Tag: friendship

crochet rainbow

Crochet Rainbow Pattern…

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin5 Comments

 

crochet rainbow

Hi, I just wanted to drop by to share with you this fabulous and free crochet sampler rainbow pattern by the amazing Sharon from The Stitch Foundary

It’s a quick make and looks fabulous hung up in the window to show support to all of our key workers at this unbelievable time and to add some cheer and unite in community spirit.

From a crochet point of view, the pattern is free, easy to follow and has several different stitches which give the rainbow some lovely textures.  There is no gauge to worry about and you can make it from scraps…what’s not to love!

I did alter mine slightly…sorry Sharon!

I used 5 stitches to complete my popcorns in the orange row, instead of the recommended 3 stitches…just because it made my popcorns fatter and I like nice fat popcorns!  Then on the last row of red I chained 5 and missed a stitch, instead of chain 3 between each stitch…just because it made the row less ruffled and more arched and I preferred the more simple finish.

Anyway, it’s a fabulous pattern and will make you smile if you hook it!

xxxxx

 

Birthday treats and fabulous hooks…

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin11 Comments

I’ve had a lovely few days celebrating another year…yes, it was my birthday!

I have been well and truly spoilt this year and I have had some great yarny presents too, which I thought I’d share with you.

I kicked things off by booking time off work and then was treated to the most loveliest of birthday eve meals with my parents and  brother as well as my guys too.  It was a really great way to start the celebrations.  My actual birthday day…you know what I mean! was relaxed and laid back, hanging out with the boys and Mr R.

We had a game of birthday badminton before cake and coffee…

birthday cake

no guilt involved, as calories definitely don’t count on your birthday!  It was a beautiful coffee and walnut cake…my absolute favourite!

We took time out to notice Spring has well and truly arrived…

spring flowers

and I enjoyed finding some more spring inspiration whilst browsing around too.

spring vibes

Fabulous zingy spring vibes right there!

I spent more time with family andfriends and of course did some hooking too…this is how far I have got with my C2C rainbow heart blanket.  Pattern details are just here. 

baby blanket
rainbow baby blanket

I also got some great yarny presents too.

personalized crochet hooks

Fabulous personalized crochet hooks of my bestie and…

Mr. R surprised me with tickets to this years Yarndale Festival which is in September….SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

So, I’m feeling very loved and very blessed and quite yarny today.

Have a fantastic weekend, whatever you’re up to.

xxxxx

mixedstitch crochet blanket

seasidestashbusting blanket…The End!

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin19 Comments

It’s done!  I have made the last stitch and woven in the last end of my beautiful #seassidestashbusting blanket. 

It’s huge and I simply love it!

mixedstitch crochet blanketOh! what a journey this blanket has been…a beautiful, stitchy, vibrant and meandering journey of colour, crochet and community…not to mention stash busting too! 

mixed stitch crochet blanket

Thank you so much to Eleanora over at Coastal Crochet for hosting such a marvellous and well organised CAL (crochet-a-long) and to all the lovely people I have met  a long the way; who have encouraged and inspired me with kind words or blankets of their own.  I have really enjoyed scrolling through the IG feed #seasidestashbustingblanket and seeing so many wonderfully unique contributions.

mixed stitch crochet blanket

I am keeping this blanket for myself because honestly, I just can’t bear to be parted from it.  I have hooked in so many memories of my year…like the sunny glamping rows, the foot surgery rows, the world cup rows, the too hot to crochet rows and the snowy day bobbles and I can relate each memory to the specific rows.  I will leave you with my photographic journey…

#seasidestashbustingblanket CAL

#seasidestashbustingblanket weeks 5 - 8mixed stitch crochet blanketcrochet mixed stitch blanketcrochet blanket calmixed stitch crochet blanketseasidestashbustingblanketmixed stitch crochet blanketLove, love, love this blanket. 

I’m not sure what I’m going to do without the weekly rows…

xxxxx

Yarn a long Sunday #8

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin4 Comments

 

Well this is the last yarn a long Sunday in this June series.  Apologies for this last session being a bit late…It has everything to do with a manic weekend, a 16 mile charity walk and a wedding in a field!  It is still Sunday in the UK…so only a bit late eh!

I now have  a little collection of cute summer projects and if you follow me on Instagram you will know what has captured my heart…but I will post about that separately in the week.

This week’s topic is

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

ayarnyrobin

Go on don’t be shy!

xxxxx

 

 

Yarn a long Sunday #7

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin11 Comments

Oh my word… you guys have hooked, knit, sewn and crafted in some amazing places…but I think the most out there has to go to Connie who hooks whilst being a pillion passenger on the back of  a motorbike!   Yes you read motorbike!!!!

Now that’s extreme crochet and some serious nerves of steel.

S0, welcome to  this Sunday’s yarn a long.  So far this month we have nattered about our crafty hacks and our alfresco crafty habits in honour of world knit in public day.  

This week I thought I would like to gather your ideas about what you like to hook, knit, sew, or craft in the sunshine.  The weather here in the UK has been quite pleasant of late and I have several blankets on my hook and it’s just too warm to be hooking under a blanket for any length of time.  I did write a blog post about the top 5 things to crochet when it’s hot which is  just here…they included

top 5 things to crochet in the sun
pattern by Sandra at Cherryheart

gloves and tea cosies

crochet tea cosy free patterns
The Grandma Collection

But, I have hooked these now and am looking for some fresh ideas…What do you hook, knit, sew or craft when the temperature starts to rise?

xxxxx  

This series is also on Instagram @yarnyrobin

 

Yarn a long Sunday #6

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin8 Comments

 

top 100 crochet blogWelcome to  this Sunday’s yarn a long.  Firstly, thank you to all of you who took part last week…I have learnt some very cool crafty hacks.  I think one of my favourites was using dental floss on an aeroplane to cut thread instead of having your scissors confiscated  as suggested by @laurahoueltextiles over on Instagram…you should go and check her beautiful feed out…very talented! 

So to this weeks yarn a long. 

As it has been ‘Happy world wide knit in public day’ this week

I thought I would ask…Where is the strangest place you have knit, crochet, sewn, crafted? 

I tend to end up hooking whilst the little ‘big’ Robins are doing their sports

At the skate park…

I am sure you can tell me of stranger places.  Let me know in the comments thread below.

xxxxx  

Last weeks yarn a long is just here if you want to read or share your crafty hacks.  This series is also on Instagram @yarnyrobin

 

crochet blanket cal

seaside stash busting blanket weeks 17- 20

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin8 Comments

crochet blanket cal

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…

crochet blanket calcrochet blanket calcrochet blanket calcrochet blanket cal

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

xxxxx

top 100 crochet blog

Yarn a long Sunday #5

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin14 Comments

 

top 100 crochet blogWelcome to the first yarn a long Sunday in June.  This is actually the fifth yarn a Iong,  the first four of which I hosted back in March.  If you want to catch up on those you can find the relevant links just here.

Yarn a long #1 (Why I crochet)

Yarn a long #2 (unravelling crochet)

Yarn a long #3 (life motto’s)

Yarn a long #4 (Ask me a quetion)

So feel free to grab a coffee or something else to drink and I’ll kick of this weeks topic which is all about sharing your 

CRAFT HACKS…

crochet hacks, knitting hacks, yarn hacks, or any other crafty hacks.  If you are not to sure what a hack is then here is my definition:

A craft hack refers to any skill, short cut, or innovative trick that increases ease of creating, productivity and efficiency. 

Now, I use a few, but I think the one I use most frequently is using hair pins as stitch markers. 

crochet hacks

I know stitch markers are beautiful and my heart flutters a little bit if the stitch marker actually coordinates to a projects theme…but here’s my rub with them…I can never find one when I need one. 

Hair pins on the other hand are plentiful in my dresser.  They may not look as glamorous as the beautiful stitch markers but they are much easier to attach and remove from projects too!

What is your best craft hack?  Share your best ones in the comments thread below.

xxxxx

 

top 100 crochet blog

yarn-a-long Sunday is back for June…

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobinLeave a comment

top 100 crochet blog

Yes, just for the month of June, Yarn – a – long Sunday is returning as requested. 

The series back in March was fun for me and I know I had  a fair bit of lovely feedback about how some of you enjoyed joining in to.  So I will be kicking things of on Sunday 03rd June  and I’m hoping you will make a cuppa and join in  and have some fun.  I am also going to run the series over on Instagram too so you can join in there if you prefer.  You can find me @yarnyrobin.

If you have absolutely no idea what I am talking about then you can check out March’s yarn – a – long posts just here, here, here and here! 

See you Sunday!

xxxxx

crochet mixed stitch blanket

seaside stash busting blanket weeks 13- 16

Published on 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. 

crochet mixed stitch blanket

Now Weeks 13 -15 were just fine…

crochet mixed stitch blanket

crochet mixed stitch blanketcrochet mixed stitch blanket

but week 16…

crochet mixed stitch blanket

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