Showing posts with label autumn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label autumn. Show all posts

Friday, 17 November 2017

Textured coasters

It all started with the yarn bargain of the century...


Let me take you back to late September, when I'd been invited to Yarndale for the weekend by my pal and Supersize Crochet supplier, Andrea from Woolly Mahoosive. We had the most totally fab time,  I met the most wonderful people and I'm so pleased to say, many new friends, too.


Now, those of you who have been to a yarny festival before will know a bit about what to expect - lots and lots of different companies, both big and small, selling all their different wares - yarn in every colour imaginable, tools, patterns, baskets, accessories and just about everything in between.


I love it all.
Especially the yarn *sigh*
But, I already have lots of beautiful hand-dyed skeins (with soooooo many projects in mind,) so these days, I'm on the look-out for something a bit different.
And I struck gold this time:
These little balls of 100% wool at 50p each in the MOST gorgeously perfect autumnal colours!


Now, they're not the sort of yarn you'd want to wear - they're the sort of yarn you'd use to make hard-wearing, rugged homewares, so I decided (to start with) I'd make some sweet little coasters.

(As a person with two small-ish children and one excitable dog, I find yarn coasters to be the most brilliant thing, 'cos they don't break when they are inevitably knocked off the coffee table)

Anyhoos, here's the pattern. They're worked in the round, but with a few turns in direction to create the most lovely texture:


You'll need a small amount of any yarn you like with a hook to match - these will work in everything from double knit, worsted and aran weights to chunky.

UK pattern first, US below:

Textured Coasters UK pattern


Stitches to know:
sl st  - slip stitch
ch - chain
ch-sp - chain space
dc - double crochet
tr - treble crochet
FLO - front loops only
BLO - back loops only


To make the 2-bobble stitch, work two trebles in the indicated stitch, leaving the last part of each treble unworked. (Three loops on hook). Yoh, draw through all three loops.
 

To make the 3-bobble stitch, work three trebles in the indicated stitch, leaving the last part of each treble unworked. (Four loops on hook). Yoh, draw through all four loops.


Rnd 1: 3ch (counts as tr), 11tr in magic ring or 5ch (counts as 2ch + tr), 11tr in 4th ch from hook, sl st to 3rd ch to join rnd, turn.

Rnd 2: 3ch, 2-bobble in same st as 3ch, 1ch, *3-bobble, 1ch around; repeat from * to end, sl st to FLO of 1st tr of 2-bobble, turn.

Rnd 3: 3ch, 2tr in same st  BLO, 1tr in 1ch-sp, *3tr in next st BLO, 1tr in 1ch-sp; repeat from * to end, sl st to 3rd ch to join rnd.

Rnd 4: 1ch, 1dc BLO in each st to end.
Fasten off and weave in ends.

Textured Coasters US pattern


Stitches to know:
sl st  - slip stitch
ch - chain
ch-sp - chain space
sc - single crochet
dc - double crochet
FLO - front loops only
BLO - back loops only


To make the 2-bobble stitch, work two double crochets in the indicated stitch, leaving the last part of each dc unworked. (Three loops on hook). Yoh, draw through all three loops.
 
To make the 3-bobble stitch, work three double crochets in the indicated stitch, leaving the last part of each dc unworked. (Four loops on hook). Yoh, draw through all four loops.


Rnd 1: 3ch (counts as dc), 11dc in magic ring or 5ch (counts as 2ch + dc), 11dc in 4th ch from hook, sl st to 3rd ch to join rnd, turn.

Rnd 2: 2ch, 2-bobble in same st as 3ch, 1ch, *3-bobble, 1ch around; repeat from * to end, sl st to FLO of 1st tr of 2-bobble, turn.

Rnd 3: 3ch, 2dc in same st  BLO, 1dc in 1ch-sp, *3dc in next st BLO, 1dc in 1ch-sp; repeat from * to end, sl st to 3rd ch to join rnd.

Rnd 4: 1ch, 1sc BLO in each st to end.
Fasten off and weave in ends.



And that's all there is to it!

Happy crocheting,
Sarah xx

Wednesday, 11 October 2017

Season of Gold: A cowl pattern

I absolutley do not need any more scarves, cowls or wraps.

I have loads, I really do.



But when I found this GORGEOUS yarn in a local yarn shop, I fell in love and knew I wanted to wear it around my neck. 
  

You see, it's baby llama and it truly is the most beautifully soft yarn I have ever squidged in my entire life. 
And it's the most perfect Autumnal gold colour, too.
AND it was on sale....

...So I grabbed the last three skeins and ran out of the shop (after paying, obvs), laughing with glee.


I knew exactly what I wanted and found my crochet hook.

And I'm not taking it off.
Ever.


If you'd like to make one (to add to your 'I-do-not-need-any-more-scarves pile'), then here's the pattern (UK first, US below). 

You can use any yarn in any weight with any hook - just make sure you go up a hook size or two to create a lovely, soft drape; simply adjust the foundation chain to suit, making sure it's an even number and you're good to go ...

Enjoy!

Sarah xx

I used:
3 x 50g / 100m balls of Mirasol Llama Una in Mustard (shade 8204)
5mm hook.

Yarn alternative:
Any dk or aran yarn and hook to match

UK Pattern
ch 88, sl st into 1st ch to join round.
Row 1: 1ch (doesn’t count as a stitch here and throughout), (1htr, 1tr) in next st, sk 1 st, *(1dc, 1tr) in next st, sk 1 st; repeat from * around, 1dc in last st. Sl st into 1ch to join round, turn.
Row 2: 1ch, (1htr , 1tr ) in 3rd st from hook,  sk 1 st, *(1dc, 1tr) in next st, sk 1 st; repeat from*, 1dc in last st. Sl st into 1ch to join round, turn.
Rows 3 – until yarn runs out: Repeat row 2
Fasten off and weave in ends.


US Pattern
ch 88, sl st into 1st ch to join round.
Row 1: 1ch (doesn’t count as a stitch here and throughout), (1hdc, 1dc) in next st, sk 1 st, *(1sc, 1dc) in next st, sk 1 st; repeat from * around, 1sc in last st. Sl st into 1ch to join round, turn.
Row 2: 1ch, (1hdc, 1dc ) in 3rd st from hook,  sk 1 st, *(1sc, 1dc) in next st, sk 1 st; repeat from*, 1sc in last st. Sl st into 1ch to join round, turn.
Rows 3 – until yarn runs out: Repeat row 2
Fasten off and weave in ends.


*******

Thursday, 10 September 2015

An Autumn Project


I made this little guy yonks ago and thought he'd be the perfect project for an Autumn day.

To tell the truth, I am super-busy at the moment, with a new book underway which will be available around Christmas time (eeeeeeek, terrifying deadline to meet- all projects to be completed by end of this month!!). I'm also continuing to design for various magazines and have even worked on a couple of projects for DMC yarns. A quick look at my Instagram or Twitter feeds and you'll see some of what I've been doing.)

So here's something old to me, but new to you.

If you'd like to make a little pine-cone Imp, then you'll need:

A 2.5cm wooden bead,
Some strong glue,
4mm hook
Oddments of dk /8ply yarn for hat and scarf
Small button to decorate.
Marker pen

UK Hat Pattern:
1.  3dc in magic ring or ch2, 3dc in 2nd ch from hook.
2. 2dc in each st (6 sts)
3. Dc 6
4. (Dc 1, 2dc in next st) rep 3 times (9)
5. Dc 9
6. (Dc 2, 2dc in next st) rep 3 times (12)
7. Dc 12
8. (Dc 3, 2dc in next st ) rep 3 times (16)
9. Dc 16
10-12. Dc 16
Fasten off, weave in ends.

US Hat Pattern
1.  3sc in magic ring or 2ch, 3sc in 2nd ch from hook
2. 2sc in each sc (6sts)
3. Sc 6
4. (sc 1, 2sc in next sc) rep 3 times (9)
5. Sc 9
6. (Sc 2, 2sc in next sc) rep 3 times (12)
7. Sc 12
8. (Sc 3, 2sc in next sc) rep 3 times (16)
9. Sc 16
10-12. Sc 16
Fasten off, weave in ends.

Scarf pattern
1. Ch45
2. Dc (US sc) 45
Fasten off, weave in ends.
Use the strong glue to attach the bead to the top of the pine cone. Leave to dry.

Draw eyes using the marker pen, add the spiffy hat and tie the scarf in a natty bow.

Ta dahhhhhh!

Cheerio!
Sarah x