Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Pretty Picot Paisley

 Paisley

There's a fun project going on over in the International Freeform Forum Group on Ravelry.

It's called Sensational Spirals and Pretty Paisleys...

Each week there is a new instruction for you. Then at the end of the season, you join together all your pieces to make - well, whatever you fancy!

The whole idea of freeform is that you don't follow a pattern. You just meander your way along, working whichever stitches most inspire you - until you've created a masterpiece...

Sometimes though, people don't really know where to start. Even experienced freeformers sometimes lose their mojo and need new inspiration.

Which is where a challenge like this comes in handy. If you don't know where to start, then just follow the instructions. And if half way through, you feel like you want to head off on your own tangent - then go for it.That's what freeform is all about.

Even if you feel like you need the safety net of a pattern all the way through... you'll end up with a bunch of pieces at the end of the season. And the way you choose to join them will be in your own unique style... You will have successfully completed your own UNIQUE one-of-a-kind piece!

And once again - that's what it's all about.

Oops.

Got distracted for a minute there.

I wanted to tell you that I was chosen to design this weeks instruction piece.

So here it is, my Pretty Picot Paisley:

(Instructions are below the photo)

Paisley

  • The sample uses 4 colours of 8 ply/DK weight yarn and a 4.0 mm hook.
  • The sample one I made measures 18.5 cm (7 1/4 in) by 13 cm (5 in).
  • Change yarn colour at the beginning of each round.
  • Join each round with a slip stitch into the top of the beginning stitch of the round, and fasten off.
  • Make a slip knot on your hook with the new yarn to begin each round.
  • Picot – ch 4, sl st into 4th ch from hook.
Start: Using Pink yarn make an AMR.

Round 1 (Pink): Ch 3 (acts as first dc), 11 dc into ring, tighten tail; join – 12 dc.

Round 2 (Blue): * hdc, ch 1; repeat from * around; join – 12 hdc, 12 ch-1 spaces.

Round 3 (Apricot): * hdc into ch-1 space, ch 2; repeat from * around; join – 12 hdc, 12 ch-2 spaces.

Round 4 (Green): * 2 hdc into ch-2 space, ch 1; repeat from * around; join, but do not fasten off; ch 13, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 2 ch, [hdc in next ch, ch1] 3 times, dc in next 6 ch; sl st into next ch-2 space – 24 hdc, 11ch-1 spaces, plus paisley tail.

Round 5 (Pink): Begin in the first sc at the end of the paisley tail. 2 sc in next 3 sts, 12 sc along remainder of tail; sc in each hdc and 2 sc in each ch-1 space around; 12 sc along the underside of the tail; join – 74 sc.

Round 6 (Blue): Work all sts through BACK LOOPS ONLY. [2 sc in next st, 4 sc] 3 times, 2 hdc, 2 dc, 2 hdc, [2 sc in next st, 4 sc] 8 times, [sc2tog] 2 times, 3 sc, [sc2tog] 2 times, 2 sc – 75 sc, 4 hdc, 2 dc.

Round 7 (Apricot): [2 dc, ch 2, skip 1] 23 times, 2 dc, skip 2, [2 dc, ch 1, skip 1] 2 times, 2 dc, ch 2; join – 54 dc.

Round 8 (Green): [2 sc, 2 sc in ch-2 space] 23 times, [sc2tog] 2 times, [sc in ch-1 space, sc2tog] 2 times, 2 sc in ch-2 space; join – 100 sc.

Round 9 (Pink): [4 sc, picot] 4 times, [4 sc, picot, skip 1] 15 times, [sc2tog] 4 times, picot, 2 sc, 2 sc into same st as beginning stitch of the round, picot - 21 picots.

ENJOY!

Monday, July 1, 2013

July Challenge

Well.

It's the beginning of another month, and we all know what that means...

IT'S CHALLENGE TIME.

Fuzzy the Small Bearskin Rug

What do you think of this fabulous bear skin blankie???

Fuzzy the Small Bearskin Rug

It's a knitting challenge and the pattern will be FREE to those participating.

You need to make the rug and post photos before the end of the month. As always I will choose my favourite one, and then that person tells me what to design for the next knitting challenge.

Fuzzy measures 51 cm (20 in) in length and 36 cm (14 ¼ in) in width.

He is made using 150g of 10 ply/worsted weight yarn and a pair of 4.5 mm (US 7) needles.

Interested?

Send me a message with your email address…

And I look forward to seeing what you create!

Fuzzy the Small Bearskin Rug

Friday, June 28, 2013

Three Bags Full...

Donated Craft SUpplies

I am so spoiled by my WONDERFUL friends!

Just the other day, the fabulous Leah brought me over not three but FOUR giant garbage bags of crafting supplies. She's having a huge de-clutter at her place... so it's a win-win situation. Leah clears out her clutter, and I have new toys to play with.

Three bags are full of fabric. Mostly upholstery samples. There's so much rich texture in there, that my mind can hardly keep up with all the ideas flowing in... I'm dreaming of owls and unicorns, magic carpets and scrappy cushions. And did you ever play with those bean bag frogs when you were a kid? I'm dreaming of them too... Frogs with crazy eyes!

Then there's a giant bag of ribbon and braids. And when I say a giant bag, I'm not kidding. We're talking about those great big garbage bags!! Probably more than I will ever use in a lifetime. There's lace.. and silk.. and organza... and a whole bunch of other ribbons that I don't even know how to describe. 

I'm desperate to rip into it all and sort and play to my hearts content, but for now I'm being very reserved. Life is keeping me very busy, and I know that I need uninterrupted time for this one...

But one day soon I'll empty out those bags and create a Mountain of Possibility.

Maybe next week? The kids are on holidays, and this is one of those fun things we can do together. I just know that they'll have a million suggestions for what we can make - and that's ALWAYS a good thing. I love the perspective they bring to these activities. Nothing is impossible when you see it through their eyes!

Donated Craft SUpplies

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Boring But Necessary

Repairs

We all have them...

The BORING but necessary tasks.

Often they don't take long to do, but if you're anything like me - you procrastinate for as long as possible...

Repairs

A job that has been lingering on my to-do list for far too long is HAND BAG REPAIRS.

And I don't know why. This is my every day hand bag. Obviously I USE IT EVERY DAY. So, it stands to reason that if there is a problem with it - then I should fix it quickly...

And yet I didn't.

Repairs

There are three zippered pockets in this bag, and the lining in every single one of them was torn. Which of course meant that any item which went into the pocket would invariably end up stuck in the "Black Hole" which lies between the bag and its lining. Especially annoying when it's your car keys... or a ringing mobile phone!


Repairs

The repairs were remarkably simple. It was just a matter of tucking in the frayed edges and pinning the lining back together... then working a whip stitch to create a new seam.

Repairs

Twenty minutes later, and I was restocking my bag with all the necessary goodies (including a ziplock bag of teabag strings to knot together whenever I get a spare minute)

Repairs

So tell me... what boring but necessary job is at the top of your to-do list?


Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Flower Headband

Flower Headband

Remember the gorgeous Crochet Jacket which Loren sent for Little Miss Charlie?

Flower Headband

Well... you might also recall that Loren included the leftover yarn, so that I could make a matching headband for the outfit...

Flower Headband

And here it is! 

Flower Headband

A simple headband, embellished with a giant flower and little pearl beads at the centre...

Flower Headband

Of course Charlie keeps trying to tear it off her head - just like a typical toddler - but I manged to get a few cutie-pie photos taken!

Flower Headband

And one day I might even mange a photo of her wearing the jacket AND the headband at the same time...

Monday, June 24, 2013

Shabby Hat

Shabby Hat

 Look what we found stashed away at the back of the cupboard...

Shabby Hat

This shabby hat once belonged to Little Miss Katie - but now it's the perfect size for her Little Sister!

Shabby Hat

It's the perfect hat for those "cold, but not freezing" days...

And you can find the FREE PATTERN here.

Shabby Hat

Monday, June 17, 2013

Kiddie Mitts

Challenge Mitts

Little Miss Katie was nagging me for a lacy pair of mitts...

So I worked up the Challenge Mitts in a kids size - and they turned out perfectly!

The adult size pattern is available as a free download from here.

And here are the alterations I made:
  1. This yarn is a very fine 8ply - or maybe even a 5 ply!
  2. Made a starting chain of 30, and worked 6 shells in each round
  3. 6 rounds of shells before the thumb opening round
  4. 3 rounds of shells after the thumb opening
LOVE - LOVE - LOVE the results... and I can see many more kiddie mitts in my future.

(Especially seeing how quick they are to make)