Patterns, picots and general exhaustion

I mentioned a couple of posts ago that I would be writing up the pattern for those super-handy little hanging baskets, didn't I? Well, they're done! You can find them in my Folksy and Etsy shops in both UK and US terms and they're just £1.20. You can find the yarn, Rico's Fashion Cotton Big, here, where it's only £2.90 a ball.

In other news, my day job has an annual event, a conference, which is a Big Deal. It's a lot of work, and from January until Easter, it's a bit full on. I'm always glad that Easter brings chocolate in abundance - by this point in the year, I need the sugar (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it). So now that Easter is over, and the conference is done, a weight has been lifted. I've got a few days' grace to dust myself down, catch up on some sleep and tackle the pile of little projects on my desk that have been put aside until later.

One such project has actually been my companion during the conference. I once read somewhere on a knitting blog of the pleasures of 'vanilla knitting', well this has been a sort of vanilla crochet. Easy crochet. The type of crochet you can do with your eyes shut, or watching the telly. Crochet that requires no brain input. I am of course talking about the granny stitch.

A while ago, I made a very simple granny shawl out of some chunky mustard tweed. It was such a satisfying project that ever since I've been hankering after making another. So I did.

I decided I needed - yes, NEEDED - a spring shawl. Not as big as most shawls, I don't need to be swaddled in it, just something to keep that piercing spring breeze out. I'm very pleased with the finished product, not least because I had just enough yarn in the basket of leftovers and half-started balls. A simple edging in a darker shade with a little picot detailing finished it off nicely and like the main body of the shawl, it required zero conscious effort. Hurrah for picot!

The light green is Paton's Eco Cotton DK in Lime (70), a shade that I think is now discontinued. I found a batch of it on eBay when I was making the ripple blanket and had a few balls leftover. The edging is Freedom echo DK, but having lost the ball band, I can't tell you what shade - the dark green one, assuming they still make it.

I did have good intentions about blocking this little lovely, and it kind of needs it as the border yarn is on the thicker end of DK weight, but it didn't happen. No sooner had I snipped off the last sewn-in end than The Beloved suggested dinner at the pub. Well what could I do? I put down my scissors, swept my new shawl round my neck and trotted out of the door. It's been on active service ever since. Ah well...

The Happy Happy Blanky... and associated terror!

If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you might have caught sight of something bright on my hook lately...

This little lovely has been a delight. Well, sort of. I started it towards the end of the summer. In fact, if you were at Yarndale on the second day, you might even have seen me working on it. It worked up pretty quickly and the colours are just a delight: bright and punchy and made to go together. They're the best of friends.

And then I ran out of yellow.

And the yarn supplier ran out of yellow.

And for AAAAAAAAGGGES, I was second on the waiting list for when yellow came back in stock.

And then it arrived. Hooray! I could crack on and finish my happy happy blanky.

Wait... that yellow... it's a different dyelot.  I can tell it's a different dyelot...

And so for a brief spell, the happy happy blanky was actually a grumbly grumbly blanky as I pulled out row after row to get back to the first row of yellow. Then I started again.

And soon I was past the point at which I had started unravelling.

And soon it became a joy again.

And then it was finished.

It's not a massive blanket, but a good size for a pram or a cot, or for tucking your toes under while watching TV.

It's worked up with a 7mm hook and Rico Creative Cotton Aran. The larger-than-recommended hook means that the blanket has a brilliant floppiness and flappiness, or 'drape'. It's also deliciously squidgey.

So why the terror? Ah, well. I might have gone and written it up as a pattern and I might have gone and listed said pattern for sale. It's available on Etsy and Folksy in either UK or US terms, whichever you prefer.

My first pattern for sale.  Eek!

I made copious notes while I was working on it and I've read and better read the final version. I've even remade it in miniature to check the border instructions.  The pattern includes a tutorial for the stitch with pictures and everything.

There's something really quite nerve-wracking about it though!

Something new...ish

I've made baby clothes before, but always as gifts. I have to say, I do quite like making them - cute little projects that can be whipped up in an evening. That's about as close to instant crochet gratification as you can get.  Also, I really want to add a third wheel to The Hookery and start selling patterns (yes, I know I have patterns in the shop already, but I mean my own patterns).

So recently, in between the tax return and the granny blanket, I have been working on this.

A cute little short-sleeved jumper pattern, written for use with Rico Baby Cotton Soft.

It's been a lot of fun. A bit frustrating at times, but the nice thing about crochet is that it's very maths-y and geometric, so with a little imagination (and occasionally, a calculator *ahem*), you can work out quite a lot before breaking open the yarn.

The shape and the closure are now just as I want them, and it's a top-down pattern. Who doesn't love a top-down pattern?  Now I'm on to the sizing. I have a couple of friends with conveniently-aged children/nephews, and test garments are currently in progress. Fingers crossed!

A simple super chunky hat

It's starting to get chilly here. Not freezing, but there's that nip in the air first thing in the morning when the new day feels crisp and fresh.  Time therefore, to take stock of the woollens.  You can never have too many.

With that in mind, I thought I'd whip up a simple hat pattern.  You can download it as a pdf in either UK or US terms.  The pattern is written specifically for Rico Creative Twist Super Chunky, or Rico Essentials Super Super Chunky and uses just one ball. If you want to substitute a different yarn, make sure it recommends a 10mm hook and that you have 75m of it.

You might find the instructions in the earlier posts from this week useful for help with stitch markers or the magic ring technique.

Enjoy!

Yorkshire Rose Pattern

It's Yorkshire Day!  Hurrah!

'What', I hear some of you say 'is Yorkshire Day?'  Well, it's just a day to be happy about being Yorkshire and Yorkshire's being.  And although I am many miles south of the Mother County, I have been indulging in a bit of Yorkshire-flavoured yarn fiddling...

Yes!  A Yorkshire rose!

Want to know how to make one?  Read on...

You will need some white yarn, some green yarn and some yellow.  Probably worth raiding the scrap bag (if you keep one) for the yellow - you'll only need enough for the centre.  I'm using Rico's Creative Cotton (shades 63, 80 and 40).

Start with the yellow.  By the way, I'm using British crochet terms...

Either chain 5 and join with a slip stitch (sl st) to make a ring, or use the magic ring technique.

Chain (ch) 2, then work 9 half trebles (htr) into ring.  Join with a sl st in the top of the ch.  You should have a little yellow circle, like so...

Fasten off the yellow and join on the white.  You don't need to turn your work at any point in this pattern, so keep it sunny side up!

The next round is going to be worked into the front loops only.  So instead of picking up both loops on the top of the stitch, just pick up the side nearest you.

Your white round will be worked into the front loops only.  

So with the white, ch 2, 4 htr into same loop, sl st into the next loop, *5 htr into next loop, sl st into next loop.

Repeat from * until the end.  You should end on a sl st and have a cute little white flower like this...

The back should look like this...

Now we want a round of green. This round will be worked in the back loops of the yellow round. We're going to make the little green leaves that poke out between the petals, so join your green yarn to one of the stitches between the petals.  This should be nice and easy as they're the bigger-looking stitches.

There's one tricky stitch to find - the one where you joined the yellow round to fasten off.  I've marked it in red above.  Take a moment to winkle it out and be careful you don't miss it - if you do, it'll throw the rest of the round out of line.

So, working in the back loops of the yellow round, starting in one of the stitches between the petals (as marked above), ch 2 then work 1 htr, 2 ch, 2 htr all in the same stitch.

Sl st in the next stitch (which should be behind a petal).

You should have a neat little point, like this...

If this looks like I'm going the wrong way round, it's because I keep the right side facing me while working in the back loops.  Sorry!

...and from the front, you should see it just peeking through between the petals.  If your green peak is hiding behind a petal, you're starting in the wrong stitch - pull it out and try again in the next stitch.

So, having got your first little peak in the right place, in the next stitch work *2 htr, 2 ch, 2 htr, then sl st in next stitch. Continue from * to the end.  As with the white, you should end on a sl st. Fasten off the green and admire.

Front

Back

Lovely!

Now to make the outer ring of petals and the outer leaves.

Put your beautiful little white flower to one side for a minute and pick up the white yarn again.

Just like before, start with either a magic ring, or chain 5 and join with a sl st to form a ring.

Then ch 3 and work 9 tr into the ring.  Join with a sl st to the 3rd ch.

Next, ch 3 and work 1 tr in to the same stitch.  It may be a bit of a squeeze.  I know I said we weren't going to turn our work, but if you struggle with this bit, it might be easier to do so.  It makes no odds to the finished piece either way :)

You should have something that looks like this.

Next, work 2 tr into each stitch around.  Join with a sl st in the 3rd stitch of the chain.

Things may start to get a bit curly.  Panic not.  The next round will straighten it all out.

Again, we're working into the front loops only.

Ch 1

1 dc in next stitch.

In the next stitch, work *1 htr, 1tr, 1dtr.

You should have a nice slope building up, like so...

Now ch 1.

In the next stitch, work 1 dtr, 1tr, 1htr.

1 dc in each of the next 2 stitches.

If it looks like this, you're spot on!

Repeat from * until the end. After the last petal, there should only be space for 1 dc. Join with a  sl st to the first dc of the round and fasten off.

Hopefully, you are now holding what is essentially a big white star...

Now for the last round!

The back of your big white star should look like this...

Again, we want to place the green round so that it shows between the white petals.  Join your green to the back loop of one of the stitches which has (as you look at it) a dtr-tr-htr set of stitches in it. You'll know you're in the right place, because a) it's easy to spot as the front stitches have pulled a little hole just there and b) the next two stitches to the left have a dc in each of them.  Got it? Good!

For the next bit, it is actually easier to turn the star over so that the back loops are always facing you.

Ch 1 and then work 1 dc into the stitch I described above.

Then ch 7, like so...

Now we're going to come back along that chain, so in the second chain from the hook, work 1 dc. In the next stitch, make 1 htr. In the next stitch make 1 tr. Then work 1 dtr in each of the remaining 3 stitches.  It should look like this...

...a bit like a little flag.  Now we're going to attach the other end of the flag to the white star, so skipping 2 of the white stitches, make 1 dc in the back loop on the white star, like this...

This dc should be in a stitch which has a htr-tr-dtr combo in the front loop as you look at it from the wrong side.  If so, you've done it right.  If not, check that you've skipped the right number of white stitches, and that you're starting in the right place.  From the front, it'll look like this...

Time for the next leaf, so... 

*dc in the back loop of the next white stitch, ch 7.

Starting in the second chain from the hook, work 1 dc, 1 htr, 1 tr, 3 dtr.

Skip two white stitches and dc in back loop of third white stitch.

Continue from * to end.  Join with sl st in top of dc.  Fasten off.  You might want to leave a long green tail at this point.  You should have something that looks like this from the back...

And like this from the front...

You can either use that long green tail to sew the leaves of the smaller flower in place, of maybe ad a yellow button to the centre to pin the whole lot together.  Either way, make sure the green points on the little flower sit in the middle of the white petals of the outer flower.

Ta daaaaah!

And of course, if you're from t'other side o'Pennines, you could, I suppose, swap the white yarn for some red...

Graph paper

New Year is just not the same without new stationery. I think it's a hangover from school, but I really can't get through January without buying a pad of paper. This year, I went for graph paper. An odd choice, but following all my cross stitching before Christmas and now some knitting, there are ideas brewing.

As you can see from the reflection, I have yet to take the cellophane off and commit these ideas to paper. No matter, I like having projects in the back of my mind to ponder.

Freebie

As a Rico stockist, I've been sent a bundle of free patterns. Alas, I don't actually stock the yarn, but if you've got a bit of Rico Loopy stash, or Rico Can Can in your stash, maybe you'd like a pattern?

There's one knit and one crochet bag pattern. Makes a change from frilly scarves, no?

Anyway, if you'd like a pattern, leave a comment below and I'll be in touch.

Twisted tweble scarf

In my last post, I promised you a pattern, didn't I?  Well, here it is.  If you've been practising the crossed treble stitch, you've probably already made half of this without even thinking about it...

I wrote this specifically for the Rico Twist Super Chunky yarn, as it's a perfect scarf-y, snood-y yarn and great for quick projects.  This project is all about instant gratification.

Let's get going then, shall we?  You will need...

A big fat crochet hook (10mm), a big fat knitter's needle (it's the needle that's fat, please don't go pinching needles from chubby knitters...) and some big fat yarn.  One and a half balls of Rico's Twist Super Chunky does the job nicely.  The shade shown in the picture is light grey, if you were wondering.

You'll eventually need a pair of scissors, oh, and these...

Well, not all of them, just four or five.  And make them large ones.

Gauge really doesn't matter for this pattern so to begin (using UK terms), chain 49.

Row 1: DC in second CH from hook.  DC in each stitch to end of row. 48 stitches.

Row 2: CH 3 (chain counts as first stitch). Skip next DC, TR in next stitch. TR in the skipped stitch to create a crossed treble.  Continue to last stitch. One TR in final stitch. 48 stitches.

Rows 3-10: repeat as for rows 1 and 2.

Row11: CH 1, DC in each stitch across. 48 stitches

Weave in ends.

There. that didn't take long, did it?  Now you should have something that looks like a very short, very thick scarf.  At one end, it should look a bit like this: 

Hurrah! Ready-made button holes!

You can either attach a row of buttons up the other side, or like me, put four in a (sort of) square. 

When it comes to choosing your buttons, go large my friend, go large.  The ones shown here are about an inch in diameter and are only just big enough really.  Bigger would be better.  I'll be swapping them when I find four big 'uns that I like.

I was going to show the scarf worn in a variety of styles.  I started with it just on a hanger, but it looked a bit naff.  Then I put it on me.  It still looked a bit naff - who wears a chunky woolly scarf and a t-shirt?  Then I put a coat on me, and it looked a bit better...

It's not out of focus, that blurriness is proof I was melting...

But as you can see from my expression, I'd made a big mistake.  On the day I took this, it was hot. Really hot.  And there I was in my bathroom (best natural light) wearing a tweed jacket and a very thick woolly scarf. Error. 

I really can't face putting it back on again (and again and again and again).  Trust me, if you're creative enough to make this, you're creative enough to work out the myriad different ways of wearing it.  As soon as the temperature drops, I'll be wearing it non-stop.  It's a lovely soft yarn courtesy of the alpaca content (20% alpaca, 80% acrylic) and grey is a ginger girl's best friend.

Oh, and to celebrate finally getting round to writing up a pattern and then nearly giving myself heatstroke, let's have a promo shall we?  So long as you've got a ball of the Twist Super Chunky in your basket, enter TWISTED12 at the checkout and get 20% off your entire yarn order for the whole of September.

Go! 

Now! 

BUY ALL THE YARN!

Knitty

This weekend I decided to get a move on with one of my New Year's resolutions.  I decided it was time to...

*drumroll*

LEARN TO KNIT!

I started on Saturday.  I have since learnt to cast on (thumb method - could not or the life of me fathom how to do it with both needles), how to knit and how to purl.  It's been fun, in a challenging, mildly  painful way.

As it turns out, I have a gift for knitting holes and stabbing my left index finger.

Also, purl is my default setting.  As soon as my concentration drifts even a teeny, tiny bit, I find myself slipping back into a row of purl.

It's been quite a learning curve, but I do finally feel that I *get* knitting.  I can see how it works, how the stitches go together.  It's so different from crochet, which although you can work in rows, is usually quite geometric. It feels like quite a breakthrough!  As you can see from the photos, my knitting is riddled with mistakes, but I think it's just a case of practice and concentration - I find the 'knit one, purl one' routine really challenging!

And what prompted this sudden burst of two-needle action?  Well, apart from the New Year's resolution, a secret envy of hand-knitted socks and a life ambition to make a fair isle jumper, these patterns will soon be in stock at The Hookery...

...and I really, really like both of them.  I'll be stocking the yarn too!