By Helen

colourful crochet…

Do you remember the blanket I started to crochet last year? It’s a Lucy blanket, full of her typical colourful cheer.  Each evening I’ve come home and settled into the meditative rhythm of treble crochets.  The blanket, itself is very straight forward: row after row after row of crochet.  What I hadn’t anticipated was how I would find the use of colour.  Colour is fascinating; it is all around us, but how often do we actually stop and look at all the different tones and shades that are on offer?  Working with Lucy colours, has meant working outside my normal colour palate.  I am an Autumnal colour girl: drawn to earthy, berry tones.  So when it came to putting Lucy’s colours together I found it really difficult.  I wanted the blanket to look natural and random (though I am beginning to question the whole randomness of random) as if it had been thrown together and looked, well like Lucy’s.  I think the difficulty is because I am so far away from colours that I am naturally drawn to: but sometimes it is good to work outside your element.  It has really made me think about colour, how I use them and how they should be used together.  I am loving crocheting my blanket and so far I have used all of the seven-teen colours once…

…the challenge now is how to use the colours for a second, third, fourth, time and keep the look random (that word again)!  I’ll let you know how I get along...xxx

crochet snowdrop…

Yesterday, on my way home from work, I saw something which made my heart sing.  I saw my first snowdrops of the New Year.  Not just one snowdrop: but a whole carpet of them, little white jewels,  little clumps of loveliness…

I was sooooo pleased to see them: they are a reminder that, no matter how cold and wet the UK is at the moment, Spring is on its way.  I was also pleased to see them as, for the last few days; I have crocheting a snowdrop, to share with you all.  I first crocheted a snowdrop a while ago: but somehow, I was never truly happy with it.  The one I have been working on is, I think, better: not perfect, but definitely better.  So, here it is. 

You’ll need green and white yarn, a hook the appropriate size for the yarn (I used a DK with my trustee 4mm hook, needle and scissors.

First crochet the stem, crochet 23ch…

ss into each ch, but stop before the last ch…

6dc into the last ch…

Bring the working yarn between the stem and the hook, ss to join the round…

*1ch, dc into each dc, ss to join* (6 stitches).  Repeat *-*. Finish off and weave in the ends…

Join the white yarn in any dc..

Into dc *[dc, htr, tr, dtr, tr, htr, dc, ss]…

Ss into next dc, into dc [dc, htr, tr, htr, dc, ss] ss into next dc*…

Repeat *-* until you have crocheted six petals (three small ones and three large ones), ss into first dc to join, fasten off…

Using your finger, shape the petals…

Thread wire through the stem, been careful not to snag the yarn or leave bits of wire on show…

Ta-dah…

Hope that wasn’t too fiddly?  Let me know!

Happy crocheting! 

xxx

crochet garden: book review…

It has been a long time since I have treated myself to a new book about crochet.  This isn’t because I haven’t wanted one: oh, no – quite the opposite.  There are soooo many excellent crochet books out there; it is difficult to choose just one. One of my very lovely friends gave me a book voucher for Christmas, so I decided to indulge and purchase a shiny new crochet book.  I love buying new books.  I love the whole process, the browsing, the flicking through pages, the never knowing what delights are to be found between the pages.  Decisions, decisions…I’ve looked at Crochet Garden by Suzann Thompson a few times, but always put the book back on the self, thinking do I need another crochet flower book?  Well, yes I do!  Don’t we all?

The book is full of hints and tips, even for experienced crochets.  Who knew about needle-joining, for the perfect finishing off?  Genius!  The book is brim full of truly beautiful illustrations…

The patterns are clear and easy to follow.  Though there are no charts.  What I really love is that the book, really does offer something a little-bit different, from other crochet books.  The variety of flowers to be crocheted and the use of suggested colours and yarns are just brilliant.   I can’t wait to get crocheting…

Thank you Suzann, a really amazing book! 

Xxx

Ps – I don’t think it makes any difference (but just so you know) the patterns are written using American crochet terms, so you will need to do a little bit of translation! 

quick crochet coaster…

After using the same breakfast bowls for the last umpty years, I decided it was time of some new ones.   After spending time browsing the home-wear shops of York, walking away from some very beautiful (very expensive Polish pottery) I cam home with some very plain white bowls.  There is something I like about eating of plain white crockery, it somehow feels right.  I was pleased with my new bowls.  The pleasure lasted right up until I used them.  I should explain.  I like to start my day with a hot-steaming bowl of porridge.  Now, I know the porridge-purest of you will be shocked at my next sentence, sorry.  I cook my porridge in the microwave.  I have attempted to cook it on the hob, slowly and lovingly, but it somehow just doesn’t work for me.  Then there was the occasion when I was left, at a re-enactment, to cook breakfast on an open fire.  I am still apologising to a certain someone (you know who you are) for the pan then he manfully spent the next three hours cleaning with chainmail! Yes, it was THAT bad. For porridge, for me, the microwave really comes in to its own.  But my new lovely plain white bowls are rather rubbish in the microwave: they get soooooooooo hot you can’t actually hold them to sit and enjoy your porridge.  What is a girl to do?  Crochet of course!  After a happy few hours I had four crochet granny-square coasters…

They were crocheted from some very chunky Rico Creative Filz: which given that it is 100% wool, will over time felt with the heat from the bowls, but that’s ok.  I love the denseness of the stitches that the wool gives…

Once again crochet to the rescue: and breakfasts no-longer involves burring hands…

Perfect!

crafty Christmas…

Well hello: and welcome to 2014 – it’s lovely to see you again!  Did you have a good Christmas?  I really hope so.  I have to say that Christmas here is York was lovely, though if I am very truthful it already seems like a long time ago.  And if I am even more the truthful: by the end of the holiday period it was lovely to regain control of my home!  I won’t go as far as saying it was lovely to go back to work: as inevitably that can with it’s own challenges!

Over the holidays I did manage to fit in lots of time, for little crafty projects. Want to see?

Repairing my much loved Christmas singers, which my Grandma and I made when I was little…

Check out, my earlier handwriting…

Upcycling curtains, so that Christmas guests had a little more warmth and privacy…

Crocheting a pot-cover for our teeny-tiny Christmas tree…

Starting crocheting a new phone-sock…

Contemplating starting crocheting a jumper…

I am very much looking forward to 2014.  This year I’ve even made some New Year resolutions.  I don’t usually make New Year resolutions, seeing then as unachievable.  The start of this year feels different, somehow – perhaps it is because I enjoyed 2013 soooooo much, that I wanted it to continue in 2014.  2014 really has a lot to live up to!  With my New Year resolutions, I decided to focus on doing more, rather than giving up things or doing less.

Top of my list for 2014 is more fun, whatever form fun takes, I intend to embraces it whole-heartily! 

I’d also like a new job, or new place to work.  Towards the end of 2013, lift got a little crazy: with me working four jobs (one regularly part-time and three casual, but all seemed to coincide over the last few months of the year).  Maybe I should be aiming for one job, in one place?  Nah – I’d be bored!  One thing is for sure: there will be more craft classes – my next one is in March, where we’ll be making Spring flowers.  Maybe I’ll see some of you there?

Lastly, I’m also going to be truer to myself.  This, again, started towards the end of 2013.  In 2014 I fully intend to follow the words of Dr Susses…

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”

Hope that you are ready for the journey, fun of crochet, craft, life, laughter and fun…

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  I hope that 2014 brings you all that you wish for and much, much more.  Here’s to another year of  crocheting, crafting, and creating.  Thank you all for all the support you have given in 2013: I look forward to seeing you again soon…

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merry Christmas, yuletide greetings and seasons greetings…

Merry Christmas, yuletide greetings and seasons greetings…

Boldog Karácsonyt

Joyeux Noël

Gelukkig kerstfeest

مواسم تحيات

Buon Natale

मौसम अभिवादन

Frohe Weihnachten

ברכות עונות

sezone čestitke

Karácsonyi üdvözlet

musim salam

სეზონის ულოცავენ

Wesołych Świąt

节日的祝贺

Καλά Χριστούγεννα

季節挨拶

veselé Vánoce a šťastný Nový Rok

mevsim selam

ทักทายฤดูกาล

Feliz Natal

Nadolig Llawen

сезона поздрав

сезоны приветствия

sezoane salutări

فصول سلام

Glædelig jul

God jul

계절 인사

temporadas, saludos

メリークリスマス

I really hope that I haven’t spelt your languages wrong,  I have had to rely on Google translate for this posting.  Or if I have missed you language – sorry.  I hope that you get the sentiment and have a wonderful time what-ever you do this holiday period…

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let it snow: crochet style…

Let’s face it the weather isn’t exactly Christmassy at the moment, is it?  In York, there isn’t even a hint of snow or that we might get a white Christmas.  It does sometimes snow, in York, is then it looks even more beautiful than usual.  I love snow, I love everything about it (well may be not the slushy stuff): what else can completely change the look, feel and sound of a place?  I thought, I’d share with you a pattern for a snowflake, and then you can have your own snow garlands, for Christmas, no matter what the weather.  You will need to white yarn, cotton is best, a suitable crochet hook, some water, rust-proof pins, pva glue, glitter and a board to block on.  Ready?  Good…

Start with 5ch, slst to join…

** 2dc, 3ch, 2dc ** six times, slst to join…

You should have six chsp...

Slst into 1^st chsp.  ** 2dc, 3ch, 2dc, slst into chsp **.,,

Repeat ** - ** in each chsp.  Slst to join…

If you want to crochet a small snowflake, fasten off and weave in the ends.   To crochet the larger snowflake…

** slst into 1^st chsp.   1dc, 3ch, 1dc, 5ch, 1dc, 3ch, 1dc into chsp, 2ch **...

Repeat ** - **  into each chsp. slst to join…

Fasten off and weave in the ends.  Your snowflake will probably need blocking. 

Mix together pva glue and water (adding glitter for extra sparkle) and soak your snowflake for at least ten minutes.  Squeeze out the excess liquid and block out on a board, covered with cling-film, using rust-proof pins...

You can use the snowflakes on your Christmas card, as tree decorations, as garlands, or how every you choose. 

Happy crocheting…

xxx

crochet mistletoe…

Today is the most perfect day, for crochet.  Here is York; it is cold, wet and very, veRY, VERY windy.  The perfect day for lighting a fire, making tea and crocheting.  How about crocheting from thing for Christmas?  Are you beginning to feel Christmasy?  I am, it is slowly brewing up: I can feel it coming.  I thought I’d share my pattern for mistletoe.  Hopefully you’ll find it easy to follow: quick to make and after a happy afternoon you’ll have a bunch of mistletoe to hang and smooch under ;)

You’ll need some green and white yarn and a crochet hook that suits the yarn.  I used bamboo cotton and a 4mm hook: but it is really up to you.

Using green ** 13ch…

In 5^th ch from hook trtr in next 2 ch…

1dtr in next 2ch, 1tr in next 2 ch, 1htr in next ch, 1 dc in next ch**…

Don’t fasten off.

Repeat ** - **.  Join the two leaves together with a slss...

Don’t fasten off.

9ch...

slss in 2^nd ch from hook then slss in each ch…

Slss to join leaves to the stem…

Fasten off!

To crochet the berries

Using white 2ch, in 2^nd ch from hook 1dc and 1tr, fasten off…

Crochet two and sew them on the leaves.  Block if needed. And ta-dah…

Make lots: hang and find someone wonderful to smooch!

inspiration from Harrogate…

Last week my friends and I went on our annual trip to the Knitting and Stitching show, at Harrogate.  We go every year.  The show is massive: full of stalls selling you things that you need and things that you didn’t know you needed.   The show is also a brilliant source of inspiration:  with areas given over to displays of works by some very talent artists.   I had my camera with me, so I took some picis to share with you.  Hope that you are ready to be inspired…

Amazing textile art…

Brilliant finger loop braiding:  just like I make – only better…

Knitted pictures…

 
Crocheted covered furniture…

And perhaps my favourite, a life-sized (yes life-sized) knitted Nativity…

The knitted Nativity, or Knitivity, was knitted to raise money for St. Peter’s Hospice, Bristol.  If you would like to donate to this brilliant cause, you can HERE or find out more about the project HERE. What could be better crafting for charity…