By Helen

crochet flower for January…

Well good morning!  It seems very indulgent blogging to you on a Wednesday morning.  Normally I fit my posts in around work: but not today – I have got a whole day off!  A whole day to myself, to do exactly as I please: I can’t tell you how much I am looking forward to it.  I have a lot of lovely things planned and I thought that I would start the day with you!  I have been crocheting hard over the past few days, to bring to you a flower for January.  Last year I crocheted a Snowdrop (I saw my first Snowdrop yesterday), it still needs working on as I am still not truly happy with it, but that can wait.  I have been working on crocheting  Hellebores…

Do you like them?  I am really pleased with how this worked out.  Just in case you are, here is how to crochet on for yourself.  Gather together lots of yarn, in Hellebore colours, I used mainly DK – but that is not really too important and a 4mm crochet hook…

Round one: using your first colour 5ch, join the ring with a slst…

Round two: 3ch, 2tr cluster, 2ch…

[3tr cluster, 2ch], repeat this four times…

You will have five clusters and five chain spaces, slst to join, finish off…

Round three: using your second colour join yarn in one of the chain spaces…

[5dc in each ch sp]…

repeat this in each chain space, slst to join, finish off…

Round four: using your third colour join yarn in 1^st dc, [3ch, 2tr in dc, 1dtr in next dc, 1dtr, 3ch, slst in 1^st ch, 1dtr all in next dc, 2tr in next dc, 3ch, slst into dc, slst in next dc]...

repeat this four more times, finish off and weave in the ends…

Play about crocheting lots of Hellebores in all different colours…

Happy crocheting!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

NB          stitches are written using UK terms, if you prefer American terms :

                UK dc = sc

                UK tr = dc

                UK dtr = tr

Ooohh and a cluster is crocheted in a very similar way as decreasing: expect all of the stitches are worked onto the same stitch rather than across several. 

Hope that makes sense – if not let me know!

York’s very own Cat Walk…

York is a fabulous place to live, and visit, full of wonderful places to explore. York is an amazing place to spent time just wondering around, looking at the architecture and shops.  When we were looking for a grand day out, earlier this month, Si and I decided to stay in the city and do some exploring.  I should point out that we were also looking for a cheap day out.  There are lots of walks that you can do around the city, and through the years of living here, I think, we have covered most of them.  So, you can imagine our delight when we found a new way of exploring the city that was free.  That’s right FREE!  We decided to go on a Cat Walk.  All around York there are sculptures of cats…

Did you spot him: walking along the roof?  What can be better than walking around a beautiful city, looking for cats (my very favourite animal), pausing for coffee and doing it all (expect the coffee part) for free.  Here are a few of what we found…

If you want to go a cat hunt, you can pick up a map (for free) at the Cat Gallery, on Low Petergate….

Or, you can download a map HERE.  While looking for cats, Si also spotted this…

…okay, isn’t a cat, but we thought it was rather lovely!

So, if you are looking for a free activity, to while away a few happy hours, I would recommend York’s Cat Walk!  Did I mention that is was FREE!

crochet coffee cup cuff…

What is better than going out, walking in the crisp snow with a steaming hot cup of coffee?  Not a lot.  Some-how coffee always does seem to taste better when bought from a coffee shop, maybe it is just the way I make my coffee at home.  Over the last few weeks, I have found myself indulging in this habit way too many times, so I thought if this was going to continue, I may as well do it in style: and crochet myself a cuff…

Like it?  It was really quick to crochet.  If you want to crochet yourself one, here’s how I did it.  Gather together the yarn you want to use…

I went for rainbow colours, but it is down to whatever you have to hand.  This crochet project is great for using up ends; just make sure the yarn is all the same weight.  Crochet a chain, the length needs to fit around the cup…

The number of chains, is not too important, as the pattern can be adjusted to suit.  Next crochet a simple zig-zag pattern. 

To do this, crochet seven trebles in the seven stitches below, then crochet three trebles together, crochet seven trebles in the next seven stitches, in the next stitch crochet one treble, one chain and one treble.  Repeat this to the end of the chain.  It doesn’t matter if you don’t complete a full repeat.  Change the colour of your yarn for each row…

Keep going until you have seven rows. To do this keep crocheting seven trebles in the seven stitches below, then crochet three trebles together, crochet seven trebles in the next seven stitches, in the next stitch crochet one treble, one chain and one treble into the chain space…

Finish off by weaving in your ends and sewing on a couple of buttons…

Finally, enjoy drinking your coffee…

Happy crocheting!  x

simply crochet…

I have a confession; I have a bad magazine problem: I love magazines.  Hello, my name is Helen I am addicted to magazine.  I have to limit myself two a month: Mollie Makes  and Country Living – otherwise things could get out of hand.  Country Living is on subscription – so technically I am only actually buying one per month.  You can imagine my excitement when I saw an advertisement for a new magazine (brought to us by the lovely people who bring us Mollie Makes) one devoted entirely to crochet...

 I don’t normally buy crochet magazines, as I find them quite stifling: I gave-up on Inside Crochet not long after my May posting last year.  I prefer to look through crochet stitch books and take inspiration from them and then apply the stitches to crochet different projects from instinct and imagination.  But I thought (strictly in the interests of research) I would give Simply Crochet  a try.   I am glad that I did, the magazine is full of really great projects to crochet…

It is full of interviews, ideas reviews and inspiration.   There was something for everyone one, really great clear instructions for those just getting started with crochet and more challenging patterns for those with a little more experience.  The biggest problem is knowing where to start, I want to crochet the hearts and flowers, and would definitely love to give the snuggle-up blanket a try, then there is the gorgeous oh-so simple, but oh-so effective, magical circle scarf.  I think that I might just start with the Lovables…

Soooo cute!  Will Simply Crochet become magazine number three?  Well I will have to get a few issues, just to make my mind up!   Don’t tell Si…

crochet happy feet…

Back in Mollie Makes issue nineteen, there was the most wonderful pattern for crocheting granny square slippers.  The idea was so simple, that I just had to crochet them.  I thought that I would start small so I crocheted I (who I'd crocheted hats and other stuff for) a pair…

See those happy, smug, feet in crochet slippers…

I used quite dark yarn, so that they would keep (relatively) clean: hoping her Mum would appreciate that and what little girl doesn’t love purples?  They were perfect for using up left over yearn, as the granny squares I crocheted were tiny, just two rounds…

I only had to crochet twelve granny squares to make the slippers…

Double crochet was used to join them together, no sewing – genius!  The colours shown in Mollie Makes, were brilliantly put together…

A big, biG, BIG thank you to the very talented Stephanie Gohr for designing these – I can’t wait to try out more of your patterns.

 I am very very tempted to buy some yarn to crochet myself a cheerful pair.  But Si has asked me to crochet him a pair.  I can’t wait: this is the first time he has ever asked me to crochet him anything, despite repeated offers.  So I must make a start.  Making size nines, will take slightly longer than those for I – who is two.  I’ll let you know how I get on!

crochet hat for I …

I know that I have said it before: and I will say it again, many many times.  I love crochet.  I love that you can start and finish a crochet project in one afternoon.  So, when my friend mentioned that her little girl was in need of a new hat for winter, I knew I was in for a happy afternoon.   You might remember my friend’s little girl.  I often crochet for her; hats and cardi. 

I gathered together yarn, crochet hooks, buttons and a steaming hot cup of tea, and began work.  I am really pleased with what I crocheted: and I think I is too…

I decided to crochet the hat with a rib hem, so that it will see I through the coming months.  Doesn’t she look just gorgeous (with or without her hat)? 

So, I what would you like me to crochet for you next?

welcome 2013…

Happy New Year to you all!  I hope that 2013 is an amazing year for you and that all your hopes and wishes come true.  For me, I’d like to raise a glass to a year of crocheting, crafting and making: and I can’t wait to share it all with you…

Happy New Year!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx