Thanks for a fabulous September workshop

Thanks to all who attended the September workshop, a fun filled and creative weekend.....and thanks for the return bookings

All my workshops until May 2020 are now full you're all amazing thanks x

5 patterns as usual for a workshop this Kaleidoscope was the favourite pattern i think...

 CIRCLE KALEIDOSCOPE WRAP/THROW 

King size throw with light join as you go surrounded by charcoal motifs

 Soon to be released as a single pattern on Ravelry.

 From this week my single patterns will be available on Ravelry adding them as quickly as i can..thanks for all the support.

 Other patterns made in the workshop

PATTERN LINK POST

PATTERN 1: BLOCK STITCH AND 'V' ST, SCARF PATTERN August 10th 2018

Due to a site copying my complete blog I will no longer be publishing patterns on my blog only links. The title is the link click to find the listed pattern

PATTERN 2: 8' CRESCENT MOON WRAP  August 8th 2018

Reference an expert...ERIC BROUG

Research said Eric Brough is the go too expert of Moroccan/Islamic Geometric Design. You Tube has been very useful but they go so quickly I thought a couple of good books would be useful. 

These 2 easy to use, great starter books arrived next day from Amazon. 

Having so much fun. Creating the geometric patterns from scratch is so very distracting from any pain i'm feeling in my hands. I was totally zoned out and lost in the world of geometry yesterday, it's so very relaxing to do. And colouring in is a great relaxer in the middle of the night when you cant sleep.

From what he says in his books i've jumped right in with a more difficult pattern first, instead of starting with a simple one. So back to basics with a repeated pattern next I think. 

Not worked with pencil crayons much for a long time so I'm love getting the perfect finish with coloured pencils and they says its supposed to be very relaxing, colouring. It seemed to work. I dropped right off to sleep again after and hour or so's colouring in the middle of the night.

 New tiny box of water colours to try next and a repeated design instead of just a single shape.

All the designs in Eric's books are listed with a date and where they can actually be seen, one day maybe i might get to see some of them in the place of origin.

BLOCK STITCH, INTERLOCKING BLOCK STITCH, ROWS SQUARE AND CIRCLE...All in one post

Block stitch is one of my favourite simple stitches easy to do with some fabulous effects just using colour. It can be dome in the round in a square, straight rows...in lots of colours or just a few. It can also be done as an interlocking stitch and stripes and squares can be created 

BLOCK STITCH AND INTERLOCKING BLOCK STITCH

This pattern is still as popular as the day i did the original way back in 2012, on this post i've pulled all the variations together in one post and its still a favourite stitch and some of the projects I have used the stitch...

BLOCK STITCH SQUARE:

worked like a granny square in the round with the sc/ch2 loops between each round 
Using a Rainbow yarn for the chain loops adds just the spot of lots of colours

Finger wrap of 5 wraps, 

ROW 1: ch2 counts as first dc, 2dc, into circle, ch3, 3dc, into circle repeat, 4 sides, sl st to complete [3dc each side]

ROW 2: Att rainbow yarn with a sc in corner sp, ch3, sc, in same corner, ch3 repeat in all 4 corners, sl st to complete [8 xch3 loops]

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you square is as big as you require.

 A great stitch for making a granny square big enough for a cushion too..

NOTE: Can be joined on either the ch loop rows or the granny shell rows

Block Stitch Baby Blanket 

 Interlocking Block stitch

for a Noro Cowl

PATTERN HERE 

for the block stitch section not the edging stitch 

Block Stitch in a Rainbow of Merino Colours for a throw from 2012

Block Stitch in the round circle stool covers

Block Stitch Square and Circular cushions for Stylecraft

WRAP CUSHION made form a large Block stitch square.

as a wrap cushion, just make a large square in block stitch and wrap around a cushion to join in the centre nachos  fabulous cushion

Interlocking Block Stitch Purse

interlocking Block stitch bag

in a limited colour palette 

Block Stitch wrap

Block Stitch throw in Merino 

when done as an interlocking stitch it can create checks and stripes

BLOCK STITCH BLANKET

  in colourful rows or you can do colour on just the sc rows and use a plain cream, grey or black as the body of the blanket giving just a hint of colour.

BASIC BLOCK STITCH BLANKET PATTERN

It can have lots of ends!..... so i use my favourite circle/ flower/square to start and finish each row, so no awkward ends to deal with with in the blanket itself.

CIRCLE DANGLE: avoiding ends

finger wrap of 10 wraps 

14sc, into the circle, sl st into first st, (14sts)
2sc, into each st (28sts)
ch10, 

Then start the pattern proper of.....
I have done a dangle on each end of the random dyed yarn and not on the black, but you can do a dangle on each end of each colour

Block stitch and Interlocking block stitch

UPDATED: US AND UK terms

it's an easy and quick stitch to do,

simply alternate rows of 3dc [3tr], into the chain stitch loops making the blocks and 
chain stitch loops to take the next row of 'dc [tr], blocks'

I like the effect and the speed of this stitch

UPDATED AND MORE DETAIL BLOCK STITCH HOW TOO 

for this block stitch pattern

 ch the length you require 
multiples of 3sts plus 2sts for a scarf or multiples of 3 and work the stitch in the round

For a scarf approximately 10 blocks wide 32ch sts

For a blanket you would need 200/300 hundred sts plus 2sts depending on the size you require

ROW 1: ch2 counts as first dc [tr], 1dc [1tr], in first st, 1dc [1tr], all ch sts.


NOTE 1: this row should have 4dc to start and finish and multiples of 3 dc as a stitch count
NOTE 2: Do a colour change before completing the last st. 



ROW 2:new colour attached, ch1, turn, sc [dc], in first st, ch2, count 3dc sts,  sc [dc], in next space between not st, ch2, count 3dc [3tr], sc [dc], in next space, repeat to end, finish with sc [dc], 
in the top of the last dc [tr].


NOTE 3: By making 2ch loops and not using 3ch sts, the blocks will be nicely compact and less open,  but if you want a more open and lacy effect then use ch3 loops


ROW 3: att, next colour, ch2 counts as first dc [tr], 3dc [3tr], into first ch loop, 3dc [3tr], in every ch loop to end, finish with 4dc [4tr], in last loop.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 for as many times as you require.

NOTE: EACH BLOCK ROW MUST START AND FINISH WITH 4 DC [4TR] for this pattern


TIP: 
COLOUR CHANGES ON A STRAIGHT PIECE
If you are changing colour every row then cut off and weave in ends on each row, but if you are working with just 2 colours one for the sc/ch sts and one for the blocks then do a colour change before completing the last st on each row when possible....it will help with the number of ends

INTERLOCKING BLOCK STITCH.....

I first saw this stitch as a clutch bag design in the 
Lets Get Crafting magazine.

I've since seen it in a Victorian print too...

instead of doing separate rows as in ordinary block stitch you just do the dc [tr], over the chain stitches of the row below and into the top of the dc [tr], of the previous row.
Encasing them in the dc [tr], it looks a little wavy when you first start out, but evens out as it grows and the checks aren't quite side by side but over all look like checks.

INTERLOCKING BLOCK ST PATTERN

US TERMS UK TERMS IN RED 

DK 4mm hook

Aran 5mm hook

Ch multiples of 6ch plus 3ch extra or work in the round and do multiples of 6ch sts. only

Change colour every row for this checked pattern after the base chain and first row,

worked on one side, not back and forth...so there will be a right and a wrong side

BASIC PATTERN

base chain in first colour 

ROW 1: cont. in same col. sc [dc], in every st, cut and weave in end

ROW 2: Att, new col. ch2 counts as first dc [tr], 1dc [tr], in next 2 sts, ch3 miss 3 sts, 1dc [1tr], in next 3sts, repeat to end, cut and weave in end.

ROW 3: att. new col. ch3, miss the first 3sts (top of the dc [tr]), 1dc [1tr], in next 3sts, of the base ch, (the 3 sts that are free), ch3 miss next 3 sts, 1dc [1tr], into the next 3 base ch sts...repeat to end of row.

ROW 4: Repeat row 3.

continue to repeat row 3 in a different colour to give a checked look, but if you work with two colours and change alternately you will get vertical stripes as picture below

two of my favourite stitches and a great way to use up all those small balls of left over yarns

My Block Stitch cushions and blanket Stylecraft pattern no. 8851 

Block Stitch in the round

Large square as lap blanket or wrap around a cushion