A Bunch of Sweet Peas

What a happy bunch we were!

The picture is missing Jenny, who joined us later.

Sladers Yard (in West Bay, Dorset, UK) were very accommodating and welcoming. We had a board of yummy cakes garnished with strawberries and cherries – I wish I had taken a photo! And they had set aside two tables at the back of the room for us.

There were nine adult crocheters altogether and a delightful junior knitter.

There is something so deeply comforting about being with a group of women coming together and making things together – it is timeless – a connection with our ancestors reaching back over the centuries.

It is great to share ideas and talk about our current a future projects, equipment and how we store our stash.

And don’t you just LOVE Helen’s craft bag!

I admit to a bit of Craft Bag envy!

We felt we had to get at least some pictures on the beach, to show us firmly placed in West Bay, especially to send to Lucy, the designer of the blanket that had brought us all together. Lucy comes from these parts and often returns here for holidays and family visits.

Some of our group had other places they had to be for lunch, so there were fond farewells and talks of meeting again, before a few of us went to the beach where as you can see – it was a bit windy.

I’m hopeless at selfies!

Just right for paragliders

And then there were 3, we had a wander around the harbour

Time for a few more photos

I love this one of Kay and Sandra

And then back to Sladers Yard for a lunch.

A huge thank you to everyone who came and made our Gathering such an enjoyable one – and thank you to all those who have said they would like to come to another one – yes there will be another meeting, not sure when yet.

Any one of the group might arrange a meeting in their area and I will do my best to get there. I will be arranging one in early Summer and will give plenty of notice here on my blog and on Facebook and Instagram.

Thanks also to Stylecraft Yarns for sending such amazing goody bags – everyone was thrilled! We all have plans for our Batik Elements Yarn. The colours on the website do not do it justice, they are much lighter and lovelier! The youngest member of our group used hers as a friendship bracelet for her cuddly toy – just the right fit!

And I have some goody bags left for anyone new who comes to the next meeting.

Thank you to Sladers Yard for their wonderful hospitality, and to some of the other customers who came to chat about crochet.

One guy told me that he had learnt to knit when he was 8 and loved it but his Grandad had ridiculed him for ‘being a girl’ and he’d stopped. I told him about all the many examples of men knititng and crocheting online and he said he might take it up again in his impending retirement. He said we should exhibit our work in a gallery as it was so good! Now there’s a thought …….. !

Of course the biggest thank you has to go to Lucy for creating such a friendly and fabulous crochet community with her heart-warming blog posts and wonderfully colourful designs. This is the fourth Lucy Crochet Along I have done and each one has brought a wonderful sense of community but there seems to be something about these colours that have inspired many of us to gathering in groups all over the world, to share the Sweet Pea journey.

A picture of the Sweet Pea set in the snow.

Pattern for the jacket is in this post.

 

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Yarn Along with Ginny

A peek at the corner of the Rainbow Amanzi Throw I’m making for my 8 year old granddaughter. Her birthday is in April, I think I will have it finished by then.  Anyone who knows the pattern will see that I have made some modifications – Jen Tyler’s designs encourage experimentation!

I’m enjoying these lively colours in the depths of Winter amd to offset the ‘noise’, I’m enjoying revisiting the book “Returning to Silence”.

It was published in 1988, I first read it, and loved it, in 1998 and now I’m enjoying it again. Like so many similar books, it is about coming back to the self, being present in the moment, knowing your peaceful centre, no matter what you are doing. I like the way it soothes me and takes me there again.

Meanwhile I keep crocheting these bright zingy colours!

Joining in with Ginny’s Yarn Along

Windows

Here we are again at the first Tuesday of the month and time to share our WINDOW photos.

We had snow here, in the South of England, last Friday and this was the view from my bedroom window

It is really difficult to adequately describe the joy of sitting in my cosy bed, crocheting rainbows for my granddaughter (Big Sis, aged 8 – yes she chose the Rainbow Amanzi) with Radio 4 playing The Book of the Week: Silence

I still get a warm fuzzy glow remembering the sheer pleasure, delight and gratitude for all that has brought me to this place of peace and joy.

Life has had it’s tumultuous ups and downs and in the darkest times I used to dream of a scene like this, a feeling like this. Dreams really do come true, feels good to acknowledge that and know that if things go wambly again in the future, I can always look back to this for comfort and to realign those dreams.

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I’m really looking forward to seeing the WINDOWS you have captured with your camera this month and perhaps the thoughts or stories that go with them.

Just leave a link in the Comments below.

A window on your world – or keeping the curtains cosily drawn; one photo, a group of photos, current or archive – all are welcome!

Edit:

If you would also like to join in with Jenn’s Photo Challenge : Comfortable and Cozy, pop on over to Travelling at Wit’s End.

 

Stylecraft Sunday

Today is the day for the Sweet Pea Crochet Along Gathering in West Bay. I’m looking forward to meeting up with fellow Attic24 fans SO much!

I asked Stylecraft Yarns if they would be kind enough to send a raffle prize and I was amazed and delighted when they said they would send some goody bags, look at all these goodies they sent!

My goodness, I was hopping up and down with glee when I opened the box – I’m most excited about the shade cards, I have been wanting one for ages, but the  Batik Elements yarn is gorgeous

I’m not affiliated with Stylecraft or Wool Warehouse, but I do love to give a shout out about good products, great service and fabulous generosity!

These are my favourite colours: Gallium, Bismuth and Titanium.

The pink flowers are the Stylecraft emblem as key rings.

The magazine has some great patterns in it – my daughter-in-law would love that stag’s head. I might try to make that for her (but have a couple of blankets to finish first – stay focussed!)

So each person coming to Sladers Yard in West Bay today will get 10 items – yes TEN courtesy of Stylecraft.

I’m so excited!

Thank you so much  Stylecraft!

Free Pattern: Pixie Hat

This is for a newborn – 3 month old baby

The pattern has been tested by Tialys, pop across to see her beautifully stylish version made especially for her new great-nephew. Thank you Tialys!

Hat

Materials:

Stylecraft Special DK, Needles: Size 9 (3.75mm) and Size 8 (4mm)

Abbreviations:

yrn           yarn round needle

stst           stocking stitch

K2tog      knit two together

 

Starting at the rim of the hat, using Size 9 (3.75mm) needles and Lavender

Cast on 73sts

Next Row: K

Next Row: P1, (yrn, P2 tog) to the end.

Starting with a K row, work 6 rows of stst.

Change to no 8 needles and Cypress

Next Row: K

9 rows moss st.

Change to Meadow

Starting with a K row, work in stst

After two rows change to Pistachio

Continue in stst until work measures 9.5 cm (straighten out st st border to measure) ending with a P row.

Next Row: (K8, K2tog) to the last 3 sts, K3

Stst 3 rows

Next Row: (K7, K2tog) to last 3 sts, K3.

Stst 3 rows

Next Row: (K6, K2tog) to last 3 sts, K3.

Next row: P

Next Row: (K5, K2tog) to last 3 sts, K3.

Next Row: P

Next Row: (K4, K2tog) to last 3 sts, K3.

Next Row: P

Next Row: (K3, K2tog) to last 3 sts, K3.

Next Row: P

Next Row: (K2, K2tog) to last 3sts, K3.                                  24 sts

Next Row: P

Next row (K1, K2tog) to last 3 sts, K3

Next Row: P

Shape Point

Next row: K5, K2tog, K3, K2tog, K5

Next Row: P

Next row: K3, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K2

Next Row: P

Next row K1, K2 tog, K2, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K1.         9sts

Next Row: P

Next row (K1, K2tog) x3

Next Row: P

Next row K2tog x 3

Next Row: P

Next row K3 tog

Break yarn and pull through leaving at least 15 cm for sewing up.

 

To Make Up

1. Sew from the point to the rim in mattress stitch, working on the reverse side for the stst of the curled rim.

Copyright: Sandra Dorey

 

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I am happy for you to sell anything you make using my patterns. It would be great if you could credit me as the designer.

I’d love to see photos of what you make. You can tag them on Instagram.          #wilddaffodilpixie

Please respect my pattern, it is for your own use. Please do not pass it on to anyone else except by a link to this post – thank you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you try the pattern I’d love to know how you get on. Feedback most welcome.

 

Sweet Pea Gathering, West Bay, Dorset

I’m so excited about next Sunday! Attic24 Crocheters will be meeting at this lovely cafe and Art Gallery

Sunday      3rd February     10.15am – 12.45pm  

Sladers Yard,     West Bay,      Dorset,       UK  

I think about 12 of us will be meeting up for Coffee and Crochet and sharing our Attic24 Sweet Pea Cal projects. All Attic24 fans are welcome, the more the merrier!

There will be cake – and they do a most delicious Turmeric Latte

I will most probably stay for lunch and anyone is welcome to join me – here is a sample menu – a bit pricey perhaps, but looks yummy.

There are loads of other wonderful places to eat in West Bay, The George pub, just round the corner does a spendid Carvery for just £8.50, but you need to book – it is very popular. And even on a Sunday in Winter there are some kiosks open around the harbour, selling burgers, tea and coffee.

Please leave me a message in the comments of via my Contact Me page if you have any questions, or to let me know you will be joining us.

It would be great for me to get an idea of numbers as I have some Goody Bags to make up! Yes! Goody Bags generously donated by the wonderful Stylecraft! Eeek! I don’t want to say anything about them yet as I want them to be surprise on the day. I think you’ll like them though! 😀

The Crochet Along is really gathering momentum on Instagram #attic24sweetpeacal and in the Facebook Group and there seem to be quite a few groups of crocheters meeting up to share the Sweet Pea journey together. There is a real warmth to the crochet community.

I am making the Baby Blanket size, and it got me thinking about making a baby version of my toddlers’ Fairy Jacket pattern

A Sweet Pea Flower Fairy

I’m working on the written pattern for Newborn – 3months old  – I hope to have it finished soon to offer as a Free Pattern to my blog readers and to the Attic24 Facebook group, for a limited time before it goes into my Ravelry Shop.

So I’d better get on with it! Writing patterns is much harder than creating them with yarn!

I am really looking forward to seeing as many Attic24 fans as can make it on Sunday, til then Happy Hooking!

Silent Sunday