2018 CAL - Year of the Stitches Blanket

Year of the Stitches – Week 28 Iris Stitch

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Iris Stitch 

Hmmm, it seems that my blanket seems to be being used in the garden this week. It definitely gets around this blanket! My daughter definitely enjoys many a happy moment in her Wendy house and it looks like my blanket goes in there with her!! Funny. Her Wendy house is on stilts, so it has a slide on the one side. When I was pregnant with my son, my daughter had me squidged up in there. She was quite happy making me tea and weirdly, vegetable stew in her little wendy house kitchen. Bless her. Happy days. Precious moments.

So this week, we went to see Matilda at the Hippodrome. Wow! It was just incredible!!! What a performance!! The guy that played Miss Trunchball, was possibly one of the most talented actors I have ever seen!! Just mind blowing. We ate at the Hippodrome reastaurant, which is called the Circle. It was nice and was lovely not to worry about what time we needed to be seated!! Would highly recommend it, if you’re in the area.

Anyone been strawberry picking yet? There’s something so utterly British about picking strawberries isn’t there. I used to do it as a job when I was a wee one, but it hasn’t taken the fun off it when you’re picking them with your little family. Picking them and well eating them!! Hee hee, surely nobody goes and doesn’t taste any do they? Our son was absolutely thrilled that you could eat them on route! Luckily I had some wipes with me, as he was completely covered in strawberry juice by the end!! Funny. Think we will be going again this summer.

Managed a few crocheting sessions this week. My main aim has been finishing my daughter’s unicorn. She has been absolutely desperate for this one. I’d have been able to make her quicker, but I wanted to take pics throughout so I could write up the pattern for you guys. She had me crocheting and finishing the mane at a family BBQ today! I mean to say!! I reckon she will be a good team leader one day – she definitely gets the job done!!! This is her cuddling her unicorn, before any ends have been sewn in. Oh why didn’t I sew them in as I was going along!!! Anyways, pattern out this week hopefully. Might be a nice holiday project!!

So, on to this weeks stitch. It’s the wonderful Iris stitch. It’s very similar to the rope stitch, so you should be able to get the hang of this one quite quickly. The difference to the rope stitch is that it has 2 Treble Stitches either side of the middle chain stitch. This gives the stitch a wonderful drape.

Supplies –

So this week I have used a stunning deep purple yarn from the fabulous Debbie Bliss range. It’s such a rich, wonderful colour and a lovely wool to work with. So once again you will need about 30-40g of double knit yarn and not forgetting your 4mm crochet hook, scissors and blunt ended tapestry needle to sew in the ends.

Stitches –

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

Chain 1 Space – Otherwise known as ch1sp.

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.

Iris Stitch – So for this stitch, your work 2 Treble Crochets, 1 chain stitch and then 2 Treble Crochets in the chain 1 space in the row below.

Ok so here we go …

1 – Right so start off on the wrong side of your blanket and chain 3. (This acts as 1tr) Now work 1tr in the same stitch.

Ok so miss 2 stitches, then in the next stitch, work 2tr, 1ch, 2tr. This is all worked in the one stitch and this will be your first Iris stitch.

Now miss 3 stitches and *work your next Iris stitch, so work 2tr, 1ch, 2tr all in the next stitch. Then miss 3 stitches.* So you can now repeat this ** across the whole row.

At the end of the row, work 2tr stitches in the last stitch. (49 Iris stitches)

2 – Ok so start by chaining 3. (This acts as 1tr) Then work 1tr in the same stitch. So you are going to work an *Iris stitch in the next chain 1 space. Remember an Iris stitch is 2tr, 1ch, 2tr in the same stitch*. This is where the arrow is pointing to – it’s at the top of the Iris stitch from the row below.

Can you see how the Iris stitches are worked on top of each other.

Now repeat this ** across the row.

At the end of the row, work 2tr in the top of the chain 3 stitches from the row below. (49 Iris stitches)

3 – In this row we are going to repeat row 2. So start by turning your work and chaining 3. (This acts a 1tr) Then once again work 1tr in the same stitch. So you are going to work an *Iris stitch in the next chain 1 space. (Remember an Iris stitch is 2tr, 1ch, 2tr in the same stitch*.)

Now repeat this ** across the whole row.

And once again at the end work 2tr in the top of the chain 3 stitches from the row below. (49 Iris stitches)

And we’re done. 3 rows of the lovely Iris stitches. I hope you have enjoyed this weeks instalment of Year of the Stitches. How’s your blanket looking? This is mine so far. Really chuffed with how the colour combos are going. Loving the different textures of the stitches too. I can see me making this blanket again at some point. Would be nice with my all time favourite Sublime rainbow combo that I put together for my bag. Now that would be good. Ekk, exciting.

Anyways, happy hooking everyone.

Here if you need me.

🌈Xx

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2018 CAL - Year of the Stitches Blanket

Year of the Stitches Week 26 – Silt Stitch

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Silt Stitch 

Hello everyone. Happy half year week. In the blink of an eye, we are at the end of week 26. Do I dare say the Christmas word!! Yikes!! Ok, I won’t mention it just yet. Just to say it will be here before we know it! Right, shush, no more!!! So sun. We have had a lot of sun this week haven’t we. I think I am actually starting to miss the rain! I know that sounds bonkers, but seriously, our plants are starting to look a little desperate and that’s not to mention the decidedly crispy lawn. It seems to be coming crispier by the minute. Poor thing. It always amazes me how durable grass is! I mean, it literally comes back fitting fit within a short space of time! Crazy. Right enough talk about grass!!!

So this week has been a bit of a strange one, with one thing or another. A week of highs and serious lows. It’s definitely taught me to stop and stand still for a moment and appreciate what you have. Life can change in a blink of an eye. It can be turned upside down just like that, with no warning what so ever. So enjoy and treasure every family moment. It’s definitely so utterly utterly precious.

I’ve managed quite a bit of crocheting this week, which has been good. Little snipets here and there, meaning I have been able to finish quite a few projects. One being this lovely little elephant for a friend’s daughter. I couldn’t resist making a little snuggly sleeping bag for them too. Every elephant needs a bed.

Here’s the sleeping bag. If anyone wants the pattern for this, just give me a shout and and I can write it up for you, it’s ever so easy.

Anyways, enough of my waffling. Let’s get down to business. The Silt Stitch… The Silt stitch is a definite one that I will remember and use again. It’s made up of 2 rows, starting with a simple row of treble stitches. And then the second row is literally 3 stitches worked into one stitch (so 1dc and 2tr stitches) then you miss 2 stitches and repeat. It gives a fantastic effect and would be mega with all sorts of projects. One thing this CAL has taught me, is to try and be more bold with different crochet stitches. There are some incredible ones out there and they just aren’t being used. I look at a lot of the crochet books that are on the market and a lot of them are mainly double and treble crochet stitches. Loads of mega patterns, but no real use of all these yummy stitches. Mission for next new projects – Different Stitches!!!

Supplies –

Right, let’s talk yarn. So this week it just had to be a golden yellow, didn’t it!!! The sun has been out all week!! Wow!! It’s been hot hasn’t it!! So please welcome this lovely warm and golden yellow from the Debbie Bliss Rialto range. Ticks all the boxes with depth of colour, softness, quality and just wonderful yummy yarniness!!

So once again you will need about 30-40g of double knit yarn and not forgetting your 4mm crochet hook, scissors and blunt ended tapestry needle to sew in the ends.

Stitches –

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

Chain 1 Space – Otherwise known as ch1sp

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.

Silt Stitch – This is a stitch worked in rows of 2. So the first row is literally just a row of trebles and then the second row you work 1dc and then 2tr stitches in the same stitch, then miss 2 stitches. Then the process is repeated.

Ok so here we go …

1 – Ok so we are starting on right side of your blanket. Attach your new yarn and chain 3. Now work 1tr in the first stitch. Right now we are going to work 1tr in the next stitch and then work 1tr in ch1sp from the row below.

*Now work 1tr in the next 2 stitches and then 1tr in the ch1sp.*

Repeat this ** across the whole row.

After the last ch1sp, work 1tr in the last 2 stitches. (200)

2 – So once you have turned your blanket, chain 1 and work 1dc and then 2tr in the first stitch.

 *Miss 2 stitches, then work 1dc and 2tr in the next stitch.*

Repeat this ** across the whole row.

After the last Silt stitch (1dc, 2dc), miss the usual 2 stitches, which leaves you with 2 stitches remaining. So in these 2 stitches work 1dc in the first and then 1tr in the last stitch. (200)

3 – Right so turn your work again and start by chaining 3. (This acts as 1tr.) Now work 1tr in the same stitch.

Continue working 1tr in each stitch across the row, finishing with 1tr in the last stitch. (200)

4 – Right so we are on the last row now, so start by turning your work and chain 1. Now work 1dc and 2tr in the first stitch. Now just like before, *miss 2 stitches, then work 1dc and 2tr in the next stitch.*

 

Now repeat this ** across the row.

After the last Silt stitch, miss 2 stitches then work 1dc in the last stitch and then 1tr in the top of the chain 3 stitch. (200)

And there we have the lovely Silt stitch. I’m loving the effect it gives and how the stitches are slightly raised.

Hope you have enjoyed this weeks Year of the Stiches instalment. Always happy to help in anyway I can. Don’t forget to share any pics of your wonderful creations.

Happy hooking everyone!

🌈Xx

 

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