Friday 29 June 2018

Pattern Testing - Gingham and Daisies Baby Blanket

Hello everyone, I have a new pattern ready for testing.  It is a cute baby blanket featuring a lovely gingham pattern dotted with daisies.  What new baby wouldn't look gorgeous wrapped up in this?  


If you would be interested in helping to test this blanket you can sign up here on my Facebook page or head on over to The Testing Pool on Ravelry.  All testers will receive a free pattern chosen from my store as compensation.  You don't need to be an experienced tester as long as you have some crochet experience I can help you with anything else you need to know...

Look forward to hearing from you
Catherine
x

This pattern can be found in my Etsy Store...

Tuesday 26 June 2018

Lullaby Lodge Kitchen Garden - June

With this gorgeous weather we have been having recently, things seem to be finally taking off at the allotment.  What with the really cold winter and late start to spring and also the pesky birds and slugs, we haven't had much growing this year so far.  We have had a few strawberries but everything else has been playing catch up...  Even though we have not had any great harvest, it is lovely just to sit in the kitchen garden and enjoy the sunshine.  Living in a small flat really makes me appreciate the space we have at our allotment.

Last year (our first year of growing) was a constant battle with the weeds.  One which I cannot say we won...  So this year we are trying things a little differently and keeping the majority of the ground covered in black plastic.  We have a lot of perennial weeds to tend with including bindweed and nettles.  Also the previous tenant was growing horseradish which has spread over most of the plot.  It puts out really deep tap roots and is impossible to dig up.  I am hoping a year or 2 of the black plastic will eradicate the worst part of our weedy problems.

So lets take a little look at what is growing on our plot right now...

Planted through the black plastic we have a number of yellow zucchini (courgettes) and come patty pans.  Aren't the zucchini flowers so lovely and cheerful.


This plant is just about ready for it's first harvest.


The bush beans are flowering and just starting to make their tiny baby beans.


In the mini green house we have tomatoes, aubergines (eggplant), chillies and bell peppers.  


We inherited a number of bramble bushes which didn't fruit last year as they had been cut right back to the ground.  So we have been waiting excitedly for a whole year to see what they would be.  This one I believe is some kind of raspberry and blackberry cross perhaps a Loganberry or Tayberry?  If anyone knows please do let me know in the comments below...


The pretty blackberry flowers are rapidly turning to berries and I can't wait to start harvesting.  I can see lots of jam making in the future.


Looking forward to our first real harvest and sharing more pictures from our kitchen garden soon.

Ta ta for now
Catherine
x



Sunday 24 June 2018

Cute Bobble Edging - Crochet Tutorial

If you are looking for an edging that is both perfectly pretty and super simple, then this is the one for you.  It's great for those blankets that you want something a little less girly around the edge.  This is one of my favourite go to borders and is so, so simple, making it perfect for beginners.



Abbreviations
US Terms

dc - double crochet
sc - single crochet
sl st - slip stitch

This border requires an even number of stitches around your blanket.  If you have an odd number, simple increase or decrease 1 stitch on the first round.  Or if you are like me just fudge it (it's only 1 stitch).

Attach your yarn anywhere on you blanket with a sc


Work sc's into every stitch along each side and 3 sc into each corner stitch


continue in this way around your blanket and join with a sl st to the first sc


Now turn your blanket over and work from the wrong side, dc in the first stitch and...



sl st in the next stitch


Repeat these 2 stitches around your blanket and join with a sl st to starting stitch.

This is how it looks from the front


The effect reminds me of icing piped around a cake, so cute!


I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and don't forget to share your photo on the Facebook group page.

Take care
Catherine
x

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Tuesday 12 June 2018

Pattern Testing - Knitted One Ball Shawl

Hello lovely people!  This is just a quick post to share with you a new pattern that I have been working on.  It is designed for beginner knitters and uses the popular yarn cakes which come in a variety of gorgeous colours.  The shawl is knitted in garter stitch making is very easy for newbie knitters.  It features an asymmetric shape with cute sewn in tassels and a shawlette style.  A larger shawl may be maid simply by using 2 balls instead of 1.  The shawl can be worn in many different ways, around the shoulders or as a cowl.  Caron Cakes is recommended for this project, however any similar yarn may be substituted...



The pattern is currently undergoing testing over on my Facebook page and if you are interested, I have space for a couple more testers.  Testing is very easy, you simply follow the pattern and report back with your views on ease of understanding, clarity etc and check for any mistakes.  As compensation for all your hard work you will be gifted a finished copy of the pattern or alternatively you may choose any other pattern from my store...

If you would like to take part head on over to Facebook and leave a comment on the shawl thread.

Ta ta for now
Catherine
x

Sunday 3 June 2018

How to add a simple shell border to a granny square baby blanket - Crochet Tutorial

A pretty shell border is the perfect way to finish off a crochet project.  You can use it to edge a blanket, a hat or even the cuff of a sleeve...

Simple Shell Edging


Abbreviations
US Terms

dc - double crochet
sc - single crochet
sl st - slip stitch
ch - chain
sp - space

Adding your border to a granny square...

Starting on any odd numbered round, join your yarn with a sc, 3 spaces to the right of any corner,


then work 7 dc into the next sp...


...and sc in the next sp.


Now working into the corner sp.  Into this and every corner make 9 dc...


...and then a sc into the next sp.

Continue in this fashion around your granny square


until you get back to the beginning.  Join with a sl st to you starting sc.

A row of simple shells makes a great edging for a baby blanket...


...and I'm sure you can thing of many other uses for this pretty stitch.
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.

See you soon
Catherine
x

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Saturday 12 May 2018

The Granny Flower Square - Crochet Tutorial

The Granny Flower Square is probably the most simple flower motif out there and can be used to make almost anything your imagination can think of.  Of course my most favourite thing to make has always been blankets and I have made many in the past using this motif.




The Granny Flower Square





This pattern now has a video tutorial (new for 2021)...






Abbreviations

dc - double crochet
tr - treble crochet
sl st - slip stitch
 ch - chain
 sp - space


Instructions in parenthesis [  ] are repeated the required number of times.  Join new colours with a sl st.  Start each round with a ch 3 or chain less dc unless otherwise stated.  US terms are used throughout.


Foundation Ch 4 and join with a sl st to form a ring

Round 1 work 12 dc into the ring.



Round 2 work 2 dc into each space between the stitches from the previous round.



Round 3 work 3 dc into the spaces between each pair of stitches from the previous round.



Round 4 starting in any sp ch 4, 2 tr, ch 2, 3 tr in the same sp (corner made), [3 dc in next sp] x2, *3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr in the next sp, [3 dc in the next sp] x2* work from *to* 2 more times and join with a sl st to beginning ch 3.



In no time at all you could have a whole pile of gorgeous granny flower squares...



 ...and you could make a blanket like this...


The story behind this blanket can be found here in this post and the full pattern is available in both my Ravelry and Etsy stores.  A free version is also now available here...

I would love to see some photos of your granny flowers, please feel free to share some pics on my Facebook page.

See you soon
Catherine
x



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Sunday 22 April 2018

The Granny Stripe - Crochet Tutorial

Who doesn't love a granny stripe?  The granny stripe blanket is in my opinion, the most quintessential crochet blanket of them all...  They have been around for decades and the basic pattern is so easy to master.  You only need to know a few basic stitches and in no time at all, you can create a gorgeous, squishy, stripy, colourful blanket, perfect for snuggles on the sofa.




The Granny Stripe


US terms are used throughout.

Abbreviations
 sc Single crochet  
dc Double crochet 
 sl st Slip stitch  
ch Chain  
sp Space  
 sk skip 


Notes:  You can use any yarn weight you like with this stitch, just use the hook size recommended on your yarn ball band.

Foundation Chain   a multiple of 3 + 1 (keep chaining until you reach the required width of your blanket).


Row 1 dc in the 4th chain from hook, *sk 2 chains, 3 dc in the next chain* repeat from * to * until the last 3 chains, sk 2 chains and 2 dc in the last chain. Turn. We will now be working in the spaces between each group of stitches 


Row 2 chain 3, 3 dc in the next sp (in between the first 2 dc and the next 3 dc) and in each sp along the row.  End with 1 dc in the last stitch (top of chain 3 from previous row).  Turn. 


Row 3 chain 3, dc in the first sp, 3 dc in the next space and every space along finishing with 2 dc in the last sp.  Turn 


Rows 2 and 3 form the pattern, continue in this way changing colours when ever you like...





...until your blanket is the desired length.  Fasten off and weave in ends. 

You could end up with something like this...


The full detailed pattern for this blanket is available in both my Etsy and Ravelry stores.




The granny stripe is one of my favourite go to patterns for blankets.  The easy repetition makes it perfect TV crochet and you have so many options when it comes to colour.  The pattern will also work with any gauge yarn, just use the recommended hook from the yarn ball band.

Here are a few I have made in the past...





I will be back with more patterns to share with you soon.
Take care
Catherine
x


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