Showing posts with label Blankets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blankets. Show all posts

Wednesday 22 January 2020

Crochet Along With Me... January

Hello everyone, well hasn't this month been a busy one.  We have started not one but two CAL's, and another one is on the way.  I will post more details about the next CAL in a later post.  I have also been trying to finish up last year's temperature blanket and been taking part in other CAL's and KAL's over at Ravelry, and not only that but also working on new pattern designs.  I have something coming up very soon for Valentine's too...



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Crochet Along With Me... (January edition)


So January started off with a bang and with a new temperature blanket pattern. I must say, I am really enjoying crocheting these teeny, tiny, squares each day.  So far I am managing to stay on track, let's hope it stays that way.

First few squares



Mostly the weather has been very mild here.  Only over the last few days has the temperature dropped a little and I have the addition of some blue rounds to my squares.



Slowly getting bigger.  What I have loved the most is seeing everyone's progress in the Facebook group.  So many different colour pallets and styles of blankets, can't wait to see them all develope.




We also had the start of the Gorgeous Grannies Crochet Along, which can you believe it is almost over.  Only a few days left to go.  It has been so much fun making these granny squares every day.


The pile is getting bigger.  I will be posting joining and border ideas and the finished blanket next month.



I have also joined a dishcloth knit along and crochet along group on Ravelry.  They have new patterns each week to either knit or crochet and the group is very friendly.  If you like to make dishcloths or want to learn new stitch patterns then this is a great way to do it.

Here are my cloths for the first two weeks



This week's pattern is a Mystery Kal, with a new part of the pattern released each day.  Here's mine after clue one...



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I have linked all the patterns and groups up top to make it easy for you to find everything, should you wish to join in.  I do hope you will.  Make sure you are subscribed, we have a new cal starting very soon and you won't want you to miss it.

See you soon...
Catherine
x


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Sunday 22 December 2019

The Hot & Cold Blanket - Join me in 2020 for a temperature blanket crochet along...

So you want to make a temperature blanket?  Well you have come to the right place.  We will be starting a new crochet along in 2020, with a brand new blanket design.  If you took part in this years crochet along, then you will be well on your way to completing your blanket.  If you didn't then you can read all about it here...  So what's new this year?  New colours, new design and a different approach to choosing temperatures, I give you, The Hot & Cold Blanket.




For those of you that have never made a temperature blanket before, the concept is simple.  You allow the daily temperature, to dictate what colour you will add to your blanket on that day.  There are many different styles and patterns to choose from.  Our pattern for 2019 was a stripy blanket, in Linen stitch using 20 different colours.  This year I will be using only 10 colours, with 1 extra colour for joining.



Hot And Cold Blanket


Abbreviations

US Terms (UK conversion)
dc - double crochet (treble crochet)
sl st - slip stitch
ch - chain
sp - space


Materials

DK yarn in chosen colours
4mm (G) hook
Darning needle

I am using Scheepjes Softfun Denim in colours 500, 517, 516, 518, 520, 507, 504, 503, 505, 514 and Scheepjes Softfun 2510 for joining.  Don't you just hate it when yarn companies don't bother to name their colours?  This particular yarn is delicious though so I'll forgive Scheepjes just this once.  It's a mix of cotton and acrylic and is very soft.  I love the slight variation in colour throughout the yarn and am really looking forward to hooking this up.


This chart shows my chosen colours and allocated temperatures for 2020.  Depending on where you live, you might want to adjust the temperature range and colours.





Each day you will check your local weather station for both your highest and lowest temperatures of the day.  We are going to be making 3 round granny squares.  The first round will be your coolest temperature of the day, the second your highest and the third round will be your joining colour.  I recommend the join as you go method for this blanket.


Granny Square

Ch4 and join with sl st to form ring

Round 1 Ch3, 2dc into ring, ch2, [ 3dc into the ring, ch2] 3 times, join with  sl st to top  ch3 and fasten off if you are using a new colour for next round. 




Round 2  Join new colour in any corner sp (or sl st to corner sp if working with same colour), ch3, 2dc into same sp, ch2, 3dc into same sp (corner formed), [ 3dc into next sp, ch2, 3dc into same sp] 3 times, join with sl st to top ch3 and fasten off.  


Round 3  First square only, with joining colour, join in any corner sp, ch3, 2dc in same sp, ch2, 3dc in same sp, [3dc in next sp, 3dc in next sp, ch2, 3dc in same sp] 3 times, 3dc in next sp, join with sl st to the top ch3 and fasten off.  


Round 3 Subsequent squares, complete using the join as you go method...



Join squares diagonally from corner to corner using the formula below.  Day 7 will be next to day 4 and so on...



The finished blanket will be 19 x 19 squares, making a total of 361.  We will use the last 5 day's colours to add to the border.


I will post updates as we go, along with a border pattern.  Why not join the CAL group.


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I can't wait to get started and I do hope you will join me.

Happy hooking!
Catherine
x





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Ravelry Pattern Page


I have been asked for an equivalent colour substitution for Stylecraft Special DK and while the colours are not an exact match this is the closest I could get...



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Monday 16 December 2019

Belated Temperature Blanket Update - The end of summer...

So I'm a little late with this one, OK a lot late, but better late than never right?  I have been very busy catching up with my temperature blanket over the last few days.  I have set myself a minimum of 10 rows a day in order to catch up and have now reached the end of summer, so thought I would share my progress with you.


If you would like to make a temperature blanket, you can find the

I love the summer colours, especially now that the weather is cooler, it's a reminder of those warmer days spent in the sunshine...



A little look at all the colours together so far...



We are definitely on the home stretch now and I can't wait to see it finished.  


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I am even more excited to be starting a new temperature blanket and crochet along next year.  I will be posting the new pattern at the weekend, so make sure you are subscribed and don't miss it.

See you all soon...
Catherine
x


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Monday 28 October 2019

The Beginners Blanket - Just learned to crochet and ready to make your first blanket? This is the pattern for you...

Everyone loves a granny square and if you know me, you know, they are my favourite things to crochet.   I just love granny square blankets.  Whether they are lots of squares joined together, or one giant granny square.   Crochet squares are also great for beginners too and if you have learned the basic stitches and would like to make your first blanket, then this is the one for you.  This granny square blanket was one of the first patterns that I wrote and was previously only available to buy in my Etsy store.  I hope you enjoy this free version.



The Beginners Blanket


Materials

1 ball each Stylecraft Special DK in colours, Cream, Mocha, Duck Egg, Soft Peach, Pale Rose & Parchment

Hook


Size

Approx 70 x 70 cm

Abbreviations / (UK conversion)

US terms used throughout 
sc - single crochet (double crochet)
dc - double crochet (treble crochet)
sl st - slip stitch
ch - chain
st - stitch
sp - space

Other notes: US terminology is used throughout.  The beginners blanket is worked in rounds.  Finish every round by joining with a slip stitch to the top of chain 3 from beginning of round.  You will start each round with a new colour (unless otherwise stated), working in the following colour sequence Cream - Mocha - Duck Egg - Soft Peach - Pale Rose – Parchment.  Work is turned over after each round.  This ensures no twisting of the corners as the blanket gets larger, it also gives a lovely texture.   This pattern is designed for babies but the blanket can be easily adapted to make any size.

 Ch4 and join with sl st to form ring

Round 1 (right side) ch3, 2dc into ring, ch2, [ 3dc into ring, ch2] 3 times, join.  Turn.


Round 2 join new colour in any corner sp, ch3, 2dc into same sp, ch2, 3dc into same sp (corner formed), [ 3dc into next sp, ch2, 3dc into same sp] x3, join.  Turn.


Round 3 join new colour in any corner sp, chain 3, 2dc in same sp, ch2, 3dc in same sp, [3dc in next sp, 3dc in next sp, ch2, 3dc in same sp] x 3, 3dc in next sp, join.  Turn.


Rounds 4-30 continue working 3dc in each sp and [3dc, ch2, 3dc] in each corner.


Rounds 31-36 continue as before using cream only.


Shell Edging 


Round 1 sl st in corner sp, ch3, 8dc in same sp, *[sc in next sp, 7dc in next sp] repeat until next corner ending with sc**.  In corner 9 dc.* Repeat from *to* twice and from *to** once, join.  Weave in ends



Optional – divide ribbon into 4 equal pieces and thread in between the stitches along the side of blanket and tie with a bow in each corner.



If you would like to help support my work, you can purchase an ad free pdf version of this pattern in my Etsy Store.  


The pdf version also contains a second colourway and alternate border...


You can make this blanket bigger, just simply keep adding more rounds until you reach your desired size.  The Shell Edging must be made on an odd numbered round.  You can also easily substitute yarn too, just use the hook size recommended on the ball band.  Giant granny square blankets look fabulous crocheted in chunky yarn and make a great quick and easy project.


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If you liked this pattern please be sure to subscribe.   I post every week with tutorials, reviews free patterns and more...

Enjoy!

Catherine
x


The Beginners' Blanket PDF Etsy Store


The Beginners' Blanket PDF Love Crafts Store


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Friday 19 July 2019

Meet Dumpling, a rescue cat story... & Free crochet blanket pattern



Meet Dumpling, she lives with Little T's dad and Little T absolutely adores her.  She was a rescue cat from Battersea Cats and Dogs home and not very much was known about her life before she was taken in.  She was found as a stray and taken care of by Battersea.  Little T's dad had previously had another cat "Marmite" who had died in a tragic accident and felt it was time to get another.  So we all went together to the cats home and it was decided that Dumpling would be the one to come home with us.


At first she was afraid to go outside and was very wary of us, but she soon settled in and over time has started to go outside.  She doesn't stray far though, always staying close by.  She likes to play with Little T, he always insists on buying her toys every time we go to the pet shop and he likes to give her "Dreamies" for treats.  When she first came home she had a lovely hand knitted blanket that someone had made and donated to the shelter, it's good for cats to have something familiar when they first go to their new home.


Cat and dog shelters are always on the lookout for hand knitted or crocheted blankets, so I thought it would be a nice idea to make some blankets myself to donate.  My local shelter prefers knitted blankets as kittens can sometimes get their paws stuck in the holes that crochet blankets often have.  So I thought I would design a blanket, with no holes for little kitties to get their tiny paws stuck.  This pattern is great for using up your stash and can be made with any yarn.  I had some giant 400g balls of "cheap" Aran yarn, that had been lying forgotten in a tub somewhere.  I bought it on a whim because it was a "bargain" and never used it because it wasn't very soft.  I'm sure you all have some of "that" yarn in your stash.  So go on dig it out and make a rescue cat or dog happy...

For more rescue cat and dog blanket ideas check out this post here...


Cat Blanket No.1


Materials

Aran / Worsted from your stash

Hook

6mm (J)

Size

Approx. 85 x 85cm (33 x 33 inches)

Ability

Intermediate

Abbreviations US Terms (UK Conversion)

ldc – linked double crochet (linked treble crochet)
dc –double crochet (treble crochet)
sc – single crochet (double crochet)
ch - chain
st(s) – stitch(es)
sl st – slip stitch
yo – yarn over


Special Stitches



Linkeddouble crochet: Insert hook into horizontal bar of previous st, yo and pull through loop, insert hook into next st, yo and pull up a loop, yo pull through 2 loops, yo pull through remaining 2 loops.


Other notes:  This pattern is designed with kittens in mind.  Linked double crochet creates a dense fabric, with no holes for little kitties to get their tiny paws stuck.  I used Aran / worsted yarn for mine with a 6mm (J) hook; but could just as easily be made with any gauge yarn.  Just use a hook size recommended on your yarn ball band.  Use as many colours as you like and change colours at will.  When changing colour, pull new colour through last st of row.


Blanket


Make a ch as long as you would like the width of your blanket to be (I chained 100 for mine).

Row 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, ldc in each ch across.  Turn.  (98ldc)

Row 2 ch2 (does not count as st), dc in 1st st, ldc in each st across.  Turn.  (98ldc)

Repeat row 2 until you have completed 54 rows (or blanket is required length).  Fasten off.


Border


Round 1 Join with sl st to any st along top of blanket, ch1, sc in same st, sc in every st across top and bottom of blanket, 3sc in each corner, along sides sc evenly across (how many sc you work along the sides will depend on your tension.  I found for every 6 rows I needed 10sc.  If your sides start to pull in you don’t have enough sts and if your sides start to go wavy, you have too many).  Join with sl st to starting sc.

Round 2 ch1 sc in same st, sc in every sc, 3sc in every corner st, join with sl st to starting sc.  Fasten off and weave in ends.

If you would like a wider border you may repeat round 2 until you reach desired width.


You can purchase an add free pdf version of this pattern in my Etsy Store...

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I hope you enjoyed the pattern and if you would like to see more posts like this please follow (in the sidebar) and subscribe.  Do you make blankets for rescue cats or dogs?  I would love to hear about it, let me know in the comments below or head on over to my Facebook Group and share your photos.


Happy hooking!
Catherine
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