Crochet blanket design

In my previous post I mentioned I had used a different method
to design the blanket I entered into the 2018 Wingham show.

I used the 10-petal afghan square pattern by Joyce Lewis
with scraps leftover from a previous blanket.
I made 5 different squares and took a picture of them,
then I used an app called Blankie to change the squares around.

As you can see, I had some help!












I decided I preferred this setting & it became the finished blanket above!

Wingham Show 2018

This time last year the Wingham show was cancelled

so I entered a few items into the Taree show at the end of the year
I also entered 4 items into this years Wingham Show
I won first and second prize in the baby shawl section
and second prize in the lap blanket section.
Most of the baby items are usually white or pastels,
But I like to make items that are a bit different.
The Second prize baby shawl was a pattern by
Frank O'Randle called mini rings of change
In my favourite yarn  Magic Light by Ice Yarn #22034
My mum likes it better than my first prize shawl.
 
For the first time I entered into the baby knitted set of three section
Also using my favourite yarn I used in the shawl above
The pattern is called Aussie Swing by Aussie Maria
The hat is a bernat pattern available here
http://www.yarnspirations.com/patterns/knit-baby-hat.html
It didn't win a prize but that's ok I enjoyed making it.

The first prize baby shawl is another Frank O'Randle pattern
Called Mini Galaxy of change made from scraps in my stash

Last but not least is the second prize lap blanket
It is a pattern by Joyce Lewis called Simple 10-petal afghan square
I used the scraps left over from the blanket
I entered into Taree show last year that won first prize
It is similar but quite different too

I used quite a different method to create this,
I will blog the details in my next post

Taree Show 2017

Im so excited!
I entered 6 items in the show and won 4 first prizes,
a second prize and most successful exhibitor!
I didn't think i'd win with the baby jackets,
as one of the judges last year commented babies
should be dressed in white.
First prize for Yvettes garter stitch sweater
in pink baby design by ice yarn,
a jacket and blanket in blue white camel
dancing baby ice yarn, a 10 petal flower blanket in apricot
(which I designed using an app on my phone,
I will post more about that another time)
and second prize for another square and ripple blanket
in Cronulla Sharks colours of blue black and white.
this version was blue white blue black, last blanket
i made was white blue white black.
The last blanket was a simple V stitch, both ends
had a different colour for each row and I used a
discontinued carnival yarn fair isle in green
3 first prizes with ice yarn, my favourite yarn.

Magic Light Ice Yarn

I recently discovered the Ice yarn from Turkey and couldn't resist trying it.
I purchased a packet (it's sold in packs of 4 x 100gm balls)
of their magic light which is a self striping 8 ply (DK or double knit) yarn,
in the green, pink, blue, purple, yellow colour way #22034
It's available from knit4charity ice yarn
I must say I love it, It's the softest acrylic yarn I've come across.
It reminds me of  an acrylic / nylon mix baby wool.
I've just finished my first project using this yarn, another round ripple,
the pattern I used is based on a pattern by Doris Yocum Turner
I used 2 balls of the magic light and then decided to add 5 bands in solid colours.
I made the decorative border based on border # 21 fromEdie Eckmans' book
"around the corner crochet borders'  I just used dc (Aus/Uk) sc for US.
instead of the chains in between each motif.
It's a great book and she has 150 different borders to choose from.
I couldn't decide whether to do just one motif on the corner or 2 either side as well,
so I alternated them. Now looking at it, I think I like it better with the 3.
The centre is from the Simple 10 petal afghan square pattern by Joyce Lewis
It was an orphan left over from another project.
I'm so happy with it, it's so pretty and I managed to combine 2 of my favourite patterns.
I'm looking forward to ordering more of this yarn in the future.
I have already started a few projects with this yarn and I'm onto my last ball already.
I have a few more projects floating around in my head and I can't wait.
I'm having trouble choosing which yarn I want the most.
 I could easily order up big, I have the space now, but no job to pay for it. Haha
Oh well I think I only have about 12 weeks until my birthday
PS There are Absolutely NO kickbacks, no yarn changing hands etc wish I did though.
Now to show you some pictures  (sorry it's unblocked) & the colours are much nicer in real life.

Crochet hook preferences. Is this OCD?

I thought I would share a picture of the 2nd April Block Of The Month blanket
that was made using squares donated from K4C (knit 4 charity) members all over Australia.

While I was doing the border, it occured to me that with the colour
changes I found I was seeking out the same coloured hook.

When I looked back, I realised that I have been doing it for awhile without realising it.
I have several positioned around the place so I always have one on hand
and I do pick the one that is closest.
I'm really NOT THAT OCD, that I will keep searching until I find the same coloured hook!
But if they are all together, my brain automatically chooses the same colour.
I really like these hooks, they are all Clover brand, just in different colours.

Block of the Month Blankets

My local Nursing Home put out a call
for blankets, they were running very low
and the weather has started to turn cold.
So I have quickly made 2 for them.
The first was from squares made
using Aprils BOM
The second I used the samples that I
have made while testing the patterns
and choosing the blocks
I decided to try a different edging
it matches the April BOM
and I like the result.
I hope they like the blankets

Block of the Month April (part 3-final)

here are the final instructions

Round 8………. 

Attach favourite colour to ch2 corner space, (ch 3, Tr, ch2, 2Tr) in same space,

 *Treble in between each stitch, (2Tr, ch2, 2Tr) in next corner, repeat from  * 2 times

  Tr in between each st, join to beginning ch

Round 9

Using same colour, 
slip stitch to the bottom of the post of a right hand Dt in round 2,, 
ch2, ,4Dc around the same Dt,, 

*Dc in space between  the 2 DT (this eliminates seeing the yellow) 
Turn piece clockwise, 
5Dc around next Dt.  Turn piece counter-clockwise, 5Dc around next Dt. 

Repeat from * round and join to beginning ch2.

I would like to thank Joyce Lewis for giving permission for K4C

to use this in our Block of the Month project.

I changed the pattern slightly and converted it from US terms and used 8 ply to make a 6 1/2" block. You can find her pattern on ravelry here

Block of the Month April (part 2)

Woo Hoo this is my 100th post, a great day for celebrating
Anyhoo  instructions for part 2 are

HTCT (Half Treble Crochet Tack)

=Yarn over, slip hook through 2 vertical loops on back of picot, 

then under chain loop and pull loop to front, yarn over and 

pull through all loops on hook

LTR= Long treble, tr into a row beneath the one you are working on

Round 5

Using cream, attach with slip stitch into space between 2 of the petals

     Ch9,   *going behind the petal, LTR in space between V stitches and 

     into round 3, 6ch Repeat from * 8 times. Join into 3rd chain of beginning 9 chain

Round 6

ch2, *(3Ht, HTCT, 3Ht) in next ch6 space , Ht in next LTR, repeat from * 8 times,

(3Ht, HTCT, 3Ht) join into top of beginning ch2 

Round 7 takes some concentration, just take it slowly, 

the corners are a bit different too, so take care

Round 7

ch5, Dt into same stitch, 
Dt in next 2 sts,  
Tr in next 3 sts,
 Ht in next 3 sts, 

Dc in next 2 sts, 
Ht in next 3 sts, 
Tr in next 3 sts, 
Dt in next 2 sts
(1 Dt, 1Tt) in next st, ch 2

* (1Tt, 1Dt) in next st, 
1Dtr into next 2 stitches, 
Tr in next 3, 
Ht in next 3 sts,

Dc in next 2 sts, 
Ht in next 3 sts, 
Tr in next 3 sts, 
Dtr in next 2 sts,

(1 Dt, 1Tt) in next st, ch 2, 
Repeat from * twice, join into top of beginning ch

Final instructions tomorrow

Block of the Month April (part 1)

As I said in my last blog this months BOM is in 3 parts as we are doing it as a CAL.
Here are the first instructions

aprox 6 1/2” square

Materials required

4mm crochet hook and wool needle, 

8ply wool (amounts are approximate)

5 metres yellow, 15 metres cream, 9 metres green & 

13.5 metres of your favourite colour

AUS/UK TERMS: 

Dc=Double crochet Ht= Half treble Tr= Treble 

Dt = Double treble Tt= Triple treble

PPP (Petal Point Picot) = following tr, ch2, slip hook through 

top front horizontal loop of treble just formed

AND through the front vertical loop of same treble, yarn over,

pull through 2 loops, yarn over and pull through 2 loops

V Stitch=(2tr, ch3, 2tr) in ch2 space

Round 1……….Using Yellow, Ch 3 and join circle, ch 3, 

                     19Tr into circle and join into top of ch3

Round 2………. ch 6, *1Dt into next 2Tr, ch2, repeat from * 8 times

   1dtr into next treble, slip stitch into fourth stitch of beginning ch6

Round 3……..Using green, join into ch 2 space, ch3, 1Tr, ch3, 2Tr, in same space,

*(2tr, ch3, 2tr) in next ch2 space

Repeat from *8 times, join into top of beginning ch3

Round 4……..*(4Tr, PPP, 4Tr) in next ch 3 space, slip stitch in between V stitches

                      Repeat  from * 10 times. Break yarn.
section 2 tomorrow