Category: colour

Sunday Shawl by Alia Bland

Sunday Shawl Love…

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin11 Comments

 

This is my Mellow Sunday Shawl by Alia Bland.

I want to start by telling you how amazing this is to hook, how simple, yet stunningly beautiful. 

I want to tell you how deliciously soft scheepjes merino is and how it creates such a gorgeous stitch definition. 

I want to shout with joy at just how happy I am with these amazing mellow colours; but that will all become obvious when you see the pictures! 

I started with this serene grey

lowry 604 Scheepjes merino soft…

This was a therapeutic hook, the subtle tone of the yarn, and the ease of the pattern made for a quick hook up of the main body.  I really enjoyed that each stitch was made in between the stitches of the previous row and not in the top of the stitches as is usual. 

My heart was skipping towards the next colour though.  A teal; and one of my favourite colours of all time.

Ansingh 643

Next a perfect pink…

Degas 632

This yarn is a dream, it is a dk weight, but it has a satisfying plumpness to it, making it pleasantly squashy!  This pale pink was followed  by an equally gorgeous spring green.

Kandinsky 625

The quick colour changes make this pattern good for the soul…you know how I love colour.

Van Gough 641

This mustard colour makes me very, very happy, but then so does this sky blue…

Magritte 614

And so this enjoyable colour changing border continued…

Beautiful Stitches Abounded…
squee…it is such a happy hook!

Until my heart near burst as the pattern instructed me to hook scallops and I politely  introduced this even paler pink.

Titian 647

Just as I was getting a little too giddy with these colours, the pattern rescued me with a tad more grey; sobering me and gently grounding me. 

I had a dilemma deciding on which colour to finish this charming shawl with…

in the end it had to be the mellow mustard (Van Gough 641).  

I have a lot of love for this shawl and this yarn, so excuse my indulgence in a few more photo’s. 

Details of the pattern and yarn, which I highly recommend   can be found by clicking on the links at the top of this post, but just in case you can’t be bothered they are just here to. 

xxxxx

Just as a footnote: this review contains my genuine opinions on this pattern and this yarn, for which I am not being paid.

Scheepjes merino soft yarn in

Kandinsky            625    50g

           Degas             632    50g

Van Gough            641   50g

          Titian              647   50g 

  MagrittE               614  50G

       Ansingh             643   50G

      Lowry                   604  250G

purchased from Woolwarehouse

Pattern:  The Sunday Shawl by Alia Bland.

#yarnlove challenge 2017

Favourite thing I’ve made…

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin2 Comments

Day 28 of

#yarnlovechallenge 

and this is the final day!! 

The theme for today is ‘favourite thing I’ve made’.  

Now really…do I have to choose? 

Ok…well just for today this is my favourite hook up,

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100 patch granny

because I adore the colours and that bobble edge border is just sooo super cute, and possibly the most addictive thing ever to hook.  Seriously, it should come with a warning!

xxxxx

 

#yarnlove challenge 2017

Blocking…

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin3 Comments

Day 27 of

#yarnlovechallenge 

and we are almost at the end now. 

The theme for today is ‘blocking’.  

pinning to block...
pinning to block…

Not my favourite part of the process, but certainly worthwhile.  These are my robin nest squares in the blocking phase.

xxxxx

#yarnlove challenge 2017

Newest stash…

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobinLeave a comment

Day 26 of

#yarnlovechallenge 

and we are almost at the end now. 

The theme for today is ‘newest stash’.

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This is luscious Scheepjes Merino Soft that was delivered just the other day by the fabulous folk over  at Woolwarehouse.  They have always  given a prompt and excellent service and have a fabulous range of yarns. 

This lovely collection of yarn is soon to be hooked up into the even lovlier Sunday Shawl.

 

#yarnlove challenge 2017

Gratitude…

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin2 Comments

Day 18 of

#yarnlovechallenge 

and it’s still not too late join in. 

The theme for today is ‘gratitude’.

yarnpom
yarnpom

A yarnpom…

the perfect way to express gratitude!

xxxxx

#yarnlove challenge 2017

Happy Colour…

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin5 Comments

Day 16 of

#yarnlovechallenge 

and it’s still not too late join in. 

The theme for today is ‘happy colour’.

I do not have a favourite colour as colour is inextricably linked to how I feel.  When I close my eyes I see wonderful colours and patterns. I even enjoy pinning colours.

Colour quite simply is in part the essence of joy for me.  And, whilst this is a true blessing…it makes the decision of choosing colours sometimes very difficult indeed. 

instagramcapture_cb640117-f4ce-4f39-813e-da7bc854082fThese are just some of my happy colours. 

xxxxx

I’ve Caught the Virus

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin15 Comments

The Virus Shawl bug, that is. 

top secret hooking!
top secret hooking! that can now be revealed…

The yarn is Scheepjes Invicta Colour – 972, a 4 ply fingering weight yarn that is 75% wool and 25% polyamide.  The colour way is just gorgeous and the yarn was easy to hook with.  Occasionally the length of yarn withered  thin, but remained usable nonetheless.

a perfect size shawl to snuggle with...
a perfect size shawl to snuggle with…

I adored the long colour repeats from turquoise blue into chocolate brown and sage green and couldn’t help get excited each time the colour change slipped over my hook…I don’t think I will ever get bored with the delight a colour changing yarn gives.

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A perfect Christmas present for my Mom…

The eyelets that form in sequenced linear fashion amazed me.  I couldn’t quite believe that a few trebles could create such a beautiful drape and fabric.  They reminded me so much of a peacocks tail feather that I had to name this virus shawl The Chocolate Peacock!

wp_20161224_14_47_44_prowp_20161224_14_48_53_proAll in all a beautiful hook up made all the more simple by following a youtube tutorial of which there are several, I really liked this one though

This pattern is all over the internet, I used this one on Ravelry as a free download. 

As for the yarn would I use it again…

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 yes, to make another virus shawl of course, but this time in beautiful sunset shades (colourway 959). 

I may possibly have developed a shawl addiction.

xxxxx

The grandma Mabel Tea Cosy, ayarnyrobin

Grandma Mabel Tea Cosy…Free Pattern.

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin7 Comments

captureThis is the second tea cosy in the Grandma collection, designed with a slight twist on an original theme to keep your teapot well dressed and looking fine.  It is fun and frilly and a little OTT… but that’s what I love…

 

Dedicated to the inspiration that was ‘Mabel‘

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  The pattern makes a tea cosy that fits a standard 4 cup teapot.

I used just under  50g of Stylecraft special dk yarn in colourway duck egg, lipstick, saffron, meadow, candyfloss and cloud.

You will also need approximately 40 buttons in similar colours and of  all different sizes which  were languishing in my button jar.

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Stitches used in this pattern refer to English terminology, however a conversion to US terminology is provided in brackets.

Ch – chain stitch 

slst – slip stitch

dc – double crochet ( single crochet)

dc tog – double crochet together (single crochet together)

You will also need:

a 4mm hook

a darning needle

scraps of yarn to use as temporary tie markers 

a stitch marker 

approximately 120cms of lace about 3cms wide

Top Tip: safety pins make excellent stitch markers! 

Ok, here we go…

Using meadow Ch 80 and join with a slst to form a circle (before completing the slst make sure chain is not twisted).

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It is a good idea to check at this point that the circle of chains fits around your teapot. (see end of pattern for instructions about adjusting pattern).

Row 1: Ch1 (mark with a stitch marker, does not count as a dc), dc in each ch around,

finish with a slst in ch marked with a stitch marker taking care that work is not twisted when completing the slst. (80dc).

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Row 2: Ch1 (remove stitch marker from previous row and place in this ch, does not count as a dc)

Dc in each st around, finishing with a slst in ch marked with a stitch marker. (80 dc).

 

Rows 3: repeat row 2, before joining with a slst in ch marked with st marker  (ie/ when you have the last 2 loops on your hook of the last st of the round – see photo)

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 join the lipstick (red) yarn and finish with a slst as shown below

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Rows 4 – 6: repeat row 2

wp_20161009_21_18_28_proWe are now going to place a tie marker (a temporary mark) to indicate the space for the handle hole.  Before you start the next row, take a small scrap of yarn in a contrasting colour and thread through st marked with the stitch marker. Tie a bow. 

Row 7: Ch1 (remove st marker from previous row and place in this ch, does not count as dc), slst in the same st as the tie marker and in next 4 sts, mark this last slst with a second tie marker. This indicates the space for hole for the handle.

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1dc in next 75sts around to stitch marker.  On 75th dc (last st)change to candyfloss (pink yarn) ie/ when last 2 loops on hook of the last dc as before.  Finish st with pink yarn, slstinto ch marked with st marker (75dc, 5 slst).

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Row 8: Ch 1 (counts as a dc), turn work,  1dc in next 74sts (this row should finish in the st above the st marked with the tie marker in the previous round. 

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Row 9: ch1 (counts as a dc) turn work, dc in next 74sts (75sts in total).  Change to sky blue yarn in last dc. 

Row 10: ch1 (counts as a dc) turn work, dc in next 74 sts (75sts in total). 

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Row 11: Repeat row 9, changing to saffron (yellow yarn) in last dc.  Row 12: (saffron) Repeat row 9. 

Row 13: Repeat row 9, changing to duck egg yarn in last dc. 

Row 14: ch1 (counts as dc), turn work, dc in next 19sts, slst in next 35sts, dcin next 20sts (40dc, 35slst, 75sts in total). 

Row 15: Repeat row 14.

wp_20161023_20_14_35_proRow 16: ch1 (counts as a dc), turn work, dc in next 19sts, dctogin next st (sts 21 and 22), slst in next 31sts, dctog in next st, dcin next 20sts (42dc, 31slst = 73sts in total).

Row 17: ch1 (counts as a dc) turn work, dc in next 20sts, slst in next 31sts, dc in next 21sts (73sts in total). 

Row 18: ch1 (counts as a dc), turn work, dc in next 19sts, dctog in next st (sts 21 and 22), slst in next 29sts, dctog in next st, dc in next 20sts (42dc, 29slst = 71sts in total). 

Row 19: ch1 (counts as a dc), turn work, dc in next 20sts, slst in next 29sts, dc in next 21sts (71sts in total).  It should be starting to look a little something like this…

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Row 20: Ch1 (counts as a dc) turn work, dc in next 19sts dctog in next st (sts 21 & 22), slst in next 27sts, dctog in next st, dc in next 20sts (42dc, 27slst = 69sts). 

Row 21: Ch1  (counts as a dc), turn work, dcin next 20sts, slst in next 27sts, dc in next 21sts (42dc, 27 slst = 69sts). 

Row 22: Ch1 (counts as a dc), turn work, dc in next 19sts, dctog in next st (sts 21 & 22), dctog in next st (sts 23 & 24), dc in next 21sts, dctog in next st, dctog in next st, dc in next 20sts (65sts). 

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Your cosy should be starting to take shape now!

Row 23: Ch1 (counts as a dc), turn, dc in next 19 sts,dctog in next st (sts 21 & 22), dc tog in next st (sts 23 & 24),dc in next 17sts, dctog in next st, dctog in next st, dc in next 20sts  (61sts). 

We return to working in the round in the next row. 

Row 24: Ch1 (counts as a dc) – mark with a st marker, turn, dc in next 2sts, dctog in next st, *dc in next 3sts,dctog in next st*, repeat * -* around, finishing with 1dc in last st, ch3 and slst into st marked with stitch marker.

new pattern coming soon

 Row 25: Ch1 (remove st marker from previous row and place in this ch, counts as a dc), dc in each st around, finishing with a slst in ch marked with stitch marker (52dc). 

Row 26: Ch1 (remove st marker from previous row and place in this ch, counts as a dc), dc in next st, dctog in next st, *dc in next 2 sts, dctog in next st* repeat *-* around, finishing with dctog, slst in ch marked with stitch marker (39dc). 

Row 27: Ch1 (remove st marker from previous row and place in this ch, counts as a dc), dc in each st around, finishing with a slst in ch marked with a stitch marker (39dc). 

Row 28: Ch1 (remove st marker from previous row and place in this ch, counts as a dc), dctoginnext st, *dc in next st, dctog in next st* repeat *-* around, finishing with a dctog, slst in ch marked with a stitch marker (26dc). 

Row 29: Ch1 (remove st marker from previous row and place in this ch, counts as a dc), dc in each st around, finishing with a slst in ch marked with a stitch marker (26dc). 

Row 30: Ch1 (remove st marker from previous row and place in this ch, DOES NOT COUNT AS A DC), *dctog in next st*, repeat *-* around, finishing with a dctog, slst in ch marked with a stitch marker (12dc). 

Row 31: Repeat row 30 (6dc)

wp_20161126_17_14_09_proLeaving a small hole, fasten off and weave in ends.  The little hole allows for the knob of the teapot lid to poke through and helps to keep the cosy positioned on teapot.

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Now hand sew on buttons of all different sizes.

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Next hand sew on the lace with a simple running stitch. 

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I used meadow yarn for the lace at the bottom of the cosy and duck egg yarn for the lace around the buttons.

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Just one last thing left to do now.  Boil the kettle and make a brew…enjoy and admire.

xxxxx

Grandma Mabel Tea Cosy part of the Grandma Collection ©2016 designed by Nicola Florence @ayarnyrobin

The grandma Mabel Tea Cosy, ayarnyrobin

Introducing the Grandma Mabel Tea Cosy…

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin4 Comments

capture

I am thrilled to be finally introducing the ‘Grandma Mabel’ tea cosy to you.  The second cosy in the Grandma Collection

 

Dedicated to my Granny Mabel, whom I knew as Granny Jason.  Granny Jason was named so by myself when I was still in terry towel nappies.  Named after her dog Jason, it was my way of distinguishing between my two Grannies. 

Granny Jason was born  in August 1914 in Southern Ireland and in her younger days enjoyed driving tractors.  Moving to England in 1960 when my Mom was a little girl, she worked in factories and finally as an Auxillary Nurse before she became too unwell to work.   I was privileged to have had her in my life for just 10 years before she left this world at the age of 73. 

I have precious memories of my Granny Jason, who although unwell always found a way of making me feel loved.  She was a humble and unassuming woman, who was always busy in the kitchen and always had her hair done and was house proud.  She would always give you the best of what she had and keep the worn out and old things for herself. 

She loved shoes and made daisy chains and made the dog (Jason) a cup of tea with a sugar in, poured into his bowl, each time she made my Grandad a cup of tea…which was often!

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Granny Jason was often unwell, seriously now I realise as I am older, but she tried hard not to let it show.  I remember as a small child counting her tablets into a big medicine jar. There were all sorts of pills; round ones, oblong ones and all sorts of colours…

I loved this job…

maybe it was the beginning of my fascination with public health and my nursing career.

But I think family was the most important thing to her,  because she cared so much about her family and cared so well. 

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This cosy has been inspired by my memories of her.  The buttons representing those many colourful pills that I used to count, not understanding the gravity of how poorly she really was.  The pretty colours of the cosy reflecting her beauty and the lace representing the finest dress a tea cosy could have.

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  I know Granny Jason would have been proud to put this cosy on her teapot, to put that teapot on her hostess trolley and wheel it from the kitchen to serve her guests. 

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So that is the Grandma Mabel tea cosy in all of its glory, I will post the pattern in the week.

xxxxx

 

Autumnal sunshine low in the sky
playing hooky
new pattern coming soon
home xx
crispy leaves
hungry birds
an autumn carpet
top secret hooking!
more leaves…
keeping me busy…
new wool delivery
A fleeting glimpse of the super moon…
cheers
my happy hooky space
buttons
even more leaves
cheeky alpacas
road trip
planning patterns

Farewell Autumn…

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin3 Comments