Colman's

What a wonderful Easter break!  Unfortunately I was back at work last Thursday after 5 days off. . . . . . . tragic!  However, 5 days off and lots of crafting was done.

My lovely crochet cushion is now finished and I am so pleased with it!  It blends in wonderfully with the colour scheme in my lounge.

Pictured with Scruff

The cushion was made up using Half Treble Crochet stitch (UK), stitch blogged about here, a 4 mm crochet hook and the very robust Stylecraft Special DK yarn (this is needed in my house with 2 dogs!).  I'm not usually a fan of acrylic yarn, but the colours in this range are to die for AND this yarn is really quite nice to work with.  For further info see my Ravelry project page.

Karen

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.

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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 :)