, the house is (reasonably clean), I've just had a yummy lunch and I've come to do a little bit of Ta-Dahing.  All is good and right with my little world today.

These are going to be the subject of today's post



These are my cartwheels.  I don't know why that became their name, but it did and that's how I can't help but think of them.  They are going to made into a shrug of my own (somewhat tortured devising), but before that, let us go back to the beginning.

When I try to think of how the idea came about, I'm not sure I can remember.  I think it came from a number of different pictures I've been seeing lately here, here, here and here.  That and these wonderful colours which had been in my head as a kind of palette ready for action for a little while.



I didn't plan it that way because it was still pretty summery when it was first concieved, but I think they have a pleasing Autumnal feel to them.  I love that word:  Autumnal!


So the circles started to pile up, which you may know, is my very favourite part of the project.  I love the colourful heaps, the pretty displays and all that potential!  Potential is exciting.





Ummm, happiness!

Then came the construction.  This bit I wasn't sure of, it was a kind of 'suck it and see' type procedure, but I came up with a method fairly painlessly and so the networking of cartwheels began.





This stage took quite a while...





But after a while, it started to come together and resemble a garment.  At some point during all this I decided on a simple edging of double (or single, if you prefer) crochet to set it off, with just a few of the colours in.  It seemed right.




And then, it was done.




Such an enjoyable project, I don't think there was hardly a moment in the making that I didn't love, which is usual for me.  Normally, especially when the end is in sight, I start to flag and want the whole thing over with, but this time I was content. 

Well, with the possible exception of sewing in all the 'networking' ends which, in my excitement of getting it all together so I could see the shape, I didn't do as I went along.  Still a solid Sunday's work saw the back of the blighters!





So, there you have it.  Ta, if you won't mind me saying it, Dah!

One more thing.  I know you'll want to know, so I have all the oh so important yarny details for you:

It's made from a sport weight yarn called Bergère de France Idéal, which I picked up at my local-ish shop.  It has a great range of colours, including ones that I felt exactly matched my palette imaginings at the beginning.  Here's the colours I used:

20555 - Cyclamen (Raspberry pink)
20743 - Loess (Khaki green)
20754 - Olivine (Olive)
20846 - Chenas (Plum)
22375 - Balladone (Soft violet)
23026 - Danseuse (Soft pink)
23040 - Citonnier (lemony lime)
24241 - Cendre (Ash grey)
24872 - Calanque (Peacock)

I used just about half a skein of each of the above to make all the cartwheel and a little more of each of the border colours.  Then to join all the circles together I used 3 balls of:

23316 - Vannerie (Beige)

See you soon.


S x


Oh, I almost forgot!  I'm entering this little shrug in the 'Celebrate Color' competition over at Stitched in Colour.  It's a great competition, with some lovely prizes to be won - go and check it out!

S x

Comments

  1. I think that is the prettiest shrug I've seen - lot's of color but not overwhelming. Very, very pretty. Great work. :)

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  2. beautiful shrug, and congratulations on arranging the colors so nicely. Not so easy given the colours of Idéal I think :)

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  3. Fabulousia!!!! sounds italian doesn't it, i should say wow!!! absolutely wow, its beautiful :D
    Karen x

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  4. This is quite the most beautiful project I have seen today...and I have been reading for a few hours! Your shrug is gorgeous...well done you! :)x

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  5. Wow, it is FANTASTIC!! And you made the pattern up, you are so talented!

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  6. Absolutely fantastic, it looks great and such a one off! You must feel very proud of yourself :)

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  7. simply stunning, i love it, well done you.xx

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  8. Oh wow! I had no idea how they were going to be joined and I love the result! That is definitely something I would wear, I love it :-)

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  9. This is amazing! I wish I wasn't all thumbs at crochet...love the color variety! Great entry for Celebrate Color - Good Luck!!!

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  10. What an amazing shrug and full of beautiful colours. I especially love the 'plain' colour you have used for the network, makes the colours look even more shining. It´s really fantastic and looks extremely great combined with simple jeans, very sophisticated and special.
    With my best wishes,
    Suzi
    http://krawuggl.blogspot.com

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  11. Your shrug is absolutely beautiful! The colours are lovely and the joining colour is perfect. I'm so impressed you could put it together without a pattern.
    Jane x

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  12. Thank you for the inspiration to make something like this! It looks just stunning, I really love it!
    xo,
    wink

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  13. Oh, I would have been so chicken to try to put those together in a garment. Way to go!

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  14. It's absolutely gorgeous, you are so talented!! xx

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  15. Love, love, love your idea. I think I'll try to make one for myself.
    Also love your blog. I have a link button of your blog in mine, so you will be getting more visits... Keep the good work.

    Ana BC

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  16. That's gorgeous, and quite unique really ... love it :D

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  17. Wow, that is absolutely fantastic - I love it! I'm so impressed!
    Maria x

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  18. Love it! You are very clever to create such a beautiful thing. Also love the colours you chose too. x

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  19. Hello,


    Wow, it is FANTASTIC!
    I love you crochteprotject!


    enjoy Conny

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  20. That is pretty nice. I love it. Maybe I will try that sooner.

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  21. Cartwheels are fun but I think it is more exciting when we do it in our own hands.

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  22. Hi, I really like the shrug have you got apattern for it I would love to make one for myself.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Taz,

      Thanks so much! I'm afraid you don't have an email address on your profile so I can't reply to you direct, so I'm answering you here instead.

      Unfortunately there is no pattern for this at the moment. I was planning to write one originally, but joining all the circles together became quite fiddly and complex I'm not sure where to begin getting it written into a pattern!

      S x

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  23. Absolutely beautiful! Just love the colours you put together.

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