Ta-Darrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

Teresa's Granny Wheel blanket is complete! 

I'm over the moon with this blanket! 

I have enjoyed hooking every stitch from working out the pattern for the first square, to the last single stitch in the lacy loopy trim :) Teresa chose this blanket from looking through my crochet board on pinterest. I'm really pleased she picked this one for me to make.

Sorry for all the photos I just had to post them all ;) 

I do hope Tee likes it!

TFL

Px

Almost at the final stage

I am working on the fourth round of the blankets boarder that the moment. I spent yesterday evening completing the first two rounds of the boarder, before sewing all the leftover ends in. This didn't seem to take as long as it normally does, maybe because I had some good TV to watch while I did it? I had this pretty little pile of nesting box ends to send to my dad, for the birds in his garden when I had completed my least favourite  task.

  

The second step for the boarder is to add a contrast colour I chose to use the blue (because I had a spare ball of this in my yarn basket). When I add boarders to blankets I always increase the stitches on the corners so that they don't curl. The first row of boarder (grey yarn) has two increases in the corner stitch, the second row ( grey#2) has two more increases, one in each of the two new stitches in the row below, and the third row (blue) has a further two increases again one increase placed in each of the new stitches in the row below.

 

The almost last stage is to work the foundation stitch for the final part of the boarder. I mulled over a few different boarder types for this blanket finally settling on a lacy loop, which I'm sure has a more technical name but I like to call it a "lacy loop". To do this you crochet a *chain 5,  and slip into the fourth stitch* this is repeated all the way around the edge of your blanket. don't worry if your blanket doesn't divide perfectly into fours one smaller or slightly larger loop won't show in the end. stage two should hopefully follow this evening. 

 

For now Diggory is watching over the blanket until I get home from work this afternoon.

TFL

Px

It's all getting a little edgy here!

I have finished crocheting all the squares together. I use a single crochet to do this, holding the two squares edges together (rough side in) and running a single crochet stitch through both stitches each of squares (so I'm going under four stitches each time). This forms a ridge stitch along each square. I like this look, it also it helps to add strength to the blanket. There's nothing that looks worse than a month old blanket that is pulling and stretching apart at the joins, because the maker has used a flat stitch and only hooked through one stitch of each square edge. I am now at the point where..... If Bella will let me I'm ready to start on the blankets edge.

 

 To start the edge I do a single row of crochet all the way around the blanket taking in any stray yarn ends (that way there are a few less to sew in later). I then plan to start the task I like the least.... Sewing in all those nasty yarn ends. I prefer to do this now rather than when the squares are all single, as I pick up as many as I can while making the squares and then while crocheting them all together. This way I should have about 100 ends to do rather than the 200 I would have if I did them at an earlier stage. 

  The blanket at this stage is looking quite nice! I think I may have to make one for myself using similar colours!

TFL

Px

It folds!!! So that must mean its a blanket right?

Well not quite a blanket yet but almost! 

I've hooked seven rows of squares together so far with just piles 8,9 and 10 to attach the main body of the blanket. However because I attach the squares with straight rows of crochet I still have to crochet "across" the blanket so the squares are attached on all four sides. 

See what I mean about matching stitches? I just love how they all line up so nicely. 

This makes me BIG SMILE :)  I know I know I'm a wool nerd!

This makes Doggory Smile :) He loves this part of blanket production, snuggling up under an un-finished blankie.

TFL 

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Stage one complete

 So last night I finished the final square making 104 in total. I used 100 to lay out the 10x10 blanket and will use the remaining four in the centre of a cushion cover. The next step for me is to lay all the squares out into a pleasing pattern on the floor. Check the colour spread is "roughly even" Trav kept trying to tell me there was too much green, "over there" while vaguely waving his hand all over the blanket.

I then pile up the rows in order, bundle them together and add a row label so they stay in order. Then comes my favourite part of blanket making!!!! Hooking the squares together! I love LOVE love this part! But only must say if the stitches all line up neatly and every edge has a matching number of stitches (so don't be thinking you can be sending me any mis-matched squares to hook together for you;) ) This is where my OCD helps. every square has to be correct as I make it this then makes my favourite part totally wonderful!!!! (Oh dear I'm a crochet Nerd!!!!!!)

 I'm using this darker grey to hook the squares together it's a Robin Acrylic DK "School Grey".

TFL

Px

Just nine left to make :)

After another half day spent hooking I have just nine Granny wheel squares left to make. Then I can lay them all out on the floor and work out what arrangement I want them in before I start hooking them into a blankie.The yarn that I had didn't last quite as long as I thought it would, So after a quick search about through my yarn basket i have found a few smaller balls of the same (or very simalar coloured) wool so I could complete these last few squares.

Blankie Square Totals.

completed squares = 71

started squares = 20

After a day of hooking and watching Buffy (season four finished) I'm pleased with these totals.
The yarn balls are getting smaller! I must be nearing the end :)

Granny Wheel Blanket; progress so far

Progress with this blanket has been slow of late, I have had other smaller hooky projects that I have been getting out of the way while taking a break from the repetitive work that is making granny squares.

So far I have 50 completed squares and 22 in production. 

 I like to work in colours rather than completing one granny at a time.

    This is whats left of the wool stash I have allowed for this project, although I did buy two balls of the darker grey to edge the blanket I'm not sure I will need both? All the navy is gone and as I just have another 30 squares to make I think this should be plenty.... I can hope ;)

My plan for today is to finish watching season 4 of Buffy and just make "Granny's" all day in amongst a little house work and dog walking. 

have a good Thursday 

TFL

Px

Rhodey bear completed

I finished making my Rhodey bear he hasn't turned out a lovely as the bear in the patterns photos but I'm pretty pleased with him. I need to find some darker eyes for my next one as I think these are to pale and give him a strange look.

My Retreat Makings

 My plans for this weekend where huge! I had expected to get so so much more crocheting done. I suppose when I crochet alone I only focus on me and the dogs so crocheting happens quicker but at the retreat there was so much more going on I didn't manage to just "sit and hook". However I did manage to mock-up and make a pattern for these fingerless mitts. That I then made in dark brown with a red and purple flower. 

 I made a couple of Flower brooches (and one that I never finished)

I made a Pretty dancing Rat called Retrita (aka retreat Rita).

Although I felt I hadn't done much looking at my makings now I think I under-estimated just what I did get done as I have counted out ten 12x12 scrap pages, as well as the hooky projects. 

 at 39

My yearly scrap page. listing all the labels I would give myself.

COPY CAT

Carys playing copycat at New Year.

 EXPLORE

Liam enjoying a run at St Helens Duver

 HOOKING

Some of my crochet creations this year

 SUNSHINE

 My youngest Niece.

SWEAT SHOP 

Suki curled up in one of my crochet blankets, My friends say I hook too fast and must have taught the dogs to hook as well!" 

MORE TEA VICAR?

Travis and Carys playing tea party on New Years Eve. Trav was fascinated with the "gurgling" noise the teapot made.

JUST CALL ME "NANNY DOG PEA?"

My "new" family nik name due to a mix up of Nanny Dog and Auntie Pea. I really hoping this one doesn't stick!

SING US A STORY DAVE

Last month a group of us went over to Pompy to hear "Damh the Bard" play, He is the most amazing story teller!

THE LOOK

I spend time on News Year Eve teaching my friend how to crochet, I just love these photos of her, not sure she will ;) 

So that's my makings from our wonderful retreat weekend. If you fancy joining us for a relaxing weekend away on the Isle of Wight check out our Wight Craft Circle Blog for details on ticket booking and dates. 

TFL

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Rhodey Bear

Isn't he just amazing!!!!!

I'm working on making one of these myself right now, and because we were re-watching "Iron Man" while I was making his body I have chosen to call him "Rhodey Bear". 

The pattern for this and three others that i have also bought today comes from a very talented designer on Etsy.

I can't wait to see how my little bear turns out :) I'll keep you posted!

TFL
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Polly Dolly Long Legs

A few weeks back I found these great crochet dolls on where????? Pinterest of course!!! The pattern for them was posted on a crafting forum and availble for free. Which is really great! We all love free things don't we. 

 I had a little trouble understanding the hair part of the pattern but I think I did an ok (ish) job of her afro. I'm really pleased with how she all came together in the end. I was rather worried about the length of her legs (getting them to match) as I lost count quite a few times on those skinny things ;)

 

 NOw I don't seem to be able to get my long legged dolly to stand up like the one on the pattern but I'm thinking maybe she used pipecleaners in the legs? I want mine to be safe for a little girl so I forwent the temptaion to add pipecleaners and will just have her as a floppy doll.

TFL

Px

Darkhart the tiny pocket Dragon

Meet Darkhart, he is a miniture pocket Dragon, 

Don't be caught off guard by his size! The flames he breaths can still cause a mighty amount of damage and the rules that apply to larger Dragons still apply to him! 

On staurday he will be moving out of our house and going to live with a whole collection of Dragons, I know he will be expertly looked after by my friend the "Dragon Keeper" 

He is made using "The Best Bunny" pattern from Lion Brand Patterns. 

TFL

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