It worked! The public airing of my stalled cushion project was enough to make me pick up my hook and finish it:
Made in Uist 100% cheviot wool ‘Solas’ on a 4.5mm hook. The stitch patterns are Shells and pebbles and Fences, both learned at Kiki’s Craft Corner.
The shop where I sell most of my crochet produce is seasonal, and is now closed for the winter. So I have just got a complete breakdown of what has sold over the last year, and now have a chance to plan and re-stock for next season.
My ‘to do’ list for the winter includes spiders, crabs, dishcloths, cushions, hot water bottle covers and rather a lot of jellyfish. None of this is a chore actually as I enjoy making all of them, and hopefully in-between time there will be a chance to try some new things too. I am looking forward to it already!
Would anyone like to guess how many jellyfish they sold?
So this is it, that lovely moment when you have finished something, and know that it is really worthwhile.
Here, in all it’s glory, is my Uist wool cushion:
You might remember it’s humble beginnings just after Christmas here
Well now it is all grown up and I am delighted with it. The buttons follow the natural line of the ripples:
And even the side seams have a pleasing symmetry:
What a pleasure it is to work with such lovely yarn. Made in Uist wool dk fuaran, siaban and texel on a 4.5mm hook. Pattern available, if you would like a copy just leave a message.
You might remember my first foray into multi-coloured moss stitch here, and wonder what that led to next. Well like all the best projects that one spawned another idea even before I had finished it. So today I present to you my first three coloured moss stitch:
Hugely simpler to make than the two coloured version, as it involves no sewing in of ends.
I really like the tweed effect too.
Made in Scheepjeswol XL Moonstone, Deep amethyst, and Lilac quartz on a 6mm hook.
And now the second side of cushion number two:
The patterns on this side are ‘Fishing net’
and my own version of ‘Fences’ (sort of brickwork, or staggered fences depending on how you look at it)
The panels are crocheted in Robin FX DK ‘Moorland’. on a 4.5mm hook. The cushion pads have been covered in a grey/beige coloured linen fabric which I think sets off the textured stitch patterns well.
Both patterns learned at our lovely local craft shop ‘Kiki’s craft corner’
If you are interested in classes, you can contact Keira through her website: http://kikiscraftcorner.co.uk/
No I haven’t literally made a three sided cushion, this is the first side of cushion number two, but you understand my meaning.
the patterns on this side are ‘Shells and pebbles’
and ‘Fences’
The panels are crocheted in Robin FX DK ‘Moorland’. on a 4.5mm hook. The cushion pads have been covered in a grey/beige coloured linen fabric which I think sets off the textured stitch patterns well.
Both patterns learned at our lovely local craft shop ‘Kiki’s craft corner’
If you are interested in classes, you can contact Keira through her website: http://kikiscraftcorner.co.uk/
I am not sure how well this will work photographically, but I wanted to show you the stitches on the reverse side of the cushion.
the patterns on this side are ‘Noughts and crosses’
and ‘Honeycomb’
The panels are crocheted in Robin FX DK ‘Moorland’. If you look closely you will see that I had to change dye lots between these two squares (lesson to self – buy more yarn than you think you will need!)
Both patterns learned at our lovely local craft shop ‘Kiki’s craft corner’
If you are interested in classes, you can contact Keira through her website: http://kikiscraftcorner.co.uk/
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
Finally got round to making my ‘circles into squares’ panel into a rather lovely little cushion.
The idea for the circles came from Three Beans in a Pod’s lovely retro blanket
(http://www.threebeansinapod.com/2012/08/retro-circles-tutorial.html)
and the tutorial for turning the circles into squares is on Little Tin Bird’s blog
(http://www.littletinbird.co.uk/free-crochet-tutorials/bullseye-squares-pattern/)
Mine is in Rowan wool cotton dk on a 4mm hook, and the colours are Tender, Celadon, Clear, Paper and Antique.
The back is in cream coloured calico from our lovely local craft emporium – Kiki’s craft corner
(http://kikiscraftcorner.co.uk/)
I have just finished a mitred square blanket in a purple colour scheme
It is made in Rowan wool cotton DK on a 4mm hook, in Bilberry, Grand, Frozen, Clear and Antique.
The cushion is bought (Gisela Graham I think) and I would like to make one myself – in some kind of shell stitch?
Simply hooked 