CAL – Crochet blog

mixed stitch blanket

Seasidestashbusting blanket weeks 29 – 32

Published on October 2, 2018December 29, 2018 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin13 Comments

Here’s the penultimate update on the gorgeous

#seasidestashbustingblanket …

These rows were finished a little while ago and I am onto the border now…but, I wanted to show you my progress in chronological order.

I didn’t think this blanket would match any décor in the nest, since it is just made up of stash I had hiding under Little Robin’s bed, but it is looking fine on my bed…

and in the lounge…but to be honest it is so flipping lovely it would look amazing anywhere.

So, I’m off to finish the border and I will be back soon with the final post for this beautiful blanket.

xxxxx

seasidestashbustingblanket

Seasidestashbusting blanket weeks 25 – 28

Published on August 21, 2018October 2, 2018 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin2 Comments

I am still behind on my

#seasidestashbustingblanket …

I have just completed week 29 and I think the CAL is now up to week 31, so I really want to push on and catch up with this as the CAL is almost done. I think there may be a couple more weeks of rows before it is time to border and finish. So I am going to make this one of this week’s hooky priorities; especially since it has cooled down a lot around here. These weeks pictured contained some more filet crochet, bobbles and some more basket weave!

I am loving these colours there are 11 in total which I had in stash and they are stylecraft special dk. I did have to go a buy a ball of yarn yesterday as I was short and didn’t want to introduce a new colour so late into the blanket and I really felt that it should feature in some of the last rows. Other than that I am just picking from these yarn balls randomly, and I like the surprise of that.

I have been hooking some other little makes and have found some wonderful patterns and I will share those with you soon.

xxxxx

mixed stitch crochet blanket

Seasidestashbustingblanket weeks 20 – 24

Published on July 9, 2018July 9, 2018 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin10 Comments

Here’s just a little update on the lovely

#seasidestashbustingblanket …

I confess I have fallen a week behind with this CAL. I am laying the total blame for this at the feet of Gareth Southgate and the England world cup team for smashing history and those penalties…apologies if you are reading this in Columbia.

I am also totally going to blame the UK heatwave…the hottest and driest summer since 1976…which was also before I was born! It is glorious but it makes hooking blankets hot work. If you look closely at week 24’s photo you will see just what I have been hooking instead… but I will write a separate post all about that next time.

xxxxx

crochet blanket cal

seaside stash busting blanket weeks 17- 20

Published on June 9, 2018 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin8 Comments

I thought you might like another little update on the slow CAL (crochet a long) I’m participating in which is being hosted by the lovely Eleanora over at coastal crochet. You can also find lots of other amazing blankets and makers participating in this CAL across social media by searching #seasidestashbustingblanket.

You can read about my weeks 1 – 4 just here

and weeks 5 – 8 just here

weeks 9 – 12 here

and weeks 13 – 16 here

Here is how it has been growing…

Now, I’m off to catch up with the rows for week 21!

xxxxx

crochet mixed stitch blanket

seaside stash busting blanket weeks 13- 16

Published on May 15, 2018 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin9 Comments

I can’t believe that this blanket has been on my hook and in my life for four months. It is getting large enough now for me to throw it over my lap in the evenings and I thought you might like another photo update on my progress.

You can read about my weeks 1 – 4 just here

and my weeks 5 – 8 just here

and weeks 9 -12 just here

But let me show you weeks 13 – 16.

Now Weeks 13 -15 were just fine…

but week 16…

well it was basket weave and if you are a long time reader you may remember my last foray with basket weave…It looks great but I do not like hooking this stitch you can read why just here.

So it came as a very welcome relief to find out that the next stitches were the relaxing long wave stitches after the stressful basket weave!

If you want to find out more about this delightful slow CAL (crochet a long) which is being hosted by the lovely Eleanora hop over to her beautiful blog… Coastal Crochet. You can also find lots of other amazing blankets and makers participating in this CAL across social media by searching #seasidestashbustingblanket.

I‘m off to do another couple of rows now. I will be back soon to show you what else has been on my hook of late and I will also write an update about my yarny knitting adventure.

xxxxx

crochet al fresco

April crochet…

Published on April 24, 2018 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin8 Comments

Well the rain and the snow finally stopped for a little while and the sunshine made a cameo appearance last week.

It seems more rain and freezing temperatures are on there way again! But, the sunshine certainly influenced my hooking last week and I took my hook alfresco whenever I could. I have also enjoyed getting back outdoors and walking the dogs now my foot has finally healed.

Of course there were pit stops along the way!

I have also been keeping up to date with the seaside stashbusting CAL…this photo was taken at the trampoline park.

Not much has occurred on the knitting front, in fact it would be fairer to say nothing has happened. I am enjoying my hooking far too much to be slowed down by needles and I have a couple of commissions that I really must finish. One of which I can now show you…

Aren’t they just the sweetest?

I loved making these little baby shorts.

The pattern is by Mon Petit Violon Designs and I will definitely be hooking some more. I used Rico baby cotton soft yarn in a dk weight and a denim blue and finished them off with some little wooden buttons. Rico was a lovely yarn to hook with and has given a beautiful stitch definition to the garment. Of course it is soft enough for babies skin also and machine washable.

Finally, I just wanted to say a BIG thank you to everyone who has given me such encouraging feedback across my social media about the Sunshine Jelly Baby Blanket…

It has really made me smile.

Have a good week what ever you get up to

xxxxx

CROCHET MIXED STITCH BLANKET

seaside stash busting blanket weeks 9 – 12

Published on April 10, 2018April 11, 2018 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin27 Comments

I thought you might like another little update on the slow CAL (crochet a long) I’m participating in which is being hosted by the lovely Eleanora over at coastal crochet. You can also find lots of other amazing blankets and makers participating in this CAL across social media by searching #seasidestashbustingblanket.

You can read about my weeks 1 – 4 just here

and my weeks 5 – 8 just here

But let me show you weeks 9 – 12. I have enjoyed these weeks so much, hooking out and about in town

The blanket is certainly growing larger and no longer resembles a scarf…in fact it is way past scarf stage now and is handy for keeping my lap warm whilst I hook away.

I think this will be the last close up picture where the whole of the blanket will fit into frame.

I’m still ploughing through my stash too, so this makes me doubly thrilled with this blanket. I find I am really looking forward to every Monday and Friday when the next rows are released. I love the surprise of not knowing what the next set of rows will be.

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

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

#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

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