Monday 31 August 2015

Thinking Of Autumn...

Well Hello....from a very wet, grey day here!  Apparently we are going to have a fortnights worth of rain in one day...and here is England its a Bank Holiday such a shame...our Summer has well and truly deserted us this year :(
 
Thank you all for your comments about my Patchwork Blanket...it has now been sold and gone off to a lovely new home to be well loved :)
 
This week I have been looking back at some of projects completed over the last couple of years...and thought I would share some of them with you today...
 
The first is a flower garden blanket I made for a very special little girl for her Christening Present...
 
 
144 Squares of glorious flowers...I remember having to get it finished before Puppy Dog came to live with us...I didn't think this would mix well with a Doberman puppy full of beans ha ha...
 
 
This blanket was a big departure for me...as you know I love vintage, muted colours and this one was very bright! I loved it when it was finished....all of my blankets (apart from one) are from my mind so I don't follow a pattern...that way they are all unique and this one will definitely be a one off...it was made using 4ply and I will never visit 4ply again ha ha...this one too was sold and has a lovely new home...
 
 
These flower squares were made into a little seat pad for a child's chair which had been painted white...I cant find any of the photos of the completed item anywhere but it did look cute :) ....
 
 
This tea cosy and pot stand were made for my friend, for her daughter for her birthday...it was Cath Kidston inspired...the store had a very similar tea cosy for sale and she loved it...so I made my version of it and added the pot stand to match with little strawberries all around the edge....
 
 
This one was just for me :) ... I made the pattern up myself from some photos I had seen on Pinterest and it has made the perfect bag for crochet out and about...I love it and use it a lot...it was made from Aran wool on a 3.5 hook so its close textured and sturdy...
 
Well that was a nice little trawl through the archives....
 
As I mentioned last week...on our walks its looking decidedly Autumnal and my mind is whirling with ideas for my Autumn Wreath I have been taking ideas from Facebook and Pinterest here are two pictures that have inspired me...
 
 
 
And yesterday I saw a beautiful one just using leaves and berries...now Autumn for me if full of these colours...so I will absolutely be using these along with acorns, berries, blackberries, corn ears, mushrooms and a little critter but that's a secret at the moment...(just in case it doesn't work out ha ha)
 
Whilst looking at all these lovely pictures I came across these which I just had to share with you...
 
 
 
I think these photos are amazing and taken by very talented photographers...they just sum up the season.... 
And when I came across this...I clapped my hands with glee...I so want one of these but I cant find where you can buy them from...so frustrating....
 
 
It would fit so perfectly in our home...so if anyone knows where I can get this please tell me....(fingers are crossed and wishing hard)
 
I adore how the seasons change...and I struggle to know which one is my favourite as I love aspects of them all...I think if I had to choose it would be Autumn as I love the colours...they are the colours of my home...its the harvests and the fruit and seeds ripening...but it does make me feel a little sad...as everything begins to die down...but I know it has to...and after its sleep...all will begin again in the Spring...and maybe its because I was born in September...in the Autumn...perhaps that's why its a favourite :)
 
I shall be working on my wreath over the next few weeks...I'm looking forward to all the little pieces forming something beautiful :) ...I have finished my corner to corner cushion cover for little brown chair and I love it...
 
 
And while formulating the plan of action for the wreath...on my hook this week...
 
 
Yep...little patchwork squares for another blanket but a smaller one this time...more for a pram or pushchair...its an easy project to do while my mind is occupied :)
 
Well what a colourful post this has been with all the pictures...as we say goodbye to August and welcome September this says it all....
 
 
And this week vintage photo...is a reminder of my childhood days...there has been a TV programme on over the last few weeks looking back at TV in our growing up days...Watch With Mother was a firm favourite for me :)


Rambling on done for today....I'll leave you now with this quote...one I am going to heed myself...



Bye till next week...have a lovely, joyful, exciting, inspiring time xxxx












Wednesday 26 August 2015

Patchwork Blanket Pattern Info

 
 
Basic Pattern Information for
 
Patchwork Blanket
 
 


I'm not that brilliant at writing patterns but I try my best... :)

I have used Stylecraft Special DK wool (ordered from the lovely Wool Warehouse) and a 3mm hook throughout

Colours I have used are:

Cloud Blue, Lemon, Sherbert, Turquoise, Saffron, Fondant, Aspen, Sage, Parma Violet, Silver, Grape and a mixture of darker blues containing Denim, Storm and Aster

I used 240 Squares for my blanket which measures 54" x 34"  I made 20 of each colour...now because they are small squares you can use a lot of left overs, for each square you only need approx. 2.5gram so you can make 20 squares with 25gram of wool.  I used white to edge, join and border 3 x 100g balls was plenty.

I put the squares together totally randomly which I prefer

Each little square is just 3 rounds of granny shells (3 tr in one space)

I turn my work over after each round, this helps the square stay square and you don't get any twisting

tr = Treble Stitch
ch = Chain Stitch
ss = Slip Stitch
dc = Double Crochet Stitch

So here goes....

I always start off with a magic circle but use the chain 4 and join with ss to make a ring if that's what you prefer.

So with your ring I chain 4, 3tr into centre of ring 1ch, 3tr into centre 1ch, 3tr into centre 1ch, 2tr into centre ss around the post of first chain 4 to make the last treble...

This is after the third 3tr 1ch, the needle is indicating the 4chain post that is going to make up the third tr at the end (hope that makes sense)
 
 
 
That's the first round done, you should have 4 groups of granny shells (3tr) and 1ch spaces that form the corners
 
Round 2
 
 
Chain 3, turn over and work on the wrong side now, (your 3 chain will become the last tr post on the last part of the corner)
In the next ch space, 3tr 2ch 3tr (makes first corner) in next ch space 3tr 2ch 3tr (2nd corner) in next ch space 3tr 2ch 3tr (3rd corner) next chain space 3tr 2ch 2tr ss round 3ch to complete final corner
 
 
slip stitch around first 3 chain post made indicated by the needle to complete last corner
 
Round 2 is complete
 
 
Round 3
 
 
Chain 3 and turn work over so your working on the right side again now...
 
In next 2ch corner space 3tr 2ch 3tr (first corner made), in next space between the tr stitches making the corners from previous round 3tr, in next 2ch corner space 3tr 2ch 3tr (2nd corner) in next space along 3tr, in next 2ch corner space 3tr 2ch 3tr (3rd corner), in next space 3tr, in final corner 2ch space 3tr 2ch 3tr, in next space along by your beginning 3 chain do 2tr and join with ss around post of 3ch to complete the last granny shell

 
 

Slip stitch around the first 3 chain post to complete the last granny shell, shown by the needle
 
 
 
 

And that's it your first mini granny square complete!

Break yarn and sew in ends

The edging round is made in white, its just a dc in each stitch with 2dc 1ch 2dc in each corner space


Break yarn and sew in end, or weave it through the top of stitches, which is what I do

Sew in or weave in yarn end
 
 
I know some people like to leave all the ends and do them last, but I'm not one of those people I get rid of the ends on each completed square straightaway, but its up to you.
 
 
 
As each square measures 3" you can decide on what size you would like to make, and its a great project for using up the little odds of yarn left from other projects
 


Just have fun making lovely little piles of squares :)


As I said early I laid out my squares in a totally random colour pattern, but you could do it stripes or diagonals if you prefer

I joined my squares using the crochet together method using dc stitches, putting row 1 first square and row 2 first square wrong sides together and crochet stitch to stitch all the way along then add square 2 and so on until you have worked all the way across you squares, then start on row 3 etc...
There are many videos on YouTube showing you how to do this if its your first time at having a go...

I join all the across seams and then all the downward seams, they need to be done in continuous seams across and downwards to give a good finish

 
Seams being sewn across the blanket
 
Once your squares are all joined together across and downwards, go all the way around your blanket using dc in each stitch and again using the 2dc 1ch 2dc in each corner to keep it flat.
 
 
You can complete your blanket with any edging or border you like, I chose to do the pompom edging I found on Pinterest.  The pattern for this is beautifully explained photographed by Once Upon A Pink Moon, you can find the pattern on Pinterest by searching for crochet pompom edge or its pinned on my crochet board in Pinterest  Click Here its by far a better job at the pattern than I could ever do :)
 
Well I hope that you have sort of been able to follow this and have fun making one of your own, I think I'm going to start another one :)

Monday 24 August 2015

Patchwork Blanket Tah-Dah Moment

Good Morning....how's your week been....

This week I have finally finished the Patchwork Blanket...here it is in its fully glory :)


Tah-Dah!
 
I have to say that it has been a joy to do and I will definitely been making another one...its perfect for using up odd bits of yarn that are left...I will be writing a separate page for the making of the blanket, going into more detail...probably this week as I don't want to bore all you non crocheters with the details.  I am overjoyed with the way the colours have worked and my border...well I had made my mind up this was what I wanted to do...I found the pattern a while back and this was just the perfect edging...a bit fiddly to do but well worth it!
 
 


It has given a lovely little ruffle of pompoms..... :)

I have started my new project...a cushion cover for my little brown chair...its a corner to corner crochet and it will be finished this week...the pattern works up so quick!




  Then I shall be starting my Autumn Wreath...oooh the ideas are flying around in my head...I cant wait to get started..

This weeks weather has been a very mixed bag....a few absolutely beautiful days and more than a few of god damn awful days!!

Lets start with the good days.....we have been spending some time in our little sanctuary in the garden...me and Puppy Dog just love this place...



 
On our walks this week you can tell that the season is starting to change already...one of the trees is already looking very autumnal in colour, everything is ripening....
 

Rose Hips ready to burst...


Branches on the Rowan Tree so heavy with berries...


Blackberries almost ready to pick...mine will be making Blackberry Gin this year...I made Jam last time...


Elderberries forming...


Crab Apples getting larger ready for some Crab Apple Jelly....


Apples almost ready for picking....just look at that blue sky....


 

These Bull Rushes are so tall....I took this photo standing next to them and they were taller than me at 5' 4"....

But there is still plenty to remind you that it is still summer....


Bees still busy....


Wild roses still blooming amongst the rose hips...


Dandelion clocks to make wishes with....


A little Oak Tree seedling....

From these little beauties...I can wait to pick these....(I have a plan for them...ha ha)

 

And my favourite Tree on our walks....our Weeping Willow....so magnificent....


And a very playful Puppy Dog....



And then the weather turned...it went extremely hot and humid....and in England when this happens...we get very, very grey skies forming....heavy rain...very windy...this was taken through the bedroom window Saturday afternoon...


The rain was lashing down...but later we did have the most amazing thunder and lightening...great to watch and listen too....not so good for those at the V Festival up the road though!

Well lets back to nicer things...and leave the grey skies behind...

I took a photo of the latest batch of blankets all piled up and loved it so much I have made it my icon on all of my pages...luckily taken before the blue granny blanket went off to its new owner at the end of the week...


I love to dream looking at all the amazing interiors on Pinterest...but I'm not in need of mansion (I'd take it if someone wants to give me a mansion ha ha)...just something with a bit more space...more open plan...I found this photo and this is what I would like...


So this has been added to my dreaming file of Interiors on Pinterest...one day....I just keep dreaming...

Well I've kept you long enough now...another week has flown by...this Vintage picture made me chuckle...as it is so true for me....its not going to a bikini holiday yet again this year ha ha...


And this weeks quote...


Have a lovely week...enjoy what ever you are doing...and be kind to yourself xxxx