Thursday 3 October 2013

JAZZY Crochet Baby Blanket

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Embossed crochet afghan blanket 
the perfect gift for a newborn.
This is the perfect pram or cot blanket 
for a baby boy or baby girl.  


As promised, I now have the pattern for this lovely baby blanket in UK (British) and USA (American) crochet terms available for you to try out your crochet skills.  

History:

I had great pleasure designing this embossed motif blanket for the new arrival into the family.  Baby girl born in the early months of the Australian winter.  I chose my favourite James C. Brett yarn, a beautiful soft pure merino DK.  Grandad chose the colours based on some inside information regarding the colour purple, and from there grew the colour scheme and the playful embossed reversible motif square.

I am so lucky to have a great haberdashery in Canterbury which also sells a variety of yarns which are not available from any other local yarn store near me, so all I had to do was order my colour choice and wait for the delivery.  The project took a bit longer than anticipated due to other projects needing attention but in the end I managed to finish the blanket in time for the birth, 28 June.


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The pattern includes two different border edges: 1. scalloped fan (as shown in the photo on the left); or 2. simple plain edge (see photo on the right). 

PATTERN DETAILS:

The perfect pram or cot crochet blanket for a boy or girl.

An afghan square with a reversible embossed motif and made with a soft, merino yarn makes this a cozy blanket for winter. 

This pattern is written and is available in UK - BRITISH and USA - AMERICAN Crochet Terms. 

Please select the correct pattern terminology prior to purchase.

SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate 
YARN: James C. Brett Pure Merino DK 
HOOK: H-8 (5mm)

MEASUREMENTS: 42 square motif blanket will measure approximately 36in/91cm by 30in/76cm (excluding the decorative border)

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PATTERN AVAILABLE   from my online shops


CRAFTSY       RAVELRY

enjoy
ciao, ciao!


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Monday 23 September 2013

BLISS Crochet Blanket - Afghan Style

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Best gift to celebrate the birth of a child 
is a crochet afghan blanket.
A simple square with an embossed design 
and beautiful vibrant colours.

This is the perfect pram or cot blanket 
for a boy or girl. 



This is my second afghan motif blanket and I think I am hooked - doh!  

HISTORY:

This afghan motif was created back in May 2012, and since then it has sat quietly on the back-burner, patiently waiting to be incorporated into a crochet pattern and waiting to be released.  

In January 2013, I had found the perfect yarn and selected the colours, a lovely green with contrasting burnt orange, and a cream for the main border colour.

As soon as a sample motif was crocheted, there was no stopping me.

The BLISS crochet blanket was completed by the third week in February 2013.  I am so grateful for the cold winter days which give one plenty of reason to stay indoors and crochet.  

Finished in plenty of time for the birth of another baby girl addition to the family, born early March 2013. Woo hoo!

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The pattern includes two different border edges: 1. simple and plain (as shown in the above photo); or 2. fan style (see photo below). 

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Hope you all enjoy this afghan blanket as much as I enjoyed designing and making it!

PATTERN DETAILS:


Perfect pram or cot blanket for a boy or girl.

A simple afghan square creates this vibrant comfy blanket made from cotton, silk and cashmere. 

This pattern is written and is available in UK - BRITISH and USA - AMERICAN Crochet Terms. 

Please select the correct pattern terminology prior to purchase.


SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate 
YARN: Debbie Bliss Bella 
HOOK: 4.5mm (7) and 5mm (H-8)

MEASUREMENTS:  42 square motif blanket will measure approximately 36in/91cm by 30in/76cm (excluding the decorative border)

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PATTERN AVAILABLE

from my online shops


CRAFTSY       RAVELRY



enjoy
ciao, ciao!

---ooOOOoo---

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
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Wednesday 11 September 2013

Keep warm and cozy with a Crochet Blanket


SUN and STARS Crochet Blanket was designed specifically for my first grandchild. It is my very first attempt at designing a motif blanket.  I had long resisted granny squares for the simple fact of having to hide all those ends, and then attaching all those motifs to each other.  What a chore!


However, when the time came to making something really special for my daughter's first born, I decided to create something totally new and different from any other baby blanket or afghan blanket I have seen.  I hope you like the result?  I know for a fact my daughter loved it. 


WHY I HAVEN'T POSTED FOR A WHILE 


Simply I am suffering with a lovely pinched nerve in my neck, caused obviously by too much crochet and too much pattern designing, and too much computer work, and too much mouse use; not to mention the unforgivable cursed word - AGING and early signs of degenerative disc disease.   SOUNDS AWFUL... but it really is manageable.  I just have to undergo physiotherapy and acupuncture and totally limit my activities which aggravate the situation.  I am now in my 7th week and starting to feel normal again, but I think the days of 8-10 hours of crochet are gone for me.  Boo hoo!

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HISTORY:

The design of this motif afghan blanket began in February 2012, and it's creation took a few months, due to other more urgent projects needing my attention, so it's completion was in May 2012, in plenty of time for the birth of baby girl CC born on June 30, 2012.  Yes, of course I was there for the birth!

PUBLISHED:

This pattern has been published in INSIDE CROCHET magazine Issue 37, January 2013.

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PATTERN DETAILS:

This is the perfect pram or cot blanket for a boy or girl.

A simple octagon and a small square create this warm and comfy blanket made from organic wool cotton yarn.



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This pattern written in UK - BRITISH and USA - AMERICAN crochet terms.

Please SELECT the CORRECT PATTERN TERMINOLOGY prior to purchase.



Skill Level: Intermediate 

Yarn: Rowan Belle Organic Aran 
Hook: 5mm (H-8) 

Measurements: Blanket consisting of 20 octagon motifs will measure approximately 76cm/30in by 61cm/24in


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PATTERN AVAILABLE 

from my online shop



enjoy
ciao, ciao!

---ooOOOoo---

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
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Wednesday 28 August 2013

How to Crochet Spider Stitch - Swatch Four

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How to crochet SPIDER STITCH - using single crochet, chain one, single crochet.  

This Swatch stitch pattern creates a lovely dainty textured stitch.

This swatch uses:
  • single crochet (or double crochet for the British) and
  • chain one
This stitch pattern uses an odd number of sts (add 2 extra sts for foundation ch).

Make your swatch:
Row 1:  Ch27, [1sc, 1ch, 1sc] in 3rd ch from hook, *miss 1ch, [1sc, 1ch, 1sc] in next ch, rep from * to last 2ch, miss 1ch, 1sc in last ch,  turn.
Row 2:  Ch2, miss first 2sc, [1sc, 1ch, 1sc] in each 1ch sp, ending 1sc in 2nd of 2ch, turn.
Rep Row 2 until the desired length is reached.

HOOK:  3mm (E-4)
YARN:  Bendigo Woollen Mills 4ply Cotton - (Fingering weight)


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USA - American Crochet Terms
Abbreviation
Description
[ ]
work instructions within brackets as many times as directed
*
repeat the instructions following the single asterisk as directed
ch
chain stitch
cm
centimetres
in
inches
rep
repeat
sc
single crochet
sp
space
st(s)
stitch(es)


CHECK OUT THESE OTHER CROCHET SWATCHES

1. Swatch One - How to Single Crochet BL and FL
2. Swatch Two - How to Crochet Half Double Crochet Paired
3. Swatch Three - How to Crochet Offset Filet


Enjoy!
ciao, ciao!
Barbara Summers Hand Knit and Crochet   www.crocknit.com

Copyright © 2008 Barbara Summers Hand Knit and Crochet. All rights reserved.  All materials contained on this website, including images, are protected by the UK and International Copyright Law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Barbara Summers. Please CONTACT me at crocknit@gmail.com if you wish to obtain such permission.



Saturday 3 August 2013

WATER CARRIER CROCHET PATTERN

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You may or may not know, but my husband and I love walking, and when we do long walks we need to hydrate.  Of course on these long walks (8 -14 miles) we always carry backpacks filled with water, snacks and lunch.  So naturally one of these water carriers would not be necessary, however we also do shorter walks (4 - 6 miles) where I always carry at least 1 litre of water, and it is on these short walks where I need a simple carrier for my water bottle.


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And here it is, a simple water carrier, created in a moment of madness, yes madness, it is summer here in the UK and the weather has been warm to hot and really it's not ideal crochet weather, however I find it hard to NOT crochet in the evenings unless I am occupied in more entertaining pursuits.

PATTERN DETAILS:  

I used DMC Petra 3 (4ply) - Fingering weight, and Hook:  2.5mm (B-1).

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JIMMY Water Carrier Crochet Pattern 

Start with a magic ring, and make a base of single crochet. Changing colour every round.

Soon as you have the base same size as your water bottle stop increasing, and start the body of the bag.

For the body of the bag, use SWATCH THREE stitch and change colour every round, or every two rounds.

Continue for desired length finishing with a border of single crochet, half double crochet and single crochet.

Do not cut yarn, continue with making the strap.

Using MC single crochet desired number of stitches, over the CC yarn, change colour in last stitch, turn, and single crochet over the MC yarn.

Continue in this manner until desired length.

Attach with single crochet to other side of bag.

By using this method of crocheting over the contrast yarn, you will achieve a stronger, thicker strap and by changing colour you will have one row of each colour.

I made my strap long enough to cross over my body.

SPECIAL NOTE:  The strap and bag will stretch as soon as you add weight to it.  I over-estimated the length of the strap, so after the first use it was way too long, even for my husband.   SEE SOLUTION BELOW.

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To remedy the problem, of the much too long strap, I bought a couple of D-buckles and unpicked the last row of single crochet which attached the strap to the base.
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Then with a single crochet stitch, attached the D-buckles. Now I can adjust the strap length to suit the wearer.

Hope you enjoying  the beautiful sunny weather,

Ciao, Ciao...




Saturday 27 July 2013

Summer Sun and Cotton Brim Hats

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The WALKER Sun hat is designed for summer sun protection
and for those who enjoy the outdoors.

To be worn when you are
 gardening, beaching, walking, hiking, exploring, travelling, sightseeing or on a jungle safari

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Simply the perfect wide brim breathable cotton hat 
made using Rowan Cotton Glace 5ply
and a 3.5mm (E-4) hook.

The hats wide brim is self-supporting, thanks to the Rowan Cotton Glace yarn, and for a better fit add the adjustable drawstring.

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Pattern Details:
Skill Level:  Intermediate
Sizes:  Four (4) sizes - Toddler to Adult

This pattern is available in USA (American) 
and UK (British) Crochet Terms.


You will need to SELECT the CORRECT PATTERN TERMINOLOGY prior to purchase.



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This WALKER SUN HAT crochet pattern
is available 
 from my online shops

Ravelry       Craftsy      Lovecrochet

Hope you enjoy the beautiful sunny weather,

Ciao, Ciao...

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2008 (C) Barbara Summers Hand Knit and Crochet
All Rights Reserved.





Tuesday 16 July 2013

Swatch Three - How to crochet offset filet

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How a simple double crochet and chain one, can make a filet net or mesh.  This Swatch stitch pattern creates an easy offset (slanted) filet net.


This swatch uses:
  • double crochet (or treble crochet for the British) and
  • chain one
This stitch pattern uses even number of sts (add 3 extra sts for foundation ch).


Make your swatch:

R1:  Ch27, 1dc in 5th ch from hook, *1ch, miss 1ch, 1dc in next ch, rep from * to end, turn.
R2:  Ch4, *1dc in next ch sp, 1ch,  rep from * to end, work 1dc in ch4 sp, turn.
Rep R2 until desired length is reached.

This is a great stitch pattern for a stretchy market bag or water bottle carrier.

HOOK:  3mm (E-4)
YARN:  Bendigo Woollen Mills 4ply Cotton - (Fingering weight)


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USA - American Crochet Terms
Abbreviation
Description
*
repeat the instructions following the single asterisk as directed
ch
chain stitch
dc
double crochet
R
row
rep
repeat
sc
single crochet
st(s)
stitch(es)




CHECK OUT THESE OTHER CROCHET SWATCHES

1. Swatch One - How to Single Crochet FL and BL
2. Swatch Two - How to Crochet Offset Filet
3. Swatch Four - How to Crochet Spider Stitch

Enjoy!
ciao, ciao!
Barbara Summers Hand Knit and Crochet   www.crocknit.com

Copyright © 2008 Barbara Summers Hand Knit and Crochet. All rights reserved.  All materials contained on this website, including images, are protected by the UK and International Copyright Law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Barbara Summers. Please CONTACT me at crocknit@gmail.com if you wish to obtain such permission.