Year of the Stitches – Week 28 Iris Stitch

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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Year of the Stitches Week 25 – Rope Stitch

Rope Stitch 

Well, a week of football, wind, sun, BBQ’s, suncream, swims, walks, Mexican meals, yarn shopping, crocheting and above all, family time. Phew!!! Oh and I forgot, a rather yummy Chocolate Mousse Cake!! Which got nobbled before I could take a picture.

A busy but fun week. Is it really sunday evening again. Blimey.

The World Cup seems to be going along smoothly. I decided many moons ago that every time I watch England play – they loose! So last Monday night, Hubby went off to a friend’s to watch the big game and I watched the Final of the Great British Chef and low and behold – England win!! Today, it was on in the room with some of our friends watching, I could hear it but couldn’t watch it as I was busy sorting lunch and yet again they won. So yep – I am sticking to that rule! You never know, it might work!!

It always amazes me the commeradery of football. How our little island seems to go absolutely nuts for it at certain events. Love how these big events coincide with BBQ and sunshine – what’s not to like!! And even people that don’t tend to watch football, seem to get stuck in to the World Cup. We’ve had friends over for a BBQ today to watch the match. And there was definitely a few cheers from the neighbours houses when goals were scored!!  There was definitely a discussion as to when we were eating! Do you quickly eat before it starts or wait for half time!!! We planned for half time. It worked pretty well. So yeah, a good weekend all round.

We had a lovely little crochet/knitting group again this week. I feel like it’ll soon be time to open it up to others. It seems to be working well with little man’s naps. So that’s good. Finally thought of a name. It’s called The Rainbow Stitchers. Thought that was rather apt as it linked to crochet and knitting through the stitches, rainbow colours because of all the different colours and yarns we use and obviously a little rainbowness linking to PipsRainbow. So all in all a rather good name me thinks. I’ve also started talking to a few of the Mum’s at the school gate as to meeting up at the local pub for a get together with crochet hooks. There are quite a few that would like to learn, so might be a fun way to teach them and have a giggle too!!

I’ve been working on quite a few projects this week. It seems to be that time of year, where everything needs to be finished!

I did squeeze in a little bag for myself. It’s purely made in the oh so amazing, Sublime Yarn. I think I may have found my favourite range of rainbow colours. They do have a red colour that I didn’t use, but I reckon it would go quite well at the start of the rainbow. Can’t wait to do this range in a cushion!! It’s so soft!! My hooky friend said she saw me stroking my bag the other day!!! Haha!! Well it is soft!!!

It just fits my phone and keys in so will be great for following round the little man. I’ve also made a little elephant friend for a rather lovely little girl. She saw  my daughter’s, so was desperate for one. I couldn’t not, could I.

I love how my two little people are getting involved in the world of crocheting and yarn. A certain little boy grabbed not only my ball of wool but the hook too the other morning!!! It was a little lazy Saturday morning in our household, we didn’t need to be ready till 9am, so cuppa in bed was required!! And well, of course a little crocheting if the little man is snuggling in bed. But yeah, that didn’t happen now did it!! Ball was grabbed. Hook was grabbed. Bless. He tries to do it.

Now on the other hand. My daughter came with me to one of our local yarn shops, the lovely Knitting Corner. We zoomed there after school one day, as they shut around 4ish, so we didn’t have long. The only reason I was going was for the little elephant yarn that I was making for someone’s daughter. Well guess who bought more yarn than me and even got given her very own loyalty card!!! Yup, you’ve guessed, one little rainbow girl, aka my daughter. She’s decided to make herself a snuggle blanket. I’m thinking it’s not going to be a quick thing, but she is ever so excited about it. It’s all about starting them young!!! Oh I hope she enjoys it!!

Right so I think it must be blanket time. It’s a nice and easy stitch again this week. It’s called the Rope Stitch. Hope you like it.

Supplies –

So this week I have used a lovely ocean blue merino yarn from the fab Wendy range. I bought it at the lovely Knitique shop in Lichfield. It’s a lovely colour and definitely a yarn that’s fab 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.

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

Ok so here we go …

Ok so the Rope Stitch is quite similar to the treble V stitch, but it has a chain inbetween the V stitch, thus meaning more of the stitches are missed. It’s a nice and simple stitch, great for a drape of some kind. So Rope Stitch is basically 1 Treble Crochet, 1 Chain Stitch then 1 Treble Stitch, all worked in 1 stitch. So nothing too crazy.

1 – So start off on the right hand side of the blanket, attach your new yarn and chain 3. Then work 1tr in the first stitch.

Now chain 1 and work 1tr in the second stitch.

Now *miss 1 stitch and work 1tr, chain 1, 1tr in the next stitch.* Then repeat this ** across the row.

So after the last Rope Stitch (1tr, 1ch, 1tr.) Miss 1 Stitch and then work 2tr stitches in the last stitch. (200)

2 – Right then, so first things first, turn your work and chain 3. Then work 1tr inbetween the 2tr stitches in the row below.

Now start your Rope Stitch. So work 1tr, 1ch and 1tr in the first 1 chain space in the row below.

Ok so now repeat *1tr, 1ch, 1tr in the next ch1sp* across the row.

After the last Rope Stitch, work 1 tr at the top of the chain 3 stitches from the row below. (200)

3 – Ok so turn your work and chain 3. Then work 1tr in between the 1tr and Rope Stitch in the row below. *Now work 1tr, 1ch & 1tr in the next ch1sp.*

Repeat this ** across the row, working the Rope Stitch in each of the ch1sp.

At the end of the row work 1tr Stitch in the top of the chain 3 space from the row below. (200)

4 – So basically we are going to repeat row 3, so start by turning your work and then chain 3. Now work 1tr in between the 1tr and the Rope Stitch from the row below.

*Now repeat *1tr, 1ch 1tr in the next ch1sp* across the row.

At the end of the row work 1tr in the last stitch. And there it is. Now fasten off and sew in your ends!! Hope that’s all made sense.

It’s a lovely stitch isn’t it. Feels like it has such movement. Nice one for a little bod to learn, after they have mastered the Grannie Stitch.

As always, any problems give me a shout. Thank you ever so much for following me and having a go at the Year of the Stitches CAL!! Next week we are half way!!! Week 26!! Blimey!!! Now that is something isn’t it!!! Happy days.

Happy hooking everyone!!

🌈Xx

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