2018 CAL - Year of the Stitches Blanket

Year of the Stitches Week 45 – Alternate Spikes

No Comments

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

Continue Reading

2018 CAL - Year of the Stitches Blanket

Year of the Stitches Week 42 – Paired Popcorn Stitch

No Comments

Paired Popcorn Stitch 

Well it’s birthday party season in our house still and this week was my daughter’s party. It was an extremely rainbowy, unicorny, fairy, crafty kind of a party at home and I think, was well received by all. We played all the traditional party games and made some rather gorgeous unicorns. We wanted to give her a party like we used to have as kids. It seems to have all changed now with big occasions and events that a child goes to. We’ve had a couple of farm parties and a woodland pirate treasure party which went down well, but I think the two we have had at home for friends are my favourites.

We had a treasure hunt of Smile Stones which my daughter made.

I think their favourite activity was the unicorn making! Their little faces when they found out they could make them and take them home was just priceless!! Wish I had it on video!!! They even added a little magic and wish inside before they sealed them up!!

This was daughter’s and you can imagine where it was snuggled up last night!!

I do think my rainbow addiction is getting worse though!! Look at these I found on the Internet!!! There’s some kind of a rainbow explosion occurred in our conservatory!!

Oh and I couldn’t resist making these!!!

Not only have we had my daughter’s party this wknd, but we’ve celebrated my brother-in-laws too!!  Now he is a keen landscape photographer. He has taken some incredible photos all over the country. So I definitely had to dedicate this weeks yarn colour to him. A warm and wonderful autumnal brown, one that can be found in many of his landscape photos. These were the slipper socks I made for him. I added a 4ply West Yorkshire Spinner yarn into the mix which gave them a much thicker feel and hopefully warmer too!

With all the party loveliness, we did manage to squeeze in a family country walk in the back of the woods near us.

Think it’s these morning family walks that make you feel alive and happy. We did feel left out though, in the sense that everyone we met had a dog!! One day… 🐾

Now this photo was taken for my father. Every year as children when autumn came we would play the leaf catching game. It’s ever so simple. You stand under a tree and attempt to catch a leaf floating down from the sky!! You would think it was easy, but it’s not!! Saying that my husband caught his first time!!! I reckon it was beginners luck!!!

Well here was our attempt! Hopefully next year my son can catch one!!

Oh and to finish off a family walk, you can’t beat a Melbourne in Lichfield coffee!!! Best drank in the sun!!

So I think we had better get onto the blanket and our lovely stitch this week. So this week it’s called the Paired Popcorn Stitch. Now we have already had the Raised Popcorn Stitch on the blanket. This is when a Popcorn Stitch sits on it’s own, well here we have two slightly smaller popcorns that sit together!! Great for an edging to a little one’s cardigan or even the cuff of a glove or scarf. Hope you like it.

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.

Popcorn Stitch (Ps) – Work 5tr stitches all in the next stitch. Then remove your hook from the loop at the top of the last tr stitch and reinsert it back into the top of the first tr stitch. Then collect up the loop from the last tr stitch and pull through to complete the popcorn stitch.

Supplies –

Right so this week my colour is a lovely warm and cosy orangy/brown colour, representing all the magnificent leaves surrounding us at the minute. Definitely one of the best times of the year. I also wanted to dedicate it to my lovely brother-in-law and his wonderful photographs!!

So I have used this lovely coloured soft yarn from the Wendy merino range. Mega soft and snuggable. So again you need to choose a double knit yarn of any kind. You roughly need about 30g/40g. Don’t forget your scissors and blunt ended tapestry needle. And of course your 4mm crochet hook.

Ok so here we go … 

1 – Ok so first things first, start on the wrong side of your blanket. Attach your new yarn and chain 1. Then work 1dc in the stitch and then 1dc in the next 2 stitches.

Now *chain 1, miss 1 stitch, work 2dc in the next stitch, then chain 1, miss 1 stitch and finally work 1dc in the next 3 stitches.*

Repeat this ** across the row. In the last few stitches of the row, chain 1, miss 1 stitch and work 2 dc in the next stitch. Then chain 1, miss 1 stitch then work 1dc in the last 2 stitches. (133)

2 – Ok so turn your blanket and chain 3. Now miss first stitch and work 1tr in the next dc stitch.

Right so now miss 1 chain, then work 1 Popcorn Stitch (Pc) in the next dc stitch. So to work a Popcorn Stitch you need to work 5tr stitches into the same stitch. Now you are going to take your hook out of the stitches, leaving a loop. You can see this on the photo below. Now reinsert it back into the top of the first Treble Stitch. This is where my hook is and grab the loop you made at the top of the last Treble stitch.

Pull the loop through the stitch to finish the Popcorn Stitch.

Now it’s time to chain 1 and work 1Pc in the next dc stitch.

*Now miss 1 chain and work *1tr in each of the next 3dc stitches. Work 1Pc in the next dc stitch, chain 1 then work 1Pc in the next stitch.* Repeat this ** across the row.

To end the row work 1tr in the last 3 stitches. (33 Popcorn Pairs)

3 – Turn your blanket and chain 1. Now work 1dc in the same stitch and then 1dv in the next 2 stitches. Now chain 1, miss 1Pc stitch and now work 2dc stitches in the next ch1sp. This is where the arrow is pointing. It’s looks like s large gap inbetween the 2 Popcorn stitches.

Now chain 1 and miss 1Pc stitch. Now work *1dc in each of the next 3 stitches, chain 1, miss 1Pc, work 2dc in the next ch1sp, chain 1 and miss 1Pc.* so repeat this across the row.

At the end of the row work 1dc in the last stitch and then top of the chain 3 from the previous row. (233)

So there you have the lovely Paired Popcorn Stitch.

Hope you have enjoyed this one. Any problems just give me a shout.

Happy hooking everyone!!

🌈Xx

Continue Reading