My First Granny Square

It would probably be fair to say, and I’m sure my friends would agree, that I am not a natural crocheter.  For a start I insist on crocheting as if I am knitting.

But, having finally cracked the single crochet stitch, having been making amigurumi using slip stitch instead of single crochet (which has lead to a really dense fabric and really, really sore fingers), I decided it would a good step to learn to do a Granny Square.

So, off to Google where I found this really good How To: Craft Stylish – Granny Square How To

And the resulting attempt looks like this (I hasten to had, I’m pretty proud of this!):

My first granny square

This made me giggle…

Cabled Bangles – Plaited

If, like me, you have a lot of scraps kicking about from finished (and abandoned) projects, this series of bangles is a great way to use them up!

This plaited bangle only used 11 meters (about 12 yards) of left over Crystal Palace Yarns Mini Mochi.

Plaited Cable

What I Used:

– 12m Crystal Palace Yarns Mini Mochi

– 3mm Straight Needles

– A Cable Needle

– A Darning Needle

Abbreviations

K  – Knit

P- Purl

C6F – Slip the next 3 stitches on to the cable needle and keep in front of the work, knit the next 3 stitches on the main needle and then knit the 3 stitches from the cable needle

C6B – Slip the next 3 stitches on to the cable needle and keep at the back of the work, knit the next 3 stitches on the main needle and then knit the 3 stitches from the cable needle

The “Pattern”

Cast on 9 stitches and stockinette stitch for 4 rows, finishing with a purl row.

1. C6F, K3

2. P all

3. K all

4. P all

5. K3, C6B

6. P all

7. K all

8. P all

Repeat rows 1 to 8 until you have reached about 7 and a half inches (19 cm) in length

Repeat row 1 once more.

Stockinette stitch for 4 rows, ending with a knit row.

Cast off.

Sew the cast off end to the cast on end and weave in yarn ends.

Easy Plaited Cable Bangle

Free Pattern – Climbing Ladders

This is one of my favourite designs to date.  I first made this hat as a present for my brother Guy, and liked it so much I decided to write the pattern up.

It’s super simple and pretty quick to knit too.  All you need is some 4mm (US 6) double pointed needles, or a circular needle, and 2 balls of 4 ply yarn.

I use a solid yarn and a variegated yarn, and as they are knitted held together it creates a lovely “tweedy” colouring, and wonderful texture.

Ladder Stitch Detailing

If you would like to download the PDF version of my pattern please click on the following link: Climbing Ladders Hat

The Challenge of Self Photographing

So, I’ve been trying to take some pictures today to go on draft patterns and, well, I’d forgotten how tricky it is.

The first thing you have to consider is, do you take one where you can see the camera/phone (I use my iPhone because the quality is so good), or do you take one where it can be cut out.

Then there is what face to pull and where to look, this is especially tricky when taking photographs in a mirror.  Looking at yourself in the mirror often seems to lead to strangely wayward eyes in the picture.

Believe it or not I was looking at myself, but instead, I just look a little shifty….

Then there is the shaky-ness you get from using a hand held rather than a tripod mounted camera…

Looking grumpy and at the phone and with shakes, this is not good!!

But then every now and again you seem to get a good one 🙂 which is a relief or I’d probably just give up all together!!  Well, I say good, as far as I’m concerned it’s not bad of me and you can see what I’m trying to get a picture of!!

It will do!

 

 

Unicorns

Picture by Janice Cyr

I’m currently crocheting my little fingers off (literally, we’re working towards blisters here!) making two crocheted unicorns for two little girls birthdays at the end of the month.  I’m relatively new to crocheting though, so there is lots of finger crossing that they turn out ok.  If not, there may be some speedy knit projects to make some replacements.

In theory they should end up looking like the one in the pictures.

Picture by Janice Cyr

The pattern is by Janice Cyr and is called Luna the Unicorn – hers are seriously cute, hopefully mine will resemble them a little!!

Picture by Janice Cyr