The mud and dust, the soil and sands of Africa

Yarn Elle Cotton On DK print 051 Ash, Photo of Rhino by Christine & Michel Denis Huot

Hello!  The kids and I arrived in Doha with a suitcase and one piece of cabin luggage each. We are light travelers and since I am the boss did the packing, I distributed 4 kg yarn between the suitcases before I even considered how many pairs of shoes we have space for. 

I have just started working on a new blanket using my lovely yarn from South Africa. I initially planned a colour palette in rich reds and purples, but I reconsidered and settled on a palette of white, beige, taupe, grey and coal in 25 different shades, featuring no less than 9 different types of yarns! The palette is stunning, inspired by the mud and dust, the soil and sands of Mother Africa.

Images: Pinterest Raw Rustic

When I think of my childhood, vivid images of digging my hands through the cool earth, sinking my feet into the soft soil, boring with my big toe through the cracks of dried mud prevail. The picture of a White Rhino charging through dusty plains, cemented the idea for using a palette that represents the Mother Continent.

I am deviating from the initial idea and pattern, but decided to do a separate posting later in which I will be discussing crocheting techniques and personal likes/dislikes. 

Pattern: Hexagon from loopknits

Hook size: 5mm

YARN:

Vinnis Colours Bambi Bamboo/Cotton mix in White, Natural, Clouds and Midnight

Vinnis Nikkim Colours Cotton in Blue-Grey, Aluminium, Steel Grey and Midnight

Vinnis Serina Bamboo in Natural and Silver

Imagine Bamboo/Cotton mix by I Love Yarn  in Windswept, Abyss and Monet

Elle Premier Mercerised Cotton in Grey and Taupe

Elle Rustica Wool/Acrylic/Tweed mix in Charcoal, Aran and Natural

Elle Marco Cotton/Tweed/Wool/Acrylic/Nylon mix in Charcoal and Aran 

Elle Cotton On in Ash

Elle Pure Gold Acrylic in Pepper, Ivory, Silver and Titanium 

All the yarn is available from I Love Yarn in South Africa. They also ship internationally.

Thank you for visiting and enjoy the rest of your week!

Off the hooks!

 Off the hooks: Red Cross Throw, Throw nr 3

9 Red granny squares, 11 rounds each with 5.5 hook

4 Black ranny squares, 22 rounds each with 5.5 hook

Red border in single crochet

I have few words today.  I wanted a beautiful throw that I would feel proud about since it will be going to an Aids Orphan.  (See also my paper "Cry the beloved Children" discussing HIV Aids as a humanitarian crisis. I rarely talk about my work in the realm of sexual trafficking and human development since it is highly sensitive, challenging work but you might also read my posting titled Human Trafficking, Hookers, Hope)

The final colour combination of this throw however, is so meh that I basically hooked it with my eyes closed, eyes fixed on the TV, making eyes at the husband, eyeing the contents of the fridge . . .  This is all due to the yarn store being out of stock on the cream aran (photo below).  I did not want a red and black throw, I mean it is like wearing a pair of black shoes with a red frock, a look that is terribly crass and outdated. Red is paired with nude (or brown or orange or purple for heaven's sake!)

Yarn:

Elle Marco is marketed as a "Touch the Countryside" and consists of 32% cotton, 11% tweed, 10% wool, 44% acrylic, 3% nylon. It is a yarn with great possibilities but as with any design, one should be in love with the colour combinations. Oh, how I mourn not getting hold of the cream aran.

It is Wonderful Wednesday here at Palace Pigtails, meaning we go out to do something nice as determined by the kids.  It looks like we are off to the skate-park today. Cheers!