Finding a new long term craft project

So a few weeks ago I finally finished my cross stitch sampler. I had been working on it for around seven years, not continuously, but it had always been in the drawer close at hand. One of the reasons that it took me so long was because I liked knowing that there was always something there that I could pull out to work on. I'm so pleased with the finished sampler, and the final push that I put in to make sure that it was completed. I keep going into the room where it is hanging to admire it.

But I will admit that now I feel at a bit of a loss. I'm not sure that I'm ready to commit to another large scale cross stitch project yet, and I do have a couple of very small pieces that I can work on if I feel the cross stitching urge. But I am thinking that I would like to have something else around to work on.

The idea of making a crochet blanket has been at the back of my mind for some time, but after my attempt at crochet failed last year I don't think I'm going to get far with that idea. But around that time my Mum did set me up with a simple knitting pattern to knit little hexagons that can be joined together in a blanket. Each one measures about 7cm across. I worked very hard on it, and over about six months I produced thirty six hexagons that I was very proud of. Or at least I was, until I worked out that to make a blanket measuring a reasonable size I was going to need over a thousand, and so I became disheartened and put it away.

But now I feel that it's time to have another go. The hexagons are very quick to knit up even for me (I'm not a great or confident knitter) and I can just about manage to complete one around the children, for example while they are in the bath is a good time to get one done. I'm trying not to think yet about the amount of time that it will take to sew all the things together!

Look out for a post in at least ten years time, when I proudly show off my new blanket!