Crochet Chevron / ZigZag Cushion Cover Tutorial

 Hello,

A little while ago I produced a video on how to make this funky Chevron crochet cushion cover.  Since then I have been trawling through some YouTube comments that I didn't realise were there and to my horror found that a few people have asked for a written pattern and I have just not seen the request!  Apologies if you were one of those people!

Anyway, let's strike while the iron is hot, as they say, and put the pattern out there!

So, this cushion cover is a great stash-buster, the more colourful it is the nicer the effect and its different on both sides, completely by accident if you're using up part balls.

It is created in one long strip then sewn together.  I used DK yarn and a 4.00mm crochet hook.. (my favourite brand is Clover Amour) and I work in UK crochet terminology.  The pattern is in multiples of 18, so if you want to make it bigger you can by simply adding 18, 36 etc... or of course you can also make it smaller by deducting sets of 18 too.

You can find the video tutorial here..

And the pattern here....

For a 40cm cushion pad

Row 1.

CH 264, Start in the 2^nd ch from the hook then *** work 9 DC’s, DC3tog over next 3 stitches, work 9 x DC’s, put 3 x DC into the next stitch.  Repeat from *** (you will end with a set of 9 x DC’s)  TURN.

 

Subsequent rows.

CH1, work 2 x DC’s into the very first stitch, then work 7 x DC’s, *** DC3tog over next 3 stitches, work 9 x DC’s, put 3 x DC’s into the next stitch, work 9 x DC’s, Repeat from *** to the last 8 stitches.  Work 7 x DC’s and work 2 x DC’s into the last stitch.

 

Continue with the rows changing colour as required until the piece measures 40cm from the tip of a Chevron to the opposite tip of a Chevron on the other side  (they will be staggered, not exactly opposite each other).

Join the piece into a tube.  Put your cushion pad into the centre and stitch up the ends.

 

Stitches explained:

Double Crochet (DC) - Put hook through work and draw yarn back through (2 loops on hook) yarn around hook, draw through 2 loops on hook.

Double Crochet 3 together (DC3tog) –

Put hook through 1^st stitch and draw yarn back through (2 loops on hook)

Put hook through 2^nd stitch and draw yarn back through (3 loops on hook)

Put hook through 3^rd stitch and draw yarn back through (4 loops on hook)

yarn around hook, draw through 4 loops on hook.

Slip Stitch (SS) - Put hook through work, draw yarn back through work and the stitch on your hook.

Finn's Chunky Funky Beanie Hat! - quick, easy crochet tutorial

 First off, may I start by saying that I absolutely know that this is not cosy hat weather... however, if you start making these cute little hats now, they will be ready for when it is!

My grandson loves chunky hats, so I thought I should create a very easy pattern for his mum to make him a load in various colours... we all know what kids are like for losing hats, gloves, scarves etc.. so having spares is a necessity.

This is what I came up with - using two strands of DK yarn together and a 5.50mm crochet hook (my favourite brand is Clover Amour) it works up really quite quickly.  Its a very simple shape, and worked in the round so there is only the tiniest bit of sewing up to do at the end (the ribbed hem).  I have added funky little tassels to the top which does require a 4.00mm crochet hook... or of course if you have a Pom Pom maker (which makes the job a whole lot easier) then add a Pom Pom.

It's a great stash-buster too, you can just add new yarn as you go as long as you have two strands.  In fact, I might do a multi-coloured one next with all my tiny left-over balls.

If you would like to make one yourself (or two, or more)  you can find the video here....

Oh, and just for transparency, if you buy anything from Amazon using the links I provided I get a small commission. just pennies if I remember rightly, but it doesn't cost you a bean  :)

The 'Tweed Quartet' Blanket - easy Granny Square crochet

 Well hello,

It's been a little while since my last post and that is because it has taken me AGES to complete a blanket I have been working on... it ended up being quite a large blanket, double bed size and 289 Granny Squares in total!!

I really enjoy designing blankets, I quite enjoying doing the video tutorials.... but when it comes down to editing the videos I find it a bit of a chore!  I can't seem to sit still long enough to do them... and I have to concentrate to remove all the bits where I have told the dog off for making a noise, or my tummy has rumbled... that kind of thing.

Anyway... this current blanket is now done and I am rather chuffed to be able to move onto something else if I am honest.

The video for this design is on my Youtube for you all to have a go at and enjoy, the material list that I have used is below... however I do go into more detail about alternatives in my video which I will link below.

Materials used:  Stylecraft Special DK yarn in...

1 each of  Viola, Proper Purple, Carnation, Fuchsia Purple, Greengage, Apple, Atlantis and Petrol

1 each of Black and Charcoal

4.50mm Crochet Hook - my favourite is Clover Amour

You can find the video here...

I really hope you enjoy it if you fancy having a go, and for those waiting for the tutorial to finally appear, thanks for your patience  :)

Oh, and just for transparency, if you buy anything from Amazon using the links I provided I get a small commission. just pennies if I remember rightly, but it doesn't cost you a bean  :)

A crochet felted / shrunken bag!

 When I had my craft unit this was one of my most favourite  workshops to do.

We all crocheted squares to make a bag, then against all of our instincts not too.... we threw them into a hot wash to shrink!!

So, it was time to revisit it and re-make it for a tutorial.

Of course, you can choose not to shrink your bag, you can just use the pattern to create a regular crochet bag, you might need to line it though so it doesn't stretch.  If you do choose to shrink it you will need to use 100% wool and ignore the washing instructions completely  :)

And you can make any shaped bag you like, my layout is just an example, but any bag you make in 100% wool can be shrunk.

I used Wendy 100% Aran Wool yarn  with a 6.00mm Clover Amour hook

I washed at 90 degrees with a 1400 spin.

If you fancy having a go then here is the video for you .....

Do let me know if you have a go, would love to see your funky bags!   My user name across all the Social Media platforms is Sooz in The Shed.

The Links Blanket - written pattern and video links

 Hello everyone! 

I have had an influx of watchers on my Links Blanket on YouTube recently and it seems some people would like the written pattern beside them as they work rather than keep returning to the video.

Different people have different learning styles, some like to read, some like to watch, so if I can help with both I happily will.

So, below are all the links and all the instructions for my Links Blanket. 

The rainbow effect is my most popular colourway, but the one I originally designed was in shades of purple.

It looks equally as good in a single colour where you are relying on the texture to be the pretty part of the pattern rather than the colour.

Whatever colour to decide to do it in, I hope you enjoy making this  :)

Part 1:

VIDEO TUTORIAL HERE

Link 1. Chain 12, ss into first stitch to join into a ring. CH2, then work 23x HTR's into the ring.  SS to the beginning CH2 to join.

Subsequent Links.  Chain 12, with the first link facing you, thread the chain through the back of the link then ss into first stitch to join into a ring. CH2, then work 23x HTR's into the ring.  SS to the beginning CH2 to join.

For a blanket like the Rainbow one in the photo which is 1 x 1.7m (approx. 3 x 5 ft) you will need 14 strips of 28 links. 

Part 2:

VIDEO TUTORIAL HERE

Round 1.  Take a length of links.  Join in a stitch on the first link and DC in the same space.  DC in the next 4 stitches.

·       (Move to the next link and DC into the next 5 stitches)  work across all your links.

·       Work (DC,CH, DC) in the next stitch. DC in the next 5. (DC, CH, DC) in the next stitch, DC in the next 5.

·       (Move to the next link and missing out 7 stitches from the last stitch in that link, work a DC in the next 5 stitches) work across all your links.

·       Work (DC,CH, DC) in the next stitch. DC in the next 5. (DC, CH, DC) in the next stitch, SS to first stitch to join.

Round 2.  CH1, DC into the first stitch and every following stitch to the corner.  (1 x DC, 1 x CH, 1 x DC) into the corner space.  Repeat all the way around. SS to join.  END YARN.

Round 3.  Rejoin yarn into any CORNER space. CH3, (2 x TR, 2 x CH, 3 x TR) into the same corner space. *** SK2, then 3 x TR into the next stitch. Repeat from *** to next corner (you might have to skip an extra stitch at the end to even up the clusters) work (3 x TR, 2 x CH, 3 x TR) into the same corner space, continue this pattern all the way around. SS to join.

Part 3:

VIDEO TUTORIAL HERE

Joining the strips.  Work a Standing DC into the very first corner hole on the long length of the strip. Pick up the next strip and hold your strips back-to-back. Work a DC into the very first hole on the back strip.

*** CH3, then work a dc into the next free space on the first strip, then a DC into the next free space on the back strip.  Repeat from *** all the way across ending with a DC in the last back space.

Edging – row 1.  With your work facing you, start in any corner space with a SS. CH2, work (1 x HTR, 2 x CH, 2 x HTR) into the corner space.  Working inbetween the previous row stitches work a HTR all the way across.  When you come to a seam, work a HTR right in the middle of the joining stitch.  For each corner space work (2 x HTR, 2 x CH, 2 x HTR) into the corner space.  SS to join, End yarn

Subsequent rows.  With your new yarn, join with a SS into any corner and CH 4, work a HTR into the same corner space. Working inbetween the previous row stitches work a HTR all the way across.  For each corner space work (1 x HTR, 2 x CH, 1 x HTR) into the corner space.  SS to join, End yarn

Stitches explained:

Chain Stitch - Yarn around hook (from the back) and pull the new yarn through the loop on your hook.  This is ONE chain.  Repeat as needed.

Double Crochet (DC) - Put hook through work and draw yarn back through (2 loops on hook) yarn around hook, draw through 2 loops on hook

Half Treble Crochet (HTR) - Yarn around hook (from the back) put hook through work and draw yarn back through (3 loops on hook) yarn around hook, draw through 3 loops on hook.

If you do make this, I would love you to tag me on Instagram, Facebook or any other socials - you can find me using this same user name - Sooz in The Shed.