Eight-by-Six

Ring of roses top Back in December Cassie Ward  (aka themissingyarn ) contacted me to tell me all about her new fab book ' The Crochet Wardrobe  'published by Tuvapublishing and asked me if I wanted to be part of her book tour in March. Little scary as I've never done one before but I gathered my yarn and after a busy day in the office I finally managed to cast on last night. I've also managed a couple of rows in my lunch break (yep no knitting for a few days!)  Loving the vintage feel in the Scheepjes Stonewashed (in Moon Stone) and the pattern is a dream, well written and easy for me to follow. I've ordered some vintage mother of pearl buttons I may use for the centre of the roses. I'll be posting more updates on my Instagram page before my book tour date in March. when your crochet hook matches your latest project

These little stars are so easy to crochet and very addictive. You can find the pattern over at Attic 24 with a brilliant easy to follow tutorial. My finished garland is for sale in my Etsy store. star garland star garland complete

So I should be finishing g this Gryer shawl but I kind of got distracted with these teeny tiny crochet stars, they are very addictive! I found the pattern on  attic 24  and another easy to follow brilliant little pattern that you can memorise after just maki g one or two. Umm I may have made enough for a little garland just in time for Christmas. Don’t just take my word for it pop over to try out the pattern yourself , I bet you can’t stop either. I’m using Scheepjes Stonewashed in Yellow Jasper and I’ve also got a small amount of minis left that I’ve started using in some gorgeous colours. The little balls of yarn are just perfect for this project.

I've almost finished my crochet cowl by Rosina Northcott (aka zeensandroger on Instagram) that  I started last Saturday. I was waiting for more yarn to complete the last row, and its arrived today from Lusciously Loopy Yarn (yeah) just ran out of one row but didn't want to substitute the colour. When I saw the pattern in Mollie Makes issue 103  earlier this year I knew it was something I wanted to make but I couldn't decide on the yarn at the time. I couldn't find the magazine then searched on eBay and luckily I found a new copy, sealed. Then recently I bought some hand dye merino yarn from my lovely friend Fiona at Sewhappily Creativ e and I knew then the main yarn had to be Scheepjes Stonewashed and I have a huge stash of it (all be it not quite enough for the last row!). Fiona introduced me to the Stonewashed earlier this year and its one of my favourite yarns to crochet and knit with. I knitted my Gryer Shawl in May using six colours and I've an...

One more sleep and it will be Granny Square Day 2019, here are some more designs I've been crocheting this week. One more to try tonight! solid granny square using hand dye  yarn by Sewhappycreativ motif 1 from the book Crochet Blocks using Scheepjes Stonewashed

When its a wet Monday morning and you need a rainbow. I was testing out another granny square yesterday afternoon ready for Granny Square Day 2019 but I forgot to stop. I may turn this into a new jumper, what do you think? Its not like I don't have most of the colours in my yarn stash! I've added the details and the links below. Hope you have find the time to crochet today in readiness for Granny Square Day, not long now. crochet a rainbow Pattern: Attic 24 solid granny square yarn: Scheepjes Stonewashed (bought from Lusciously Loopy (affiliate) Colours: Moon Stone Red Jasper Coral Lemon Quartz Canada Jade Turquoise Amazonite Rose Quartz Hook size: 4mm

I'm whizzing along the long rows and I've just finished the 5th colour. I really love how the colours I've chosen work so well together. Sometimes you choose colours and then when you knit them together they don't work as you had expected. On this occasion it has worked just as I wanted it to and the back is just as pretty. Last night I started to add the final colour and then its finished! I don't want to finish it because its been so much fun to knit but I have my next Gryer shawl already planned, I just need to purchase the yarn this week. When this is finished it will be perfect for our holiday on the Broads later this month along with my rectangular granny blanket that I'm finishing next week. More about that in a separate post soon and don't forget you can follow my progress on my Instagram account. Gryer shawl knitted in Scheepjes Stonewashed Smokey Quartz, Amazonite, yellow Jasper, Crystal Quartz and Rose Quartz pretty pink tulips from...

Are you looking for a quick project to make for your mum, sister or friend. I recently made this one in about ten minutes and it such a lovely addition to a present. You can't beat hand made gifts, can you? I'm going to make lots of these in other colours, its not like I don't have lots of yarn in my stash. All you need to do is follow the pattern instructions for the tiny flower but using a 4mm hook and Scheepjes Stonewashed or any DK yarn you have in your stash. When you have completed 5 petals ss to close then chain 50. When you reach ch50 turn and sc (single crochet) into each chain of the previous row. This is like an i cord and can be used for a number of projects, including shoe laces! Once you start you won't want to stop. When you reach ch1 at the top simply ss to close. Sew in the ends and add a button if you want to. Once this actual gift has been gifted I'll post more photos on my Instagram account

I'm trying to squeeze in making my solid granny squares whenever I can. I need 100 to complete the blanket. Some I do in my lunch break, others whilst hubby is driving me about (I can drive but why waste valuable crochet time!) some whilst watching tv after work and others as soon as I wake up with my morning cup of tea. And just look at that new mug, my new Cath Kidston bargain find at the outlet shop on Sunday. I was testing out how to join my squares this morning, like you do. I dream crochet! I quite like the way this test has worked out, joining through two loops on the back leaving the ridge/seam at the back but its neat and makes it fully reversible. If you missed it in my previous post here is the link to the pattern from Attic 24 - its a brilliant tutorial with pictures. I'm a visual learner so I definitely need lots of photos and inspiration - you will definitely find it here. I stock up on my yarn from Lusciously Loopy  because I like to shop from small busines...

Wasn't it quiet last night without Instagram? Did it affect you? I spent the evening knitting and crocheting, mixing the two because I couldn't settle on one project. Funny how not having access to your favourite app makes you feel unsettled. Just shows how much rely on social media in our day. I started to knit a test piece for a new collaboration with The Knitting Network . My yarn hasn't arrived but I had something similar to get to grips with the new pattern. I'll show some work in progress hopefully next week on my Instagram account.  Its a lovely pattern and one that can be knitted up in lots of different yarn, including Stonewashed!

More solid granny squares, yes its true I am addicted and I definitively have a yarn crush on the Scheepjes Stonewashed. Just look at those Cath Kidston style colours I'm working on right now. I am making 100 out of my mini box, so many colours and so much fun. Each one is being joined with a cream border (moon stone, I bought a few 50g balls to do this from Lusciously Loopy Yarn) and I plan to join them with a dc raised seam on the front for a vintage feel. I haven't decided on a border as yet, something wide, simple and with a vintage. This is my first project with the solid granny square pattern and I hope to make another as a wedding gift for later this year. You can follow my progress on my Instagram account. I'm using the brilliant easy to follow pattern by Lucy at Attic 24 and a 3.5mm crochet hook. Have you tried these yet, you really must. more solid granny squares

Ok so I was supposed to be gardening this afternoon it I got a little distracted with this gorgeous border. Give the blanket a real vintage feel and it’s so cosy to work on. Only trouble is it will be finished and I’ll have to start another! I have plans for the next one using the solids granny squares. Watch this space! Border time New new wellingtons 

I was by my lovely insta buddy Fiona at (sewhappycreativ) to pattern test her lovely new pattern due to be released in March. I have so much fun with this and the yarn is Scheepjes Stonewashed. Its so soft, warm and cosy and I now plan to make myself a bigger one using the left over yearn. I'm thinking just random colours. Here are just a few photos I've been sharing on my Instagram account over the last couple of weeks. my colour block blanket in the background