The Weekend Days 313 & 314

On Saturday I taught "The Next Step" workshop at Cotton Moon in Blandford

We went over the basics again, then learnt to crochet in flat rounds with colour changes.

I then asked if they want to go on to make Granny Squares but the reply was "No - Flowers" 

So we made flowers!

YAY

I'd rather teach what my pupils want to learn than force something on them that they don't!

I have been working on another commission for Inside Crochet Magazine & I have been translating a pattern that I designed from my "Crochet Language" to theirs with a few tweaks along the way so it's taken a little longer than originally anticipated but I want it to be right.

So Mini Crochet Stockings have gone on hold this weekend

However PD who learnt to make them on Friday with me sent me this photo by text today!

Great work PD

*big smiley face*

Days 313 & 314 are in these colours that remind me of Spring, not Autumn

However my Twitter Blanket is looking GREAT!

(sorry about the poor photo)

Day 158 - So MUCH to share today

The lovely PD came for her Crochet Lesson today & I taught her how to 

Join As You Go!

She picked it up so quickly, I couldn't even say "get your hooks out"

She was so thrilled with the results

That I taught her how to make my 1, 2, 3 Square

As you can see I made my Square for Day 158

Whilst she made her square

And her challenge is s to repeat the 1,2,3 square from what she's made PLUS make some more so that she can practice her Join As You Go at the same time!!

She also practiced pattern following from Inside Crochet Issue 41 - she did a great job here too!

See you in 2 weeks PD - I am looking forward to it already.

 This afternoon KPK arrived

With her part finished socks

BUT

During the lesson we had a torrential downpour

&

a massive clap of thunder & lightening

so after checking that it was ok I went to fetch Scrumpy who doesn't like the thunder claps

So he came to join us!

& at that moment we also had a power cut!

OH JOY

Not only that by my iPhone was on very LOW power so this

And this were all the photo's I could manage

Fortunately by the time KPK got home (she also lives in the same village)

Power was restored & she managed to get

these photo's to me via Twitter

So shes' finished 1 sock, just one more to go!

Day 155 - Crochet All Day !!

I spent the whole morning designing, pattern writing and mocking up a few items that I have been commissioned to make for magazines, as I am STILL waiting for the post to arrive with the wool needed,  so I was more than pleased when the clock struck 4 and my Crochet Pupil arrived.

I did tell her to bring her dogs along, if it was a sunny day, so that they could play with Scrumpy, which is what they did - for 2 hours!!

In the meantime I taught the lovely "V" how to colour change when making Granny Squares.

We practiced on a previously made Granny first & then started from scratch.

And this is what she made in class

I wish that I had thought to take a picture of the back of her square too, because its as neat as the front!!

I must say that I am exhausted today, probably due to the pain & the painkillers that I am currently taking for my ankle - the operation is on the 28th so only 24 days to go - YAY

So I was fortunate enough to have enough puff left in me to make Day 155.

Day 144 - More Crochet Class News!!

I have had a lovely day today & shall I tell you why?

It's because I taught Crochet for 4 hours!!!

The first 2 where spent with "PD" who drives up all the way from Swanage!!

Today we covered Colour Changes in a Granny Square & didn't she do a FAB job of it.

We also went on to do Colour Changes in the Round, along with lots of interesting chat and tea!!

I had a 2 hour break, so more than enough time to do my square for Day 144 - again thanks to @smooogle AKA Alina who is STILL supplying me with wool

And then Kelly arrived aka @kelspk from Twitter - do you remember her?  She's into socks and if you remember, we started with "chunky" socks or "slipper" socks, but today.....

....we progressed to a more normal sock - made with proper sock wool & a 2mm hook.

We did in fact start these last week, however today we went on to create the heel opening & working  up from the ankle

& this is the photo she sent me a few moments ago. - she's steaming ahead - well ahead of me and I can't wait to see her next week as we are going to have some FANTASTIC socks.

So there you have it.  It's Friday, so you probably won't hear from me on Blogger World again until Sunday, no actually Monday as it's a Bank Holiday weekend, so until then, be good & keep Crocheting!!

Day 94, Drastic Damage & Crochet repair + Bavarian Crochet!

As you may remember, I made this blanket some time ago, and it grew and grew until it was big enough to put on my King Size bed

It's made from Style Craft Kon-Tiki 50% cotton & 50% acrylic & I love the weight of it in the winter on top of my duvet

So I am sure you can imagine that I was distraught when I noticed that my puppy Scrumpy had decided to undo one of my lovely Granny Squares

Oh No!

Scrumpy was in the dog house whilst I got to work on a repair job

I managed to rescue the stitches but pulling the loop (loop that should be on hook)  of wool through the row above AFTER I had completed the stitch that had been pulled out....

And then putting the loop back on the hook & working 3 trebles into where they would have been

I know it's not perfect, as I ran out of "tail end" to work with, but it's a pretty good job I think!

In Intermediates class today, we crocheted Bavarian Crochet Squares

Don't they look amazing?

& I simply love the colour combinations used!

Day 94

I also got this email today

Also wanted to say thank you so much for the classes, I really have learnt loads and will happily recommend you to anyone

Day 70, Crochet Workshops, The BBC & more!

After my rant yesterday, I had the following responses on Twitter....

@CrochetAli well said,I have a USA/UK conversion table under my bookmarks as always need it, will dismissed a pattern if in USA sometimes!

@CrochetAli well done for sticking to your guns!!

@CrochetAli completely agree with your rant! Love that you promote UK terminology. Hope you had a good day :)

@CrochetAli I always strongly advise anyone i teach to crochet to avoid american books at least untill they are fully aware of english terms

   And then whilst watching "Call the Midwife" on BBC1 they were talking about KNITTING squares for a blanket, however the blanket miraculously turned into a very nice CROCHET blanket in the end and at one point the blond nurse was knitting squares whilst balancing crochet squares on her knee!  I have tweeted the BBC:

 Dear @BBC1 in #callthemidwifethey were knitting blanket squares that turned into a #crochet blanket. How is that possible? #mystery

  

but as yet there is no response, despite several re tweets from fellow eagle eyed TV viewers & crocheters/knitters alike.

I took a Crochet Workshop today. It was the last of the extra 3 weeks after a 4 week workshop & it was very sad to see the ladies go.  Before they went I took lots of pictures of what they have made.......

 These squares were made by "P" who had trouble understanding a Granny Square in her 3rd lesson

And now she's making FAB rectangular Granny's

For Baby's Pram Blankets!

"R" made these Granny Squares

Double Crocheted them together

And lined the Project bag after attaching Curtain Ring Handles

She also made this sock (1 of 2) for her Grand Daughter after a little help with following a pattern!

And here they both are enjoying their last workshop

Practicing things in their "wishlist"

They have both said that they will come again, possibly for another  workshop or maybe just for a few One 2 One classes or even to my Crochet Clinic which I intend to hold over the Summer Holi

days.

Do you like my Crochet Clinic Logo??

A very talented lady on Twitter "swapped" getting this design together for me in exchange for a free Course 1 of my eLearning Crochet Course 

A great swap as I couldn't have made that fantastic artwork myself!!  Not only that but she is now learning to Crochet!

And finally - After all the excitement I have had today, including try to keep up with a Crochet Submission Deadline, this is the square for day 70

 

Day 50 - Crochet Class News

 I can't tell you how PROUD I am of my Crochet Pupils from my 1st Beginners course

They loved their 2 hours a week for 4 weeks so much that I had to extend their classes for another 2 weeks and this is what they have been up too......

Here is "R" who has been making Granny Squares to join together with double crochet - she's making a project bag!  I can't wait to see it finished

 And this is the cushion she made from Flat Rounds

joined together with double crochet in a contrasting colour

 

Here is "P" who is now very comfortable making Granny Squares & joining as you go

And here is her "knitting needles" bag that she made since her last lesson last week!

 

Now this is "A" who has really picked up Crochet very quickly, despite missing a week to fly off to Italy for a "weekend of culture"

She's now making a Granny Square Bag - I've seen the pattern and it's gong to look FAB

 

And this is the Cowl that she made since last week

And to finish off this wonder of crochet for today, here is my effort which seems paltry in comparison

Day 50

The good news is that I have 8 new pupils and 3 returning pupils for Beginners & Intermediate workshops next week - if you live in Dorset and would like to join in then do get in touch.

If you can't make it here, then why not try my eLearning Course

https://www.coursecraft.net/courses/z9NcS