I grabbed my 6mm hook my green red aran yarn  and  began to experiment.

So here’s my tinkering and the finished “Cherry Neck Warmer”.

Here’s the pattern (this pattern uses UK terminology, click here for a translation of UK to US crochet terms). Scoll down to the bottom of the page for a pdf or word doc of the pattern.

MATERIALS

Artesano Aran C024 Dawn (colour A green)  (36g used approx 48m/ 53y)

Artesano Aran 0042 Wester  (colour B red) (52g used approx 69m/ 75y)

Total yarn used 88g, 117m, 110y

Wraps Per Inch, approx 8

6.5mm (K-101/2) crochet hook

6.00mm (J-10) crochet hook

Tapestry needle

Three 2.5cm (1in) buttons

TENSION

14 stitches and 14 rows to measure 10 x 10cm (4 x 4in) using 6.5mm hook, or hook size required to maintain tension.

FINISHED ITEM SIZE

53in (135cm) long

3.5in (9cm) wide

PATTERN NOTES

You’ll need to know how to change colours at the end of a row. Click here for a tutorial from learn to knit.co.uk. In this pattern you’ll be changing colours during the last stitch on the row so that the new colour is ready for the next row.

A Double treble (dtr) is worked as follows,

1. Yarn over the hook twice and insert hook into stitch

2. Draw a loop through, yarn over

3. Draw through the first 2 loops only, yarn over

4. Draw through the next 2 loops only, yarn over

5. Draw through the last 2 loops on hook – 1 dtr made

A Half treble (htr) is worked as follows,

1. Yarn over the hook and insert hook into stitch

2. Yarn over the hook, draw a loop through, yarn over again

3. Draw through all 3 loops on hook – 1 htr made

A Treble (tr)  is worked as follows,

1. Yarn over hook and insert hook into stitch

2. Yarn over hook and draw through the stitch. Yarn  over again

3. Draw through the first 2 loops only, yarn over again

4. Draw through the last 2 loops on the hook – 1 tr made

PATTERN

With colour A- with the 6.5mm hook chain 18

With colour A

Row 1 dc  into 2^nd  ch from hook, *dc into next stitch. Repeat from * until end of row  (17 Stitches). Ch 1 turn.

Row 2- Repeat row 1.

With colour B

Row 3- dc into 2^nd ch from hook,  *dtr into next stitch, dc  into next stitch, repeat from* (ending with a dc into last stitch). Ch 1, turn

Row 4- dc into 2^nd ch from hook ,*dc into next stitch. Repeat from * until end of row. Ch 1 turn.

With colour A

Row 5-  dc into 2^nd ch from hook , *dc into next stitch. Repeat from * until end of row. Ch 1 turn.

Row 6-  repeat row 5

With colour B

Row 7- dc into 2^nd ch from hook, *dc into next stitch. dtr  into next stitch, repeat from * until the last 2 stitches, dc into the last 2 stitches. Ch 1 turn.

Row 8- dc into 2^nd chain from hook, *dc into next stitch. Repeat from * until end of row . Ch 1 turn.

Repeat rows 1-8,  8 more times (until you have 72 rows (ending with colour B)).

With colour A

Row 73- repeat row 1

Row 74-  repeat row 2

Row 75- dc into 2^nd chain from hook, dc  into next stitch, ch 3, skip 3 stitches. dc in to next 2 stitches. *Ch 3, skip 3 stitches, dc into next 2 stitches. Repeat from*. Ch 1 turn.

Row 76- dc into 2^nd chain from hook, dc into next stitch, *3 dcs into chain space, dc into next 2 dcs.. Repeat from * until end. Ch 1 turn.

Row 77- dc into 2^nd chain from hook. htr  into next stitch, *tr into next 3 stitches, htr into next stitch, dc into next stitch. Repeat from * until end. DO NOT FASTEN OFF

Change to 6mm hook.Evenly distribute approximately 173 dcs around the remaining 3 edges of the scarf. (Approx 2 dcs per colour stripe). Fasten off.

Attach 3 buttons to the RS of the scarf, along the lower edge of the length of the scarf.

And you’re done!

Cherry Neck Warmer UK Terminology Pdf 

Cherry Neck Warmer UK Terminology Word Doc

Cherry Neck Warmer (with FREE Pattern!) on the Scarlet Dash website.

Yes I know it’s a cliché and that I’m late to the party (the 17th of March being St Patrick’s day (why not crochet a Shamrock!)) but for this post I’m focusing in the colour green.

If I’m honest I’m not a huge fan of this colour, although I don’t hate it, it’s just that t does not feature heavily in my wardrobe or my crocheting. So this post is a new exploration for me.

I gathered together some of the green yarn and threads that I stock (if you want to know what any of them are just click here) to see if they inspired my crafting mojo.

I’m Going all Shades of Green on the Scarlet Dash website.

***

This gorgeous springtime wreath is from Attic24, it’s so bright and cheerful (unlike the weather). This would make a great gift or family heirloom.

Material Used

DK cotton

4mm Crochet hook

Buttons

If you want some quick and cute Easter patterns the then visit Cute and Kaboodle for their Easter appliques.

DK yarn

3mm hook

Sewing Needle

Scissors

Silver Tears brings you another quick cute and last minute basket. These would make a great last minute gift, or are great for storing crochet odds and ends.

Material Used

Super Bulky yarn (you can also use Sirdar Bonus chunky)

10mm hook

Jumbo Needle

***

 So there you are, there patterns appropriate for Easter or for any occasion.

This Week’s Top 3 Crochet Patterns- Easter on the Scarlet Dash website.

100g gives you 132 metres, 144 yards. The recommended needle size is 4.5-5.5 metric.

17 stitches and 21 rows in 10cmx10cm..

Hand wash only, cool iron, do not bleach, do not tumble dry.

Artesano Aran SFN50 Black on the Scarlet Dash website.

Maybe it’s an eye thing, maybe the yarns just too dark to see the stitches to work with comfortably. Well these tips should help you out.

***

1) Lighting. Use proper lighting. Sometimes natural daylight is not enough. A good quality lamp (one with a magnifying glass is a bonus) is a necessity when working with dark yarns.

2) Keeping Track. Use plenty of stitch markers. Stitch markers a great for working with light coloured yarns, but they are a necessity when working with dark yarns. They’ll help you to keep track of pattern repeats and stitch and row counts

3) Slow It Down. As the world’s slowest crocheter this is an easy one for me. If you’re a fast-fingered freddie, take a breath and slow it down. You’ll keep a better track of those stitches and quickly rectify any mistakes that it’s so easy to make when using yarns from the dark side.

4) Back It Up. Working against a light background colour helps dark yarn to stand, out so throw a white or cream coloured pillow case, t shirt or cloth over your lap to make things brighten up.

5) Lighten Up Your Hook. Avoid using dark coloured hooks. There are some fantastic colourful hooks available but the darker coloured ones such as a purple or blue hook does not stand out against the stitches. Try using a light coloured hook, such as a bamboo, or a plastic or aluminium grey hook.

***

So with these tips in mind you can begin your dance with the dark yarns. You could search  specifically for patterns that use dark yarn. Or, of course, you can just swap to a dark yarn when working your favourite pattern.

Any of these women’s dress or skirts would look great in a dark yarn.

You could choose any motif and make earrings similar to these ones below.

If you’ve got a spare £745 then maybe you’d like to get this (although I’m sure a lot of you could make this with your eyes closed, for a lot less cash too!)

To get your creative juices flowing, take a look at my dark yarns and accessories product gallery.

***

What dark wonder are you working on, what tips can you share ?

Crochet and the Dark Side (With 5 Fantastic Tips) on the Scarlet Dash website.

***

Broomstick Lace Scarf Stitch

This beautiful broomstick lace scarf is designed by Donna Woolfe, owner of Naztazia.com. As you can see it’s a beautiful scarf and is a good sized project if you want to practice your broomstick lace skills. You can download the pattern as a pdf, and also watch the patten video tutorial.

Materials Used

The scarf in the pattern above is made with worsted (UK DK or sometimes even aran) weight yarn and a size K (UK 6.5mm) hook. The pattern also requires a size 35 (19mm) knitting needle. If you don’t have a knitting needle you can always improvise with a huge crochet hook.

Aesthetic Hooded Scarf

This scarf, from Crochtedreamz.com, does double duty as a hood.

Materials Used

This pattern requires a 5mm crochet hook and worsted (UK DK or sometimes even aran) weight yarn.

Crocodile Stitch Scarf 

The designer of the snappy scarf (see what I did there, yes I know, a joke’s bad if you have to explain it!) taught herself the crocodile stitch.  Luckily for us she share’s her knowledge for free.

 Materials Used

You can used anything you’ve got in your stash, or you can expand your stash.

This Week’s Top 3 Free Crochet Patterns- Scarves on the Scarlet Dash website.

Size 3.75mm (US 5 )

Milward Knitting Needles (Knobbed), 1 pair 3.75mm, (US 5) on the Scarlet Dash website.

***

This first hat, from rheatheylia.com, has curly crochet cables and is definitely not for a beginner.

Materials Needed:

Approx 120g. of worsted weight yarn (or UK Aran weight).

5 and 6 mm crochet hook (or hooks needed to obtain gauge!)

 ***

I love this cloche by Eileen Tepper (that’s NOT Eileen in the pic, it’s Crochet Bug who blogged about this cloche ). This gorgeous creation is available via Ravelry.

Materials Needed:

6.5mm hook

Bulky yarn (the pattern does not give an exact amount but the yarn recommended comes in 164 yard, 100g balls ).

***

This third hat from Amy Soloway at About.com  is listed as a men’s winter hat pattern, but I think that it’s easily a unisex pattern.

Materials Needed:

6.5mm and 5mm Crochet Hook

Approximately 120g of DK yarn

***

So there you go, 3 hats to keep you cosy this coming winter.

This Week’s Top 3 Free Crochet Patterns- Hats on the Scarlet Dash website.

***

Su Ami is an Etsy shop owner who specialises in extreme micro, tiny and custom made miniature animals. And when I say extreme micro I mean it….

Check out the Su Ami blog for more tiny tiny amigurumi.

***

If you’re interested in making some crochet amigurumi Craft Passion has a fantastic tutorial and extensive links.

Crochet Envy Wednesday (26th Sep ’12) on the Scarlet Dash website.

Let me explain, this is the way I’ve always done the dc (US sc) stitch,

1)  Chain the number of stitches required plus 1.

2) Insert your hook into the 2nd chain from the hook. Yarn over and pull a loop through. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops. Complete the row. Chain one and turn.

3) Row two: Insert your hook into the second chain from hook. Yarn over and pull a loop through. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops. Complete the row as normal.

This is the result. I’m sure you’ll agree it’s perfectly acceptable.

Well there’s another way to do it! A way that gives you straighter edges. These straighter edges are a dream to seam.

Here are  the edges side by side. On the left is way I first learned the dc stitch (US sc). On the right is an alternative method of working the stitch which gives a straighter edge.

From the pictures the difference may seem imperceptible but once you give it a try you’ll definitely notice how much neater (amd easier to seam) the edges are.

Here’s how to do it (and trust me you’ll need a couple of stitch markers).

1) Work a length of chain containing the required number of stitches plus 1. (For this example I’ve chained 11).

2) First place a stitch marker into the 2nd chain from the hook. Insert the hook into the 3rd chain from the hook. Yarn over and draw the yarn through. Yarn over again and draw through 2 loops.  Although one dc (US sc) has been made there are 2 stitches because the turning chain is considered a stitch.  Complete row. Chain one and turn.

- The number of stitches worked should be one less than the number of chains you started with, including the turning chain.

3) On the second row, insert a stitch marker into the 1st chain from hook.

 

Insert hook into the 3rd chain from hook (i.e. the 2nd stitch on the row), yarn over and pull a loop through. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops. Complete the rest of the row.

-The final stitch is worked into the turning chain of the previous row (where you placed your stitch marker).

To complete the swatch just repeat row 2.

-If you have the right number of stitches but scalloped edges, you’re mistakenly working in the hole directly below the turning chain and not the turning chain itself.

Give it a try you’ll certainly see a difference.

The Double Crochet Stitch Controversy (Or How to Get Straight Edges) on the Scarlet Dash website.

The sizes are 8.00mm, 9.00mm, 10.00mm, 11.50mm

These colourful hooks come in a handy plastic storage sleeve.

Darice Acrylic Crochet Hook Set 8-11.5mm on the Scarlet Dash website.

This wonderful filigree bowl is made by the textile and mixed media artist La Belle Helene. It looks deceptively simple, after all it’s just a bunch of rings crocheted over and pieced together, but I reckon it’s something that would take me an age to master.

Anyway for now I’ll just admire its beauty

Check other crochet art.

Crochet Envy Wednesday (19th Sep ’12) on the Scarlet Dash website.

I’m a recent poncho convert, I like shawls but hate how they always slip off my shoulders (yeah life’s hard!); not ponchos, these babies stay put.

***

Cozy Cowl Neck Poncho

I’ve just started a variation of this simple pattern from Lion Brand (website requires registration (it’s definitely worth it)).

This one uses a 6.5mm hook and a bulky weight yarn. To make mine I’m using a 10mm hook and an aran weight yarn, all I need now is a Fedora.

Party Poncho

From Coats Crafts, this party poncho’s perfectly pretty and… I can’t think of any more alliterative words… Anyway if I were a fast crocheter I’d make this in loads of colours.

This pattern uses Anchor Artiste Metallic and Anchor Aida 5. And a 3mm and 5mm hook. The pattern has both text and symbol instructions.

Denimstyle Ladies Poncho

This pattern from Bernat (website requires registration) looks super simple to make (simple enough even for me).

This one uses a 6.5mm hook and an aran weight yarn.

This Week’s Top 3 Patterns- Ponchos on the Scarlet Dash website.

Attic24

This is more of a technique than a pattern but as you can see this techniques makes a fabulous bag.

 Futuregirl Craft Blog

With this pattern from futuregirl you are spoilt for choice. It’s available in English, French or Dutch. Not only that, you also get a video tutorial.

 Easy Peasy Crochet Bag

Here’s another technique tutorial. Not only does it promise that it’s an easy peasy bag to make, you also get a tutorial on two other techniques that will serve you for a life time. Firstly there’s a tutorial on making twisted cords (great for bag handles and other uses). Secondly there’s a tutorial on lining the handbag.

So there you have it, 2 techniques and a pattern that should keep you in crocheted handbags for a life time.

***

Essential Supplies

Bag Handles

From bamboo to brass I’ve got a fantastic set of bag handles that add the perfect finishing touch to a handmade bag

Craft Cottons

These fantastic craft cottons are not only good for dishcloths but are also perfect for sturdy bags.

Colourful Cottons

Puppets Lyric cottons have a wonderful range of colours to brighten up your bag and your day

 Buttons

Want to embellish your creation with some fancy-pants buttons? Well here you go.

This Week’s Top 3 Free Crochet Patterns- Bags on the Scarlet Dash website.

An Inchie is a piece of art that is 1 inch by 1 inch. It can be made out of anything (yep I’m thinking mini crochet motifs!). If you want to know more about Inchies check out my links below.

For a chance to get your hands on this book  just comment on this post and answer the following question  ”what’s the smallest thing you’ve made?” (it can be anything, even if the smallest thing you’ve made is a king-size bedspread).

Once you’ve left a comment I’ll put your name into a prize draw. The results will be announced on this blog post on Saturday 11th August 2012 Midday.

THE WINNER IS TONIA JILLINGS!!! (TONIA please check your email)

To comment you’ll need to submit your email address, this will NOT be displayed on your comment and will ONLY be used to contact the prize draw winner.

Inchie Links

A fantastic inchie tutorial from the Collage Contessa.

Inchie eye-candy from the Flickr inchie group.

Beautiul Inchie quilts.

Check out inchie blog all in an inch.

More inchie eye-candy in Pinterest

August Competition Time on the Scarlet Dash website.

I know it had its problems in the past, I don’t want to gloss over them but I do want  to focus on the magazine as it is now.

I first started to crochet ages ago and then I stopped due to a sore finger (I know aw diddums!). About 2007 I started again after finding hooks with handles (thank you Clover).  Then came my crochet book fetish which was swiftly followed by a hunger for crochet magazines.

I always enjoyed the US crochet magazines but found the UK lacking in this department. Of course there was the odd crochet special inside knitting and various weekly magazines. But I longed and longed for a magazine devoted to crochet. And after 2 years of wishing Inside Crochet magazine arrived (so yes you have me to thank this magazines arrival!).

I won’t spoil it for you but let’s take a look at quick look at issue 32.

I’m not that into fashion but I’m wild about crochet clothes. I find that patterns for accessories blankets and the like are easy to find, but UK magazine wise there are fewer decent garment patterns. Not with this issue, there are 14 patterns in total and out of those 14 a whopping 10 are for garments. I especially love the Bexhill Tee, the Bon Voyage Jumper and the Tidal Tank. There’s also a good article on catwalk crochet which will appeal to fashionistas.

There’s the usual yarn review, helpful as always. There’s also an interview with crocheter Vita who owns a gorgeous Etsy shop. My favourite thing in this month’s magazine is the article on the history of crochet.

To sum up the new look Inside Crochet Magazine is off to a great start, I hope it lasts.

Inside Crochet Magazine, Redux on the Scarlet Dash website.

I’m in two minds about yarn bombing. On one hand I love how yarn can brighten up an otherwise mundane bus,

 

 

and who doesn’t like a pink camouflage bull?

 

 

But at the same time I think what a waste of time, yarn and money! Part of me thinks of all the wasted yarn. Yarn that could have been used for a  charitable cause or turned in to all sorts of wonderful garments and accessories.

I’m also a bit jealous. It does take a certain skill to yarn bomb, especially when you don’t have permission, you’ve gotta be quick with those needles and hooks. And I do envy the skill and creativity involved in such beautiful works such as this.

 

But now I’m so used to seeing yarn bombs it takes a lot to impress me and sometimes I’m presented with a ya bomb and just think meh!

I’d love to see the after pictures to see how the yarn bomb stands up after rain, snow, hot sun, pollution and bird poo. Who’s responsible for taking it down, is the yarn recycled, can it even be recycled after withstanding the elements?

So while yarn bombs such as the Helsinki Cathedral impress me I’m still in two minds.

What are your thought on yarn bombing?

Have you been part of a  yarn bomb?

Yarn Bombing Links

Knit The City Operating from a secret underground wool-lined bunker in the heart of the busy metropolis of London, Knit the City’s Yarn Corps are artists who spend most of their lives operating under assumed names. The practice living their lives like every day people. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarn_bombing Yarn bombing, yarnstorming, guerrilla knitting, urban knitting or graffiti knitting is a type of graffiti or street art that employs colorful displays of knitted or crocheted yarn or fibre rather than paint or chalk.

Yarn Bombing.org A yarn bombing community.

Yarn Storming  The original Homemade Social Network for yarn storming and yarn bombing.

Yarn Bombing.com Yarn Bombing is a blog about knit graffiti. It was started by two knitters, Mandy Moore and Leanne Prain, who live in Vancouver, Canada.

Pinterest

Fancy doing some bombing of your own? (don’t it’s illegal!!!), find some inspiration on Pinterest.

Yarn Bombing, What’s the Point? on the Scarlet Dash website.

I thought why not combine my stationary hoarding with crochet. That’s where these patterns come in; crochet cases.

***

Simple Pencil Case

This one, from Crochet Me, looks like a roomy case. If you’re a cosmetics junkie there’s space for lots of lippy.

*Some Materials Used (click the image for more details)

Cotton yarn

Size 7 (4.5mm) hook

8 inch (20 cm) zipper

Piece of cotton fabric

Needle and thread

Rainbow Pencil Case

If you’re one of those crazy people who have just a few pens then this case, from Siona Karen, is the case for you.

*Some Materials Used (click the image for more details)

DK cotton yarn in a neutral colour (approx. 55g), red (4g), orange (3g), yellow (3g), green (3g), light blue (3g), dark blue (2g) and purple (1g)

3.5mm (US size E) crochet hook

Scissors

Yarn needle

 Crochet Pencil Case

This one’s got nipples!

*Some Materials Used (click the image for more details)

This one uses a  3.5 or 4 mm crochet hook.

***

So there you have it, 3 patterns to fuel pen or make-up addiction!

This Week’s Top 3 Free Crochet Patterns, Pencil or Make Up Cases on the Scarlet Dash website.

For a chance to bag this book  just comment on this post and answer the following question  ”what crafty project are you’re working on at the moment?”

Once you’ve left a comment I’ll put your name into a prize draw. The results will be announced on this blog post on Sunday 8th July 2012 Midday.

THE WINNER IS CHRIS BOULTON!!! (CHRIS please check your email)

To comment you’ll need to submit your email address, this will NOT be displayed on your comment and will ONLY be used to contact the prize draw winner.

July Competition Time on the Scarlet Dash website.

25g, 68 metres, 75 yards. The recommended needle size is 4 mm metric. 10cm X 10cm gives 22 stitches and 30 rows.

40°C Machine wash, do not bleach, cool iron under a dry cloth, tumble dry heat to 60°C. Dry cleanable.

Patons Fab! DK Shade 02323 Red on the Scarlet Dash website.

***

Gaugefy

There are goodness knows how many Android and Iphone apps aimed at yarn lovers, this one’s one of my favourites. It’s an Android and Iphone app that helps you easily calculate gauge. But there’s more! it also calculates,

“Adjust your gauge – for the pattern you are working with

Calculate your end goals -

- How many stitches will you need to get 10 inches with your gauge? 
- How wide/long will it be when you work x stitches and y rows? 
- How many repeats do you need to get certain length or number of stitches?”

The How Many…? Knitting Tool

This is a fantastic tool that figures out how often to increase or decrease over a given number of rows. It’ll help you to answer the following example questions,

“If I want to decrease 14 stitches over 6 inches, how many rows should I work between decreases?”

“My pattern needs me to increase 6 stitches evenly over a row containing 37 stitches. How often do I increase?”

“I want to knit a piece 18 inches wide and 30 inches long. How many stitches should I cast on and how many rows should I work?”

This tool will save you a lot of brainache.

 Waist Shaping Calculator

This calculator has the same function as the How Many..? tool plus several other handy calculations.

“This little wonder widget takes you through the steps we’ve been talking about in our Waist Shaping 101 mini-course and does the math for you! It asks you for all the pertinent information: stitch and row gauge, hip/waist/bust measurements, desired ease, and the necessary vertical measurements, then gives you stitch counts, row counts, and fills in the blanks for such things as “work decrease row every X row Y times“

Be sure to check out the how to use page.

***

So there you have it, three handy tools, what tools have you discovered?

Crochet and Knitting Tools for the Numerically Challenged on the Scarlet Dash website.

For a chance to win this great title  just comment on this post and tell me what your favourite type of hook or needle is; are you a bamboo lover, strictly aluminium or does plastic float your boat?

Once you’ve left a comment I’ll put your name into a prize draw. The results will be announced on this blog post on Wednesday 9th May 2012 Midday.

THE WINNER IS KATE CORRIGAN

Dear Kate please check your email.

To comment you’ll need to submit your email address, this will NOT be displayed on your comment and will ONLY be used to contact the prize draw winner.

May Competition Time on the Scarlet Dash website.

Why Puppets Lyric cotton? Well just look at the fantastic colours! I love a good bold colour, a bright pink, a sunflower yellow and of course a strong red.

Cotton has some fantastic properties that make it great to crochet and knit with:

• It’s soft and comfortable against the skin.
• It absorbs perspiration quickly, perfect for the (hopefully!) hot summer.
• It also keeps you cool.
• It retains color well and it’s so easy to wash (this one can be washed at 60 degrees).
• It’s also strong and durable making it perfect for a wide range of items, e.g. baby clothes, shopping bags, throws and more.

Scroll down for Puppets Lyric details.

A Little Inspiration

I love this free pattern from Coats Crafts, crochet keepsake box. It uses Puppets Lyric DK White, a 7mm hook. A shell is used for the lid but you could easily substitute a bead or a button.

Puppet Lyric Details

DK- made from 100% cotton. 50g, 70 metres, 76 yards. 60°C Machine wash, do not bleach, cool iron, do not tumble dry. Dry cleanable (Not Trichloroethylene).

* The recommended hook size for the DK  is 4.00mm.  10cm X 10cm gives 19 stitches and 17 rows.

* The recommended needle  for the DK size is 4.5mm. 10cm X 10cm gives 19 stitches and 26 rows.

4 ply- made from 100% cotton. 50g, 150 metres, 164 yards. 60°C Machine wash, do not bleach, cool iron, do not tumble dry. Dry cleanable (Not Trichloroethylene).

* The recommended hook  size for the 4 ply  is 3.00mm. 10cm X 10cm gives 25 stitches and 23 rows.

* The recommended needle  for the  4 ply size is 3.5mm. 10cm X 10cm gives 33 stitches and 26 rows.

What do you like making with cotton?

Stock Spotlight Sunday on the Scarlet Dash website.

The table below outlines the mathematical formula for creating circles. The table includes formulas for shapes using DCs, HTRs, TRs, DTRs and TTRs (US: SCs, HDCs, DCs, TRs and DTRs).

***

Points to Note

1. The number of stitches needed depends upon the height of the stitch. The taller the stitch the more stitches required.

2.  When you use the same stitch throughout your motif, the number of stitches to be added on subsequent rounds is the same for   every round. That number is the same number of stitches used in round 1.

3. Increases should be made one by one and spaced evenly as possible around.

Geometric Crocheted Shape Formulas, Works for Circles,Triangles, Squares, and Hexagons Too!

To Make Other Shapes Using this Table

To make a triangle the increases need to be divided into 3 and placed evenly apart at the same point on every round.

For example complete round 1 according to the table. On round 2 (for a DC, US sc) you  need to increase by 12 stitches. For the triangle shape those 12 increase stitches need to be in groups of 3.

To make a square the increases need to be divided into 4 and placed evenly apart at the same point on every round.

For example complete round 1 according to the table. On round 2 (for a DC, US sc) you need to increase by 12 stitches. For the square shape those 12 increase stitches need to be in groups of 4.

To make a hexagon the increases need to be divided into 6 and placed at the same point on every round.

For example complete round 1 according to the table. On round 2 you  need to increase by 12 stitches. For the hexagon shape those 12 increase stitches need to be in groups of 6.

 ***

Geometric Crocheted Shape Formulas, Works for Circles,Triangles, Squares and Hexagons Too! on the Scarlet Dash website.

***

At number 3 is this crochet daisy chain. Very pretty and summery, would look great made with a sparkly thread. This US pattern gives directions for a single daisy and a double daisy.

At number two is the banana hammock, yes you heard me, banana hammock. Although it sounds silly I think this one’s really useful. This US pattern needs a good quality strong crochet cotton and a 6mm hook.

And at number one is this beautiful crochet flower garland (you know how I love my reds). Strictly speaking this is not a pattern, you can actually purchase the finished item made  by UK Etsy Seller Emma Lamb. However you could easily take inspiration from this and make something similar. I found this terrific site with free motif patterns.

This Week’s Top 3 Free Crochet Patterns on the Scarlet Dash website.

You could win 1 pink, 1 lilac and 1 blue cotton crochet thread.

For a chance to win all 3 Whoosh crochet cottons, just comment on this post and tell me what you’d make with it.

Once you’ve left a comment I’ll put your name into a prize draw. The results will be announced on this blog post on Monday 9th March 2012 Midday.

THE WINNER IS ULA ELLIOTT!!! (Ula please check your email)

*Whoosh Details, 10 count thread, 60g, 400 yards/ 366 metres. Recommended hook size 1.50mm-1.75mm

To comment you’ll need to submit your email address, this will NOT be displayed on your comment and will ONLY be used to contact the prize draw winner.

April Competition Time on the Scarlet Dash website.

This 30 inch Denise Interchangeable cord is for use with Denise interchangeble Knitting Needles or Crochet Hooks.

Denise Interchangeable 30 Inch Cord on the Scarlet Dash website.

100g, 274 metres, 300 yards. The recommended needle size is 4 mm metric. 10cm X 10cm gives 22 stitches and 30 rows.

40°C Machine wash, do not bleach, cool iron under a dry cloth, tumble dry heat to 60°C. Dry cleanable.

Patons Fab! DK Shade 02322 Cherry on the Scarlet Dash website.

25g, 274 metres, 300 yards. The recommended needle size is 4 mm metric. 10cm X 10cm gives 22 stitches and 30 rows.

40°C Machine wash, do not bleach, cool iron under a dry cloth, tumble dry heat to 60°C. Dry cleanable.

Patons Fab! DK Shade 02317 Lime on the Scarlet Dash website.

It’s 100% mercerised cotton.

50g gives you 280m/306y

For use with crochet hook 1.25-1.50mm.

Machine washable up to 95°C

Art. No 4773011

Anchor Aida No.10 (6 Ply Thread) 09046 Red on the Scarlet Dash website.