Cable blanket

This started out as a cable crochet blanket but has changed identities along the way.

There are three different panels here; a right cross cable, a left cross cable and one that I've named a bobble ladder. I've made six so far and they need to be pieced together with a crochet join.

The pattern for the cables is Lion Brands classic cable throw. The bobble ladder is my own pattern. I wanted more texture with a panel that fitted the twists of the cables hence the odd pieces of lifeline yarn.

Bobble Ladder

I used Aran weight wool and 6mm knitted needles.

MB-make bobble. These are 5 stitch bobbles. For a tutorial Vogue knitting is the best.

Cast on 25

Knit 2 rows (edging)

Pattern 

Row 1:  k2, p2, k17, p2, k2 (right side)

Row 2 and every ws row: k4, p6, k5, p6, k4

Row 3-11: as row 1

Row 13: k2, p2, k8, MB, k8, P2, k2

Row 15-17  as row 1

Row 19: k2, p2, k3, MB, k9, MB, k3, p2, k2

Carry on in pattern until it's the required length. To fit the cable panel; 

Repeat the rows 2 to 6   

Knit 2 rows

Cast off in knit

Crochet Suffolk puffs

I know there are fans of crochet yoyos out there. It's time for another fix.

I had wool left over after making my MHZZ blanket and used  it up making yoyos. The best thing about crochet is watching the piles grow. When you run out of room in the box you know it's time to start to lay out your random pattern. Random is not easy when you only have four colours.

If you fancy having a go there is a free pattern here. It's a how I do it rather than how it should be done. For that you'll have to buy "Crocheted Throws and Wraps" by Melody Griffiths.

The finished blanket can be found on Etsy

Take one a day

Day 15

This does count as halfway though, right?

Today I'm trying something different. I need to make some sense of the scrawls I made yesterday trying to get the plain hexagon finished. I'll write out the pattern here. It will take me longer than most of the projects I've done.

This picture shows a new colour added in every row . I'm starting off with it because the batteries in my camera have died halfway through my tutorial and by the time they've recharged it will be raining - again! I'll start writing the pattern and then insert the photos later.

OK we've established that my camera is rubbish. I've added the photos and chosen the best - you should have seen the others!

Simple hexagon pattern

This is written in English but I'll give you the equivalent American terms. Garn Studio is a great site for stitch instructions

chain, ch
slip stitch, sl st
treble, tr (US dc)
half treble, htr (US hdc)

I've used double knit organic cotton and a 4mm hook

Chain 6, sl st to first stitch to form a ring

1st row. Ch 3, tr 17, sl st to top of ch 3 to close up the row - 18 stitches

2nd row. Ch3 , 3 tr in next 3 stitches, 2ch tr1 in the same stitch as last tr, (3tr in next 3 stitches, 2ch, 1tr in the same stitch as last tr 4 times) tr2, tr1 in same space as ch3 start, htr join in top of the chain 3 to close row. (4 stitches in each hexagon side)

3rd row. Ch3, tr in same stitch (see notes at bottom) tr 3, tr1 ch2 tr1 in two ch space, (tr4, tr1 2ch tr1 in space 4 times) tr 4, tr1 in space, htr join to top of 3 ch start (6 stitches in each hexagon side)

4th row. Ch3, tr in same stitch, tr 5, tr1, ch2, tr1 in space, (tr6, tr1 ch2 tr1 in space 4 times) tr6, tr1 in space, join with htr (8 stitches in each hexagon side)

This is where I finished because it matches the 8 stitch sides of the African flower but you can make it bigger by just making sure that you increase two stitches in each corner of every side.

Notes

Sometimes it’s difficult to see where you need to put your hook. You’re putting it into the htr. If your tension is tight you might get a better look if you make the first tr of your new row in the space.

I like to join with a htr because it brings you up in the right space to start your next row. You can join with 2 ch and a sl st

I gave up with the photos. It was sun in, sun out and then it rained so I apologise for the quality.
So that's today's project. If you have any problems or have sorted out any glitches in the pattern please let me know.

Today's listing is another pincushion. It's on Etsy and Folksy

To complete the vintage feel today my Folksy July Jewel is Vintage Dreams, In her shop today is a vintage handbag pendant and a vintage style compass pendant

They're both gorgeous and I'm finding it really difficult to decide which is my favourite.

Have a great weekend!

Nesting bowls

Working on the premise that you can never have enough storage I've been trying to get myself organised. With so many things on the go at the same time I need lots of small containers. I've seen some great patterns for stash baskets but didn't want to spend my time battling with patterns. They needed to be sturdy, not too deep that I lost things in them and easy to store when not in use. So I came up with the answer - a set of nesting bowls.

I spent most of the morning trawling through endless variations, none of which I wanted. By lunchtime I decided that I should think of it as simple Maths. Ha! I'm useless at Maths but I do like repetition and seeing patterns in things. Thinking of it logically, it's a circular base and sides.

I'd made plenty of coasters but had joined each round with a slip stitch and I'd once had a go at an amigurumi whatsit.

Using my practice acrylic and the largest hook I own (5.5mm) I set forth into the unknown.

I used the two colours that I had plenty of. You see? I am learning!

Blue and green, so this is a two thread double knit job.You also need a stitch marker. I move it to the start of each repeat.

To make a circle you need to have a steady increase.

Make a magic loop and chain 5. Slip stitch to form a ring. Close the magic ring here.
You don't join the rounds with a slip stitch. It will be a spiral.

1) 8dc in ring. Remembering to mark your first stitch. (8)
2) 2dc in every dc of the first round. (16)
3) 1dc then 2dc in next stitch. Repeat to end (24)
4) 1 dc in every stitch (24)
5) 1dc in next 2dc of previous row, 2dc in next stitch. Repeat to end (32)
6) 1dc in every stitch (32)
7) 1 dc in next 3 dc of previous row, 2dc in next stitch (40)
8) 1 dc in every stitch (40)
9) 1 dc in next 4 dc, 2dc in next stitch.

Can you see the pattern? Took me ages. Your last 2dc in the increase row should always come in the stitch before the marker for the start of the next row.

Carry on with one increase row followed by a normal row until you have a base of your desired size.
Mine are 20 cm, 14 cm and 10cm.

Now you've come this far you need a row that will mark the beginning of the sides. It will be too confusing, for me, to number it so I'll call it ...

Sides
1) ch1, miss next stitch 1dc in next stitch, ch1 miss next stitch 1dc in next stitch.
It can be difficult to see the stitch but running up the side of the dc in the previous row there should be a side thread. Push your hook through this. So you carry on chain 1, skipping next stitch, 1 dc until you come to the end of the round.

Now you just dc in every stitch until your sides are as deep as you want them and fasten off.

Depending on the firmness of the texture of your work you can either have a straight side or you can fold the sides over to make it stronger. Which is what I've done with mine.

I hope I've been clear. Get back to me if you have any problems. Send me your pictures too if you end up making any bowls. Suggestions and comments are always welcomed - provided they're polite ones of course!

Yoyos

All addictions have to start somewhere and mine started on a dreary Saturday afternoon. Too late to go shopping, too early for settling down in front of the television and too old to go clubbing, I picked up "Crocheted Throws and Wraps" by Melody Griffiths and decided to try her Suffolk puffs, otherwise known as yoyos.


Easy to do and quick to make I used the colours I'd been using in my previous project. Soon I had a little collection of them.

By Sunday afternoon I had even more.

By Tuesday I had the 168 needed to complete a baby blanket. That's when the easy finished for me. I find it best to join squares together with double crochet while joining hexagons still baffles me. I decided not to follow the instructions given for joining and chose to back stitch them instead. I've since found an easier way but (in the words of Magnus Magnusson) as I'd already started I had to finish.

I think it worked out well sewing them up in a random fashion.

There is a good tutorial here

I've since played around with sizes and have adapted the instructions for the organic cotton I've been using. I use a 4mm hook and a double knit cotton. Forgive the British terms but this is how I do it not a How To Do IT. It's also the first time I've written down instructions.

How I make yoyos
No place here for a closed centre. It needs to look like a Polo mint not a Trebor.

1) Chain 6 and join with a slip stitch to make a ring.

2) Chain 6 (this acts as your first quadruple treble), 21 quadtr into the ring, ss into the 6th chain.

3) Chain 2, 1 tr into the next stitch, 2trtog 10 times, ss into the 2nd chain to join and gather up the puff.

This is the part where I say leave a long tail. I didn't leave enough the first time so ended up have to join them in a way I wasn't happy with. A long tail means about 20cm, leaving you enough to catch the puff down on the wrong side. Still with the needle threaded run it up through the middle of a stitch to the edge. You can now use this to join the next yoyo.

To finish, run the needle back down through the middle and fasten off near the centre opening.

Do play around with it. Different threads and hook sizes will give your yoyos individuality. Experiment with longer or shorter stitches. Remember to have an even amount of stitches for the last round gathering and you can't go wrong.

The top green has 22 quadtr and the purple 24.

The bottom row has 20 trtr

Let me know if you have any problems. Show me what you wonderfully creative people do with them but most of all - have fun!