Hmm, now where has that gone! 6 years! I can’t quite believe how quickly the time flies by. If you’d have said that I would be a crochet designer & that I would have my one blog & write my own patterns 10 years ago – well I definitely wouldn’t have believed you! I remember when I thought up PipsRainbow. It was on a journey on the way home from Lymington. We’d been on a family holiday and my little boy was only a few months old, so it was quite a big thing. I remember the days of all the paraphernalia that you need with a little one. The extra little bits of kit that you may or may not use! But the one thing I did have, was my crochet kit. Even then, I didn’t use to leave the house without my crochet kit. You just never knew when the next moment to crochet would arise. In those days, it would be when I was out and about and little one had fallen asleep in his pram or car seat. Well on this particular occasion, I must have been trying to get him to have a nap. You can just see his little awake eye peeping out at me! Bless him.

I think I was crocheting a little Easter chick or a duck at the time. I now find that sock knitting or crocheting is my go to for taking out and about with me. It’s such a small project and usually involves not much thinking about, so great to work on when there are other things going on around you.

Over the past year, I feel PipsRainbow has evolved. I think it is important to develop and grow as a little company. I always knew that it had to fit around our daily busy lives. And sometimes this year, it is safe to say that, it has been on the back burner. Which makes me a little sad. As I have spoken about before, when you have a bit of a confidence drop in your work – you will always find another job that needs doing and those all uninspiring words ‘It’s ok, I will do that tomorrow!’ Are said. Hmm…I think I have said that, far too many times already this year. Haha, guessing that can be said for many of us, in all walks of life. So onward and upward me thinks. Time to take charge & spend a little bit more time doing the things with love.

One thing that does seem to be evolving is my desire to knit and design projects. Crocheting and knitting seem to be working hand in hand with each other. And I have always said that some things are best crocheted, yet others definitely need to be knitted. Heyho. The juggling act for both of them, is very real. Haha.

So here’s a cheer to the last year of PipsRainbow. I wonder what Year 7 will look like?!

Right then – here is the all important Birthday Pattern. The Waffle Snood. Haha, I know it is a funny name, but the stitch really does look like a waffle. Hmm, maybe I need to rethink that one.

This beautiful yarn was given to me by my dear friend. It’s from Manos Del Urguary and is called Alegria Grande. It’s a worsted weight and is oh so soft. So perfect for a snuggle snood. And yep, I am wearing it now – it’s cold!!

You will need –

100g skein of Aran/worsted yarn, 5mm crochet hook, blunt ended tapestry needle and some scissors.

Stitch Information –

Waffle Stitch – 1ch, insert hook into next chain/stitch, yrh, pull through a loop, insert hook in next chain/stitch, yrh, pull through a loop [yrh, pull through 2 loops] twice. 

Abbreviations –

ch – Chain

chsp – Chain Space

yrh – yarn round hook

Pattern –

Start your work by making a foundation chain of 39 stitches.  

Step 1 – Insert your hook into 3rd chain from the hook, yrh, pull through a loop, insert hook in 4th chain from hook, yrh, pull through a loop, [yrh, pull through 2 loops] twice. Now work a waffle stitch in each of next 2ch. (Waffle Stitch – 1ch, insert hook into next chain/stitch, yrh, pull through a loop, insert hook in next chain/stitch, yrh, pull through a loop [yrh, pull through 2 loops] twice. Repeat to last chain, 1ch, 1dc in last ch, turn. 

Step 2 – Ch2, Waffle stitch in first dc & next ch1sp, then [1ch, waffle stitch in next stitch and then in next 1chsp] Repeat to the last waffle stitch. Ch1, 1dc in last waffle stitch and turn. 

Repeat step 2 until you have the desired length you would like and fasten off. I worked mine till it was 60cm in length.

Now fold it back on itself and use your crochet hook to work 1dc in both sides of the snood by inserting you hook into both stitches in either side. (Alternatively, using your darning needle, sew up both sides to create the snood and then fasten off and sew in your ends.

Now it’s time to block your work. If your aren’t sure how to do this, then look up my You tube video on how to block your work.

So there you have it. A year of PipsRainbow & an all important Birthday Pattern. Enjoy.

Big hugs to you all & thank you once again for all of your support over the year. It means so much to me, more than you know.

Happy hooking.

Pip

🌈Xx