craft – Page 12 – Crochet blog

C2C crochet baby blanket, crochet heart squares in paintbox cotton yarn

A yarny update…

Published on August 21, 2017August 19, 2017 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin6 Comments

It seems quite a while back now that I dipped my toe into the world of C2C (corner to corner) crochet. It is safe to report that I am totally hooked, if you pardon the pun!

It was actually only in July that this C2C journey of mine began, inspired by the very talented lemonadesucrette who had posted a series of updates on Instagram of a beautiful heart baby blanket. In my soul I had decided I too must create my own, but also had a yearning to learn C2C… you can read more about my inspiration for this project just here.

C2C crochet baby blanket, crochet heart squares in paintbox cotton yarn — I am using paintbox cotton yarns

I feel like my progress has been slow and steady. I don’t have a lot of crochet time lately, but I am hoping that will change as the Autumn approaches as I have taken the decision to reduce my hours at work to restore some balance.

I can’t tell you how ridiculously excited I am to be able to take a non working day in the week. It means I get to take and fetch my smallest Robin from school once a week; something which my heart has ached to do for far too long now.

I am hoping it will give me some more time with my hook also!

I have finally got to the stage in my C2C sojourn, where I am sewing the squares together. I am so in love with this blanket that I am not going to part with it. I am going to treasure it and use it here at the nest.

I just have the decision to make about the border. I will decide on a colour and keep it simple I think, but it looks like this will have to wait until September now….

and a non working, taking to school, type of happy hooky day!xxxxx

homemade summer plum jam

Homemade Summer Plum Jam

Published on August 19, 2017August 19, 2017 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin2 Comments

Here are the pictures as promised, of my homemade jam making exploits.

The plums were freshly plucked from the tree and were deliciously juicy.

making homemade plum jam — I de-stoned the plums

making homemade plum jam — and simmered on a low heat in some lemon juice and water

making homemade summer plum jam — added a lot of sugar!

homemade summer plum jam — and potted

I had a lovely afternoon in my kitchen making this jam. The boys think it is delicious; I think it is a wee bit sugary and not set quite right. I think I will have to invest in a jam thermometer for next time…because there will be a next time.

It is too satisfying not to!

xxxxx

paintbox cotton

August

Published on August 9, 2017March 26, 2019 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobinLeave a comment

August so far has proved to be super busy…I am still flat out at work and busy juggling the boys summer holidays with Mr R and the help of fabulous Grandparents.

So here is a little snapshot of some of the finer moments I have managed to grab!

Homemade August, crochet, coffee, banana loaf and garden flowers — C2C crochet, garden flowers, a 13th birthday, banana bread and coffee

I have made some homemade plum jam too, but I need to sort the photo’s so I’ll save those for another time.

xxxxx

C2C crochet baby blanket, crochet heart squares in paintbox cotton yarn

Summer Holidays…

Published on July 22, 2017 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin7 Comments

3…2…1… Summer Holidays begin!

The negatives… well it is lashing down with rain and I mean…LASHING!

The positives…the boys are chilled, they’re at home and we are counting down the days towards our Summer holiday. Mr R is properly on the mend and I’ve got an interview coming up.

I’m still hooking these lovely C2C love hearts

C2C crochet hearts

and have my first row joined.

C2C crochet love hearts — C2C love

My progress is slow but happy

C2C crochet love hearts — happy crochet

and I love that the rain is lashing…guilt free crochet!

xxxxx

paintbox dk cotton

C2C Love…

Published on July 12, 2017 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin16 Comments

Just a very short post to share the newest thing on my hook.

paintbox dk cotton — Paintbox dk cotton

I have had this beautiful basket of yarn for a little while now…and although it has been screaming at me to get my hook out everyday since I have had it; I have been patiently waiting for inspiration to fall. You see this yarn is gorgeous and deserves to be hooked into something just as lovely.

I have been wooed by #lemondesucrette’s beautiful heart baby blanket and have admired her progress from afar. I have also had an overwhelming desire to attempt C2C (corner to corner) crochet.

So, I have combined these two desires and am now addicted to hooking my own love heart blanket….

paintbox dk cotton — c2c beginnings

paintbox dk cotton — free pattern by MA Santos

I found the pattern on Ravelry by MA Santos and it’s free! If you have not done C2C before there are some good links to video tutorials within the pattern that are worth a watch.

paintbox dk cotton — love heart blanket…I’m hooked!

It’s quite addictive and I am totally smitten!

xxxxx

Top 5 things to crochet when it's hot and number 1 is ironic!

Top 5 things to crochet when it’s hot

Published on June 24, 2017September 24, 2017 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin11 Comments

We are not used to a long spell of hot weather here in the UK, but this week has seen our temperatures soar way above 30 degrees.

Top 5 things to crochet when temperatures soar and it's hot and sunny — Heavenly blue skies

And oh how lovely it has been, it has meant an exodus into the outdoors, picnics and walks and a lot of sunscreen!

But, I found myself unprepared in the crochet stakes…it was just too hot to be sitting under a half made blanket or to be half draped in a shawl; sweltering under a wool blend.

So, I have compiled my yarny list of the top 5 things to crochet when the temperature starts rising.

Top 5 things to crochet when it’s hot…#1

Ironically, top of the list is …..gloves!

Top 5 things to hook when it's hot andnumber 1 is ironic! — zingtastic mitts by Sandra at Cherryheart

It is not as mad as it sounds.

Small, picnic portable, quick to hook… and you will have a lovely pair of mitts ready for when the sun disappears and the colder weather brings a chill.

Top 5 things to crochet when it’s hot…#2

A cute little square like this one

Top 5 things to crochet when it's hot and number 1 is ironic! — Robins nest square free pattern

Hook one, or two, or three or more..you can always join them in the autumn when the warm weather is a distant memory…and between you and me…what’s another PHD!

Top 5 things to crochet when it’s hot…#3

A splendid little tea cosy…the perfect finishing touch to a sunny afternoon tea…. al fresco of course.

Top 5 things to crochet when it's hot and number 1 is ironic — Granny Mabel Tea Cosy free pattern

Top 5 things to crochet when it’s hot…#4

How about a little inspiration from the outdoors… a yarny little leaf.

Top 5 things to crochet when it's hot and number 1 is ironic! — A yarny little leaf…free pattern

Embellish until your heart is content. I think these would look great in bright hot colours…don’t you?

Top 5 things to crochet when it’s hot…#5

How about spreading the love

Top 5 things to crochet when it's hot and number 1 is ironic! — May rose keyrings…. pattern by Attic 24

Hook these lovely little flowers and add a key chain then give them away or leave them around your community and spread a little yarny H.U.G

#Bonus Summer Hook

Corfu barefoot sandals

crochet barefoot sandals - Corfu designed by ayarnyrobin.wordpress.com, summer feet — Corfu – Barefoot sandals

Hook these cute barefoot sandals for the perfect summer look!

So, whether you are currently in the middle of a scorcher or if it has been a while since the sun shone down on you, I hope I have inspired you to grab your hook and get outside.

What are your hot hooking tips?

Top 5 things to crochet when it's hot and number 1 is ironic! — Hooking al fresco…

xxxxx

A yarny gate installation…

Published on June 11, 2017 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin16 Comments

I have spent a lot of my time recently walking my dogs across the field that is behind our house.

I used to do this often when I worked less, so to be able to have space to do this again has been refreshing. However, this has been bothering me…

This gate opens onto a very busy road. You can just about see that some kind soul has taken a sharpie pen to ask that folk shut the gate…but, it was still bothering me.

It bothered me for two reasons. The first, the gate is still left open and the second reason, the sharpie pen instruction just didn’t look pretty!

So, I got out my stash and my hook

and began hooking a simple but very happy double crochet striped affair.

I added a sweet little sewn request

and a cute little ladybird

Then I headed off with a pocket full of yarn and a darning needle to complete this yarny gate installation.

I hope so much that this sign makes people smile and that it survives for a little while before someone takes it down.

xxxxx

A belated gift and a belated thank you…

Published on June 4, 2017 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin6 Comments

Things are still very tough here at the nest, but we are hanging in. Mr R is now out of hospital and we have nurses attending at home. We are healing slowly, but have a long road ahead of us.

I am finding I can crochet again for short periods of time, it is as much as my mind can focus on and I am enjoying the little bit of creativity my hook is giving me.

I have started a new project …yes, I know another one!

sneek peek…

But, it is quirky and fun and I have enjoyed the creative process of designing it. I will share more as I progress.

I really wanted to drop in and give a BIG shout out and thank you to Ginny over at mytimestitching who sent me this gorgeous sock yarn, which I won in a competition she ran on her lovely blog.

My yarny win…Thanks Ginny x

I received this yarn a while back now along with a lovely shawl pattern. I am not sure what I will hook yet, but for now it is enough to keep squishing it!

I also received a belated birthday present a few weeks back too, this stunning yarn bowl, handmade by Sarah Whyte Ceramics

beautifully handcrafted

Ginny’s yarn fits in just perfectly.

xxxxx

crochet baby blanket

Baby Wilmer Blanket…

Published on May 25, 2017 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin2 Comments

Interlocking stitch

Woodland Trails and Puff Stitch Bees…

Published on May 1, 2017 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin3 Comments

A three day weekend…this should be made compulsory.

Oh, if only I could have a bank holiday every weekend.

We have taken walks along woodland trails,

Explored caves

and enjoyed some down time

I have made slow progress on my hotel of bees shawl #hobcal

but, I am enjoying the pattern, even if I do have to concentrate really hard. I really enjoyed hooking those sweet little bees.

I have also been finishing up my Baby Wilmer blanket, I just have a few more rows to add now before I border.

I hope what ever you have been doing has been just as fun.

xxxxx