Hygge Nook

Crochet blanket progress

The big blanket project is coming along slowly. I've crocheted three whole strips together now. I've taken on board the recomendations of others to do this as you go, so that you don't have a hundred odd blocks to join together right at the end. What I've not been so great about is sewing in all the little ends as I go. I'm doing this one strip at a time as it's quite a boring (but neccessary) job. At least I can park myself in front of a film whilst I'm doing it.

Here's how it's coming along -

 

I've got another row to join and have now started on row five. I'm pretty pleased with it so far but wish I had more time to devote to making the squares.

I was running a little low on wool so after a meeting in town a couple of weeks ago, I decided to wander around looking for some yarn shops. First stop was the well regarded Loop. I've tried ordering online once before without success (my order went out of stock, so I cancelled it... then a couple of weeks later it turned up, except I had already picked up the yarn in store by then). It took me some time to find the little shop which is tucked away in a side street ten minutes or so walk from Angel tube. They did have the wool I wanted for making a pair of mittens, but not the type I wanted for the blanket. All the yarn inside was very moorish and I spotted several types that made me have a good think about what I could make with them.

Outside Loop

Next stop was Oxford Street for John Lewis. I've never been to the haberdashery floor in here before, but, hello! Sweet shop! So many colours and brands. And can I just say how sweet it was to see a trendy guy on his iPhone clearly been given instructions to stock up on a little pile of baby pink wool. Sweetness personified. For the convinience  of the location and the range of stock, I'll be sure to pop in here again. If only they sold online! Perhaps I should do a post about the good experiences I've had with online sellers?

I didn't take a snap in store but I did pick up a nice selection of lovely Rowan handknit cotton (for the blanket), most of which has now been used so it's time to restock (again!)

Crocheted granny star garland

 
Do excuse the slightly wonky frames - I didn't notice until I uploaded the pics. 

I love bunting, I love garlands. I like colour, I like creating. So, of course, I love everything about this pretty star garland. I don't think this is where it will live, but I wanted to take a snap. I suspect that my daughter will want it for her room as soon as she sees it!

I found instructions for the granny stars here at The Royal Sisters, via Attic 24, and soon whipped up 12 stars. They take no time at all to make, are easy enough for beginners, and I had plenty of colours in my yarn stash to make lots of cheerful mix'n'match colourways.

A pretty stack of stars

 
 

Closer look at the colours used

 

Not so twinkly, but very pretty, stars

To make them into a garland, it was a case of making up a long chain with enough length at either end for hanging and equal space in between each flower.

Simply 20 chains and a slip stitch to attach each star

I'm thinking of crocheting a trim - perhaps a simple scallop edge - over the chains to make the chain a little more substantial and also to make it look a little more 'finished.'

For now, though, I think they're delightful.

Books for the weekend

I don't want to keep apologising for the lack of posting. Sometimes life just gets in the way. Lots of work on, schools closed due to the beautiful but freak snow, things to pursue, make, do and bake. All make for a busy bee.

I'll leave you with this picture of a little stack of books I'll be looking through this weekend (aren't the yarn colours yummy?) - a rare weekend with no work to catch up on and lots of time for crafting, dozing, watching DVDs along with the more mundane household things.

Have a lovely weekend xx

Crochet Granny Blanket: The beginning of the 'Little Puzzles' blanket

Yes, it's starting to take shape. I'm on square 13 (ooh, unlucky, quick, make another one!) and finding it easier and easier as I go. So far, I like what I've made. I'm not following any particular colour pattern, but I am making sure the last round is white so that when I come to put them together, there will be a uniformity about the blanket.

Let's take a look, shall we?

 

A neat stack of squares - I do like that rosy pink and soft green together.

 

And here they all are looking yummy.

 

Close up!

So, 13 squares down, 100 odd to go. I think there will be a lot of crocheting this Christmas and New Year to ensure that I have a much bigger stack of squares. Plus, I must learn how to stitch/crochet them together and sew in those loose ends.

In case you are tremendously interested in the where and whatfors, I'm using Rowan DK Handknit Cotton which has some divine colours. It costs between £3-£4.50 per 50g ball, depending on where you shop. I dread to think what the final price will be, but I'm picking up a few balls here and there, so spreading the cost. That it is handmade by me and unique, is, of course, priceless. It would be much, much cheaper to use acyrlic but I figured, seeing as I'm spending a great deal of time making it, I wanted to use the best yarn and have it last years and years.

Oh, and why 'Little Puzzles' blanket? My two year old Gabriel, who is quite keen on jigsaws, calls the squares little puzzles. I'm so glad he likes it and maybe in a month or two we can snuggle in it.

My adventures in crochet land

I had some down time last week. So, what better to do than learn to crochet. Ever since I spotted a prettily coloured crochet granny blanket at Cath Kidston and then followed a forum discussion (I forget where) on how people could make their own using much nicer yarns, I was determined to learn.

Then I stumbled across these very lovely blogs - Henhouse, Do You Mind if I Knit and Attic 24 - and cooed and wowed over their lovely crocheted creations. Hen of Henhouse (whom I found after reading about her home in a magazine) had learnt how to crochet very recently and was making pretty pieces, so I decided it couldn't possibly be too late for me too. Do have a look at their blogs and see the beautiful things they're making.

Yes, I made these!

I've always toyed with the idea of learning but haven't had anyone to teach me. Books didn't make sense either when it came to the basics. Then I turned to YouTube and *ping* I found a video, watched a couple more and that was it... I could crochet. It was that easy! I opened up a book and looked at the pattern for granny squares... Hey, it was just single chains and trebles. I could do that!

Surprisingly I found I understand the diagrams far better, than I understood the written instructions. I am the opposite when it comes to knitting. There, diagrams bamboozle me. Here in crochet land, diagrams are my friend. I love seeing exactly how the pattern should look on paper.

The pink and white square on the bottom left above was my first attempt. See, how I messed up the first couple of rounds? The square on the right was were it all came together.

After I made my first granny square, I got a bit over excited and made a sunburst circle (what does one do with these?), then a hexagon.

 
Then another square that didn't look quite as appalling as the first one. I'm quite proud of this one.

Then I went to John Lewis and eBay, went mad and bought a whole bunch of other yarns and Amazon for some pre-Christmas crochet books for moi. Heaven help my house, because it stands a good chance of being covered in as much crochet as knitting now. Still, we shall all be so very warm and snuggly.

And best of all, I have succeeded in my ambition to crochet. Now, where's my hook and that lovely new yarn?

Learning to crochet with YouTube

I've wanted to crochet for ages but I've never had anyone to teach me. I picked up Jan Eaton's Encoloypedia of Crochet Techniques, but I don't think it's really suitable for beginners (there's some lovely patterns though - I want to make the hexagon pillow and the bobble necklace the most). So, what's the next best thing to have someone right next to you to teach you? YouTube, of course!

I had already worked out the single chain stitch that is the root of all crochet work but couldn't work out the next steps. Then I found Beth Essington from Expert Village and her short video workshops are pretty easy to follow. She's American but I think the basic stitch terminology is the same (correct me if I'm wrong, please - edit: yes, I was wrong. UK terms added). Here's the basic videos:

~ Chain Stitch
~ Double stitch (UK treble)
~ Treble stitch (Uk double treble)

I've embedded the first one which shows how to make your first chain. Isn't Beth nice? I want to invite her over for tea and cake.

I'd post a picture of the sample I made using treble and double stitch but I'm not entirely sure you can tell the difference! I won't be harsh on myself though, it was my first go and I did have my two year old hurling himself at me for cuddles throughout.

I'm also considering signing myself up for a course when I find a one off workshop as I really can't commit to several weeks of classes (too many children, work and not enough me time. Ho hum.)