A Crochet Along called ‘Virtue’

I do love to join in with a crochet along, and Helen Shrimpton patterns are always so trustworthy and easy to follow with brilliant video tutorials.

You get a new part to follow each week.

This is Part 3 completed

I am making it for my niece. I absolutely love choosing colours with the person whom the blanket is for. It means I use colour combinations I would never have chosen otherwise.

S sent me a photo of her sitting room and I noticed this cushion on the sofa. We decided to base our colour palette loosely on the flamingoes and foliage.

Using Stylecraft Special DK and a 4.5mm hook the circle currently measures 27.5 inches or 70 cm diameter.

In Round 36 made each of the last popcorns independently in Spice (orange) so that the zigzag pattern in Spice and Tomato was more defined.

You can see a list of the colours in this post and I have now added Petrol and Cypress.

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Sunset Blanket

Oh such a happy photo!

And look at us all so close together – seems light years away doesn’t it.

This was taken on the beach on a windy Sunday in February this year – hard to believe.

We are a group of Attic24 fans who all live in Dorset and we had gathered together at West Bay, Lucy’s old stamping ground, for crochet and a cuppa. It was in those heady days of Dahlia mania as thousands of crocheters all over the world were busy making Lucy’s annual Crochet Along – this year inspired by dahlias.

I used Stylecraft Special Double Knit and a 4.5mm hook.

You can still buy Lucy’s Colour Pack at Wool Warehouse.

I followed some of Lucy’s Colourwash colour order but substituted colours to make it more ‘Sunset’. I reduced the number of sections for each colour to 3 in order to get it fading from dark to light to dark to light to dark.

Colour order as follows:

Each colour is 2 rows of crochet

Foundation chain and rows 1 and 2: Claret

Rows 3 and 4: Lipstick

Rows 5 and 6: Claret

Rows 7 and 8: Lipstick

Rows 9 and 10: Tomato

Rows 11 and 12: Lipstick

Rows 13 and 14: Tomato

Rows 15 and 16: Spice

Rows 17 and 18: Tomato

Rows 19 and 20: Spice

Rows 21 and 22: Sunshine

Rows 23 and 24: Spice

Rows 25 and 26: Sunshine

Rows 27 and 28: Apricot

Rows 29 and 30: Sunshine

Rows 31 and 32: Apricot

Rows 33 and 34: Powder Pink

Rows 35 and 36: Apricot

Rows 37 and 38: Powder Pink

Rows 39 and 40: Blush

Rows 41 and 42: Powder Pink

Rows 43 and 44: Blush

Rows 45 and 46: Shrimp

Rows 47 and 48: Blush

Rows 49 and 50: Shrimp

Rows 51 and 52: Pomegranate

Rows 53 and 54: Shrimp

Rows 55 and 56: Pomegranate

Rows 57 and 58: Fondant

Rows 59 and 60: Pomegranate

Rows 61 and 62: Fondant

Rows 63 and 64: Magenta

Rows 65 and 66: Fondant

Rows 67 and 68: Magenta

Rows 69 and 70: Boysenberry

Rows 71 and 72: Magenta

Rows 73 and 74: Boysenberry

Rows 75 and 76: Plum

Rows 77 and 78: Boysenberry

Rows 79 and 80: Plum

Rows 81 and 82: Claret

Rows 83 and 84: Plum

Rows 85 and 86: Claret

Rows 87 and 88: Lipstick

Rows 89 and 90: Claret

Rows 91 and 92: Lipstick

Rows 93 and 94: Tomato

Rows 95 and 96: Lipstick

Rows 97 and 98: Tomato

Rows 99 and 100: Pomegranate

Rows 101 and 102: Tomato

Rows 103 and 104: Pomegranate

Rows 105 and 106: Shrimp

Rows 107 and 108: Pomegranate

Rows 109 and 110: Shrimp

Rows 111 and 112: Blush

Rows 113 and 114: Shrimp

Rows 115 and 116: Blush

Rows 117 and 118: Apricot

Rows 119 and 120: Blush

Rows 121 and 122: Apricot

Rows 123 and 124: Saffron

Rows 125 and 126: Apricot

Rows 127 and 128: Saffron

Rows 129 and 130: Sunshine

Rows 131 and 132: Saffron

Rows 133 and 134: Sunshine

Rows 135 and 136: Spice

Rows 137 and 138: Sunshine

Rows 139 and 140: Spice

Rows 141 and 142: Tomato

Rows 143 and 144: Spice

Rows 145 and 146: Tomato

Rows 147 and 148: Lipstick

Rows 149 and 150: Tomato

Rows 151 and 152: Lipstick

Rows 153 and 154: Claret

Rows 155 and 156: Lipstick

Rows 157 and 158: Claret

Next on the to do list – the edging.

Karoo Vintage Mystery Crochet Along

The Woodland Colours would not leave me alone – I really should NOT have started another project, I have so many WIPs knock-knock-knocking on my conscience but when there is a creative itch that strong – there is nothing for it but to give in!

Along came Jen Tyler with the lure of her Karoo Vintage Mystery Crochet Along – I can’t seem to resist a CAL and I love a mystery. I love the sense of community that builds up around crochet-alongs. So, with my sensible head telling me not to, I started the Karoo Vintage Mystery Along back in July.

Crocheting along with Jen is like going on a crochet Safari, one never knows what is around the corner – it is a rocky road and not for the faint-hearted, be prepared for a challenge! She does not have her patterns tested before publishing them and so there is the odd mistake. She gets her puffs and popcorns mixed up on the video so one has to remain alert and cross-check with the written pattern. But her patterns are still worth the effort.

You can see more photos of the stages of this one on my Ravelry Page,

If I made this pattern again (I will NEVER make this pattern again!) I would make changes to simplify it and add to the stitch count in certain rounds which pull the work too tight – that middle dark brown section for instance.

But! it is done and it is an amazing piece. The details are extraordinary. I learnt a lot. – it is finished apart from about a month’s worth of ends to sew in! Yikes!

It is worked in Stylecraft Special DK and a 4.5mm hook and it measures 1.5m square.

The colours I used are as follows: Gold, Lime, Claret, Burgundy, Copper, Tomato, Bottle, Pistachio, Mustard, Khaki, Spice, Walnut, Dark Brown, Meadow, Cypress.

I did enjoy making it, but I have to admit it was an effort to finish it: mainly because I have no specific use for it and it does not go with any of the colours in my house. But I am sure that by the time all those dratted ends are sewn in it will have found a home and a purpose.

Remind me, I must not be tempted by another Crochet Along until I have finished the 8 blankets for my 8 grandchildren ……. oh wait – I’m doing one now! with Attic24.

What can I say, I am a hopeless case.

There’s a Whole Lot of Crochet Going On

Hello everyone!

I have been a bit quiet in blogland for a while – I’m in hibernation mode and loving it. Warm fires, stews bubbling away on the woodburner and plenty of dark evening time for crochet and doodling.

For the 4th time I’m joining in with Attic24’s January Crochet Along. The first was the Cosy Cal, second the Moorland, Third was last year’s Woodland and now I am making this year’s Sweet Pea Blanket – oh what a joy it is to be part of this wonderfully supportive cosy crochet community. The Facebook Group Attic24 Moorland and More is a great place to spend some time for crochet chat.

I love the colours Lucy has chosen, I would never have put Magenta and Pomegranate together, but she is a genius when it comes to mixing 15 colours in a blanket design. In the past I have substituted some of the colours but this year I’m sticking to her colours …. but not her order! My creative mind just has to have a play.

Part 1 completed in Stylecraft Special DK and using a 4.5mm hook

Lucy gives three options for the colour order: Posy which is what she calls organised random, Colourwash, which blends blocks of colours and Repeat which is all the colours in a repeating sequence of 15 rows. I could not decide which one I liked best so I am making a Baby Blanket size and am mixing up the Posy and Colourwash styles and hope it works.

I’m not quite sure I like the above order, so I did a sample doll’s blanket with a slight adjustment

Here is the Doll’s Blanket order, going from bottom to top:

1. Violet (foundation chain, sc (US) row and row 2)
2. Lavender (row 3)
3. Violet (row 4)
4. Lavender (row 5)
5. Plum (row 6)
6. Magenta (rows 7 and 8)
7. Pistachio (row 9)
8. Magenta (row 10)
9. Meadow (row 11)
10. Cypress (row 12)
11. Pomegranate (rows 13 and 14)
12. Blush (rows 15 and 16)
13. Candyfloss (row 17)
14. Blush (row 18)
15. Candyfloss (rows 19 and 20)
16. Cream (row 21)
17. Pistachio (row 22)
18. Cream (row 23)
19. Meadow (row 24)
20. Fuschia Purple (25 and 26)
21. Magenta (27)
22. Fuchsia Purpke (28)
23. Magenta (29)
24. Wisteria (30 and 31)
25. Soft Peach (32)
26. Wisteria (33)
27. Pistachio (34 and 35)

The Sweet Pea blanket has caused such a buzz! It is exciting to be part of it.

Over 5,000 – yes FIVE THOUSAND, Sweet Pea Packs have been sold by Wool Warehouse!

It makes my heart sing to know that the world is being wrapped in Sweet Pea blankets!

I am hosting a Sweet Pea Gathering for anyone making the blanket, so on Sunday 3rd. February I will be somewhere in Bridport at 10.15am for coffee and crochet, with anyone who wants to join me! When I know how many would like to come along I will fix a venue – I have a couple in mind.

I chose Bridport as it is my old stamping ground and where Lucy grew up. She still visits and blogs about the area, so I thought it would be fun and a nice link to meet there. I’m very excited to see who turns up.

Have any of you been tempted to join in with Lucy’s Crochet Along this year?

Joining in with Ginny’s January Yarn Along

Cosmic Bedspread Complete

Tah Dah!!!       Drum roll please!

At last it is finished

This has been a really fun project to make. The journey began back in April when Helen Shrimpton’s Crochet Along started and I finished the CAL back in June, but I wanted to do a few more rows to make it bigger and work out how to make a scalloped edge.

The bedspread, shown here on a 5′ wide double bed, had to wait patiently in the background whilst I made a couple of dreamcatchers for birthday presents, and then it was hard to pick it up again.

But I did it!!

I can highly recommend Helen’s patterns and this one is FREE and comes with a video tutorial.

To see other amazing Cosmics, join Helen’s Hookaholics on FB and go to the Photo Albums. If you ever need inspiration for colour combinations there is surely no better place to go.

I made this Bedspread with Scheepjes Whirl and Whirlettes and a 3mm hook:

2 x Rosewater Cocktail Whirl

1 x Jumping Jelly Whirl

1 x Citrus Whirlette

1x Blueberry Whirlette

I really enjoyed mixing up the Whirls and playing with the gradients in the colours to get the effect I wanted.

It measures 1m 41cm – 1m 35cm.           or             4’6.5″ x 4’5″

Blog posts showing progress:

Making a start. Parts 1 and 2

Parts 3 and 4

Parts 5 and 6

Parts 7 and 8

Part 9 and beyond

I am so happy with my zingy bedspread!

Silent Sunday in the Karoo

Karoo Vintage Mystery Along

Jen Tyler of Hooks ‘n’ Tails is another fabulously creative crochet designer.

Her style takes a bit of getting used to

but so worth it if you can cast pre-conceived ideas to the wind and go with her!

This pattern is a Mystery even to Jen herself, she is making it up as she goes along and each week gives us another few rows to work on. The pattern starts with a flower and then We’re OFF! on a voyage of discovery.

Texture, overlay and all sorts of avant garde instructions follow.

If it were not for the videos, I don’t think I would ever be able to follow the patterns. They are clear and well written but the stitches and methods of achieving them are unconventional, often taking a bit of working out and it makes my head spin.

Even the videos are not easy to follow.

They are not tutorial videos, but more Jen racing along with her crochet hook and me scampering behind trying hard to keep up! Sometimes I re-play the video 4 or five times to work things out.

I have just arrived at the end of Part 3 and it measures 67cm (26″)  square.

This project is like going on a Crochet Safari – you have to keep your wits about you and you never know what exciting new experience is round the next corner.

It is fun! And I have to concentrate so hard that all other worries melt away for hours on end – so therefore it also gets to be relaxing.

If you want a crochet adventure, this is definitely the right pattern for you!

There are plenty of other brave explorers who have picked up the challenge and you can see all their amazing work on Instagram, Facebook and Ravelry.

Details:

Karoo Vintage Mystery along by Jen Tyler

4.5mm hook and Stylecraft Special DK in woodland colours.

I loved working with Woodland colours for my Woodland Ripple so much, I was just waiting for another project in which I could use them again.

Joining in with Ginny’s monthly Yarn Along.

I rarely read books nowadays but I do listen to stories and dramas on the Radio whilst I crochet and The Little Ottleys has been a delight to listen to whilst going on safari in the Karoo.

 

Cosmic 4

 

I am thoroughly enjoying following Helen Shrimpton’s Cosmic Crochet Along (Cal). She really is an outstanding designer with plenty of challenges to keep you on your crocheting-toes.

Following  Part Two came the excitement of Part 3 in which we would be learning a new stitch – Star Stitch!

Cute!

But first there were a few more rows to square up the hexagon……

The rows of doubles and trebles (US) in this 4ply cotton yarn were getting to look a bit like a string vest in the corners so I decided to add a bit of texture in the form of popcorns and bead stitches.

To keep in with the Cosmic theme, I’m calling them Sputniks

The yellow for the two rows of Star Stitch came from the beginning of my second ball (yarn cake) of Rosewater Cocktail.

I continued with the first cake, which was now moving into the pink mixed with turquoise.

The photo below shows Parts 3 and 4 completed

I was thrilled that the first Whirl just made it to the end of Part 4.

The tail of yarn you can see was all that was left!

Joining in with

 

Attic24’s 2018 CAL:2

The Woodland Crochet Along, Week 2 completed.

It doesn’t matter how long we take to do the Woodland Blanket, it’s not a race, but it is a good feeling to keep up with the group of avid Attic24 fans as hundreds of us all over the world are walking along the woodland paths with Lucy.

Last night I finished Week 2’s 18 rows. I’m mostly following Lucy’s Random colour order, but I have substituted Mocha (beige) with Walnut (brown).

The blanket had not been earmarked for anyone in particular when I started out, but I was with Big Bro and Little Bro and Little Bro asked me who I was making it for. When I said I didn’t know yet, he told me he liked it very much! You should have seen his face light up when I told him it could be his.

He is only 5 but wanted to know all about the CAL and how it worked. Then we laid it out on his bed. There were many questions about how long it would be and about what a border or edging is and how it might look in the end.

He has brown eyes so it suits him very well and I’m delighted to know who will snuggle up under it when it is finished.

You might remember how much he liked the Dorset Hedgerow blanket when I was making that a year ago.

 

 

 

I am loving some of the colour combinations in this blanket

Storm Blue, Spice, Tomato and Mustard – yummy!

Enjoying the journey

Now on with Part 3!

If you want a good old natter about all things yarny and other subjects that pop up at random, zip over to Cathy’s and see who’s there for a chat.

Edit: To see the finished blanket click here.

Hedgerow Blanket

I am joining in with Attic24’s Moorland Crochet Along (CAL) .

The colours I have used are as close to Lucy’s as I could manage whilst using yarn I already have. All Stylecraft Special DK Acrylic.

My substitutions so far:

Lucy’s Moorland Colours            Substitutions

Pistachio                                           Mustard

Mocha                                                Parchment

Walnut                                               Silver

Grape                                                 Raspberry

Plum                                                  Pale Rose

Violet                                                  Soft Peach

 

Lucy used Mocha and Walnut to represent the earth and for me the Parchment and Silver represent a stony path or track below a hedgerow.

The greens are much the same as Lucy’s and instead of the purples for the heather I have gone for pinks to represent blossoms found in the grass below the hedge and in the hedge itself. I think these colours represent a late Spring or early Summer English Hedgerow – do you agree? I’m quite pleased with the way they are turning out.

Lucy’s Sequence                             My substitutions

1. Cypress
2. Lime
3. Khaki
4. Meadow
5. Pistachio                                    Mustard
6. Mocha                                         Parchment
7. Walnut                                       Silver
8. Lime
9. Meadow
10. Khaki
11. Lime (I missed this one out by mistake, and have added it in after colour 35)
12. Pistachio                                    Mustard
13. Cypress
14. Walnut                                        Silver
15. Lime
16. Grape                                          Raspberry
17. Pistachio                                   Mustard
18. Meadow
19. Khaki
20. Mocha                                      Parchment
21. Grape                                       Raspberry
22. Lime
23. Walnut                                    Silver
24. Cypress
25. Meadow
26. Khaki
27. Lime
28. Walnut                                  Parchment (order of these two colours were swapped by accident)
29. Mocha                                   Silver
30. Knaki
31. Grape                                   Raspberry
32. Walnut                                Parchment
33. Sage
34. Plum                                    Pale Rose
35. Grape                                    Raspberry

Lime ( I added this here to make up for the previous mistake)

36. Meadow
37. Plum                                    Pale Rose
38. Violet                                 Soft Peach
39. Sage
40. Walnut                              Silver

~

Joining in with Ginny’s Yarn Along

Yarn Along: Attic24 Cal

Joining in with Ginny’s Yarn Along and Attic24’s Moorland CAL.

I’m using slightly different colours to Lucy’s Moorland palette, as I really could not allow myself to buy more yarn, so am using colours from my stash. I think the result will be more hedgerow than Moorland, but I’m happy with the substitutions so far.

More details of the colours will follow in another post. They are all from the Stylecraft Special DK Acrylic yarn which I get from Wool Warehouse, but Deramores are also a very good mail order firm. You can find the fabulous Attic24 packs at Wool Warehouse.

When I was in Pembrokeshire (Wales) recently, I found the book, a wonderfully evocative tale of island life with lots of delightful black and white photos.

I’m itching to tell you all about my 31 days retreat to a gorgeous treehouse near Solva.  There is so much to tell you and hundreds of photos to sort through!

It was such a blissful time of beach walks, new friends, family history, sand circles and wild food foraging. It will take a while for me to put it together into some coherent posts but in the meantime pay a virtual visit to the treehouse via its listing on Air BnB which is how I found it – my review is there for you to read as well.