How to crochet a corner to corner treble square

As seen on https://www.facebook.com/TutorialCrochet?fref=ts

N.B. This square is worked back and forth around two sides starting from the bottom left corner.
Tip: tweak the square into shape every couple of rows and try not to work too tightly especially at the beginning.

Abbreviations:
Ch=chain
ss=slip stitch
sk=skip
tr=treble

To begin: Work 4ch and join with a ss to form a ring

Row 1: 3ch, [2tr, ch2, 3tr] into the ring, turn.
Row 2: 3ch (counts as tr here and throughout), sk first tr, 1tr into each of the next 2tr, [2tr, 2ch, 2tr] into 2ch space (corner made), 1tr into each of the next 2tr, 1tr into 3rd of 3ch, turn.
Row 3: 3ch, sk 1tr, 1tr into each of the next 4tr, [2tr, 2ch, 2tr] into 2ch space (corner made), 1tr into each of the next 4tr, 1tr into 3rd of 3ch, turn.
Row 4: 3ch, sk 1tr, 1tr into each of the next 6tr, [2tr, 2ch, 2tr] into 2ch space (corner made), 1tr into next 6tr, 1tr into 3rd of 3ch, turn.

Continuing to grow the corner to corner square in this way, working increasing number of trebles along two sides and [2tr, 2ch, 2tr] into the corner until it reaches the desired size.


Happy crocheting!

How to customize your boyfriend's T-shirt

Take an big T-shirt, just make sure it has still plenty of life in it.  No point putting all the work into a pilled, faded number that's been washed too many times.  Charity shops are great for souvenir T-shirts, tees that have been brought back from holiday which no one wants to wear, Coca-Cola, Yellowstone Park, Mickey Mouse - who'd wear that?  So they hit the charity shops brand new and ready for you!

Neil's T-shirt has plenty of wear in it and is a gorgeous colour

Ready? Take your scissors and cut off those sleeves.  Just leave approx 1cm around the existing seam.  We're making a muscle T-shirt style here.

Sleeves are hacked off at speed - such fun to do!

I pinned some darts into position both front and back.  I  tacked the top side loosely so that I could remove the pins and then back-stitched the darts on the inside.

Darts are "pinches" of fabric which add shape to a flat piece of fabric

I turned the sleeve edging under and ran a line of back stitching all the way around approx half a centimetre from the edge.  The sleeves gaped quite a bit, so I stitched them shut a little and added two small decorative buttons to conceal the stitches.

Summery and unusual - to say the least!

I also added a button at the top edge of each shoulder.  The overall effect is a little crude for close inspection, but on the whole I like being able to wear my beau's old T-shirt.  I really like it on him, love the colour and I can't wait for him to come home to see what I did today!

I made a few changes to your T-shirt, honey. Hope you don't mind!

Artist review #1: Kim Davies of Victoriana Vintage Floral Boutique

In my first ever artist review I've chosen Kim Davies of Victoriana Vintage Floral Boutique, Whitehead.

I've chosen Kim firstly because I knew she was up for it!  Everyone loves talking about themselves, but not everyone is willing to be honest enough to bare all.   She wasn't too keen on having her picture taken just after dawn but, true professional that she is, Kim agreed to a couple of impromptu early morning snaps.

Secondly, I chose Kim to review first because I liked her instantly the moment I stepped into her shop just over a year ago.  Mum and I were treated like old friends, made to feel completely at ease in her beautiful shop with no obligation to buy.  Kim is such a natural person, just like her flowers.  I can honestly say without ulterior motive that her flower shop is the nicest I've ever come across on my travels - and that's down to Kim, yes, but also the other unusual vintage items and handicrafts on sale which she has selected with care.  A perfect combination of beauty and history you can only find in Kim's shop.

Mum and I visit Kim's whenever we can.  One very fond memory is of buying my mum a voucher for her to select her own bouquet of country flowers one by one.  Mum loved it - she was in her element - and it was far less expensive than a pre-wrapped bunch from the garage.  For £5-£10 you can totally spoil yourself - no excuse required!

Tell us a bit about yourself, Kim:

My name is Kim Davies.  I'm owner of Victoriana Floral Boutique and Vintage Home in Whitehead. Our website is www.victorianafloral.co.uk.

How did you get started?

How have your life experiences shaped your work?

I was made redundant after 20+ years in the Banking and Insurance world and decided to go for a change of career. I've always been interested in growing and arranging flowers. My Mum would say when she was looking for me as a child I was always in the garden picking and arranging flowers to give to people. I also have a love of old items, vintage treasures and when I loved in London spent lots of weekends trawling the markets for unusual pieces for my home. It was inevitable really that these two great loves of mine would eventually come together.

What pieces of your work are you particularly proud of?

I am particularly proud of the wedding work I do. Every wedding is so personal and individual and it is truly a privilege to be part of someone special day.

As I worked within the customer facing industry for so long customer service is paramount to me. It has shaped the way I do things from initial meetings with Brides for wedding consultations to dealing with bereaved family members who have lost loved ones. I always try and show empathy and support and make the client feel as comfortable as possible.

How do you handle criticism?

I think criticism is welcomed in Victoriana. If there are aspects of our work or service which can be improved on we need to learn form that. However no one likes criticism especially when we try so hard to make everything we do as perfect as possible. We need to see it as a learning opportunity.

How do you stay inspired?

I stay inspired by reading and researching a lot. There are lots of new ideas posted on the internet by people at the fore front of the florist industry. I generally use the world around me and nature as my inspiration and try to recreate some of the things I see in my floral arrangements.

Which artists do you look up to?

We're lucky here in Northern Ireland as we have some fabulous florists working here. Two of my faves are Karen in House of Elliott http://houseofelliottflowers.co.uk, Lisburn and Jill in The Stables Flower Company Coleraine http://www.thestablesflowercompany.com. They have a lovely loose style to their work. Further afield I love Paul Thomas Flowers http://www.paulthomasflowers.co.uk, Jay Archer Floral Design http://www.jayarcherfloraldesign.com and McQueens http://www.mcqueens.co.uk. Again all a beautiful loose style using great colour palettes.

What are your hobbies?

I don't have a lot of time for hobbies as the shop keeps me busy but when I have time off I love being in the garden amongst my cut flower and vegetable beds. I also keep hens and ducks and enjoy watching them following me about the garden. A special treat is sourcing vintage items from Antique fairs in England when I go to visit friends.

Do you experiment with other art forms?

I have been known to make some clothes form my children when they were smaller and I enjoy doing the odd wee bit of knitting. I have also decoupaged and painted furniture for my house.

In what way do you use the internet for your craft?

I use the internet a lot for my business, both in promoting it through my facebook page and website and I also write a regular blog about what's happening in my flowery world. I use the internet to look at what else is going on in the florist industry and with my competition.

What advice would you give anyone considering crafting full time?

Advice for someone wanting to turn their craft into a business would be do your research, see what else is out there, promote yourself through facebook. Be original. Don't duplicate other people's ideas, believe in yourself and just go for it!

Where do you see your craft taking you in the future?

I would like to see myself becoming the number one choice for floral designs for those getting married or having a celebration in Northern Ireland who want something original and quirky. If I achieve this then who knows what's next......?

Contact Kim directly:

Telephone: 07740721799 

Email: www.victorianafloral.co.uk

Website: www.victorianafloral.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/www.victorianafloral.co.uk?fref=ts

This is the first of a series of Artist Reviews I'm working on.  I'd like to thank Kim for being so generous with her interview and wish her every success with her beautiful, beautiful shop! I hope you get the chance to visit and treat yourself to a bouquet of flowers.

The right way to choose yarn

Choosing yarn for a new project is not as simple as just going to a yarn shop.  Walking into the Mecca of available yarns could lead to option paralysis: not being able to decide what to pick. Or it could even see you skipping home with a dozen different yarns and no idea what to make!

Lighthouse Yarns, Whitehead

My first step is usually to select the stitch pattern itself.  For this, I consult one of the various "stitch bibles" I own, such as "The Finer Edge" by Kristin Omdahl.  

The Finer Edge by Kristin Omdahl

My current favourite is "Handbook of Crochet Stitches" by Betty Barnden.  It has over 200 various stitches to choose from with great colour images, written instructions and charts. I happen to love charts and find them incredibly easy to follow. Worth a whole blog in itself!

It's important to select the right type of stitch. More often than not, it's the stitch which determines what I make.  If I'm making a quick and colourful project, I'll choose a fairly dense and close stitch, such as Woven Stitch (page 66) or Starburst Stitch (page 85).  Because there are no gaps between the stitches, they produce a perfect fabric for sturdier projects like a handbag, pillow cover or hat.

"Winter Picnic" crocheted handbag by Nancy Said 

"Woodland Beret" by Nancy Said

Alternatively, if I've had a good day teaching and fancy challenging myself - as I'm always recommending my students! - I'll look for a more complicated, lacier stitch such as Boxes and Bows (page 110), Sea Stitch (page 112) or my new favourite Daisy Lace (page 120).  These lacy stitches are created with lots of spaces, making them better suited to light and loose fabrics such as scarves, shawls and small blankets.

"A Romantic Affair" crocheted shawl by Nancy Said

So, stitch decided, I head up to my yarn room and search for the ideal yarn.  Colour and weight are vitally important.  There's no point in making lace in a chunky yarn.  As fun as it sounds, it doesn't work, doesn't sell.  That's my experience.  Maybe it's because the work remains stiff, I'm not sure.  Try it if you don't agree and please share your results.  I'm happy to stand corrected, especially since at the time I thought I was the one who invented chunky lace!

"Scarlet" knitted wrap by Nancy Said

Choosing the yarn, by now I probably have a good idea what colour I want to use.  I'll have seen something in a magazine, or spotted someone on the street that's inspired me.  In the case of the dense stitches, I'll be able to work different coloured motifs or stripes, for example.  Potentially then I'm hoping to find a few balls of similar weight yarn in complementary or contrasting colours.

"Pansies" crocheted handbag by Nancy Said

If I've chosen to run with lacework, then I'm searching for a larger quantity of a finer yarn, double knitting or finer.  Lacework is best expressed in a single colour to show off the stitches, although some lovely results can be achieved in variegated yarns.

"Angel Delight" crocheted scarf by Nancy Said

This is where husbands and boyfriends get a bit confused.  Because no matter how plenteous and luxuriant the stash, it may yet fail to yield just the right colours or quantity.  Now this is where the yarn shop comes in.  You've seen what you've got, you know what you have not, and you definitely need to get started! Therefore the next logical step is to splash a bit of cash down at your local.  (Oh, shucks.)

Nancy Said

It's all right to travel out of town if you've heard of a new wool shop just opened.  Or if you know the one two hours' drive away is a premier stockiest of a designer yarn.  Perfectly acceptable.  This is what we do.  We get the right thing.  Once inside the wool shop, all doubt will be allayed.  We feel swaddled by the soft cocoons of colour, the soothing tones of the shop assistant, other customers with whom we share the plight.  And we might even buy a few balls of the wrong thing to extend our obviously wanting stash.  After all, we don't ever want to run out, do we?

Nancy Said

How to knit bunting

Easy Knitted Bunting

Abbreviations:
foll following
k knit
st(s) stitches
g st garter stitch (knit all rows)
kf&b knit into the front and back of stitch


Begin: Using 4mm needles and double knitting (Dk) yarn, cast on 2 sts

*Knit 3 rows in garter stitch (knit all rows)
Next row and every foll 4th row: Kf&b into the first st, K to the last st, Kf&b*
Rep these 4 rows from * to * until 40 sts on the needle.
Knit 3 rows in garter stitch.
Cast off.
Sew in all ends neatly.

N.B. If you're helping us make reams of purple bunting for the Children Hospice 26 July 2014 - 10 August 2014, we thank you so much!
Please send your bunting to Lighthouse Yarns, c/o The Bank House, 12 Edward Road, Whitehead, BT38 9QB.  

How to crochet bunting

We urgently need purple bunting, metres and metres of it! In order to raise money for the Northern Ireland Children's Hospice, Whitehead is staging "Operation Purple" during their annual Community Festival July 26 - August 10 2014.  Every business will wrap their shop in purple bunting to attract attention and raise vital funds for this important charity.  The bunting can be bought or handmade and since we run a wool shop we thought it would be perfect to use knitted and crocheted bunting. I've written a pattern and tutorial for anyone interested in helping us. We would be very grateful if you could send us even one piece. Our shop address is Lighthouse Yarns, c/o The Bank House, 12 Edward Road, Whitehead, BT38 9QB, Northern Ireland.

Thank you so much for helping!

Based on Double Knitting yarn and 4mm hook
(N.B. granny blocks are traditionally made from 3tr into each space.  However, in the triangle it's best to work 4tr into each space to avoid its curling up)

Foundation Ring: Work 4ch and join with a ss to form a ring

Round 1: 6ch (counts as 1tr, 3ch), [4tr into the ring, 3ch] twice, 3tr into the ring, join with ss into 3rd of 6ch (3 blocks and 3 corner spaces made)

Round 2: Ss into the next corner space, 6ch (counts as 1tr, 3ch), 4tr into the same sp, *1ch, [4tr, 3ch, 4tr] into next 3ch sp (corner made); rep from * once more, 1ch, 3tr into same sp as beg 6ch, join with ss into 3rd of 6ch

Round 3: Ss into the next corner space, 6ch (counts as 1tr, 3ch), 4tr into the same sp, *1ch, 4tr into the next 1ch sp, 1ch, [4tr, 3ch, 4tr] into the next corner sp, rep from * once more, 1ch, 4tr into the next 1ch sp, 1ch, 3tr into same sp as beg 6ch, join with ss into 3rd of 6ch

Work three more rounds in this way, working [4tr, 1ch] into each 1ch space along the sides and [4tr, 3ch, 4tr] into each corner space. 

Fasten off with a slip stitch into corner space.

'Favela' crocheted handbag - the inspiration behind the product

Getting inspired by pictures and images

One of my favourite weekend pursuits is walking to the corner shop and buying the Sunday Times.  It's quite a heavy bundle.  The first thing I do on returning home is throw everything away except the glossy supplements.  I'm a crochet addict so I have very little time. I perch on the nearest chair, stool or table, tear open the cellophane wrapper and sniff out the Style and Culture magazines. Ah, Sundays.

In about five minutes I've flicked through all the pictures, been inspired, disappointed and educated in equal measure and normally the magazines lie around the kitchen until bin day on Friday.

This is where my story differs.  

On this day, there's a photo of one of Rio's largest favelas.  A section about Beckham is in there too, his humbling trip around Brazil's rainforest. But it's the photograph which grabs me:

I love aerial views in general, but there was something special about the geometric patterns places in random fashion which piqued my creativity.  I saw depth of colour, even though the overall image is drab.  Hyacinth blue, navy, lemon, sap green, cream, mauve as well as beige, the shade of straw matting.  Nothing would do that I didn't rush to my yarn stash and try some on.

At this stage I was missing the mauve but I got straight to it and made my first few squares.  

I knew from the start it would have to be a patchwork of shapes and colours.  How else to create all those rooftops, windows and balconies.  I also knew it would have to look homely, soft and inviting.  These were people's homes after all, a community of wives and children, husbands and shop keepers, schools and churches.  Looking closely at the picture I could see people on the rooftops.  Wondering what they were doing right at that moment cranked up production.  It was as though each square I crocheted was a home of its own. And yes, I do know how weird that sounds.

Soon, I chose the right shade of mauve to create the shadows of late afternoon and began to experiment with positioning of the squares.

I was looking for directional sunlight and trying to remake some of the images, albeit very loosely on the canvas.  I discovered it wasn't going to work out like that.  I didn't like some of the juxtaposition of colours and textures.  Believe it or not, at this stage I still didn't know what I was making and it was difficult to distance myself from the favela to view what I was making as a new product.

The moment my mind made that switch though, it was game on!  Nancy came out to play:

Getting creative with surface crochet in a sparkling thread allowed me to draw on the windows, drain pipes and doorways and add the bright glitter of sunlight to the soft, matt fabric.  It began to feel more Nancy-like, something real that consumers would see as a desirable accessory.  The inspiration, so vital at the start, now conceded to its fate.

I finally knew what I was making.  The squares I'd already joined together had to be turned 90' clockwise. Light and shade, structure and architecture now no longer mattered.  And just as well, for the whole product took on renewed impetus.  The detail at the top, worked in brown and navy, became windows of tower blocks overlooking the favela - not in the photo but implied by our top-down view.

There was nothing left now but to choose the handles and lining. 

I was hoping for a patterned lining, something equally detailed to reinforce the theme.  But in the end, the plain silk lining won out, more successful because it enhanced the bag's highly textured exterior and was also luminous, adding some South American sunshine.

I chose the wooden handles from a recycled handbag.  I love their length, texture and shape.  The fact that they are recycled plays to the likely reality of life in the slums were everything is kept, preserved and reused.

I'm truly surprised and delighted with the finished result, a bag so soft and cheerful in spite of itself.  This project has completely change my approach to production and I must say, I love it!

Mystery Knit-A-Long #1

Mystery Knit-A-Long #1

7 July – 22 August 2014

You will need:

• 1x skein Araucania “Botany Lace” Extra fine merino wool Col (A) 100g/410m Lace weight
• 100g Dk weight contrast Col (B) Dk weight (preferably in a bright, clashing, contrast colour!)
• 4mm straight knitting needles
• 6x 2cm diameter buttons
• Special stitches: yo = yarn over needle from front to back the number of times indicated

To begin: Cast on 52st in colour A.
Row 1: *[K1, P1] rep from * to end
Row 2: *[P1, K1] rep from * to end
These two rows form moss stitch. Continue in moss stitch for eight more rows.

Row 11: (RS): (Drop colour A and join in Colour B) Knit to end of row.
Row 12: (still in colour B): Knit to end of row. Cut yarn B.

Row13-20: (Lift up colour A) knit eight rows.

Row 21:  (Drop colour A and join in Colour B) Knit to end of row.
Row 22: (Still in colour B) Knit
Row 23: (Still in colour B) K8, [yo1, K1] three times, [yo2, K1] three times, [yo3, K1] three times, [yo2, K1] three times, [yo1, K1] three times, knit to end of row.
Row 24: (still in colour B): Knit to end, dropping all yarn overs as you go, being careful not to drop actual stitches.  Give a gentle tug downwards on the row below to even out the dropped stitches. (52st)
Row 25: (Drop colour B and lift up colour A, knit to end of row.
Rows 26: (Still in colour A) Knit
Row 27: (Drop colour A and lift up Colour B) knit to end of row.
Row 28: (Still in colour B) Knit
Row 29: (still in colour B) K3, [yo2, K1], [yo3, K1] twice, [yo2, K1] twice, yo1, K1, knit to end of row.
Row 30: (still in colour B): Knit to end, dropping all yarn overs as you go.  Cut yarn B.

Rows 31-38: (Lift up colour A) Knit eight rows.
Row 39: (RS): (Drop colour A and join in Colour B) Knit to end of row.
Row 40: (still in colour B): Knit to end of row. Cut yarn B.
Rows 41-48: (Lift up colour A) knit eight rows.

Rows 21-48 form the pattern.
Repeat rows 21-48 until work measures approx 75cm along straight edge, ending on Row 40 BUT DO NOT CUT YARN.

Next row: (still in Colour B) K6, *[yo2, k8] repeat from * to end.
Next row: (still in colour B): Knit to end, dropping all yarn overs as you go.  Cut yarn B. (Six button holes made.)
Next row:  Lift up colour A, knit four more rows.
Cast off. 

To finish: Attach 6 buttons onto the moss stitch cast on edge, centred to the corresponding buttons holes created.  Button up all or some of the buttons.  N.B. the “dropped stitch” ends are to be considered the bottom of the work. Sew in all the ends.

***I hope you enjoyed knitting along to this mystery pattern! Remember to secretly share your finished images to ninacouser@gmail.com. To avoid spoiling the mystery for others, please DO NOT PUBLISH IMAGES ANY IMAGES UNTIL AFTER THE END OF THE EVENT (after 22 August 2014). We're looking forward to seeing your beautiful work!

Until next time!