Sofa time

Remember the crocheted cushion I started making in the last week or so before Charlotte was born? After a good few weeks of being ignored in an unfinished state (hmm, I wonder why), I pushed myself a bit and finished it.

Back then, I was feeling grumpy about being too hot, and that I had gone over my due date. With all the baby preparations done, there was not a lot for me to do but make the most of the opportunity her being overdue gave me to relax on the sofa, sip a nice cold Diet Coke with the tennis on and do a spot of crochet.

I finished the front of the cushion, and then Charlotte was born a day later - so unsurprisingly, the cushion was left untouched for a good few weeks.

You'll notice that I have cheated a bit and backed the cushion with some fabric instead of crocheting a back for it, which was my original intention. I decided the only way the cushion was going to be saved from a fate of an unfinished project under a pile of other stuff in a cupboard, and take pride of place on the sofa, was to go for the easiest possible option. And who looks at the back of a cushion, anyway. Well, that is my justification and I am sticking to it. Maybe one day, if I become super fast at crocheting, or, have more time on my hands, I will do a proper crocheted back. But for now, I like it the way it is - and this way I get to enjoy looking at it every day.

Will I make another one? Yes. When comparing it to other projects that have taken me loads of time to make - this dress comes to mind - this is more of a slow burner. I think the pleasure I'll get from the cushion will be more of mild pleasing "I made that" thought when I look at it on the sofa, rather than the undeniable thrill I feel when I put on a nice dress I have made. But, being in pride of place on the sofa means I will look at it a lot more often than the dress - which is currently squished in a sack of clothes that don't fit.

I have already bought some more wool for my next cushion. Different from this one, but the colours will also fit in with my front room, meaning that hopefully it will one day also have pride of place on the sofa.

Crocheting is not about to replace sewing for me. Neither is knitting, for that matter. But, recognising the former two offer me a very satisfying sofa based crafting thing to do, they are going to be an `as well as' part of my crafty interests.

As well as wool for a cushion, I have also just bought some gorgeous, love at first sight fabric. I saw it yesterday and just knew what it needed to be turned into. But more about that tomorrow, as there are no photos to show you yet, due to the fact I am being good and doing the boring thing of washing it before taking the scissors to it. There will be some proper sewing happening soon, I promise!

On a final note (tenuously linked to the topic of this post because we do it on the sofa), me and the girls have been loving reading the following books together this summer - Stig of the Dump by Clive King, and the amusing and very much of the moment Don't Wake the Royal Baby by Martha Mumford, and The Royal Nappy by Nicholas Allan. All brilliant reads, if you happen to be in the market for a book recommendation or two to enjoy with young children.