Mandala Making

Posted on 27 May, 2018 by patchworkfairy

I do love flitting about between projects!

This week my weaving obsession has subsided a bit and I’ve concetrated on a bit of crochet mandala making! I follow Attic 24’s blog and she recently posted about her mandalas and included some links to patterns. It was just the right time for me as I had some Stylecraft Classique Cotton to use and I always love trying new yarn so bought some Ricorumi as well to extend my colour choices!

First I made the ‘Positivity Mandala – a free pattern from Attic 24. My colour choices represent the hot summer sun in the bright azure blue summer skies!

Crochet mandala in summer blues and sunny orange colours. — It would make a lovely table mat!

Next I made the Dreamcatcher Mandala pattern by The Loopy Stitch.

Crochet Dreamcatcher hanging up — Hanging Dreamcatcher

Although both would make pretty table mats I decided they would have more effect hanging in our summer room inbetween the fairy lights so they look good Day or night!

Two Mandalas hanging in a summer room — Mandalas hanging in the summer room

Attic 24 used metal craft rings to hold the mandalas and so I did the same. I got my rings from Glitterwitch who had them in stock and had very reasonable postage!

Now the only question is ….. how many do I make?!!!

Hooking up with Handmade Monday https://www.sumoftheirstories.com/blog/2018/handmade-monday-77

Sixty Million Trebles!

Posted on 27 February, 2017 by patchworkfairy

You may not have heard of Sixty Million Trebles or maybe even know what a treble is in this context? Neither did I till a few months ago.

It’s really simple though, a woman who loves crochet heard that there were sixty million refugees fleeing Syria without much to keep them warm. So she had an idea. She started a Facebook group asking people to crochet (or knit) a blanket to donate to the refugees with each maker counting the Trebles – a type of crochet stitch – in their blanket and adding a tag to state the number. The goal is to have sixty million trebles overall, each stitch representing a life.

All the blankets will be temporarily joined together to hopefully make the world’s largest blanket! The centre of this enormous blanket will be comprised of crocheted flags of each country! Once it’s been measured as hopeful the world’s largest blanket it will be divided up back into the individual blankets and shipped out to the refugees.

So this is what I’ve been doing the past few months- crocheting a blanket and two flags. I signed up for Guyana and Singapore because they looked interesting to make but not too difficult! It’s taken me a while though as I have to have rest periods when crocheting a lot

And here is the result!

My blanket!

Crochet flag of Singapore and Guyana and a purple crochet blanket

My flags and blanket

The idea has really taken off and people everywhere are making and sending blankets into various collection points in the UK whilst we wait to arrive at the magic Sixty Million!

So if you read this and you crochet or knit it’s not too late to join in! Just type Sixty Million Trebles into Facebook and join the group and get hooking! (or Knitting if you really can’t Crochet!)

One stitch – one life.

Planned Pooling in Crochet

Posted on 5 February, 2017 by patchworkfairy

Crocheted a cowl in Red Heart ‘Autumn’ or ‘Fall’ as it’s called in USA!

I’ve been fascinated recently by the planned pooling technique in crochet! It’s a method of crochet which involves carefully counting and manipulating your stitches to force an Argyle type pattern. It’s not easy! I actually used 3 diffferent hook sizes to get the patterning to work as I kept needing to use more or less yarn up in within the rows!

There is a very helpful Facebook group called Planned Pooling in Crochet with lovely, helpful members who advise and support newbie after newbie tearing their hair out and crying “it’ll never work! I just can’t do it!” It’s definitely worth joining if you want to try the pooling technique. This Pooling calculator is very useful too, although it’ll mean more to you if you read through the Facebook group posts first!

I used Red Heart super saver to make this cowl as not many UK yarns will pool – the sequence of colour change in the yarns has to be just right and even some Red Heart will not pool. Fortunately the Autumn shade above pools relatively easily. I bought a few different balls of this type of yarn whilst I was about it as it took ages to find a supplier in UK!

Below is the start of another scarf using Red Heart Supersaver in Wildflower. I love this colourway – it’s very pretty! The only downside of Planned Pooling is you can’t really watch TV whilst doing it as it need concentration!! Hence it will take me a very long time to make another complete scarf and much as I’d like a blanket in it ….. not sure the old brain could sustain the focus!😀😀😀

Yarn in purple, yellow and green making an argyle patttern

The start of a new Planned Pooling project

So if you fancy a new project and you can already crochet quite well I’d recommend Planned Pooling – but a word of warning – once you start you just might not be able to stop! (And you might miss your favourite TV programme!) 😜

Crocheted a cowl in Red Heart ‘Autumn’ or ‘Fall’ as it’s called in USA!

New Year means tidy the craft room!

Posted on 19 January, 2017 by patchworkfairy

Well it’s New Year and that means it’s time to tidy the craft room! I can no longer make anything in there as there is no room! I can’t post a picture because it’s too awful for public viewing! I may, once it has been restored to normality, post some before and after pics!

But for now, here here is a brief roundup of some of my recents makes and adventures!

This ribbon was on my presents from my son – far too good to throw out!

This crochet flag was finally finished!

My crochet flag of Guyana for the Sixty Million Trebles Project

This was a post Christmas walk!

View over the boating lake at West Kirby

This is my latest stash increase as I am addicted to crochet planned pooling!

My new red heart yarn for planned pooling

This was a refreshing walk in the North Wales wind!

Twilight on Llandudno Pier

And finally, it’s back to Patchwork class and a new project!

My latest fabric selection for a new patchwork wall hanging!

Well that’s all for now! I’ll be back with some updates on the planned pooling projects once my craft room is tidy! 😏

Crocheted Fairy House Tea-Pot Cover!

Posted on 10 April, 2016 by patchworkfairy

So I’ve got this awful cough and cold and can’t get on with my caravan makeover so I have devoted my lolling about time to – what else? – trawling through Facebook and Pinterest of course😀 Best way to cheer yourself up – that and some crochet! A while back I spotted on Pinterest a most gorgeous crocheted fairy House tea-pot cover with instructions which I really, really wanted to try and make. Unfortunately as the pattern was in Russian and google translate couldn’t cope with crochet terms I though I would never be able to attempt it. So what have I been doing this weekend?

The ‘wizard’s hat’ part complete!

Oh happy day! I found there was a part translation in the files section of a crochet group of which I am (was) not a member. Now I am revelling in the pictures of WiPs and patterns etc from the new group and on my way with the crochet tea pot cover! Can’t ever be in too many crochet groups eh?

Crochet tea pot cover in purple and teal yarn

Just started the side pieces

I’m enjoying making this immensely, despite the racking cough and general aches and pains. It’s taking longer than the one day suggested but that’s fine!

Crochet fairy tea-pot cover taking shape

This was my progress last night when I had to stop and rest! There’s no detailed instructions for number of stitches etc after the wizard hat part as you simply make the cover to fit your tea pot. It’s not too difficult though if you are experienced in making things.

Completed the cover all round – now need to add the little mushrooms and fairies and flowers!

So, here I am with the base cover crocheted! Now I will have great fun making little extras to adorn it – some such as the door and windows are in the pattern, the rest I will make up or use some little flowers and leaves like ones found in Attic 24 patterns.

If you want to see what the finished thing looks like you can follow this link.Here to my Facebook page where I shared the finished crocheted tea pot cover by a page entitled Haken en breien en naaien en juwelen kantklossen woon idees. I can’t work out any other way to credit the original as it’s somewhere on the page last year and linking direct to it won’t show the teapot

Next week I will have my very own crocheted fairy house tea-pot cover finished! Watch this space for pictures!

Linking up with Handmade Monday

Mainly Crochet..

Posted on 7 March, 2016 by patchworkfairy

Oh gosh it’s been a while!

I’ve made some nice things over the last few weeks, mainly crochet, just haven’t got round to writing about it!

Charlotte’s new blanket

new owner of the blanket!

Front of cushion

Stylecraft Candy Pop Cusion – one large granny square on one side and lots of solid grannies (😂) on the other!

I’m also making a Spice of Life CAL blanket but I’m a bit behind!!!!

Next project is an amazing crocheted teapot cover I have found but the pattern is in Russian so not sure how I’ll manage yet! So it’s still mainly crochet for me!

Post-Surgery with a bit of crochet!

Posted on 16 August, 2015 by patchworkfairy

Just a short post from me today. Been into hospital and had my total knee replacement surgery! I am so glad to be home 😀. I took my crochet in but only did some whilst waiting to go to theatre as afterwards it was enough of an effort just to get myself to the bathroom and back!

Now I am resting most of the day with little walks and knee exercises inbetween. I have been so glad of my soft Liberty fabric patchwork quilt, my warm colourful ripple blanket and a new bright owl fabric cushion I made last week before I went in. All of these have helped add a little bit of comfort to a rather painful time!

Yellow owl fabric cushion and crochet granny square in pink, cream, green and peach variegated cotton with two lilac rows.

My growing granny square and owl fabric cushion

The crochet is going to be a big granny square summer blanket using Rico Creative Cotton which is soft and not splitty at all

Well that’s all for now, time for my nap!😀

Linking up with Handmade Monday as usual over at Lucy Blossom Crafts

Patchwork and Crochet!

Posted on 22 May, 2015 by patchworkfairy

Finally finished binding the new baby quilt I posted about last week so I can now return to making blocks for the quilt I am doing at my patchwork course on Mondays. So far I’ve only done a Dresden plate and half of along cabin! If you are not a quilter you won’t know what I mean so next week I will be including some pictures of the finished blocks and their names! The other project I am making is a cotton crochet blanket for the baby. I loved the colours in my vintage rose bouquet so much I thought I would crochet a blanket based on the Japanese Flower pattern I used for my mum’s scarf in this post. Here below is a pic of the flowers and the first two flower motifs.

My mothers’ day flower bouquet

First two motifs

The motifs won’t sew up into straight lines but as it will be used in July it should be ok to be a ‘ holey’ sort of blanket!

As well as making things I am still mulling over the course I recently completed – the same one Vicky did – as yet I am unsure as to which direction I want to go forward with my Folksy and Etsy shops – in terms of what I make so I am not adding anything yo them until I make my decision. It does make my shops look rather forlorn though with only a few items for sale. However it’s worth taking time to get things right and I do have a new granddaughter on the way so need to make things for her!!

link up with handmade Monday

Simply Crochet Poncho!

Posted on 15 February, 2015 by patchworkfairy

Well firstly let me say thank you to all those who commented last week – it was really interesting to read different views and I now have a couple of courses to investigate which is good as I love studying!! I’ve managed a bit more on my Simply Crochet poncho but that’s about all this week.

However, this week I have learnt that I will be going into hospital for two lots of injections – facet joint and nerve root. I will be sedated so won’t know about them thank goodness and although initially I could be in more pain, within two weeks I could be ok and able to walk and drive again! I do miss driving – especially to fabric and wool shops and cafes!! I also miss being able to walk upright and like a normal person and for more than a few minutes! Never thought the day would come when I was looking forward to injections!!!

So this week craft wise I have done a bit more on my Simply Crochet Cowl Neck Poncho and now need to decide what the next few colours should be as there are only about 6 – 8 rows left to do!!

Poncho – not sure about the grassy green wool?

also I’m not sure whether to add another pink row or leave it as just a pop of one? Any suggestions gratefully received!

Now over to Handmade Monday Linky Party again!

Granny Squares and Ponchos!

Posted on 18 January, 2015 by patchworkfairy

In keeping with new year and new resolutions/ways of working etc I am trying to finish all my WiPs before I start anything else! This was been going well as I have finished my small granny square blanket and am getting well on the way with my Simply Crochet Poncho! However today I have had great news!!!! News I have been hoping for but trying not to get too fixated. ….. So … Well – after two grandsons I am now going to get a granddaughter!

So now it’s pink pink pink all the way! Pink Quilt! Pink Blankets Pink Dresses! I won’t make everything in pink as my daughter is not a pink fiend at all but it will be so nice to make some things in pinks and purples and flowers and hearts!

Here is my Granny Square blanket – it is now going to be a pram blanket!

Half completed poncho!

And here is where I am up to with my Simply Crochet Poncho – the cowl neck is quite loose which is what I wanted and the length is now the finished length according to the pattern but I am going to make it longer. I hope to be able to show the finished item by next week! Just need to decide on the remaining colours! So that leaves me with the difficult path of finishing off the poncho before crocheting a little baby dress! Will I manage it? No idea – but next week I should have something done to show anyway

Over now to Handmade Monday and it’s quite sad as I have just read that it will be the last one! I have enjoyed being part of this and will miss it! Hope to see some of you around in blogland though!