Work in Progress: Felt Christmas Stocking Part 1

If you've been following me on Instagram, you may have seen that I've started to make my son's Christmas stocking. I started now, because I don't know how long it's going to take me, and I want to be finished before Christmas! 

I bought the kit last Christmas in the after-Christmas sales. I got it out of the packet and looked and all the pieces and then stuck it straight back in! You may have seen last Christmas that I have the same type of stocking myself. The stocking I'm making for Lucas is the exact same brand! My very crafty Mum made one for my sister and I. They have to be at LEAST 20+ years old as I remember having them when we lived in Auckland. This is one instance where I really wish Mum was still here as I could definitely use some advice on hand stitching and embroidery. This is part of the reason why it's taken me 7 or 8 months to start the stocking as I'm a bit afraid! Hand sewing is absolutely not my forte! 

I'm currently up to Step 4...of *gulp* 57. I'm taking it as slowly and carefully as I can to get everything right. The hardest part by far, and I think of the entire project was the personalising of the name. The pattern was for a red coloured thread but I thought I would make it special and go for gold....wow that metallic thread is a pain to sew with! What I finished up with is by no means perfect, but all the same I'm proud of what I'm doing. I'll keep you posted as go.

Work in Progress: Square Circle Solid Granny Squares

Hello! 

Another quick check in to show you what I'm up to! Although I have that "To Do" list I'm slowly working on, I also keep thinking of new projects to start on! I'm sure I'm not the only one that works this way?? I find it so much easier to do a project I'm really in to at any one time, rather than plodding away at things that I should be doing. 

Work in Progress: Granny Stripe Crochet Blanket

You might know they I have just started to teach myself crochet. I had my heart set on making a really cool crochet basket with this HUGE amount of t-shirt yarn (nearly did a bad yet apt typo then! ;) ) that I have had lying around (see here) but after literally a million tries, with several different patterns, I've put it on the back burner for now!
A blog I have started following for a while now, Maybe Matilda, posted a tutorial for this gorgeous baby blanket. And not only that, this tutorial has PHOTOS! The thing I can't quite get my head around yet is reading crochet patterns, so anything with photos or video, I am really into! 

However, even with this super easy tutorial, I am still foiled by crochet! I'm onto my third attempt now, having failed spectacularly with the first go:

I bought some smaller hooks for this attempt, but still failed...!

Although you can't really see, the edges were really going uneven and I couldn't continue with it being so crazy! 

This is where I'm currently at:

And already I'm a bit off track! I have no idea how one end it straight and the other seems to become uneven! (Actually I *think* it's because I made one mistake at the end of a row, I didn't think it would be a big deal, but turns out it is!) 

Hopefully as I go on I'll get the hang of it and end up with a nice even edge! I can't bear the thought of unpicking it a THIRD time when I like this version the best so far! 
Any tips??