Morning All...sorry not got the right Buttons yet so Cashmere Cowl another day.

Must be very quick off to a CHRISTMAS FAYRE with Knit and Natter girls and I am late already.

So just sharing a picture of all the possible cushion samples to go with the new 

Craft room rug I bought a couple of weeks back

Moss stitch, a ripple and a shell stitch all simple patterns and quick to do.

THANKS FOR THE INTEREST IN YESTERDAYS POST

NOTE ON OILED YARNS:

No they don't feel oily or messy to use but they are sort of stiffer and no where near as soft as after washing.

Usually on cones and COLOURMART sell all over the world..Sue and Richard are very helpful and friendly so do ask if you want any more info.

I believe the oiled yarns are for machines use really, so they don't snag up when yarns are being made into large scale fast garment production.

Factory or home knitting machine use...makes the yarn easier to use with machines

Must dash catch up later and hopefully with buttons

have fun x

CASHMERE...HOW DO YOU WASH YOUR CASHMERE CROCHET?

I treated myself to some cones of 100% Cashmere from Colourmart on Monday, new chunky weight and very expensive, but I felt I deserved a treat.

I will be totally honest here Colourmart are oiled yarns and I crocheted the cowl before washing, I have string softer, but I had made and washed a granny square before I started the cowl and I know that washing is essential to make these beautiful yarns bloom

before washing granny square samples...

A granny square after hand washing 

see how fluffy and soft it looks now

My Ripple Cowl is in the washer now on a 30degree wash with ordinary washing liquid and it will go in the dryer after

pop back tomorrow to see the finished cowl with button fastening.

HAVE FUN X

COLOURMARTS WASHING ADVICE:

In general the advice for washing the oiled yarns is:

In general the advice for washing the oiled yarns is as below. Note we recommend washing the yarn AFTER knitting, so you will also need to try washing a swatch before knitting to see the effect on gauge..

• use as hot water as you can
• use something that removes oil, like detergent, not soap
• you may have to use the detergent more than once to get out all the oil
• rinse in water about the same temperature, and ideally use hair conditioner in the rinse
• either dry by rubbing with towels or on low heat in a tumble dryer with a towel or similar. The dryer will immediatly get you to fully bloomed and fully shrunk state, the towel rubbing will get you most of the way the first time

PLEASE DON'T WASH NORMAL CASHMERE THIS WAY, THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE FOR OILED CASHMERE ONLY

AFRICAN FLOWER CUSHION WIP TO GO WITH QUILT

Been trying to sort my pre 2012 blog out and add it to this one all gone ok except for a couple of posts that have popped up in October this year....and other than getting rid of them i can't seem to get them to go back to where they belong...oops but at least all the posts are back as one blog again

Sue x

Love this quilt so going to make a couple of cushion to go with it

Two threads and a size 5mm hook to make these African Flowers about half an inch bigger than the 

DK Acrylic with a size 4mm hook

I cant stop making these little gems...liking the 100% Merino wool colours best

looking forward to seeing what everyone has done with this pattern?

Hugs all have a Happy weekend My Friend Kathryn is coming on Saturday to see the new house! xx

New Bobble Hexagon Pattern

As promised yesterday the new hex picture

fast turning into one of my favourite Patterns......

For those that don't know me l'm for the UK but work in USA Terms.......they make more sense to me

SORRY THIS IS NO LONGER A FREE PATTERN.

 MADE A BATH MAT AND HEXAGON THROW.
 

BAKEWELL MAKE OVER UPDATE

Hall stairs and landing almost finished little bit of dado rail still to be sorted down stairs but the oak tops look great and it's given the hall stairs and landing a more minimal look..perfect

 Collage of the Chaos downstairs still

 drying out slowly but now all the cracks are getting bigger and the staining is getting darker!!!!!

 One good thing though we are negotiating with the Insurance company in having foor tiles and not 

laminate relaid it will cost us the extra but we will get the floor we would prefer

The new carpets will be the last thing to go down but they are the first thing ready and waiting 

Trying to decide on the tiles right now...large, square shiny or matt?

The one on the right is favoured so far as it can also be cut into skirting strips too with no further trim needed.....very continental hey?...not many UK tiles have skirting tiles so a tile that can be cut to make skirting is needed

Thanks for all the good wishes over the sogginess much appreciated, we were both feeling a bit down yesterday the driers make an awful noise, but Phil changed another of the doors upstairs yesterday and put a smile on our faces...we really, really love the new doors and they have changed the look of the rooms so much

Have a Super Sunday and hope the high winds forcast don't get ya

Hugs to all xx

Moss Stitch Diagonal Cushion...WIP

PATTERN HELP HERE

To go with the new craft room rug.

5mm hook and 2 DK strands worked as one.

I am using Moss Stitch but it can be made in any stitch, plain or striped,

just start with a base chain the length of the cushion diagonal.

MOSS ST. DIAGONAL CUSHION new sts numbers

When I did the pattern I forgot how moss stitch tightens up and has very little stretch, unlike dc used in the original  Diagonal Striped cushion

These sts numbers are for Moss Stitch only

Using a double strand of DK worked together and a 5mm hook

70 base chain, made a 13" diagonal cushion but will make an 18" straight cushion 

82 base chain, will make a 16" diagonal cushion

90 base chain will make an 18" diagonal cushion

98 base chain will make a 20" diagonal cushion

Have fun X

MENS SLIPPER PATTERN

MEN'S  SLIPPER PATTERN

(USA Terms)

Chunky or Very chunky yarn and 5mm hook

Basic pattern, you may need to alter lengths depending on the yarn used and foot size

PATTERN: make 2

Gents: size 10

chain 4, into a circle

Row 1: 14 dc into circle, sl st to complete round (14 sts)

Row 2: 2dc in each stitch, sl st to complete round (28 sts)

Row 3: 1dc in each stitch, sl st to complete round (28 sts)

Row 4 - 11: repeat round 3 (28sts) 

NOTE: adjust the number for individual foot

I did 16 rows in total for my son who takes a size 8.

BACK OF THE SLIPPER:

The back of the slipper is worked back and forth not in the round as are Rows 4-11

NOTE: Depending on yarn this could be less rows

Row 12-18  depending on foot size and yarn etc: 

1dc in the next 23 sts then turn and work back and forth until the correct amount of rows have been done to fit your foot snugly. Some yarns it is 6 back of slipper rows and some it is 7.

FRONT TAB:

An additional tab front into the 5 sts left off when doing the backs at the front plus two more stitches one each end of the tab.

 So do 2 rows of 7dc, start in the last stitch of the side/back and finish in the first sts of the side/back so that both ends of the tab overlap the side/back by one stitch

TO FINISH:

Sew or sc the back seam together.

Add a SC stitch in a contrast yarn around the opening edge and tab front

keeping it quite tight at the back but not so tight over the tab.

DECORATION if you want:

Make a circle decoration, and sew it to the Slipper front.

HELPFUL TIPS:

The number of rows in the total  length can depend on the yarn you use.

And to get the right fit with one yarn I did the last row in SC and not DC for some yarns

Don't make it too loose or they won't stay on your feet as they stretch a little in the first wearing.

But it is easy to adjust the number of rows to fit your foot and make them personal.

BOOM IN CRAFTS AND MAKE IT YOURSELF....

PLANET HANDMADE sent out an article worth a read, especially if you are selling crafts etc.

Handmade revolution takes to the High Street

Filed under retail by Bronagh on 18 Oct 2012

In the war to revive the High Street it seems that arts, crafts and jewellery are winning a few battles.

We recently came across a survey from business insurance specialist Simply Business looking at at independent shops and the make up of Britain’s shopping streets. The research, which looked at more than 30,000 businesses, reported a “boom in ‘make it yourself’ and vintage shops” and “more specialist outlets catering to increasingly discerning shoppers”...............

LINK TO MORE OF THIS INTERESTING ARTICLE HERE read more

Had to make a few storage tin covers for the book design to use but as always one thing led to another and they turned into slippers lol

LADIES SLIPPER PATTERN;

Mens pattern tomorrow and working on a children's version

LADIES SLIPPER PATTERN

(USA Terms)

Chunky or Very chunky yarn and 5mm hook

Basic pattern, you may need to alter lengths depending on the yarn used and foot size

PATTERN: make 2

Ladies: size4/5

chain 4, into a circle

Row 1: 12 dc into circle, sl st to complete round (12sts)

Row 2: 2dc in each stitch, sl st to complete round (24sts)

Row 3: 1dc in each stitch plus one extra at the end of the round, sl st to complete round (25sts)

Row 4: 1dc in each st, sl st to complete round (25sts) 

Row 5- 11: Repeat row 4 (25sts)

NOTE: adjust the number for your foot, high or low front

BACK OF THE SLIPPER:

The back of the slipper is worked back and forth not in the round as are Rows 1-11

NOTE: Depending on yarn this could be less rows

Row 12-16 depending on foot size and yarn etc: 

1dc in the next 20 sts then turn and work back and forth until the correct amount of rows have been done to fit your foot snugly. 

TO FINISH:

Sew or sc the back seam together.

Add a SC stitch in a contrast yarn around the opening edge,

keeping it quite tight as after one wearing they stretch a bit.

DECORATION:

Make a flower or circle decoration, and sew it to the Slipper front.

HELPFUL TIPS:

For me 16 rows was perfect in one yarn in another I only needed 14 rows in total it just depends on the yarn you use.

And to get the right fit with one yarn I did the last row in SC and not DC.

Don't make it too loose or they won't stay on your feet as they stretch a little in the first wearing.

But it is easy to adjust the number of rows to fit your foot and make them personal.

Started to make another pair with a lower front and longer back....

so play around with the number of rows for the front and the back.

MEN'S VERSION TOMORROW.

Hugs to all and Have fun

FELTING WOOL...

Asked about the felting wool I use....

and the plain colour one is.....

off to finish off the craft room clear up.....

before

how it looked at the end of yesterday...

but all the mess is still in the dining room, how I will fit it all in and keep it looking like this is going to be a real task for today

Have fun x