2018 CAL - Year of the Stitches Blanket

Year of the Stitches Week 45 – Alternate Spikes

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Alternate Spike Stitch

Hello all. How are we all? Has anyone started to get ready for chrimbo yet? Dare I say it, but a few pressies have been purchased and things to be made list, is a go go. Hoping I can get through it all this year. Think I have enough time. My problem is I keep adding to the list as I keep thinking of new and exciting projects to do!! This happened this week with the utterly wonderful subscription box, beautifullly created my the lovely Abby Parkes at Luxury Yarns.

It is a little box of pure yarny magic!!! You can subscribe either for 1, 2 or 3 months and in the post arrives a little box with a skein of hand dyed wool which Abby dyes herself. But also included are some little bottles of essential oils and some other yarny delights. My daughter was particularly taken with the lavender and frankincense worry oil, (as she calls it.) She straight away started using it. Think it is definitely going to come in handy when she is worried about something. When I realised how excited she was, I couldn’t resist making her something with the beautiful yarn. So I started this on the Friday evening in the car and finished it this morning. Not bad going. It’s using a trinity stitch from week 27 of my blanket. Think it really picks out the flashes on Firework colours that Abby has created in the yarn.

And here’s the finished article!!! Will get the pattern written up for you guys!! It was so quick and simple! Love the colours! Abby Parkes you definitely are a genius with colours!! Can’t wait for the next little parcel to arrive!!

We have had a lovely weekend away celebrating my father-in-law’s birthday in the Cotswolds. It was lovely to be as a family and celebrate such a special birthday. I made my father-in-law a version of Jacques Cousteau hat who was a famous sailor and diver. He wore this particular red hat that he was know for! So thought I had better design and make him one. So here it is. He definitely seemed chuffed with it. Another one to add to the pattern writing up list!!

We visited the wonderful Bourton On The Water yesterday. My grandparents used to live there, so it has a very special place in my heart. Was lovely going back and taking my children to see all the little bridges and of course the model village. My Dappy used to love the Winston’s Ice Cream. He used to have a scoop of ice cream every day. His reasoning was because he hadn’t had it as a child very much, so had to make up for it!! Love it!!

Right then, so we had better get on to the blanket and this weeks stitch. It’s a really simple stitch this week called the Alternate Spike Stitch. So basically the stitch looks like a little spike as it reaches to the row below.

There are lots of different types of spike stitches with different heights and it definitely looks great worked in contrasting colours. So it’s worth a go on a different project. This is cushion that I made for my sister with the spike stitch.

Hope you enjoy this weeks stitch.

Stitches –

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.

Supplies – 

So this weeks yarn is a merino wool from the Wendy range. It’s a lovely pale toothpaste green colour, which is fresh and bright. It works well with last weeks blue. Remember you can use any kind of double knit yarn. So as always you need about 30g, a 4mm crochet hook, some scissors and a blunt ended tapestry needle.

Ok so here we go …

1 – Start by attaching your new yarn on the wrong side of your blanket and chain 1. Now work 1dc in the same stitch and then 1dc in each stitch across the row. (200)

2 – Right so now turn your work and chain 1. Then work 1dc in the same stitch and then the next stitch. Now you are going to work your first spike stitch by working 1dc in the row below. This is where the arrow is pointing.

So insert your hook through the dc stitch in the row below, yarn over your hook and then pull back through. (It will be easier if you work this loop up loosely)

Now finish your stitch by yarn over your hook and pull through both loops. Can you see how you have worked your first spike stitch.

Now work 1dc in the next stitch. (So where you have worked the spike stitch, you should have missed the dc stitch right above it.)

*So now work 1dc in the dc stitch in the row below and then 1dc in the next stitch.* Repeat this ** across the row.

End the row with 1dc in the last stitch. (200)

3 – So now we are going to repeat row 2. Start by turning your blanket and chaining 1. Then work 1dc in the same stitch and then the next stitch. Now work your spike stitch by working 1dc in the dc stitch below. This is where the arrow is pointing.

Remember to work the spike stitch loose, so that it creates a tidy effect.

Then work 1dc in the next stitch.

Now repeat. So work *1dc Stitch in the dc stitch below and then work 1dc in the next stitch.* Repeat ** across the row.

At the end of the row work 1dc in the last stitch. (200)

4 – And once again repeating row 2. So turn your work and chain 1. Then work 1dc in the same and next stitch. Now work 1dc in the stitch below and 1dc in the next stitch to complete your first spike stitch.

Now work *1dc in the dc stitch below and 1dc in the next stitch.* Repeat this ** across the row.

Work 1dc in the last stitch. (200)

And there we have the fabulous Alternate Spike Stitch!

Ever so versatile and would be fab with different coloured yarns worked up in each stripe!! Hope you enjoyed this one. Let me know if you need any help with it.

Happy hooking everyone!!

🌈Xx

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2018 CAL - Year of the Stitches Blanket

Year of the Stitches Week 44 – Zeros and Crosses Stitch

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Zeros and Crosses Stitch

Well what a week of birthdays, Halloween, Seaside holibobs fun. We have been down to Devon this week and explored the Jurassic Coast. Wow, what a beautiful area of the world. Exploring into seaside caves, walking across the red, almost rusty coloured sands and reaching cliffs tops with sparkling waters as far as the eye can see! Just breathtaking! One of the days we ventured to the little town of Beer. Once again a long vast pebble beach could be seen, but this time there were these little fisherman boats. Each one has been hauled on to the pebbles via long chains clunking around a big barrel! I think my son was more exhited about the tractor that pulled them in than the boats themselves!

Oh I do love this part of the country!!

I mean who needs to go abroad with a view like that.

We managed a night stroll on the beach too at Sidmouth. Something rather special about watching the sun set over the coastal cliffs.

My old faithful walking boots came out this holiday. They are over 20 years old as I had them at school. I struggle a lot with blisters and I think these are the only pair of boots that have never given me any!! Just thinking of all the miles they have done and the sights they’ve seen. I liked this picture. They look ancient compared to my daughter’s little pair, but I reckon they’ve got quite a few miles in them yet!!

On our little adventures, I did manage to sneak into one wool shop in Exeter. And oh it was a good one!! Well know as Wool on the Exe, it’s situated on Okehampton Street and is a delightful shop filled with the most incredible yarn!! I wish I had had more time to have a look at all their lovely yarns!!! Definitely one to remember and come back to.

So into this weeks blanket. It’s a double whammy again! We have two stitches combined together to create a fab zeros and crosses effect. Or as I would say – noughts and crosses effect. Thought it was rather apt to dedicate this weeks stitch to my two gorgeous children. They are growing up so so quickly! My daughter particularly seems to becoming a little lady! She watched me the other day doing a silly dance. She looked me with one of those, oh mummy looks and just said ‘You’re being weird Mummy!’ Priceless!! She would never have said that a few months ago! Funny!! She did give me the biggest grin afterwards mind!! My boy is growing up too! He is s full of life and happiness. Everything he seems to see could potentially be a game! He is definitely one of those fun, thrill seekers and a little rascally munchkin in the making! So here’s to you two! You keep me on my toes and make me smile everyday of the week!! My two little unicorn and digger bods!!

So this stitch uses a 3 row repeat, meaning that it is completely reversible. This means it would be great for a shawl. It’s named after, you’ve guessed it – the noughts and crosses game. As it looks very similar. It’s a great one to make up, once you get the hang of that Crossed Treble Stitch.

Supplies –

This weeks yarn is a beautiful powdery blue that matches my two little blue eyed bods!! The yarn is from the super soft Debbie Bliss merino wool range. You will need about 30g of yarn, a 4mm crochet hook, scissors and a blunt ended tapestry needle.

Supplies –

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.

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.

Ok so here we go …

1 – So starting on the right side of your blanket, attach your new yarn and chain 4. This acts as 1tr and 1chain.

Now miss a stitch and *work 1tr in the next stitch. Chain 1 and miss a stitch.* Repeat this ** across the row.

At the end of the row with the last 2 stitches work 1tr, 1 chain and then 1tr in the last stitch. (201)

2 – So turn your blanket and chain 3. Now miss the first ch1sp and work 1tr in the second ch1sp.

Now you are going to work a 1tr Stitch in the missed ch1sp but working from behind. (This is where the arrow is pointing in the photo above.) So to do this, yarn over your hook and insert the hook from behind into the ch1sp.

Yarn over your hook and pull it back through the back, this will give you your usual 3 loops on your hook.

Now finish your treble as normal.

* Now work 1tr in the next ch1sp and then work 1tr in the previous ch1sp from behind.* Repeat ** across the row. (Just watch your tension with this row, as the stitch is a little narrower than the previous row.

At the end of the row work 1tr in the top of the chain from the previous row. (200)

3 – Turn your work and chain 1. Now work 1dc in the same stitch.

Now work 1dc in each stitch across the row. At the end of the row, work 1dc in the top of the chain stitches from the previous row. (200)

Fasten off and sew in your ends. And there you have the wonderful zero and crosses stitch. Really hope you like this one!! Please let me know if you need any help.

Before I go, just to say sorry for anyone who struggled to get on my website today! Seems to have had a bit of silly clitch but all sorted with the wonderful JetPack and Bluehost team. So all good.

Happy hooking everyone.

🌈Xx

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