2018 CAL - Year of the Stitches Blanket

Year of the Stitches Week 39 – Blossom Stitch

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Blossom Stitch 

Awww – I think my blanket is being used as some kind of Lego mat!!! Bless my daughter. You can’t beat a bit of Lego making! My daughter made this up with her Daddy yesterday afternoon. It’s pretty cool, it’s a little ice cream van and shop. There are so many incredible Lego kits now isn’t there. I remember having a pile of bricks and just having to try our best and use our imagination!! Amazing how things have evolved. Lego is in a whole different level of playing now!! I remember watching a Lego documentary and there are adults that will literally wait for a kit to be released and make it within 24 hours! There was one guy that had his poor girlfriend, sorting pieces so he was quicker to make it! Crazy!! Once he had made it, the finished article would be displayed and never played with. Can’t quite get my head around that, but hey, each to their own!! Fun fact alert from my husband – apparently Lego are the biggest manufacturers of wheels in the world! Who would have thought! Bonkers!!! Anyways!! Lego is definitely back in business and I reckon it’s here to stay!!

Well I think we need a big YEY to the weather this week!! Just incredible! I have to say these are my favourite kind of days. You can keep your scorching hot suns – give me a clear blue sky with crisp but warm sun, any day. Boots and gelert weather and some sunnies on top of your head! Just the best. Look at those skies!!

As I was reading in Simply Crochet magazine, we are entertaining our season at the minute!! The season of crocheted scarves, socks and yarnny hats!!! Ekkk!!! Proper weather!! Hope you are all enjoying your seasonal projects! I seem to be getting through all the birthday pressies at the minute. I made this little lady for daughter’s best chums sister. Hope she will like her.

Think it’s the colour combo I love so much! It’s a mix of a lovely soft dusty pink from Sublime and a West Yorkshire Spinner rainbow sock yarn. I had a bit of duh moment the other day. I’ve realised that some of my all time favourite projects have been with multistranded yarn. And if I ever just want to create something, I will always grab a couple of different colours to create something. I’ve decided it’s because it’s like painting. I get to choose what colours I use, rather than being dictated to by yarn suppliers. I reckon when I have a little more time on my hands, hand dyeing is the way forward. How amazing would it be to create your own colour scheme – I mean think of the rainbow possibilities!! It’s definitely on the to do list!!

So this weeks stitch is called the Blossom stitch. Now I know I should have used this in the spring, but hey, hind sight is a wonderful thing. So the Blossom stitch is another one of those stunning stitches that is made up of V shaped stitches in columns. It works well with pale colours such as this weeks dusty pink Toft wool. It creates quite a dense shape, which would work well for hats or scarves. You could use it with some lovely 4ply or lace weight to create a stunning shawl. Oooo, the possibilities!! Hope you enjoy this one.

Supplies –

This week I have once again used the wonderful Toft wool in this lovely pink colour. It’s quite a contrast from the deep purple from last week but they sit well together. Couldn’t resist matching it with the stitch again. Now I know it’s not blossom season and I probably should have used this stitch in the spring, but this colour is definitely a blossom colour. You will need about 30g of DK yarn and don’t forget the 4mm hook, scissors and blunt ended tapestry needle to sew all the ends in.

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.

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 – Attach your new yarn onto the right side of your blanket. Now chain 1 and work 1dc in the same stitch.

Now work (1tr, 1ch, 1tr) in the next stitch.

Now miss a stitch and work 1dc in the next stitch.

*Now miss a stitch and work (1tr, 1ch, 1tr) in the next stitch. Then miss a stitch and work 1dc in the next stitch.*

Repeat this ** across the whole row.

Ending with 1dc in the last stitch. (200)

2 – Right so turn your blanket and chain 4.

Now miss the first tr stitch and work 1dc in the first chain 1 space. This is where the arrow is pointing in the picture above.

Now chain 1, miss 1tr and work 1tr in the next dc stitch.

*Ok so now chain 1, miss 1tr and work 1dc in the next ch1sp, chain 1, miss 1tr, then work 1tr in the next dc stitch.*

Repeat this ** across the row.

Finish with 1tr in the last stitch. (200)

3 – Ok so first things first, turn your blanket, chain 1 and miss the first tr and first chain.

So now you are going to work (1tr, 1ch, 1tr) in the next dc stitch. This is where the arrow is pointing in the picture above. Then miss 1ch and work 1dc in the next tr stitch. This is where the arrow is pointing in the picture below.

Now *miss 1ch, work (1tr, 1ch, 1tr) in the next dc, then miss 1ch and work 1dc in the next tr stitch.* So repeat this ** across the whole row.

At the end work 1dc in the top of the chain 4 from the row below.

4 – So now we are going to repeat row 2. Right so turn your blanket and chain 4. Now miss the first tr stitch and work 1dc in the first chain 1 space. This is where the arrow is pointing.

Now chain 1, miss 1tr and work 1tr in the next dc stitch.

*Ok so now chain 1, miss 1tr and work 1dc in the next ch1sp, chain 1, miss 1tr, then work 1tr in the next dc stitch.* Repeat this ** across the row.

Finish with 1tr in the last stitch. (200)

5 – In this row we are going to repeat row 3.

Ok so first things first, turn your blanket, chain 1 and miss the first tr and first chain stitch.

So now you are going to work (1tr, 1ch, 1tr) in the next dc stitch. This is where the arrow is pointing.

Then miss 1ch and work 1dc in the next tr stitch. This is where the arrow is pointing in the picture below. Now *miss 1ch, work (1tr, 1ch, 1tr) in the next dc, then miss 1ch and work 1dc in the next tr stitch.* So repeat this ** across the whole row.

At the end work 1dc in the top of the chain 4 from the row below.

And there we have the beautiful Blossom Stitch. I’m thinking a scarf in this stitch next year!! It’s so delicate, yet so easy to work.

Hope you have enjoyed this weeks CAL instalment.

Happy hooking everyone!!

🌈Xx

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2018 CAL - Year of the Stitches Blanket

Year of the Stitches Week 37 – Sprig Stitch

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Sprig Stitch 

Well, we’ve had a week of mice, owls, octopus’s, blankets, conkers, dream jars, swimming, tennis, rainbows, school runs, playgroups, house warming parties and park runs. Phew!!! Oh and a poorly back!! That is one busy week. No wonder our weekend hasn’t been too crazy! It’s been interesting keeping the house in its usual state of kind of tidiness this week! Do you ever get the feeling that you are literally running around doing jobs ten to the dozen, just to get it all done. Where as others seem to always be ship shape and ready to go, without much more than a lift of a finger!! I reckon I run in the house, at least 10 times a day, if not more!! I reckon it’s the only way to get jobs done and keep the little man safe. My daughter will sit and play for hours in one spot, quite happy, where as my boy, is zoom zoom everywhere!! It’s crazy how much he knows as well about how things work in the house! Where he needs to be at certain times of the day and what makes things open! If you say let’s go outside, he automatically grabs his wellies and puts them on, then grabs yours and brings them to you, finished off with standing by the keys saying ‘keys, keys, keys.’ Until you get them and open the door! Love it. He definitely knows the way of the world already!

One activity which we all enjoy in our family is conker hunting. Brings back so many memories of childhood.

We used to bike with my Dad to a particular tree each year. It was on quite a main road, so it was never one kids really went to. So there were loads to choose from. I wonder if it’s still standing?! Think we had better get on our bikes! The tree by my daughter’s school is striped most days by kids. We ended up conker hunting in the rain last weekend and plans for more this week. Couldn’t resist making little Conky here. Just writing up his pattern and will post this week if you fancy making him.

Other little crocheted items have been these little baby rattles. Love making these little creatures, but have got rather a soft spot for the little octopus. Think a little one will love munching on the springy legs, saying that my two are now wanting one of their own.

So this week I have chosen the beautiful, but very simple Sprig Stitch. Now it’s basically double crochet stitches and chain stitches worked together to create an arch which gives quite a firm, dense pattern. It gives a lovely pointed edge, which would work well for a decorative edge. Would be nice on a shawl or scarf. Hoping to design more shawls next year, so that will be one to remember.

Supplies –

This week I have once again used the wonderful Toft wool in the lovely deep forest green colour. Think it sits rather well with the lime green from last week and I like the idea that the colour of the yarn matches the stitch – sprig green. You will need about 30g of DK yarn and don’t forget the 4mm hook, scissors and blunt ended tapestry needle to sew all the ends in.

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.

Ok so here we go…

1 – Attach your new yarn into the wrong side of the blanket and work 1ch and then 1dc in the same stitch. Now work 1dc in each stitch and the back loop of each chain stitch across the row. (200)

2 – Ok so turn your work and chain 1 and work 1dc in the same stitch. Now miss a stitch and work 2dc in the next stitch. Then chain 2 stitches and work 2dc in the next stitch. This completes your first sprig stitch.

*Now miss 2 stitches and work 2dc in the next stitch, work 2 chain stitches and then work 2dc in the next stitch.* Repeat this ** across the whole row.

In the last 4 stitches, miss 2 stitches and then work 1dc in each of the last 2 stitches. (49 Sprig Stitches)

3 – Right then so turn your blanket and work 1 chain and then 1dc in the next 2 stitches. *Now work (2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in the next 2chsp.* Basically you are working each sprig stitch on top of each other in rows.

Now repeat ** this across the row.

When you get to that last stitch, work 1dc. (49 Sprig Stitches)

4 – This is the last row of sprig stitches now, so once you have turned your blanket, chain 1 and work 1dc in the first stitch. *Now work (2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in the next 2chsp*. Repeat this ** across the row.

When you get to the end work 1dc in the last 2 stitches and then fasten off and sew in your ends. (49 Sprig Stitches)

And there you have the wonderful Sprig Stitch. It’s ever so easy isn’t it and gives a lovely pointy edge. I bet it would be nice for a border on a piece of clothing or a blanket for that matter.

Hope you’ve enjoyed this weeks instalment of Year of the Stitches. How are your blankets going? This is mine so far. It’s terribly snugly when I’m crocheting in the evening. Rather chuffed how it’s coming on.

Anyways, hope you all have good weeks.

Happy hooking everyone.

🌈Xx

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