Quick fix cat toy

If like me you've got multiple ends of yarn that are just too small to justify keeping, here's a tip.

My cat Posie is very laid back but even she gets fed up on these wet, cold, winter days. She will leave my yarn alone but I have made her round toys in the past. I've been so busy lately that I haven't got the time to crochet another thing. Hence I have a limitless supply of yarn ends.

Take a section and tie the ends together.

Scrunch them up. With the end of the yarn ball knot it around to make sure all the ends are safe.

Here's Posie checking one I made earlier before picking it up in her mouth and running away with it.
No better endorsment than that!

Granny Square Tutorial

Lots of people that I know have started crochet and usually the first thing they want to make is a granny square. There are so many tutes out there on blogs and YouTube that give conflicting instructions. Believe me when I started I used so many different methods before developing my own.

I think the whole point of a square is that it should have corners. You can't have a good turn if you just use two chains. I always use three. I also put a chain before each treble cluster on the sides.

I also join the rounds with a treble instead of chains. This brings you up in the middle of the space you need to work in. No need for slip stitches.

These are the notes I've made for my workshop. Keep scrolling down for the picture tutorial and further still for the chart.

All Things Granny

Single colour Granny Square

I've used a standard double knit and a 4mm crochet hook.

Abbreviations for UK terms. For US terms substitute dc instead of treble.

ch  = chain

tr = treble

ss = slipstitch

In this pattern the stitches are worked in the spaces of the row beneath.

Foundation row: Ch5, join to 1^st chain with a ss to form a ring.

Round 1: Ch3, (counts as first tr) 2tr in the ring, * 3ch, 3tr in ring* 3 times, tr to top of 1^st ch3 (4 tr groups)

Round 2: ch3, 2tr in the same space, *1ch, 3tr, 3ch, 3tr in next ch3 space* 3 times, ch1, 3tr, in the next 3ch space, tr to the top of the 1^st ch3 (8 tr groups)

Continue in this way. Remember to ch1 between the treble groups on the sides but ch3 between the treble groups in the corners.

Round 1

Make a slipknot, pull yarn through

  Chain 5.  Slipstitch to 1^st chain to make a ring

 chain 3

Working the trebles in the ring, treble 2, chain 3

Treble 3, chain 3. Repeat until you have 4 treble groups.

To join, treble into the top of 1^st  ch3 to close the round. Sometimes this is difficult to see if you're new to crochet and your tension is tight. I've place a blunt ended needle in the spot to show where to find it.

Handy hint - When you make your ch3 use a stitch maker in the third chain.

        

Round 2:

Chain 3

 Treble 2 in same space, chain 1

Now we're working in the next corner space.

Treble 3, chain 3, treble 3 in next space, chain 1

In last space, where you've already completed your first join;

Treble 3 join with treble in the top of 1^st ch3

For your next round start with the ch3 and treble 2, ch1 and then treble 3 in the next ch1 space. After your treble cluster ch1.

Your corners will be exactly the same as you worked in the second round.

The chart shows two rounds only. The dot usually indicates a slip stitch but I've added it to show you where the joining treble goes.

A Quick Tutorial

If like me you have numerous USB leads then you share my frustration at finding the right one. I have two camera both with similar leads but with different connectors and when I'm in a rush I always mix them up. This short tutorial shows how you can save yourself more frustration.

All you need is the correct lead, a crochet hook and some spare yarn. I've used a 4mm hook and double knit yarn.

Start with a slip knit and place the hook on top of the cable.

Pull the yarn through to the front. Yarn over the hook and pull through the two loops on your hook.
You're making a double crochet or, if you're using American terms, a single crochet.

Carry on until you've added enough to differentiate between the cables.

Hopefully that's enough not to get them mixed up ever again!

Busy, busy

I've been busy with custom orders this week. They came from my Italian friend who is off to Italy to visit her father's family. She wanted two Queen Anne's lace scarves in different pinks.

I love the little popcorn flowers I used to decorate the boxes so that they don't get mixed up. If you love them too you'll find a great tutorial by Marilyn at Room on the left where inspiration doesn't turn to chaos but to gorgeousness. (Is that even a word?)

You know what I mean. Have a great weekend everyone.

Take one a day

Day 15

This does count as halfway though, right?

Today I'm trying something different. I need to make some sense of the scrawls I made yesterday trying to get the plain hexagon finished. I'll write out the pattern here. It will take me longer than most of the projects I've done.

This picture shows a new colour added in every row . I'm starting off with it because the batteries in my camera have died halfway through my tutorial and by the time they've recharged it will be raining - again! I'll start writing the pattern and then insert the photos later.

OK we've established that my camera is rubbish. I've added the photos and chosen the best - you should have seen the others!

Simple hexagon pattern

This is written in English but I'll give you the equivalent American terms. Garn Studio is a great site for stitch instructions

chain, ch
slip stitch, sl st
treble, tr (US dc)
half treble, htr (US hdc)

I've used double knit organic cotton and a 4mm hook

Chain 6, sl st to first stitch to form a ring

1st row. Ch 3, tr 17, sl st to top of ch 3 to close up the row - 18 stitches

2nd row. Ch3 , 3 tr in next 3 stitches, 2ch tr1 in the same stitch as last tr, (3tr in next 3 stitches, 2ch, 1tr in the same stitch as last tr 4 times) tr2, tr1 in same space as ch3 start, htr join in top of the chain 3 to close row. (4 stitches in each hexagon side)

3rd row. Ch3, tr in same stitch (see notes at bottom) tr 3, tr1 ch2 tr1 in two ch space, (tr4, tr1 2ch tr1 in space 4 times) tr 4, tr1 in space, htr join to top of 3 ch start (6 stitches in each hexagon side)

4th row. Ch3, tr in same stitch, tr 5, tr1, ch2, tr1 in space, (tr6, tr1 ch2 tr1 in space 4 times) tr6, tr1 in space, join with htr (8 stitches in each hexagon side)

This is where I finished because it matches the 8 stitch sides of the African flower but you can make it bigger by just making sure that you increase two stitches in each corner of every side.

Notes

Sometimes it’s difficult to see where you need to put your hook. You’re putting it into the htr. If your tension is tight you might get a better look if you make the first tr of your new row in the space.

I like to join with a htr because it brings you up in the right space to start your next row. You can join with 2 ch and a sl st

I gave up with the photos. It was sun in, sun out and then it rained so I apologise for the quality.
So that's today's project. If you have any problems or have sorted out any glitches in the pattern please let me know.

Today's listing is another pincushion. It's on Etsy and Folksy

To complete the vintage feel today my Folksy July Jewel is Vintage Dreams, In her shop today is a vintage handbag pendant and a vintage style compass pendant

They're both gorgeous and I'm finding it really difficult to decide which is my favourite.

Have a great weekend!

Crochet terms

We're into the purple again today,
"England and America are two countries separated by a common language."

George Bernard Shaw

Irish dramatist, socialist (1856 - 1950)

Oh, yes? GBS was obviously given to a spot of crochet now and then. To the bafflement of many a person new to crochet not only do they have to untangle hook from yarn but learn two new languages at the same time.

Crochet terms are confusing. Before you start any pattern you need to work out what language it's written in. American, English or Japanese. Some of the best Japanese patterns are shown in crochet symbols. It's all a bit bewildering if you're just starting off.

Some of the best advice I've read was from Edie Eckman. It's important to realise;

Crochet is made up of just three movements.

1. Put your hook somewhere
2. Wrap your yarn around the hook
3. Pull the hook through something

She makes it sound so easy. Experts always do. With experience you can use these movements in an endless variety of ways. Using different materials, colours, hooks and stitches you can come up with original work every time.

Before you get that experience you need to know the basics.

Put your hook somewhere first. Start with a knot. No need for a hook you can tie this with your hand.

Poke your hook through it.

Wrap the wool around the hook once and pull it through the knot.

This is called a chain stitch (ch).

Your pattern will tell you how many you need to make.

To make a ring you poke your hook through the first stitch you made,

Wrap your wool around the hook and pull the hook through both the stitches to close the ring

In patterns you'll see that as slip stitch (sl st) into the first chain (ch) to form a circle.

Those two terms are common in English and American

The most common stitches you'll find are double crochet and treble crochet and this is where it all gets complicated. I'll show you in a chart.

English/ American

chain stitch  (ch)  chain stitch   (ch)

slip stitch   (sl st)  slip stitch    (sl st)

double crochet (dc) single crochet (sc)

treble crochet   (tr)  double crochet (dc)

half treble crochet (htr)  half double crochet (hdc)

double treble crochet (dtr)  treble crochet  (tr)

triple treble crochet (tritr)  double treble  (dtrc) 

As you see it all goes weird with the English double crochet and American single crochet. There is no single crochet in English terms.

I always think it's easiest to think of the stitches as the number of loops you have on your hook. This is why I use English terms.

double crochet -

poke your hook in, wrap the wool over, pull through - 2 loops on the hook, wool over the hook and pull through the 2 loops.

treble crochet - 

wool over hook, poke the hook in, wrap the wool over, pull through - 3 loops on the hook, wool over hook, pull through two loops, yarn over again, pull through last two loops.

Good patterns will tell you what terms they are using. Free pattern sites often don't. Great free patterns can be found at Garn Studio which is great for knitting and crochet. It gives a choice of terms too.

Lion Brand is also a good site for patterns and for tutorials. It also has a stitch section. This uses American terms only.

Have fun with it and let me know how you get on.

Hopefully a bit better than me and Blogger today. it's decided to reformat everything I've done! Plus it hasn't let me preview. So if you've come to me and the page has been a mess you know why!

GRRRRRRRRRRR