Eight-by-Six

Springtime blanket  Amanda Hurrell   Eight-by-Six©     Sizes and Materials List Hook Size: UK 4mm (I use Clover brand) Stitch markers: optional Yarn: Sirdar Country Classic DK 50g (50% wool 50% acrylic) Tension:  22 stitches to 28 rows (10x10cm) 4x4 inches on a 4mm hook Wash care instructions: machine washable 30deg wool cycle, dry flat, reshape whilst wet. Do not tumble dry, do not iron Colours Sirdar Country Classic DK 857 Pink 855 Rose Pink 864 Duck Egg Blue 863 Mint Green 862 Dove Grey 866 Charteusse 868 Spring Green 860 Lilac 856 Coral   Tips & Notes One great tip I learnt is to flip your work on each row. This is a great way to keep your granny square, well square and not wonky. It works like magic and since using this method I’ve never looked back. To do this you flip over your square so that the previous row and join are now in the bottom left hand corner of the square (wrong side facing you) and you start the next row in the top right hand...

  Colour me happy blanket  Amanda Hurrell   Eight-by-Six©     Sizes and Materials List Hook Size: UK 4mm (I use Clover brand) Stitch markers: optional Yarn: Stylecraft Special DK (322 yds/295 metres per 100g ball) Tension: 22 stitches to 30 rows to 10cm on 4mm hook Pattern size of approx. 115cm x 115 cm for lap blanket  I’ve chosen colours I had in my yarn stash, you could use the same colours I have or substitute for what colours you have readily available. Mine was a stash buster to mix some colours up and to use a bold colour for the border. I’ve kept my border simple and added statement pom poms in the same colour as the last row. We all need colour and fun at the moment.  Wash care instructions: machine washable 40deg, cool tumble dry, cool iron, can be dry cleaned (I line dry mine) Colours Stylecraft Special DK and Cygnet DK Mustard Storm Blue Candy Floss Buttermilk Bluebell Fuschia Purple Duck Egg Camel Bluebell (Cygnet DK 149) can be substitute...

A friends baby is due mid September so I thought it would be nice to send a hand crochet blanket. They are expecting a boy and luckily I had most of the Stylecraft Special DK colours in my stash. I planned out the blue colours, using 9 colours and then as I reached the colour repeat I felt it lacked something. The blues: Bluebell, Denim, Aster, Cloud Blue, Sherbet, Storm Blue, Cornish Blue, Turquoise, Duck Egg. the blue edit Before you know it I'm making a rainbow blanket! And I've added tall he pinks, next I'm working on the purple shades. The pinks: Powder Pink, Pale Rose, Candy Floss, Fondant I'll be adding more details soon, please check my Instragram account for daily/weekly updates. the pink edit Rainbow blanket in progress the purple shades started

As a King Cole ambassador, I'm lucky I get to play around with new yarn and new colours each month. The Cotton Top range is my latest yarn crush. This flecked, lightly textured yarn is available in vintage pastel shades of a cotton and premium acrylic blend (Mist, Teal, Lilac, Blue, Avocado, Stone, Rose, Grey, Cream, Pink, White). There is sure to be a colour or colours you will fall in love with. You can buy yours here at LoveCrafts and get 15% off your first order, even better value. A new project for June I chose the colour Stone (4221) because it's neutral and will be perfect with jeans, white t-shirt and my old converse trainers. A comfortable, cosy outfit for walks on the beach or just sitting around the house. Now I've finished this one I'm starting another in blue (4218) which is another colour thats pretty neutral. I bought my yarn online but I have been gifted the new colour Mist which will also be made into a jumper, probably the s...

I've been crazy for granny squares again during the UK lockdown. It must be the soothing satisfaction of those gorgeous little squares, each one made in no time at all. But when you have a little neat stack of them in front of you, you can't help but smile.   So here are some photos of the past week in progress shots, all that colour makes me smile every time and I'm just over half way with my pile of squares. Now that the weather is colder I can sit and add more (using join as you go) and keep warm at the same time. Win win situation.   I'm going to spend the afternoon making more. My yarn stash hasn't moved very much, mainly because I'm using up a bag of smaller amounts left over from previous projects. I'm sure I have enough to make another one or two!

Aran cotton Granny Square Blanket Amanda Hurrell Eight-by-Six©   Sizes and Materials List Hook Size UK 5mm Yarn: Hobbycraft Women’s Institute Home Cotton 160m metres per 100g ball Yarn substitute: any Aran cotton, suggestions Paintbox Aran but you will need to purchase more yarn and this uses a smaller hook size. pattern size of approx. 100 x 100cm One each of the following colours 100g ball + Cream 5   x 100g Wash care instructions: machine washable 40deg mild wash, cool tumble dry, do not iron, do not bleach. Colours Dark pink 122-09 (for centre and 1 st row of border) Cream 122-02, alternate on every other row Light blue 122-13 Light Pink 122-08 Yellow 122-04 Purple 122-17 Dark Blue 122-18 Tips & Notes One great tip I learnt is to flip your work on each row. This is a great way to keep your granny square, well square and not wonky. It works like magic and since using thi...

Carnival Granny Stripe Blanket Amanda Hurrell   Eight-by-Six©   Sizes and Materials List Hook Size UK 4mm  Yarn: I’ve used Stylecraft Special DK (which is 322 yds/295 metres per 100g ball and retails at around £1.95 per ball for 100g) I buy mine from  Love Crafts and this is where you can find my ad free pattern Stylecraft Special DK wash care instructions: machine washable 30deg, can be dry cleaned (I line dry mine) Colours turquoise lipstick raspberry duck egg denim mustard pistachio boysenberry bluebell lavender violet Tips & Notes Sewing in the ends. Everyone dreads this part but from previous experience its much easier and quicker to sew them in as you go along. Maybe choose to sew in ten or so rows at one time. I do this now with a tea break and it makes finishing the blanket a nicer experience and much quicker and neater too. Abbreviations ch = chain sl st = slip stitch dc = double crochet tr = treble htr =...