Sunday 28 October 2012

My Flower Checkerboard Afghan

I have been randomly crocheting and knitting throughout winter, mostly making baby beanies and little blankies but when I need distraction I whip up a couple of squares for my bright pink and black rug ...

I have no idea how much yarn you require for this - I'd guess aproximately 10 balls of black and 10 balls of pink, enough to make a rug 11 squares along and 9 squares across = 99 squares each measuring 6 inches by 6 inches (15cm x 15cm). All my crochet is double crochet except for the flower itself.
You need a basic granny square:

 And an 8 petal flower square:
Here's the link for the original flower square pattern http://rosehip.typepad.com/rose_hip_blog/2008/11/index.html 

With the color of yarn you wish to use for the center of the flower, ch 4 and join with a sl st into the first ch to form a ring. Continue working in the round as follows:

Round 1: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc, ch 1), * 1 dc into ring, ch 1 **; repeat from * to ** 6 times. Join with a sl st into 3rd ch of the ch-4 made at the beginning of this round. (There should be 8 ch-1 spaces in the round.) Fasten off and break off the first color.

Round 2: Join the color you wish to use for the petals into any of the ch-1 spaces, ch 1 and * 1 sc, 3 dc, 1 sc ** into the same ch-1 space; repeat from * to ** into the next 7 ch-1 spaces. Join with a sl st into the first sc of the first ch-1 space. (There should be 8 petals around the center.)

Round 3: Ch 1, and working behind the petals now, sl st into the stem † of the last sc made in round 2. Ch 4, sc into the stems of the next 2 adjoining scs (between the two petals) and then * ch 3, sc into the stems of the next 2 scs; repeat from * to ** 5 more times, ch 3, and then sl st into the first ch of the ch-4 done at the beginning of this round. You should now have a ch-3 space (or loop) behind each petal made in round 2.

Round 4: Ch 1 and work * 1 sc, 5 dc, 1 sc ** into the first ch-3 space and repeat from * to ** into all the next ch-3 spaces; sl st into the first sc of the first petal made in this round. You should now have another 8 petals behind the first 8 made. Fasten off and break off this color. 

Round 5: Still working behind the petals, join the yarn you wish to use as the background for the flower to the stems † of any 2 adjoining scs of round 4 (between two petals), and then ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 2dc into the same sc stems, and ch 1. Into the stems of the next 2 scs  of round 4, * 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc to make a corner, ch 1, 3 dc, into the stems of the next 2 scs , ch 1 **; repeat from * to ** 2 more times, and then 3dc, ch 1, 3 dc into the stems of the next 2 scs, ch 1 and sl st into the 3rd ch of ch-3 done at the beginning of this round.

 
Continue to crochet around until your flower square is the same size as your granny square ie: flower plus 5 rounds.

Sew them together in a checkerboard design.
I think this is my favourite afghan yet :-)
Now that summer is on its way I doubt I'll be getting out my hooks or needles much. I have so many projects I want to do though ...!!!






Crochet Paperclip Iceskates - Christmas Ornament

Cute Crochet PaperClip Iceskates

 

I found this cute little pattern while browsing google for something else. They are SO easy - less than 10 minutes from start to finish!

All credit goes to Suzie ... http://suzies-yarnie-stuff.blogspot.com.au/2008/12/my-paperclip-ice-skate-ornament-c.html

MATERIALS:
Approximately 5 yards of worsted weight yarn
Approximately 1 ½ yards of fuzzy white yarn
G crochet hook
Two jumbo paper clips


INSTRUCTIONS:
With the continuous wire of paper clip on bottom for blade and the larger loop to the right, attach yarn to paper clip with a slipstitch into the larger loop.

Always crochet over the beginning tails.

Row 1: Ch 2, 7 dc to end of paper clip (work first dc in the larger loop, work remain dc in smaller loop and around both wires). This row forms the foot of the skate.

Row 2: Ch 2, turn, Dc in 4 sts. This row forms the ankle of the skate.

Row 3: Ch 1 turn, sc in 4 sts. After last st, Ch 10, fasten off. On the second skate, only chain 8, so that the skates are offset after tying together.

Row 4: Join fuzzy white yarn with a sc in turning chain of row 3. Sc in 3 sts, 2 sc in last st.

Fasten off and weave in ends. If you crocheted over the tails you will only have the ending tail of the trim to weave in.

Repeat for the second skate and tie the two skates together with the
tails of the ch 10 and ch 8.

 


Tuesday 17 April 2012

I'm Back

Well summer didn't see me knitting or crocheting much at all. Instead I bought a house! I have spent since October 2011 until now polyfilling, sanding, ripping up carpet and lino, painting, tiling and being a general female tradie (read that as Jill of all trades, master of none).
that was after I attacked the bathroom!
My house has gone from being the worst on the street to one of the nicest. I have a brand new kitchen and bathroom and fresh paint and tiles ... all the way I want it and so comfy and cosy.
Yay - freshly painted and tiled bathroom LOL
Now that the rainy season has started it's time to get the yarn and needles/hooks out - I can't wait to share my creations with you all.

Monday 16 April 2012

Knitted Bunny Draft Stopper

This is my latest project. Isn't he just the cutest?
PDF file available here
I hope you enjoy making him as much as I did inventing him. Any questions, message me :-)

Soon to come: Bunny Bag Lady (for all those plastic supermarket bags)