Crochet & Craic - lots of scarves

Remember I mentioned that is had been 'scarf month' at Crochet & Craic?  I made THIS scarf for it.

Well, let me show you what everyone else made too.

Vera's scarf - made in a colour change acrylic yarn.  A lovely design that she got out of her DK Crochet Book, made even more lovely by the changing shades throughout.  She added a little fringe too, which always finishes a scarf off nicely I think.

Next was Liz's scarf.  She used the Nancy's Waves pattern for hers, doesn't it look fab?

Liz also made an infinite scarf/snood in the same pattern, but using two colours to define the waves.

Liz then did another one too, she really got into this scarf making  :)  A gorgeous pattern taken from a '365 crochet projects' calender.

Oh, and here is another from Liz - I told you she had been busy!!   Again, from the calender, this is a wiggly, curly, stash-buster.   What great colours!

And this one is from Lezley - made with super chunky Kiko yarn, it really is thick and cosy, just the thing for a cold winter day.  It is still a work in progress, and all those nasty ends need to be sewn in - don't you just HATE that job?

A close up  :)

If you fancy coming along and joining in, we have Crochet & Craic every other monday in Carlisle Hobbycraft, 5.30-7.30pm.  It is £5.00 and you bring your own project, or work on the themed one if you wish to.

Nancy's Waves Crochet Scarf

The theme for February's Crochet & Craic  (a crochet group at Hobbycraft, Carlisle) is Scarves.

The rules are you either:

• Have to use a hook size you have never used before.
• Have to choose and work in a yarn you have never used before
• Have to find a stitch you have never attempted before.

So I quickly bashed up a few samples from free patterns I discovered on Google.

One I found was a gorgeous pattern called Nancy's Waves - you can find it HERE if you would like a go yourself.

I made a start with a gorgeous W.I yarn called Soft & Silky.  It is a 4ply, but quite a thick 4ply in my opinion, bordering on DK.  This colour way is Lilac Mix.

When I got a little way in I thought the 'waves' might be better shown off with different colours, so I swapped - still using the W.I soft & silky, these colours are Slate, Lime and Turquoise.  You can find them on the Hobbycraft website by clicking on the links.

I think it looks so much better with the colour.  I used the bright ones to form the waves and the slate grey to separate them.

It actually also looks really good in solid colours - a couple of ladies made them at the C&C group, one in glittery purple and the other in a shimmery dark purple, both looked equally gorgeous.

It is a 4 line pattern - well 3 really, as the 4th line is just the 2nd line but staggered - so it is quite easy to get to grips with.

Let me know if you give it a go  :)  Of if you fancy joining us at C&C, the next one is Mon 16th, 5.30-7.30pm.  £5.00, bring your hook and yarn  :)

Fluffy Squares

Crochet & Craic starts again on the 5th Jan.

What is Crochet & Craic, I hear you ask?

Well crochet, is crochet..... and Craic is slang for "gossip".  So it's a crochet and gossip group.

It is held up at Carlisle Hobbycraft every other Monday evening, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.   

It cost £5.00 as it is a tutored group, so you bring your own projects, anything that you are having difficulty with, and get help and support with them. 

OR.... this year we are having a monthly theme, which you can choose to join in with or not.   It is adaptable for various abilities, so you can make it as easy or as complicated as you wish.

We are starting in January with a crochet bag.   On the 5th we will look at square shaped patterns, whether it be a Granny square, a Tunisian square, a flower square or any other square that you may think of.  I will have a supply of inspiration to choose from, just bring your yarn and a suitable hook.

Over the next fortnight, and before the next session, you will work on your squares so that you have enough to complete your bag.   We will then learn how to join them, how to add a strap and even how to line your bag, should you choose to do so.

I have made a start on my sample squares.  Working a craft cotton along side a fluffy yarn to create some fabulously textured squares.

If you would like to come along, there is no need to book, just turn up.  Hobbycraft is just off Junction 44 of the M6 and we will be upstairs, you can't miss us, follow the chatter  :)

Crochet Christmas Decorations

At "Crochet & Craic", the bi-weekly crochet group I run at Hobbycraft in Carlisle, we have a monthly theme - all entries get entered into a draw to win a little prize.

This months theme was 'something to hang on a Christmas Tree', and these were the fabulous entries....

Let's have a look up close shall we?

First there is Nya's owl, gripping tightly onto a candy cane - so much fun!!

Then Karen made one of my Christmas Pudding baubles from a kit she purchased.

Next came Sandra's hangings - a cracker, and a sweetie.

Liz made a flat, glittery white bell.

And Vera made a 3D bell.

Pat made a Candy Cane to hang on her tree.

And last but not least were these lovely, almost Nordic like, decorations from Louise.

All names were entered in the draw and Louise won a Lindt chocolate bear for her efforts.

Well done all who entered, looking forward to seeing what you make next year.

Crochet & Craic is back on the 5th January, 5.30-7.30pm.  This year we will be having a monthly project, you can join in if you like, or just do your own thing.   January's project will be a crocheted and lined bag.

Feel free to pop along, no need to book.

Sea Creatures challenge at "Crochet & Craic"

You might already know that I run a fortnightly Crochet & Craic  (gossip) group at Hobbycraft, in Carlisle.

Every  month we have a little challenge going, and last month it was "Sea Creatures".

We had two entries this time, a fabulous mermaid from Vera - made from her own head and without any pattern.

And a sea anemone from Pat, again without a pattern.

Aren't they just fab??

This month the theme is Halloween.  Join us if you like, the next one is on Monday 13th October, 5.30-7.30pm.  It is a tutored group which costs £5.00 - bring the project you need help with.

Hope to see you there   :)

"Something for the bathroom" challenge

Over on the Bead Buddies Forum, the monthly challenge for April was "Something for the bathroom".

You may remember I made this Toilet Roll, Toilet Roll cover for it.

I also took the challenge out to my regular groups at Hobbycraft in Carlisle.  

The Crochet & Craic group came up with some fabulous things.  Which I really should have taken separate photographs of.  I'm quite annoyed with myself for not doing that now.   But I will try and explain them as best I can.

From the right at the back there is a cute little bathroom set, made entirely from crochet.  I can show you a closer photo of this one as I can steal it from the maker, Vera's, Facebook wall   :)

Cute huh?

Back to the main photo  (posted again to save you scrolling back up)  there are two white crocheted facecloths, also by Vera, a lovely crochet facecloth in white with blue by Louise, a supercute little crochet holder with 6 little crocheted cotton face pads by Ann (such a great idea!).  Two toilet toll covers, one mine and one, again by Vera, in cream with flowers.  Last but not least is the blue bath mat at the front by Stacey.

All the names were put into a hat and one was pulled out.  Stacey won some choccies.

The Bead & Banter monthly meet was the week after (last night in fact) and we got these entries.

Hahaha, got to laugh at Elizabeth's sense of humour with this one, when you open the card you can see the chap's backside!

And Karen made this amazing wirework toothbrush stand - just look at the curls and swirls in that!!

Janet make a gorgeous heart willow wreath, adorned with shells and beads.  This would look great hanging in anyone's bathroom.

Joan decorated a candle with beaded memory wire and hand coiled wires.

All the names were popped into a hat and Janet won some choccies this time.

Next time I will try to remember better photos at both groups!

If you come to either group, the next theme is Africa, you can use the colours, animals, landscape, culture - as long as it fits you can enter it   :)

Hobbycraft groups 'Bunting Challenge'

You know I took part in the Bunting challenge over on the Bead Buddies forum?   Well, I decided to use that very same challenge for my monthly groups at Hobbycraft.

First of all the Crochet & Craic group.

There was two wonderful entries, this one from Anne, butterflies along a crochet rope.  Isn't it wonderful?

...and this one my my Mum, Vera, she made the pattern up all on her own and I am very impressed.  Love it.

I popped their names into a hat and Anne won a few naughty chocolates  :)

The next night was the Beads & Banter group meeting, a few more had taken part from this group.

First we had Karen's singular bunting - does that make it a 'bunt'?  Just look at how that ladybird bounces on the coiled wire, so cute.

Liz made her bunting by stringing shells.  This would look fabulous in a bathroom.

Elizabeth made a really beautiful card, with bunting and lots of other components.  Must have taken ages.

Jennifer wired up triangles of beads to make hers, then strung them on a lovely ribbon.

Last, but not least, Joan (with the help of her Grandchildren, who coloured in the flags) made this colourful bunting, each flag is held onto the ribbon with a bead.

I have to say I was impressed with the entries, loved them all, but there could only be one winner, so the names went into the hat again and Karen won herself a few choccies.  (she hasn't got them yet though as I forgot to take them with me!!)

The next challenge for them is "something for the bathroom" so it will be interesting to see what they come up with for that one.  Especially the beading group.