Crochet time!!

I’ve had a bit more time recently to do some bits of crochet, which i hadn’t for a month or two, so i’ve been making the most of it! Here are a couple of pretty shawls i’ve been making :)

I’m really loving these autumnal russet colours at the moment. They’re so lush and warm!!

There are a couple of blue ones underway as well, no photos as yet. They are a simple granny square pattern, each square joined in to the whole as its final round is worked. I love this new way of joining the squares, something i’ve only figured out relatively recently. I used to just make all the squares then sew them together, which is fine, but this way is quicker and lets the shawl keep more of a lacy, soft, and less solid feel.

 

If you are interested in how to do this, it’s actually very simple. The first square is worked as a normal granny square – [3dc, 1ch] repeated along the side, and 3ch to turn at the corners. when working the final round of the second square, work as normal except on one side, which will be the joining side. on this side, when you come to turn the first corner, work 2ch, sl st into the 3ch at a corner of the first square, 1ch, then work 3dc into the corner space on your second square as you would normally to complete the corner. Ch1, sl st into the next space on your first square, ch1, work 3dc into the next space on your second square. Continue across the rest of the ‘joining side’. When you reach the next corner, work your 3dc into the corner space, ch1, sl st into the corner space of the first square, ch2, and then work 3dc into the corner space of your second square to complete that corner. Work the rest of your second square as normal.

 

It gets a little more complicated when you’re joining a square to other squares on two sides, but not much. Just work as above, but at a corner where you’re joining to 2 squares, work the 3dc into the corner space of your current square, ch1, sl st into the corner space of the first square to be joined, ch1, sl st into the corner of the next square, ch1, then work your 3dc to complete the corner of your current square. It may sounds complex, but it feels very logical once you’re doing it.

 

More shawls and woolly things to follow soon, i’ve been having an unseasonal blitz on jumpers and warm clothes that have been in my ‘do something with’ pile for far too long!

 

xx

 

Thinking about Christmas update – more etsy fun!

Starting to make Christmas presents for my friends and family has got me thinking about the things i’ve made that might make good presents for other people! I have several boxes of finished projects in my parents’ garage and after posting about Christmas present for people i know last week i’ve been motivated to start putting some of them up on Etsy and Folksy.

I’m starting to realise just how much stuff i have! I’ve got through one box of crocheted bags so far and there’s at least 4 more to go, plus hats, scarves, gloves – you name it, i’ve crocheted it! And then not really known what to do with it and shoved it in a box :( poor little crocheted things! But now they’re getting pulled out and given a chance at being loved.

Here are a few of the ones that have gone up already –

The country / folky style bag

The ‘you are my sunshine’ bag!

The big snuggly ‘sloppy joe’ bag

Another pink pixie bag

And the charmingly unrealistic neon pink toadstool!

There will be many more to come!

I’ve also had some fun today (otherwise known as procrastinating while i should be doing more ‘important’ stuff!) making a little brooch to go with the wavy teal scarf from my last Christmas post –

teal shooting starfish!

which is also all set to go on Etsy (as soon as i stop making brooches and start taking photos!) :)