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

Continue Reading

Year of the Stitches – Week 22 Small Mesh Stitch

Small Mesh Stitch

Hello all. Hope everyone has had a good bank holiday and half term. It’s been a busy one in our household, but lovely to be at home and with my two little bods.

We had a wonderful day at Hidcote Park last week. It’s such a magical National Trust place, as the garden is just a haven and rabbit warren of wonder and colour. There’s no set route, so each way you turn, brings you out in a different spot with different flowers and trees.

Just a magnificent place to explore and for all ages too.

There’s a little brook running through the middle, which you can only see from certain spots in the garden. One little boy was dangling his feet so much over the tiny little bridge, I thought he was going to fall in!! And as you can imagine, my own daughter was all for having a go, but we hurriedly moved on before my son could copy!!!

This scene below, really caught my eye as the colours are pretty spot on for my birthday shawl that I have mentioned before. I’m not sure when I am going to get to start it, but sure it will have its turn on day!

So my slipper sock ride journey has continued this week, with two pairs for the family. I think everyone has a pair now! Phew!!

I did manage to start a 4ply pair of socks though!!! It’s slow progress compared to the Aran slipper socks, but great to try something new. Loving the colours in this HeyJay hand dyed yarn! It’s so so soft!! So fingers crossed I can figure out my pattern.

So I think we had better get on to the blanket.

Supplies –

So this week I would like to dedicate my yarn colour to my dear sister-in-law. It was her birthday this week and this gorgeous cornflower blue was the colour she had at her wedding. Such a warm and fresh colour and goes so well with all sorts of other colours!!

This yarn is from the stunning Sublime cashmere merino wool range. I definitely love this yarn, it’s so terribly soft and warm and ever so easy to crochet with. Think it’s so important to work with wool that you feel comfortable with, rather than something that catches. So once again you will need about 30g of double knit wool 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.

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.

Small Mesh (sm) – This is a very simple stitch and chain 1, miss a stitch and work 1tr in the next stitch.

Ok so here we go …

This week I have chosen a very simple stitch caller the small mesh stitch. And you’ve guessed it, it makes a simple mesh type lattice. This would be fab for a shopping bag and it works up ever so quickly as well. Hope you enjoy it.

1 – So start off by working on the right side and chain 4 (acts as 1tr and 1ch.) *Miss 1 stitch, chain 1 and then tr in the next stitch.*

Repeat ** this across the row.

In the last 2 stitches, work 1tr in each stitch. (200)

2 – Now turn your work and chain 3 (acts as 1tr.) Work 1tr in the next stitch. *Chain 1, miss a stitch and then work 1tr in the next stitch.*

Repeat ** across the row and at the end work 1tr in the top of the chain 3 from below. (200)

3 – Right so on to the final row of the small mesh stitch. So first things first, turn your blanket and chain 4. Then *miss a stitch and work 1tr into the next stitch.* Now repeat ** across the row.

When you get to the last stitch work 1tr and then 1tr into the top of the chain 3 stitches from below. (200)

And that’s the very simple, yet effective, small mesh stitch. There is also a large mesh stitch, so we may have a go at that one day. But as you can imagine, it will be very similar to this, just bigger!!

Well have a super rest of the weekend and hope to see you next time for week 23 of the Year of the Stithes CAL.

Happy hooking everyone.

🌈Xx

 

 

Continue Reading