Making buttons

So I have been experimenting with this shell cowl pattern I saw on Persia Lou. The main bit is easy but the ending rib I am having trouble with. So I did one the right size, then a big one so I could see the stitches better. I chose a wool where I knew I would be able to see the stitches clearly. It's Patons Fab Big which is cheap but really soft. I got mine in John Lewis.



It was really easy to do! Now I just need to undo the rib on the smaller version and finish that one off. I have made all my buttons though which is good. The big ones are harder to get the edges perfect, but they're alright if you don't look too closely.

Shell Pattern

A while a go I saw this great cowl pattern on Persia Lou's blog made using shell stitch. There seem, to be a few variations so I thought I would try my hand at a few. Here is another one. I decided to use the Bessie May ball of wool I was given from the crochet course. Sam gave it to me as she thought it was hard to crochet with as the wool splits. This is true, the wool does unwind a bit, but it's lovely and soft and as long as you aren't doing it really tight like you often do when you are learning, it works a treat. My problem now is that I only have one ball! Time to buy some more on Etsy



The pattern is much easier than it looks. It is a basically just trebles and singles. The treble is just stretched. I thought it would take ages to get the hang of and I would just be making a practice square, but actually it just seems to be working.



And it's quick. That's just two short evenings work. I tried to order some of the same wool today so we'll see what happens. Then I am going to try and make some self-cover material buttons for it.

It's the wedding this weekend so it looks like I will have to say goodbye to the blue crochet hook. It's from the set I made. Sigh. I reckon I'll wrap it all up and if there is no chance to give it to her on the day then I just get to keep it!

Crochet Cowl

So I finished off my sample from the crochet course. It's a great pattern.



I think my chunky wool makes it look a bit of a mess so I might try again with some new wool. I am quite happy with mt first effort. I am giving it away as a christmas present because I am SO nice.



I reaaally want to keep it.

Crochet roll

This weekend I made another pencil roll, but this time instead of knitting needles, I made one for crochet hooks. I had bought some cheap linen from IKEA and some cheap florescent fabric from Berwick street.



I'd forgotten how enjoyable the pattern is. It's from Pink Chalk and it's really easy. I made mine a little shorter so the hooks fit nicely and I sewed my pocket in the wrong way so you can't see my nice fabric, but hey ho.



I tried to use some of the walking feet attachments but I kept moving them by accident. I don't think I am using them right.



It's suposed to be a wedding present but I reeeeallly want to keep it. It's not much of a joint present so it's probably best I keep it.

Crochet Injection

This Sunday I did a Make do and mend crochet course, the same people I learnt with. After learning the basic stitches in one class, and granny squares in another, I was having problems reading patterns so I did the general afternoon course in Limehouse. It was great to get reinspired and the venue was amazing.



We all sat round the table and chose a project we felt we needed guidance on. Some people were beginners doing Granny Squares whilst some people came with specific goals in mind.



Sam practiced doing a ripple cushion cover, whilst I tried to learn the art of reading patterns with this delicate edging. I wanted them to look like this



And there was homemade cake inbetween!



I learnt some great new stitches. I just need to try and remember them now! After my poor attempt at a delicate trim, I moved onto big wool.



But check out what was going on next door to me!

Crochet

Finally after a few wrong starts I've come up with my version of the square. I couldn't work out the pattern on the blog as I am not that great at following instructions. So that I can remember it and just in case you want to follow it, here's the pattern I am using. I've never written down a pattern before. I am probably not being very clear so I have inserted lots of pictures.

CH = Chain stitch
SS = Slip stitch
TR = Treble crochet (UK) in the US it should be a Double crochet.


Foundation ring: Yarn A, work 4ch and join with a SS to form the ring. (I always make my stitches very loose as it makes everything easier).


Round 1: 3CH (counts as 1TR) then 1TR into ring, then 1CH, repeat 1TR + 1CH 10 times (12TR total), join with SS into 3rd stitch of 3CH. Break off yarn. This should give you a circle with gaps between each treble.




Round 2: Join yarn B inbetween the first and last treble of previous round. (I always start with quite a loose slip knot so I can pull it tighter later when I tie the ends off and pull the knot to the back).


3CH inbetween two trebles in the gap the CH from the previous round has created (counts as 1TR)


Then 1TR into the same gap, then 1CH. Repeat doing 2TR + 1CH into every gap between the TR in the previous round created by the CH to create 12 groups of 2TR. Break off yarn.

"
You should see when you stretch it that you have gaps inbetween the TR groups.




Round 3: Join yarn C in the gap between TRs created by the CH of the previous round. I usually join between the last and the first TR.



3CH (counts as 1TR) then 2TR and 1CH, then 3TR + 1CH in the next CH gap pf the previous round. Repeat 10 times. (12TR total). Break off yarn.



Round 4: Join yarn C in the gap between TRs. I usually join between the last and the first TR space. 3CH (counts as 1TR), 2TR, 3CH, 3TR to make your corner, then 3TR + 1CH into the next CH space of the previous round, repeat 3TR + 1CH into the next CH space of the previous round, then in the next CH space make a corner with 3TR, 3CH, 3TR. Repeat to end until you have completed all four corners and tie off.

That's it! Does that make sense? Now I just have to learn this joining at you go thing.

In Transit

As Clairey suggested, I really need to do my cushion in all different colours but I seem to lack the correct wool. I always think I have loads but somehow I never have exactly what I need. So I paused on the blue whilst I think about going back to a wool shop and instead tried it out with the really thin cotton yarn I have for the amigurimi stuff I've done in the past. I also tried out Rachel's interpretation of the instructions which differ to mine.



I'm so indecisive that I'll probably end up doing both a bit more to see if I like one better than the other. The cotton yarn is definitely harder as it's so tiny and has less stretch so you have to have your stitches just right so they're not to tight or too baggy. I think the woolier wool allows you to hide a multitude of sins so maybe I'll finish that one first.

New Project

Even though I have not finished tying all the ends of my last crochet project, I just thought I would gather together some new wool for the next one as I happened to be passing both the new Loop shop in Islington and Liberties.



I also bought this grey wool because it was just so soft.



Here is close up of the start. I am not sure that it's right at all.



It doesn't seem very square but I am sure it will stretch. Now to decide if I do them all blue or in different colours.

Problem

My problem is that I see so many things I want to make and I never have time to make any of them, yet I become obsessed with them. Then I stop the three seconds I have spent on the previous project and move onto spending 3 seconds on the new one.

I have been tying up the loose ends of my original granny squares for my cushion which is now going to be a blanket. It's boring work and I haven't got very far since I started back at work. It's so sad to realise that you have about three hours a day of free time in which to cram in the rest of your life.

It did occur to me that I lose track of all these great things I am going to make, so I thought I might post them here so I can find them again when I need to. Obviously this means it's not my work, but I shall always try to credit people and include links. And it means my friends can see if they want to make them with me! It might all come in dribs and drabs and be a bit of a brain dump, but without further a do... I shall begin the new 'Inspiration' tagged posts.

I would like to make this cushion from the brilliant Yvestown blog.



It's so neat and tidy. I can't work out if that is down to technique, practice or wool (Cocktail by Markoma 50% cotton 50% acrylic - which only seems to be on sale in The Netherlands). I love the techniques of joining them together. It's not how we learnt it in class.

I can't decide what colours though. I love the blue, green, yellow and pink squares in this, but I also love this version on Dotty Angel's blog



This is original image that the course was advertised with and what really sold me on doing it! I love the subtle colours. Sometimes I think I am just too technicolour and I need to be more subtle and earthy.

I need to buy wool.
More wool.
I am running out of places to hide it though.

Colour Book

When I was at school, the printmaking teacher made us all create colour books which consisted of us sitting at home with a print stick or that glue that stunk of fish, sticking magazine clippings into our books. I went through an entire back catalogue of Country Living thinking it was a dumb assignment. I've still got my finished book now and I have to admit, it was a pretty good thing. There's no better colour combinations to be found than those you see around you in nature. I sometimes think I just take it in subliminally.

Time Off

So I went away on holiday and lay on a sunlounger for ten days. Since I got back I have had 4 days at home to sort odd jobs out and chill out before going back to work. I can't say I have been doing a lot of craft orientated things. Real life gets in the way too much. But I did do a few things which I have been meaning to do for ages.

1. I made a spiral. I printed it out and pricked holes in it so I could push chalk through the holes and draw my lines on. It really is the easiest way to transfer a quilting pattern to a surface, but you have to draw the lines in immediately because it brushes off in no time! It's now in the hoop and waiting for some TV nights in. I reckon I might start a new series of 24 and quilt my way through it!



2. I bought some cork tiles from the local DIY shop so I could dampen my crochet squares and pull them into the right shape. I used a few different thicknesses of wool so they are all slightly different sizes. I used an old sprayer we use for watering our seeds. It really works which surprised me as I didn't think it would make much difference, but the corners don't curl up anymore and they are all the same size! See the before and after below.





I am starting to think I might make them into a blanket and not a cushion cover. That poor cushion is never going to get a cover at this rate.

At the Market

I went to Spital Fields market on Friday for a mooch around the vinyl records and I saw these two stalls. One selling wool, which I had not seen before and one selling great crochet dolls. I thought they were great but the crafter in me wished she also sold kit patterns. There's a whole flickr roup dedicated to crochet rabbits. I want to make one like this



I also went passed this cafe and thought the flowers were really cool so I thought I'd show you. I can find Spital fields a bit depressing sometimes as I feel that also they have made it all swish and fancy, it has happened at the expense of all the fashion stalls and amazing jewelery makers that used to be there. With chain stores everywhere these days, I just thought it was a shame to fill it with more chain stores when there used to be unique little junk shops and the like on the fringes, but you know, I have to get over it.

Saturday Crochet

My effort


Rachel's effort

A lovely Saturday spent doing some crochet. Both of us suspect that our crochet could in fact be horrid, but we have to persevere. The most awful thing about spending time making things is to have to stare at them forever after thinking they are ugly. But sometimes you just can't tell until you get to the end.


B was too busy being a ninja to notice.


I am very jealous of Rachel's Amy Butler floor cushions.