Paisley and Diamond Crochet

Hello, I've had an unplanned break from both blogging and crochet recently so it's been a while since my last post, I'd like to say thank you for all the lovely comments you left for me while I wasn't around. I have only managed a few minutes here and there with my hook over the past weeks so I didn't get my second summer cushion finished before sliding gently into autumn, however I thought you might like to see what I have managed to do so far and I'll finish it to use next year. I had started with the pink Paisley motifs I showed you before.

These motifs are smaller than the ones I made for the previous cushion, measuring only 6.5 x 3.5 cm. We have had some lovely September days here so when I could I went outside to enjoy the warm sunshine before the temperature dropped in the evening. Though I haven't had a lot of time to crochet I have enjoyed seeing these bright colours in the sunshine as I hooked up motifs in spare moments.

I knew I wanted to use both the pink and green this time and I also wanted a completely different design. I played about with the pink and green picturing different designs before choosing diamonds to go with the Paisley motifs and edging them in yellow.

 I decided to have a deep border running along the bottom of the cushion this time with a narrow border along the top. I've been making it up as I go along which makes it all the more fun.

This design was inspired by a photograph of a sari which had a beautiful pattern along the bottom, though the actual motifs, colours and design I chose for the cushion are completely different.

Although my progress has been slow I've enjoyed putting these bright colours together, a last piece of summer before turning my thoughts to autumn. Have you noticed the different feel in the air recently? I'm lucky enough to live in a quiet location and often think this time of year sounds different too. The slide into autumn feels gentle this year, it will soon be time to cosy up indoors and I've already started thinking of making gifts for the end of the year, but not quite yet.

Til next time.

Hx

From Yorkshire To Roses

Hello there, it's nice to be back. Life has been returning to normal after the long summer holidays but before returning to work N and I took a delightful short break south of the border to the beautiful Yorkshire town of Harrogate to enjoy the beautiful gardens, boutique shops, delicious cafes and restaurants, including the wonderful Bettys. We even squeezed in a visit to the ruins of Fountains Abbey and RHS Harlow Carr garden this time.

Fountains Abbey was busy, this was first thing in the morning and a brief pause in visitors passing through this arch was the only chance I got to take a photo of this beautiful view without lots of people.

There were some heavy showers when we visited RHS Harlow Carr so we spent a while in the gift shop out of the rain. It is a lovely shop which made me want to buy far too many pretty things, one item I couldn't resist was this book for N as he loves roses. I bought him one a few years ago as a joke, little knowing it would start a passion and lead to him taking up gardening.

This is the rose which started it all off, it's called Hot Chocolate and though the fragrance isn't strong it does have a beautiful, delicate scent so I just had to buy it for chocoholic N. It has gorgeous, unusually coloured blooms which start looking like red buds but open to an orangey-brown coppery colour.

One rose led to another and N bought this one which he grows in a  pot, unfortunately it had the wrong label on so we don't know what it is. When fully open it has yellow anthers and a strong heady old rose scent which makes our patio a delightful place to sit for a few moments. If anyone has any idea what rose this may be we'd love to know. Recently we added a climbing rose, the pink Zephirine Drouhin, to our little collection and have plans for a gorgeous David Austin rose we spotted at Harlow Carr, Lady Emma Hamilton, once a suitable spot can be found.


I always find the first week back a little strange after having N home for six weeks and this year has been no different. I've found it difficult to settle in to any crochet or crafting so I haven't been doing much at all however I thought I'd show you the few bits and pieces I have done.

This is a cross-stitch I started a few years ago and have finally picked up again. There are so many similar shades of thread I only pick it up when the light is bright enough and as crochet is my first love, this hasn't been coming out too often this year. I know I will finish it eventually, I just can't say when.

I moved on from the cross stitch back to crochet when the sun came out and inspired me to start these small Paisley motifs. I had wanted to do a second Paisley cushion but when I didn't really get to use the first one with all the rain we've had this summer I went off the idea. Well the sun is back now so out came my hook and I made up these little Paisley motifs. They are smaller and squatter than the previous ones and the hook part is joined to the main body of the motif this time too. I think this time I will pair the pink with yellow and green.

That's all I've made for the moment, I hope to catch up with all my blog reading this week and see what you have all been doing.

Til next time,

Hx

Jam Jar Cover Pattern

Hello there,

I took an unplanned break from crocheting and blogging last week, life got busy and we were tempted outside by the dry spells so I've only just got around to writing up the pattern for the little jam jar cover. This is very easy and uses double crochet, half-treble and treble stitches, I hope you enjoy making it.

You will need some crochet cotton, I used size 10 in white, a 2mm hook and a small amount of narrow ribbon.
 

Starting with a magic ring, make 6 dc and join with sl st.

Row 1 - 2dc in each stitch to end, join with sl st. 12 sts


Row 2 -  make 2 ch, 1 htr in sl st, 2 htr each dc of 1st row to end, join with sl st to top of ch. 24 sts

Row 3 - 2 ch, 2 htr in next st, *1 htr in next st, 2 htr in next st* repeat to end, sl st to top of 2 ch. 36sts

Row 4 - 3 ch, 2 tr in 1st, *1 tr in next 2 st, 2 tr in following st* repeat to last st, 1 tr, join with sl st.

Row 5 - 3 ch, 2 tr in 1st *1 tr in next 3 sts, 2 tr in next st* repeat to last st, 1 tr, join with sl st.

Row 6 - 3 ch, 2tr in 1st st *1 tr in next 4 sts, 2 tr in next st* repeat to last 4 sts, 2 tr in next st, 1 tr in  last 3 sts, join with sl st. 72 sts

Rows 7 and 8 - 3 ch, 1 tr in each st to end, join with sl st.

Row 9 - 6ch, *1 tr in 3rd tr of previous row, 3 ch*, repeat to end joining with sl st to 3rd of beg ch.

Row 10 - 1 ch, *3 dc in ch sp, 1 dc in tr* repeat to end, join with sl st.

Row 11 - sl st in 1st dc, 3 ch, 3 tr in same st as 3 ch, * miss 3 dc, 4 tr in next dc* repeat to end, sl st to 3rd of 3 ch.

Row 12 - 3 ch, *4 tr in next ch sp* repeat to last ch sp, 3 tr in ch sp, join to top of ch with sl st.

 

 

 

 Fasten off, sew in the ends, thread some ribbon through and tie in a bow.

 

Isn't that easy? It makes it so simple to dress up a little gift for a friend or make a hamper even prettier.

I hope to catch up with all my blog reading soon, it's almost the end of the summer holidays here so N and I plan to make the most of the last few days before life returns to normal, especially now the sun is shining at last.

Til next time.

Hx