Crochet and Harbour Delights

On Sunday morning a group of us met at the The Dry Dock, in Weymouth, Dorset (UK) for some crochet and a natter.

The Dry Dock is a friendly cafe, bar and community hub selling non-alcoholic drinks as well as hot drinks and cakes.

The group is Friends of Attic24 Dorset set up for people who live in Dorset, who follow Attic24 designs and blog.

I parked about a mile away from the venue (anything to avoid parking fees!) and walked to the cafe past Weymouth Harbour.

Always such a lovely atmosphere, and even some yarn bombing

And oh! Rust!

Like a sculpture, crochet hook for scale

Does anyone else get a thrill when they see rust? My family think I’m crazy, but I’m sure there are other fellow rustophiles out there.

Friends of Attic24: Dorset

It was a glorious sunny day here last Sunday, just the day for a visit to the seaside

I am a member of a group of crocheters, who live in Dorset and all like and follow Attic24.

Lucy, of Attic24, runs an annual Crochet Along (CAL) and this year the inspiration for her blanket design is harbours.

Lucy used to live near West Bay so our group often meets at West Bay. Just 3 of us on Sunday

We took our blankets down to the harbour for a photo, but it was so packed with people, it was hard to find a place to get a good shot. So we turned to the beach and found an upturned boat

The blanket on the left is following Lucy’s colours. I am going a bit brighter and making a stash-busting blanket for the granddaughter of a friend, Miss P, who loves bright colours.It is such a relaxing pattern to make, I can recommend it for a crochet beginner.

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.

When Lucy came to Dorset

I have just had the most wonderful weekend.

On Saturday I went to see my sister’s art exhibition and on Sunday, we had our Friends of Attic24: Dorset gathering at Sladers Yard art gallery and cafe, in West Bay.

What made Sunday extra special was that Lucy of Attic24 happened to be in Dorset and could pop in and join us for a couple of hours!!!

How lucky was that!!!

A few more joined us after the photo was taken and we had a gatherng of 17 in all.

We had such a lovely time. Great coffee, cake, crochet and chat …….. wonderful!

Lucy was very generous with her time, tips and hints and it was fun showing her some of our Attic24 inspired makes and discussing the details of colour choices and variations.

What better way to spend a wet Sunday morning

There is something timeless and quite magical about a group of women crafting together

We said our fond farewells and Lucy departed for her long train journey back to Skipton. A huge thank you to Lucy for coming to join us, you are welcome any time!

Our group will definitely be meeting again in January at the start of Lucy’s Annual Crochet-Along, which promises to be a corker!

Think Dahlias …. that’s all I’m saying.   😉

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!