Through The Archway, Just Off The Lounge ...

... in what was originally the dining room, then D's ugly man-office, is now my craft room!

Want to see?

I started off painting it white but decided it just wasn't me.  It was my daughter who said it should be bubblegum pink.

It's a real mix-match of Ikea storage and treasured bits.

I've still got a bit of titivating to do.  That noticeboard needs updating and mounting on the wall above my desk and I'm missing some fairy lights.

But slowly, slowly I'm getting organised.

I can't tell you how delighted I am to have my precious yarn safely stored.  I HATED having it dotted around the house in bulging bags.

I love, love, love being surrounded by my favourite things.

My wonderful pink cow print is by Tanya Palmer who was one of my very first bloggy friends.  (Sadly, I can't find a link to her now.  Are you out there Tanya?)

I bought this Tiffany-style glass lightshade on the afternoon of Princess Diana's funeral, sixteen years ago.  Funny what you remember.  It makes me think of her whenever I look at it.

My latest acquisition is this pretty thread catcher.

It's so clever.  Weighted by it's little pouch, it sits over the arm of your chair and acts as a receptacle for all those pesky yarn ends (or, of course, pistachio shells and chocolate wrappers!).

I bought it from an extremely talented lady I've met on Instagram.  You can see some more of her beautiful makes on her blog, www.daisymoon-mandy.blogspot.co.uk.

So, what do you think of my little room?

I keep popping in and twirling!

Right, now to start crafting again and the very first thing I'm going to make?  A large sign saying 'No Smelly Boys Allowed'!

Teeheehee.

xxx

Anemones ...

Hello!  It's me!

Isn't it a beautiful day?

I'm actually kicking my heels waiting for someone to collect some furniture we sold on eBay.

"This morning" they said, so I'm pottering around and listening out for a knock on the door.

Will you join me in a little anemone love while I wait?

I have one smallish pot and a large trough in the garden both planted with anemones.  I think they're my favourite flower.  The colours are amazing.  Mother Nature, you're a clever bird.

Have I told you that we've been tackling DIY projects on quite a large scale over the last couple of months?  Big room change-arounds and a lot of decorating.  Most of my crafty bits have been packed away in boxes or stacked in teetering piles.  It's driven me completely bonkers and I hope goes some way to explain why I've been MIA.

Well, today is the day that the new flooring is fitted in my craft room and then I can move in!!!

To say I'm wildly excited is an understatement.

We've lots of catching up you and I so I'll be back again very soon.

I'll leave you with pictorial evidence of my latest personal challenge - I'm learning to knit ...

... let's just say I'm not finding it very easy!!!

Have a wonderful sunny weekend.

xxx

How To Crochet A Circle Using Trebles (UK)

Fancy a Monday morning quickie?!!

You've given me such lovely feedback on my round cushion tutorial, thank you so much.  One thing I should like to point out is that that pattern is for half trebles (half doubles US) so it won't work properly if you're fancying crocheting a circle using treble (double US) stitches.

Here is my little tutorial for crocheting a circle using trebles (doubles US).

It can be a bit of a pain getting your crocheted circle to lie flat.  Lots of people (including me) have ended up with a frilly pancake more than once.

The important thing to remember is that if you start with 12 trebles in your round, you should be increasing each round by 12 stitches.  Not more, not less.  Your circle will always sit flat if you follow that general rule.

Anyway, less talking, more pictures ...

Round 1

Chain 3.

Work 12 trebles into the third chain from the hook.

Slip stitch into the first treble to close the circle.

You should have 12 trebles in your circle.  Count them.

Round 2

Chain 3 and work a treble into the same stitch.

Work two trebles into each of the rest of the stitches in the round.

You should now have 24 stitches in your round.  Do please note we are including the chain 3 at the beginning of the round as a stitch.  Because we are slip stitching into it and chaining 3 from it in the following round, it is important to include it when you're counting.

Now, slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the beginning chain 3 to close the round.

Round 3

Chain 3.

*Two trebles into the next stitch.

One treble into the next stitch.*

Repeat ** until the last stitch in the round which should have two trebles in it.

You should have 36 stitches in your round.

Slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the beginning chain 3 to close the round.

Round 4

Chain 3.

One treble into the next stitch.

Two trebles into the next stitch.

*One treble into the next two stitches.

Two trebles into the next stitch.*

Repeat ** until the last stitch in the round which should have two trebles in it.

You should have 48 stitches in your round.

Slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the beginning chain 3 to close the round.

Round 5

Chain 3.

One treble into the next two stitches.

Two trebles into the next stitch.

*One treble into the next three stitches.

Two trebles into the next stitch.*

Repeat ** until the last stitch in the round which should have two trebles in it.

You should have 60 stitches in your round. 

Slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the beginning chain 3 to close the round.

Round 6

Chain 3.

One treble into the next three stitches.

Two trebles into the next stitch.

*One treble into the next four stitches.

Two trebles into the next stitch.*

Repeat ** until the last stitch in the round which should have two trebles in it.

You should have 72 stitches in your round.

Slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the beginning chain 3 to close the round.

Round 7

Chain 3.

One treble into the next four stitches.

Two trebles into the next stitch.

*One treble into the next five stitches.

Two trebles into the next stitch.*

Repeat ** until the last stitch in the round which should have two trebles in it.

You should have 84 stitches in your round.

Slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the beginning chain 3 to close the round.

Round 8

Chain 3.

One treble into the next five stitches.

Two trebles into the next stitch.

*One treble into the next six stitches.

Two trebles into the next stitch.*

Repeat ** until the last stitch in the round which should have two trebles in it.

You should have 96 stitches in your round.

Slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the beginning chain 3 to close the round.

You should be noticing a bit of a pattern now.

As your circle gets bigger, it will obviously become more and more of a faff to keep counting the number of stitches at the end of each round.

Follow this rule and you won't have to ... always makes sure you are working an increase (ie. two trebles into one stitch) into an increase of the previous round.  In any one round there should always be just twelve stitches which have two trebles worked into them.  No more, no less.

***

Just as a little extra, you may have noticed I changed colours part way through the tutorial.  The way I join a new colour is half way through the slip stitch at the end of the round.  Insert your hook into the third chain of the beginning chain 3 and pull a loop of your NEW colour through.  Continue as normal.

There you go.  I've got brainache now (!) but I do hope that helps.

Frilly pancakes should, hopefully, be a thing of the past!!!

Do feel free to let me know how you get on or if you get stuck.

xxx

It's Weekend!

Well I'm glad that week's over.  What a bag of crap.  Nothing major you understand, but a constant stream of grot.

I broke a tooth on Monday night and the bottom fell out of my world.  I'm not just scared of the dentist, I'm phobic.

Bertie Spaniel has been really quite poorly.  On his 5th birthday too.  He drank from a filthy puddle at the park and was terribly sick for a couple of days.

Blondie Son has had an eye infection and Blondie Daughter has been moody and weepy after falling out with one of her best friends.

We have this little Friday tradition in our house.  When D comes home from work, he stands in the hall and shouts

"iiiiiiiit's weekend!!!"

To which we all join in with a "woohoo!!!"

Bless him.  He invariably works for a few hours on a Saturday so he does it to indulge us, his family.  It's our little way of heralding the end of the week, good or bad.

So here we are, Saturday morning, and things are much better.

A kindly dentist sorted me out on Thursday at 2:30pm (seriously, tooth-hurty, you couldn't contrive it) and I didn't die of panic in the black chair after all.

Bertie Spaniel and Blondie Son are back to rude health.

Blondie Daughter has made up with her friend.

We're going to my lovely Sister In Law's tomorrow for a roast lunch to celebrate Mothers' Day.

Now, if the sun would just come out, I'd go so far as to say we're ticketty-boo!

My daughter asked me, not so long ago, if I was blindfolded, could I pick her out of a hundred children.  Absolutely I could, I said.  I could pick her out of a million.  A mother knows the scent and feel of her own child, however old they are.  She seemed quite impressed!  But it's true, isn't it?

To all you ladies lucky enough to be mothers everywhere, have a simply wonderful day tomorrow.  Our babies never stop being our babies but life moves on at such an alarming speed, it's far too easy not to cherish each stage.

 I heard this poem on the radio this week and it moved me deeply ...

The Last Time

The father, reading to his girl

some little tale they always read

is unaware that this may be

the last one that she'll ever need;

she's grown past stories softly read

by daddy sitting on the bed.

The mother with her muddy son,

kicking a football in the park,

cannot sense as they wander home

through chilly, soft-approaching dark;

this was the last time they'd come out

to kick that happy ball about.

How secret, sneaky-soft they come:

those last times when we'll kiss it better,

hold their hand across the road

or lift them up to post a letter.

They pass unmarked, unnoticed; for

we're not so needed any more.

So they abandon fairy tales,

and nursery rhymes that mummy sings

and leave behind soft toys - and us -

and put away their childish things;

a loss so small.  Our loss the greater,

unmissed, unmourned, until years later.

© Lucy Berry

xxx

How I Crocheted My Round Cushion

Ok, here we go.  For those of you who asked, this is how I crocheted my round cushion ...

The only stitches you will need to know for the circle are:-

Chain

Half Treble (or Half Double in US terms)

Slip Stitch

If you'd rather skip the picture instructions, do please nip to the end where you'll find the pattern without.

***

Chain 2.

9 half trebles in second chain from the hook.

Slip stitch to first half treble to close the circle.

A small tug on the starting tail of yarn will close your circle nice and tightly.

Chain 2 (counts as one half treble) and half treble in the same stitch.

Two half trebles in each of the following stitches in the round.

Slip stitch in the space created by the chain 2 at the beginning of the round.

Chain 2 (counts as one half treble) and half treble in the same stitch.

*One half treble in the next stitch.  Two half trebles in the next stitch.*  Repeat ** to the end of the round, ending with two half trebles in the last stitch.

Slip stitch in the space created by the chain 2 at the beginning of the round.

Chain 2 (counts as one half treble) and half treble in the same stitch.

*One half treble in the next two stitches.  Two half trebles in the next stitch.*  Repeat ** to the end of the round, ending with two half trebles in the last stitch.

Slip stitch in the space created by the chain 2 at the beginning of the round.

Chain 2 (counts as one half treble) and half treble in the same stitch.

*One half treble in the next three stitches.  Two half trebles in the next stitch.*  Repeat ** to the end of the round, ending with two half trebles in the last stitch.

Slip stitch in the space created by the chain 2 at the beginning of the round.

Chain 2 (counts as one half treble) and half treble in the same stitch.

*One half treble in the next four stitches.  Two half trebles in the next stitch.*  Repeat ** to the end of the round, ending with two half trebles in the last stitch.

Slip stitch in the space created by the chain 2 at the beginning of the round.

Chain 2 (counts as one half treble) and half treble in the same stitch.

*One half treble in the next five stitches.  Two half trebles in the next stitch.*  Repeat ** to the end of the round, ending with two half trebles in the last stitch.

Slip stitch in the space created by the chain 2 at the beginning of the round.

Do you see the pattern emerging?  Each round, you will simply increase the number of half treble stitches in between those with two half trebles.

You may also notice that you will always be performing your two half trebles in the middle of the previous round's two half trebles.  Follow the stitches along the arrows - they're all two half trebles.  Does that make sense?

Continue until your circle is large enough for it's purpose!

***

Simple Written Instructions

Chain 2.

9 half trebles in second chain from the hook.

Slip stitch to first half treble to close the circle. (9)

A small tug on the starting tail of yarn will close your circle nice and tightly.

Chain 2 (counts as one half treble) and half treble in the same stitch.

Two half trebles in each of the following stitches in the round.

Slip stitch in the space created by the chain 2 at the beginning of the round.

Chain 2 (counts as one half treble) and half treble in the same stitch.

*One half treble in the next stitch.  Two half trebles in the next stitch.*  Repeat ** to the end of the round, ending with two half trebles in the last stitch.

Slip stitch in the space created by the chain 2 at the beginning of the round.

Chain 2 (counts as one half treble) and half treble in the same stitch.

*One half treble in the next two stitches.  Two half trebles in the next stitch.*  Repeat ** to the end of the round, ending with two half trebles in the last stitch.

Slip stitch in the space created by the chain 2 at the beginning of the round.

Chain 2 (counts as one half treble) and half treble in the same stitch.

*One half treble in the next three stitches.  Two half trebles in the next stitch.*  Repeat ** to the end of the round, ending with two half trebles in the last stitch.

Slip stitch in the space created by the chain 2 at the beginning of the round.

Chain 2 (counts as one half treble) and half treble in the same stitch.

*One half treble in the next four stitches.  Two half trebles in the next stitch.*  Repeat ** to the end of the round, ending with two half trebles in the last stitch.

Slip stitch in the space created by the chain 2 at the beginning of the round.

Chain 2 (counts as one half treble) and half treble in the same stitch.

*One half treble in the next five stitches.  Two half trebles in the next stitch.*  Repeat ** to the end of the round, ending with two half trebles in the last stitch.

Slip stitch in the space created by the chain 2 at the beginning of the round.

You should see the pattern emerging.  Continue with each round, simply increasing the number of half treble stitches in between those with two half trebles.

To make my cushions, I simply crochet two same-sized circles this way and then double crochet (single crochet US) them together.

***

If I can offer a couple of additional tips:-

Try and ensure your slip stitches aren't too loose - if they're the same tension as your crochet stitches, they will be less noticeable.

I also always crochet my circles a little smaller than the round cushion pad I'm using - again, it adds to a neater and more even finish.

I do hope that helps.

Do please let me know if you get stuck or see any glaring booboos!!!

Happy hooking my friends.

xxx

Easter Tree

Looking back through last year's pictures, I notice I'm a tad early with my Easter tree this year!  Impatience?

Aah well.

I selected a few choice branches from my lilac in the garden again and plonked them unceremoniously in a jug of water.  The tight buds have already started to unfurl in the warmth and light of the lounge.

I do love a living and breathing Easter tree.

I feel sure one year I had a bunch of pussy willow in a jug but the furry buds (catkins?) gave me the heebie jeebies.

If you've been following me for a while, you may recognise a couple of favourite decorations adorning the branches.

There's Miss Buttercup who I bought from the lovely Jooles at Sew Sweet Violet ...

My Cath Kidston egg which, I think, originally had a soap in it ...

My lovely Gisela Graham bird ...

But, wait!!!

Be still my beating heart ...

Did you ever see such a pretty egg?

And there's not just one.  Oh, no, no, there are three in the set and they're from Greengate.  A little Easter gift to me from me!

I think the red one is my favourite.  Or perhaps the blue.  Maybe the green.  No, definitely the red!

Thank you so much for all your lovely comments on my round crocheted cushion.  Quite a number of people have asked me for a pattern so I'm writing up a sort of 'how to'.  I hope to finish it tonight and will post it as soon as.

Before I go, Blondie daughter has joined the Girl Guides.  She absolutely loves it!  It's only her second meeting tonight and she has been asked to take some cakes for a sale.  Ugh!  As you know, this mummy doesn't DO cakes (remember this???) so I should like to take this opportunity to offer up a big thank you to whoever it was that first came up with the idea of ready-made fairy cakes, ready-made butter icing and stick on decorations!!!

xxx

Edited to add ... Blondie daughter has asked me to point out that she decorated the cakes by herself, on her own, with no involvement from me whatsoever.  I wasn't even allowed in the room at the time.  Didn't she do well?!

Another Cushion?

Why yes.

Another cushion and this time it's round.

I've actually made a couple of these now; they're so relaxing and rhythmic to crochet.  It's just my favourite half trebles (half doubles US), joined at the end of each round by a slip stitch.  Of course, if you slightly stagger where you join your rounds and/or new colours, there is much less of a visible 'seam' but I don't think it detracts at all when the cushion is just one colour.

I'm still having a love affair with the Rooster Almerino yarns - here I used glace, strawberry cream and gooseberry dk.  Even the names of the colours are a joy!

Oh, and an adorable Attic 24 may rose and leaf again.  Naturally.

The rear view!

Pretty huh?

xxx

Edited to add : pattern now here!