National Crochet Month FreeForm Crochet Along 2010

For the Month of March I've have been partying away, chatting to friends and taking part in this years Freeform Cal 2010. 

Everyday there was a designer for the day, who added a pattern to add onto our work. This could be anything and interpreted anyway we felt. We had days where we had to count all our plates and food in our fridge; were we had to count how many days we "make love" in the month (or how much we wished we could!); count the number of colours we are wearing (including underwear); or simply making rings. The different stitches were interesting and educational. I love learning new stitches and my favorite ones were the love knot (otherwise known as the solomon's knot) and star stitch.

I was given the honor of contributing a pattern on day 31. I chose to add a badge to our work and lots of beads.

I've made some wonderful friends this month on Ravelry and I hope to be involved with them in the future with a pass a round freeform cal that's in the ideas works. I've enjoyed this years cal sooo much that I'm looking back on previous years works and making more.

If you'd like to see more pictures Please take a look at  my Ravelry Freeform Page

Happy Hooking
 

Star Stitch PDF pattern now available

After shouting and crying at my laptop I've finally worked out how to get PDFs on here (thank you Ravelry). You can now download this in my previous post, so enjoy and don't forget to show me how you did.

Star Stitch Baby Blanket Pattern

I wanted to make a blanket using my favorite stitch, the Star Stitch, but I couldn't find one. Maybe I just didn't look hard enough but it gave me the spark to make the pattern (and the blanket) for myself. This blanket is for my Sister Ruth who is having her first baby this year. I love you sis, this is dedicated to you, with lots of love.

If you have any questions do not hesitate to ask.

You can ask me through my blog jelibe-spitegirl.blogspot.com or over at Ravelry.com (jelibe) or tweet me (jelibee)

Have fun and please tell me how you got on, I’d love to see.

You can sell what you make but PLEASE don’t sell the pattern or claim as your own. You can link it back to me. Thank you.
Here is the PDF, Enjoy: download now

Materials

6.50mm K Hook

Any DK worsten weight yarn. I used Robin 400g yarn. Finished blanket weighs in at 317g.

Scissors

Sewing needle (for weaving in ends)

Special Stitch: Star Stitch

Make a chain, draw up a loop in the 2nd chain from hook and again in the next 5 chains, yarn over and pull yarn through all loops on hook, chain 1, put hook into the eye of the chain 1 and draw up a loop, put hook into chain of last chain that you drew up a loop on last star and draw up a loop, draw up a loop in next 3 chains, yarn over and pull yarn through all loops on hook, chain 1 and repeat process.

Pattern In American terms.

Chain 114

Row 1: Star Stitch to the end, draw a loop through last eye and in last chain (from last star), ch 1, turn.

Row 2: 3 sc in eye of star and in each eye across, slip stitch in last stitch, ch 2, turn (37 stars).

Repeat rows1 - 2 till you have 62 rows, ending with row 2. At end of row 2, chain 1 instead of 2 and turn.

DO NOT FASTEN OFF

Small scalloped edging

Rd 1: sc in each stitch to the corner (111 sc), 3 sc in the corner, sc across to the next corner (92 sc), 3 sc in the corner, sc across to next corner – make sure you go through each chain (111 sc), 3 sc in corner, sc across to next corner (92 sc), 3 sc in corner.

Rd 2: sc in the first stitch, 2 dc in same stitch, skip a stitch, slip stitch in next stitch, * sc, 2 dc in next stitch, skip 1 stitch, slip stitch in next. Repeat from *. In corners do (sc, 2 dc, sc) in same stitch.

Note : If you get to the end of the row, 1 stitch before the corner, just slip stitch in that stitch and carry on.

Join with a slip stitch in the first sc. FASTEN OFF.

Its a bargain...I'll totally use it...no really!

We went to Chorley today for some shopping fun. My bf and our little boy went to GameStation and I ventured towards the clothes shops. I was hoping to get a jumper but they were all cardigans, so I ended up just getting a couple of vests for my summer wardrobe.
After a light lunch (beef and mushroom sandwich, yum!) I thought I'd go check in at the British Heart Foundation and see if they had any wool in.....well, they did and I had the lot! For only £4 too! BARGAIN!! Woo Hoo!



And here it is...my homeless yarn. I now have too much yarn and don't have a home for it. I don't think I've convinced my bf that I really need it. I did want it though :D

My Bf bought Burnout paradise The Ultimate Pack. This game looks fun, I do love crashing and bashing up my car :D  This was a bargain too, only £2.99. An excellent bargain hunting day to be had by all.

Variations of a Theme Afghan

At the start of this year, Carolyn Christmas  over at Gourmet Crochet started a crochet along with style. The Theme was variations on shells and was to be an afghan (blanket).

I loved the idea of making this for a housewarming gift for my brother Mark, so I signed up to this straight away.

Each day Carolyn posted up a pattern of a square (each one different) and 4 variations of rectangles, until we built up a sizeable blanket.  A choice of joining the squares was posted too. I went for the flat braid join. This meant no ridgeing on the rear of the blanket. A boarder was the last things to hook around the blanket which really made the piece look great.
I mostly used yarn from my stash, but when I did the boarder I used a dark purple. I felt this tied all the colours together and my brother and his gf like purple, so that was handy :D 

 

 

 

Busy Busy Busy Getting snapped making a Sweater Bag

I recently got the crochet that fits book by Mary Jane Hall from my local library. I was busy working away at the bag I've been itching to make for AGES when my sneaky boyfriend took a pic of me! So here I am in my happy little rut (sofa) with the lappy on my legs hooking away. I'm really impressed with this book, there are a few things I would like to make from it, even the black dress on the cover. I'm not sure sure I would suit it with my slightly large frame though. Maybe when I get better and start exercising again. I'm really tempted to buy this for myself. Maybe next month. I've already been on a little spending spree. I got a lot of yarn and a book! I've also got some new jeans from New Look. My other ones disappeared (my favorite ones too). So I've had to get another pair! I gave them plenty of chances to get themselves found but they mustn't have heard me! They are a pair of jeans after all! They don't have ears! That would look silly!

Earflap Hat for my little Bo

My little man needed a new hat so I made him a new one. He chose the colour red and I added the blue for contrast.

I got the pattern over at Ravelry. Its called Kid's Earflap hat byTiffany Roan a great design!
I added the twisted tassles at the top. This is really easy to do and only takes a few minutes.Pattern for this as follows:
with your selected yarn and hook, chain 20, 2 sc in 2nd chain from hook, 2 sc in each chain across. Do not fasten off.
Chain 20, 2 sc in 2nd chain from hook, 2 sc in each chain across. slip stitch in beginning of first tassle.

Repeat the process as many times as you like. When your done just cut and fasten off. weave in end and attach to the hat or garment.