Thursday 31 December 2009

2009 WAS A FLOWERY PAPER AND WOOLY HYPERBOLIC YEAR

Just doing a bit of pondering on 2009 where l was, where l am and where l'm going!!!

Some Colourways for the Star and puff Granny square
Collages from what l have already...the most difficult bit trying to decide what colours l eventually use and how to combine them...back to the patchwork daysfor some inspiration

HAPPY NEW YEAR AROUND THE WORLD

Already new year in the Christmas Islands......Hope its a good 2010 for the world

CREATIVE BALLS....

.......of old sheets stripped into a fabric yarn and made into one of the puffs..perfect for a rug just need to sort out and rip up all the old fitted sheets

took me about half an hour last night to make two balls of yarn from the sides of an old fitted pink sheet

New bed just before Christmas and the old sheets won't fit the new bed so....
1 throw them out?
2 send to the charity shop?
3 be creative with a new rug?
still have the centre piece to shred

one on the left is fabric and 10 mm hook
the one on the right is 5 strands of DK Merino with a 10mm hook....loathed to use so much Pure Merino for a rug!!
2 small ones are same puff 2 strands and a 4.5mm hook
and
one strand and a 2.5mm hook
Just love these puffs....totally addictive but not done my poor old clicky thumb any good...it is bad this morning and it now hurts too...help!
2 More books arrived yesterday...only had a quick look but a teeny weeny bit disappointed
but will give them another chance and they might surprise me!

Wednesday 30 December 2009

3D EXOTICS



Little piles of hooky stuff


Going to brave the shops today....cat food a must in this house!!!.......Mr T gets very grouchy when he doesn't get his favourites...spoiled or what?

Tuesday 29 December 2009

FORMAL, ORGANIC AND FREEFORM

Been looking at the bags and boxes of try outs and experiments..soooo many little pieces
and thoughts turned to what to l do with them all?
something formal and balanced or more organic?
tried the puffs together in several sizes (all the same pattern but using 3.5 to 10mm hook and one to 5 strands of DK) and a smaller colour range....all the pinks reds and oranges

like the formal can see it as a small throw but feel more for the organic one.....now how to join them together bit of scumbling here l think!

Decided to join together all the small sample pieces into one bigger throw.....so they get used and not left and forgotten...can't believe how many l have since June when all this
hooky stuff began again!!

Oh and 2 of the books arrived....now l need to find reading time aswell!! lol

I LOVE BOOKS...DON'T YOU?

ooops l've been on Amazon!....Throws and Wraps was a Christmas pressie from OH
but the other 5 were about half price on Amazon and already been dispatched....soooooo excited l adore new books

Decided not to take a chance with Noo Noo because of the Snow forecast so not going camping now and was so foggy and frosty yesterday we didn't go shopping either

Not that we want a lot just some emulsifying cream and a snowflake cookie cutter l ordered from Lakeland also want a heart one too....may try again today and venture to Shrewsbury

Sunday 27 December 2009

HEARTS AND ROSES


Snowflake patern in picture here
NEW HEART PATTERN
Base round:
Magic loop chain 2 then 7sc in same st

Round 2
chain 3 and turn round and work back the other way
2trb in 1st stitch
2trb in next st
1trb in next stitch
bottom st the point of the heart....1 trb 1chain 1 trb
1trb in next st
2trb in next st
2trb in next stitch
3 chain
sl st in centre

Round 3
sl st in centre
sc in the 3 chain 4dc in
2dc in next st
2sc in next st
1sc in next 4 st
point 1dc 2 chain 1dc
1sc in next 4 st
2sc in next st
2dc in next st
4dc in the chain 3 then 1sc
sl st in centre



Like the contrast of frilly and solid of these roses with a snowflake behind...
maybe try the snowflake in greens with Kathryn's roses!!

CONFUSION NOTES:hehehe
l don't know about anyone else but l get so confused with the UK and the USA terminology for the crochet stitches l mean l understand the stitches but not always sure what a particular pattern is written in so....
Adding these links to help with the stitches l've used for this heart ......

Double crochet .....click to info link
Treble crochet ......click to info link

HEARTS AND ROSES

CROCHET, CAMPING AND COLD!!

Puffs from my new book
I had problems with the instructions but worked it out in the end lol

Love this little puff design have made it up with a variety of stitches from DC to TREBLE TREBLE...the original is trtr
The underside l always used the same stitch though and they are very quickly and easily stitched to make the squishy puff
Nor sure what to do with them yet but having fun making them





























































NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS:
Well one of them is to start projects early so other than a couple of Birthdays l think VALENTINES DAY will be the next celebrations

Did start to make lots of hearts....
some thin card machined into garlands and some distressed wooden ones with the new band saw we bought a few months ago for craft projects but l want to make some crochet ones aswell

IS THIS BEING ORGANISED? lol
Not sure how long this will last though

CHRISTMAS COLLAGES: Said it all all for me this year the 'KEEP CALM....OH WHO ARE YOU KIDDING!'

Need to make a new to do list....
the fireplace must be the 1st thing on the list still needs the final coat of paint to finish it off

Need to find a good method of storing all the paper garlands l've made too!
Or another few hours of work will be lost again this year

HELP! l can see the to-do list growing already!!
AND
Believe it or not OH has booked us a nights camping in Noo Noo with the JUST KAMPERS group this week!!.....MAD or what?
Woolly knickers weather...
We have to take a Secret Santa Pressie and going for a Christmas meal at the local pub...thaw out most probably!!!



Friday 25 December 2009

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL

View from our bed this Christmas Morning
ooooh!! Santas been
Thanks for a gorgeous card Phil..love you too
Great book..thanks Phil a fav
already been trying a pattern from one of my Chritmas Presents..love the book and thanks for the Buck's Fizz and pate on toast for breakfast too! yummy

A fabulous pair of gloves too thanks Kathryn
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE....
No snow for us
still in bed playing with a new crochet book watching TV eating chocolate coins and drinking Buck's Fizz......
a no hassle Christmas day.....totally chilled....a perfect day!

Thursday 24 December 2009

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL....

Love this from HAPPY LOVES ROSIE

HOPE ALL THE CRAFTERS AND BLOG WRITTERS OF THE WORLD HAVE A FABULOUS CHRISTMAS



ouch!!....CLICKY THUMB
l've gone and gotten a thumb injury from too much crochet hehehe.....

A Clicky Thumb.......Doc says l've strained the tendon that makes my thumb work so the end of my thumb won't straighten without this clicky thing going on hehe.....

aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh no more crochet for a while see if it heals over the Christmas hols
knitting at the ready maybe the answer for now?

'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
A Soldiers version...bit of a tear jerker
A Soldiers Poem...

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
THEY LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF
PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT,"

Written by a US Soldier but appropriate for ALL soldiers of the world
LINK HERE to the original and the message

Wednesday 23 December 2009

MANDALA OVAL CAL COMPLETE PATTERN





Sage, Marble and olive dk, the marble was something else at some point  and the sage and olive are part balls of left overs. 

PROJECT NOTES
As this is a left over yarn project, I started with 3 shades of green and a a ball of Lime green Marble dk that had been something else but i had un traveled it to re use...it ran out and i hadn't really used that much of the plain yarns so are think was in order. 

The DK Marble had a tiny amount of purple in the spin every now and then so i picked a plain purple yarn and i found a space dyed pink through brown sorry I have no idea what it is but those are the 2 yarns i have added to the mix so far


PATTERN so far...more to come
US Terms
4mm hook
dk marble in Lime green
Pink through brown space dyed yarn sorry cant name it.
4 X plain col dk, Dark Sage, Olive, Lime and purple

Finger wrap of 8 wraps
ROUND 1:[Ch2 counts as first dc], 2dc, ch3, 2dc, ch3, 2dc, ch3, 2dc, ch3, sl st, to complete. [8dc]

ROUND 2:[ch3 counts as first tr], tr, ch2, tr, ch2, tr, ch2, tr, ch2, in first ch3 sp, tr in next sp, repeat for all sides, sl st to complete [20tr]

NOTES: use stitch markers to mark 2 points, ch2 counts as first dc, ch3 counts as first tr, through out the pattern 
TO MAKE A CLUSTER: HALF MAKE 3TR, HOLD ON HOOK DRAW LAST YO THROUGH ALL STITCHES ON HOOK


ROUND 3: CLUSTERS, in points, 3tr cluster, ch2, 3tr cluster, ch2, 3tr, cluster, with ch2 between, in 4 side sp, repeat for each side, sl st to complete. 
[12 x tr3 clusters each side]

ROUND 4: 3dc, ch3, 3dc, in first point, 3dc in next 11sp, repeat for second side, sl st to complete. [13granny shells each side]

ROUND 5: tr, ch2, 2tr, ch2, tr, in point, tr, ch2, tr, in next 12 side sp, repeat for second side, sl st to complete. [14 'v' sts, each side]

ROUND 6: tr, ch3, tr in sp between 2tr, at point, tr, ch2, tr, in next 14 ch2 sp,
tr, ch3, tr in second sp between 2tr second point, repeat tr, ch3, tr, in each ch2 sp, to end, sl st, to complete. [30 'v' sts in round]
Picture up to round 7

ROUND 7: PLAIN YARN olive. 4dc, ch1, 4dc in first point, 4dc in next 14sp, repeat for second side, sl st to complete. [32 granny shells of 4dc, in round]

ROUND 8: PLAIN YARN lime. sc, in sp, between granny shells, ch4, sc in next sp, repeat to end, sl st to complete. [32 ch4 loops in round]

ROUND 9: PLAIN YARN dark green. 5tr, in each ch4, loop, to end, sl st to complete. 
[32 granny shells of 5tr]

ROUND 10: PLAIN YARN lime. LOOPS. sc, in sp, between granny shells, ch5, sc, in next sp, repeat to end, sl st to complete. [32 x ch5 loops in round]

ROUND 11: PETAL LOOPS. 2dc, ch4, 2dc, ch1 in each ch5 loop, sl st to complete.
 [64 pairs of dc, 32 ch4 points]

ROUND 12: FIRST ROUND OF RELIEF PETALS. sc in ch1 sp, 8dc in first ch5, loop, sc in ch1 sp, 8dc in every loop to end, sl st tot complete.[32 relief petals]
picture up to round 12 first round of petals in relief


ROUND 13: LOOPS. [Single crochet back post], scbp, around sc, of round below, ch5, scbp, around next sc, ch5 repeat to end, sl st to complete. [32 loops]

ROUND 14: PETAL LOOPS. 2dc, ch4 2dc in each ch5 loop, sl st to complete.
 [64 pairs of dc, 32 ch4 loops]

ROUND 15: SECOND ROUND OF RELEIF PETALS. sc in sp between pairs of dc, 9dc into ch4 loops, repeat to end, sl st to complete. [32 relief petals]
NOTES: the second round of petals had a PURPLE edging added later, sc in each of the 9 sts, missing a st, at the dip between every petal, sl st, to complete.


ROUND 16: LOOPS. [Single crochet back post], scbp, around sc, of round below, ch6, scbp, around next sc, ch6 repeat to end, sl st to complete. [32 loops]

ROUND 17: GRANNY SHELLS+ 3dc, ch1 3dc, ch1, in each ch6 loop, sl st to complete. [64 granny shells, 64 ch sp,]
In this picture you can see the back post, loops ready to take the first granny shell round 17


ROUND 18, 19: GRANNY SHELLS, 3dc in each sp, sl st, to complete 
[64 granny shells]

ROUND 20, 21: GRANNY SHELLS +, 3dc, ch1, in each sp, sl st, to complete.
[64 granny shells, 64 ch sp,]

NOTES: Please be aware each round LOOKS BUT IS DIFFERENT, as this is oval and in the round each round needs to be a little bigger every round so that it lies flat and does curl so there are small difference as it grows

ROUND 22: SAGE GREEN 'V' STITCHES, of tr, ch3 tr, in each sp, sly t, to complete. 



ROUND 23: SHELLS, Att, yarn in 'v' st, [ch3 sp], at the 'v' st to the right hand side of the point, with a sc, 3tr, ch3, 3tr, into next ch3 sp, repeat, sc in next sp, 3tr, ch3, 3tr, in next sp to end, sl st, to complete. 



ROUND 24: SAGE GREEN 'V' STITCHES, Att. yarn at the top of a shell in the 
ch3 point of shell, with a sc, ch2, tr, ch3, tr into the sc, at dip, ch2, sc in ch3 point, ch2, tr, ch3, tr in next dip ch2, sc in ch3 point, repeat to end sl st, to complete.

ROUND 25: SHELLS, Att, yarn in point, [sc, of round before], with a sc, 4tr, ch3, 4tr, in ch3 sp, sc in sc at point of row before, repeat to end, sl st, to complete.

ROUND 26: SAGE 'V' STITCHES, sc, at point of shell in ch3 sp, ch2, tr, ch4, tr, into sc at the dip, ch2, sc into point, repeat, to end, 

ROW 27: PINK SPACE DYED YARN, SHELLS, Att, yarn with sc at point, ch1, 4tr, ch3, 4tr, into ch4 sp, ch1, sc into point, ch1, 4tr, ch3, 4tr, into sc, at dip, ch1, sc in point, repeat to end, sl st to complete.


NOTES: Running out of the Lime Marble I picked purple a colour already in the Lime Marble yarn in small quantities, and a pink space dyed yarn to continue. 
By adding the tiny amount of purples to the first row of relief petals it will link the mandala centre to the remaining rounds of the Mandala.
 the second round of in relief, petals had a PURPLE edging added later, sc in each of the 9 sts, missing a st, at the dip between every petal, sl st, to complete.

STAGE 2:
This will add approx. 10" approx.


ROUND 28: att. yarn in any ch3, point, sc, ch3, sc, ch5, sc ch3 in ch3 point, sc in next 4sts, sc in next sp, ch3, miss next st, sc in next sp, sc in next 4 sts, repeat for all points, sl st to complete.



ROUND 29: Att. yarn in any ch5, loop, sc, ch3, dc into ch3, loop, ch3, 2dtr, 
[dtr: yo 3 times pull through 4 times], ch3, dc into ch3 loop, repeat, sl st to complete.




ROUND 30: Att. yarn in any ch3 sp, 3dc, in every ch3, sp, 
ROUND 31:3dc in every sp, sl st, to complete.
ROUND 32-36: Repeat round 31

NOTE: Starting at the space at a point, add a stitch marker to every 8th space, you are now going to add a small 2 round triangle to each marked point.



ROW 37, 38: Att, purple in the sp, to the right of any marker, 4tr, ch3, 4tr, into marked sp,  sc into next sp, ch3, sc, into next sp, turn, 3tr, into the first sp, ch1,     4tr, ch3, 4tr, into point, ch1, 4tr, into last sp, sc , into next sp, cut and weave in ends. Repeat for each marker [16 triangles]

ROW 39: Att, pink, in sp, to the right of any small triangle, tr, ch1, tr, ch1, tr, into first sp, ch1, tr, ch1, tr, ch1, tr, ch1, tr, into middle sp, ch1, tr, ch1, tr, ch1 tr, ch3, tr, ch1, tr, ch1, tr, into point, ch1, tr, ch1 tr, ch1 tr, ch1, tr, into middle sp, ch1, tr, ch1, tr, ch1, tr, sc into next sp, cut and weave in ends
Repeat for all triangles. [10tr each side]

NOTE: The next round goes all the way around the mandala.

ROUND 40: Att, green at any triangle point, 2dc, ch3, 2dc, in point, tr in next 9 ch1, sp, 3tr in last sp, sc into sp, between triangle, 3tr, in first sp, tr, in next 9 ch1, sp, repeat to end, sl st to complete. [16 triangle ripple]


GRANNY SQUARE INFILL
Make 16 granny squares, on the 4th round join as you go into the dips of the mandala.


purple Finger wrap of 5 wraps
ROUND 1: cont. in purple, 4tr, ch3, repeat for 4 sides, sl st, to complete.
[4tr, each side ch3 corners]

ROUND 2: cont. in purple, 4tr, ch3, 4tr, in each ch3 corner sp, ch1 at sides, sl st to complete.
[8tr, each side, ch3 corners, ch1 side]

ROUND 3: pink, 3tr, ch1 between, ch3, [point],  3tr, ch1 between, ch1, 4tr, ch1 between in next sp, repeat for all 4 sides, sl st to complete. 
[10tr, ch1 between each side]

ROUND 4: green, JOIN AS YOU GO ROUND, use a sl st between each dc to join to the body of the mandala.
3dc, ch3, 3dc in the point, dc in next 9sp, repeat for all 4 sides, joining to the body after each st, sl st to complete. [15dc each side]






FINAL STAGE 3: RIPPLE BORBER




Start at the point of a granny square, with a dark pink shade for me.
ROUND 1: 2dc, ch3, 2dc, 2dc, in next 14 sp, miss the join at the dip, 2dc in next 14 sp, repeat to end, sl st to complete. 
[15 x pairs of dc, each up and down]

ROUND 2: In a gren shade, repeat round 1 of border.
[15 pairs of dc, each up and down]

NOTES: At this point mine was a little frilly, someone need of a tighter stitch.
2 Round Block stitch is a perfect tightening stitch.......alternate rows of sc, ch1, sc, ch1, and blocks of 2dc, into the ch1 sp. A great border stitch as it doesn't curl, giving a firm edging.

ROUND 3: Starting at a point, using a dark pink shade, sc, ch3, sc in any point, ch1, sc in next sp, repeat to the dip, sc in last sp, miss bottom dip, no ch at dip, sc in first sp going up to point, ch1, sc, ch1 sc, repeat to next point, sc, ch3, sc, at point , repeat to end. Sl st to complete. [15sc and 15ch st, each side]

ROUND 4: Start at any point, in a Green shade, 2dc, ch3, 2dc, in ch3 point, 2dc in next 14, ch1 sp, mis dip sp, 2dc, in next 14 sp, repeat, sl st to complete. 
[15 pairs of dc,each up and down]

ROUND 5: Repeat round 3. in shades of pink and purple.
ROUND 6: Repeat round 4. In shades of green, marble yarn changes from light to dark.

Continue to repeat rounds 3 and 4, until it is the size you want.

Block stitch will give a firm non curl border to your ripple.

ENJOY