Yarn along - V stitch

I have been admiring a number of crochet projects using V stitch. This is a new stitch to me and after seeing Sam's V stitch blanket on instagram I was hooked. The pattern Sam has used is here you will love this blog written by Angie.

My pattern is a slightly different version it was one I found on youtube and is slightly more lacey but when I make my winter blanket I am going to use Angies pattern.

After missing many months of yarn along I am really pleased that I have my V stitch project to share with you and a new novel. My friend Barbara gave me the book, she is a great fan of Nicci French novels and highly recommended this one. It's reviewed as a psychological thriller that hits the ground running, early days yet but so far I am really enjoying it.

 I hope you have time to pop over to Ginny's blog and dip into some of the other yarn along projects.

 Talk soon x

Amigurumi convert.....................

Recently I have become a little bit more adventurous with my crochet as in the main I had stuck with blankets and cushions with a few flowers and hearts thrown in. I felt it was time to try something new and I seem to have fallen for amigurumi. I started with strawberries moved on to toadstools and then I had to have ago at making this really cute fawn.

Look what I found at the bottom of my garden this morning..........

 
and when my Mollie Makes magazine arrived yesterday I couldn't resist this extremely cute plant pot cover -  I just need to find a mini plant to go inside it now.

as you can see I am having fun.............
  

Talk to you all soon x

Yarn along - crochet strawberries.....................

My new edition of "Simply Crochet" dropped onto the doormat a few days ago and I have become hooked on strawberries - I have crocheted quite a crop.

I think they are adorable......................

talk soon x

Yarn along - crochet flowers

I'm still having fun making crochet flowers which is a good job as I've had a commission for a little bundle of them. I've used DK sublime yarn and it has made lovely flowers, the detail shows up really well. A lady had seen my flower workshop advertised and contacted me to see if I would crochet some flowers for her daughter. I think she is going to use the flowers to embellish some of her daughters clothes and add them to pretty headbands.

I feel quite guilty that I have been joining in with Ginny's yarn along but I haven't read a novel for ages. Thankfully I have just started a new book, it's written by Sarah Butler "Ten Things I've Learnt About Love" - Laura bought it me a few weeks ago when I was unwell but I have to confess it has stayed next to my bed until now. It's early days I'm only a few chapters in so I will tell you more about the book next week.

I finished my crochet flowers this morning and was very pleased to parcel them up.................

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All ready to go, I also added a little hair bobble which I made as an extra and a few chocolate treats............

I hope they arrive safely.

talk soon x

Yarn along - sunny day.........................

The sun is shining, a parcel of new yarn has just arrived, I've started a new project - how could my day get better..................

I'm joining in with  Ginny, and Tami hope you all have a lovely day - I'm very happy on my sofa hook in hand and catching up with Greys Anatomy on the TV - bliss

talk soon x

yarn along - crochet mandalas........................

I'm afraid I've caught the bug and yes it has laid me low, not much has got done this week I haven't even had time to catch up with your posts - sorry! I blame you all really - it started with an innocent enough post here then I popped over here. It didn't stop there, next came this and this and finally I found this and I succumbed - have you guessed yet, yes I have a very severe case of the "mandala bug" - I just can't stop and Chrissie didn't help my recovery with this post yesterday

I have fallen in love with the spring mandala pattern written by Barbara which she has kindly published on her blog for us all to try and as you will see below I have made a few........

and I have just started another...........................

the colour combination was inspired by this ..............................

To help my recovery I thought it was time to do a little more than crochet so I have added in reading - I am loving this new book which was recommended by lovely Linda, I am still busy with my crochet but planning to make yummy meals - when I have time to step foot in the kitchen of course.

I have even planned a workshop as my beginners group finished yesterday and they all want to have ago - I think I might have passed the bug on....................... I contacted Barbara over at K- town and she has given me permission to use her pattern at my workshop - bloggers are so kind.

I am joining in with Ginny, Chrissie and Tami...............

Hope you don't catch the bug - talk soon x

yarn along - crochet bits and bobs.....................

I have been so preoccupied with my crochet workshops that for the first time in ages I haven't got a project on the go. I have been busy trying out stitches and making little samples to show my two groups. This week I had planned to teach half trebles, trebles and decreasing. So I made this little stitch sampler, which started with double crochet as a refresher from last week and included all the new stitches. It's like a little house.

The group had all done some crochet practice at home and were raring to go - so we started the sampler and did the new crochet stitches but didn't get to the decrease as everyone was really keen to learn how to do a granny square. As trebles were fresh in every ones mind we took the plunge and I had made a colourful sample earlier which helped guide us ...................

The granny square technique was picked up very quickly so I am expecting great things for next weeks class.

I have also been trying to teach myself how to crochet with my left hand as one of the women in my group is left handed and I found it quite difficult to teach and support her last week.

a little bit wonky but my first attempt at making a granny square and a little sample of stitches all with my left hand - I was quite proud of myself and it really helped me with this weeks teaching session.

I am joining in with Ginny, Chrissie, Marianne and Tami.

talk soon x

yarn along - crochet table mat..................

I have just been experimenting with Boodles yarn which is made from recycled textiles. My first project is from my new crochet book - I succumbed and purchased a copy of Cute & Easy Crochet with Flowers written by Nicki Trench. I love the book and have had fun making my first crochet place mat. It still needs the flower embellishments, and I need a rest - it was very hard on my weak arms. The yarn is easy to work with in a technical sort of way but for me very hard in a physical way as it takes quite a lot of strength to pull the yarn through the loops when you double crochet.

I'm off for a spot of feet up time now as I've got my first workshop tonight - wow that sounds a bit scary but I am very excited.

Joining in today with Ginny, Marianne, Chrissie and Tami

Talk soon x

yarn along - crochet garland..................

I have fallen in love with Prima Makes Issue 1 it is packed full of wonderful projects. I haven't seen this magazine before and I must confess I have it by default, my friend Pam had bought it and then left it behind at my house (she kindly said I could keep it) I have at least ten different projects I want to try my hand at.

The first on my list is a really pretty flower chain, the pattern has been taken from Cute & Easy Crochet with Flowers by Nicki Trench, which is also on my wish list.

I've made the large flowers and love them, the pattern included some smaller flowers which I didn't like quite as much, as instructed I have hand sewn the flowers onto a simple chain - I love the results and feel a flower obsession coming on.

Not the most perfect of images but I am so pleased with my lovely flower chain - although not sure what I will do with it.............maybe if it was longer it would make lovely bunting, what do you think?

I'm joining in today with :-

Ginny

Marianne and Chrissie

Tami Ames

talk soon x

yarn along - crochet samples

I'm afraid my vertigo has still not cleared up so I have been in bed most of the time since last Sunday. Over the last few days I have been able to prop myself up in bed and have managed a little bit of simple crochet and some short bursts on my laptop or iPad. Anything prolonged has resulted in increased dizziness.

Before having to take to my bed I had tentatively advertised my crochet workshops on some local social media sites. I have been amazed at the results, the first dates in March were filled in a couple of hours, I posted additional workshop dates for April/May time, which are now full and have had to set some provisional dates for June. I can't believe the response, crochet seems to have become so popular. I just hope I am well before the first session in March.

Due to my inactivity my mind has been in over drive thinking of lots of other workshops I could run once people have mastered the basic stitches. I had already made little crochet swatches of doubles, half trebles and trebles, but now I have moved onto making samples of little projects using the basic stitches. I've made a granny square, swatches of ripple stitch, shell stitch, popcorn stitch and some different flower motifs

 

It has been good fun as it's been a while since I followed so many different patterns and some of the stitches I've never attempted. The shell stitch was completely new and does need a bit more practice.

I'm not sure that this post really counts as a yarn along/crochet along post but I did want to show you my colourful mini samples.

I'm joining in with, Ginny, Marianne, Chrissie ,  Tami Amis and Linda

Before I go I want to say a big special thank you for all of your lovely uplifting comments. I have really appreciated them and thank you for the tips and advice you have given me about vertigo, it is much more common than I thought. I'm sorry I haven't answered you all individually but thank you again. 

I hope I will be back to full fitness next week as it's my birthday on Wednesday........................

talk soon x

Yarn along - hearts.....................

I have put my grey wool to one side and chosen some pretty pastel shades in honour of Valentine’s Day. I couldn't quite bring myself to choose red yarn but I think my pretty pastel combination works well. I have hooked up a few boho hearts, thank you Cherry it's such a fab pattern, and also a bigger crochet heart using Nancy's  adorable pattern. I've had such fun creating these beautiful hearts and as usual I can't stop at one or two I want to fill a basket.

I had a little play on PicMonkey - do you like my special effects.......

I hope you have a lovely day tomorrow "Happy Valentines Day"

I'm joining in with Ginny,  Marianne, Chrissie, and  Tami Amis to share my crochet lovelies do pop over to check out everyone's posts.

talk soon x

Yarn along - crochet bits and bobs

I have continued to play with my crochet hook and have been whipping up more accessories. I wanted to bring some little pops of extra colour into my grey room so I've made some pretty crochet flowers. I added some vibrant buttons into the centres then glued the flowers onto wooden kebab skewers. The flowers look pretty arranged in a simple tin can, sporting a crochet coat in grey stripes of course. I'm so pleased how it has come together. 

Photos are still of a poor quality and the actual colours are more pink/purple not really blue - sorry but I did want to show you how cute they look!

I am joining in with Ginny, Marianne and Chrissie and Tami Amis - hope you will visit these wonderful inspirational blogs.

talk soon  x

PS don't forget my giveaway tomorrow - last day to enter over here.................

yarn along - pretty crochet hearts

Sorry I am becoming extremely boring, so please forgive my third grey yarn along post. Blanket ticked off, cushion all done, and now I am busy making lovely little crochet hearts. I've made crochet hearts before but these are a bit bigger and the pattern is lovely and straightforward to follow. The tutorial for the pattern can be found here Sam has kindly shared her lovely heart pattern for us all to have a go.

I'm not sure what the finished project will look like but hopefully I will be able to share it with you next week.

I'm joining in with  Ginny, Tami Amis, Chrissie & Marianne please pop over for some lovely crafty inspiration if you have time

talk soon x

PS don't forget my give away check it out here

more lovely crochet projects .............

My grey blanket is finished; it's quite small but just right for draping over an armchair or keeping your knees snug. I'm really pleased with the colour combination and it does look nice with my other pink blankets.

To tone in with my new blanket I have started a granny square cushion and I am using Lucy's join as you go method. One side of the cushion is made up of light grey squares joined with a darker grey yarn and the other side is dark grey squares joined with the lighter grey yarn. I haven't decided how I'm going to join the cushion edges together yet but hopefully I will have a plan before I finish - although all ideas will be much appreciated.

I have been using grey yarn that I've had for quite a while; you might recognise it from a blanket I started last year. The blanket was made up of small granny squares in four different colours, joined as you go with a contrasting yarn. I sort of got a bit fed up with this blanket, it has been sitting in a basket waiting for my attention for quite a while. After much thought I decided to rip it back and use the grey granny squares for my cushion. It was hard to undo all my lovely join along crochet but I don't think I would have finished the blanket and I do like the look of my new cushion.

Although I now have a pile of pink and green granny squares to find a use for - I'm sure I will think of something.

I am joining in with :-

• Ginny
• Marianne and Chrissie
• Tami Amis

Hope you have time to pop over to the crochet and yarn alongs to see all the lovely projects on the go.

Talk soon x