crochet blogger – Page 4

September 25, 2019 No Comments

Well hello my lovely ones! How are we all? Hope we have all had a good starts to the week. Ours has been busy busy as always. Usual school run and after school craziness!! But all good, all good.

It’s definitely getting more autumny now isn’t it! It is a lovely time of year though. I just adore those warm colours that all the trees and leaves delight us with each year. So magical. But I definitely think it’s layers time!! One minute your rather chilly and the next on a seriously warm side!! Layers at the ready peeps!! My usual 4 socks method has begun on my feet already!!

So I have to apologise for the rather large delay with this pattern. I had promised it many months ago, but guessing a bit of better late than never spirit needs to be going on. I’ve always wanted to design another mandala. They are such a beautiful sight, when they are displayed in all their glory with vases and pots on them filled with bright colours of flowers and sunny blooms. But I also wanted to mix it up with the yarn I used and wanted to come away from the double knit cottons that are usually used for mandalas and try my hand at a more dainty and delicate yarn such as this 3ply silk. And what better yarn to use than this beautiful 3ply mulberry silk from the very talented Abby Parkes.

So my gorgeous little ball of yarny loveliness came out of this little parcel of magic from Luxury Yarns.

It was from a previous instalment from the Ōil Yarns Club that the wonderful Abby has set up. So my parcel comprised of a skein of beautifully hand dyed yarn by Abby, a little bottle of some essential oils from the DōTERRA range and a lovely little jewel marker. You can sign up for one, two or three monthly instalments, so you can make it work for you. If you fancy a peak and are intrigued, then just follow the link below.

https://luxuryyarns.co.uk/oilyarns-club/

Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!!

Right then, so let’s get started.

Level –

Moderate (There’s a few slightly tricker stitches in this one.)

Supplies –

So for this project I have this beautiful 3ply mulberry silk yarn. I have only used about 15g of yarn, so you could definitely make quite a few with a ball of yarn. You will also need a 3mm crochet hook, some scissors and a blunt ended tapestry needle.

Stitches –

Magic Ring – Fold over the yarn to make the loop. Insert your hook through the loop and grab the working yarn (long piece) and pull through the loop. Hold the tail and the working yarn and pull so that the knot tightens, but you still have a loop. This has created a magic ring.

Slip stitch (ss) – This is where there is no height to the stitch. It’s usually used to join rounds. So insert the hook into the front of the stitch you are joining to. This is usually the first stitch you made in that round/row. So yarn over hook and pull through that first stitch then also through the loop on your hook.

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

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.

Half treble (htr) – A half treble crochet is basically one less movement than a treble. So yarn over hook, insert through space/stitch, yarn over hook, pull back through space/stitch. There should be 3 loops on your hook. Then yarn over hook and pull through all 3 loops.

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.

Back Loop Double Crochet (bldc) – Insert the hook through the second part of 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.

Back Loop Treble Crochet (bltr) – Yarn over your hook and insert the hook through the second part of the stitch, front to back, then yarn over hook and pull back through stitch. You will have three loops on your hook. Then yarn over your hook and pull through the first two loops. Then yarn over your hook and pull through the last two loops.

Ok so here we go …

1 – Start by working a magic ring, then ch1. Follow this by working 6dc into the magic ring, then pull the tail right to create the first round. Finally slip stitch into the first dc stitch.

If you’re not sure how to work a magic ring, then here’s a little video for a quick reminder.

2 – Now Ch3 and work 2tr in the first stitch. Now work *2tr in the next stitch.* Repeat this ** 5 times. Finish by ss into the first tr in the round.

3 – Ch3 and work 1tr in the first stitch. Now work 2tr in the next stitch. Now work *1tr, then 2tr in the next stitch.* Repeat this ** 5 times. Finally ss into the first tr stitch.

4 – For this round, you are going to work back loop treble stitches. Start by chaining 3 then *1bltr in the first stitch. (Remember you only work your bltr stitches in the back loop of the stitch below. This is where the arrow is pointing in the photo below.

Then work 1bltr, followed by 2bltr in the next stitch.* Repeat this ** 6 times. Finally ss in the first bltr.

5 – Chain 2, *1htr followed by ch1.* Repeat this ** 24 times. Ss into the first htr stitch.

6 – Ch3 then work *2tr and ch1 in the ch1sp.* Repeat this ** 24 times. Ss into the first tr stitch.

7 – Now ch3 then work *3tr in each ch1sp.* Repeat this ** 24 times. Ss into the first tr stitch.

8 – Chain 3 and work 1tr in the first stitch and chain 3. Work *1tr in between the next 3tr cluster and chain 3.* Repeat this ** 23 times. Ss in the first tr stitch.

9 – Ch3 work 1tr in the first stitch and ch5. Work *1tr in the next 1tr stitch and then ch5.* Repeat this ** 23 times. Ss into first tr stitch.

10 – Ch3 and now *work 4tr into each 5chsp.* Repeat this ** 24 times. Ss into the first tr stitch.

11 – Ch2 and *work 1htr in first stitch. Then miss a stitch and chain 1.* Repeat this ** 48 times. Ss into the first tr stitch.

12 – Ch3 then *work 3htr in each ch1sp.* Repeat this ** 48 times. Ss into the first tr stitch.

13 – Ch 1. Now work *1bldc in each stitch.* Repeat this ** 144 times. Ss into the first bldc stitch.

14 – Ch1 and work 1dc in the first stitch. Chain 5, miss 4 stitches, then work 1dc the next stitch. *1dc in the next Stitch, chain 5, miss 4 stitches then 1dc in the next stitch.* Repeat this ** 23 times. Ss in the first dc.

15 – *Ss into the ch5sp. Now work 6tr stitches in the ch5sp, then ss in the same ch5sp.* Repeat this ** 24 times. Ss into the first ss.

16 – Work 1dc in the first stitch, *then ch8 and work 1dc in between the 2dc stitches from the round below.* Repeat this ** 24 times. Ss in the first dc.

17 – Work 1dc in the first dc stitch, then ch9 and then work 1dc in next dc stitch.* Repeat this ** 24 times. Ss into the first dc stitch.

18 – In the ch8sp work 2htr, 4tr, 2htr and then work 1dc into the next dc.* Repeat this ** 24 times. Ss into the first htr stitch.

19 – Work 1dc into each stitch. Repeat this ** 216 times. Ss into the first dc and fasten off.

And there you have your beautiful mulberry mandala. Don’t forget to sew in your two ends!!!

Can’t wait to see all your creations!! Don’t forget to share them on social media.

As always, any problems or questions just give me a shout.

Happy hooking!

🌈Xx

(Free pattern designed and brought to you by PipsRainbow. Thank you for not copying or recreating it. ☺️Xx)

Year of the Stitches Week 48 – Honeycomb

December 2, 2018 No Comments

Honeycomb Stitch

Well heeeeellllllooooo December!! How exciting!! Can’t quite believe we are here and the world seems to be going Christmas crazy already!!! There’s Christmas decorations popping up everyday near us!!! The shops seem to have had some kind of Christmas explosion of joy!!! Everywhere we look, there are twinkly lights and bright shining baubles!! Just wonderful!! My son seems to be walking around with his eyes on stalks!! Quite sweet really! Think he’s going to really get all the festivities this year and enjoy them. My only worry is our decorations!! He has a very enquiring mind like his Daddy!! So our decorations will have to be checked, prodded, probably Bob the Builder fixed and dropped before he has happy that they can stay! I don’t think the breakables had better come out! Let me give you an example of my little man. So this year, we have invested in some lovely wooden advent calendars, so we won’t have to buy the paper ones each year. My thoughts behind them are that they are much better for the environment and a lot more special. Something to keep. So my daughter’s is a beautiful fairy magical little chest of drawers and my son’s is a train, of course. Now he did carry it all the way home in his pram from town, so I’m guessing this would make him think it was a toy!! Well it went on the tall cabinet in the hall, already for Advent.

In about 2 hours of it being in the house, he had managed to reach it, pull it off, resulting in it coming crashing to the floor, shattering into pieces! Heyho. It is his, I suppose. Luckily my husband is a dab hand with the wood glue!! Well you would have to be good at fixing things with a little Scrumble Bod like mine running around!!

So you may have noticed a little carrot sitting on my blanket!! Well if you read my blog yesterday, you will know he is the wonderful Kevin the Carrot from the Aldi Christmas advert. He’s become a bit of legend and very sort after in the world of Aldi shoppers, so thought he needed a spot in the crocheting world too. Hope you like him. Pattern to be found in the pattern list under Kevin the Carrot, if you fancy making him.

So this week, we may have sneaked in a few Melbourne in Lichfield cuppas and of course there is always time for a yummy cruffin for the little man!!

We did create some excellent window art with the wonderful owner – Debs. Bless her, I think I should take some window cleaner next time!!!

So onto Christmassy jobs and this weeks job was the Christmas pudding!! I’m a couple of weeks late really, but it was still November so I’m happy with that. Christmas puddings are like Christmas cakes – they get better with age!! They like maturing. The puddings need about 6 weeks, so we’re a little shy of time, but sure it’ll be fine! The house smelt incredible when she was cooking away!! Love my pressure cooker – 2 3/4 hours versus a steamed one that takes 8 hours!!!

Can’t wait to try her! Now the only decision now, is what to serve with her….

Right then, we had better get onto the blanket and this weeks stitch. So the honeycomb stitch is quite a dense stitch with lots of texture. Because the clusters are worked into the stitch rather than a chain space, the stitches are more prominent. Hope you like this one. It’s an easy stitch to create and works up quite quickly.

Supplies –

This week I have used a magnificent purple from the incredible Sublime range. Thought I would start the Christmas count down with a rich and deep colour and think it works really well with the turquoisey blue from last week. So as always you will need about 30g of double knit yarn, 4mm crochet hook, some scissors and a blunt ended tapestry needle.

Stitches –

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

5trtog – This is the same as a large cluster stitch. *So yarn over your hook and insert into the stitch, yarn over your hook and pull loop through, yarn over your hook and pull through 2 loops.* Repeat this ** 5 times. You will now have 6 loops. Then yarn over your hook and pull through the first 5 loops. Then yarn over your hook and pull through the last 2 loops on your hook.

Ok so here we go…

1 – Ok so start off by attaching your yarn into the wrong side of your blanket. Chain 1 and work 1dc in the same stitch. Now work 1dc in each stitch across the row. (200)

2 – Now turn your work and chain 1. Then work 1dc in the same stitch and then next stitch. Now it’s time to work 5trtog in the next stitch. So to do this *yarn over your hook and insert into the stitch, yarn over your hook and pull loop through, yarn over your hook and pull through 2 loops.* Repeat this ** 5 times. You will now have 6 loops.

Then yarn over your hook and pull through the first 5 loops.

Then yarn over your hook and pull through the last 2 loops on your hook.

Now work 1dc in the next 2 stitches.

Ok so *now work 5trtog in the next stitch and then 1dc in the next 2 stitches.* Repeat this ** across the row. Finish with 1dc in the last stitch. (200)

3 – Right then so now turn your work and chain 1. Then work 1dc in the same stitch and then 1dc in each stitch across the row. (200)

And there we have the Honeycomb stitch. Hope you like it!! Thinking it would be a great stitch for a hat!!! Ooooo the possibilities!!

Now chaps, please don’t forget to share your blankets with us. This is one of my dear friend’s blankets. Isn’t it beautiful!! Love the range of colours!!! Can’t wait to see the finished blanket now!!

Happy hooking everyone!!

🌈Xx