Showing posts with label tutorial. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tutorial. Show all posts

Saturday 1 February 2020

Iris Stitch Edging - Add this pretty Iris Stitch border to your blankets...

For those of you who know me well, you will know that making blankets is my most favourite thing and adding the border to a finished blanket is the best part of blanket making.  Don't get me wrong I love the whole process.  Choosing the design, colours, type of yarn, spending time all snuggly and warm with a growing blanket on your lap is pure bliss to me, but those final few rounds that add the finishing touch to your masterpiece, is just the cherry on the cake.  I love that feeling of completion  and achievement you get when you finish a blanket.




As you know all through January we have been on a stash busting marathon, making a new granny square each day.  Well, all the squares are finished and joined and it's now time for the border.  I wanted something pretty but simple to go with all the floral themed squares.  So I thought the Iris Stitch would make a wonderful edging to my finished blanket and of course I must also share this with you all...


Useful Links...







If you missed our crochet along, don't worry you can still make this beauty for yourself.  Just check out the link above for all the instructions and pattern links to make this pretty, stash busting blanket.



Iris Stitch Edging


Materials

I used a little over 100g of DK for this border, but you will need to use the same gauge yarn that you used for your blanket.  Amounts will vary depending on your blanket size.
Hook, I used a 4mm hook, but you will need to use the hook size you used for the rest of your blanket.
Darning needle

Abbreviations  

US terms (UK conversion)
dc - double crochet (treble crochet)
v st - v stitch
dv - double v stitch
sl st - slip stitch
 ch - chain
sp - space
sk - skip

Special stitches:

V Stitch - [dc, ch1, dc] in same st.

Double V Stitch - [2dc, ch1, 2dc] in same st.


Other notes:  It is my preference to add a round of single crochet to my blankets before I start my border.  This gives me an even base to start from and the opportunity to correct stitch counts if necessary.  The Iris Edging is worked over multiples of 4 stitches +3.  If you wish, you may during the single crochet foundation round, increase or decrease stitches so that each side of your blanket has the correct multiplier (don't count corner stitches).  This involves lots of counting and Maths (eek!).  If like me you cannot be bothered with this, feel free to fudge it.


Round 1 (Foundation round) starting in a corner st, join yarn and ch1, [sc, ch2, sc] in same st, then sc evenly around your blanket with [sc, ch2, sc] in each corner, join with sl st.  


Round 2 Sl st into corner sp, [ch3 (counts as dc), ch1, dc, ch2, v st] in same sp, *[sk next 3sts, dv in next st] repeat across, sk last 3 sts, [v st, ch2, v st] in corner* repeat from *to* 3 times, [sk next 3 sts, dv in next st] repeat across, join with sl st to top ch3.

If fudging, at the end of this round you may need to sk 2 or 4 sts depending on your st count.  As you can see here in the photo, I skipped only 2 sts before the corner and it really isn't noticeable.


Round 3 Sl st into ch1 sp, [ch3, dc, ch1, 2dc] in same sp, in next and every corner sp [dc, ch2, dc], dv in every v st and dv from previous round, join with sl st to top ch3.


Rounds 2 & 3 form pattern and may be repeated until border is desired width.




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Thanks for stopping by and I hope you liked this pretty edging.  Be sure to subscribe for more posts like this...

TTFN
Catherine
x


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Monday 11 November 2019

Tea Light Snowman - Time to get crafting with the kids and make this super cute pom pom snowman - Christmas Cal

Hello everyone!  It's time for our second edition of our Christmas craft along and this week it's one for the kids to enjoy.  Little T loved making this super cute, Tea Light Snowman.  This project is great for using up scraps of yarn and fabric and is so simple to make.  This snowman will look adorable hanging from your tree this year.


Tea Light Snowman


Materials

Glue
Black marker
Scraps of fabric
Ribbon


Start by making a large pom pom.  Little T used a Clover Pom Pom Maker for this, but, you can use your prefered method.  There are many videos on Youtube if you have never made them before.  


Make sure you use plenty of yarn so your pom pom is extra fluffy.


Carefully cut the yarn and tie securely.


Trim into shape...


Draw a face on your tea light with a black marker.


Glue to the top of your pom pom


Cut a strip of fabric for the scarf and snip the ends to make a fringe.


Cut another strip of fabric and glue a fold on one side for the brim of the hat.  Cut a fringe along the other side.


Glue the two short edges together and tie a piece of yarn around to make a pom pom hat.


Glue your hat and scarf onto your snowman.  Add a hanging ribbon if you are planning on hanging him from your tree.


Your kids will love making these...


Little T even took some of his own photos...


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I hope your kids will love making this snowman.  I will be back next week with more Christmas crafts, so be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out.

Happy crafting!
Catherine
x

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Wednesday 17 July 2019

Learn how to surface crochet and make this cute granny square - A Lullaby Lodge tutorial...

Hello lovely people.  This week I thought we would take a look at surface crochet.  This is an advanced technique that can turn something really simple into something amazing.  Don't feel intimidated by it being an advanced technique, as it is actually very easy once you get the hang of it.  This project uses a basic granny square and adding some surface crochet at the end, totally transforms the look of the square.




Spinning Top Granny Square


Materials

Yarn
Darning needle

Hook

Use a hook recommended on your yarn ball band

Abbreviations US Terms (UK conversion)

dc - double crochet (treble crochet)
sc - single crochet (double crochet)
ch - chain
sl st - slip stitch
st(s) - stitch(s)
sp - space

Advanced technique: Surface crochet.  Surface crochet stitches are worked over the top of your regular crochet stitches, usually after the main body of the crochet is finished.  For this pattern we will only be using chain stitches to "draw" pretty patterns on top of our work.

Other notes:  I used Scheepjes Cahlista (Aran) yarn to make my squares, with a 5mm (H) hook, but you can use any yarn you like, just use the hook size recommended on your yarn ball band.  I like to use a chainless dc to start my rounds, you can do this if you wish or use the traditional ch3 as stated in the pattern.

With chosen yarn and hook, ch4 and sl st to form ring.

Round 1 ch3 (counts as dc, in this and every round), 11dc into ring, join with sl st to top ch3.  (12dc).  If you find it easier you can add a stitch marker to your first stitch; move this up each round.


Round 2 ch3, dc in same st, 2dc in each st around, join with sl st to top ch3. (24dc).


Round 3 ch3, dc in same st, [dc in next st, 2dc in next st] repeat around to last st, dc in last st, join with sl st to top ch3.  (36dc).  


Round 4  ch4, 2tr in same st, ch2, 3tr in next st (corner made).  *Dc in next 2 sts, hdc in next 3 sts, dc in next 2 sts, 3tr in next st, ch2, 3tr in next st* repeat from *to* 3 times.  Dc in next 2 sts, hdc in next 3 sts, dc in next 2 sts, join with sl st to top ch4.  Fasten off and weave in ends.


Round 5 ch1 (does not count as st) sc in same place, sc in every st around and 3sc in each corner sp, join with sl st to first sc.  Fasten off and weave in ends.


Insert your hook from front to back into the top of any st from round 1.  Holding your yarn at the back of your work, pull up a loop.  Insert your hook into the next st and pull up a loop and pull through loop on hook making a ch st.  Continue to make ch sts in this way in every st from round 1.  Cut yarn.


To finish off neatly, pull yarn through to the front of your work.  Thread onto a darning needle and slide under the first ch st and pull through, next insert your needle into the centre of the last ch st and push through to the back of your work.  Fasten off and weave in ends.


Repeat this process on rounds 2 and 3.


You can really experiment with colours and make some pretty squares...


Changing the background colour totally changes the look.


This granny square pattern is available in an ad free pdf format in my Etsy Store...

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I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and have fun experimenting with surface crochet.  If you would like to see more posts like this then be sure to follow (in the sidebar) and subscribe...


I will see you all very soon
Catherine
x

Spinning Top Granny Square PDF





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Tuesday 9 July 2019

How to make the perfect granny square - Updated version, a tutorial by Lullaby Lodge...

Hello everyone.  I have been taking some time to look over and review some of my older tutorials and patterns and feel that some of them need a bit of refreshing.  So this week's Tutorial Tuesday will feature the first of these updated patterns.  Granny squares are one of my favourite things to crochet and so I loved making these squares to update the tutorial...


You can find the updated tutorial here...




I will be back again soon and don't forget to follow (in the sidebar) and subscribe for more tutorials and patterns...


Take care
Catherine
x



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Tuesday 25 June 2019

Learn how to crochet front post & back post stitches, in this step by step tutorial by Lullaby Lodge...

I have a pattern coming out soon that utilises front post stitches, so I thought this would be a good time to do a tutorial to show you exactly how to do them.  Post stitches give a really unique look to your work and are much easier to do than they sound.



Front & Back Post Stitches


Materials

Yarn
Darning needle

Hook

Use a hook recommended on your yarn ball band or required by your pattern

Abbreviations US Terms (UK Conversion)

dc - double crochet (treble crochet)
fpdc - front post double crochet (front post treble crochet)
bpdc - back post double crochet (back post treble crochet)
ch - chain
sl st - slip stitch
st(s) - stitch(s)
yo - yarn over

Usually when we crochet we work into the top of the stitch, but we can create exciting new effects in our work, simply by placing our stitches in a different place.  Front and back post stitches are worked in exactly the same way, the only difference is where you place your stitch.  Post stitches are worked around the post instead of into the top of the stitch.


Front Post Double Crochet


Make a small swatch to practice on.  Ch 13, dc in 3rd ch from hook and each ch across.  Turn.  (10dc)

Ch 3 to start your row and then insert your hook, from front to back, around the post of the next st.


Finish off your dc stitch as normal - yo and pull up a loop,


yo and pull through 2 loops,


yo and pull through remaining 2 loops.


Continue with a fpdc in each st, ending with a dc in the top of your ch3.


This is how it looks from the other side...



Back Post Double Crochet


Make a small swatch to practice on.  Ch13, dc in 3rd ch from hook and each ch across.  Turn.  (10dc)

Ch 3 to start your row and then insert your hook, from back to front, around the post of the next st.


Finish off your dc stitch as normal - yo and pull up a loop,


yo and pull through 2 loops,


yo and pull through remaining 2 loops.


Continue with a bpdc in each st, ending with a dc in the top of your ch3.


This is how it looks on the other side...


Now you know how to make front and back post double crochets.  The principle is the same for other crochet stitches, you can work single crochets, half double crochets and treble crochets around the post in the same way.

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That's it for this week's tutorial, I hope you found it helpful.  Don't forget to follow (in the sidebar) and subscribe for more posts like this.  I usually post 3 or 4 times a week, so make sure you don't miss out.

Happy hooking!
Catherine
x

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