crochet

Blackberries from hedgerow to crochet hook

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Blackberries abound

It’s time for blackberries! Every afternoon, I walk my dog for about an hour. For people who don’t know the capital city, you’d probably be surprised how many green spaces there are, expecially in the leafy North London area where I live.

From the vast grassy expanses of Alexandra Palace park (which used to be a racecourse, don’t you know!), to the ancient woodland of Queens Wood and Highgate Wood, up to the acres and acres of Hampstead Heath, there is greenery everywhere.

And over the past few months, there have also been blackberries in abundance. 

Ripe blackberries on a bush in the hedgerow

Harvest time for blackberries

So, one day, I took a container with me and began to pick the beautiful ripe fruit. The difficulty was knowing when to stop!

Blackberries in a tupperware container

Since then I’ve collected a number of batches of blackberries and the fridge is full of frozen fruit, and portions of blackberry compote. It’s delicious with Greek yoghurt and honey for breakfast.

Overhead shot of blue bowl of yogurt, compote and honey with jar of blackberry compote

I’ve also made jars of yummy blackberry jam, which go down well as an afternoon treat.

Jar of blackberry jam with bread and jam on a plate

Blackberries – an inspiration

It got me thinking though – I had a dark blue ball of merino DK in my yarn stash, plus a dusky green – could I conjour up some crocheted blackberries?

The answer was definitely! I made a lovely little drawstring bag to keep all my crochet essentials in (scissors, round markers, tape measure, large-eyed blunt needles, pins and hooks)…

Blackberries bag in progress with jar of jam on table by a plant and window

Here it is in progress. I started by crocheting a circular base, then worked up the sides in treble stitches, with some treble clusters to make the berries. A row of double crochet in the blue had 2-chain spaces all the way around to thread the cord through. The cord itself was simply a long chain, which I worked back along with slip stitches. The cord is threaded through the holes in the double crochet before a tiny blackberry ball is attached to each end to keep the cord in place.

Crocheted blackberries drawstring bag on embroidered mat with crochet essentials

I just need to complete it with a cotton lining with a blackberry print when I find some, but it looks so sweet now that I just had to share it with you.

So what would you have to have in your crochet kit? I’d love to know…

 

 

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Teaching a granny square class

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Time for teaching

I love teaching beginners to knit and to crochet. I’m always so grateful that my wonderful grandma taught me those skills back when I was just 5 or 6. She set me up for a lifelong love of working with yarn and creating all sorts of items for myself and for friends and family.

So it’s been wonderful since I started up Picking Up Stitches to share my knowledge with those new to knitting and crochet.

A few weeks ago, I was asked by Annie, the founder of the brilliant shop The Village Haberdashery in West Hampstead, if I’d teach some crocheted granny square classes there. I jumped at the chance, as the large, bright, airy shop is so homely and welcoming and a treasure trove of materials – a perfect place to teach.

Here’s Kym from the shop – she took part in the class

Inside The Village Haberdashery with lady at the counter

Just look at some of the things on offer here. I must confess that I’m always tempted to buy something whenever I visit. Even though I don’t do much sewing, the fabric display always makes me think I should be getting out my sewing machine!

Colourful fabric on shelves at The Village Haberdashery

Teaching the first class

I’ve just finished teaching the first of these classes – a two-hour evening class to teach a basic granny square, though people stayed on at the end – they just couldn’t stop crocheting!

The six crochet newbies were met by this gorgeous round table, all set up with crochet hooks scissors and yarn.

Table set up with crochet hooks, yarn and in front of a display of wool

The ages ranged from teenage upwards, with everyone eager to learn. The concentration was intense, but it was fun too.
Crochet class in progress at The Village Haberdashery

I’m glad to say that everyone completed a square by the end of the class, and some went on crocheting when they got home and posted their results on Instagram. There are more classes there in the months to come. And there are also my own Crouch End classes as well – see the timetable here. So glad to share the crochet love…

after teaching crochet squares, hooks and leaflets on a wooden table

 

 

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Carrot & pea bunting – a window box of inspiration

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Carrots & peas bunting finished

Bunting – an inspiration

Bunting was the last thing on my mind when we had a lovely new sash window put into our kitchen recently. Naturally, the first thing I did was to plant up a window box full of deep red violas and tons of herbs and salad leaves in front of my geranium plant…View from the kitchen window

Carrots and peas

Then I spied a spare ball of bright orange wool and one of vibrant green Rico Design Essentials Merino in my stash. Now I love veg – as you can see from all the edible things in my window box. So I knew exactly what to make! Carrot & pea bunting, which, together with a Peter Rabbit cup and plate, would be perfect as a christening present for my baby great-niece Francesca.

I decided to start my bunting triangles from the bottom and work up, increasing on each row. The little triangles were so quick and easy to make.. I made seven, which only took half of the 50g ball. Next I made all the little peas – these are slightly more fiddly because they’re so small, but I soon had a ‘bunch’ of 14 peas. Up next was a long chain on which I placed markers to indicate where to position the bunting triangles. Leaving a loop to hang the bunting from, I slip stitched across to the first marker, then joined on a carrot triangle by crocheting it to the chain with a picot stitch.

Once I’d attached all the triangles, I slip stitched to the end, adding another loop. Now it was time for the finishing touch – adding the little peas, which were spaced out with one at either end and two between each two bunting triangles.

The pattern for this bunting can be found here.

I think it looks so bright and cheerful, I hope little Francesca likes it and it encourages her to eat her 5 a day…