She Loves To Crochet

Christmas Robin Stocking

2018-12-22T18:10:00.000+00:00

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there

from Twas The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore, my favourite poem at this time of year.

I made this stocking for my Mum, who loves robins, last Christmas Eve but it was too late to show you by the time I finished it that evening, just in time for her to hang it up.

I adapted the Red Heart pattern I wrote about when I made a little photo tutorial as this yarn was slightly finer. I used a white acrylic yarn with a glitter thread running through it to emulate crisp, glittery, frozen snow. I just love it when snow is like that and not the wet slushy stuff we get so often. Isn't it lovely going out in pristine snow and hearing your footsteps crunching through it as you go along?

There was always only ever going to be a robin to decorate this stocking, nothing else would do but it had to be a flat motif I could applique. I didn't have a pattern for the robin so made it up as I went along. I added a small black button for an eye, three of Lucy from Attic 24's holly leaves and two little red buttons as berries. It was all stitched on to the stocking and voila, a robin and holly stocking of which I am rather proud.

Mum loves her stocking, hanging from a candy cane stocking holder on her mantel.

I haven't blogged this year as I haven't been able to crochet much, I hope this changes soon as I have several unfinished projects waiting for me and I'm itching to get back to it. Thank you for popping in to check out my blog and your patience during my extended break.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Til next time,
Hx

Christmas Stocking Decorations

2017-12-11T11:58:00.000+00:00

Hi there,

Where does the time go, I always seem to be playing catch up at this time of year as it seems no time since I was writing about my autumn projects (more about them later). As storm Caroline passed over last week bringing freezing temperatures and just a tiny snowfall here afterwards I took some time out to to enjoy a lazy afternoon with a glass of mulled apple juice, a small crochet hook and some Christmas cards.

Yes, it's that time of year again when I like to write my cards and slip a little crocheted gift in some of them and this year it's all about stockings. I dug out all my fine crochet cotton threads and piled them on the table to choose what colours would make the most Christmassy stocking decorations.

Red and green were a given and I couldn't resist the rich purple and royal blue cottons too with just one all white stocking.

The white one makes me think of vintage crochet decorations though the pattern I used is a modern one by Caitlin Sanio. Although I prefer bright Christmas and rich jewel colours I know just the right person for a vintage style decoration like the white stocking.

These tiny stockings are made from the top down and are worked mostly in double and triple crochet (single and double crochet in American terms). I used a 2mm hook and a mix of size 8 and size 10 threads so the stockings are not all the same size.

Starting with the white lacy top then changing colour to work the body of the stocking.

Then simple shaping to form the foot and finish at the heel.

I like these little stockings, I wasn't sure about them when I made the first one but they've really grown on me. I think they go well with the nostalgic style of cards I'm using this year too.

I think a bundle of these little stockings in lots of different colours would make a nice garland or they could be added to gift tags for a little something extra. I love doing this each year and am so glad I started this Christmas tradition.

Til next time,
Hx

Autumn Projects

2017-10-19T13:00:00.001+01:00

Hi folks,

The temperatures have been dropping, the nights drawing in, the trees are gloriously rich golds, coppers and reds, it's definitely autumn. Time to curl up with a cosy crochet project in the evenings and I have three current projects to share with you, a skirt, a top and a pair of socks.

The is a skirt which I'm working in Wendy Aran yarn. I actually started this project before the summer but found it too warm to work a yarn this heavy over the summer months. I'm using a deep wine colour for the main yarn and haven't completely made my mind up yet what the contrast colour will be for the squares at the bottom.

The skirt is worked from the top down in one piece until it reaches the granny squares. The pattern is this one from Drops Design.

The next project is an old make I am reworking. Originally a tunic I made for my sister, it didn't fit her very well any more and hadn't been worn much. I made too good a job of weaving in the ends on this, finding all of them to undo this has been a challenge. I had thought to make a jumper from the yarn to keep my sister cozy on her long dog walks but I'm looking at a few different patterns.

My third project is a pair of socks for N using Woolcraft Superwash Sock Yarn in shade 44. This yarn feels lovely and soft so I'm hoping it will make a very cozy pair of socks to keep his tootsies warm. While I'm using the sizing and shaping from an existing pattern I'm adding a cuff at the top of the sock and using a different stitch.

It wouldn't be autumn without fallen leaves to crunch through on country walks, hot chocolate and cozy socks. I didn't keep well over the last year or so and now that I am feeling better I am really enjoying getting back to simple pleasures and enjoying crochet again. What are you doing or making this autumn?

Til next time,
Hx

Wedding Keepsakes

2017-06-02T12:03:00.000+01:00

Hi folks,

It's such a lovely time of year just now and though weddings are lovely at any time, Spring and Summer are my favourites. Recently I've been trawling the Internet looking for inspiration for wedding keepsakes and there are some lovely patterns out there. In the end I returned to a tried and tested pattern, a lace horse shoe for good luck, however I have a confession to make because it isn't crochet.

Nope, no crochet in sight. It's actually tatted lace though it does need a crochet hook to make joins. Some years ago I bought a starter kit from the Ring Of Tatters and using their DVD, taught myself shuttle tatting. I only learnt the basics and after making a few items I returned to my first love of crochet as I found it easier but I have always loved this simple horse shoe pattern from Be-stitched. It's a beginner's pattern which is lucky for me as it is all I can do.

Tatting can be made with either a tatting needle or a shuttle, I use a shuttle. Some shuttles have a hook at one end for joining purposes but as mine doesn't I use a small steel crochet hook. The stitch used is called double stitch and is made in two parts, these form the chains and rings and even the picots.

Using white crochet cotton, I wound the shuttle full of thread but didn't cut it from the ball.

The thread is held by the left hand while the shuttle is worked around it. The ring was worked by making a loop of thread around the fingers and holding the thread between the index finger and thumb. The shuttle is then worked around the thread of the ring and when enough stitches have been worked the ring is tightened by pulling the shuttle thread to close it.

The horse shoe pattern starts with two rings joined together at the first and last picots using the crochet hook..

It then continues using chains and rings

until the other end of the horse shoe is reached where it is finished by making two rings joined together to mirror the first two rings of the horse shoe.

The horse shoe is finished off by knotting the two threads and weaving the ends in at the back of the motif. A little blocking and it's done.

If you fancy trying tatting I recommend checking out the Ring of Tatters link above, the DVD I learnt from is still available and was much easier than trying to follow written directions. The tatters from the Ring I met demonstrating the craft were all lovely ladies who were incredibly patient and helpful. The Be-stitched site has some gorgeous tatting pics on the pattern pages too.

I love this little horse shoe and hope the bride will too, especially with a cute little pageboy or flower girl to present it to her.

Having picked up my shuttle again I plan to learn some more tatting techniques but crochet is still my first love and I'll be back to blogging about hooky times again soon.

Til next time,
Hx

A Paisley Bag

2017-03-07T22:29:00.000+00:00

Hi folks,

I have had so many compliments on the Paisley cushion I made back in 2015 that last year I decided to use the same motif again, only this time for a bag.

Out of all the different colours I had used to make sample motifs for my cushion my Mum really liked the turquoise and yellow motif, so this time I chose those colours for the motifs worked in DK yarn. The bag was a surprise birthday gift for my Mum back in January.

I started off making 24 turquoise and yellow Paisley motifs, this time weaving in the ends as I went along to make sure I actually finished the bag in time for Mum's birthday and didn't leave the motifs lying forlornly in a bag.

The turquoise and yellow are such strong colours there weren't many shades which would go with them to fill the background so after much consideration I went with a bright red background and lining. I had to rework the motif background to create a more solid shape than on the Paisley cushion. There were a lot of rainy days while I was making these so I'm sorry the photo is so dull, the light was really bad.

I knew I wanted this bag to be a statement but didn't want the red to overpower the other colours so instead of sewing these motifs together I decided to double crochet them together with the turquoise yarn to balance out the red while the yellow gives a pop of colour in the middle.

Continuing with the blue yarn I worked the ends, base and handles also in blue. The photo shows the bag before I added the lining fabric.

The sides and base were worked in one long piece in double crochet. I started from the top of one corner on the first side of the bag, working back and forth until the base and sides reached the ideal width, then joined to the second side. I then worked in dc around the top of the bag for several rows before working a chain in the middle of each side on the next round to make a handle space. Continuing in the round, I double crocheted over the chain in the following round then finished by doing several more rounds of double crochet to complete the handles. I know Mum will be using this bag to carry books so I wanted to make it as strong as possible. I thought working these parts all in one piece would make it stronger than working a separate base and sides to sew together, and how could I resist less sewing??

Finally I added a lining in the same shade of red as the background yarn so those little odds and ends from the shops don't fall through. I was so lucky to find a fat quarter in exactly the same shade of red at Allison's shop, it's a treasure trove of goodies. I wouldn't have picked the turquoise and yellow motif myself but I like this bag so much I'm tempted to make one of my own.

Til next time,
Hx

A christmas Angel

2016-12-16T16:20:00.002+00:00

Hi folks,

Last year I made white lacy stars to put inside my Christmas cards, this year I chose to make angels for my cards in both white and an icy pale blue.

I have a few favourite crochet books I return to again and again and this pattern comes from one of them, 75 Lace Crochet Motifs by Caitlin Sanio.

It's such a pleasant way to spend a dull winter afternoon and puts me in the mood for the festive season as we don't like to put our decorations up too early. So on a miserable wet and grey day last week I cheered up by lighting a few candles and settling down with a spicy chai and a slice of festive spiced honey cake to write my cards and choose an angel to suit each person.

A little crochet, some candles burning, a hot mulled drink or gingerbread latte, perhaps a mince pie or two.... how have you been enjoying advent?

Til next time,
Hx

Crafting Gifts

2016-12-02T15:01:00.001+00:00

Hello,

Have you been crafting gifts for Christmas or like me left it a little late? I've been working on two gifts this week and can now share the first one, a crochet hook holder.

This is for someone who started to crochet a little while ago but doesn't have many hooks yet. It's quick to make so ideal when time is short as well as being a pretty gift for a new crafter.

The pattern was from Cute and Easy Crochet, worked in double crochet stitch with a simple trim using chain stitches along two sides in a contrasting colour.

I chose a pretty cotton fabric to line the hook roll which I spotted in our local craft shop. This shop is an Aladdin's cave and is very friendly too.

A small piece from a fat quarter was plenty to line and make the pockets to hold the hooks.

I changed the ribbon tie used in the pattern to twin crocheted cords as the hooks seem to stay in the roll more securely, especially important as the person the gift is for will take it back and forth to work in her bag so she can crochet on her breaks.

I think it will look nice with a set of multi-coloured hooks inside, I used a few of my own just for the photos. Have you made any gifts? Or perhaps you are still working on something?

Til next time,
Hx

Ooh Shoes!

2016-10-18T22:07:00.000+01:00

Hello folks, recently someone asked me if I could make them a couple of pairs of baby shoes to be given as gifts, one for a boy and one for a girl. There are gorgeous baby bootees and shoes all over the internet but as the first pair were needed in a bit of a hurry I turned to my tried and trusted Nicki Trench book Cute and Easy Crochet to make these little shoes.

The original pattern was for slippers made using two colours on the upper however I wanted to change it up a little so I changed it to using one colour for the sole and a denim blue for the upper. The yarn is Sirdar Flirt, a bamboo and merino mix which is now discontinued but luckily I had a little left which I could use for a pair of baby shoes.

I added two crocheted laces to make them a little more fitted on the baby's feet and change the look of the shoes before nestling them in teddy bear printed tissue paper ready to go.

Just as I was thinking of starting a pair of Mary Janes for the baby girl, on a day out with N I spotted the Super Cute Crochet For Little Feet book by Vita Apala.

How could I resist? Once I saw the baby point shoes I just had to have this book so off home with me it went and I headed straight to my stash to find out what I could use.

I didn't have any pink cotton but did have some cream Wendy Supreme Luxury Cotton 4 ply yarn left over from a previous project.

I found the pattern clear and easy to follow and they worked up quickly. I'm not sure I don't prefer them in pink as they are so pretty, the cream contrasts nicely with the pink tissue paper though and the person who asked for them loved them.

So here they are, ballet point shoes for the tiniest of ballerinas, a girl is never too young to put on her dancing shoes is she? I think I'll be making more of the little shoes from this book, they are ideal for using up odds and ends of yarn left over from other projects.

Til next time,

Hx

Finishing Old Projects

2016-06-25T14:10:00.000+01:00

Hello folks, it's been such a long time since I last blogged I thought I'd start again with the finished projects I had on the go at the start of the year.

I actually started this back in autumn last year, hooking the odd few rows here and there through the winter. I have shown this yarn before but as it was destined to be a gift for a friend in the southern hemisphere, as it took shape I could no longer show it to ensure it was a surprise. I had to wait impatiently until it reached it's destination in the now wintry southern hemisphere.

It's a Tunisian cowl, I've posted about the yarn and stitch before here. The stitch is a lace stitch and the pure merino yarn was so soft and squishy it was a real pleasure to make. As Tunisian crochet uses a long hook similar to a knitting needle it was made as a scarf and then joined before I finished it with a picot edging. This was my first attempt at Tunisian crochet and I was pleased with how it turned out, I hope it will help keep my friend cosy over the winter.

Back in February I showed the start of these cotton socks. I didn't know then that I wouldn't be crafting for so long or that I was overly optimistic about getting back to crochet and blogging at Easter. The pattern is Lemon Drops from Garn Studio and the socks are made using a cotton sock yarn from my stash and a 2mm hook.

The yarn makes the finished socks look quite different to the photo on the pattern as the pattern used a solid main colour and a contrast but I think I like it. Even though they don't look very summery they should be cool.

I found this pattern hard to follow to begin with and had to resort to the online video on the Garn Studio site, I'm still not sure if it was the pattern which was difficult to understand or my brain not working properly. I made the feet a little shorter to ensure a good fit for a small foot and I was really pleased when I finally finished them. They are now ready to be used inside a pair of wellies by my sister for dog walking through soggy fields and muddy woods. I finished them just as we got wonderfully hot sunny weather so they weren't needed until now.

I'm now playing about with some lacy thread crochet and Paisley motifs again and hope to show you some soon.

Til next time.

Hx

Happy Easter

2016-03-27T12:42:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone, I hope you are having a lovely long weekend. There hasn't been much crochet going on around here lately as I've been unwell for some weeks however last night I picked my hook up again and made some of these little egg cosies for breakfast time. They are from the book Cute and Easy Crochet by Nicki Trench and are so simple they were ideal while I don't feel up to anything more difficult. They are also perfect for using up odds and ends of leftover yarn in your stash, you know the ones, too small to really do anything with but you don't want to throw them away.

Easter is a very quiet affair for us this year as I haven't been able to do our usual activities and can't entertain, I hope to return to normal soon. In the meantime I wanted to with you all a Happy Easter and in these troubled times, a peaceful one too.

Happy Easter!

Hx

Half Term Treats

2016-02-13T21:22:00.001+00:00

Hello there,

Isn't is lovely to feel Spring on it's way? Cold, frosty nights followed by bright, clear days, I love them. This week has been half term here so today I'd like to share some half term treats with you. It's been a little strange this year as the schools are off at different times so it was unusually quiet around here as the kids in this area have just started their half term today.

My first treat was hooking up some of these sweet little hearts for no other reason than they are so pretty, though I can use them to decorate the house as a nod to Valentine's Day too.

This is from a pattern in one of my favourite crochet books, 75 Lace Crochet Motifs and I used size 10 crochet cotton with a 2mm hook. If you fancy making some hearts too there are lots of gorgeous patterns about. I like this one which I think would be pretty worked in pink instead of red.

My second treat was this magazine, I couldn't resist the cheerful cover of primroses and the article on the gorgeous crocheted blankets by Amanda Perkins "Capturing a rainbow in wool".

I love the bright colours and Spring beauty running through the pages. If you haven't seen this magazine before it has articles about nature, the British countryside and crafts as well as food, just about everything I love. I enjoyed flicking through it while enjoying my next treat with a mug of tea.

Stem ginger biscuits. I used a shortbread recipe and added finely chopped preserved stem ginger. Making these little biscuits is almost too easy. We really like ginger so I used quite a bit in the biscuits. This is my recipe if you would like to try them.

175g plain flour
115g butter
60g caster sugar
2 pieces stem ginger, finely chopped
Extra sugar to sprinkle

Sieve flour into a bowl and stir in the sugar. Cube the butter and rub it into the flour and sugar to form a dough. Add in the chopped ginger., roll it out and then cut out rounds. Place on a lined baking sheet and bake until firm and lightly coloured, about 30 mins. Transfer to a cooling rack, sprinkle with sugar and store in an air tight tin, if they don't all disappear before they are cold that is!

Unfortunately our planned half term trip to Perthshire was cancelled when N came home with a nasty virus last weekend. After a couple of days of staying in bed (for him) and lots of exercise running up and down the stairs fetching drinks etc (for me), he was better in time for the sun coming out so we managed some time pottering in the garden in the sunshine which was lovely, I really appreciate the happiness in these moments of simple pleasure. The garden is really too waterlogged to do much so we contented ourselves with a tidy up before it got too cold again. There have been more bright days this week which have made it a joy to potter about and spend time crafting in good light. I've done more of my cross-stitch project and sticking to a theme of small projects here is a little peek of my newest project. Can you guess what I'm making from this small piece?

Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while might recognise this yarn, it's the same one I used for the tunic I was making last year. I got all the way to the end then decided I didn't like it on me and unravelled it, making for hours of frogging. Do you ever finish something then change your mind and rip it all out again or it that just me?

I hope there are lovely Spring/Autumn days and holidays to enjoy where you are too.

Til next time,

Hx

January Reflections

2016-01-30T15:52:00.000+00:00

Hi there, as January draws to a close I hope this dark, quiet month has been as pleasant as possible for you all. Contrary to the tradition of making resolutions and change at this time of year I think it's important to be kind to ourselves and brighten up our lives with small treats, pretty things and activities which bring us pleasure.

I've had a few classes cancelled this month so I used the extra time to indulge in some afternoon crafting, a few bright spells allowed me to do some more of my Parisian cross-stitch. I've been doing this cross-stitch for a long time as I only do small sections at a time and I find I need very good light for some of the colours.

When the light wasn't so good I made some more alphabet letters.

One of the small treats I've been enjoying is this Clover Yarn Cutter Pendant which was actually part of a Christmas gift from my sister. I got it in antique gold colour, it's really good and much better to carry around than scissors, it has happily cut everything from thread and fine cotton to DK acrylic very easily. I don't usually take my crochet out with me but feel much more inclined to now I can simply wear this pendant, I can't imagine not having it now.

In our family January included a celebration.

It's a birthday, my Mum's to be precise. This year celebrations were changed at the last moment due to this.

It snowed. This the viburnum I showed you in my Happy post, now dusted with snow. As the snow was heavier where my Mum lives and she is a little unsteady on her feet these days our planned lunch was hastily changed to coffee and cake at her house so she didn't need to go out.

The letters are for a crochet project which has been in my head for a little while now, I made the letters up as I went along so I haven't written up a pattern for them yet. I also have another small crochet project I've been working on but as it is a gift for someone I must keep it under wraps for now.

With all the storms lately plans have had to be flexible, we have cancelled this weekend's snowdrop walk thanks to high winds, heavy rain and hail. The last few days have definitely been ones for snuggling up indoors with some crochet or cross-stitch, hot chocolate and a film. I'll leave you today with something pretty.

These beautiful pink and white tulips I'd like to share with you, I couldn't resist them when I was out yesterday. I adore tulips, they brighten life up and will bring much enjoyment over the next few days. It's lovely to have flowers inside to brighten these winter days while I wait for the garden to wake up from it's winter slumber. I hope you enjoy these tulips too.

What has made you smile in January? Do you have any tips on how to make winter days brighter or anything you couldn't imagine doing without?

Til next time,

Hx

HAPPY

2016-01-16T17:05:00.001+00:00

Hello there, mid January already, where does the time go? I do hope you all had a lovely festive season and have much to look forward to throughout 2016. I've been absent from blogland for quite a few weeks thanks to a neck problem which curtailed both my crochet and computer time, thankfully it's on the mend now and I can once again pick up my hook and catch up with people.

Small projects are what I need for the moment, something I can pick up and put down easily, so crocheted alphabet letters like the ones above are just perfect. Happy. What makes you happy? It's the little things that make me happy so I thought I'd share a few of the simple pleasures making me feel happy this January including these letters.

Pale pink flowers coming out on the Viburnum in our back garden. I love this plant, when there is nothing else out in the garden, including the snowdrops, I can rely on these little pink flowers for cheer. It brightens up the view from our dining table during the dull days at this time of year and I thoroughly enjoy seeing them. I snapped this photo from the window during a brief break from all the heavy rain there has been recently.

Another simple pleasure brightening my days is tea and cake. Earl Grey and Dundee cake anyone? Is there anything prettier than fine china teacups and saucers? I love pretty teacups and found these in a thrift shop a while ago. I couldn't believe how lucky I was to find them as the pink roses match the ones on my Maxwell & Williams cake stand very well, even though this china is decades old.

Although some things are out of our control, I often find happiness in taking the time to notice the small, simple things in life. As I returned home yesterday I stopped and took a moment to look and see if the shoots of the snowdrops had come up yet in my neighbours garden, and they have! I'm enjoying these short, dark, cold days of January, watching the birds feast on berries in the garden and feeling lucky to have a warm and dry home when so many others haven't. Spring, my favourite season, will soon be here, but not just yet and in the meantime there is tea, cake and crochet, what more could a girl want?

Wishing you all a happy and prosperous 2016.

Hx

A Christmas Star

2015-12-24T11:02:00.000+00:00

Well it's finally Christmas Eve, the presents are wrapped, the crafting is finished, the Christmas crafting that is and it's time to show you my final Christmas make of the year, Christmas stars.

I made a clutch of these stars a little while ago and finally got around to blocking them.

I'm not sure where I got the pattern from, it may have been from a magazine but as I have it jotted down in a notebook with no reference I can't trace it.

I wanted to make a garland but I don't really have anywhere to hang garlands or bunting. No fireplaces mean no mantels.So I crocheted a long braid, attached the stars and hung it at the small window looking out onto our back garden. Red stars against the background of white curtains, they look better in real life as the photo doesn't do them justice.

Wishing you all a happy and peaceful Christmas.

Hx

Christmas Stockings

2015-12-18T13:52:00.001+00:00

Hello there, do you like to hang a stocking up for Christmas? We usually don't as there are no children in the house, however a couple of weeks ago N dropped a bit of a bombshell on me when he suggested we make each other something this year. I often make gifts for people but I don't usually make them for N as he has quite definite tastes so I had to put my thinking cap on and fast. He didn't want any of the usual crocheted garments so I felt stumped until I came up with one of these.

I've made crocheted stockings before for our niece and nephews which they loved, each one had their names either embroidered or appliqued with tatted lace letters and decorated with Christmas buttons. Why not make N a stocking and fill it with little (bought) gifts as a compromise? Yes, that might work but one lonely stocking hanging up? Wouldn't two look better? Perhaps more? Before I could change my mind (or have N find out) I was crocheting two stockings along with another decoration this week.

I chose this free Waiting For Santa Stocking pattern from Red Heart. I've used this pattern before and as it is a beginners level pattern it is very easy and quick if you have a couple of hours to spare. It uses a 5.5mm hook and I chose dark green DK acrylic yarn from my stash for N's stocking and purple DK for the second one. The stocking doesn't need a lot of yarn, I had just under 100g each of the purple and green yarns and still have some left after finishing the stockings. I've only used the purple for photos as it shows up better than the very dark green.

The pattern is worked from the top down and is written in American terms but is easy to follow as it only uses double crochet throughout (written as sc on the pattern). It is a great pattern for a first attempt at a crocheted stocking or if you need to make something in a hurry. The pattern uses two colours of yarn for the stripes however I worked the stocking all in one colour instead of stripes, only using a contrast for the heel, toe and a band at the top. I chose cream as the contrast colour for both stockings and took photos as I worked the heel and toe in case it helps anyone new to crochet wanting to make a stocking.

The heel is worked by joining the contrast colour yarn in the stitch indicated on the pattern for the chosen size and double crocheted to the end.

The dc is then continued along the opposite edge to join the two sides.

The heel is shaped by decreasing,

and then increasing before moving on to the foot.

The main colour is joined to the heel in the relevant stitch and a row of dc is worked to the end of the heel where it then joins to the bottom of the leg.

The pattern continues in dc to the end of the row. The foot is worked by continuing in dc until the desired length is reached before joining the contrast colour to work the toe.

The toe is worked in one section at a time and shaped by decreasing, then the foot is folded and all the seams are sewn together to finish the stocking.

I tweaked the pattern by making the leg slightly shorter and finished it by joining the contrast yarn to the top of the leg, working in the round to create the cream band at the top. Before fastening off I made the loop by crocheting a 3 chain strap and attaching at the bottom of the contrast band. If you leave long yarn ends they can be used to sew the seams and reduce the amount of weaving in when you finish the stocking. All the stockings need now is to be decorated. Buttons, motifs, felt, whatever you fancy could be used for decoration.

I enjoy the whole of December leading up to Christmas but this weekend before Christmas is especially nice as I always decorate the house this week and finish with putting the tree up. I make mulled apple juice and mince pies and with some carols playing will enjoy decorating the tree with N. I've also been making a Christmas garland this week which has just been blocked, starched and is now drying, more on that soon.

Til next time,

Hx

Let it Snow....

2015-12-06T23:59:00.000+00:00

Hello folks,

for once, I am not talking about the weather but Christmas traditions. I love this time of year, keeping and making new traditions as we move through the short December days towards Christmas. I don't like to start too early so wait until December, starting with the lighting of the advent candle on the 1st. I love my Christmas traditions and am always interested in other peoples' traditions too so I thought I'd start my first Christmas themed post with a tradition I started a few years ago and that is popping a little crocheted or tatted surprise in some of my Christmas cards.

Snowflake cards anyone? Big or small, glittery or pure white, beaded or plain, I don't know anyone who doesn't like these little surprises in their cards. In the past I've made tatted icicles and stars, this year I decided to make snowflakes, the one above is a pattern by Caitlin Sainio from the book 75 Lace Crochet Motifs which I reviewed earlier this year.

While the wind howled round the house and the rain hammered down over the last few days I sat with my hook and cotton making a variety of snowflakes, from small to large, for various recipients. The one on the right I embellished using a Pinflair Pearl Wand after I added the red crocheted loop to turn it into a tree decoration. The small snowflakes could be used to decorate plain gift tags or napkin rings for the Christmas dinner table however I tend to use them all for tree decorations. It helps to know which friends like large trees and which have smaller ones so I can tailor each decoration to it's intended recipient.

Once all the snowflakes were made and blocked, I stiffened them with a can of spray starch. They could also have been stiffened by painting with a weak glue solution but as I wasn't using glitter I used the starch instead. Once dry they were almost ready to go.

The snowflakes can have a crocheted loop like the one in the picture, narrow ribbon threaded through the top picots or even a loop made from a length of pearl bead ribbon, anything you wish to use really.

Although I don't make my own cards the motifs could be used for card making, turning them into a card and small gift in one by attaching the ribbon loop to the inside of the front of a card so it can be removed after Christmas and kept to use as a decoration the following year.

Whilst the pattern for the large snowflake is not mine, I made up the simple smaller snowflakes myself and you are welcome to use the pattern if you like this idea or there are lots of snowflake patterns about on the internet. I used size 10 crochet cotton in white and red and a 2mm hook.

Small Snowflake

Working in the round and using UK terms:

1. Make 4 ch, join in a ring with a sl st.

2. 1 ch, 5dc in ring, sl st to 1st ch.

3. 5 ch, sl st in next dc of ring, repeat 5 times ending with a sl st at base of 1st ch.

4. Sl st to 3rd ch of 5 ch loop on previous round, *3 ch, 1 picot (3ch, sl st in 3rd ch from hook),

3ch, sl st to 3rd ch of next loop* repeat from * to*

ending with last sl st at the start of the 1st loop.

For small snowflake fasten off here, block and starch, for medium continue as below.

Medium Snowflake

Follow pattern for small snowflake then work 5th row.

5. Sl st in each ch to and including picot, *4 ch, 1 picot, 4ch, sl st to picot at point of loop on previous round* repeat from * to * ending with sl st at the start of the 1st loop as in row 4.

Weave in ends and block. Stiffen with starch or paint with a solution of 2 teaspoons PVA glue and 1 teaspoon water and leave to dry on waxed paper. If you want to add glitter use the glue method and add the glitter before the motif drys.

I'm sorry the photos aren't very good, unfortunately the light has been very poor over the last few days making it difficult to get good pictures. I hope you like this and it may give you inspiration for a new tradition of your own. The end of the first week of advent also means baking the first batch of mince pies and making spiced hot chocolate for me and gingerbread latte for N. This year I also made a plum and marzipan tart. What traditions do you keep? I'd love to know if you would like to share them with me.

Til next time.

Hx

Winter WIPs

2015-12-01T14:26:00.000+00:00

Hello, it's time for a quick catch up post before starting on Christmas makes. Winter is well and truly here now in this part of the world so it's time to enjoy making the house cosy and welcoming as the temperature drops and we move through the shorter days. Living in a modern house we don't have an open fire so for us this means turning up the heating and using the cosy glow of soft lamps and candles to create that warm, welcoming ambiance. Winter also heralds a return to casseroles and crumbles, home made soups and steamed puddings. Curling up on the sofa, sometimes with a book and a hot chocolate or mulled drink, more often with seasonal crochet projects which I can't bring myself to work on at other times of the year and so it is that I have returned to a project I didn't finish last winter.

This will be a cosy tunic to layer up with when it is finished. The pattern is one which was passed to me from a magazine a few years ago, friends and family often pull out and pass patterns to me from magazines if they think I will like them. The pattern used Sirdar Luxury Cotton 4-ply yarn however I had this sock yarn already in my stash so used it instead.

The bottom half of the tunic is worked in a mix of trebles and puff stitch with the top half worked in trebles only. I do need to concentrate when I am working on this top as whilst the body of the top fits if I work to the pattern the shoulders are too big so I have to adapt it which makes for ~~difficult~~ interesting progress.

Do you find yourself changing the types of projects you work on as the days draw in? I haven't started making anything for Christmas yet as I'm not making any gifts this year, I do plan to start making little bits and pieces this week though and will post them as I make them. Have you been making gifts for Christmas yet?

Til next time,
Hx

Autumn Projects

2015-11-16T14:55:00.000+00:00

Hello, I haven't been around much lately and even crochet has had to take a back seat a little. Last month, inspired by Anne at Crochet Between Worlds , I started a teddy for a refugee child before my break from blogland occurred so I thought you would like to see him finished.

I called him Bertie. With a lot of dull days and rain lately I had to take the photo quickly during a brighter spell so he didn't have his red heart stitched on at this point. I hope he brings some comfort and a little happiness to a little person somewhere. If you want to join in check out Anne's pattern on the blog and the teddies she and Michelle have created for vulnerable children.

My second autumn project was a chunky cowl in a variegated yarn I bought earlier this year just because it made me think of autumn.

This is Patons Colour Works Aran in shade 106 India Colour. I already had a scarf pattern in mind from an old magazine which I wanted to use.

This yarn is so soft and squishy, with such happy colours I enjoyed doing a few rows each evening until it was finished and of course it worked up really quickly making it an ideal project for a busy time.

I'm really going to enjoy wearing this through the winter season.

Til next time,
Hx

It's Autumn

2015-10-20T21:04:00.004+01:00

Hello,

autumn is well and truly here now with misty mornings, cold evenings and of course those gorgeous colours of gold, russet and copper as the trees change colour and the leaves fall. In this part of the world we have been having gloriously sunny days which made for a fabulous autumn break for last week's school holiday. Whilst N and I weren't able to go away the gorgeous weather meant we had lovely days out enjoying the countryside, National Trust visits, picking brambles and crab apples in the hedgerows and of course tea and scones in the afternoon including finally trying a clootie scone at the Robert Burns Museum in Alloway. If you are ever in this neck of the woods I really recommend the museum cafe.

I digress. Long days coming home happily tired to cosy up in the warmth indoors in the evening meant my thoughts naturally turned to more seasonal crochet ideas. This time of year means creating warm and cosy items and of course stocking fillers and presents for the end of the year including sometimes the stockings themselves. So it was that I found myself, curled up with a cup of tea, going through my stash of yarns looking to see what autumnal colours I had to play with and I pulled out these.

I know there isn't any green in this selection but with the purple beeches and heather around as well as the golden and flaming leaves on the trees and the rose hips in the hedgerow somehow to me these colours say autumn.

This is the grey/lilac/purple merino lace I had wanted to use for a while, I took this photo on a sunny afternoon in the garden before I sat in the sunshine and wound it into a ball. It's the same yarn as I used for my summer shawl. I wanted to try something completely different so for the first time I had a go at tunisian crochet. Tunisian uses a long hook which looks like a knitting needle only with a hook at the end.

This pattern is a tunisian lace stitch. I really like the stitch pattern but I'm not sure it's right for this yarn, perhaps a lacier pattern would show the colour variations of the yarn more? What do you think?

I can't wait to start using this gorgeous yarn too, I think it's going to be an infinity scarf.

Last but not least I'm making a teddy to join in with Anne at Crochet Between Worlds who is making teddies for refugee children, I'm using a Nicki Trench pattern and this is one of the legs.

Anne has very kindly posted a teddy pattern on her blog for people to use, please do go and have a look at her gorgeous teddies.

Til next time,

Hx

Paisley and Diamond Crochet

2015-10-03T16:56:00.000+01:00

Hello, I've had an unplanned break from both blogging and crochet recently so it's been a while since my last post, I'd like to say thank you for all the lovely comments you left for me while I wasn't around. I have only managed a few minutes here and there with my hook over the past weeks so I didn't get my second summer cushion finished before sliding gently into autumn, however I thought you might like to see what I have managed to do so far and I'll finish it to use next year. I had started with the pink Paisley motifs I showed you before.

These motifs are smaller than the ones I made for the previous cushion, measuring only 6.5 x 3.5 cm. We have had some lovely September days here so when I could I went outside to enjoy the warm sunshine before the temperature dropped in the evening. Though I haven't had a lot of time to crochet I have enjoyed seeing these bright colours in the sunshine as I hooked up motifs in spare moments.

I knew I wanted to use both the pink and green this time and I also wanted a completely different design. I played about with the pink and green picturing different designs before choosing diamonds to go with the Paisley motifs and edging them in yellow.

I decided to have a deep border running along the bottom of the cushion this time with a narrow border along the top. I've been making it up as I go along which makes it all the more fun.

This design was inspired by a photograph of a sari which had a beautiful pattern along the bottom, though the actual motifs, colours and design I chose for the cushion are completely different.

Although my progress has been slow I've enjoyed putting these bright colours together, a last piece of summer before turning my thoughts to autumn. Have you noticed the different feel in the air recently? I'm lucky enough to live in a quiet location and often think this time of year sounds different too. The slide into autumn feels gentle this year, it will soon be time to cosy up indoors and I've already started thinking of making gifts for the end of the year, but not quite yet.

Til next time.

Hx

From Yorkshire To Roses

2015-08-25T21:46:00.001+01:00

Hello there, it's nice to be back. Life has been returning to normal after the long summer holidays but before returning to work N and I took a delightful short break south of the border to the beautiful Yorkshire town of Harrogate to enjoy the beautiful gardens, boutique shops, delicious cafes and restaurants, including the wonderful Bettys. We even squeezed in a visit to the ruins of Fountains Abbey and RHS Harlow Carr garden this time.

Fountains Abbey was busy, this was first thing in the morning and a brief pause in visitors passing through this arch was the only chance I got to take a photo of this beautiful view without lots of people.

There were some heavy showers when we visited RHS Harlow Carr so we spent a while in the gift shop out of the rain. It is a lovely shop which made me want to buy far too many pretty things, one item I couldn't resist was this book for N as he loves roses. I bought him one a few years ago as a joke, little knowing it would start a passion and lead to him taking up gardening.

This is the rose which started it all off, it's called Hot Chocolate and though the fragrance isn't strong it does have a beautiful, delicate scent so I just had to buy it for chocoholic N. It has gorgeous, unusually coloured blooms which start looking like red buds but open to an orangey-brown coppery colour.

One rose led to another and N bought this one which he grows in a pot, unfortunately it had the wrong label on so we don't know what it is. When fully open it has yellow anthers and a strong heady old rose scent which makes our patio a delightful place to sit for a few moments. If anyone has any idea what rose this may be we'd love to know. Recently we added a climbing rose, the pink Zephirine Drouhin, to our little collection and have plans for a gorgeous David Austin rose we spotted at Harlow Carr, Lady Emma Hamilton, once a suitable spot can be found.

I always find the first week back a little strange after having N home for six weeks and this year has been no different. I've found it difficult to settle in to any crochet or crafting so I haven't been doing much at all however I thought I'd show you the few bits and pieces I have done.

This is a cross-stitch I started a few years ago and have finally picked up again. There are so many similar shades of thread I only pick it up when the light is bright enough and as crochet is my first love, this hasn't been coming out too often this year. I know I will finish it eventually, I just can't say when.

I moved on from the cross stitch back to crochet when the sun came out and inspired me to start these small Paisley motifs. I had wanted to do a second Paisley cushion but when I didn't really get to use the first one with all the rain we've had this summer I went off the idea. Well the sun is back now so out came my hook and I made up these little Paisley motifs. They are smaller and squatter than the previous ones and the hook part is joined to the main body of the motif this time too. I think this time I will pair the pink with yellow and green.

That's all I've made for the moment, I hope to catch up with all my blog reading this week and see what you have all been doing.

Til next time,

Hx

Jam Jar Cover Pattern

2015-08-07T17:28:00.000+01:00

Hello there,

I took an unplanned break from crocheting and blogging last week, life got busy and we were tempted outside by the dry spells so I've only just got around to writing up the pattern for the little jam jar cover. This is very easy and uses double crochet, half-treble and treble stitches, I hope you enjoy making it.

You will need some crochet cotton, I used size 10 in white, a 2mm hook and a small amount of narrow ribbon.

Starting with a magic ring, make 6 dc and join with sl st.

Row 1 - 2dc in each stitch to end, join with sl st. 12 sts

Row 2 - make 2 ch, 1 htr in sl st, 2 htr each dc of 1st row to end, join with sl st to top of ch. 24 sts

Row 3 - 2 ch, 2 htr in next st, *1 htr in next st, 2 htr in next st* repeat to end, sl st to top of 2 ch. 36sts

Row 4 - 3 ch, 2 tr in 1st, *1 tr in next 2 st, 2 tr in following st* repeat to last st, 1 tr, join with sl st.

Row 5 - 3 ch, 2 tr in 1st *1 tr in next 3 sts, 2 tr in next st* repeat to last st, 1 tr, join with sl st.

Row 6 - 3 ch, 2tr in 1st st *1 tr in next 4 sts, 2 tr in next st* repeat to last 4 sts, 2 tr in next st, 1 tr in last 3 sts, join with sl st. 72 sts

Rows 7 and 8 - 3 ch, 1 tr in each st to end, join with sl st.

Row 9 - 6ch, *1 tr in 3rd tr of previous row, 3 ch*, repeat to end joining with sl st to 3rd of beg ch.

Row 10 - 1 ch, *3 dc in ch sp, 1 dc in tr* repeat to end, join with sl st.

Row 11 - sl st in 1st dc, 3 ch, 3 tr in same st as 3 ch, * miss 3 dc, 4 tr in next dc* repeat to end, sl st to 3rd of 3 ch.

Row 12 - 3 ch, *4 tr in next ch sp* repeat to last ch sp, 3 tr in ch sp, join to top of ch with sl st.

Fasten off, sew in the ends, thread some ribbon through and tie in a bow.

Isn't that easy? It makes it so simple to dress up a little gift for a friend or make a hamper even prettier.

I hope to catch up with all my blog reading soon, it's almost the end of the summer holidays here so N and I plan to make the most of the last few days before life returns to normal, especially now the sun is shining at last.

Til next time.

Hx

Crocheted Jam Jar Cover

2015-07-24T21:16:00.001+01:00

Hello there,

Do you make gifts for people? Perhaps you crochet, knit, sew or bake?

I love how versatile crochet is and often crochet for others, whether it is a full garment, a small, quick project or trims to jazz up a gift. When I heard a friend was having a difficult time and couldn't get out much I knew it was time to turn my hand again to making for someone else.

I often give little gifts to friends from my garden in summer, gooseberries, rhubarb or blackcurrants in the summer and plums from my tree in September, but that would be no use as it would be too much work to make something right now. So I made a cup of tea, sat down, had a good think and came up with this.

Just the thing for a home made cream tea, complete with clotted cream.

First I made the jam pot cover, the jar is a pretty hexagonal one with a lid the same size as a standard 1lb jar lid so I dug a spare jar out of my cupboard for sizing and fetched some white size 10 crochet thread and a 2mm hook.

I had a flick through my books and magazines and found some lacy jar cover patterns. I didn't have any new jars and lids so would be sterilising the one I had, I didn't have any pretty fabric either to hide the plain black lid under the lacy cover so I thought a less lacy pattern might be better than the ones in my book. I did my usual playing about with thread and hook and came up with this, a solid top with granny type edging. Simple, quick to make and pretty too.

It needed some colourful ribbon to finish it off so I popped down to the craft shop and got this lovely coppery ribbon to thread through the jar cover. I had been going to buy red ribbon but when I saw this coppery colour I thought it would look lovely with the blackcurrant colour instead and make a nice change from red.

I make my own jam and scones as I like to bake and cook but it would be easy to jazz up bought ones by making the crocheted pot cover and adding colourful ribbon and napkins. I'm going to put this in a little basket with some freshly baked scones, clotted cream and a small box of Twinings tea selection, wrap it in cellophane and take it round in time for afternoon tea. I know my friend will love this and hope a sit down with tea and scones brightens the day.

The crocheted pot cover was very easy, I'll probably make more nearer Christmas as I often make hampers. If you would like me to write up the pattern let me know.

I'd like to thank you all for reading despite my erratic posting and also for the lovely comments you left on my summer shawl, they make my day. We are approaching the last few weeks of the summer holidays here after which life will change gear again and I should be able to catch up properly on all your blogs again.

Til next time.

Hx

Shawl, Stole or Wrap?

2015-07-18T13:30:00.000+01:00

Hello folks,

What do you call them? I usually go with shawl or wrap, rarely using the name stole. Last week I wrote about making a wrap with the summery merino lace yarn I had. Thank you so much for all the lovely comments you left, I loved reading them and was delighted that you all liked this yarn too. I'm pleased to announce the wrap is now finished!

This worked up really quickly and I finished it a few days ago, it then languished the next few days waiting to be blocked while I took advantage of the better weather to get back on top of the garden. I finally got around to blocking it and here it is.

I kept the edge very plain in the end, just a single row of double crochet all the way around and then a row of picots at either end. My picots were made by working 3 ch, sl st in 1st ch and then sl st to where I wanted the next picot. I loved these colours the moment I saw them and I'm really pleased with the way this shawl has turned out, simple definitely was the way to go as it really shows off the colours. It looks green shown on some lime broderie anglaise,

and the turquoise is brought out by this dress.

When I wrote about making this last week I had been thinking how lovely it would look over a summery white top or dress, I'd completely forgotten I had this simple long turquoise shift dress for which it is also a perfect match.

Isn't it lovely how a single layer of the wrap looks turquoise but where it is hangs in folds it becomes green? Would you like a closer look?

I'm going to really enjoy using this shawl, matched with this dress it would even look good for a summer wedding reception.

Are you enjoying the summer so far? It's been somewhat wet here this year which hasn't been good for getting out in the garden but has been good for cracking on with my crochet projects. Yes, it's plural again, I don't seem to be able to limit myself to just one, my mind races off with too many ideas. Do you find that too? I want to make another Paisley cushion but with a slightly different design, I have some small, items to make in thread crochet and last but not least, I want to try some broomstick lace. I think that should keep me busy for a little while.

Til next time,

Hx

Summer Colours

2015-07-07T13:14:00.001+01:00

Hello there, first of all I'd like to say a big thank you for all the lovely comments on my cushion, I'm really chuffed you all liked it and took the time to let me know.

I wasn't able to post last week, life has been both busy and sad here as I was helping N sort out his late mother's home. It was also the hottest week of the year so far so it was exhausting. Arriving home late in the evening I didn't feel up to doing anything too complicated but I did manage to squeeze in a little crochet to relax before bed time. Do you remember this?

It's the lace weight merino yarn I wrote about buying here. I fell in love with these summery colours and have, from the day I bought it, pictured a summer wrap to throw over light summer dresses or white tops in the evenings. I've enjoyed browsing through different lace stitches, picturing the end result before trying a few out and finding that actually, it looks far nicer if I keep it simple.

I loved the effect of the different colours in a simple chain made with a large hook, the bright green fading to yellow, turquoise and lilac so I decided to keep it simple and make the wrap in an easy diamond mesh pattern. This is just the thing for working in a nice easy rhythm when I'm too tired to concentrate on a pattern. It also has the benefit of showing off the yummy summer colours of this yarn much better than the more complicated lace patterns. Isn't this gorgeous?

By Thursday we were shattered and ready for a break so worked really late to finish up and stay home on Friday. We had a quiet day relaxing and pottering about and inspired by Elizabeth's post at Mrs Thomasina Tittlemouse I was pleased to see the elder flowers finally out in our garden so I could make a batch of cordial. This Elder is called Black Lace, the cordial it makes is pink and the newly opened flowers have a delicious citrussy elderflower aroma. It also looks absolutely gorgeous in the garden.

So that was the first week of our summer holiday - clearing, cleaning, pottering in the kitchen and garden and of course a little crochet.

The light is much brighter today when I took this last photo and the yarn looks more blue, mostly it looks green though. If you would like to make a wrap like this, I'm using a 5.5mm hook with a 3 ply laceweight merino yarn with 400 metres in a 100g skein. This is a bigger hook than would usually be used for this yarn weight but I chose it as I liked the effect of the bigger hook and wanted the wrap to work up quickly. It only uses chain and double crochet stitches (single crochet in US) so is ideal if you are new to crochet and want to move on to making something a little bigger than squares. I made 242 stitches then working in UK terms:

1st row - miss 1 ch, 1 dc in next ch, *5 ch, miss 3 ch, 1 dc in next ch* repeat to last st, 1 dc, 5ch, turn

2nd row - *1 dc in ch space, 5 ch* repeat to end

Repeat the second row until the wrap is the size you want and that's it, nice and simple. I don't know yet how wide mine will be or how I will edge it, I'll just stop when it looks right.

Til next time,

Hx