Cable cardigan tah dah!

This project has been some time in the making, but I think it has been worth the wait. Do you remember way back in March I had these?

Well now I have this:

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I went to crochet class at Kiki’s craft corner to learn how to make it, and the project has certainly taught me a lot. There was at least one point when I wondered if I would ever reach the end, but I am very glad that I persevered because I think the finished item is something to be proud of.

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I made mine in Drops cotton merino DK ‘Jeans blue’ on a 4.5mm hook, and used 7 balls of yarn for a cardigan 35cm wide and 37cm long. I do have a toddler in mind for this cardigan so fingers crossed that it fits!

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Better things

I have been ‘back to school’ to learn some new stitches at a local crochet class. It is such a pleasure to spend a morning sitting with like-minded folk learning something new.
I have already shown you a little peak of the back of this cardigan:

And here is the beginning of the front panels.

I know myself that they are not perfect but from a distance they look fine (!) and my confidence is growing the more that I do.
Our next class will start on the sleeves. Watch this space….

Heirloom textured crochet cushion side one

I have been learning new things!
Our lovely local craft shop has been running ‘intermediate’ crochet classes and we have been learning how to produce textured stitches in crochet.

The idea was to learn 12 new patterns, make (roughly) 20cm squares of each, then join them to make a throw.
Well as you can see I didn’t quite mange the throw bit. However I made 16 squares in 8 patterns and joined them together to make some beautiful cushions, which will sit proudly on our sofa for all to see.
This patterns on this side are ‘Moss stitch’

and ‘Diamonds’

The panels are crocheted in Robin FX DK ‘Moorland’ on a 4.5mm hook (I found my tension was too tight on a 4mm hook) and finished off with 2-3 rounds of double crochet ‘sashing’ to make all the squares the same size. Even the way the squares were joined together was new to me, and gave such a lovely smooth seam that I shall certainly use it again.

I really cannot thank Keira enough for taking the time to teach us these lovey stitches, remembered from her childhood in Ireland, and painstakingly written out and charted for us to follow. We are trying to persuade her to publish them in a book so other people can benefit from her amazing knowledge and expertise. It would be lovely to think that these heirloom patterns could be passed on to another generation.

If you are interested in classes, or in purchasing the book when it is published, you can contact Keira through her website: http://kikiscraftcorner.co.uk/
The lovely Harris tweed patchwork cushions in the background are from our friends at Calicvol quilts on the Isle of Lewis. http://www.callicvolquilts.com/home/index.aspx