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

Crocheted Jam Jar Cover

Hello there,

Do you make gifts for people? Perhaps you crochet, knit, sew or bake?

I love how versatile crochet is and often crochet for others, whether it is a full garment, a small, quick project or trims to jazz up a gift. When I heard a friend was having a difficult time and couldn't get out much I knew it was time to turn my hand again to making for someone else.

I often give little gifts to friends from my garden in summer, gooseberries, rhubarb or blackcurrants in the summer and plums from my tree in September, but that would be no use as it would be too much work to make something right now. So I made a cup of tea, sat down, had a good think and came up with this.

Just the thing for a home made cream tea, complete with clotted cream.


First I made the jam pot cover, the jar is a pretty hexagonal one with a lid the same size as a standard 1lb jar lid so I dug a spare jar out of my cupboard for sizing and fetched some white size 10 crochet thread and a 2mm hook.

I had a flick through my books and magazines and found some lacy jar cover patterns. I didn't have any new jars and lids so would be sterilising the one I had, I didn't have any pretty fabric either to hide the plain black lid under the lacy cover so I thought a less lacy pattern might be better than the ones in my book. I did my usual playing about with thread and hook and came up with this, a solid top with granny type edging. Simple, quick to make and pretty too.

It needed some colourful ribbon to finish it off so I popped down to the craft shop and got this lovely coppery ribbon to thread through the jar cover. I had been going to buy red ribbon but when I saw this coppery colour I thought it would look lovely with the blackcurrant colour instead and make a nice change from red.

I make my own jam and scones as I like to bake and cook but it would be easy to jazz up bought ones by making the crocheted pot cover and adding colourful ribbon and napkins. I'm going to put this in a little basket with some freshly baked scones, clotted cream and a small box of Twinings tea selection, wrap it in cellophane and take it round in time for afternoon tea. I know my friend will love this and hope a sit down with tea and scones brightens the day.

The crocheted pot cover was very easy, I'll probably make more nearer Christmas as I often make hampers. If you would like me to write up the pattern let me know.

I'd like to thank you all for reading despite my erratic posting and also for the lovely comments you left on my summer shawl, they make my day. We are approaching the last few weeks of the summer holidays here after which life will change gear again and I should be able to catch up properly on all your blogs again.

Til next time.

Hx