A C2C (Corner to Corner) crochet Duck panel

Just one of those evenings when you need to fiddle with something, but inspiration has escaped and ran down the road.

I went to search through my laptop for my "things I must try" list and found nothing that inspired me there.  But then, accidentally, I clicked on the icon for my Cross-Stitch designer - I used to design and sell the odd Cross-Stitch pattern about 12 years ago.   

So I was browsing through them when I found a group of Farmyard Animals that I had done.  after a little editing, I printed out a pattern suitable for a C2C panel.  I went and dug some yarn out of my stash and got to work.

Can you tell what it is yet?  Oh yeah, a Duck - because I told you that already!

I put a photo on my Facebook page and got all sorts of random answers - a Mario Mushroom, Angry Birds, Pokemon, Christmas Tree (!!), Dragon.... I can see where most of them were coming from.

Oh, and an eye appears.

Ahhh, and then we have a Duck... but also a huge issue!  I ran out of yarn!!   And as it was from my stash, and unbanded, I have no idea what it was or where it was from.  It is a strange lillacy blue colour too so no hope of matching it.

So, now I am deciding whether to pull it all out, just put it in the bin, or add a totally different coloured corner.

Grrrrrrrrrrr.

C2C (Corner to Corner) Crochet Owl Panel

I have had loads of people ask me for a "Graphghan" workshop.

A Graphghan is working from a chart to create a picture within a piece of crochet.  It can be done with Granny Squares, Bobbles and the popular C2C stitch.

So, off I went, opened my Cross-Stitch program  (did you know I used to design the odd Cross-Stitch pattern) and designed what I thought would be a workable pattern.

An Owl, everyone loves owls don't they?

I grabbed some yarn and first of all I weighed it, after all if I was going to run a workshop I would need to know how much yarn everyone would need.

Then I started hooking away merrily.

Well before this point I realised that this was not going to be a workable class, it was taking me far too long so would take students even longer.

I finished it anyway having spend over 6 hours on it!

Still, it worked out nice, and when I make a few more it will tile together to make a fun blanket.

Feel free to use the chart above if you would like to make your own, but I would appreciate it if you would credit me when you do  :)

And, back to the cross-stitch programme to create a simpler design  :)

End of the year Giveaway Blanket

Throughout this year I am periodically working on a new blanket.   It will be made from the free balls of yarn that I seem to pick up from magazines.   As it happens I don't actually buy any magazines, the yarn just gets donated to me from friends to do something with  :)

And this is what I am going to be doing with it this year.....

A C2C, or Corner to Corner crochet blanket.  I am just going to work until each ball of yarn runs out and let it find it's own colour pattern.

If you would like to be in with a chance of winning this blanket towards the end of the year then please keep an eye on my Facebook page for more details.  I will post updates on my blog, here, as I go along.

C2C Baby Blanket - blue for a girl

When my son told me he and his girlfriend were expecting a baby, I knew I had to double up my blanket making skills and get some blankets made for the new arrival.  At this point I was wishing I had not made as many for Hope when she was on the way as I had to match the number of blankets made  -  I am not there yet and new baby Ellie is a month old now!!

Ellie's mum's favourite colour is blue, and years ago I made her a blue granny square blanket using this James C Brett Woodlander yarn.  I had a few balls left, so what better than to make Ellie a blanket to match her mummy's?

I decided on a C2C pattern.  C2C is Corner to Corner crochet, worked across a diagonal creating a lovely basket weave effect.  I did 5 rows of the variegated blue, then broke it up with a line of white.

It's a really quick stitch to work and the blanket grew quite quickly.

Then, it was done, time for some edging.  I decided on a shell pattern to go all the way around the edge.  Ellie's mummy loved it   :)

Better get on with making blanket number 2....and 3.....