Stitch of the Week

Back to basics.  Here is my favourite stitch this week. A very simple crochet stitch which is ideal for beginners.  It produces a very beautifully textured and dense fabric. I'm currently knitting a cushion using this very stitch and it's perfect.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

Half Treble Crochet (htr)

In the US this is known as Half Double Crochet (hdc)



- Yarn round hook (yrh)

- Insert hook into chain, yarn round hook (yrh)

- Draw it through loop (three loops are now on hook)

- Yarn round hook (yrh)

- Draw through all three loops (one loop now on hook)

Video tutorial here.

Finished Project: Granny Square Cushion

All finished.  I'm rather proud of this as it is my first crochet project.  I've attempted to crochet for many years, just could not get the hang of it but now BINGO!  I'm hooked!

 

Meet my Jack Russell 'Terrors', Scruff and Buddy, who are both rather partial to curling up on my new granny square cushion.  They love it as much as me!  (Cushion is pictured in the background being pieced together).

 

 

For the cushion I used a very easy (perfect for beginners!) granny square from Purl Soho.  I used Cygnet Superwash Merino DK (100% wool) purchased from Modern Knitting in Gold, Kingfisher and White.

 

More crochet to come soon (and of course knitting) and time to be a bit more adventurous........... 

 

Karen  





Work(s) in Progress

Currently on the needles and also, now that I've started crocheting, on the hook as well. I can't seem to knit one project at at time, life would be so much easier if I did.

Firstly, this sock project I started way back in August 2010. I designed this pattern using a stitch pattern I found in one of the Harmony stitch dictionaries. It's knitted up using Wollmeise yarn, in the Saffran colourway - it's working out well, this yarn is great for showing stitch definition. Poorly neglected project I'm afraid, I've got second sock syndrome with this one. Need to get back in the groove.

Next up this little Fair isle baby vest.  I'll blog about the pattern and yarn I'm using when it's all finished.

Once I get stuck into this it should knit up in no time, I've just got side-tracked by my recent discovery of crochet and my penchant towards cushions - I want to fill my house full of colourful cushions!  I've finished my Granny Squares Cushion (more about this later) and I've now begun cushion number 2.

This one is to match the colour scheme in my lounge, which is predominantly cream and taupe but I like to add splashes of colour and brighten it up with cushions and throws. Currently these 'splashes' of colour are in a limey green, coral and mustard.  The cushion I'm knitting is mainly mustard with a few thin stripes of white, green and coral.  I think it will blend in quite well.  I'll blog about this in more detail when I finish it.  Some of the soft furnishings pictured I'm afraid are not my own doings, but rather purchases from Next.  Very lazy of me, I know.

Thank you to everyone who purchased yarn in yesterday's update. There may be one ball of self-striping left, but don't forget if you want a change my variegated yarn is nice and colourful too.  And don't forget the stitch markers if you want to treat yourself and they make a great little gift.  More will be added over Easter.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.  Still a little bit of snow here, but it's slowly disappearing.....

View from my spare bedroom window.

Karen :)

Red, aqua and white



A new colourway in today's update.  This one is called Vintage Rose and I just love this colour combination at the moment.

I've been doing a lot of web surfing recently and these colours are inspired by various blogs and websites I've visited recently.  Namely the Cath Kidston website, I'm loving the blue, white and red together in many of the products.



Cath Kidston - Provence Rose Milk Jug              

Cath Kidston - Daisy Rose Check Stanley Mug               

 

and this wonderful jug from Sophie Allport.

Sophie Allport - Strawberries & Cream - Jug

and I've even got stitch markers to go with the theme! ;)

 

Enjoy your weekend.

Karen ~



Snow in Spring

I've been off work today.  Time really flies when you're at home, it's so easy to fill a day, instead of being stuck behind a desk in front of a computer screen.  I've been dyeing yarn and catching up with custom orders, so there will be a little less for me to do this weekend! 

My new 5-stripe colourways, Squawk in particular, is proving to be very popular - I must admit Squawk is one of my favourites too - I'm a sucker for bright colours.  There should be another two in the shop in a few weeks time. 


Squawk - inspired by tropical parrot colours.

I've also wound up about 4 balls of wool in readiness for this weekend's update.  Rainbow 7-stripes and a new one called Vintage Rose (more about this one and my inspiration behind it soon).  Sooooo time-consuming dyeing stripes, but I'm sure anyone who knows about hand-dyed/self-striping yarn knows how difficult the process is!

I've been battling with Photoshop as well today, trying to get my head around it and working my way through several on-line tutorials.  I think it's starting to click into place, I'm determined to have a lovely shiney new banner for my blog before too long. 

I've also been sitting in my little workshop doing a bit of crocheting and trying to finish off my cushion.  There's about another 9-12 squares left to crochet until it's big enough to fit the large cushion pad.  I'm getting impatient, I doubt it will be finished this week.

I finally thought Spring had sprung recently, but what strange weather today........almost blizzard conditions with the howling wind and snow falling and the next minute bursts of beautiful sunshine. It's been like that all day.  I've been beavering away in my workshop watching it swirling and twirling outside with one of my Jack Russells curled up next to me, so lovely being all cosy indoors.

Mother's Day on Sunday, well I was spoilt!  I received the most beautiful orchid as well as choccies and Jo Malone perfume from my daughters.  Wonderful.

There are one or two balls of yarn left from Saturday's update, as well as my stitch-markers.  Grab them while you can ;)



Carnival (variegated), Retro, Chocolate Lime and Stitch Markers


 

Karen ~

Frosty Morning

Here are some photographs of my run at 7 am yesterday morning before work.  It was cold, frosty and sunny, perfect running weather!  I love beautiful mornings like this, so pretty.  I'm very fortunate to live right next to a footpath which takes me across some lovely countryside.  The photos are a bit rubbish, but I think you get the idea.

Another busy weekend been and gone.  I have finished my granny squares cushion, which I now need to sew together.  I expect there will be more of these to come, I really enjoyed making these little squares, I could switch off and crochet while watching television.  (I actually watched the old BBC series of Pride and Prejudice, with Colin Firth, marvellous!)  This was my first venture into crochet.  I've been a knitter for years, but after seeing the beautiful crochet cushions and blankets on Pinterest I decided to teach myself.  I now know the basics, but I'm very much looking forward to learning more!

My stitch markers are now in the shop.  I really enjoy making these, I love working with beads.  I've made these with sock and lace knitters in mind; they are very dainty and will fit a needle size of up to 4mm (US 6).  There are just a few pictured below, the rest are in the shop.  How about treating yourself on Saturday when the yarn update goes in! ;)

 

 

I'll 'try' and get a yarn update blogged before Saturday's update!

 

Karen ~

Return

Oh my goodness, it's been such a long time since I last posted.....I really can't believe how long it is!  Well here I am.  I'm still working very hard dyeing yarn for my Etsy shop and still loving every minute of it.  I'm never happier than when I'm crafting, dyeing, drawing, whatever.

I've recently introduced some 5 stripe colourways to my shop.  Here are a few of them........  


Cosmopolitan

Squawk

Electron

Find the River

  ......as well as this rainbow colourway below, aptly named Rainbow!  I'm so pleased with this colourway.  I so LOVE these bright colours and couldn't wait to see it knitted up.

I'm adding some of my handmade stitch markers to the shop soon, these are really pretty, Sterling Silver and made from beautiful little semi-precious stones. These dainty little markers are made for sock and lace knitters and will fit needle size up to 3.50 mm (US 4).  This month has also seen the re-emergence of some of my variegated yarn and this will now be added regularly to the shop.

Apart from my semi-solid yarn, I've now pinned most of my colourways on Pinterest here for stripes and here for variegated.  This website is so addictive!

While I've been absent from blogging I've taught myself to crochet, and I've become extremely addicted to knitting granny squares! I just adore all the different textures and colour combinations.  More of all that to come soon.

Life is good at the moment!  And Spring is on it's way, who could ask for more!

Karen ~