Wednesday 15 January 2020

Crochet For Valentine's Day - Free patterns by my favourite designers, including new designs for 2020...

Hello friends.  It's that time of year again, when we think of all those people close to us that we love and what better way to show how much we care, than by making them a crochet gift.  Here are some of my favourites.  Enjoy!




It wouldn't be Valentine's Day without hearts and these crochet ones are so quick and easy to make and there are so many ways you could use them.  This pattern is by Itchin' for some Stitchin'.

Crochet Hearts






Your little one will look so adorable in this chunky cabled hat, by Salty Pearl Crochet.

Chunky Cabled Heart Hat





How cute are these kitties with their heart pops?  I know someone would love to receive these for Valentine's Day.  Pattern by Thoresby Cottage.

Itty Bitty Crochet Kitty





I just love this granny square heart cushion by Cute and Cosy Crochet.  

Heart To Heart Pillow





Things can feel a little drab after Christmas, once all the decorations are down and the weather is still cold and dreary.  So brighten up your home with this wonderful heart garland by Annies Design Crochet.

Valentine's Day Garland





We have all seen so many calendars for advent, now you can make one for Valentine's Day too.  Pattern by Loops & Love Crochet.

Valentine's Day Countdown Calendar





Keep cosy in this velvet, heart headband.  You know how I love velvet yarn.  The pattern is by Through The Loop.

Velvet Head Wrap





Another cute cushion for you to crochet.  Pattern by Jen Hayes Creations.

Crochet Heart Pillow





While you are treating everyone you love, don't forget to make a little something for yourself.  This hotpad is so quick and simple to make and will add a little love to your kitchen.  The pattern is by Stitches & Scraps.

Crochet Heart Hotpad







Lastly we have this super cute baby beanie, with heart motif.  You might be fooled into thinking these are knitted, but no, they are Tunisian crochet and are just adorable.  The pattern is another one by Thoresby Cottage.

Sweetheart Tunisian Baby Hat







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That's it folks, I hope you found something you would like to make for a loved one.  Which is your favorite?  Let me know in the comments below...

Back soon
Catherine
x



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Sunday 12 January 2020

Velvet Scrunchies - Transform plain hair ties into these pretty, plush, scrunchies...

Hello friends.  This week I have a super quick and easy project to share with you.  Yes I know I have been going a little velvet crazy, but I just love Bernat's Velvet yarn.  This is the perfect project to use up all those scraps and with just a small amount, your hair ties are transformed into these gorgeously, squishy, Velvet Scrunchies.





Velvet Scrunchies


Materials

Bernat Velvet (small amounts)
Darning needle
Stitch marker
Hair ties


Hook

6mm (J)

Abbreviations US Terms (UK Conversion)

sc - single crochet (double crochet)
hdc - half double crochet (half treble crochet)
dc - double crochet (treble crochet)
ch - chain
st(s) - stitch(es)
pm - place marker


White Scrunchie


Round 1 Sc around the hair tie until you can’t fit any more sts.  Remember you will be stretching the tie so you need enough sts to allow for this.  When stretched the hair tie should still be completely covered.  Join with sl st.


Round 2 Ch 1, hdc in each st, join with sl st, fasten off and weave in ends.





Blue Scrunchie


Working in a spiral, chain 46 and join with sl st.

Round 1 Ch1, sc in each ch around, do not join, pm in 1st st.

Round 2 Sc in each st

Repeat round 2 until desired width, (I made mine with 8 rounds in total).


With right side facing, wrap crochet around hair tie and crochet together.  Sc in each st around working through bottom and top together.  Fasten off and weave in ends.





Pink Scrunchie


Round 1 Sc around hair tie until you can't fit any more sts.  Remember you will be stretching the tie so you need enough sts to allow for this, the more you can fit in the more ruffely your finished scrunchie will be.  Join with sl st.


Round 2 Ch2, 3dc in 1st st and in each st around, join with sl st, fasten off and weave in ends.


A pdf version of this pattern may be purchased in my Etsy Store...



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I hope you enjoyed this pattern and I will be back soon with more crochet to share with you, so make sure to subscribe so you don't miss any posts...

Take care!
Catherine
x

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Saturday 4 January 2020

Keep warm this winter, in a snuggly, crochet, scarf. Free patterns selected by Lullaby Loge...

The weather recently has been very cold and misty in the mornings and  I have been so glad to have had a nice cosy scarf on, to keep the frosty air out.  So I thought it would be a good time to do another crochet roundup.  We all need a nice snuggly scarf to keep us warm at this time of year and I have found some wonderful patterns to share with you.



My first choice is by Amanda at Loops And Love Crochet.  She uses Caron Cakes yarn to create this lovely colour block effect.  The two ends of the scarf are sewn together, turning one long strip into an infinity scarf.  This is a fantastic pattern for newbie crocheters, especially as the yarn does all the work for you.  

Criss Cross Stitch Infinity Scarf




This would be a great scarf to make for that man in your life.  I love the mustard and grey combination used here and the interesting texture.  You can find the pattern at Crochet Cloudberry.

Alpine Scarf




Head on over to Knitting With chopsticks, for this beauty.  Crocheted on the bias and designed extra wide, this wrap can be worn both as scarf and a shawl.  I love the wintry colours in this one.

Poudreuse Crochet Wrap




Edyth Blayn's velvet scarf looks so cuddly and squishy and also comes with matching ear warmers.  If you haven't tried velvet yarn yet, I really would recommend it.  It's a little tricky to work with but the end results speak for themselves.  

Velvety & Plush Earwarmer & Scarf




This next design uses the Jasmine stitch in chunky yarn, to create this super squishy, gorgeously cosy scarf.  The pattern is available at Fluffy Stitches.

Crochet Jasmine Scarf




My final selection is by Sincerely Pam and is crocheted in super chunky yarn, making this a quick and easy make.  The simplicity of the design is finished off perfectly with some pretty tassels.  I do love a tassel!

Ragged Falls Scarf




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Which scarf pattern would you most like to make?  Let me know in the comments below.  If you enjoyed this post and would like to see more like this, then be sure to subscribe.

See you all soon...
Catherine
x

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Wednesday 1 January 2020

Happy New Year 2020!



I hope this year will bring you, happiness, joy and of course lots more yarn...

Catherine
x


Don't forget our New Year Stashdown and 2020 Temperature Blanket cals both start today!

Join the Facebook group here...





Thursday 26 December 2019

Boxing Day Pie - Use up all those leftovers from Christmas lunch and make this delicious pie...



We like to go all out for Christmas lunch in our house.  We have the traditional English Christmas fare of, turkey, stuffing, pigs in blankets, roast potatoes and parsnips, sprouts and more.  So as I'm sure you can understand, there are a lot of leftovers, but, not wanting anything to go to waste we always have a delicious turkey pie on Boxing Day, to use them all up and I thought you might like to try it too...


Boxing Day Pie


Ingredients (serves 4-6)

2 leeks
Double cream
1 sheet of ready rolled pastry (short or puff is fine)
Stilton cheese (optional)
1 heaped tsp plain flour

Christmas Lunch Leftovers

Turkey, veg, stuffing, pigs in blankets, gravy

  • Wash and slice the leeks and gently fry them in a little oil.  We use olive oil, but you can use your favourite.
  • Cut your cold turkey into chunks and add to a pie dish
  • Do the same with leftover veg, stuffing and pigs in blankets (you really can use whatever leftovers you have)
  • Once the leeks are softened, stir in the flour and cook for a minute
  • Add the gravy about half a cup (you can use chicken stock if you don't have leftover gravy) and the cream about half a cup also.
  • Stir until thickened, add water until you get the right consistency.
  • If you like stilton cheese you can crumble some in to taste and stir until melted.
  • season with salt and pepper
  • Pour the sauce over the turkey leftovers and cover with pastry
  • Bake for 30-40 minutes at 180°C until pastry is golden and the filling is piping hot


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I hope that you will give this recipe a go.  What do you eat for Christmas in your house and what traditions do you keep?  Let me know in the comments below...

Enjoy!
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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