Quite an eventful SUMMER....

A new version of my Carousel. 

Same part one, with a new tapestry stitch part 2, part 3 is the same pentagons, a new part 4 and part 5 edging stitch something a little different. 

An amazing new baby Grandson born the beginning of August has turned my life upside down. 

I was not expecting the emotional turmoil of becoming a Grandma for the first time. Oliver is now a month old and already trying to hold up his head doing mini push ups and looking around at the new world he has entered...growing so fast.

 Proud new Grandma Sue and gorgeous Oliver already around 10lbs in weight and growing so, so fast.

His beautiful and proud Mommy couldn't be a better dil, a gold star of a young lady.

My son has found his calling..the best Daddy in the world, hard to get a look in when he's around lol.

 Love them all to bits xx

A fabulous holiday in The Isle of Wight, never been before but we fell in Love with the place 

 well!  where else would you crochet on holiday but on a fabulous beach? 

 The Bedford Hotel, very central, wonderful owners and staff, fabulous breakfasts and we've booked again for next year before we left

CROCHET WORKSHOP SHREWSBURY

New workshop in 2 weeks...unexpectedly there are 2 places available contact me on Facebook if you are interested in 2 weeks time 13,14,15th September 

great goody bag all patterns and yarns and meals provided

LINK TO CONTACT for Sue Pinner and workshop info. join and ask for details

Sue Pinner Granny Squares GROUP

4th Adult Hex Jacket

Loving these cosy Hex Cardies especially the granny shell version.

The plain colour solid granny i started is a bit boring to make, love the yarn but struggling to keep working on it for long periods so i've started the 4th version in  

James C Brett Marble dk, in the white/grey colour way

SLIMMER SLEEVE 

US Terms

For this version i'm doing a different stitch reduction for the sleeve section.

The usual basic pattern is 3dc [granny shell], ch1, for all 6 sides 

I am using 3dc, ch1 for 5 sides and 3dc, ch3, 3dc in corners, 

but for the sleeve section, I'm using 2dc, in each space and no chain with the corners of 3dc ch3, 2dc, the 2dc is on the sleeve section, 

this reduces the width of the sleeve section when folded into the 'L' shape for half the cardy. These stitches are mostly under the arm so its hardly noticeable that its a smaller stitch 

I'm also using a double sided version for this one, by turning every row so it will be reversible too.

Approx. 20 rows, join on the sleeve top seam, adding the back section before joining the 2 identical pieces together.

finishing with a few border rows and sleeve edging stitch of hdc.

BEFORE FOLDING INTO AN 'L' SHAPE

FOLDED INTO AN 'L' SHAPE 

100g is doing almost 14 rows. 

First version i tried with a slimmer sleeve

link to first post about Adult Hex Jacket/cardy

with links to the original designer 

Elizabeth Zimmermann

Adult Crochet Hexagon Jacket

I've made 2 adult version of the Hexagon Jacket this last week and have started a 3rd but in a plain cotton mix yarn.

 This pattern has been around since the 60's and was originally a Knitted childs jacket. 

Many have made their version in crochet since then but the link below is to the original pattern link from Elizabeth Zimmermann

Its called a

Baby Surprise Jacket and was first published in 1968 by Elizabeth Zimmermann

added to Ravelry in April 2007

I made my Adult version in Robin Paintbox [red/coral] and Hayfield Bonus Breeze yarn [blue/green]

Both are quite a thick dk and to give the floppy feel to the cardy, i've used a 5mm and 6 mm hook and used an extended stitch, this stitch uses slightly less yarn and I've finished the edges with hdc.

Both cardies are made with different combinations of panels and have had the stitches reduced on the sleeve section to create a narrower sleeve, not keen on the very wide sleeve you get by making just 2 basic hexagons.

There is also an additional narrow back panel to give a neck shape. 

Its a very adaptable pattern that can be made to fit everyone from a baby to a large adult..a n awesome pattern to be able to do that.

i've made both mine quite wide, with one longer than the other by using lengthening rows 

the sleeve is made narrower by reducing the stitch count on the section that becomes the sleeve.

REDUCTION TO SLEEVE

No chain stitches between granny shells, and remove one granny shell every odd number row after the first 5 rows, on the sleeve section only other wise the basic granny shell and chain one between for all other sides.

Made with an approximate 18-20 round Hexagon 

ALL ABOUT ELIZABETH ZIMMERMANN

EDWARD'S MENAGERIE...Brilliant books from Kerry Lord

I'm going to be a first time Grandma soon [so excited] and wanted to make some crochet animals for Raspberry 

[when i was told at Christmas it was the size of a Raspberry so my nickname for baby]

I didn't want to spend time designing so went for one of the best crochet animal books around. 

Kerry Lord's TOFT animal books are brilliant.....

Easy to follow you do need lots of stitch makers and to read the pattern first!

I've made 2 Simon Sheep, Bridget the Elephant and Georgina the Hippo in the last 4 days

Cant stop now i've started and each one gets better and better.

Using Aran weight yarns that i have to practise with anything smaller hurts my arthritic fingers a bit but Aran weight gives a lovely size animal 

Simon Sheep mark 2, i didn't read the pattern and in the early hours of the morning accidentally swapped the head for the body so needed to make some adjustments to the head.

Mark 2 all tied up so i can do the loopy woolly coat as instructed but for me,

 it was easier to do this before i stuffed it and joined all the bits together.

Georgina the Hippo...i love 4th animal i made.

Bridget the Elephant was the 3rd animal she's got a twist in her trunk but i actually like that...cute

Loving the book and would highly recommend it to anyone

They look so different depending on where you put the eyes and ears 

 the first sheep i made and a few mistakes but I love him x

thanks to Kerry Lord and TOFT, for some great books

Splash the colour Light Shade

Just a Little Splash of colour...it all started with a natural Linen yarn too!

one more round and its into the PVA Glue bath with both the Linen and the brights Light shade, with the sun shining it might be dry by Monday