25 February 2015

Granny Wednesdays - Stalling

Hello everyone! OK, so I have a confession to make: I haven't made any progress on my current granny-related WIPs, mainly due to work being cuh-razy and us going on holiday tomorrow first thing in the morning. So I'm afraid I'll have to stall this week, by showing you a much older WIP, which has been untouched for nearly 2 years.

It's a giant mandala adapted from this doily pattern, with the vague idea of possibly maybe one day who know sewing it onto a tank top. We shall see.

Anyway, here goes:


And that's it from me this week, peeps. I'm off to finish packing and hope to bring back lots of Finnish yarn!

And as always, more granny work this way at Jijihook's.

Thanks for reading! :)


22 February 2015

'Dip-Dyed' Scarf - Pattern

Hello, hello! I have recently completed a scarf that was so easy to make and looks so gorgeous that I have to share the pattern with you today.

But first, let's have a look at said scarf:








Isn't it just lovely? I absolutely LOVE the vibrant multicoloured main section and how the 'dip-dyed' effect of the two dark purple ends brings balance to the random colours of the middle.

So, for this pattern, I used:
Colour A (main section): Katia City, shade 951
Colour B ('dip-dyed' ends): Akiko by Louisa Harding Yarns, Currant (discontinued)
A 6mm crochet hook
UK terminology: back loop (bl), chain (ch), half treble (htr) = US half double crochet (hdc)

Tension (not critical): 10x10cm = 16 stitches x 8 rows
Finished scarf measures roughly 16x180 cms

Notes: 
- Ch2 counts as htr throughout unless otherwise stated
- All htr are worked in the BACK LOOP (bl) of the stitch from the previous row, EXCEPT in row 1.

With colour B, chain 27.
Row 1: htr in 3rd chain from hook, htr in next stitch from previous row to end, ch2, turn (25 stitches)
Row 2-23: *htr in bl of next stitch to end, ch2, turn*
Row 24: htr in bl of next stitch to end, fasten off
Row 25: change to colour A, make a standing htr (or rejoin yarn and ch2) in bl of first stitch from previous row, repeat * to *
Row 26-121: repeat * to *
Row 122: repeat row 24
Row 123: change to colour B, make a standing htr (or rejoin yarn and ch2) in bl of first stitch from previous row, repeat * to *
Row 124-145: repeat * to *
Row 146: repeat row 24
Weave in ends and block gently.

Here you go, one dead easy pattern for a stylish scarf. Do let me know what you think and if you spot any mistakes or anything unclear.

Thanks for reading! :)

18 February 2015

Wednesday Grannies - Progress

Hello everyone!

This week for the Granny Square Challenge, here's a 2-row progress on the future bag I am making with the Blanket Tutorial leftovers. I am having fun with this solid granny square and laying out the colours!




Don't forget to check the others' contributions at Jijihook's. Thanks for reading! :)

11 February 2015

Wednesday Grannies - More Skirt

Hi everyone! It's time for another granny installment, and this week, I'm giving you an update on the skirt, which has been a little neglected the past few weeks. Since the last update, I have added six rows - 3 in black and 4 in colours. I have also purchased some clear elastic to sew inside the waistband, since it is now getting stretched by the weight of the skirt body. I still have no idea at which point the garment will be completed, I'm afraid. I think at least another 3 rows, if not 7. We shall see...

But in the meantime, let's have a look at the piece in its current state :


The skirt has grown so much now that it is getting very difficult to photograph, so at this point, I can only get away with partials unless I want to include some unsightly background clutter!




And that's it for this week, guys! Don't forget to visit Jijihook's website for more granny square love. See you next week! :)

09 February 2015

Super Simple Chunky Snood

Hello, how are you all? I have a little treat for you today. How would you like a free pattern? I thought so :)

OK, so this one came to be after I made the Rug a little over a year ago. The idea was to make a long scarf with the scrap yarn. After a year of having the WIP in my stash, I decided enough was enough, and decided the scarf would be shortened and turned into a snood instead. And this was the result:


I am very pleased with how it turned out, and also with how warm it feels, since it is made of super chunky yarn.




Here's how I usually wear it, adding a shawl pin so I don't have to keep my hand on my chest the whole time!



All right, so the pattern is extremely simple (even though it doesn't look it), and the best thing about it is that you can improvise. Try playing with the possibilities by swapping a row of trebles for one of dcs, making it longer or shorter by adding more rows, or wider or narrower by changing the amount of chain stitches in the beginning chain.

For this particularly snood, I used six colours of super chunky yarn:
Yarn A: Stylecraft Life Super Chunky, Moorlands (2453)
Yarn B: Robin Jukebox Mega Chunky, Elvis (4433)
Yarn C: Stylecraft Life Super Chunky, Cream (2370)
Yarn D: Robin Jukebox Mega Chunky, Lulu (4432)
Yarn E: Sirdar Super Chunky With Wool, Drake (054)
Yarn F: Robin Jukebox Mega Chunky, Supremes (5793)

Crochet hook size: 10mm

UK Terminology: Chain (ch), Slip stitch (sl st), double crochet (dc), treble (tr).

Notes: 
- Standing stitches can be replaced by ch3 for trebles, or [ch1, dc] for double crochets.
- Cut off yarn before each colour change, leaving enough length to weave end in.

Snood Body:
With yarn A, chain 17.
Row 1: tr in 4th chain from hook, tr in next stitch to end, turn. (14 st)
Row 2: change to yarn B, make a standing dc (here's a tutorial in US terminology) in last stitch from previous row, dc in next st to end, turn.
Row 3: change to yarn C, make a standing dc in last st from previous row, dc in next st to end, turn.
Row 4: change to yarn D, make a standing tr (here's a tutorial in US terminology) in last st from previous row, tr in next st to end, turn.
Row 5: change to yarn C, make a standing tr in last st from previous row, tr in next st to end, turn.
Row 6: change to yarn E, make a standing dc in last stitch from previous row, dc in next st to end, turn.
Row 7: change to yarn A, make a standing tr in last st from previous row, tr in next st to end, turn.
Row 8: change to yarn F, make a standing dc in last st from previous row, dc in next st to end, turn.
Row 9: change to yarn E, make a standing tr in last st from previous row, tr in next st to end, turn.
Row 10: repeat row 3.
Row 11: repeat row 4.
Row 12: change to yarn B, make a standing tr in last st from previous row, tr in next st to end, turn.
Row 13: repeat row 7.
Row 14: repeat row 6.
Row 15: change to yarn D, make a standing dc in last st from previous row, dc in next st to end, turn.
Row 16: repeat row 8.
Row 17: repeat row 2.
Row 18: repeat row 5
Row 19: change to yarn F, make a standing dc in last st from previous row, dc in next st to end, turn.
Row 20: repeat row 7.
Row 21; repeat row 2.
Row 22: repeat row 15.
Row 23: repeat row 6.
Row 24: repear row 4
Row 25: repeat row 3
Row 26: change to yarn A: make a standing dc in last st from previous row, dc in next st to end, turn.
Row 27: ch1, 1 dc in last stitch from previous row, 1 dc in next st to end, turn.
Row 28: repeat row 12.
Row 29: repeat row 6.
Row 30: repeat row 2.
Row 31: repeat row 4.
Row 32: repeat row 3.
Row 33: repeat row 7.
Row 34: change to yarn F, make a standing tr in last st from previous row, tr in next st to end, turn.
Row 35: repeat row 2.
Row 36: repeat row 4.
Row 37: repeat row 26
Row 38-9: repeat row 27
Row 40: repeat row 6.
Row 41: repeat row 27
Row 42: ch3, tr in next st to end.
Row 43: repeat row 5.
Row 44-7: repeat row 27
Row 48: repeat row 2.
Row 49: repeat row 27, do NOT fasten off.

Making up:
Choose a wrong side (WS) to your snood, and with it facing upwards, join row 49 and beginning chain with a row of slip stitches. Fasten off.

Edging (make two, one for each edge):
Round 1: with right side (RS) facing upwards, rejoin yarn E anywhere in one edge of the snood, and slip stitch evenly all around, joining with a slip stitch to the 1st slip stitch.
Round 2: ch1, 1 dc in back loop of sl st from previous round, 1 dc in back loop of next sl st around, join with sl st to ch1. Fasten off, weave in all ends, and block.

Have fun making your snood! Let me know if you find any mistakes or anything unclear!

PS: Please feel free to use this pattern as you wish. However, I ask you to kindly not claim it as your own and to reference this website if you would like to reproduce the pattern or sell the finished item. Thank you! :)

04 February 2015

Wednesday Grannies - The Tutorial Leftover

Hello, everyone! In the wake of the series of Blanket tutorials I have recently completed for my blog (here, here and here), I was left with a rather lovely square which I would hate to end up somewhere in a corner gathering dust. Here is the aforementioned square:


Well, I have decided to make a bag out of it, oh yes I have. And for that purpose, it will need a back panel, which is the piece I have just started working on and which I would like to share with you today...


It will be a simple solid granny square in the same colours (nine, in total) as the original square.


As you can see, it is still tiny, and will need a few more rows to reach the other's size. But I'm sure it'll happen soon enough :)

Don't forget to go check the others' work at Jijihook's website!