Especially for Momwithahook

 I hope that these pictures show - in as much detail as my camera can manage - what "Cotton Tape" is:

It looks like a "knitted" ribbon

And comes in a regular "ball" like normal wool / yarn

This is the label

And this is how it Crochet's up

Another FAB day in my Crochet Bubble + free edging pattern

Firstly I thought I would share the fact that I am now the proud, however, temporary owner of a stall at Merton Abbey Mills for Sunday 11th December 2011 - from 10am to 5pm

I am really looking forward to my day, however I am not relishing the weather, so I will have to hunt out my thermals.

Now to some more news.

A customer ordered a Lime Green Beanie Hat with Ear Flaps via my For Sale page, so after purchasing the wool and agreeing via emails that the colour was right, I got to work.

However once I had got the main hat made, I thought that it might look better with a contrast colour finish, as it was for a young lady, so another email later and that was agreed.

I decided on a White Blanket Stitch all the way around the edge

which I thought looked FAB

And this meant that the plaits could have a touch of White in them too, which really sets off the whole hat.

I am REALLY pleased to say that the customer loved it too.

"...it’s really lovely! Thank you SO much for doing this, I’m sure she’ll love it."

I also had a Crochet Class today.  VM had bought some 100% Cotton tape from a local wool sale recently and she wanted to make a scarf from it.  

She had started on her own using a "mesh" pattern from a book she has, but there was a mistake in the pattern so it wasn't working out.  She was also using a 4mm hook and this made the work really tight.

  We went through the pattern together and with my help we adjusted the pattern (a stupid little mistake that added one chain too many) and got to work together.

Fortunately I had some Cotton Tape in my stash, so we worked alongside each other and worked 3 rows, until VM felt comfortable with carrying on, on her own once at home.

I decided to use a 9mm hook and VM an 8mm hook (the wool label said 9mm knitting needles)

I am sure that you can see the difference that 1mm CAN make - the lighter scarf is coming up much larger using the 9mm hook than the red scarf using an 8mm hook.

VM also wanted to add a nice "edge" to each end, so again, together we worked on a pattern together, however the pattern she liked in the book didn't quite fit in with the scarf's end, so we made our own up.

This is what we did for the edge

Join the wool & 1 ch, 1dc, 3tr into the one chain space. (UK)

Join the wool & 1ch, 1sc, 3dc into the one chain space. (US)

Repeat all the way along

In the end chain space - 1dc, 2tr, 1dc & fasten off (UK)

1sc, 2dc, 1sc & fasten off (US)

Another day in my Crochet World

Hi everyone, I had a busy day yesterday with a Crochet Class at a local "Arty" Cafe to start the day off.  I went to speak to the owner about holding Crochet Classes at her venue in January 2012 and not only did she think it was a great idea, but she wanted to take a few classes herself!

Next was one of my regular students who I haven't seen for a few weeks due her having a major cold last week, which she kindly text me about to let me know, so we rescheduled.  She came along producing one completed beanie hat - 

Isn't it simply FANTASTIC

When she came to me 5 lessons ago, she didn't know how to crochet and now she's turning out Beanie Hats and a scarf for her Mother's Christmas present, which we decided between us that it would be very ambitious to complete in time for the day, so it's now going to be a cowl.  So 10 hours of one to one lessons and she's doing wonders!

Another thing that I completed yesterday was to finish off the Beanie Hat ordered by my Postman.  I wasn't happy with the lettering - it was too "spidery" so I decided to make the lettering thicker....

....and now it looks perfect.

I also discovered a site called Urban Knit .co.uk and so I took a look on there.  They sell 100% Acrylic Scarves for £29.99!!!  I wish I could sell one of mine for that price!

I also started my commission order yesterday and all I have to do now is email the buyer with a photograph of the ear flap hat so far, to see if she would like anything added or altered before I finish it off.

Oh, and I contacted the Merton Abbey Mills people too that Mrs. Jones kindly left me a comment about - I am hoping that I can get a one off stall there this coming Sunday.  It's a "handmade" orientated place, so the people that go there to buy, are expecting to pay some money for goods, not like the craft fair that I did last week which I know I shouldn't moan about, as I actually did ok, but the people who went there were expecting car boot sale prices,  not "hand made" and not "mass produced".  So hopefully I will hear from them today and I can pack up my leftover stock (of which there is quite a bit) and Pixie my mannequin and spend the day selling my wares and giving out leaflets about my crochet classes!

My week ahead

I have a very busy week this week, starting with 2 lots of 2 hour classes today, a group class tomorrow morning,  another 2 hour class on Wednesday, then another group class on Friday, followed by my first Saturday class which I had to do (I was trying to avoid working weekends) but this lady works full time all week so I couldn't say no!

I didn't crochet at all yesterday, although I did sort out my new FOLKSY shop - I still have some items to add in, however it's a start.

I also finished off the Beanie Hat ordered by my Postman - he wanted his unions initials put on the front so I did that for him last night.  However I wasn't happy with the finish, so I re did it this morning in a thicker stitch and I think it's now FAB.......

Oh, did I mention that I have a customer commission order to complete too?  It's for an Ear Flaps hat in Lime Green and the wool I have bought for this is wonderful to touch and a really great shade of colour - I can't wait to start it!

My 1st Craft Fair

Yes, today was the day and after a pretty sleepless night and with the help of the lovely Pam, we managed to unload the car, find the craft fair organiser & find out which "table" was ours.

So we set it up....

As best we could.....

Probably cramming a little too much in?

But it was better than having a half empty table

This is me

And me with Pam

And a close up of the stock

All labelled and priced up

with a smeary mirror (which of course we cleaned)

And this is what we sold:

Medium Stripy Jar

Black & White Ear Flaps Hat

1 set of Knitting Needles

Blue / Grey Beanie

Cream Beanie

Flower Brooch

Stitch Markers

Plastic Hook &

A Pink Jar with the fluffy top

So not a FANTASTIC day but I did make a small profit and more importantly we promoted the Crochet Classes a lot, and got a few people interested, plus I may get a booking to host a Crochet Party for a group of 10, 10 year old girls!!

My FIRST Crochet Tutorial - A Chunky Cowl

Ok - here's my first Crochet Tutorial - How to make a Chunky Cowl.  I have been meaning to make a Cowl to match my Chunky Beanie Hat and after searching my many Crochet Books and various websites, I decided to go it alone.

You will need:

A ball of Chunky Wool - I used Patons Caressa Express
6.5mm Hook

Stitch Used:  UK Treble Crochet or US Double Crochet

Abbreviations:  BLO = Back Loop Only

Start by making 55 chains

TIP:  If you are using a larger hook then make fewer chains e.g. with a 9mm hook you will only need to chain 48 - measure the foundation chain around your head for a bespoke fit!

And join with a slip stitch into the first chain to make a large loop / ring

TIP: Make sure your loop / ring is not twisted when you join it

Your Loop / Ring should look something like this

Now make 2 chains (I know we are working in Trebles, but I find that 2 chains works better - a tip I picked up from a Hat pattern some time ago.

Then work treble crochets into the foundation chain

When you get to the joining stage, do not slip stitch into the 2nd chain of the turning chain but the next one along

In the photo above,  the point of the hook is resting on the 2nd chain but I will slip stitch into the chain that's just above the hook point.

This will help to close the gap in the join or seam. 

Like above.

Then make 2 chains and Treble Crochet into each Treble below but into the BLO - the BACK LOOP ONLY 

This will give a nice "ridged" effect all along the row

This is my hook going into the BLO

And the "ridged" effect

Continue to work as many rows as you would like your Cowl to be.

At the end, with the last loop remaining on the hook, slip stitch into the 2nd chain away from the hook then fasten off and darn in the end.  I find that this gives you a smoother finish.

I managed 8 rows from my ball of wool. 

And here it is!

A nice chunky Cowl to keep you warm this winter!

One other thing that I find is that your original knot can stick out a bit, so I undo this, leaving a loop, insert my hook and then slip stitch into the 2nd chain away (going backwards if you like) from the hook then fasten off.  This creates a nicer / smoother finish.

p.s. Can you see some of my wool stash in the book shelves behind me?

Any Questions?? Please ask away.

Accident to a main limb / digit

Yes, I have ripped my left hand index finger nail off, half way down the nail OUCH 

&

I have had to wrap it up to protect it.

However I didn't want it to stop me from crochet - ing the afternoon away, so my first job was to attach a "Crocheted by Ali" label to a hat that was finished pre accident, and look what I did.....

Yes, I sewed it to my bandage!

So I had to use my middle finger to continue the job which made everything take a million times longer and very difficult

Fortunately it's not too painful or difficult to crochet - phew!