Year of the stitches – Page 5

2018 CAL - Year of the Stitches Blanket

Year of the Stitches Week 43 – Woven Stitch

October 28, 2018 No Comments

Woven Stitch

Ooo half term!! And relax!! A week of no school runs, after school activities, taxi services, alarms… just some serious family snuggles and fun!! Yey! Can’t wait. It does feel very late this year though! Usually it was last week. Well definitely not complaining.

So you may have noticed a little Master Rudolf in the picture above!! Now I know it’s not Christmas yet, but I couldn’t resist putting this little guy on here just in case anyone was tempted by him and wanted to start early. You will find his pattern in the pattern section, if you would like to make him.

My friend has had the most ingenious idea of making Master Rudolf in 3 different sizes. Small, medium and large, one each for her daughter’s! Such a lovely idea. They are all going to have different coloured noses too. She’s using my multi strand idea, so large will be 3 strands of dk, medium is 2 strands and small is 1 strand. But you can always just use Chunky, Aran and DK wool. Can’t wait to see them. Will definitely post a picture when she’s finished.

So how are we all? The weather is definitely changing. I wonder how long I will survive without my big coat. It’s a bit early to snuggle up in it yet, I am sure!! I do think I am one of those that struggle with the cold. Well not exactly struggle with the weather being cold, but I feel the cold more. It definitely doesn’t help with pains and joints. Gloves are a go go and I reckon I might whip up some wrist warmers to wear too. I’ve got loads of ideas for different projects for next year. Can’t wait to share them with you all. Wrist warmers will definitely be on the list to do.

My christmas and birthday to do list is still rather long. I do feel like I am ticking them off though. I’m still on a hat mission for my father-in-law and I nearly forgot, I started my Dad’s socks the other day. This is some magnificent 4ply sock yarn from the wonderful West Yorkshire Spinners. It’s the bird range, think this one is Bluetit. Can’t wait to see how it hooks up with my sock pattern. I’m still a little way off from publishing the pattern, but I promise I will get it on here as soon as possible!!

I had a definitely lucky yarn moment the other day. One of our local yarn shops has moved yarny homes to the Mitchell’s Centre near Sutton. The lovely Knitting Corner. It’s such a magnificent shop with the nicest people in there!! They have lots of knit and natter sessions and even Ginit nights too, which definitely consists of drinking gin and yarny activities!! So they have been posting about the utterly scrummy West Yorkshire Spinner limited edition sock yarn!! It’s called fairy lights and it’s oh so lovely!! I knew it was a must have!! I bought last years candy cane edition, so knew this years was a must! Well I don’t know how I managed it but I got the last one!! Apparently it’s sold out everywhere now!! Can’t believe it!! I feel like a kid with the latest toy craze!! The Knitting Corner have made these fab kits, with the free knitting pattern and a contrast toe and heel colour!! Really can’t wait to get stuck into this one, but trying to decide if I wait for the Christmas holidays to enjoy it. It’s a tricky one? Would be a nice project to start on Boxing Day.

Right so we had better get onto this weeks stitch. It’s called the Woven Stitch and is made up of double crochet and chain stitches. It’s ever so simple and works up ever so quickly. Lovely in a pale colour so you can really see the stitch layout. In the first row I have reduced the stitch count, as we had a few extra stitches with those extra chain stitches we worked in for the Paired Popcorn stitches.

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 –

This week I have used a lovely dusty pale pink from the organic cotton Debbie Bliss Range. Now I know I have only used one other cotton yarn in this blanket, but I just had to make an exception with this one as it is so soft and given to me by my Mum. So as always you will need about 30g of double knit yarn, 4mm crochet hook, some scissors and a blunt ended tapestry needle.

Ok so here we go…

1 – So in this first row, we need to reduce the stitch count again. At the minute we have 233 and it needs to be back down to 200. So to do this we are going to work dc stitches across the row, but missing every other chain stitch. So start by attaching your new yarn on to the wrong side of your blanket and chain 1. Then work 1dc in the same stitch and then 1dc in the next 2 stitches. Now miss 1 chain. This is where the arrow is pointing.

Then work 1dc in the next 2 stitches, 1 chain stitch and then 3 stitches. So basically you are working 6 stitches in total. Then once again miss 1 chain stitch. This is where the arrow is pointing.

Now repeat the process across the row. So repeat *work 1dc in the next 6 stitches and then miss 1 chain stitch* to the end of the row.

After the last missed chain stitch, work 1 dc in the next 5 stitches. We have now reduced the stitch count by 33 stitches. (200)

2 – Ok so turn your work and chain 1. Then work 1 dc in the same stitch. Now we are going to chain 1 and then miss a stitch and then work 1dc in the next stitch.

*Now chain 1, miss a stitch and then work 1dc in the next stitch.* Repeat this ** across the row.

In the last 3 stitches of the row, chain 1, miss 1 stitch, work 1dc in the next and last stitch. (200)

3 – Right then so turn your work and chain 1. Then work 1dc in the same stitch. So now you need to chain 1 and miss 1 stitch and then work 1dc in the ch1sp. This is where the arrow is pointing.

So now *chain 1, miss 1 stitch and work 1dc in the ch1sp.* Repeat this ** across the row.

When you get to the end of the row, work 1dc in the last ch1sp and then simply work 1dc in the last stitch. (200)

4 – Ok so final row. Turn your blanket and chain 1. Then work 1dc in the same stitch. Now this row is a repeat of row 3. So *chain 1, miss 1dc and then work 1dc in the ch1sp.*

Repeat this ** across the row.

After the last dc in the ch1sp, work 1dc in the last stitch. And this completes your row. (200)

And there we have the very simple, yet lovely Woven Stitch. With all these wonderful stitches, it amazes me how a slight tweak with positioning of stitches and you have a totally different look and feel!! Don’t you just love crocheting!!

Happy hooking everyone.

🌈Xx

2018 CAL - Year of the Stitches Blanket

Year of the Stitches Week 42 – Paired Popcorn Stitch

October 21, 2018 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.

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.