Found some blue buttons and the Crochet Moss St. blanket grows a little...

The blanket is almost 18" now, I am trying to do a couple of inches a day as I would like to have it finished by the end of 2012

The matching cushion just needs the buttons, one of the sets I bought from Harrogate Show

 one of these I think....

almost finished the third blue cushion might have it complete by tomorrow morning.

have fun xx

SHOPPING AT HARROGATE KNIT AND STITCH SHOW...

Splodge woke me at 5.45....puuuurfect timing Splodge.

The sky was a glorious colour as we left the Abbey at 8am,

the journey went quickly and my blanket grew a few inches on the 3 hour journey...

Love the crochet Moss st. easy to do and a lovely firm fabric, but progress is slow, not a quick blanket to make.

KNITTING AND STITCHING SHOW..

....has always seemed more stitch than knit but I was very pleased to find this seems to be changing, lots of yarn suppliers and plenty to choose from. 

I needed to restock with cotton yarns and settled on pure random dyed cotton and bamboo/cotton in 20 colours, all 100grm balls

 I haven't been to this show for about 5 years and was surprised and pleased to see there seemed an equal share of knit to stitch this time, always seemed more stitch in the past.

Bought myself a few buttons too..so pretty and a £1 a pack half the price of many stalls for the same buttons

Buttons from an Irish company....Fiddlesticks Fabrics, just bout to add the buttons to their web site for now though just fabrics.

Cottons from bev@kniting4fun.com, aren't their stripy bags lovely? 

click the link for her story.

Bev's  Hubby served me and said the business had all started because there was wool every where in their house lol....tell me about it?

Lots of lovely pins about too, I picked a black and white one from Lang yarns £10

about 2.5/3 inches square, Lang Yarns are  German company but lots of UK stockists.

A Long and tiring day but I really, really enjoyed it all.

A cup of tea and a quick nap when I got home but I managed a few samples before turning the lights out for the night

A FEW MORE SPOTS.

A different pattern form the basic moss stitch spot wanted it to be  more rounded 'spot', from a distance it looks very spotty. lol

Have a great week everyone x

WHAT'S IN YOUR CROCHET BUCKET?

 Lot's of Moss stitch stripe samples

I'm totally addicted to this stitch lol
HOW TOO LINK

Enjoy your weekend

PHIL HAD AN ACCIDENT...

At work on Thursday night about 10.30

bit gruesome I'm afraid so don't open this post if you don't want to see the cut.

4 hours at the hospital in the middle of the night poor love, getting spoilt now

6 stitches

the gash...oouch!

he isn't in pain at all and I get him home for a week.

Knitting and Stitching show 

......for me tomorrow, hope the weather holds up, rain and high winds forecast 

I will be taking my trolly and the moss stitch blanket to work on while on the coach, a 3.5 hours journey there and back, so I should manage a few rows unless I fall asleep.

Going to be a long day pick up at 8 and return pick up at 5 so I should get back about 8.30 with all the walking around the show as well.

Hugs to all xx

CROCHET:Moss Stitch and Variations

PATTERN HOW TOO:
US Terms in black, UK Terms in red brackets

NOTES: Moss stitch has a tendency to tighten up a little so please i know no one likes doing a tension sample but with this stitch its a good idea...or just use a bigger hook size than you normally would,
 especially when adding moss stitch as a border to a throw.

Adding Moss st, as a border to a throw then you don't need the base chain and sc row.

Base chain as long as you need, an even number of stitches plus one if you are working it with a turn each end.
Working in the round then an even number of stitches only.

Base ch.
Row 1: sc [dc], in every st. turn
Row 2: ch1, sc [dc], in first st, ch1, miss a st, sc [dc], ch1, miss a st, sc [dc], in next st, ch1,miss a st, repeat to end of row.

Row 3: Turn ch1, sc [dc], in the chain space, ch 1, sc [dc], in the next ch sp repeat to end of row, finish with a sc.
Row 4 +: Cont. with rows 1 and 2 


To get the tweedy look use a different colour for each row

So many variations....how to do Moss Stitch here

SPOTS:
2ROWS IN ONE COLOUR 1 ROW IN SECOND COLOUR

 Tweed moss stitch:

every row a different colour

An easy stitch with lots of variations

 HAPPY HOOKING xx

BACK FROM LANZAROTE..missing the sunshine already

Phil, Alison and Dave, our first full day there

Our last meal before returning

The view from our room one morning...

all the rooms over look the pool and the beach

The reception overlooked the bar where all the evening entertainment went on a green oasis...

we were the other end of the hotel this time but the view was still great..

and I won't bore you with any more holiday snaps but we had another fantastic holiday with our best friends 

Dave and Alison...thanks for making the holiday great, we are now planning the next one,

 may be in March 2013...can't wait xx

HOLIDAY CROCHET

Only managed a little crochet while away

a second 4 square block on the soft and light weight what ever it turns into and the beginnings of another cushion in some wool I bought there, I was having withdrawal symptoms, missing my moss stitch blanket that I started before going away. So I just had to buy some yarn and start a moss stitch cushion.

not that happy with it but it got me over the moss stitch craving lol

Fabulous holiday but good to be back too, and I arrived home to a complete pdf copy of my book in full colour, I have done this morning...looking colourful and feeling real now...looking great.

Sorry I can't show you any of it but for those that have asked, GMC are hoping to have it published by MAY 2013, any update on that and I will let you know

next stage will be with the printers and the first proofs.

Catch you tomorrow with another little experiment 

Missing the sunshine already.

I bought a few lovely things including the wrap and the necklace I have on in the picture.

Hugs to all xx

LATEST MOSS STITCH PROJECTS...HALF A CUSHION AND 5" OF A DB THROW

Started the Double bed Throw last night and I have about 5" done this morning, would have been more but i spent an hour arguing with an online service.....ggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

The DB throw I am going to add a border and stitch flowers all over it when it is made, I am thinking a backdrop for a book signing next year?

 half way through this multi-coloured  cushion and

a blue/green/purple cushion WAS going to try and finish them all in about 25 days, but after my Lanzarote trip

so  that would be about two weeks before Christmas...

wow! a bit close, as I still have presents to make, I might not make that date...watch this space.

Last post for a few days and I will cya ll when I get back

off to get some Winter sunshine here..

HOTEL LANZAROTE EARLIER THIS YEAR

We all had such a wonderful holiday earlier this year at GRAND TEGUISE PLAYA we said we would try to get back for another holiday around now

with our best friends Dave and Alison

so here we come.

Have fun James and hope the family behave for you

be good boys and girl.

cya all soon xx

CROCHET: I Love Moss Stitch

One of my absolutely favourite stitches

PATTERN HOW TOO:
US Terms in black, UK Terms in brackets in red

NOTES: Moss stitch has a tendency to tighten up a little so please i know no one likes doing a tension sample but with this stitch its a good idea...or just use a bigger hook size than you normally would especially when adding moss stitch as a border to a throw.
Adding Moss st, as a border to a throw then you don't need the base chain and sc row.

Base chain as long as you need, an even number of stitches plus one if you are working it with a turn each end.
Working in the round then an even number of stitches only.

Base ch.
Row 1: sc [dc], in every st. turn
Row 2: ch2, sc [dc], in first st, ch1, miss a st, sc [dc], ch1, miss a st, sc [dc], in next st, ch1,miss a st, repeat to end of row.

Row 3: Turn ch2, sc [dc], in the chain space, ch 1, sc [dc], in the next ch sp repeat to end of row, finish with a sc.
Row 4 +: Cont. with rows 1 and 2 

PATTERN AND COLOUR
The tweed look: use a different colour for each row

Vertical Stripes:work with two colours and change colour alternate rows

this picture above is working a double moss stitch 2sc [2dc], and ch2 miss 2sts repeat...

Spots: 2 rows of back ground colour then the next in a colour to give the spots

If worked with a space dyed yarn for the spots, you get a 
very interesting spot effect as above.

Holiday
Good Luck James hope they all behave...cya when we get back 

Splodge and Brupbrup..brothers from the RSPCA,

 Mr T the first stray that arrived one day and decided he liked the service

 and Lettuce who thought it quieter to live with us.

Have a great week everyone

xx

JEWELLERY, CHECKS AND BALLS

A couple of old decorative projects 

The pattern for the crochet balls I found  HERE, from EAT DRINK CHIC

one of the easiest patterns for making small sc stuffed balls for jewellery and scarf trimmings.

I also used them to decorate a small Crochet Christmas tree I made back in 2009

Loo rolls used for the tree bases and stripes of sc.

Just getting into the Christmas spirit

Have fun x

ONE ROUND GRANNY SQUARES...variations

TINY ONE ROUND GRANNY

One of my favourite granny squares... time consuming though made with Fine Merino and a 3mm hook

With this tiny one I prefer the texture of the wrong side, 

2 STRAND ONE ROUND GRANNY

then I tried a 2 strand, fine merino and DK acrylic worked together and a 5mm hook...

using a larger centre hole this one also looks great from the back

CHUNKY 2 STRAND, ONE ROUND GRANNY

I prefer the right side ith this sample....DK Cashmerino and James c Brett DK Marble and a 6mm hook

how changing the hook and the yarn they can look very different.

Want a more formal granny block? Try using cross stitch patterns for inspiration 

link to one round granny square taken form a cross stitch pattern in 2011

SNOWFLAKE AND STAR PATTERN LINK as promised yesterday

have a great week everyone xx