Chit Chat

Just a bit of chit chat whilst we await photo's from class.

I have added a Conversion Crochet Hook Chart in the right bar, so that should help quite a bit.

I have been over to Attic24 and Lucy has kindly given me permission to use her Birdie pattern to make Birdies for the Christmas Fayre - thank you Lucy.

Annie has donated a beautiful bag for the stall, all hand made of course - thank you Annie,

And Chris has donated a couple of Swedish Gnomes (designed by Alan Dart), the monies for these will be going to Macmillian Nurses. They are the cutest things I have ever seen, and I have grabbed the pattern myself to see how many I can make...
My list is getting longer.......

Book Signing

Just a quick heads up that on Saturday 31st October, local authoress Bev Beattie, will be signing her new Felting Book at Heaths Store.

Signing begins at 11am and will finish about 1pm.

So if anyone is interested in Bev's ventures, please turn up on time and grab a copy of her book.

Bring back pigeon post

Well yet again my e-mail system seems to be letting me down.

Heath has sent me photo's of todays class, through two different addys, yet I haven't received any.

So I can't do a full blog this afternoon.

Very frustrating, I must say, but hey ho there is always tomorrow.

Blogger Broke!

Well I just wasted half an hour trying to log into Blogger, but I think someone broke it!

Anyways I'm here now...

I've been making a series of pieces that hopefully will come in handy tomorrow.

I'd forgotten how lost you can get in doing the Wool Eater and really how easy it is to do once you have done the first 4 rounds.

Just got to re-write the instructions and get them copied then other than sorting out my stitch pages I should be ready.

Off to grab a coffee and to look at the dirty pots in the sink.

Until tomorrow

Happy crocheting

Oh going to relook at colours of this blog also, because they are giving me eyeball strain.....

E-mail Trauma's

Just a heads up, I have been having major problems with my e-mail accounts, and only today have I been able to access some of the e-mails that class members have sent.

I do apologize, but I am answering any e-mails recieved today, as long as the system will let me.

Any major questions, please phone me.

Or write a list for class on Thursday


Thanks

Thursdays Class

Hi Ladies and of course Gents

I have a lot of catching up to do because of the hen weekend. Which was a blast, but I will recall tales of this on Thursday to those that will listern.

I have just popped into the shop and been informed that there could be at least five of us. So I am thinking of doing the following.

I know one of the ladies is new and probably a beginner, so I will be teaching her the basics.

My other ladies I am going to write up two patterns, one is hobo's which can be done in either TRC or Ripple.

The second pattern will be for the Catherine Wheel aka Wool Eater.

We will hopefully discuss about teddy bears and get prepared for a class before Christmas.

RECIPES:

Hobo's :- Either a hook sized 3.5 - 4mm with double yarn 0r
5 - 5.5mm hook with chunky yarn (this one makes up fastest).

Catherine Wheel :- 3.5 - 4mm hook with double yarn in TWO colours at least
(This pattern is more technical but you are more than able
to do it :)).

I'll shoot off some e-mails now and hopefully see you all Thursday

Happy Crocheting

Long Bee Wristwarmers

Well the weekend is catching up fast and I need to finish my Bee outfit for the Hen weekend.

I'm in the process of finishing my rather long wrist warmers, or as I like to call them Hobo's.

I'll post a piccie when they are done.

Christmas Fayre

I must be mad, especially as it is choas when it arrives. But I have roped in KT to help and we will be selling crochet creations plus some other bits and bobs.

Crochet Creations will be:

Ripple Scarfs
Ruffle and Twist Scarfs
Hobo Gloves, otherwise known as Wristwarmers
Banners
and anything else we can fit in

Other Crafts will be:

Boxed Tilda and Edwin Christmas Cards
Tilda and Edwin Milk Cartons filled with all sorts of yummies
Apple, Orange and Popcorn Ropes - to decorate Christmas Trees
and anything else we can think of.

If any ladies (from class) have any creations they would like to sell, let me know and we'll sort something out.

When crochet goes wrong

Here is a fine example of crochet going wrong.

Thank you Annie for being brave and letting me share this



This was Annies first attempt at a Granny Square, and as you can see it has a mind of its own and went off for a walk somewhere.

But I think without undoing it I could make something of this.

I am pondering and when I have thought of something I'll let you know, and maybe Annie may ask for it back!

Beginners Class - 15th October

Hi everyone,

We had a nice morning, without many tangles or frustrations and we welcomed 3 new people to class, Donna, June and Rosemary, with the usual suspects Annie and Chris.

Donna, June and Rosemary soon got into the hang of it, though I think we all decided that the cast on round has to be the worst round in crochet. ( I hate it too!)

There are many things that I want to post about so here is a list and you can scroll down to the bit that interests you the most:

Photo's of the shop
Class itself, photo's included
Classes coming up
How to crochet Circles
I want to know? Teddy Bears

Photo's of the Shop


Steve kindly took these shots, as you will see later there is a reason why I am not a photographer!

For those that haven't visited before take a look;

Giant Pom Pom Christmas Tree - Welcomes you through the door, yes Christmas Season is creeping upon us!



You can't crochet or knit without your tools, a great selection, in fact too many to choose from, but what the heck!



The shopkeep himself! Heath trying his best to blend into the background. Also you can see some of his artwork.



Yarn, yarn and some more yarn to get your creative juices going, (too many to show for now, but they will be added in other posts).






If anyone is wondering where the class fits into the shop, we have a nice snug corner at the back, with comfy chairs and cushions we can plunder from the shop, shhh don't tell the shopkeep!


Crochet Class - 15th Ocotober 2009

We started about 10ish with Donna a totally new beginner, and June, who knew a little from years back when, and we started with the dreaded practice square.

I like to go through the stitches, first round is the round to make mistakes in and the second round of the same stitch is to get it right and to get your rythme going.

I boo-boo'd and got my American Stitches mixed up with the British, something of a habit of mine which I am determined to break, (thank you Annie for the suggestion to put this right).

Annie and Chris arrived a little later, and got stuck straight in with practice squares, though Annie decided to do her stitches in a different order, ha ha, but they looked good.

Chris has mastered her Granny Square and is working on a piece of the most gorgous chocolate and lime colour - sorry Chris I didn't grab a picture of it, but when you have finished the item I will post it, so everyone can see what a great crocheter you are.

We had a late arrival of Rosemary, again someone who had some knowledge but needed help just correcting her stitch count, and where does that stitch go, that always seeemed to disappear?
Luckly she had seen the poster in the window and jumped at the chance to join in.

Through talking to each other, we found that not everyone is comfortable with a slimmer hook, and it is important to be comfortable, or you can lose the crochet bug before you start. Thats why classes are good, everyone has a free opinion to everything that they use, and you can experiment without thinking anyone is critising or scrutinising your work.

Donna, June and Rosemary cracked Granny Squares in their first lesson, and they will be receiving an e-mail with written instructions on how to strat these, just to remind them.
I know Donna wants to make a larger Granny Square blanket, so we are looking forward to that.
And June is after doing some clothing articles.
Rosemary is on the Teddy Bear trail and I'll be shooting out an e-mail with instructions, adn of course visiting Teddy Bears later in this post.

Here are some pictures of the group and the different ways in which they hold their hooks when they are creating

Donna: Rosemary:



Annie: Chris:



Hmm, it seems that Junes picture is lost in the camera etha!


As you can see, everything is pretty informal and cosy, and there is always, tea/coffee, biscuits and sweets on the go.


Classes coming up

Well I didn't know but Heath has pre-booked a class for October 29th (£15) for the morning 10am - 1pmish - we never seem to end on time, but that just shows how much everyone is wanting to learn more, or worse has a bad crocheting addiction!

So go and get your names down if you would liek to book in for that date.

I am putting some feelers out there, to see what folks want to do, which is coming up shortly in this post.

Lets have a break, and get creative, especially for Chris :)

How to Crochet Circles

Not something I have done, but that means we can all learn together.

This is a Three Round Circle to get us started.

Foundation Rnd: Chain 6 and join at first ch to make a foundation circle.

Rnd 1: Either work in DC (double crochet) or TRC (triple crochet) - Do the appropiate amount of turning chain 3/4 then make 11 individual sts, so you have a total of 12 spokes, sl st to join the circle of stitches. (Should look like a wagon wheel, and I don't mean the chocolate variety, if it looks like the choc one you have seriously done something wrong!).
Change colour.

Rnd2: In a SPACE, not stitch, work a DOUBLE cluster of your chosen stitch - Remember we make a turning chain to count as our first spoke of the cluster. Continue to work around the spaces, doing double clusters, without any chains inbetween. Again join with a sl st and change colour

Rnd 3: With new colour make turning chain in a SPACE and make another 2 spokes so that you have a cluster of 3 in total in the one space. Chain ONE, then continue into the next space, making a cluster of three. This round has a chain added sbetween each cluster, to help with the shape of the circle.
Finish with a sl st and hopefully you should have a 3 round circle.


I want to know? Teddy Bears

We did discuss it and the little teddy that I made for class seems to be a hit. So the thing I want to know is ...
Who is up for a Teddy Bear class?
I am going to look at a couple of different patterns and see which ones are the easiest to do.
And also work out a proper schedule for the future, so folks aren't missing out because of work committments, etc.


Until later,

Happy crocheting

Carole

Hello and Welcome

Hi all to those that are passing by and taking a gander.

This is a new blog to help instruct and maybe inspire anyone out there about crochet and any other yarn based craft.

In this blog there will be tutorials, help and news of classes and the antics that the class get up to.

So please keep checking in.

Coming soon photographs from our latest class and information about up and coming classes.

Until later