New Challenges

Hi

Sharing my new pattern and a new challenge.  I have been extremely busy over the last 2 years and have put myself under unnecessary pressure to make and sell my crochet.  I have now decided that selling isn't for me.  So from here on my patterns will be published on my blog for FREE for you to make and donate to charity or for your own personal use.

 I have a huge stash of wool and crafty goodies and I have decided that it will be used for charity which I will share along the way here and on my Facebook page.  I have a stash busting 5000 items to make and donate, to various charities around the UK.

My first pattern in along while is a knitting pattern. I wanted an easy go to pattern that is easily re-sized.

This version measures 15.5" x 15.5" but is easily made smaller or larger by - / + 7 stitches and -/+ pattern rows.

You will need 70g of any DK wool and 4mm needles

Cast on 86

Rows 1 - 7: Knit

Pattern Rows

Row 8: Knit

Row 9: K7, P72, K7

Row 10: K9 * YFWD, K1, P3tog, K1, YFWD, K2* repeat from *-* to last 7 Sts, K7

Row 11: K7, P72, K7

Rows 8- 11 form the pattern, repeat these 4 rows 26 times ending with the 4th row.

Rows 116-122: Knit

Cast off loosely and weave in ends.

Nearly Spring

Afternoon everybody hope you are all well and have had a lovely weekend. I have been playing with my loom this weekend. I have mixed 2 strands of yarn together to give a different twist and have made these cute little hats. You can't tell but the loom knit hats are pale pink and white mixed and look cute if I do say so myself. I have made 12 little hats this weekend and they are being sent to a lady in the West Midlands for her local hospital.

We had a busy Saturday, I volunteer for the Take Heart charity based at Leeds General Infirmary and it was the monthly afternoon tea event. My husband came along and had a fun time chatting to all the different people who attended and my daughter Rebecca made some very lovely chocolate muffins for the event and she came along too, to see what volunteering at the event entails and to see how well her chocolate muffins went. By the end of the afternoon all the cakes and muffins sold and £100 was raised for the charity. We are looking forward to the next event 25th March. If you happen to be in Leeds on the 25th why not pop in and say hello.

Happy Monday

Hi everyone, the sun is out at last. It's been a bitter few days but hopefully turning the corner now into milder weather. Well I was surprised to find my new pattern format for my angel baby blanket has been the most read post I have every had, so I suppose this new format is a hit. I ave updated the post slightly because I forgot to mention how much yarn to use. I have been sorting through everything I had made recently and was surprised to find I had a box full ready for posting. I have photographed and noted how many items I have made so that I can update my challenge list. The list now stands at 395 items made and donated which I'm rather proud of. These little makes will be posted today to Janet who runs Crafted with love - donation group via Facebook. Now to find what to make next. Enjoy the rest of this sunny Monday x

Angel Baby Blanket

I decided to have a new format for my patterns. So from today I'm going to post a photo tutorial on my blog and then a written pattern in my Ravelry store, so you can print and keep.

My first pattern in the new format is a tiny 9" x 12" blanket which is to be donated to charities who help parents of angel babies.

I have chosen to use a baby DK yarn approximately 50g, but you could use 4 ply and increase the starting chain in increments of 2 stitches until you arrive at the desired width.

Using a 4.5mm hook chain 34

Row 1: starting in the 2nd chain from the hook, work 1htr in each st to the end, ch1 and turn = 33 sts

Row 2: work (1sc, 1htr) in first st, then skip 1, (1sc, 1htr, sk1) forms the pattern, continue to the last st, 1htr in last st, ch1 and turn.

Row 3: There is little spaces between the stitches, this is where you skipped a stitch and this is where the next set of stitches go. in the 1st space, work (1sc, 1htr)

 then in the next space work (1sc, 1htr) continue to do this till you've worked the pattern in every  space to the end

You can see you are left with an odd looking end of row. this is fine because you will end up if you follow my photo's with a lovely straight edge. Work 1htr in the last stitch, ch1 and turn

Row 4: the pattern is a repeat of row 3 and you will end up with a lovely tight textured finish. Repeat row 3 another 35 times, you should have 38 rows in total.

Row 39: work 1htr into each to end, ch1

Now we create the ruffle border, working in the end of row 39, work 3tr in each row end all the way around 4 sides , sl st to the 1st tr of the border, Fasten off and weave in ends and decorate if you wish.

Close up of stitch

I hope you enjoy making this little blanket, please ask any questions via the comments box should you have any or use the links to get in touch. A written pattern will be in Ravelry store shortly x

New Pattern Monday!

Good morning, we have a very cold but sunny day today and has promised a new pattern for you.

I was asked to make a little cocoon for an angel baby, I researched sizes and read some very sad stories along the way too. I wanted something simple that could be used for tiny babies from about 12 weeks gestation. This pattern is very easy to adapt and make bigger but I thought I would start with my smallest then arrange a pattern for larger sizes at a later date.

I used Stylecraft Special DK in white then finished in candyfloss pink. I used ribbons to close the sides but you could use buttons also. I uploaded the pattern to my Ravelry store on Friday afternoon and since then it has been downloaded an incredible 220 times. I am over the moon that you keep downloading my patterns.

The pattern is available to download for FREE from my Ravelry store: Angel Baby Sleeping Bag