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!

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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!

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?

a celebration of 2012….

As 2012 comes to an end, I thought that I would share with you, and celebrate,  some of my highlights form 2012, what a busy year it has been…

In January I started my New Year’s resolution, to crochet a different flower each month – something I hope to continue in 2013.  

In February the weather turned cold: and it snowed and snowed and snowed.  I love snow; nothing else can change the appearance, sound, smell and feel of your surroundings quite so well as snow.

With March came the promise of Spring, with golden Daffodils cheering-up much of York.  I just had to crochet a Daffodil…

In April I celebrated my first Blogversary.  A whole year of sharing all of my crocheting and crafting with you.  Thank-you for sticking with me!

May was a busy crochet month.  Crocheting May blossom and festival hats for my little friend I.

June saw crochet to the rescue with a quick fix for my hair…

I was sooooo very proud of July’s crochet flower of the month; I had to share it with you again.  It still makes me smile of dull rainy days!  The crochet pattern for it is here!

In August I was in for a real treat, making beautiful faabric flowers.  I hope to make bunches of these next year…

September saw Si and I start to get the house ready for re-modelling.  It also saw me fall in love with the most perfect yarn for crocheting flower brooches.  And I introduced you all to my favourite yarn shop. 

Crochet in October was given over to going out, to let the builders get on with finishing our home.  I did manage to sneak in a bit of Halloween hooky time…

Christmas started really early, in November, as I crocheted lots and lots of samples for my Crochet for Christmas course.

In December I found the cutest Christmas trees to crochet, and hung them proudly in by nearly finished home…

Yep, it has been quite a year, all good!  See you in the New Year for lots more crocheting and crafting! 

it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

I’m beginning to feel all Christmassy!  I have to admit it has taken a while this year: normally I am super excited in early November and by this point I am desperate to put the decorations up.  This hasn’t happened this year: I think that it is because I feel like I’ve lost a month to building work, so still have some catching-up to do.   Today, I am beginning to feel Christmas brewing-up inside me.  Christmas cards are made and posted.  Christmas presents have been bought: and will be wrapped at the weekend.  Christmas cakes were made in October (thanks to a strange family superstition which means Christmas cakes must be made before Halloween).  I am going to hear one of my favourite singers, Kate Rusby, singing Christmas songs.   And I have put up my first Christmas decorations.  Yes, it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas….

Last year I crocheted a Christmas tree, by stacking up Starflakes.  This year I found a really cute crochet pattern, on Ravelry, by the super talented Carol Bancroft…

The pattern is very easy to follow.  You can crochet a Christmas tree in less than twenty-minutes and in an afternoon you have tree bunting.  What’s not to love?

fabric fat quarters, yarn and lots more goodies…

When I went to the Knitting and Stitching Show, at Harrogate, not only was there lots to be inspired by, there were also lots and lots and lots of lovely things to buy.  And buy is what I did.  I thought that I would share some of my purchases with you; you never know they might inspire you for Christmas presents, or for treating yourself…

Of course I bought yarn, but I also bought lots of fat-quarters, to make into fabric flower…

I love these Japanese prints, from Japan Crafts…

I loved how you use yarn and hooks to make amazing fabric pictures by Hooked by Design…

…I just hope I can remember the technique, when I start this project!  My guilty purchase was an embroidery kit from Rowandean…

 …guilty because I haven’t finished (or even started) the kit that I bought from them last year!  Ssshhhhhh!  Don’t tell Si!

A little something to make for Christmas (this Christmas)...

I finally found some flower yarn, which I had been looking for, for ages.  I can’t wait to crochet it, I think it will be turned into a scarf…

The rest of the yarn I bought will be crocheted into jumpers…

…I think that I will have enough yarn!  I think that I will have enough projects to keep me going until next year...

crochet for Christmas, part two…

I mentioned that there might be Crochet for Christmas part two: but it depended if anyone came along to the crochet course I was running at Grace and Jacob.  Well three people turned up: and so my fledgling teaching crochet career has begun. 

I had the most fun, and hopefully the people on the course did to.  We crocheted; Starflakes (blocked with water, pva and glitter), mistletoe and started to crochet Christmas puddings and robins.  Time went sooooo quickly, that the puddings and robins were taken away so that they can be finished in time for the big day.  Just look what the talented people crocheted...

Can’t wait to see some picis of the finished works: and here’s to more teaching crochet in the New Year…

inspiration from the knitting and stitching show, Harrogate…

 

Yesterday me and two friends took ourselves to the Knitting and Stitching Show at Harrogate: we had the most fabulous day, I just had to share some of it with you.  Not only were there lots and lots of stalls full of goodies to buy (and we did buy) there were also amazing displays, of all types of textiles, to inspire. 

The first thing that I was drawn to was, of course, crochet art works by the very very talented Samantha Claire…

I loved her mug warmers, something I must try and crochet for myself…

I loved the purple and the flowers on this fabulous quilt…

The colours were fantastic, not to mention the work which must have gone into the quilt.  It was all, yes all, hand stitched…

Downstairs, we came across these wonderful displays.  All knitted.  All inspired by children’s stories…

These projects were commissioned by Customs House, and the North East Maritime Trust, a group of knitters and stitchers from the North East of England. 

One of the stars of the show, had to be the village…

…this had been knitted and stitched by very creative people all over the country, as part of a completion, I thought that they were all brilliants and was very glad I didn’t have to choose a winner!  Although I did love the allotments...

Of course, we didn’t just look at the displays, we shopped.  Shopped and shopped and shopped.  I’ll show you a few of my purchases in a few posts time…