Crochet Hexagons and Other Things.

Last week, found me preparing,

for my first crochet workshop.

I looked through my wool stash and

it all seemed so lacklustre and uninspiring.

After a trawl through the Internet I discovered,

this Stylecraft D.K. wool, on the Deramores website.

Lots of lovely and exciting colours at an inexpensive price. 

They arrived in, no time at all.

Ordered on Saturday lunchtime....

arrived on Monday.

I wound them into lots of little balls of colour.

If this doesn't inspire my newbies, nothing will.

My lovely ladies are beginners, needing lots of

help, reassurance and lovely colour.   

I spent the rest of the week, preparing handouts and

crocheting sample granny squares.

My object was, that by the end of the workshop, 

the ladies would be able to crochet one of these.

I did think it might be a big ask and so did they

at the beginning of the day but they didn't disappoint.

Look what they produced!

Well done girls!

To finish, thought I might share with you a ....

"How to "                    

Hexagon                     These little shapes are a bit more challenging than

                                  a granny square but are fun to make. When a few

are sewn together they look like a patchwork quilt.

I used a 4mm (Size 8) hook and double knitting weight

yarn ( in this case cotton), in three colours.

Cotton yarn always comes out slightly larger but

I thought it would make it easier to see.

All instructions are using UK terms.

 Things you need to Know: 

    ch (chain)          Make a slip knot, insert hook into loop, yarn over hook,

                             pull through loop on hook to make a new loop.                

sl st (slip stitch)      Insert hook into chain, yarn over, pull yarn through 

                             chain and loop on hook.

   tr (treble)           Yarn over hook, insert hook into stitch, pull yarn 

                            through stitch  (3 loops on hook), yarn over,

                            pull through next 2 loops (2 loops on hook),

                            yarn over pull through remaining 2 loops           

dtr (double tr)      Yarn over hook twice, insert hook into stitch, pull yarn

                            through stitch, 4 loops on hook), yarn over pull

                            through 2 loops (3 loops on hook), yarn over 

                           pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), 

                           yarn over pull through remaining 2 loops.                                               

  *                       Repeat instructions between * *

Joining a new colour:

              

Make a slip knot in the new colour. Insert hook through

    stitch and then through slip knot loop.Tighten the slip knot.

 Pull loop through stitch , hook under yarn and pull yarn 

through slip knot loop ((forms 1st ch).

(see pic above)

              Method:      Make 6 ch. Join  last ch to the first ch with a sl st,

                                to form a ring. 

                                You will be working out of this ring for the first round.

                                   

             Round 1:       3 ch (counts as 1st tr), 2tr, 3ch,into ring, 

                                 *3tr, 3ch into ring, (rep from* 5 times).

                                  Make sl st to 3rd of initial 3ch, to complete round.

                                  Fasten off.

                 Round 2.    Join new colour into one of the spaces formed by 

                                   3 ch. Ch 4 (counts as 1st dtr), 2dtr 2ch, 3dtr into

                                   space, 3dtr, 2ch, 3dtr, into each of the other 

                                   3ch spaces. 

                                   

                               Make sl st, into 4th ch of initial 4ch, to complete

                               round. Fasten off.

                Round 3: Join new colour into one of the dtr from previous 

                               round. 3ch (counts as 1st tr), 

                               *1tr into each dtr, (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) into each 2 ch space*

                               Make sl st into 3rd ch of initial 3ch, to complete round. 

                               Fasten off.

                                   

Sew in the ends and there you have it!

 You can add more rows of tr's to make the

hexagon larger and more colourful.

Just remember to crochet 2tr, 2ch, 2tr into 

each 2ch space for the corners.

When you've made a pile, they can be sewn or

crocheted together to make a blanket.

                                             Happy hooking!

                                     Have a creative week, everyone.

This blog entry is my submission to the Deramores Blog Awards 2014.                                

Deramores is the UK’s number one online retailer of knitting and crochet supplies.

He's arrived!

Ronnie Racoon has arrived.

Along with a little package, containing

Emergency Rations.... to help him feel at home.

It contained an odd sock from his maker and

a packet of his favourite pineapple sweeties.

As you can see he is making himself right at home

and getting to know the 'pencil top gang'.

Thanks again Jane x

I've won!

Imagine my suprise, when I was playing

catch up, with the latest posts from 

my favourite blogger's, to find I was the

winner of Plain Jane's Giveaway.

I am now the proud owner of

Ronnie Racoon.

Ethel is absolutely delighted to have a new friend to play with

and so am I!!

Thank you Jane x

A Gift From A Friend

It's been another busy week. Can't believe it's the

weekend already!

The highlight of my week was

a gift that I received from a new friend.

An exquisite brooch!

She sells her lovely beadwork on Etsy

and blog's about it too.

Thank you Agnes, it means a lot.

Have a creative time everyone and enjoy the 

fabulous Spring sunshine we're having!

Hard Graft!

Thursday this week found me in Harrogate.

Spring has definitely sprung on The Stray, which is famous

for it's crocus display. As always, I didn't have my camera

with me to record this splendorous array of floral magnificence.

Trawling the net, I found this image to show you.

The internet is a marvellous place!

Difficult to find a subject to blog about this week,

as I have been knitting to the exclusivity of everything else.

The body of the sweater is now complete and I had to 

join the shoulder seams. I thought I might try 'grafting' again.

I have tried it several times before without success.

It's always ending up looking like a 'dogs dinner'.

Thought you might be interested in the process as it looks

so much better than sewing, if it works!

This is the book I am working from.

It has lots of traditional and lovely patterns to make and a very useful

section on techniques, at the back.... one of which was, grafting.

Lay two edges, right side up, side by side.

 Use remeaining thread from last stitch ( need 3x length of seam).

I didn't do that, as I've only just read that bit. 

Just used same coloured wool.

Bring needle back through the loop of the first stitch

and then through the loop on the other side.

Take the needle down through the first loop on the first

side and the through the second loop, on the same side.

Take needle through first and second loops on the other side.

Repeat across the row, keeping the tension as close to 

the tension of the knitting you are joining.

I hope this makes sense!

To be honest, I just followed the diagrams.

For some inexplicable reason, the technique

 just clicked with me, this time.

I was absolutely chuffed with the result.

A virtually invisible join, although the pattern doesn't 

quite gel in one place.

Can you spot it?

Try it, you won't be sorry.

This will give me an entirely seamless sweater as the sleeve

stitches are picked up around the armhole and knitted down to the cuff.

That's the next challenge!

Have a great weekend everyone.

Goosey Goosey Gander!

Like my blogger friend Ali, of Random Wooliness.

My post this week is about our feathered friends.

I have to say here and now, that my photos aren't a 

patch on hers but here goes.

Mr C and I, had a bit of an adventure last weekend,

looking after a flock of geese and some assorted

chickens.

The setting was idyllic, with views out over Nidderdale

I did wonder what the geese would be like, as they have 

a bit of a reputation for being fierce. However they

proved to be very biddable, if a bit noisy,

 especially after Mr C. bribed them with

 some bread....  a favourite with them!

This is Rolley, the leader of the pack,who followed us about to 

make sure we didn't get up to anything we shouldn't.

A very handsome fellow!

I loved the chicken shed. Lots of eggs to be

found inside..... an added bonus!

and these are some of the hens.

Lovely ladies, all!

Sunday's are the day I set aside, for my own

textiles. This is my latest work in progress.

I love listening to Radio 4 and sewing.

The Spiral is my favourite shape. This picture

definately doesn't do it justice but gives a bit of a flavour of it.

The background, is hessian scrim. 

It can be pulled into lots of irregular shapes, which can be darned, 

embroidered or bound. I love using 'found' objects too.

The rest of the week was put aside for the 

fairisle sweater. It's coming on, as you can see.

Finished the back and am up to the armholes at the front.

Before I go, must show you the little gift,

Rolley's owners left for me.

A gorgeous pair of vintage crochet, cotton gloves.

Ethel insisted on, 'getting in on the act', by modelling them.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

Flowering Unseen!

My last two posts seem to have developed 

a poetic theme. Must be something to do with

Spring!

'Full many a flow'r is born to blush unseen',

Gray's Elegy

These images conjure up Spring for me

and ......

 in our little garden, what did I find this week.

peeping out from the foliage.

It gave me such a lift.

I smiled all day.

Not much craft work to show and tell

about this week.

I have been working very hard on the Fairisle sweater.

I'm onto the armholes, which proved difficult, to set the pattern.

I had one false start, as the pattern was not

lining up. Had to undo it but on the right track now.

It's very logical but I'm not!!

Last Sunday, I was very excited to be the highest bidder 

on Ebay, for a group of vintage, rag rug tools.

As the last few seconds ticked by, I found myself

dancing around my work room,

 in high excitement.

Not very decorous, you may say but fun! 

The first craft skill, I learned, after knitting, was

rag rugging. The scissor-like tool on the left

of the photo, is called a 'speed rugger'.

I have one all ready but it is made of wood and fragile.

I look forward to using this more robust looking tool.

I haven't made a rug for some time but I have one in my minds eye.

 My next project, when the commission is done.

This is one of my rugs

Lily

 I have a busy weekend, lined up

In the pop-up shop in Harrogate, for part of the day, today.

Only a week left, so if you're in the area.

Pop in! 

You're sure of a friendly welcome.

I'm also looking after a flock of Chinese Geese, for a friend.

Life's never dull.

Hope they're friendly.

I'll let you know.

Have a great weekend everyone x