I have finished my blanket now, but I will save the big reveal until New Year’s Day. Today I am sharing my little embellishment.
If you have been reading this blog for the last week or so you will know that I had my idea for the little embellishment only a few days ago. I thought a small flower would look lovely in the centre of some of the squares:
Embellishment
Regular blog readers may recognise this flower, it is the Anniversary Crochet Flower that I designed and published here. I used one colour for the first 2 rounds, then swapped to a different colour for the last round. I think it is perfect as a little embellishment.
Embellishment 2
What do you think? Maybe you should wait until your blanket is joined and edged before making these, as you don’t want to run out of yarn! But you can practice on some scraps, as these little flowers don’t use too much yarn.
Flower field
I still haven’t decided whether to add them to my blanket (hence the long tails haven’t been cut off yet as they will be needed for sewing on), I think my blanket zings already………..decisions, decisions…….
Tune in tomorrow for the final part and THE BIG REVEAL!
Happy crocheting xxxx
Now for the legal stuff – I designed this, it’s all my own work and is copyright. Please feel free to make as many as you like, but not for commercial purposes, and please credit me with the design. Thank you!
I am feeling pretty happy today, I have joined all my motifs and I love the way the blanket looks. The colours are bright and fresh, and I have decided this will be my garden throw/picnic rug – it zings!
Today I am sharing my ideas for layout and how to join.
Let’s start with the joining.
I have opted for a very straightforward joining that doesn’t leave a ‘ridge’ on the front of the blanket. This is my preference, you may choose to join any way you like.
Remember I said to leave a long tail of about 3m at the end of each motif pattern? Well I use that long tail to join the motifs. Hold the motifs front sides together and slip stitch through the back loops of both motifs along the edges using the long tails.
Joining by slip stitch
Using the back loops means that the front loops of each motif are still visible on the front side along the edges making a nice straight edge where the motifs lie next to each, like this:
Front of join
You can get a similar effect by sewing together using the back loops as well.
The layout of the blanket is 7 motifs by 7 motifs. The following diagram shows how I planned my layout.
First the key:
Full Motif is no 1
Granny 2 motif is no 2
Granny 3 motif is no 3
Granny 4 motif is no 4
Granny 5 motif is no 5.
The colours are pretty obvious!
Layout 1
In my layout the colours are sort of random but there is a regularity to the motif style. If you prefer the colours to be more regular then the following is an alternative:
Layout 2
You don’t have to follow either of these layouts, but I hope they give you some inspiration on how to make your blanket.
Tomorrow I will show you my little embellishment. I haven’t decided whether to use it on my blanket, but we’ll see!
As always please share your progress on my Ravelry group here, and you can ask any questions on there (I know joining can be tricky).
Happy crocheting xxx
Now for the legal stuff – I designed this, it’s all my own work and is copyright. Please feel free to make as many as you like, but not for commercial purposes, and please credit me with the design. Thank you!
Today I finished my final square. Phew! Only just ahead of you all….this spontaneous CAL has been a lot of fun and has kept me busy over the Christmas season. It is lovely to be able to say I made a blanket in this short time.
My promise for today was to publish the final 2 motifs, so here we go……
Here’s the usual reminder of the ABBREVIATIONS:
The pattern is written in English crochet terms.
St = stitch
Ch = chain
Tr = treble (US dc)
Ss = slip stitch
Sp = space
Ch-sp =chain space
This GRANNY 2 MOTIF, I am making 10, 2 of each of my colours:
Granny 2 motif
Foundation: Make a 4ch foundation ch and join into a ring with a ss
Round 1: 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), (3tr, 2ch) 3 times into the ring, 2tr into the ring, join to 3rd st of first 5ch with a ss.
Round 2: ss into 2ch-sp, (note for this and each subsequent round: this ss is to position the start of the round in the right place) 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), (3tr, 1ch) into the same 2ch-sp, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr, 1ch) into each of the next three 2ch-sps, 2tr into the first 2ch-sp, join to 3rd st of starting 5ch with a ss.
Round 3: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), 2tr into the same 2ch-sp, 1tr into each tr and 1ch-sp along each side and (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in each 2ch-sp on the corners, finish with 1tr in the first 2ch-sp and join to 3rd ch from start with a ss. You should have 11tr along each side and 2ch in each corner of your motif.
Round 4: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), 2tr into the same 2ch-sp, 1tr into each tr along each side and (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in each 2ch-sp on the corner, finish with 1tr in the first 2ch-sp and join to 3rd ch from start with a ss. You should have 15tr along each side and 2ch in each corner of your motif.
Rounds 5 and 6: Repeat Round 4. You should have 23tr along each side and 2ch in each corner of your motif. Break yarn and fasten off leaving a long tail about 3m long for sewing or crocheting together later.
This GRANNY 4 MOTIF, I am making 10, 2 of each of my colours:
Granny 4 motif
Foundation: Make a 4ch foundation ch and join into a ring with a ss
Round 1: 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), (3tr, 2ch) 3 times into the ring, 2tr into the ring, join to 3rd st of first 5ch with a ss.
Round 2: ss into 2ch-sp, (note for this and each subsequent round: this ss is to position the start of the round in the right place) 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), (3tr, 1ch) into the same 2ch-sp, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr, 1ch) into each of the next three 2ch-sps, 2tr into the first 2ch-sp, join to 3rd st of starting 5ch with a ss.
Round 3: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), (3tr, 1ch) into the same 2ch-sp, *(3tr, 1ch) into the next 1ch-sp, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr, 1ch) into the next 2ch-sp; repeat from * another 2 times (3tr, 1ch) into the next 1ch-sp, 2tr into the first 2ch-sp, join to 3rd st of starting 5ch with a ss.
Round 4: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), (3tr, 1ch) into the same 2ch-sp, *(3tr, 1ch) into each of the next two 1ch-sps, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr, 1ch) into the next 2ch-sp; repeat from * another 2 times (3tr, 1ch) into each of the next two 1ch-sps, 2tr in the first 2ch-sp, join to 3rd st of starting 5ch with a ss.
Round 5: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), 2tr into the same 2ch-sp, 1tr into each tr and 1ch-sp along each side and (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in each 2ch-sp on the corners, finish with 1tr in the first 2ch-sp and join to 3rd ch from start with a ss. You should have 19tr along each side and 2ch in each corner of your motif.
Round 6: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), 2tr into the same 2ch-sp, 1tr into each tr along each side and (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in each 2ch-sp on the corner, finish with 1tr in the first 2ch-sp and join to 3rd ch from start with a ss. You should have 23tr along each side and 2ch in each corner of your motif. Break yarn and fasten off leaving a long tail about 3m long for sewing or crocheting together later.
My mind is now turning to edging but first I need to join them all. I don’t have a lot of yarn left, in fact I have to confess now that I didn’t have a full 2 balls of each colour and I knew I might be a little short of yarn at the end. But you should have taken my advice and made sure you have at least a full 2 balls of each colour (or 2 x 184m/201yds), so you should have plenty left.
I do want a simple edging and I know I have just enough for that, but you may want to do something more fancy and I know you’ll have enough yarn left to experiment.
Tomorrow I’ll share layout ideas and how to join.
Please keep sharing your progress on my Ravelry group here:
Happy crocheting xxx
Now for the legal stuff – I designed this, it’s all my own work and is copyright. Please feel free to make as many as you like, but not for commercial purposes, and please credit me with the design. Thank you!
How are you all doing? Did you finish the motifs from part 1?
I didn’t do too much yesterday, I was far too busy eating and drinking! But I did have a flash of inspiration after all that excess, a little embellishment for the blanket – so this will be included in one of next week’s updates.
I have seen some progress on Ravelry, and I know some of you have completed 9 squares and therefore must be ready for this instalment. So here it is:
First a reminder of the ABBREVIATIONS:
The pattern is written in English crochet terms.
St = stitch
Ch = chain
Tr = treble (US dc)
Ss = slip stitch
Sp = space
Ch-sp =chain space
This is the second motif design, I am making 10, 2 in each of my chosen colours. I call it the FULL MOTIF 1:
FULL MOTIF 1
Foundation: Make a 4ch foundation ch and join into a ring with a ss
Round 1: 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), (3tr, 2ch) 3 times into the ring, 2tr into the ring, join to 3rd st of first 5ch with a ss.
Round 2: ss into 2ch-sp, (note for this and each subsequent round: this ss is to position the start of the round in the right place) 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), 2tr into the same 2ch-sp, 1tr into each tr along each side and (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in each 2ch-sp on the corner, finish with 1tr in the first 2ch-sp and join to 3rd ch from start with a ss. You should have 7tr along each side and 2ch in each corner of your motif.
Rounds 3 to 6: Repeat Round 2. The number of tr along each side increases by 4 with each round. So after Round 3 you have 11tr, after Round 4 you have 15tr, after Round 5 you have 19tr and after Round 6 you have 23tr.
Break yarn and fasten off leaving a long tail about 3m long for sewing or crocheting together later.
Please share your progress on the discussion thread on my Ravelry Group here.
Stay tuned for the next instalment, which I aim to publish on Sunday……..
Happy crocheting xxx
Now for the legal stuff – I designed this, it’s all my own work and is copyright. Please feel free to make as many as you like, but not for commercial purposes, and please credit me with the design. Thank you!
I’ve done all my shopping and only have a few pre-Christmas chores to do before I can relax……..well almost, maybe total relaxation will arrive after the dinner is cooked tomorrow!
When your chores are done, pull up a chair, get yourself a glass of something good (with or without alcohol), have a few nibbles in a dish handy for when you feel peckish and ….put your feet up.
Did I forget something? Ah, yes – grab your crochet hook and a basket of yarn because I’d love you to join me in this Christmas CAL. It should be an easy relaxing project, perfectly manageable for this season.
I’m making a lap blanket and here are the details to get you started:
SIZE
The lap blanket I am making will be 7 motifs square – a total of 49 motifs. The blanket will be about 1m/42in square without border, because I haven’t designed a border yet, and I may have to find some more yarn for that!
YARN
I am using Stylecraft Cotton Classique DK yarn, 100g/184m per ball. I estimate I’ll need about 10 balls.
HOOK
I am using a 4mm crochet hook (US G/6)
MOTIF/TENSION
The motifs are square and each motif is approx. 15cm/6in square.
ADAPTABILITY
You can use any yarn you like, as long as you use a suitable hook size. And you can make it to any size you like. It is a perfect stash buster.
COLOUR SCHEME
I am using 5 colours, and each motif is one colour. But you could use as many colours as you like and change colour each round if you like.
These are my colours.
Christmas CAL colours
So here we go:
ABBREVIATIONS
The pattern is written in English crochet terms.
St = stitch
Ch = chain
Tr = treble (US dc)
Ss = slip stitch
Sp = space
Ch-sp =chain space
The first motif is based on the standard granny square, so you should be able to tackle this easily.
GRANNY 5 MOTIF (I am making 9, 2 in each in 4 of my chosen colours and 1 in the last colour)
GRANNY 5 MOTIF
Foundation: Make a 4ch foundation ch and join into a ring with a ss
Round 1: 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), (3tr, 2ch) 3 times into the ring, 2tr into the ring, join to 3rd st of starting 5ch with a ss.
Round 2: ss into 2ch-sp, (note for this and each subsequent round: this ss is to position the start of the round in the right place) 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), (3tr, 1ch) into the same 2ch-sp, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr, 1ch) into each of the next three 2ch-sps, 2tr into the first 2ch-sp, join to 3rd st of starting 5ch with a ss.
Round 3: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), (3tr, 1ch) into the same 2ch-sp, *(3tr, 1ch) into the next 1ch-sp, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr, 1ch) into the next 2ch-sp; repeat from * another 2 times (3tr, 1ch) into the next 1ch-sp, 2tr into the first 2ch-sp, join to 3rd st of starting 5ch with a ss.
Round 4: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), (3tr, 1ch) into the same 2ch-sp, *(3tr, 1ch) into each of the next two 1ch-sps, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr, 1ch) into the next 2ch-sp; repeat from * another 2 times (3tr, 1ch) into each of the next two 1ch-sps, 2tr in the first 2ch-sp, join to 3rd st of starting 5ch with a ss.
Round 5: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), (3tr, 1ch) into the same 2ch-sp, *(3tr, 1ch) into each of the next three 1ch-sps, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr, 1ch) into the next 2ch-sp; repeat from * another 2 times (3tr, 1ch) into each of the next three 1ch-sps, 2tr into the 1st 2ch-sp, join to 3rd st of starting 5ch with a ss.
Round 6: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), 2tr into the same 2ch-sp, 1tr into each tr and 1ch-sp along each side and (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) into each 2ch-sp on the corners, finish with 1tr in the first 2ch-sp and join to 3rd ch from start with a ss.
Break yarn and fasten off, leaving a long tail of about 3m for sewing or crocheting together later.
You should have 23tr along each side and 2ch in each corner of your motif.
I have a discussion thread on my Ravelry Group here. Please join in and share your progress or, if you prefer, add comments on this blog.
Stay tuned for the next motif pattern, which I aim to publish on Friday…..or is that too soon?
Merry Christmas xx
Now for the legal stuff – I designed this, it’s all my own work and is copyright. Please feel free to make as many as you like, but not for commercial purposes, and please credit me with the design. Thank you!
…..and I haven’t written a full blog in almost 2 weeks! So first I must apologise to my readers for being so quiet.
As well as being busy preparing for Christmas, I have also been thinking hard about my designs and how I sell them from next year. This is all due to a change in legislation relating to EU VAT. Aimed at making large tax-avoiding companies pay VAT, it has hit also a huge number of small businesses who sell digital downloads, whether crochet patterns, music or a multitude of other digital downloads or PDFs. The legislation has been in the wind for 6 years but hasn’t been widely marketed because the legislators did not realise just how many micro businesses there are that operate in the digital world. And yes, that includes me! I will not bore you with the details, but from 1st January 2015 I will be limiting my pattern sales to a few websites – definitely Ravelry and also Loveknitting.
Meanwhile the good things that have happened in the last few weeks:
I published my last crochet scarf design of 2014 on 1st December, the culmination of a year of scarf designs. I called this one The Starflower Scarf for obvious reasons:
Starflower Crochet Scarf
I used lots of oddments of gorgeous silk yarns from Willow Knits.
Also, I compiled all 12 designs from my monthly challenge into one ebook – My Year of Scarves.
My Year of Scarves
I can’t express just how good it felt when I pushed the button to publish this. I never expected I would last the whole year on this personal challenge but I did!
Remember the beaded crochet pouch that featured at the Buxton Knitaway? Well that has been published also.
Crochet pouch
So I am ready for a relaxing Christmas season, but if course it will always feature some making. I have a design I need to finish but it requires concentration, which may not be readily available during the holiday season! So I have decided to make a straightforward lap blanket, something that will flow quickly and easily off the hook, and doesn’t need too much concentration. This is designed (in my head) and will be started soon…..do you fancy joining me in a seasonal CAL? Some easy quick crochet, perfectly suitable for the holidaytime, great as a stash buster…….if you are up for it, then I will publish the pattern in parts on this blog over the festive season, starting on Christmas Eve. The pattern will be written as the design comes out of my head, so you will be crocheting along with me. It should be fun 🙂
I have just returned from a knitaway break to Buxton in the company of 8 lovely knitters.
I have been on numerous such holidays over the last couple of years and they are always enjoyable. We find new things to do, enjoy a relaxing time away from our normal ‘routine’ and have a great laugh. Perhaps I should add we eat very well and quaff a fair amount of wine, or maybe I should say lots of wine 😉
This was a new venue for us – the Alison Park Hotel . It is a family run hotel in a large arts and crafts style house just a stone’s throw from Pavilion Gardens and therefore very easy strolling distance of the town centre. It proved to be a very good knitters’ venue – the rooms were all ensuite and spacious, they have 2 lounges, one of which was ours exclusively, and a light and airy dining room, part of which is a conservatory and a perfect size for our meals and workshops. The staff and managers were very friendly and nothing was too much trouble. The food and drink was plentiful and good.
So what do we do on a knitaway? Well it isn’t all knitting, there is always some crochet but we also like to try new crafts. So we started with a self help workshop on making Dorset buttons, which are buttons woven with yarn on a circular ring. I had seen these at Yarndale and I purposely decided to buy a bag of rings so we could all have a go at Buxton. Here are the two I made:
Dorset Buttons
Dorset buttons were traditionally made in Dorset as a cottage industry, with thousands employed in the craft. You can find out about Dorset buttons on various websites such as this one: Henrys. And you can buy the rings from Beakers Buttons
Do you remember the beaded crochet and knit pouches? Well that was the subject of the second workshop. Some ladies wanted to knit and some wanted to crochet, but everyone had a go. Of course with all the nattering we didn’t quite finish these beaded pouches, even with 4 days away.
This is the one I made, finished at Buxton except for the lining.
Crochet pouch
The lining is purple felt bought from this shop in Buxton. I am sure they enjoyed our stay, we all purchased at least one item from them!
The third workshop was on sock knitting, toe up two at a time socks (avoiding the second sock syndrome) expertly tutored by Jenny, and Sue was on hand to provide excellent hints and tips and one to one tutoring on sock making
We dipped in and out of workshops as we fancied, nothing was compulsory and everything was flexible. We had chosen 2 mitts patterns to work on together, although very few of us made much progress with them!!!! I did start mine….
Snow Mitts
Also, we worked on many other projects (I brought a hat and a shawl to work on). Although I don’t think very much was finished.
Buxton has lots of lovely shops, so we visited the town every day for a bite for lunch and a bit of shopping…..did I mention the shops?
On the last evening Nic from Yarns from the Plain dropped in to see us with her pop up wool shop. This was like a sweet shop for knitters and crocheters. Not only were her colours wonderful and the yarn bases soft and squidgy, but the names she gave them were very local, such as Nether Alderley, Chelford and Mobberley. All of which conjured up images of the Cheshire plains and local sheep. Of course, I couldn’t resist……
Nether Alderley and Mobberley
So – knitting, crochet, shopping, eating, drinking laughing….such a good combination and one which we are sure to mix together again, and likely at the same venue!
November is here, already. Remarkably I published my 11th crochet scarf design of the year last Saturday, the first of November.
Here is Swirling Seas Crochet Scarf, named because the glorious green silk yarn shimmers and the design reminds me of swirling green seas.
Swirling Seas
The silk yarn is one of my favourites from Willow Knits. Anne of Willow Knits has very generously offered a 10% discount on the yarns in her shop on Etsy to anyone who purchases the pattern (details on the pattern). She doesn’t just dye pure silk yarns, she has some lovely laceweight in silk/alpaca and silk/merino mixes.
And until midnight GMT on 16th November, if you go to Ravelry to buy this pattern you will get 50% off if you use the coupon code NOVEMBER. Half price pattern from me and 10% off the yarn from Anne – Happy November!
I am delighted and surprised that I have managed to keep up with my personal challenge. Only one month to go ……………but, although the December design is in my head, it hasn’t quite gone to plan. The design hasn’t worked with any yarns I have chosen yet – other than the acrylic I swatched with. Yes, readers I do sometimes swatch with acrylic yarn! But fear not, I do not plan to make December in acrylic……….(ETA I have nothing against acrylic yarn; these days it is excellent quality and comes in an amazing range of colours, but I do have a preference for natural fibres!) Yesterday I settled on the yarn and it is silk again, I have a lot of small quantities and will be using 20 colours in this. I will have to be quick to make it, write the pattern and find a couple of people who will test it for me before December…….wish me luck!
The only thing that will stand in my way is a new design; yet another a challenge. This time a challenge by Sigrun who is a member of my forum on Ravelry – she asked if I could design a crochet wrap pattern for her 2015 weather project. It had to be something that could be used with a range of colours that she will use, and she suggested the lovely fine lace yarn that I used for Bohemian Rhapsody. I do have a few scraps of that yarn left so I did some swatching and designed a motif that I think will work well. This is now charted and ready for me to start making the sample….and I have been patiently awaiting the yarn. Yes, it had to be the exact same yarn, and it landed on my doormat yesterday having travelled all the way from France. I will have great difficulty deciding which of the 2 designs to work on – December or Weather? I will just have to move between them.
I just managed to finish October instalment of the Kaleidoscope Mystery Blanket Club from the Natural Dye Studio. Only 2 more instalments to do now, so hopefully I’ll have a new blanket by Christmas. I have said it many times before, so I am repeating myself……I love this yarn! The single pure merino is a dream to crochet with. Here is October (sorry for the photo quality – I finished it at night and photographed inside with a flash).
October
I am looking forward to Amanda’s 2015 Blanket Club – Zodiac. This is available in crochet and knitted versions. I have an insight on the design and I know I am going to love putting the colours together. The Zodiac motifs are larger than Kaleidoscope and less than 300 are needed for the blanket, so the project will be quite quick to make. If you want to join in then you can sign up here. This is the last blanket club that Amanda will be doing for a while, so sign up now before they sell up!
I’m off now to crochet something…….now do I choose December or Weather?
Autumn is here. Yesterday we had the first real storm of the season with very strong winds, rain and hail. The leaves were coming off the trees with little resistance. Normally high winds would swirl the leaves into a neat pile by the back door, easy for me to move when the weather permits. We do have a nice little pile there, but this time the leaves also accumulated at the front of the house – all along the front in large piles.
As soon as the weather dries up a little I will be knee deep in leaves (literally) which I hope to tame into a few big tubs and then the compost bin.
With the changing season my habits change. My cooking changes to winter warmers. This week’s menu will include cottage pie, tuna and pasta bake (the real thing, no packet mixes in this house!) and, my all time winter favourite, beef, Guinness and prune casserole.
Along with these warming meals, for me autumn also means longer evenings of crafting. Over the last 2 evenings I have made a beautiful cowl – a design called Cassia by Amanda Perkins and made in some glorious yarn by The Natural Dye Studio – Phoenix 4ply, colour Tarr Steps. You can find the yarn here: Phoenix. And in the previous week I have made a small lap blanket in baby merino, a scarf in Willow Knits silk worsted and a cowl in Rowan Cocoon. All this crochet activity is a little more than normal and not just because autumn is here. I am working on a new ebook, but it is still at development stage so this blog post will not include any photos because I don’t want to spoil the surprise.
I hope you are enjoying the autumn and all the goodness it brings.
I bought some Rosarios 4 Bijou yarn in Portugal (from Ovelha Negra a wonderful shop). It is super bulky with a varied thickness and absolutely lovely to use. As soon as it was on my hook it flowed! So I wasted no time in making something with it which reminded me of our holiday in Northern Portugal.
Probably the best evening we had was the first night, it was pouring down with rain but we had the most spectacular view of the Luis I Bridge over the River Douro. It is known as the Eiffel Tower of Portugal, and is constructed from lots of grey steel.
The Bijou yarn I bought is a pale grey and as I looked at this photo of the bridge:
Luis I Bridge
my mind started to think – simple steel structure, simple crochet stitches. This cowl is the result:
Luis CowlShowing the yarn beautifully
The stitch is simple and shows off the yarn beautifully, it is so simple it took only a few hours to make. It is also adaptable, I made it using Bijou but you can make it in any yarn as long as you use the correct hook size and start with a chain which is a multiple of 4.
The pattern is now properly written in English and US terms and is available here on Ravelry:
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Agrarian Artisan 