Ball Stitch

Well, we have had a week at home with no school runs or clubs to contend with. Bliss. It’s funny how you can easily fall into a life with no real routine or structure. My husband goes to work early, so the alarm is always set and getting up is the usual time. But once I’m dressed it’s pretty much free for all. Both our children will happily snuggle in our bed for a while. So a sneaky cuppa in bed may occur. I wonder one day if some crocheting in bed may happen?!? You never know – it could do. Our one thing in the day is little one’s afternoon nap. But that’s a nice thing to keep to as it gives me some special time with just my daughter. We keep hoping to paint our Smile Stones, but we still haven’t managed it! I reckon this is the week!! We found this one this week, just walking into town.

So for some reason my husband has been craving a chocolate and cherry mousse. Not sure why, I think it’s because we had a bowl of cherries on the table for pudding one night, which in my house, doesn’t last long. But then they had them with some chocolate ice cream. (Unfortunately, not some of my own making – my supplies have been demolished!) But I think the chocolate/cherry combo got them both wanting a mousse. Thus the Chocolate Cherry Mousse Cake was born. It’s pretty yummy, if I say so myself! Think it will definitely make an appearance at the next meal I host. My daughter is usually the cook/food critique in our house – and I had a serious amazing thumbs up for this one. So pleased with that.

Other than slow mornings and chocolate cake bakings, we haven’t done a lot. We managed a nice family bike ride today and a trip to Brum yesterday,  which was good. Our opticians that we go to, are on route, so it seemed daft to not carry on into Birmingham after our yearly appointments. Feels strange going in at the minute. We used to go in most weekends before little ones. We’d mooch around, do a bit of shopping, probably have a Pret sandwich and then back to one of the parent’s houses for a spot roast dinner. It’s bonkers now to think that shopping in Birmingham is just not an option and utterly pointless with little ones in tow!! We just don’t do it anymore. I can never shop for clothes when the kids are with me and they definitely don’t want to be there, so we just don’t do it. Bless them. How your life changes with kids. We are currently looking up bike ride locations for next time, not which city is good to shop in. I’m sure our life will change again at some point, but at the minute – I wouldn’t have it any other way!!

So on our ‘not shopping’ trip to Birmingham we ended up at the Birmingham Museum to meet Dippy the Dinosaur. He’s on tour at the minute and it was definitely worth it. My daughter definitely got the specialness of it all, but I think my son was on a mission to just run around and explore. I definitely think, hands on attractions are on his radar at the minute. Funny.

So onto crocheting and more importantly – socks!! Oh my!!! My life seems to be revolving around crocheting socks at the minute!! I’m not entirely sure how it has happened, but I am currently addicted to crocheting socks!

I have written a pattern for a size 6-8 and a 9-11 sock at the minute. So just need to write it for a 3-5 and a 12-13 and I am there. And guessing a little peoples pattern needs writing too! But seriously I can’t seem to get enough of it. My dad spotted me walking around the house with a ball of wool in a cardigan pocket and a sock being crocheted in my hands the other day – it did make him laugh! I just can’t get enough of them. Oh well, I am sure I will get over it soon. Or maybe not, Hee hee. I definitely think everyone is getting a pair of socks for Christmas!!! Well, that’s the plan anyway!!! Here’s hoping!! This is the sock ball mountain at the minute!! Oooo, don’t you just love all those yummy yarny rainbows 🌈 colours.

So onto the blanket and this weeks wonderful stitch. I thought it was time that we had another cluster stitch. So this week I have chosen the Ball Stitch. The Ball stitch is ever so simple. It works up quite a bit quicker than some of the other cluster stitches and fits easily with rows of double crochet stitches. You could use it for a bag of some description. Hope you enjoy this one. It’s known in our house as the tomato stitch. They definitely look like little dark red tomatoes don’t they!! 🍅

 

Here’s my blanket so far. It’s getting quite hard to get it all in one picture!!

Supplies –

As always you need to choose a double knit yarn of any kind and you roughly need about 30g. This week I have decided to use a Debbie Bliss merino wool in a maroon/red colour.

It’s such a deep strong colour and has a rather close resemblance to some yummy reddy/black tomoatoes that we are growing at the moment. Well I say trying to grow. My little munchkin of a son keeps nabbing them off the plant in the garden and eating them, sometimes before they are even ripe!!

Luckily my daughter or myself tend to launch ourselves at him to stop him eating the green ones. But it does now mean we have a bowl of green tomatoes attempting to ripe in our kitchen. Poor things. Hopefully we can keep his little grabbing hands at bay, for the others to grow properly. And especially these rather weird looking ones!!! Love them!

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.

Half Treble 4 Together (htr4tog) – A htr4tog is working 4 half trebles together. *Firstly yarn over your hook, insert through stitch, yarn over your hook, pull back through stitch. * Repeat ** 3 more times. You should now have 9 loops on your hook. Now yarn over your hook and pull through all 9 loops. This completes your htr4tog.

Ok so here goes …

1 – Ok so first things first, attach your new yarn and chain 1. Now work 1dc in the same stitch. Now work 1dc in each stitch across the row. To do this, you’ll be working 1dc in each of the chain stitches and then 1dc in the double crochet stitches from the row below. When you’re working stitches into the chain stitches – just pick up the top loop of the chain stitch. (See photo below.)

You should then finish with 1dc in the last stitch. (200)

2 – Turn your work and chain 1. Then work 1dc in the same stitch. Then work 1dc in each stitch across the row. Then 1dc in the last stitch. (200)

3 – Right so now we are ready to start the ball stitch. So start by turning your blanket and chaining 1. Then work 1dc in the same stitch. Work 1dc in the next 2 stitches.

We’re now ready to start the ball stitch, which basically is a htr4tog stitch. This is basically when you are working 4 half treble crochet stitches together. So start off by putting your *yarn over your hook and inserting into your next stitch. Then yarn over your hook and pull back through the stitch.* There should be 3 loops on your hook.

Now repeat ** 3 more times. You will now have 9 loops on your hook.

Ok so now it’s time to put your yarn over your hook again and pull through all 9 loops. This completes your ball stitch (htr4tog.)

So now it’s time to crochet 1dc in the next 3 stitches.

*Now work 1htr4tog in the next stitch and then 1dc in the next 3 stitches.* Repeat this ** across the row. (200)

4 – Ok so for a final row, turn your blanket, chain 1 and then 1dc in the same stitch.

Then work 1dc in each stitch across the row.

You should finish the row with 1dc stitch and then fasten off and sew in your ends. (200)

And there you have the lovely ball stitch. Think it’s definitely one of the simpler of the cluster stitches. And loving the fact that the little balls look rather similar to our yummy dark red tomatoes. It’s definitely all about tomatoes in our house over the last few weeks – look at those colours that I have used on the last 3 weeks of the blanket. Love it. I’m sure it wouldn’t make others smile, but it definitely gives me a big grin on face. Hee hee, happy days.

 

Hope you have all enjoyed this week Year of the Stitches CAL.

Don’t forget to share any pics of your beautiful blankets on their holibobs.

Happy hooking everyone!!

🌈Xx