Crochet & Cabbages

I took my crochet to the allotment today to help pass the time, whilst on duty (voluntary) at the Trading Hut.

On the way home I had to pick up a cabbage that I have grown

So it was Crochet & Cabbages sharing space in the same bag!

Filofax cover (finally)

I have been meaning to crochet a cover for my filofax for ages and to be honest, I did start one off some time ago; I just never got around to finishing it off, so at a loose end after finishing the Spiral Granny, I thought that I best get on with it - here  it is folks & needless to say I am thrilled with the end result!

The Cover

The back

The back (again)

The triangles to hold it inside

Another view of the inside

How it all started

Spiral Granny Blanket

I took my curtain tie backs to the local craft shop, so that I could get the colour match right, not just guess whilst there and get it wrong!

I found the pattern I was after - I fancied a Granny Square blanket, but I wanted a twist and I was lucky enough to find a Spiral Granny Pattern on You Tube

So I got my 4 colours and my 6.5mm hook ready in front of the computer screen and followed the online instructions

Pausing every now and then to make sure that I recorded my efforts with my camera

The Spiral effect started to show

And with the chunky wool I had chosen the blanket started to grow

I had to be careful to make sure all the sides were even as the blanket got bigger, as I was working around and around, changing colours every so often

As the blanket grew, the spiral effect got more and more stunning

And finally it's finished - I am thrilled with the end result.

It took approx 40 hours to make and wool costs were £50

If I were to make one like this for sale, it would cost around £250 to buy - and that's only charging £5 per hour to cover my time - less than the minimum wage!!!

Credit where credit is due - thanks to Smooth Fox for the You Tube video tutorial

http://www.youtube.com/user/SmoothFox1955?feature=mhum#p/u/0/smQTTv74fqM

Tales from - Get Hooked - Crochet Classes for Beginners - Lesson #2 & #3

Wow, is all I can say - I am so impressed with my pupils so far that I have to share their homework practice with you all and give you an update on what happens next in Lesson #2.

Lets start with LW who comes to individual tuition classes - in Lesson #1 she learnt the foundation chain, single crochet and double crochet.  Her homework was to work a double crochet block and she turned up with these pieces......

Don't they look FANTASTIC!! In lesson #2 she progressed to learning Treble Crochet and we even started on a plain Granny Square.  She went home armed with a plain Granny Square tutorial sheet (so she can learn to ready a pattern at the same time) and I am confident that she will come back next week with 3 or even 4 Granny Squares to show me!!

Group Class now and it's Lesson #3.  Last week they went away with the Plain Granny Tutorial sheet and one pupil brought in these.....

What can I say - Gold Star or what???  So this week Miss Gold Star went on to mastering the art of a plain flat round in double crochet - after a few attempts and turning out some rather nice hexagons, she got the counting right and made flat round!!

One of the other girls in the class also did VERY well on her Granny Square but hadn't quite got the concept of it all, so struggled a little, however by the end of this class, she became more familiar with (A) reading the pattern and (B) getting the 3 lots of trebles into the right chain space!!  I am sure that by the time she comes back next week she will have mastered it!  "The Penny will Drop" as the saying goes.

This is "C" working on her Granny Square.....

Another Lady "D" who is a week behind the others brought in these blocks - a great attempt for her first homework, although she didn't realise she was working into the front chain only of the previous round, not the  front & back chain (that's another lesson!!) However we have that sorted now.

This is "D" mastering the Treble Crochet stitch!

Amigurumi Birds

Amigurumi (crocheted or knitted stuffed toy) is the Japanese art of knitting orcrocheting small stuffed animals and anthropomorphic creatures. The word is derived from a combination of the Japanese words ami, meaning crocheted or knitted, and nuigurumi, meaning stuffed doll.^[1] Amigurumi are typically animals, but can include artistic renderings or inanimate objects endowed with anthropomorphic features.


That's the definition and here are my first attempt at Amigurumi birds......

A few Crocheted items.....

...that I made over the last few nights

First and foremost I "made over" my room - it was quicker than a 60 minute makeover and it was inspired by a photo that I saw some time ago on another crochet / crafters blog.  I love it and I am sure my pupils will too!

A nice warming pair of mittens.  I sort of followed the pattern http://crochetandknitting.com/mitglov2.htm but I didn't want fingerless gloves with a flap so I left that bit out and then kept on trying the mittens on as I went for a very nice snug fit!

Two Teddy Bear faces - these will form a "Baby Garland" with pink or blue pompoms and matching ribbon for a friends "arrival" due in the New Year

This lovely rose is now a brooch as I managed to source some brooch pins to sew on to the back

I added a Fuchsia Pink flower to the green shopper

Made a pet ball from a long strand of wool

An another brooch that will cheer up almost anything!

Little Bag

Thanks to a little Crochet Book that I bought called "First Crochet" by Lesley Sanfield, I crocheted this lovely little bag last night.....

Isn't it just adorable!

Tales from - Get Hooked - Crochet Classes for Beginners - Lesson #1

Since my last post, I am pleased to say that the Crochet Classes are going very well.  I take individual classes at home and also group classes at two local Craft Shops.

My pupils ages vary - from  Mid Twenties to an 80 year old Great Grandmother, total beginners, knitters and some who are simply reviving a lost skill.

Most want to book a 1 hour class to start of with, but from experience I advise them to book up a 2 hour class and all who have done this so far are surprised at how quickly the two hours have gone!  All have re booked a 2nd and even a 3rd class and a 2 hour class too!

In the first lesson I teach them how to make a slip knot (I am slightly surprised at how many people don't know how to make one, but then again I was a Girl Guide many moons ago) and then a foundation chain.

Tension and holding the hook and wool correctly are all being practiced at the same time as the foundation chain is made and pupils soon realise how important getting the tension right can be once they start to work the 1st row and realise that they can't get their hook into the foundation chain, so the learn to work a little looser next time the make a foundation chain!!

Next I teach Single Crochet / Slip Stitch.  Although this stitch is mainly used mainly for joining & positioning the hook/wool to the right place, it's a good stitch to learn as it's a basic for Double Crochet and it gets the pupils more used to the feel of crochet, especially if they are a knitter!

That's it for the first lesson, oh apart from the turning chain and sending them away with homework, which is to come back next week with a DC square or two to show me!!

So armed with a leaflet all about the stitches they had learnt in Lesson #1 off they went.

Today, 3 of the ladies who came to my Group Class at the Craft shop last week, were proudly showing me their DC squares in various colours and sizes!!  They all got LOADS of praise - I was thrilled at what they had turned out and how quickly they had learnt - especially the 80 year old who went through most of her 1st lesson saying that she couldn't "get it" and she wouldn't be returning!

One lady who came to a private class had not only completed a DC square but a DC round and a watch strap too.  Another lady looked worried and asked if I would tell her off as she didn't make the Hairband that she was so keen to make at the end of lesson #1 as she ran out of time!

More "tales" on Lesson #2 coming soon!

My new Puppy.......

....or rather it's my Husband's new puppy "Garibaldi" as he made a claim to him as soon as he started to take shape!!

You have to agree - he's a CUTEY!

The Alphabet...

One of the books that arrived the other day, had letters of the Alphabet patterns in it.  As I have a friends birthday coming up this week, I thought I would make her a name banner & I am pleased with the way its turned out.  

As you can see they are being "blocked" at the moment but I will join the K, E, R, R, I to the lavender band later in the week.

The A, L, I & C were practice letters - not too sure what I will do with them yet.

Finally......

This is Derek at the allotment trying out his new Beanie Hat that I made for him last week

See Latest Projects Blog

He said that it kept his head really warm and toasty, which is good as it was a particularly cold day yesterday

OH! Which book do I drool over first???

Arrived today - all at the same time - spoilt for choice!!

Latest Projects....

A Beanie Hat in a thick Aran Wool using a 6.5mm hook - this took one evening to make!

Here's the pattern to follow - thanks Crochet Geek

Take a Cotton Buds tub....

Double tape the inside to secure the edge of the work....

Add an old pot that  you get posh puddings in and you have a lovely crocheted pot that can hold business cards or paper clips etc!

I liked making the Beanie Hat so much that I wanted to make another for a friend at the allotment that helped me no end the other day!  I didn't have any more thick wool, so I put 2 balls of DK together (e.g. using 2 strands from 2 balls) and made this hat!