seasons – Crochet blog

Crochet Rainbow Pattern…

Published on May 14, 2020May 14, 2020 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin5 Comments

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

Bright and Bold Summer Flowers…pattern news

Published on June 25, 2019July 7, 2019 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin2 Comments

Do you remember not so long ago I said I had some exciting news to share with you? Well, I can share that news now…

These are my bright and bold summer flowers and they were featured in Crochetzine, a fabulous online crochet magazine, last month!

I felt so proud and excited to see my work shared. Of course I want to share it with you also. These are great flowers to make from left over snippets, but I think they work best in a cotton yarn, as they hold their shape better.

The pattern is based on hyperbolic crochet, but don’t let that put you off…it is really simple! I have had so many lovely comments about the bunch I have on my table. Here’s the link to Crochetzine, where you will find my pattern.

Do let me know what you think if you make any won’t you?

xxxxx

Off Piste…

Published on May 11, 2019 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin6 Comments

I said I would pop in and write about some recent makes…so here I am, I hope you are well. My makes of late have been a little off piste, in that they are not yarny at all!

Over Easter I had a little time away from work which was just delightful. The weather was sunny and spring was most definitely flourishing. The boys were off school too, so our days were lazy and quite carefree. Amongst the laid back ways, I still had chores and it was whilst ironing of all things that I was overwhelmed with an urge to embroider.

The urge just fell so heavy upon me whilst ironing an old but beloved blouse of mine. The material had become thinned in areas and I sadly decided the blouse could no longer be worn. I loved that blouse and some of the material was still good and this is what sparked my embroidery urge.

Having never done any embroidery before I happily abandoned the ironing pile and exchanged it for a pinterest exploration and I was gone for several hours. I gathered supplies and with a fabric sewing pen I sketched out my design. Between consulting youtube clips and pinterest I ventured on my maiden embroidery voyage. I loved it, it scratched that creative itch so well, I felt so deeply satisfied.

I can only show you a little of this make as it is a gift and is still to be gifted.

I embroidered at every opportunity, I just couldn’t put it down.

I made a second hoop which I can show you, as this has already been gifted.

Oh, how I adore French knots and satin stitching. What do you think?

xxxxx

Birthday treats and fabulous hooks…

Published on April 13, 2019 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…

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…

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

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.

I also got some great yarny presents too.

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

Last minute Easter pattern…

Published on April 6, 2019 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin3 Comments

I thought I’d drop by to let you know all about a really cute pattern I have found. It’s a quick make and the pattern is free (always a bonus!) and it would make a super cute Easter gift or spring gift.

It’s a very sweet little lambs hat, what could be more spring like…apart from a little fluffy yellow chick perhaps!

The pattern is available in all sizes from 0 -3 months right through to big peoples sizes and it is brilliantly written. If your thinking I’m not sure about making those bobbles there is a useful youtube link to help you with that. All in all this pattern would take you a couple of hours to make…that’s plenty of time to hook yourself a little flock.

I just adore how those lamb ears are low set and droop down.

Of course I made a pink one too…

So here are the pattern details…

Pattern by: Sarah Zimmerman

Pattern Name: Lamb’s Hat

Have you found any good patterns worth a shout out recently?

xxxxx

Something new…

Published on March 11, 2019March 26, 2019 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin9 Comments

Hi lovelies…I have some really exciting news; which may explain my absence here at the nest over the last couple of months.

It is quite late here now and I have been trying to write this post since Friday, so I will keep this post short.

I have come to the point in my crochet journey, where I can no longer just crochet for crochet sake…I have more blankets than I can shake a stick at and I think my long suffering family and dear friends are done with my handmade makes!

So, after 12 months of deliberation and self doubt I have found my big girl pants and will be opening a little Etsy shop, very soon!!!

I have been busy making behind the scenes

Cute little baby hats

Baby burp cloths

and of course, baby blankets

and cakes too!

You can spot the theme…beautiful handmade baby essentials and toddler toys.

I will of course still blog…and don’t worry it won’t all be Etsy related, I promise.

You may see some housekeeping changes over the coming weeks, as I embark on freshening up the look of this site…I do hope you will bear with me and I hope you will continue to journey with me,

because I really enjoy having you along for the ride!

Sometimes just being underneath crochet is enough!….

Published on January 13, 2019 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin18 Comments

I have not been overly productive on the crochet front since the New Year began, largely down to a chest infection and it’s lingering gift of tiredness. So I have settled for being under my crochet instead…

I have started my new book which I got at Christmas…it has been on my wish list for a while now and I am really enjoying turning the pages and soaking up the next page of words…I haven’t read a book for a long time.

I have put the border on my second ‘Yala’ blanket…I know I have not shown you the first yet, but I am thinking of ordering some cork disc labels to add to them and they are in need of blocking also, so you will have to wait to see them.

Whilst adding the border this morning I relished the feeling that time had slowed down and I drank in the atmosphere here at the nest…home, sweet home. I enjoyed the sound of my youngest two robins chitter chattering to each other and tried to absorb all of them, even their bickering. They are growing so quickly, and I know that in a blink of an eye I will be sat here hooking, wandering what they are doing and when they might visit.

I spent the afternoon baking for the week ahead and we managed to catch the sunset whilst walking the dogs. It was windy and the trees swooshed noisly above our heads. I was grateful to be outside, kicking up the leaf litter and breathing in the cold air; I was even more grateful to come home into the warm, pull on my pj’s and heap my bowl full of slow cooker chilli.

My plans for the week are particularly hectic…today may well have been the calm before the storm; so I plan on spending little snippets of time through out the week doing more of the above, wherever I can…because sometimes just being underneath your crochet is enough.

I hope you have a good week whatever your plans.

xxxxx

Sheraby Baby Blanket…

Published on November 20, 2018December 15, 2018 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin19 Comments

Oh my days!

Life seems to be on fast forward at the moment…It is nearly December already…how can that be?

I have been hooking, but a lot of what I am doing is

Secret Santa type of top secret and the like. I can show you this, however

A pretty linen stitch baby blanket, using up my leftovers from my Sunday Shawl…this yarn has to be my absolute favourite at the moment. It is Scheepjes Merino dk and it is so, so soft…I mean really soft and plump and squishy. I started this blanket on a whim and then couldn’t put it down, so it actually hooked up quite quickly. I hooked it in the car,

In the café whilst the boys were mountain biking,

but, mostly I hooked it in Sherwood Forest, whilst away for a few precious days…hence the name ‘Sheraby’.

You might be thinking what about all those pesky ends? Well, I just crocheted over them as I went, so there were no pesky ends at all.

It is only a small little blanket…car seat size, but I am so pleased with it. This years hooking seems to be about busting my stash and I am really enjoying the challenge of that. I really do like the ‘knitted’ look that linen stitch produces to. It’s a lovely closed fabric effect and is very simple to do.

What do you think?

xxxxx

Gorgeous Glamping…

Published on June 19, 2018June 19, 2018 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin15 Comments

Just a couple of weekends ago, I abandoned work early, gathered my brood and made a little journey to a truly magical place. We only travelled 30 minutes away but we found ourselves in a different world.

We went glamping…that is camping in style!

And let me tell you it was absolutely luxurious. Running hot water, flushing toilet, the most comfortable bed in the world (honestly I felt like I was sleeping in a cloud) and a roll top bath with a gorgeous and very private view.

The boys happily shunned their screens and devices and spent hours splashing in the hot tub

and lighting fires

We cooked contently on the dutch oven (although there was a large wood burning stove inside our abode)

And we cycled the short distance into Arley where the great Severn Valley Railway passes through.

In the evenings we lit another fire and made use of the blankets provided for us;

and we chatted and laughed and breathed in and out deeply inhaling as much of the tranquillity as we could whilst toasting marsh mallows and drinking bubbles.

Of course I took my own blankets and they looked so pretty out on the decking…which has fairy lights at night.

(Yes, that is a candelabra you can see on the dining table! )

There was also plenty of time to crochet

and knit

This place is a true gem…and look what I found in the dresser…

a happy piece of yarn!!!!

So thank you Mark and Sonja for all of the fairy dust you sprinkled for our stay with you….we loved it!

woodhouse farm luxury camping

xxxxx

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…

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I have not been overly productive on the crochet front since the New Year began, largely down to a chest infection and it’s lingering gift of tiredness. So I have settled for being under my crochet instead…

I have started my new book which I got at Christmas…it has been on my wish list for a while now and I am really enjoying turning the pages and soaking up the next page of words…I haven’t read a book for a long time.

I have put the border on my second ‘Yala’ blanket…I know I have not shown you the first yet, but I am thinking of ordering some cork disc labels to add to them and they are in need of blocking also, so you will have to wait to see them.

My plans for the week are particularly hectic…today may well have been the calm before the storm; so I plan on spending little snippets of time through out the week doing more of the above, wherever I can…because sometimes just being underneath your crochet is enough.

I hope you have a good week whatever your plans.

xxxxx

Share this:

Oh my days!

Life seems to be on fast forward at the moment…It is nearly December already…how can that be?

I have been hooking, but a lot of what I am doing is

Secret Santa type of top secret and the like. I can show you this, however

In the café whilst the boys were mountain biking,

but, mostly I hooked it in Sherwood Forest, whilst away for a few precious days…hence the name ‘Sheraby’.

You might be thinking what about all those pesky ends? Well, I just crocheted over them as I went, so there were no pesky ends at all.

What do you think?

xxxxx

Share this:

Just a couple of weekends ago, I abandoned work early, gathered my brood and made a little journey to a truly magical place. We only travelled 30 minutes away but we found ourselves in a different world.

We went glamping…that is camping in style!

And let me tell you it was absolutely luxurious. Running hot water, flushing toilet, the most comfortable bed in the world (honestly I felt like I was sleeping in a cloud) and a roll top bath with a gorgeous and very private view.

The boys happily shunned their screens and devices and spent hours splashing in the hot tub

and lighting fires

We cooked contently on the dutch oven (although there was a large wood burning stove inside our abode)

And we cycled the short distance into Arley where the great Severn Valley Railway passes through.

In the evenings we lit another fire and made use of the blankets provided for us;

and we chatted and laughed and breathed in and out deeply inhaling as much of the tranquillity as we could whilst toasting marsh mallows and drinking bubbles.

Of course I took my own blankets and they looked so pretty out on the decking…which has fairy lights at night.

(Yes, that is a candelabra you can see on the dining table! )

There was also plenty of time to crochet

and knit

This place is a true gem…and look what I found in the dresser…

a happy piece of yarn!!!!

So thank you Mark and Sonja for all of the fairy dust you sprinkled for our stay with you….we loved it!

xxxxx

Share this:

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.

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

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