I had a second walk after dinner (with Tai Chi Man this time) and, as it was only 9pm  when we got back, there was enough time to make a little drawstring bag to go with the tote. I have a selection of different coloured ribbons from my farmer’s market days (can’t believe that was two years ago, crocheting my fingers off to make stuff for the stall).

I used the instructions from my Weekend Sewing book, but didn’t use the exact dimensions of the bags in the book as I wanted it to work with the fabric print.

Love it, love it, love it! My family has had to put up with me showing them my handiwork today.

I also spent the last four days working on a crochet commission – the Double Layered Braided Cowl. It uses Half Double Crochet in the third loop to push the top loops of the stitches to the front, hence the interesting texture – one set of four shorter strips, which are braided and have single crochet sections added to each end, and one set of four longer strips, braided and constructed the same way. Then the two sections are joined and a button tab and buttonhole tab added. It looks impressive, and more complicated than it actually is.

So you see I haven’t broken my yarn ban, because I didn’t have to buy this yarn – my manager at work provided the yarn and printout of the pattern, and I got some paid crocheting time. No button yet, but I’ll take it to work in the morning and she can choose an appropriate sized button and I’ll sew it on in my break.

And now I must turn in so I get my 8 hours of beauty sleep (yes, I do need it)!