2018 CAL - Year of the Stitches Blanket

Year of the Stitches – Week 12 Crossed Treble Stitch

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Crossed Treble Stitch 

Hello all! Hope everyone has had a good week. Can’t believe we have a week till Easter! Bonkers. Rather pleased I’ve already got my Easter crochet pressies all ready to go. I’ve promised myself that I wouldn’t leave anything till the last minute this year! Here’s hoping I can keep to that! So far so good.

Yesterday, I had the most incredible time on a hand dyeing workshop. It was so much fun. My friend and I went to the wonderful TOFT Studios near Rugby. We arrived quite early, so spent our time perusing the yarns and lovely crocheted creations. We saw the big highland cow called Morag that they made for the Edinburgh Yarn Festival! Wow – it was impressive!! Not sure it would fit in my living room though!!

So the workshop got under way with a quick demo with the 3 different methods we could use. And then it was straight into having a go. They had already soaked the natural yarn for us in citric acid. So it was a case of choosing your colours and off you go.

I managed to do 4 skeins, 2 for my daughter and 2 for my son. My son’s is a speckled yarn with orange, blue and green.

This one is rainbow stripes for my daughter. Yellow, orange, red, purple, green and turquoise.

There was a wide range of colours which you could mix and match and make them darker and lighter as you wished. For the rainbow effect, you poured the dye out of the bottles. This took a bit of a steady hand, as too much and it would go everywhere!!

For the speckled effect, the dye went into cups which you then used pipettes to then spot the yarn with each colour. Pleased I tried both techniques as each gave a different effect. The rainbow yarn colours are much stronger, but guessing that’s due to the amount of dye used.

Once we had dyed our yarn and massaged the dye in, we wrapped them in cling film like a sausage roll and popped them in the microwave for about 8 minutes.

Then they went outside to dry naturally before they were rinsed out and hung up.

This gave us all time for a cuppa and cake and another whizz around the shop too. Well it would have been rude not to buy some more yarn now wouldn’t it!!

Then it was time to collect our beautiful skeins and head home to dry them. Unfortunately there is a bit of patience required here as you need to wait till they dry, which can take up to 24 hours apparently, before you can get hooking with them!! Chuffed I’ve got my wool winder too. As skeins and me don’t mix at all! (My poor Dad would vouch for that!!!)

Will definitely share my creations when I get time to create them. I thought I would be doing a unicorn and a dragon for them, but my daughter is adamant she wants a rainbow bear and my son a monster. So a bear and a monster it is then. I would highly recommend a trip to the Toft Studio and the hand dyeing workshop. It really was great fun. There was a Tunisian workshop going on at the same time, think I might need to book onto that one next time!!!

So along side my new adventure into yarn dyeing, I have been exploring the world of shawls still. I’ve been having a play with a shawl, including quite a few of the different stitches from the Year of the Stitches blanket.

It’s lovely working from a few balls of merino wool and great to see which stitches work well. Can’t wait to get stuck into this beauty!!

It’s a Beregere de France Unic yarn cake, which is 100% do the softest merino wool I have ever felt. It’s seriously scrummy. It had a bit of a traumatic journey to me though! My first parcel arrived completely and utterly empty! I can safely say this is not a great feeling!!

I mean seriously, did it fall out, been taken out or not put in, in the first place! Well anyway, after a few emails from an apologetic LoveKnitting I received my ball of wool. And oh my it was soooooooooo worth it!! I’ve told myself I can’t start using this till Good Friday, but you never know. I may cave earlier than that!!

So onto the blanket and this weeks stitch. It’s a crossed treble stitch, which creates columns of rows of stitches. It is pretty simple to work, but gives a really beautiful effect. It has quite a lacy feel to it, which is nice. Definitely think it’s a stitch that could be used in a scarf or a shawl. Might have to have a go on one of the many shawls I seem to have started.

Stitches –

Chain stitch (ch) – To make a chain, place the yarn over the hook then pull it through the loop on your hook.

Treble (tr) – To make a treble crochet, firstly yarn over your hook, insert through space/stitch, yarn over your hook, pull back through space/stitch. There should now be 3 loops on your hook. Then yarn over hook and pull through the first two loops, yarn over hook and pull through the last two loops.

Supplies –

Right so this week I have chosen the wonderful Toft yarn. It’s 100% and ever so soft. (Seemed apt as I was there!!) It’s a lovely delicate white colour. Thought it would resemble last weekends snow. It was like a blizzard one minute and calm as anything the next! Very odd. I have used about 30/40g of this DK yarn, but you can use any kind of DK yarn you wish. You will need your 4mm hook, scissors and blunt ended tapestry needle.

1 – Ok so this week we are starting on the right side, so the side with last weeks spot stitches facing you. So attach your yarn and chain 3. Then work 1tr into the same stitch. *Now miss a stitch and work 1tr into the next stitch, then 1tr into the stitch you missed*. (So you are working backwards to the missed stitch.) Now repeat ** across the row.

Work 1tr in the last stitch in the row. (210)

2 – Now turn your work, chain 1 and work 1dc in the same stitch. Then work 1dc in each stitch across the row. (210)

3 – Now turn your work and chain 3. Then 1tr in the same stitch. 

Right so once again, *miss a stitch, work 1tr in the next stitch, then work 1tr in the stitch you’ve missed.*

 

Repeat ** across the row and work 1tr in the last stitch. (210)

 

And there you have it. Crossed treble stitches. It’s a quick and easy stitch to do isn’t it. Hope you are all happy with how your Year of the Stitches blanket is growing! I’d love to know if you are using all different colours like me or repeating colours. The blanket will be quite big by the time we’ve finished it. We’re just over a 5th of the way there. Scary to think we’re a 5th if the way through the year!! Crikey it’s going quick!!

Right well don’t forget to ask for help if you need any.

Happy hooking everyone!

🌈Xx

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2018 CAL - Year of the Stitches Blanket

Year of the Stitches – Week 11 Spot Stitch

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Spot Stitch 

Well what a strange week I have had and now it’s snowing again!! I’ve have managed nearly the whole week without going out of the door due to a rather stupid knee injury! Not what you need with a little one year old running around. Luckily for me my wonderful family and friends have stepped in and helped with the school runs and running around after the little guy. It’s been so strange not doing the normal routine!! And being a busy bumbling bee zooming around the place after everyone. I’m used to walking everywhere and getting out and about. I can safely say I have started talking to the furniture  & even putting things in different places to change things about. Makes you realise how lucky you are to have that freedom normally and to not take it for granted!!

One thing I have been able to do is wind wool!! And yes it is attached to my son’s toy!! Whoops!!

On the plus side I have been able to do a bit more crocheting. I’ve even managed to finish a few projects off. The two I am rather happy with are my Easter ducks – Henry and Penny. Quite chuffed with these ones. I was going to make them into super ducks, but I think they are rather nice as they are. I’ve followed the wonderful Toft duck pattern, but used two strands of dk wool to produce a bigger duck. I’m chuffed with Henry’s wings as I’ve mixed a beautiful gradiated silk yarn with the Toft dk wool to create a silky speckled effect. Hopefully they will be well received when found on the Easter egg hunt!

I have also embarked on a new avenue with the world of shawls. I have always wanted to design and create my own and have loved the idea of making intricate shawls for loved ones with their favourite colours. I started one with just simple Grannie square stitch which was nice. But definitely wanted something a bit different, so I’ve opted for the Lost in Time Shawl by Johanna Lindahl. So thought it was time to use my sublime yarn cake.

It’s from the dk Eden range which is a mix of cotton and wool yarn. You use the threads end from the beginning and work your way out. It’s nice not having a massive bag to carry around with you. Hopefully it will turn out well.

I’ve also started another shawl with some magnificent Louisa Harding 4ply merino wool. It’s truly divine, I can’t really describe how soft it is. Not really following a pattern with this one, just having a go. It’s great having all the stitches from the blanket at my finger tips to use.

So onto the blanket. Seriously loving this weeks stitch!! It’s mega!! Loving the look and texture it gives!! Would be great to add to the edges of a jumper, just to give a little extra texture. It isn’t a special stitch, you just need to know how to treble and double crochet. So it’s all good!!

Supplies –

So again you need to choose a double knit yarn of any kind. You roughly need about 30g. This week I have chosen a beautiful pale mauve yarn from once again the mega sublime range!! I think the colour represents my very strange week that I have had, rather well. Don’t forget your scissors and blunt ended tapestry needle. And of course your 4mm crochet hook.

Stitches –

Chain (ch) – To make a chain stitch, make a slip knot on your hook and then place the yarn over your hook and pull through the loop. Repeat this action to make a row of stitches.

Double Crochet (dc) – Insert the hook through the stitch, front to back, then yarn over hook and pull back through stitch. You will have two loops on your hook. Then yarn over your hook and pull through both loops.

Treble 5 Together (tr5tog) – A tr5tog is working 5 trebles together. Firstly yarn over your hook, insert through stitch, yarn over your hook, pull back through stitch. There should now be 3 loops on your hook. Then yarn over hook and pull through the first two loops. Now *yarn over your hook, insert through stitch, yarn over your hook, pull back through stitch. Then yarn over hook and pull through the first two loops.* Repeat ** 3 more times. You should now have 6 loops on your hook. Now yarn over your hook and pull through all 6 loops. This completes your tr5tog.

Treble (tr) – To make a treble crochet, firstly yarn over your hook, insert through space/stitch, yarn over your hook, pull back through space/stitch. There should now be 3 loops on your hook. Then yarn over hook and pull through the first two loops, yarn over hook and pull through the last two loops.

 

Ok so here goes … 

1 – This week you are starting on the right side, so the popcorn stitch little blobs should be facing you. First of all attach your yarn by inserting your hook and pulling the yarn through. Then chain 1 and work 1dc into the same stitch. Then work 1dc into the rest of the stitches. (210)

2 – Now turn your work and chain 1. Then work 1dc into the same stitch.

Now work 1dc into the next 2 stitches. So you are now ready to work your tr5tog into the next stitch. Now I assure you it isn’t as tricky as it sounds. So a tr5tog is basically working 5 trebles together to create only one stitch, to do this you don’t finish the last yarn over hook part of each of the trebles. So here goes, firstly yarn over your hook and insert through the stitch then yarn over and pull back through the stitch, then as usual yarn over your hook and pull through 2 loops. You now have 2 loops left like the picture below. You are going to leave the loop on the hook and start working the next treble.

*So yarn over your hook, insert through stitch, yarn over and pull back through, then yarn over and pull through 2 loops.* You now should have 3 loops on your hook. Repeat this process ** 3 more times till you have 6 loops on your hook. Here’s what mine looked like at this stage.

Now for the final part of the tr5tog you need to put your yarn over your hook and pull through all 6 loops on your hook. This creates the spot stitch.

Now you need to work 1dc into the next 3 stitches. You can see here that my hook is going into the first of the 3 stitches.

So here you have your 3dc stitches.

Repeat *tr5tog then 1dc in the next 3 stitches* across the row. In the last 2 stitches, work a tr5tog and then 1dc in the last stitch. This completes your first row. (210)

3 – Right so for the last row this week, you are going to turn your work, chain 1 and work 1 dc in the same stitch. Then work 1 dc in each stitch across the row. Here you can fasten off your yarn and see in your ends. (210)

If you really liked this stitch, you could repeat rows 2 and 3.

I really hope you have enjoyed this weeks instalment of Year of the Stitches. I’m hoping I am back on my feet next week.

Don’t forget to give us a shout if you need any help.

Happy hooking everyone!!

🌈Xx

 

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