New Year, happy may it be!

Since my last post, which spelled a disaster for my camera, I have managed to find out how to link my Instagram photos to my computer. Which was just as well because I dropped my camera and broke the lens.

I also messed up my sewing machine sewing a sequin dress. Now I have a sparkly, new sewing machine too. A new year and a new me with new gadgets!

I've reopened both my Etsy store and Folksy shop and am starting to fill them up with winter warmers in the shape of shawl, cowls and scarves. As a preview of things to come here are a few of my favourite things.

I love triangle shawls and these are in both Etsy and Folksy

 

I've also knitted my favourite feather and fan stitch to make a few adjustable cowls. As you can see I've got a thing about mustard and cream right now.

October

Another month but I'm not letting this one do by without doing something constructive. I've decided to take part in an Instagram crochet hook up run by @lazydaisyjones

1 October: Yarn Selfie.

Sparing everyone the horror of a real selfie, this is my lion faced pincushion.

If only somebody could explain how to get photos from my phone on to Blogger my life would be easier.

Granny Square Tutorial

Lots of people that I know have started crochet and usually the first thing they want to make is a granny square. There are so many tutes out there on blogs and YouTube that give conflicting instructions. Believe me when I started I used so many different methods before developing my own.

I think the whole point of a square is that it should have corners. You can't have a good turn if you just use two chains. I always use three. I also put a chain before each treble cluster on the sides.

I also join the rounds with a treble instead of chains. This brings you up in the middle of the space you need to work in. No need for slip stitches.

These are the notes I've made for my workshop. Keep scrolling down for the picture tutorial and further still for the chart.

All Things Granny

Single colour Granny Square

I've used a standard double knit and a 4mm crochet hook.

Abbreviations for UK terms. For US terms substitute dc instead of treble.

ch  = chain

tr = treble

ss = slipstitch

In this pattern the stitches are worked in the spaces of the row beneath.

Foundation row: Ch5, join to 1^st chain with a ss to form a ring.

Round 1: Ch3, (counts as first tr) 2tr in the ring, * 3ch, 3tr in ring* 3 times, tr to top of 1^st ch3 (4 tr groups)

Round 2: ch3, 2tr in the same space, *1ch, 3tr, 3ch, 3tr in next ch3 space* 3 times, ch1, 3tr, in the next 3ch space, tr to the top of the 1^st ch3 (8 tr groups)

Continue in this way. Remember to ch1 between the treble groups on the sides but ch3 between the treble groups in the corners.

Round 1

Make a slipknot, pull yarn through

  Chain 5.  Slipstitch to 1^st chain to make a ring

 chain 3

Working the trebles in the ring, treble 2, chain 3

Treble 3, chain 3. Repeat until you have 4 treble groups.

To join, treble into the top of 1^st  ch3 to close the round. Sometimes this is difficult to see if you're new to crochet and your tension is tight. I've place a blunt ended needle in the spot to show where to find it.

Handy hint - When you make your ch3 use a stitch maker in the third chain.

        

Round 2:

Chain 3

 Treble 2 in same space, chain 1

Now we're working in the next corner space.

Treble 3, chain 3, treble 3 in next space, chain 1

In last space, where you've already completed your first join;

Treble 3 join with treble in the top of 1^st ch3

For your next round start with the ch3 and treble 2, ch1 and then treble 3 in the next ch1 space. After your treble cluster ch1.

Your corners will be exactly the same as you worked in the second round.

The chart shows two rounds only. The dot usually indicates a slip stitch but I've added it to show you where the joining treble goes.

Pincushions galore!

Those that know me understand why I've been away for quite a while. At last I have my own place and my very own internet and can post whenever and whatever I like. Oh, the power!!

This week I've been busy listing some of the pincushions I made for my book, '50 Pincushions to Knit and Crochet'. Here's a sneak preview...

Flora was inspired by the colours of a Mexican fiesta. The little flowers around the side are in fact ric rac so just have to be stitched in place.

Water lily is a multi-petalled and multilayered flower pincushion. The flower floats on its own little ice blue pond.

Daisy has hand sewn flowers on top and bottom and again the flower ric rac adds an easy finishing touch.

Ammonite is my personal favourite in this group. I love spirals and this one has a layer of grey metallic thread. It reminds me of the rocks on the coast that often contain ammonites. Just like the ones that I borrowed from the garden wall.

A Quick Tutorial

If like me you have numerous USB leads then you share my frustration at finding the right one. I have two camera both with similar leads but with different connectors and when I'm in a rush I always mix them up. This short tutorial shows how you can save yourself more frustration.

All you need is the correct lead, a crochet hook and some spare yarn. I've used a 4mm hook and double knit yarn.

Start with a slip knit and place the hook on top of the cable.

Pull the yarn through to the front. Yarn over the hook and pull through the two loops on your hook.
You're making a double crochet or, if you're using American terms, a single crochet.

Carry on until you've added enough to differentiate between the cables.

Hopefully that's enough not to get them mixed up ever again!

Big news!

This is the reason I've been absent from blogland for so long.

Yes, it's my very own book. It's taken a year from the initial concept to its publication.

I can't thank the staff at Quarto enough for their help and guidance. They've been wonderful to work with. I'm so pleased with the finished book. The photography and layout are superb.

I'll tell you more about the process in later posts. In the meantime I'm off for a vanity check on Amazon

Introducing Ralph

This is Beth's new kitten Ralph. He's six weeks old and everything you expect a six week old kitten to be. Fun, naughty, loving and soooo cute.

After a full inspection of his new blanket he decided that his favourite colour was the one with a hand underneath it. Fingers are good to chase and even better to chew.

The squared spot crochet blanket had been finished just in time. It was to go into the shop but…

Welcome to the family, Ralph and Happy Birthday, Beth!

Something blue

and pink and purple, red , yellow and green

or how to add something new to something blue.

My plain blue coasters have been in the back of my shop of too long. They needed a refresh and a remodel. I've added a pink, double crochet border and simple lazy daisy flowers with a few French knots.

 

I think they look so much better. They're back in the shop today.

The colours were influenced by Design Seeds pink flora.

Daisies and forget me nots

It's been a late spring this year. The lawn is full of self-seeded flowers so a cut will have to wait until they fade. The inspiration is right outside the window for this classic turquoise, yellow and white sphere with a pretty daisy chain trim. 

The yarn is Rico Essentials cotton with a 2.75 crochet hook. It will be surface embroidered with, of course, lazy daisy stitch.

My neighbours might have bowling green lawns but if the primroses, forget me nots and bluebells have decided to sprout I will not cut them down. It looks like a flower meadow at the moment. You can't spoil that!

Layered flower

I wanted a multilayered flower and had tweaked the base most of yesterday. I decided to scrap the idea and went for a water lily theme. It rests on blue which takes the heat out of the coral and yellow. The white looks brilliant white but it's there to make the other colours pop.

The cotton is Rico Essentials with a 3mm hook.

I would have loved to have created the sharpness of the lilies in my garden pond but there's only so much you can do in a three round crochet pattern.

Instead of structure I've gone for the tones in another of Design Seeds palettes.

Inspiration

I've decided to keep a record of my work. You won't see the finished projects just yet but this is my way of remembering colours, yarn and hook size. No matter how many notes and patterns I write it's always an image that sparks my memory.

I love these bright colours from Lion Brand. They are called Bonbons. At just 10g each they're perfect for small projects.

The colour combination was inspired by Design Seeds

Crochet cookies

Happy Saturday! After two days of gale force winds and torrential rain the sun has finally come out. I tell you, I'm not enjoying this drought!

This week I've been mostly decorating and flicking through Pinterest to cheer myself up. Love the pins of some of my contacts. These are simply too good not to share. They made me look twice because I thought they were some new type of granny square and I got really excited. Better than than they're biscuits and truly are good enough to eat. You can find them and lots of other great ideas on I Feel Cook

I have to rush off now to buy square biscuit cutters! Where are my wellies?

Art Party - May

This month's Etsian Artists Art Party theme is cyberpunk. Cyberpunk is not a concept that I'm familiar with. Punk to me is the Sex Pistols, Clash et al, spitting and pogoing. Not easy to portray through crochet!

I watched Blade Runner, again, was very tempted to watch the Matrix but it still hurts my brain. In the end I came up with two creations. One was more successful than the other.

My eyebot was top heavy even though he's reinforced with metal legs. He's going to be minus legs cos that's the way he rolls!

My second is a little punky, goth, emo. You decide! You can find him here on Etsy

You all know my love of amigurumi. He was more fun to do. I might end up hooked!

Manta Hueco Zig Zag

I had always intended to crochet a matching blanket when way back when I finished my souk style, cushion cover. I wrote about the inspiration for it in Invite to an Art Party. The weather has been so cold here that making a blanket seemed a sensible course of action. So here's my ta da moment!

Ta da!!

You can find a full description here on Etsy.