As I have been waiting extremely patiently for the postman to bring me a yarn shaped parcel; walking has featured as a daily pass time since the weather has been so cheery.
We have stomped over fields in the sunshine,
rambled down pathways
and climbed over gates.
We have wandered through woodlands and I have admired the dappled sunshine dancing on the ground. In the evenings I have been hooking this…
a light weight artfully simple angled scarf (designed by the very talented Tamara over at Moogly) in a 4 ply Sirdar country style yarn. The colour is 0392….meh! I do so dislike it when a colour just has a number and not a name. It is a beautiful old pastel pink, which now I have started, I cant put down.
Still waiting…we have visited orchards
and walled gardens
and stumbled across these little guys (very cute indeed).
Finally, a yarn shaped parcel arrived and a dilemma.
Well, I just couldn’t resist this gorgeous wool alpaca blend in (0519) or charcoal grey.
Nor this beautiful compilation of cotton. So, now I have the Robins nest squares to finish, my artfully simple angled scarf and new yarn screaming “hook me, hook me!” What a fabulously fantastic woolly dilemma to be in. xxxxx
Following some much needed soul restoration on Friday, the theme has lingered here at the nest over the Easter weekend; and I can deleriously report is continuing today too. However, hooking came to a very abrupt halt yesterday!
After a chaotic but funny Easter egg hunt, in which I muddled the clues up somehow; and hearty singing of praises in church. Followed a mixed weather walk just down by the brook,
I love carefully picking my way back home through this flowery path…
Back home for some quiet hooking
which was fine until…
I realised I had only this much red cotton left and four robins nest motifs left to square…I told you the hooking came to an abrupt halt! Which was only soothed by this wonderful Easter tray that I received from my lovely brother and Sister in Law (Thank you Kate xx)
Which proved just perfect to hold my coffee whilst I ordered more yarn
I spent mine amongst the study books, so didn’t get much hooking time. I did have way too many children in the house, making a lot of noise (not great for studying!)
I also had family over for Sunday lunch, which was so great to just kick back and relax. Although I didn’t get to hang out with my yarn stash much, I did manage some sneaky hooking during a long game of monopoly.
and I just want to say a BIG thank you to everyone who has sent me comments about the new look around here…you are always so positive and it means the world to me
How can x2 part completed quilts just get mislaid???? That is the question I am pondering this week. Several years ago I started on two lovely quilts and I cant find them anywhere. However I did find this…
A square I hooked several years ago… along with my scribbled notes on the pattern. So I hooked up a new one and thought I’d share.
and a 4mm crochet hook. This lovely yarny square measures 7″ x 7″ or 18cm x 18cm once blocked. To download a pdf version click here, otherwise full instructions are below.
So here goes…
ch2, join with ss to form a tiny ring
Row 1: ch3,
11tr into ring,
join blue yarn and slst into 3rd ch
(12tr in total).
Row 2: ch3,
1tr in same space, ch1
2tr in next st, ch1
*2tr in next st, ch1*, repeat * * x10 times,
slst into 3rd ch
(12 clusters of 2tr).
Row 3: join white yarn in any ch space, ch3,
2tr in same sp, ch1
*3tr in next ch space, ch1*
repeat * * x10 times
join with slst in ch3
(12 clusters of 3tr).
Row 4: join green yarn in any space and ch3,
3tr in same sp, ch1
*4tr in next space, ch1*,
repeat * * x10 times, join with slst in ch3
(12 clusters of 4tr)
Row 5: join yellow yarn in any space and ch3,
4tr in same sp, ch1
*5tr in next space, ch1*,
repeat * * x10 times, join with slst in ch3
(12 clusters of 5tr)
Row 6: join pink yarn to any space and ch3,
5tr in same sp, ch1,
*6tr in next sp, ch1*,
repeat * * x10 times, join with ss in ch3
(12 clusters of 6tr)
Row 7: join red yarn in any space, ch3,
5tr in same space,
ch3,
6tr in same space (corner made),
*6tr in next space, 6tr in next space,
6tr in next space, ch3,
6tr in same space* (2nd corner made),
repeat * * x2 times
6tr in next space, 6tr in next space, join with slst in beginning ch3.Do not fasten off.
Row 8: ch3,
1tr in next 5sts,
*6tr in ch3 sp,
ch2
6tr in same space (corner made),
1tr in next 5sts,
dc in next space (indicated by needle)
1tr in next 5sts,
dc in next space, 1tr in next 5sts,
dc in next space, 1tr in next 5sts*,
repeat * * x2times
6tr in ch3 space, ch2, 6tr in same space (corner made)
1tr in next 5sts, dc in next space,
1tr in next 5 sts, dc in next space,
1tr in next 5 sts,
slst to beginning 3rd ch to finish.
Weave in ends.
Pin out to block… this is really worth the extra effort. I just pinned this square to a clean towel,
then spritz with water and leave to dry.
blocking really makes the the world of difference…
A very versatile yarny square.
Happy hooking
xxxxx
‘Robins nest square’ designed by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin.wordpress.com…….March 2016
This is my flower fiesta art piece… a colourful creative explosion of all things flowery… and that now occupies prime wall space in the Robins nest. It’s exclusive purpose is to cheer and gladden, created specifically to subconsciously brighten the spirit. Made from yarn, felt, buttons and a few beads here and there.
(The links under each of these photo’s contains relevant pattern details).
So, my part was done. What I needed now was for Mr. R to work his magic, making a frame…
it’s fabulous having a handy husband!
Whilst he hammered and stapled, I tied off all of those loose ends…
and once the frame was finished, I began to plan out this fiesta of flowers, in all of their splendid colours
I used skewers as temporary stems and then using a hot glue gun, secured each flower into position.
and began to hand embroider the stems.
I then set about hooking some little leaves; which I am rather thrilled with. I hooked these without a pattern, whilst the boy robins watched a film and I sat snuggled watching the rain.
Rainy days are always the best hooking days!
Anyway…I digress. I did scribble my little leaf pattern down and you can find it just here. Several rainy afternoons later, when I had made many,
I began the final stage of fixing them into position, with (yes you’ve guessed it) my trusty hot glue gun.
Finally, I set about finishing this piece; creating a signature and dating tag.
‘A yarny little leaf’ designed by Nicola Florence @ayarnyrobin.wordpress.com….February 2016
On a very wet afternoon, just the other day, I began to hook up some little leaves. Simple I thought, no pattern required.
After a couple of tweaks here and there, this is what my trusty hook had produced. I think they are rather sweet, so I thought I would share this little leaf pattern with you.
Little Leaf Pattern.
I used drops cotton dk and a 3.5mm hook. All instructions are using English terminology.
Slst – slip stitch
st – stitch
ch – chain
dc – double crochet
htr – half treble
tr – treble
dtr – double treble
blo – back loop only
Central Vein
Ch8, slst into 2nd ch from hook, then slst into each remaining 6ch and fasten off.
Leaf Body
Join chosen colour thread to 1st st at bottom of leaf vein. Ch1, dc in next st, htr in next st, tr in next st, 2dtr in next st, tr in next st, htr in next st, dc in same st, ch3(you should now be at the top of the vein).
You now need to reverse the pattern down the other side of the leaf. This time working in the back loops only.
So, dc in next st, htr in same st.
tr in next st, 2dtr in next st, tr in next st, htr in next st, dc in next st, slst in next st. Fasten off to finish and weave in ends.
Happy little leaf hooking
xxxxx
‘A yarny little leaf’ designed by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin.wordpress.com….February 2016.
Thursday evening’s hooky happiness… you may recall that I made a flower like this back in December, well I decided that I liked it so much I just had to hook some more.
Over the weekend, I stumbled upon an article in the local newspaper, which has led to a little adventure today. Today being a wet and grey and cold day, today being my first week day off since Christmas. So as you can probably imagine, today is a treasured day and one just right for a wee adventure.
So, after diligently completing the school run, I drove just ten little minutes into the very wet countryside
into a sweet little village, which I have only visited a couple of times before, for the annual scarecrow festival held in September, when it would seem the whole world turns up. Today, it seemed as if I was the only one here.
My adventure was not a wild one, but it made me feel hopeful of humanity and I did find the tiny, little library
nestled on the corner of an ordinary street…
from a little way off you would hardly guess what an alternative purpose was hidden inside,
but once inside there were treasures to behold…
and I had come prepared…a gift for the library…an old book no longer required.
So I nestled it on the shelf, wandering who would choose my book. I also left a little yarniness…
some cute paper clip bookmarks , and I wandered some more about who would choose these…
and so with happiness in my heart, I drove the ten minutes home, feeling cold and wet…but not a bit grey
and made myself a brew, ready to come and tell you all about what is possibly the world’s smallest library, the back story of which can be found just here, and the often times, lovely spirit of humanity.
and stumbled across these little guys (very cute indeed).
