Ok, we know by now I don't shirk at a challenge, so I've set myself a challenge and given myself a year to complete it.

Years ago I crocheted a rather filet shawl, a year or two ago I had a go at a couple of granny squares, a month ago I had a go at amigurumi, in the last two weeks or so, a bag. And so a bigger challenge is in order.

In Sue Whiting's Crochet Bible is a rather lovely project called Heirloom Bedspread (incidentally this is where the Peruvian Style Bag also came from). It is formed from 255 motifs in 4-ply cotton using a 2.5 mm hook.

One motif done, 254 to go ....

I decided on a larger crochet project as I'd got my head around arimugumi.

And I thought I'd make something for myself, so I decided on a bag.

To add some spice, I went for something that involved multiple mid-row colour changes - always after a challenge!

Well, it wasn't as quick, or as easy as I'd thought something made purely of double crochet would be.

First, multiple colour changes meant dealing with lots of strands. I finally settled on a method whereby I would strand across 4 stitches maximum otherwise join a new strand in.

Second, I didn't realise quite how important the 'turn' was at the end of each round - to match the handles the 'turn' had to be done.

I'm approaching the end of the Shetland Lace scarf (update soon), but I needed a distraction from loopy lace before I went completely loopy.

Apart from edging, the only crochet I've done is a couple of shawls and a few granny squares, so I thought I'd have a go at amigurumi. Strangely that means doing something fashionable!

I got this book:

First, I had a go at the dog. I'd given that away before I thought of taking a photo, so the elephant is my second attempt at this style.

It went pretty well. It took a while to perfect the starting circle - I ended up doing the magic loop/double loop technique as that gives the best finished look.

Alterations from the published pattern: I changed the position of the eyes as I think they look more cute. The pattern didn't have a tail, so a plaited six strands and tied a knot in the end.