Random Stripe Cushion #2 (with bobble)

Hello

It has turned freezing here the last few days, the fire is going and I am contemplating doing some daytime, weekday crocheting, something that feels very indulgent when there are all the normal week day jobs to do.  I should really make the chicken and asparagus pie I am doing for dinner now so it is ready early, because it is a basketball night and I am not home later to get it made, but I'm sure an hour of crochet could be squeezed into the schedule, I'll just bump a few of the boring jobs to tomorrow!

Anyway, do you remember the scrapy bit of random stripy crochet I showed you ages ago? No? 

It was a while ago.  Well, I thought I'd show you how it turned out.

This is my 'random stripe with bobble' cushion no.2.

Made in 8ply cotton, mix of brands used includes Bendigo Knitting Mills and Heirloom.

 On the back I just did htr stripes, nice and easy.

A few green vintage buttons complete the look. 

Have to say not very happy with the actual construction of this cushion cover, very dodgy if you look closely. So just squint and enjoy the colours! haha......

Ta dah....

So I hope your day is going great and you're staying warm if you are in Melbourne!

See you soon!

Something newish....

Hello!

It seems a while since I popped anything up here, another week flying by, life can be so busy with everyday things, it is easy to not get around to the computer, and then blogging takes a back seat and I have to get my mojo back!

Anyway, maybe I haven't posted much because I have been on a bit of a go slow with my hooky things. Too much going on in real life!

Soooo.......this is a piece I have been working on recently, it has been quite slow going because I am trying to figure out the pattern and write it down as I go, it is still pretty random but at least I will be able to reproduce it if I want.  It is kind of a little sister to my big random stripe blanket I finished last year.

This is done in cotton on a smallish hook (3.5 mm I think) to keep it reasonably tight, I think it will look quite cute when it is a finished cushion.  Kind of gypsy like.

.......still lots of colourful threads to deal with......wahhhhh!

Bye for now!

PS. A tutorial is on the way for the flower brooch!

Polkadot Square Pattern ( at last)

Hello!

How are you going today?  It's the last day of school holidays here and I am putting off ironing the school shirts that have sat in the ironing basket since before Christmas.  I'll probably end up ironing them while the boys have their showers in the morning.  Nothing like the last minute to get things done in my house!

So I am writing this instead.  Much more important.

You might remember these polkadot squares that I crocheted a while ago?  Or you may not.

Anyway, I have finally finished writing the pattern down and doing  a little photo tutorial on how I made them.  It is very simple, and you probably don't need a tutorial, but I thought it might help if you are just starting out in crochet.

I will put the pattern at the bottom of this post if you just want to skip straight to the concise version.

Ok here we go,  happy hooking and good luck!

POLKADOT SQUARES

This is for a circle in a square type granny, using single crochet sts to create a nice solid piece.  I didn't want it to be 'gappy'.  It is easy too play around with colour combos and different stripey effects too.

I used a 3.5 mm hook and 8 ply Bendigo Knitting Mills Cotton in a variety of colours, but you could try this in any yarn I think.

This pattern is in US. stitches, sorry UK ladies, for you, sc =dc, hdc =htr, dc =tr 

round 1

First, Chain 4 and slip stitch to 1ch to make a ring/circle.

Rd 1 : Ch1 (counts as first st) then do 5 sc into ring.Sl st to first ch to close round.  (6st in total)

Rd 2 : Ch1 (counts as first st) then 1 sc in same stitch, then 2 sc in each st to end. Sl st to first ch to close round. (12 st in total)

round 3

Rd 3 : Ch 1,* 2sc in next st, then 1sc in next, * , continue pattern around. Sl st in first ch to close round.  (18 st in total)

round 4

 Rd 4 : Ch 1,  sc in next st, then *  2sc next st  then sc in next 2st * continue pattern around. Sl st  in first ch to close ring. (24 st in total)

round 5

 Rd 5 : Ch 1, sc in next 2st, then *2sc in next st, then sc in next 3st * continue pattern around, sl st in first ch to close  (30 st in total)

round 6, and changing colour step 1

 Rd 6 : Ch 1, sc in next 3st, then *2sc in next st, then sc in next 4st * continue pattern around, sl st to close.  (36 st in total)

 I changed colour  at the end of this round to add a stripe of dark blue for rd 7.

This is how I change colours so it is a subtle, smoothish join.

In the last sc of Rd 6, before you do the yarn over and pull through, change to the new colour....

changing colours step 2

 ...and pull it through the old colour loops.  Pull the old colour yarn gently to tighten the stitch, and slip stitch in the first ch with the new colour to close the round. Continue with next round as normal.

changing colours step3

 I leave the old colour still connected and just change back when I want a different stripe.

(does that make sense??)

round 7

  Rd 7 : Ch 1, sc in next 4 st, then* 2sc in next st, then sc in next 5 st * continue pattern around, sl st to close, changing colour back to light blue at end of round. (42 st in total)

round 8

 Rd 8 : Ch 1, sc in next 5 st, then *2sc in next st, then sc in next 6 st* continue pattern around, sl st to close round . (48 st in total)  Bind off.   ( inner circle completed)

round 9 pattern repeat x4

  ( Squaring up) Rd 9 :  Join 3rd colour (green) in any stitch, to create the 4 corners of the square, repeat the following pattern 4 times - 3sc, then 3hdc, then 3dc in next st, then 3hdc, then 2sc.

Sl st to first ch that counted as first sc, to close round.

round 9 complete

This is how it is looking at this point. ^

round 10

Rd 10 :*2 sl st, then 4 sc, then 1hdc, then 4dc in next st, then 1 hdc, then 4sc, then 1 sl st,* do this 4 times , Sl st to first st to close.

round11 finished!!

Rd 11:  ch 1, then sc around in all sts, except in each corner st where you do 2hdc,ch1,2hdc.

Bind off.  And I think that is it!

Abbreviated pattern:

Ch4, join to 1st ch to make ring.

rd1: sc6 into ring

rd2: 2sc in each st all around (12 st)

rd3: 2 sc in next st, then 1sc in between, all around (18 st)

rd4: 2sc in next st, then 2sc in between, all around (24 st)

rd5: 2sc in next st, then 3sc in between, all around (30 st)

rd6: 2sc in next st, then 4sc in between, all around (36 st)

rd7: 2sc in next st, then 5sc in between, all around (42 st)

rd8: 2sc in next st, then 6sc in between, all around (48 st)

rd 9: (3sc, 3hdc, 3dc in next st, 3hdc, 2sc) x4

rd10: (2slst, 4sc,1hdc, 4dcin next st, 1hdc, 4sc, 1slst) x4

rd11: sc around ,with 2hdc,1ch,2hdc in each corner st. bind off.

--------------------------------------------

I hope you understand what I mean, I found it hard trying to write instructions, so it might be hard to follow. I hope not. Another thing, I also varied where I put the increases in my circles when I found it was getting too hexie shaped, as long as you keep the right number of sc in between increase stitches, you can put them anywhere.

To make a cushion cover, I made 16 of these and single crocheted them together, like patchwork.

Haven't finished the back yet, but will show you it when I'm done.

Please, if you find any mistakes in this, forgive me! And let me know and I will try and fix it up.

Have a great day!

Back on the wagon....

Hello.

How are you going today?

I hava started some crochet for 2012! Yay! 

This is a little cushion cover I started ages ago, and now I am trying to finish it, and write down the pattern to share with you guys.

Should have it finished soon.

  ..... I have been  making little circles too, I was very enthusiastic about these for a few days, but now I can't really recapture the feeling and they are sitting unloved and I am not sure what I am going to make them into. 

Oh well, I am sure I'll think of something eventually.

Have a good day!

Friday new things....

Hi there.

What's been happening today?

 Not much here.  Just a normal old Friday that seems to have come around extra quick this week.

I went down to my parents place today and had a nice lunch and pottered in the garden a bit, we visited a strawberry farm in Red Hill only to find it doesn't open for the season till next week. Doh.

Andre is still home recovering from his op, (think - lots of computer time) I think he is looking very well and is definitely ready for school next week.

We have a kind of long weekend here, with the Melbourne Cup running on Tuesday and a public holiday, so lots of people take Monday off as well. Technically the boys have school, but lots of kids are away so not much is done as far as school work goes.  I think my boys want to go to school, so it will just be a normal day for us.  Still feels like a holiday though.

I'm going to spend the weekend trying to restore some order in a few rooms here, cleaning and tidying a big mess.  And I should be able to fit in some crafting and cooking and gardening if I try hard!

Thought I would show you a couple of things I started yesterday (got a bit tired of the flower motif, so mixing it up a bit).  The little shape at the top is my first attempt at a heart, I think with a few modifications it will be right for some cute Chrissy decorations.

Also started another cushion in the Bendigo cottons, felt like doing some rows, and something small was just the thing.  Maybe another thing for Christmas?

Had a quick look in the Oppy on my way home and found these nice aqua, blue and lime check blankets. There were 2 single bed size, and a bit of a bargain, so I had to grab them. 

I did think of Claire over at Sweet Birdy Love and her lovely upcycled blanket toys when I saw them!  I have a few ideas for these, involving the sewing machine. 

Not sure if they are wool or acrylic, does anyone know how to tell the difference?

Anyway, I'm sure they can be used for something fun, such nice colours!

OK better go and do something! 

Have a great day!