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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2018 CAL - Year of the Stitches Blanket

Year of the Stitches Week 41 – Sedge Stitch

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Sedge Stitch 

Well it was Christmas Cake week in our house this week. I’m rather late this year, as she is usually made in September. This gives her time to mature till the big day. I suppose better late than never!!

My daughter helped me make it this year. She even made a wish while she mixed.

I told her all about how it was my Grannie’s secret recipe and that it would be passed down to her too one day. She thought this was amazing. And straight away wanted to know, who knew the secret. I have made a few little adjustments to the recipe, just for that added yumminess, so in my book it’s pretty spot on. It’s the first time I have baked one in my new oven. Well I say new, it was from my parents house, as they are having a new kitchen and this oven wasn’t that old. My last oven’s door, didn’t shut properly! So I was constantly judging timings! But this one – well. It didn’t let me down!! 6 hours start to finish!! Done!! Love it!! It’ll now be in the tasting at Christmas!! Ekkk!!! Exciting!!!

So another one of my Smiles has made it out and into the big wide world. This one was for my daughter’s friends sister, who loves all things small and munchable. Loving the rainbow effect on this one. They are such a good way to use up all your odds and ends from other projects. Think this one has sock yarn and some lovely sublime yarn in it.

This week, I managed two yummy cuppas from our favourite local coffee bar Melbourne in Lichfield. It is by far the best coffee in Lichfield and served by some of the friendliest people in town. My little man has many a happy moment talking to the owner and pressing his little nose up against the window, to watch the world go by. I think it’s their wonderful charming natures and bubbly personalities that make you want to go in time and time again. Just writing this, make me want one. I couldn’t resist dedicating this weeks yellowy yarn to them!! As you will see if you visit, they quite like yellow!! So all the treats are homemade and would definitely go well with any beverage drank – oh and don’t forget your crochet hook and ball do yarn. I keep eyeing up a rather comfy looking chair – I reckon it has my name on it. One day – a crochet hook and me, will be accompanied by a ball of wool and coffee will be found in this arm chair!!! One day…

Right then so on to the blanket and this weeks stitch. It is the wonderful Sedge Stitch. And by golly it’s a mega stitch. I genuinely think I had one of those moments when you realise that the stitch you are working on is a bit of a game changer. It’s such an incredible stitch and so utterly easy to make up as you will see. I am majorily excited about this stitch (as you can tell!) So I am sure you will be seeing it appear in some future PipsRainbow projects in the near future!

Supplies –

So this week I have chosen a yummy yellow from the lovely Wendy Merino range. Fab yarn bought from the super Knitique shop in Lichfield. It’s a lovely creamy kind of a yellow and not only is it Knitique’s Shop colour but also the fabulous Melbourne Coffee bar in Lichfield. It is by far the best place in Lichfield for a coffee and something seriously yummy to nosh. Me and my little man are usually found in there, either for a lovely sneaky cuppa or two or a take away beverage in my rather precious purple flask. I think my flask is becoming a bit of a safety blanket for me, as it seems to go everywhere with me at the minute! It’s seen some seriously yummy cuppa action! I reckon it might need to go on holiday with me next time we go on an adventure!!

Anyways, as usual, you roughly need about 30g of yarn. Don’t forget your scissors, blunt ended tapestry needle and of course your 4mm crochet hook.

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.

Half treble (htr) – A half treble crochet is basically one less movement than a treble. So yarn over hook, insert through space/stitch, yarn over hook, pull back through space/stitch. There should be 3 loops on your hook. Then yarn over hook and pull through all 3 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 on to the right hand side of your blanket and chain 1, then work 1dc in the same stitch.

Now work 1dc in the next stitch. *Now miss 2 stitches. Work 1dc, 1htr and 1tr in the next stitch.*

Repeat ** across the row.

When you get to the end of the row, work 1dc in the last stitch. (200)

2 – Turn your work and chain 1, then work 1dc, 1htr and 1tr in the same stitch.

*Now miss 2 stitches. And then work 1dc, 1htr and 1tr in the next stitch.* Repeat ** across the row.

Work 1dc in the last 2 stitches. (200)

3 – Right so turn your blanket and chain 1. Now work 1dc in the same stitch. Now work 1dc, 1htr and 1tr in the next stitch.

*Now miss 2 stitches, work 1dc, 1htr & 1tr in the next stitch.* Repeat ** across the row.

In the last stitch, work 1dc. (200)

4 – In this last row, turn your work and chain 1, then work 1dc, 1htr and 1tr in the same stitch.

*Now miss 2 stitches. And then work 1dc, 1htr and 1tr in the next stitch.* Repeat ** across the row.

Work 1dc in the last 2 stitches. (200)

And there we have the wonderful Sedge Stitch. I know I say it every week, but this Sedge stitch, is seriously beautiful and so so easy to work up. I am thinking blankets, shawls and even clothing using this stitch. Definitely one to remember and use again! Yey!

Have a lovey rest of the weekend chaps and I will see you next week for week 42! Crikey – we are getting near the end of the year now aren’t we!!!

Happy hooking everyone!

🌈Xx

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