BEING SQUARE Cushions and Pillows with Crochet SQUARES

Here I am into the second week in March and still haven't finished my mitered squares cushion, terrible really but I have good reasons for the delay. I was too sick one week with an URTI which annihilated my desire for any crocheting and any attempt at focusing on pattern writing was a huge failure. UGH!

A week of indoor-ism was so tedious, and as soon as my strength returned and throat cleared, I was keen to get out and enjoy the sunshine. Basically, I have indulged myself with wandering the countryside instead of getting back into my crochet projects. 

Totally lovely!

We visited Canterbury and walked the wall in the hope of photographing the yearly display of glorious daffodils round the perimeter of the wall, and we weren't disappointed at all!

How lovely are these?

The weather has been really lovely, with a wonderful feeling of spring in the air.  Some days it's a bit windy but the sunshine has made up for the wind chill factor.  

We enjoyed our Canterbury Walk so much we ventured on an eight (8) mile walk the very next day.

Drove to Chilham, parked up and walked from Chilham to Chartham and back again.  Country walking with a bit of historical sightseeing to make it really interesting.

Loved Chilham, so much history here, (if you would like to see more photos of our walks, do check out MiFotoLife blog)

Chilham Castle

And best of all we finished our walk with some lovely cream teas - two scones, freshly baked that day, with strawberry preserve and clotted cream, at Shelly's Tea Rooms in Chilham. Oh so delicious and ever so naughty!  yum yum!

CROCHET TALK

OK so let's move on and talk a bit about these CROCHET SQUARES - CUSHIONS/PILLOWS - WIP (work in progress)

The small mitered squares (see previous post) which I crocheted with aran wool are now joined together, by a single crochet join, and I've added a single crochet border, alternating the colours.  As you can see in the photo below.

For the back of the cushion, I've introduced a third colour, and just crocheting a striped square in alternating colours and irregular widths of colour.

Ever so simple, and a striking contrast to the front of the cushion which is in two colours and includes the mitered squares.  I am making this cushion cover for my husband so I am making sure the stitches are going to be strong and durable, by using the 100% aran wool and a 4mm hook.  The back of the cushion is crochet using single crochet in back loop, resulting in a lovely texture and ridged effect, a very masculine and robust cushion cover.  

It's my MAN CUSHION!

This cushion back is nearly finished, it won't be long and I will be able to crochet the front to the back and add some buttons at one end for the opening.  Promise to post an update when I have completed the mitered cushion cover, so do come back for the finale!

enjoy

ciao, ciao!

BE CREATIVE

HAVE A PLAY AND HAVE SOME FUN!

YOU ARE WELCOME TO SHARE YOUR CREATIONS 

BELOW IN THE COMMENTS 

OR 

ON MY CROCKNIT FACEBOOK PAGE

Enjoy!

ciao, ciao!

Barbara Summers Hand Knit and Crochet   www.crocknit.com
Copyright (C) 2008-2015 Barbara Summers - All rights reserved.

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BARBARA SUMMERS HAND KNIT AND CROCHET

STORMY WEATHER and mitered crochet squares !!

Don't know why there's no sun up in the sky

Stormy weather

Colours of Winter Sunrises

MOMENTS IN TIME

Winter Sunrises are amazing - the grey clouds of dawn, the pink glow of daylight. Some times more orange, other times more magenta, yet always beautiful!

MY FAVOURITE TIME OF DAY

I love being up to capture these moments, quite often they only last a short time and as soon as the sun starts to rise, either the clouds move in and all the glorious colours disappear or the glow of the sun eliminates the hues. So you have to be quick to capture the moment. When I am in a hurry to take the photo before the colours change and disappear I use my mobile instead of digging out my Fuji camera which then results in a mediocre photo.

The best time is when I have risen before the sun and the colours are just starting to appear, this is the time the Fuji is dug out of it's case and I delight in zooming in and out to capture segments of colour in the early morning skies.

Aren't they lovely colours?

YARN COLOUR INSPIRATION

So it is these beautiful winter sunrise colours which inspired my winter scarf design. 

I purchased these AMAZING coloured hanks of yarn by Debbie Bliss known as Andes. It was July 2013 at a 50% OFF SALE, almost a whole eight (8) months ago and it's taken this long to do something with them, it seems that life just got in the way. Honestly, I had no idea what I was going to make from these delightful three (3) hanks of colour, and then later I found and added another hank, the colour is fuchsia and it is just gorgeous, too beautiful to resist.

SPECIAL CROCHET DESIGNS

As you can see I have managed to use up the beautiful coloured hanks to make a lovely pair of fingerless mittens, SEE BELOW, and you can read all about these French inspired mittens in my previous post PARIS Crochet Mittens.

With the remainder of the yarn I crocheted a simple and easy scarf, I have called it ANDES after the name of the yarn. This is my special dress-up winter sunrise scarf and I am going to share the crochet pattern with you below.

YARN DETAILS

Debbie Bliss Andes yarn is pure luxury! 

Baby alpaca wool makes it irresistibly soft and warm, while mulberry silk creates shine, drape and elegance. 

This yarn is just one of those extra-indulgent treats for your most special projects.

Unfortunately ANDES yarn has now been discontinued which is a real shame, however you may still find ANDES or a similar yarn online via Ebay. If not go to this amazing website called YARNSUB where you can check which yarns you can use instead.

PATTERN DETAILS:

A simple striped crochet scarf using one stitch throughout and easy colour change.  No hiding ends.  No sew.  

SKILL:  Easy

YARN:  Debbie Bliss Andes ● DK/8ply ●  Baby Alpaca 65% Mulberry Silk 35%  ● 50g 100m(109yd)

YARDAGE:  200g = 400m(436yd) 4 x 50g - 1 skein of each colour

SUBSTITUTE YARN:  Rowan Alpaca Colour or any other similar DK yarn

HOOK:  7 (4.5mm)

MEASUREMENTS:  Length 55in (140cm) without fringe, Width 6.5in (16.5cm)

TENSION:  Not critical to this pattern.

ABBREVIATIONS:  USA (American) Crochet Terms

ch = chain, hdc = half double crochet, sl st = slip stitch, st = stitch, CC = contrast colour, MC = main colour.

PATTERN NOTES:  Beginning and end of each colour change, leave 3-4in tail, before cutting yarn. These yarn tails will be incorporated into the fringe.  

With MC and 7 (4.5mm) hook

Row 1:  Ch200, 1hdc in 3rd ch from hook, 1hdc in each ch to end. Turn.

Row 2:  Ch2, 1hdc in each st to end. Turn.

Row 3:  Repeat Row 2.

Change to CC1

Row 4-6: Repeat Row 2.

Change to CC2

Row 7-9: Repeat Row 2.

Change to CC3

Row 10-12: Repeat Row 2.

Change to MC

Row 13-15: Repeat Row 2.

Change to CC1

Row 16-18: Repeat Row 2.

Change to CC2

Row 19-21: Repeat Row 2.

Change to CC3

Row 22-24: Repeat Row 2.

Change to MC

Row 25-26: Repeat Row 2.

Row 27:  Sl st in each st to end.

Make fringe measuring 4-5ins in length.  Use all 4 colours.  2 strands of each contrast colour and 1 strand of main colour per fringe group.  7 fringe groups on each end of scarf.  Remember to incorporate the yarn tails into the fringe groups.

For some easy instructions on HOW TO MAKE A FRINGE check this out. http://www.wikihow.com/Add-Fringe-to-a-Crochet-or-Knit-Project

Enjoy!

ciao, ciao!

Barbara Summers Hand Knit and Crochet   www.crocknit.com
2008 (C) Copyright - All rights reserved.

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Paris in Winter

Under the sky of Paris

A song takes flight
It was born today
In the heart of a boy
Under the sky of Paris
Lovers walk
Their happiness built
On an atmosphere made for them

I love this song about Paris -  Sous le ciel de Paris

Why am I talking of Paris?  because my new crochet pattern is named PARIS, and whenever I think of Paris I just want to get on the Eurostar and go, go, go, all the way to Paris.  

I just love the city, no matter what time of year it is.  Winter, Summer, Spring or Autumn, they are all beautiful in Paris.

I took these photos in 2008, it was January and we went there for my husband's birthday before we left England to return home to Australia. It was magical!  Winter in Paris!  Fabulous!

We have been back a few times since then and we always have the best time.  I have been to Paris in every season and I always love it!

Must be the time of year, but I am getting itchy feet again, maybe Paris is calling?

MAYBE NOT! OK stop daydreaming and let's get back to reality, for now, the reason for this post is my new pattern for crochet mittens, named PARIS.

I love this stitch, so simple and delicate, yet sturdy and warm.  And I love the yarn, so soft and silky.  With a beautiful weight and drape.  Maybe a cowl or scarf will be next on the "to do list" to match the mittens?

Anyway, I am very pleased with these mittens, and can't wait to wear them when I'm dressed to go out to lunch or dinner, and when I'm wearing my "going out" clothes, NOT when I'm out in the countryside and hiking for miles and dressed in hiking gear!

Unfortunately, I have made these mittens with a yarn which for some reason has now been discontinued. 

I am always amazed how quickly some yarns get replaced with newer yarns?  Especially, when the yarn is absolutely beautiful.  I love it.  

I know for a fact there is still quite a bit of the yarn available online from various stockists and yarn stores (I ordered some extra skeins from Pavi Yarns).  So if you really want your own silky alpaca mittens, get online and go hunting for those Debbie Bliss Andes skeins.  All worth the effort.

PATTERN DETAILS:

A lovely lace-look pattern for ladies fingerless mittens. Made with a lovely soft, alpaca and silk yarn, which makes these mittens extra special. Choose subdued or vibrant contrasting colours.

DIFFICULTY:  Intermediate

SIZES:  Two sizes - Small to Medium, Medium to Large

YARN USED:  Debbie Bliss Andes  ● Baby Alpaca 65% and Mulberry Silk 35% 

Substitute Yarn Suggestion:  Rowan Alpaca Colour  ● Baby Alpaca 100% OR any other similar DK yarn

Crochet in the round. No seams to sew. Wear the mittens on either hand. The pattern is the same for both left and right mittens.

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

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

PATTERN AVAILABLE NOW 

from my online shops

CRAFTSY       RAVELRY      LOVECROCHET

  

enjoy

ciao, ciao!

BARBARA SUMMERS HAND KNIT AND CROCHET

WINTER, FORESTS and CROCHET HATS

You fill up my senses,

like a night in the forest,

like the mountains in springtime, 

like a walk in the rain 

Most of you will recognize these words as the famous song by John Denver "Annie's Song", for me these words convey how I feel about the great outdoors. I love being outdoors in the forest (my favourite), or surrounded by mountains, give me the wide open spaces anywhere in nature and I am fulfilled and happy. 

Crochet Hat Patterns

You may wonder how this relates to crochet, but it is exactly this love of the outdoors which has lead me to wearing hats all the time. Whether for warmth, or to keep the sun off my face, I AM A HAT WEARER, ALL THE TIME! That is why I love crocheting hats and I love creating new crochet patterns for hats.

Creative Crochet

I often play with ideas for crochet hats and then leave them lying around for years before I get back to them and eventually get around to writing up the step-by-step instructions for the pattern. And most certainly when I do get to that stage, I guarantee you I will probably revise the crochet hat and remake it with new yarns.

FOREST HAT Crochet Pattern

This is where I come to talk about my latest crochet hat pattern, it is an old hat from my market stall days in the Old Spitalfields Market, London, UK. That is where the first FOREST HAT was designed and created in a range of colours (with three little flowers attached). Funnily enough, I didn't sell many Forest Hats in London, but instead sold more of these hats on my return back to Australia at the markets in the Northern Rivers, NSW. 

Go figure, somewhere where it isn't as cold as London and I sell more FOREST HATS. You just never know who is going to like what?

Today I have revised the Forest Hat crochet pattern, I have updated to a heavier yarn weight and larger hook than the original FOREST HAT and I have also given it an optional cotton lining for extra warmth and comfort. 

PATTERN DETAILS:

DIFFICULTY:  Easy
YARN:  Freedom Purity Chunky ● Wool 85% Alpaca 15%
HOOK:  6mm (J-10) 
SIZE:  Three (3) sizes - Child 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.

FOREST HAT CROCHET PATTERN 

AVAILABLE from my online shops

CRAFTSY       RAVELRY 

Enjoy!

ciao, ciao!

Copyright © 2008

Barbara Summers Hand Knit and Crochet.

All rights reserved.

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Crochet Baby Mittens RAINBOW

Baby Mittens Crochet Pattern

At long last, I have finally had the time to sit down and write out the mittens pattern and everyone who has been patiently waiting for the instructions for these baby mittens can now enjoy making them.

RAINBOW Crochet Mittens 

PATTERN DETAILS:

DIFFICULTY:  Easy

YARN USED:  BWM Cotton 8ply ● 6 colours

NOTIONS:  G-6 hook, Yarn needle

This pattern is written in USA American crochet terms.

Perfect Newborn Baby Gifts

These baby crochet mittens are ever so cute and they are perfect for that newborn gift for a baby boy or a baby girl. They are made with a lovely soft, cotton yarn, ever so comfortable for delicate baby hands and also very easy to wash and they look fabulous in bright rainbow colours.   

You can match them up with the colourful baby hat crochet pattern called TROPO, (pictured in the photo above), it has been one of my most popular crochet hat patterns for newborns.  

You could also stretch your crochet skills and make mittens, hats and scarf with the ebook RAINBOW TREASURES.

All these patterns, hats, scarf and mittens were inspired by the RAINBOW Baby Blanket I made in 2012 for my grandchild. 

If you would like to read more about the RAINBOW blanket see my previous blog here.

RAINBOW BABY MITTENS

PATTERN AVAILABLE  

from my online shops

CRAFTSY         RAVELRY

enjoy

ciao, ciao!

BARBARA SUMMERS HAND KNIT AND CROCHET