Crochet patterns Archives — Page 6 of 7

Granny squares on the go!

July 10, 2017 by Annie Leave a Comment

Three large orange and white granny squares

Granny squares a go-go!

If there’s one thing I love about crocheting, and granny squares in particular, it’s that the projects are so portable. I take some yarn and a hook with me everywhere and have recently been crocheting on buses, Tubes and trains around London, in pubs and cafes, and out in the park. Each time, someone is bound to ask me what I’m making and to strike up a conversation.

So, I was really pleased recently to be asked by Annie (yes, another Annie!), the owner of The Village Haberdashery in West Hampstead, if I’d teach some beginners’ granny squares classes there… Spreading the granny-square love one stitch at a time! More about the classes here.

Now Annie gave me some Rico Essentials Merino DK yarn to take away to create some samples. I loved the shades she chose – mint, coral and rusty brown. They’re slightly retro, in a modern sort of way.
shades of wool and granny squares

I made the squares at another Haberdashery. This time not a craft supplies shop, but a gorgeous cafe, The Haberdashery in Crouch End, which is one of my favourite places to grab an elderflower soda on a hot day. soda in a jar and granny squares

I was really pleased with the results. If you fancy having a go, there are instructions for a basic granny square in the How To… section of my website here.

Retro style lamp and trhee granny squares

All things orange

After using the coral shade for those classic granny squares, I realised that when it comes to colourful inspiration, I’ve been surrounded by all things orange recently.

marigolds in a windowbox The windowsill is full of marigolds, I’ve just made a batch of citrus olives, with lots of orange zest in the marinade, and when I opened my kitchen cupboard, this is what I saw…

So while I was visiting The Village Haberdashery the other day, I snapped up some Hooked Zpagetti in peach, orange and white to experiment with. I used a 10mm plastic hook.

The result was some oversized granny square mats. They’re a little cumbersome to make though, so I won’t be taking these out on my travels with me, but they’re perfect to sit and make at home.

Here’s a peach and white one. What do you think?

large granny square mat with plant and orange glassward

Size doesn’t matter!

So after making these giant mats, I turned to something much smaller, which just goes to show how versatile granny squares can be. I found some muted orangey yarn in my stash, and some contrasting blue. With three simple two-round squares, I created a fun wristband.

It’s laced up with a plait, decorated with two little glass beads…

Laced up fastening of granny square wrostband

I think I’ll definitely be wearing this one while the sun’s shining!

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Festival fun and time for wristbands and bunting!

June 29, 2017 by Annie Leave a Comment

crochet festival wristbands and old festival tickets

Festival memories

I’ve just been watching Glastonbury festival on the telly. It seems strange to be watching it at home. In the past, I’ve been there, in the throng, up to my armpits in mud, or sweltering in a sun-drenched tent first thing in the morning. It’s so, so tiring, but such a fun, unique experience.

Here’s me at Glastonbury a taking a well-earned breather in a gorgeous pink shelter (it was very hot that year)…

In fact, in some years I’ve been to as many as seven festivals in 12 months, from Cambridge Folk Festival to Cropredy, from Isle of Wight to Wychwood, No Direction Home to End of The Road (my favourite), and many more besides. But now Lily our dog is here, camping festivals have taken a back seat for a while.

Get the photos out!

I decided to look back over my photos from past years’ festivals for some colourful inspiration, and there was plenty to be found.

There are always so many flags fluttering away among the crowds… Here are some at Glastonbury’s main stage.

And even inside the marquees, colour abounds. Here’s a joyful gig by my friend Sam’s band at End of the Road festival, with balloons everywhere…

And, how about this colourful flock of sheep I came across a few years ago at Latitude festival…

There were so many beautiful night skies too as we sat around the firepit drinking a hot cider with friends…

Sunset over tents at End of The Road Festival

And occasionally lovely blue skies outside the tent in the morning – what a bonus!

Then I came across this pic of me at a festival with my ice cream and floral dress against the bluest of clear blue skies…

Aha! That’s gave me the inspiration for a few items to celebrate festival season.

Shades of blue

I snapped up some Rico Essentials Cotton DK in a number of different shades of blue (and one of sunshine yellow), and came up with a selection of wristbands that I think would be perfect festival accessories. I also made some floral bunting that would brighten up any tent on the campsite (and any home too!). Hope you like them…

First here’s the blueberry wristband. Very simple to make, and fastened by a little ‘blueberry’!

Then how about my floral hand cuff/ring for really dramatic impact? This one has two loops which the two strings lace through to fasten at the back.

Keeping with the floral theme, I made this little daisy wristband – the ends are simply tied together to fasten.

And my final festival wristband incorporated little blue beads. The fastening beaded laces simple slot through a loop and tie togehter,

Properly put me in the festival mood – I even dug out some of my old tickets…

Last but not least, I made my floral festival bunting in three shades of blue, with alternating coloured flags, with a little flower on each one…

The bunting looks perfect strung up outside…

Do let me know if you’d like me to post any of the patterns…

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A case of crocheted baskets

May 18, 2017 by Annie Leave a Comment

We all need more crocheted baskets

You know how it is. There are always odds and ends around when you’ve a craft project on the go. And when you’re crocheting multi-coloured granny squares, those little balls of wool all need keeping in some order. It was when I was about to teach a crochet class the other day that I decided to take matters in hand. I thought I’d quickly rustle up some little baskets to take with me.

As I’ve always lots of spare balls of wool around, I had a good choice of yarn, and once I started, it was baskets all the way.

Small and sweet

First I picked some merino style DK yarn in pinky-mauve, and a 3.5mm hook, and worked a circle in double crochet for the base. I started with 6 stitches, and to keep the circle flat, just increased 6 stitches on each round. When the base was big enough, I worked a round in the back loop, then just continued in double crochet to the required height. I finished with a round of double crochet in a dark pinky purple.

I loved the outcome and still had some of the yarn left over, so made another. This time, halfway up the side I worked a round in the contrast colour, then a row into the back loops. I again finished with the contrast at the top.

Now I had two brilliant little crocheted baskets for my lovely contact cards – so pretty, don’t you think?

Two little crochet baskets

Good things come in threes

Next I picked up a ball of tweedy flecked chunky yarn. This time I just worked in the single colour. From the one ball, I managed to make three matching crocheted baskets of different sizes. These were perfect for holding the little balls of wool I was using for my granny squares at the crochet classes.

Three tweedy crocheted baskets holding wool and crochet hooks

String thing

On a recent shopping trip I discovered some sweet little balls of coloured string, so I snapped up some – in pink and blue.

The blue, I decided, would be interesting to make a small container from. Although it’s slightly tough to manipulate, it crochets up to provide an interesting, stiff texture. Because of this, I included a row of trebles in every other stitch separated by a couple of chain stitches. I then simply worked a row of double crochet above, with a double crochet in each treble and one in each two chain space. Here’s the effect…

Little string crocheted basket

Big and beautiful

I wasn’t finished yet! Two more balls of super chunky yarn – one teal, one fawn – seemed perfect. They crocheted up so quickly. The teal one I completed in double crochet, the largest of the baskets.

Large teal crocheted basket Finally, for the fawn one, in included a couple of rows of trebles, to create texture.

Fawn crocheted basket with treble detail The baskets worked a treat at the crochet classes, and I think I’m going to have to run a crochet basket workshop soon, as everyone wanted to make one.

I love the way all the baskets turned out, but think I’d better stop now, otherwise I’ll have to find a container to keep all my crocheted baskets in!