Are you feeling Christmassy yet? I am. For me Christmas really started last night. Si and me went to see the fabulous Kate Rusby sing Christmas songs. We go most years and are always in for a real treat. I think that Kate’s traditional version of While Shepherds Watched to the tune of On Ilkla MoorBaht 'at, is just genius! I woke up singing Sweet Bells: yes, Christmas is definitely here! The backdrop to Kate’s stage, was a-maz-ing: giant crocheted snowflakes. My giant snowflakes, I mean GIANT – some must have been at least 5ft! They really put my teeny-tiny snowflakes to shame! Kate said they were crochets my the incredibly talented Cloud Nine Decor have a look at her crochet, it’s brilliant!
I thought that I’d share with you my Winter wreath, it was going to be my Christmas wreath: but it is sooooo cute just to have hung for a short time! The wealth is an accumulation of crochet from the past weeks and years…
Did you enjoy crocheting the cute crochet robin? I know that lots of you favourited and queued the pattern on Ravelry. Thank you! It is really, really, really easy to turn your crochet robin into a Christmas pudding…
Here’s how: you’ll need the same things as you needed for the crocheting the robin; dark brown yarn (I used dk), a yarn appropriate hook (I used a 4mm), white yarn (I used mercerised cotton, to give a slight sheen), a teeny-tiny amount of green felt, teeny-tiny red beads.
Round One: Into a magic ring work 1ch (to secure) and 5dc, ss to join.
Round Two: Crochet 2dc into each dc, ss to join.
Round Three: * dc in first dc, 2dc in next dc *, repeat * - *, ss to join.
Round Four: * dc in next 2 dc, 2dc in next dc *, repeat * - *, ss to join.
Round Five: * dc in next 3 dc, 2dc in next dc *, repeat * - *, ss to join.
Round Six – Round Ten: dc in each dc, ss to join.
Before you start to decrease, pause to secure the end.
Round Eleven: * dc into next 3 dc, dc2tog *, repeat 8 - *, ss to join.
Round Twelve: * dc in next 2 dc, dc2tog *, repeat * - *, ss to join.
Round Thirteen: * dc in next dc, dc2tog *, repeat * - *, ss to join.
Round Fourteen: * dc2tog *, repeat * - *, ss to join.
Before the gap at the top of the pudding gets too small, pause and stuff!
Secure in the end.
Once you have the brown ball, you need to crochet some brandy butter / brandy sauce / rum sauce…
Repeat the instructions for the pudding (see above) until you have enough for your taste: I stopped at about round nine). Then free-style an edge so it looks like the cream is dribbling down your pudding in a deliciously decadent way…
Stitch the cream to the pudding…
Garnish our pudding with holly leaves, or whatever you desire…
When I was little my Mum used to tell me that robin’s were Father Christmas’ spies. That when they were sat watching you, they were noting down if you had been good or bad. When they flew away, there were going to tell Father Christmas, who would decide if you would get any Christmas presents. I love this idea; and still think of it each time I see a robin bobbing about in the garden. For this memory, I decided that I had to crochet a robin. I can’t quite believe how cute they turned out to be…
To crochet one for you, you will need; dark brown yarn (I used dk), a yarn appropriate hook (I used a 4mm), red yarn, needle, googly-eyes, small amount of yellow felt and small amount of toy stuffing.
(If you want to copy and paste these instructions, without photos, scroll down this post)
Round One: into a magic ring work 1ch (to secure) and 5dc, ss to join…
Round Two: 2dc into each dc, ss to join…
Round Three: * dc in first dc, 2dc in next dc *, repeat * - *, ss to join…
Round Four: * dc in next 2 dc, 2dc in next dc *, repeat * - *, ss to join…
Round Five: * dc in next 3 dc, 2dc in next dc *, repeat * - *, ss to join…
Round Six – Round Ten: dc in each dc, ss to join…
Before you start to decrease, pause to secure the end…
Round Eleven: * dc into next 3 dc, dc2tog *, repeat * - *, ss to join…
Round Twelve: * dc in next 2 dc, dc2tog *, repeat * - *, ss to join…
Round Thirteen: * dc in next dc, dc2tog *, repeat * - *, ss to join...
Round Fourteen: * dc2tog *, repeat * - *, ss to join. Before the gap at the top of the pudding gets too small, pause and stuff…
Secure in the end…
To crochet the red breast; follow the above instructions to Round Five, using your red yarn. Then stitch the red breast to the body.
To crochet the wings: 2ch, turn, 2dc in 1st ch, turn, 1ch, 2dc in each dc, turn, 1ch, 2dc in each dc, fasten off, Crochet another wing! Stitch the wings to the body and add eyes and add a beak…
Yesterday me and two friends went on our annual trip to the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate (we go every year). What a treat! Halls and halls of lovely things to buy, so much creativity everywhere you looked. I took my camera, and I took a-lot, a-lOT, A-LOT of pictures. Honestly everywhere there was inspiration, I wanted to share it with you. Hopefully I got something for all of you? Sewers, Knitters, Crocheters, Quilters, Lace-Makers, Patch-Workers, Needle-Felters, Felters and Embroiderers. Or those who wish to share in the pure genius of a knitted Thorin Oakenshield, Smaug or Harry Potter – yes there really was something for everyone…
Hello My Lovelies! Sorry that there was no posting last week: the lap-top had to have a health check (and I don’t like blogging from my phone) and the week ended up crazy-busy. I’m back now, and I can’t wait to share this post with you! Have you thought about Christmas presents yet? Are you planning on crocheting any presents? I am! I’m going to crochet slippers from my friends. After spending ages browsing for a pattern, I couldn’t find one that was just right: so I set about writing one; I’m rather pleased with it, so I thought that I’d share it with you!
I used chunky yarn, from Hayfiled Yarn (nope I’d never heard of it either; but it was BRILLIANT to work with) and you could crochet a pair of, ladies UK6, slippers from just one ball – with a generous amount left over. The ball band recommended a 6mm hook: but I wanted a snuggly-dense feel to the slippers, so I used a 5.5mm. Really it is up to you, as ever my pattern is just a guideline. The slippers are really quick to crochet: after a couple of hours I had a pair!
One of my blog readers asked if I could write the pattern without photos, so that she could copy, paste and print out – without too much paper. I have to confess that I like my photos (and really hope you do to), I like the process of writing, photographing and blogging. But I do listen to you: so for those of you who want the no-photo pattern, scroll down to the bottom of this posting!
Round 1 – into a magic loop, 3ch, 7tr, ss to join (8 stitches)…
Round 2 – 3ch, 1tr into base of 1st ch, 2tr into each tr, ss to join (16 stitches)…
Round 3 – 3ch, 1tr into base of 1st ch, *1tr, 2tr*, repeat *-*, ss to join (24 stitches)…
Round 4 – 3ch, 1tr into base of 1st ch, *1tr, 1tr, 2tr*, repeat *-*, ss to join (32 stitches)…
Round 5, 6, and 7 – 3ch, 1tr into each stitch, ss to join…
You’re now going to be working in rows, instead of rounds.
Row 1 – 3ch, 1tr into next 22 stitches, turn (23 stitches)…
Repeat row one eight more times, for a ladies UK6 sized foot…
Final row – 3ch, 1tr into next 10 stitches, 3tr together, 1tr into next 10 stitches…
Turn the slipper inside-out and dc the two edges, along the heel steam, to join…
Finish off and weave in ends.
Turn the slipper the right way round, carefully thread ribbon through the stitches to decorate and embellish as you wish…
Don’t forget to crochet a second one!
As I’ve mentioned this pattern is written for a ladies UK6 sized foot. Making the slipper smaller is really easy: start the rows after round 4 or 5 or 6 and crochet fewer rows, to suit the length of foot. Making the slipper bigger is just as easy: repeat round 5 more times and increase the amount f rows that you crochet. The decoration is only a suggestion, you could add a strap to make your slipper into a classic Mary Jane, you could add some crochet flowers, you could use different colours. I can’t wait to see what you crochet!
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Copy and paste the pattern…
Round 1 – into a magic loop, 3ch, 7tr, ss to join (8 stitches)
Round 2 – 3ch, 1tr into base of 1st ch, 2tr into each tr, ss to join (16 stitches)
Round 3 – 3ch, 1tr into base of 1st ch, *1tr, 2tr*, repeat *-*, ss to join (24 stitches)
Round 4 – 3ch, 1tr into base of 1st ch, *1tr, 1tr, 2tr*, repeat *-*, ss to join (32 stitches)
Round 5, 6, and 7 – 3ch, 1tr into each stitch, ss to join
You’re now going to be working in rows, instead of rounds.
Row 1 – 3ch, 1tr into next 22 stitches, turn
Repeat row one eight more times, for a ladies UK6 foot
Final row – 3ch, 1tr into next 10 stitches, 3tr together, 1tr into next 10 stitches
Turn the slipper inside-out and dc the two edges, along the heel steam, to join
Finish off and weave in ends
Turn the slipper the right way round, carefully thread ribbon through the stitches to decorate and embellish as you wish...
It’s finally finished! It was meant to be finished for the start of Autumn, life got in the way, but it is now finally finished. I can’t quite believe the effort that has gone into it. There are around sixty-four separate crocheted pieces in total: I say around sixty-four, because I kept loosing count! So, would you like to see it? Here you are…
I hope you like it as much as I do? You might recognise the leaves from my last post…
Over the past couple of days it has been really windy, here in the UK, not as bad as much of the world has seen, but nevertheless it has been windy. Many of the trees are now bare as the winds blew off many of the Autumn leaves. It seems that we have by-passed Autumn and not had chance to really enjoy Mother Nature’s most special show. There are leaves all over the roads, the paths, the gardens and yards. There are leaves all over my living room: as I work on a crochet project that I hope to finish very soon and share with you next week. For now here’s a sneaky peek…
The pattern for my crochet leaves can be found HERE
As a child I was fascinated by my Grandma’s button collection: I’d spend hours rummaging through the box – finding different treats each time. My own collection is pale, in comparison to Grandma’s, but I do love it. So, when my friend asked me, if we could incorporate buttons into crochet: my mind, literally, whirled with excitement. I’ll often finish off one of my crochet brooches with a button stitched into the centre: but I never actually tried to incorporate the buttons into the crochet. What was not to love? After a few attempts I came up with this…
It is a work in progress. There are parts which I’m not entirely happy with. But I thought I’d share, what I’ve done with you: so you can combine the two very lovely things, of buttons and crochet, together.
This “pattern” is more guidance, hence the pattern in inverted comments, than pattern as a lot depends on the size of the button that you choose and the yarn: but I’m sure you’ll work it out. If not – let me know!
You’ll need: a button (with four holes), yarn (I’ve used DK), a crochet hook suited to your yarn (I’ve got my trusty 4mm), a crochet hook that is teeny enough to fit through the button holes and some scissors…
Use your teeny crochet hook to bring a loop of yarn though one of the button holes…
Use the tail-end of the yarn to chain to secure…
Switch to your yarn appropriate crochet hook. Now you are going to crochet a chain space, which you are going to work your petals into. Don’t make it too loose. I crocheted 3ch (more chains if you’re using a bigger button and less if smaller)…
*Switch back to your teeny crochet hook and bring the loop up through the hole, until it reaches the top of the button…
Switch to your yarn appropriate crochet hook. Crochet your next chain space. Don’t worryif the chain spaces seem to move around and disappear, around the back of the button: it will all work out in the end. I crocheted 3ch (more chains if your using a bigger button and less if smaller*)…
Repeat *-* until you have created five chain space. This will mean that you have two loops coming out of one hole…
Slip-stitch into the first chain space to join together…
**Using your yarn appropriate hook, 3ch…
Crochet trebles into your chain space. It is up to you how many: I did 3tr…
3ch…
Slip-stitch into the chain space you’ve worked into and into the next chain space**…
Repeat **-** until you have five petals…
Finish off and secure your ends.
Like I mentioned that the start of this post: this isn’t really a pattern: more to give you some ideas. Play about with different sized buttons and with different crochet stitches to give different shaped petals. Let me know how you get along: either here or on Ravelry.
Here in the UK we’ve been having an unexpectedly warm September: I’m talking about a proper Indian-Summer - it’s just lovely. I love a warm September, when you don’t really expect the sun to be shining and to be outdoors without a jumper. I feel that we really should make the most of the last few days of warmth, you never know when they’ll end, so Si and me decided to head to the sea-side. There seemed to be something very special, almost magical, about walking along the beach in the September warmth, it was almost like we were cheating Autumn! We took a very slow, gentle, walk along the beach: taking care to notice everything, from stones and pebbles to sea-weed and discarded beach toys. I loved that looking at the sand was like visiting an art-gallery, only the works of art were ever-changing and created by that great artist Mother Nature. Want to see what we saw?
Random pebbles in the sea…
Heart pebbles…
Sea-weed: I love the vibrancy of the green…
And the green and the purple together…
My Favourite! Sea-trees…
Si and me...
I know that this being the UK, the weather won’t last: but for now I intend to enjoy every last little bit of sun-shine that is on offer.
Following on from my last post, celebrating all things Septemberish, I decided to go out for a long walk to reconnect with nature and really enjoy the colours of Autumn. In the UK, or at least in York, I don’t think that Autumn has really taken hold: yes, the nights are drawing-in and there is a definite chill to the morning air, but I don’t think the true colours of Autumn have shown us the best they have. The trees are still hanging on to their greenness, with a few hints of what is to come here and there. One thing that struck me, on my walk, was the amount of acorns fallen on the ground, which greedy squirrels were, well, squirreling away! When I got home and got out my crochet hook, it seemed natural to crochet an acorn. In truth, I have been thinking about crocheting an acorn for some time: to complement my crochet leaves and since I crocheted eggs for Easter, there is a logical link!
Here’s what I did…
Gathered together lovely Autumnal yarn…
Gathered together everything that was needed: crochet hook (appropriate for the yarn), scissors and a range of polystyrene eggs…
Begin with 4ch and then slst into each ch, to make the acorn’s stem…
Into the last slst, 6dc and slst to join…
The next part of the pattern will depend on the size of your polystyrene egg. What you need to do, is crochet a circle that your egg fits snuggly into. By crocheting a circle I mean, after your round of 6dc
Round two: 1ch, 1 dc in same place as slst, *2dc, into each dc*, repeat *-*
Round three: 1ch, 1 dc in same place as slst, *2dc into next dc, dc into next dc*, repeat *-*
Rounds four: 1ch, 1 dc in same place as slst, *dc into next dc, dc into next dc, dc into next dc*, repeat *-*
Hopefully you can see how to increase your crochet to get a good fit to your egg? If not message me! It should look something like…
When you are about one-third up your egg, then change colour. Join you new colour in the front loop, only (this is the one nearest to you)…
Dc into each dc, for the first round front loop only, after then dc into each dc both loops. Keep checking that you egg fits snuggly into your crochet…
When you are nearly the top of your egg, keep your egg inside the crochet and begin to decrease…
Keep going, until your egg is completely covered and you should have yourself a crochet acorn…
Hope that you get on ok? I know have tried really hard to write this pattern, so it doesn’t matter what size egg you are working with. Have a play with different sized eggs and with different colours. Let me know how you get along.
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