Tuesday 24 April 2012

My first baby blanket...

For some reason I have never made a baby blanket.  
None for my own children, none for gifts... nada
I don't know why... I must have made most things in 
my crochet career.


So when I saw this one on Pinterest I 
just couldn't resist... and along came a new 
nephew for my future Son-In-Law...so off I went....



The pattern comes from a lovely blog called, 
"One Little Rayndrop".  



It is easy... a huge block of trebles into the back
 loop only (called double crochet on the blog because
 the writer used American terminology), then a 
sweet little border.

I used Debbie Bliss Eco Baby Cotton 
in pale cream (shade 14016).  It's a gorgeous 
softcotton and splits are rare. 

The original pattern specified 4 ply cotton
 yarn and a 6mm crochet hook, but I used a 
3.50mm hook.  Because of that slight change
 I had to make minor adjustments to the border
 to get it balanced.



By the way, the Beautiful Blogger Blanket 2012 arrived safely at 

Tuesday 17 April 2012

The Second Spray Blocking Tutorial - Sewing together HUGE projects....

This second tutorial is the result of sewing....unsewing....resewing the Beautiful Blogger Blanket of 2012.  


The blanket turned out to be the size of a single bed and after my first attempt at sewing it all together it was fan shaped and wouldn't lay flat! 


On my second attempt I found the way to create a symmetrical piece with parallel sides ... it even laid flat on a bed! This tutorial should help you if you ever attempt a big project...and it will remind me next year! 







REMEMBER TO PIN YOUR SHAPES TO YOUR BOARD 
FACE DOWN, READY TO BE SEWN TOGETHER!



Hope it helps!  
This tutorial will stay on my blog in the 'Tutorials and Projects' 
section at the top right of the home page x

Monday 16 April 2012

Spray Blocking Crochet ... A Couple of Little Tutorials...

Since the little problems (!) I had wrestling the Beautiful Blogger Blanket 2012 into shape I have made a couple of wee tutorials for you all... it is also to remind me next year... Part one is a simple 'Spray Blocking Crochet'.


I will post it today and then it will be in my new TUTORIALS section in the column on the right.... hope it helps...




















The web addresses above are not links... here are the direct links:





The second tutorial  is entitled....

'Sewing a large / HUGE blanket or object into a good shape'
(coming soon)

Thursday 5 April 2012

TA-DAH!....The Beautiful Blogger Blanket of 2012 is finished!

It's true... the Beautiful Blogger Blanket of 2012 is finally finished! 

I was going to introduce you slowly... but I think I will just deluge
you all with a very photo heavy post... here goes....




Isn't it beautiful? 

Squares came from all these countries...
(in alphabetical order):

Australia, England, Germany, 
Holland, Ireland, Italy, 
Lebanon, New Zealand, 
South Africa, USA and Wales!


There are over 120 squares... I lost count with all the little ones...





I didn't think I was going to get the lovely big square from
 'AJ The Purple' in...but there it is in the bottom left corner AJ...
and in the end I was very thankful for it! 

Whats that you say?  Close-ups?  Okay....here you go...




 A few tiny weeny in-fills were needed!


....and oh my Goodness I was grateful to Faith for the 
pile of little squares she sent to me when I was struggling!



 Can you spot your squares amongst all this gloriousness? 






I had to do a little bit of tweaking to a couple of squares to get them in...





and now for the difficult bit for me...

....folding up the Beautiful Blogger Blanket of 2012....


 Taking a last long look before I pop it in it's box....


and off it goes.....

It will be in the post office in the morning to

Meanwhile... I would just like to say a huge 
Thank you 
again to all of you who took part so generously...

Here is the full list of participants and their links... 
Pop round and see all the great craft that is being 
produced around the world...

Shelley from Allformeggymoo (England)

Elisabeth from About Crochet (Holland)

Karisma from Karisma's Kraft (Australia)

Niamh from The Craft Giraffe (Ireland)

Laura from My House In Africa (South Africa)

Joanne from Rose & Dahlia (England)

Barbina from Little Things Made With Love (Germany)

Angie from Le Monde De Sucrette (Lebanon)

Velma from Made By Velma (U.S.A)

Harriet from Hilly Town Blue (England)

Bebe from Bebe Rouge (Australia)

Lindy from Who Am I? (U.S.A)

Paola from CoCo E Cucito (Italy)

Anna from Esme Ruby (Australia)

Charlotte from The Crochet Pixie (England)

Darja - no blog (England)

Victoria from Yarn Round Hook (England)

Charmian - no blog (Australia)

Debbie from Serendipity Patch (England)

Janette from The Green Dragonfly (New Zealand)

Penny from Planet Penny (England)

Kashi from Kashi's Corner (U.S.A)

Cath from Clicky Needles (England)

Judy from Vintage Homespun (England)

Julie from Little Woolie (Australia)

Deb from A World of Imagination (England)

Faith from Faith (Wales)

Marinke from A Creative Being (Holland)

AJ from AJ The Purple (USA)

We made a VERY Beautiful Blogger Blanket 
in 2012 everyone!


Are you in for 2013 ? :) xxx