2018 – Page 3 – Crochet blog

My Yarny Knitting Adventure part 2…

Published on April 8, 2018April 8, 2018 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin29 Comments

In which I progress to pearl stitch…

I have knitted religiously every day this week; just a little bit here and there. I read about the brain having ‘muscle memory’ and the importance of repetition when learning something new. If only knitting practice or crochet for that matter toned the physical muscles…I would be a goddess by now!

So I have knitted more squares using the ‘knit’ stitch and I have sorted out the wibbly edge. I am pleased with my tension and I am not getting a random extra stitch anymore. I can cast on and off all by myself too. I have learnt that this knit stitch is also called garter stitch and that when the fabric is separated you have an umbrella and a v underneath…but to count the stitches is tricky. I am doing 40 rows not 20 like I thought!

This is my weeks work…

On Friday evening my Mom came round with some more wine…(there is a theme here isn’t there?) and taught me how to pearl.

Now as far as I can tell this is just backward knit stitch, but I love it. It gives a flatter fabric which makes my heart flutter a little bit. I thought I would be able to make squares just from pearl stitches but Mom explained that I could not do this and would need to make squares to practice that were made up of a row of knit stitch followed by a row of pearl stitch; repeated…also known as ‘stocking stitch’.

I love that in knitting there is a term like stocking stitch or garter stitch which refers to a pattern repeat…I don’t think crochet does this so well.

Anyway, this is my first attempt at stocking stitch…can you notice the BIG whoops? Yes, I lost track of my rows and must have pearled or knitted two rows together and my flatter pearl rows jumped over to the bumpier knit side! Oh well! It may have been the wine.

I still can’t count the rows…it is so difficult to count the rows.

Any advice gladly welcome?

xxxxx

part 1 of my knitting adventure is just here

My Yarny Knitting Adventure part 1…

Published on April 2, 2018 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin40 Comments

I can not knit.

I have tried before, but it has not ended well. For a while now I have thought about knitting, but then I would recall my previous attempts and squash any thought I had.

But, just the other week I spied the most gorgeous pair of fair isle mitts I ever did see and I thought I must learn to knit. Then I thought of my previous attempts at knitting and instead of squashing that thought…I thought… I SHOULD really learn to knit. Of course, me being me I have set my heart on fair isle. I know it is most complicated and tricky, but it is also absolutely beautiful. And so, here I am documenting part 1 of my yarny knitting adventure.

If you have read my previous post you will know that there is still much crochet going on here at the nest too and that will continue as always.

So, yesterday afternoon after Easter Sunday dinner at my parents house, my Mom fetched her hoard of knitting needles and sorted me a pair of 4mm needles…an odd pair, but a pair non the less.

Mom, then showed me how to cast on and do a knit stitch. 20 stitches per row and set me the task of knitting 20 rows.

I found the knit stitch reassuringly satisfying as the needles made a gentle clicking sound and of course the familiar feel of the yarn in my hands was heart warming. The 21st stitch that appeared from no where was baffling as was the loopy first stitch in every row.

I must also stress the responsibility of holding 20 (sometimes 21) stitches on the needle all at the same time instead of the 1 stitch in crochet required much concentration…which after 3 large glasses of wine was a challenge I must confess. After a good nights sleep I continued with my task until I noticed something didn’t look quite right, see…

Now, I still am not quite sure what had happened here, but I also couldn’t just leave it. So I ripped the rows back

recaptured the 20 little stitches and continued until I could count 19 rows and 20 stitches on the needle. Now I thought do I knit another row to make 20 rows or do the stitches on the needle count as row 20 already??? Cue Mom and another cup of tea and a cast off lesson to!

I am so pleased, but I still have to get this knit stitch nailed.

I still need to be able to cast on and knit on my own, visually recognise the stitch so that I can recognise when the stitch is not right. I need to fix the wibbly edge and cast off on my own too. So I plan on knitting some more knit stitch squares before progressing to pearling.

So, I can no longer say I can’t knit, instead I can now say I am learning to knit.

xxxxx

crochet blanket

PHD’s a plenty…

Published on March 31, 2018April 1, 2018 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin6 Comments

I have so many projects half done or PHD’s as I like to call them and I am enjoying hooking them all. The problem has been deciding which one to pick up and which one to put down!

I have my Lazy Days broomstick lace blanket which is just divine to hook, but I have to keep count, so this is best hooked when I’m on my own. It has grown considerably since it was snapped here and looks more like this now…

It is so pretty.

I have decorated my bedroom now, so I really must make this a priority to finish.

The next PHD is this beauty…

crochet blanket — crochet and coffee

Technically, this is a PHD, but it is also up to date as it is being hooked as a CAL (crochet a long) blanket, so this super #seasidestashbusting blanket has x4rows added to it each week and is growing fast. You can read about it just here.

spiked stitch baby blanket — making stash pretty…

Then, there is this lovely spiked stitch baby blanket, which I don’t think I have introduced you to yet. I will write a post about it soon complete with pattern details I promise. The important detail for now is I’m using up stash…yes, I’m on a mission!

I am still plodding on with my Charming Harbour blanket, although progress is slow as the lure of the brighter colour blankets call louder to me. However, this quiet and unassuming blanket thrills me once it is on my lap, it’s simplicity and beauty seduces me and I feel I should apologise to it for leaving it alone for so long.

Charming Harbour crochet blanket for him by ayarnyrobin — Charming Harbour blanket in progress…

So, that’s four blankets on the go. I also have a flower fiesta commission that I should be getting along with. I have made a start…but I also have lots more to get done. Then there is a little baby romper that I need to start and several baby hats too!

You may have noticed some funny business going on here over the last week too…apologies if you have been affected. I have had a little reorganisation of this space and now have some of my patterns featuring at the top of the main page. I have also finally got my own logo which I am super pleased with.

I am also about to launch a new series called

‘My Yarny Knitting Adventure’

I can’t resist any longer and I have set myself the challenge of learning to knit. I am collecting my knitting needles from my Mom tomorrow and I’m going to see what happens, so look out for a lot of dropped stitches and some yarny tangles!

I also have a pattern release due out mid April. It is a free pattern for a beautiful crochet baby blanket, I just need to put the component pieces together…..

Wow, that seems like rather a lot now that I have written it down all in one place…I had better pull my hook out!

Have a great weekend.

xxxxx

yarn a long March

Yarn a long Sunday #4

Published on March 25, 2018March 24, 2018 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin6 Comments

Well this is the last yarn a long Sunday in this March series. It feels like ‘blink and you will have missed it!’

Easter has hurtled at us and March is almost through!

Thank you so much for last weeks natter…I loved chatting with you about life’s little motto’s. I found it quite inspirational and have carried them with me through this week…not always successfully, but I have tried.

If you are not quite sure what I’m on about you can check out last weeks comment thread just here.

You can find week 1’s ‘Why do you craft, crochet, knit?’ yarn a long, just here

and week 2’s ‘How to fix a crochet blanket’ just here …

just in case you wanted to catch up and of course you can still join in with any of them.

If you are returning then welcome back…and thank you.

Now, as this is our last yarn a long for now, this week’s topic is

‘Ask me a question…yes you can ask me anything!’

Go on don’t be shy!

xxxxx

broomstick crochet balnket

It Just happened…

Published on March 20, 2018March 20, 2018 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin26 Comments

broomstick crochet balnket — It just happened…honest!

I have a small confession for which I hold my temporary insomnia completely responsible. I have started yet another crochet blanket. But, in my defence it is a gorgeous broomstick crochet, and in a beautiful wild rose blush and it’s for my new bedroom.

So, that’s ok.

It is!…just look at it on a chunky size 22 needle.

It has been my weekend love and has been a welcome distraction from the snow and freezing temperatures; and it grows quickly too.

This blanket is so pretty and feminine and uses a very old stitch. Traditionally, hooked over a broomstick handle, hence the name. It is a little undignified, sat with a huge needle between your legs whilst you anchor the stitches over that size 22!!

Not really one to take to the coffee shop if you catch my drift!

So that is three blankets on the hook now…my seaside stashbusting blanket is all up to date, you can check it out just here and my Charming Harbour blanket is making steady progress too.

I have also been really enjoying the ‘yarn – a – long’ series which has been running each Sunday through March. There is still time to join in with the chatter, last Sundays is just here.

Enjoy the rest of your week whatever you have planned.

xxxxx

yarn a long March

Yarn a long Sunday #3

Published on March 18, 2018March 14, 2018 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin12 Comments

Welcome to the third yarn a long Sunday…March is certainly flying by!

Thank you so much for last weeks natter…I really enjoyed your suggestions and helpful thoughts about how to fix my unravelled grannies…I think the general consensus was leave longer tails and weave them in more thoroughly!!!

If this is your first time here, firstly welcome.

You can find week 1 yarn a long just here

and last weeks just here

just in case you want to catch up and of course you can still join in with any of them.

If you are returning then welcome back…and thank you.

Now, this weeks yarn a long is based upon one of my life mottos

I have loved this quote for a long time; I know some people say to me why would you want to jump out of a window? Mr. R included…he is not a fan!

But to me the sentiment behind these words is extremely powerful. I guess no one would jump out of a window given the choice…well most people wouldn’t. I’m guessing the window is high up…if you have to grow wings on the way down, then there is a bit of a free fall one would assume.

Jumping out of a window is a last resort, it’s desperate, it’s uncomfortable and frightening and your on your own. I have found it is in these places in life, in the struggle, in the heartache, in the mess, that you find a strength you did not know you had…your wings if you will.

For me my faith soars and the thing with wings is… you can fly. And if you can fly then you can flutter higher than any window you have to jump out of, you can rise and swoop in freedom.

So, I cling at times to this Ray Bradbury quote and at other times I am motivated by it and occasionally I soar, and often I just seem to flap about like mad!

Do you have any life motto’s I’d love for you to share in the comments thread below.

xxxxx

#seasidestashbustingblanket weeks 5 - 8

#seasidestashbustingblanket weeks 5 – 8

Published on March 14, 2018 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin19 Comments

I thought you might like a little update on the slow CAL (crochet a long) I am participating in which is being hosted by coastal crochet…details of weeks 1 – 4 are just here. You may have seen it across social media with the #seasidestashbustingblanket.

#seasidestashbustingblanket — mixed stitches…

There are several things I am enjoying about this CAL. The first of which is the pace. Eleonara, is releasing just four rows a week; two on a Monday and two on a Friday and so it feels very relaxed.

#seasidestashbustingblanket — as approved by little Jess

The second little gem is that I am busting my stash! The CAL’s focus is using up what you already have and so this blanket is being made entirely from stash. I have a lot of stash, not as much as some, but too much to be just lying idle. I feel like I am achieving something very positive using up my hoard and turning my treasure into usable wealth.

The third pleasure is the online community element of this CAL. I have met and chatted with so many talented ladies and gentleman and have been inspired and encouraged. It never ceases to amaze me how folk can hook the same pattern and yet the different colour choices make it look so different.

Creativity…I just love it!

#seasidestashbustingblanket — week 8

Eleonora, has called it her seaside blanket because she lives by the sea and takes her inspiration from her surroundings and therefore that is reflected in her colour choices. It made me smile when she introduced pink into her blanket… stating she new she would have to as it was in her stash. Eleonora, likened it to strawberry icecream on the beach, which I liked a lot.

It got me thinking about the colours in my blanket and what they reminded me of and after some thought I think they remind me of a stormy sunset.

So I am going to call this my Stormy Sunset blanket…what do you think?

xxxxx

yarn a long March

Yarn a long Sunday #2

Published on March 11, 2018March 8, 2018 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin20 Comments

Welcome to the second yarn a long Sunday…I hope you have grabbed yourself a coffee or something else to drink. Last week’s yarn a long was all about why you crochet, knit, craft… and I shared my story of post natal depression.

Thank you for sharing your stories. I think the two common elements were overwhelmingly how crochet links us with our memories of our older relatives such as grandparents and the importance of passing skills down through the generations. Secondly, how crochet and creativity links with easing stress and impacts upon our wellbeing. I also enjoyed exploring new to me blogs too!

If you want to read last weeks thread you can access it just here.

Todays yarn a long is about your help: Just take a look at this

This is my 100patch granny and some of the granny’s have come unravelled…

x2 questions really…

Why is this happening?

and

How can I fix it?

It’s making me reluctant to start another modular blanket and I so want to, but I wan’t it to stand the test of time too!

Pearls of wisdom welcome in the comments thread below.

xxxxx

#yarnlovechallenge

#yarnlovechallenge February round up

Published on March 6, 2018March 4, 2018 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin4 Comments

February #yarnlovechallenge photos all in one place.

This was so much fun and a challenge too.

days 1 – 4

days 5 – 8

days 9 – 12

days 13 -16

days 17 – 20

days 21 – 24

days 25 – 28

I’m going to miss my little daily challenge!

xxxxx

yarn a long March

Yarn a long Sunday #1

Published on March 4, 2018March 3, 2018 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin26 Comments

Yay…Welcome to the first yarn a long Sunday…If you have just stumbled here by accident, I do hope you will stay for a while and join in too. I am a teensy bit anxious about this to be honest as I have not done anything like this before and I’m worried no one will join in, although I have had some very positive feedback…thank you if that was you…you will know who you are.

The purpose of my yarn a long is to get to know you a little better and you I; and so I am hoping that you will join in with me by commenting in the thread below. My hope is you will also get to know each other a little better too and discover new blogs and other such yarny lovliness.

So, shall we begin… Todays yarn a long is:

‘Why do you craft…crochet…knit?

Shall I start?

I have wanted to write about this for a while because crochet has become my default…it is almost like my reset button. I was introduced to crochet a long time ago now; about 8 months after my youngest Robin entered the world and I was suffering with post natal depression. My Health Visitor was great and along with other structured support suggested I attend a local group of Momma’s that ate cake and drank coffee and crafted…well she had me at cake!

An elderly lady named Eileen, came along soon after I joined and she taught me how to hold a crochet hook and chain stitches. There was something very soothing about the rhythm of making those chains and before long Eileen, had me making treble crochet stitches (double crochet stitches if you use American terminology). Those first stitches were far too tight and I got frustrated easily, but the company was healing and Eileen, was patient and kind and the cake tasted good! I must have swatched 20 or more uneven little squares before it clicked…I’m a slow learner…but, when it did, click that was, I made a giant granny square blanket for my boys. We still have that blanket today and do you know I have never taken a photo of it, because it isn’t well hooked or perfect or in great colours… but it is in the colours they chose! My boys still use it though and who knew that it would lead me on the most wonderful hooky adventure.

I have taken a photo of that 1st blanket and here is the exclusive just for you… but don’t look too closely!

That was nearly a decade ago and since then I have immersed myself in learning new stitches… thank you to video tutorials, blogs, books, magazines and good old trial and error. I have also immersed myself in yarn and lots of it!!

Crochet saved my mental health back then along with some good medical support and the love of an amazing family and crochet continues to soothe me still in the beautiful chaos of life…

Thanks to a tuned in Health Visitor and Eileen.

‘Why do you craft…crochet…knit?

I’d love it if you would share…

xxxxx