Old book, memories and MODERN designs to crochet and wear

This is IT, a lovely lovely book I discovered at a yarn shop in Bovey Tracey, Devon when we were there in the half term holiday. It was a shop copy and very old but I found it on Amazon!
It has the most terrific memories for me as it features many crochet patterns which I have seen before in a Dutch needlecraft magazine called ARIADNE to which I subscribed in the mid 1970's and all through the 1980's. My sister even had it sent to Canada for me when I lived there in the 1984/1985.

This is my all time favourite and I simply MUST try to make it , maybe in a turquoise or blue colour? It's in a wool but the pattern does not state an aran thickness. The crochet cabling is stunning.

A zigzag relief design.

More creamy snowy wooliness in crochet cables.

Terrific lattice, great for cycling on my orange bike too!

Very unusual but intriguing stitch this, still all crochet!

Fabulous patterning in mohairs too. Another fave, a must make, as soon as I have sourced the right mohairs
Boucle too.Summer jumpers in cotton for children and adults alike.

This was just a taste, there's 60 patterns in the book and I can't wait to start trying them out.

Rona from ROWAN update on progress: CROCHET

Back at last! Ordered a new battery for my ancient camera at last as could not yet decide on the new camera! Been at work for 3 whole weeks now and loving it . but for a few days ot was an 11 hour day , which is a tad EXHAUSTING!
All the non-blogging was spent in extra crochet planning time as RONA from ROWAN is to be my 2010 birthday project ( one of 2 or 3 as it's such a special birthday)

I have FINALLY agreed and decided on the 4 patches and they are as above. The green, purple, navy and burgundy wools are from my Rowan designer wool stash from the 1980's when they were destined for a complex knitted fairisle design with lots of big blowsy flowers and quite a lot of kidsilk haze as well as chenille. I knitted about 4 inches/ 10 cm before the wools all tangled horribly and I got fed up with the slow progress on 3mm needles and the tightness of the knitting.
At last I have decided to use some of the wool in this RONA jacket pattern which has 4 patches, 2 of which are classic granny squares.

Thus far I have made 7-8 squares of each , I have bought some felted tweed DK ( PALE SKY BLUE) and some REVIVE: a yarn recylced from old clothing which is a delight to work with and is the pale tweedy pink.

These were 2 squares I tried, I like both but they didn't quite fit in, especially the one on the left was too bright to mix well as in the design.

The flower patch gave me the most problems because the Rowan one has a large circular hole in the centre which I really did NOT like so I was experimenting quite a bit. I also thought the flower too big and too square so I have completely redesigned the flower in 2 colours with a heart and smalller curvier petals. I also experimented with a grren or a plum behind the flower but decided on a pinky burgundy which I already had in a younger part of my stash from Yeoman Yarns. You get just a tiny peek of this. Once I was well into making the squares I suddenly realised that I had been subconsciously influenced by a new scarf which I adore and had happily acquired from the charity shop recently for £1!!! It's very soft and warm and I simply LOVE love love wearing it. LOOK! See the resemblance? Unplanned I promise!

The darker blue is some more felted tweed which I bought before realising the colour has been discontinued, I now plan to make the yoke, sleeve underarm and buttin bands/collar in this.

It comes with a very basic schematic and no diagrams ( shame on you Rowan!) and the schematic is pretty limited so I made a toile by drafting it in tissue paper and sewing the pieces in a calico cotton. It's on the ''wide'' and very short side , the sleeves are too long and it rides up in the front ( I'm too busty by half!) so I'll have to compensate for all that.

I will model my version on a fave denim jacket I have had and worn for the past 20 years or so.

My squares measure 9.5 cm versus the GAUGE ones at 8 cm so I'm recalibrating quantities and sizing as well. I'm using a 3mm hook.

This is the inspiration, the picture in the magazine, although this did not appeal to me! I only fell for it when I SAW the real thing on a stand in Liberty of London just before Christmas.

It was tweedy but rough and scratchy in feel and I still do not really like the colours. I like the subtlety but can't wear those shades and tones, too much ochre.

She sleeps or she reads. As will I go do now: read and then sleep. Good night.

FREE Floral brooch in PRIZE DRAW

YES siree here they are, albeit fairly poorly photographed today. Sorry but had to rush to get it on here in time! 2 prized up for grabs: a 9 cm and a 5 cm brooch, one's all pinks and the smaller one has a bit of purple too. The orange-brown looking one is the pink one with the flash turned off...ah well. Typifies the day a bit.

Below is the smaller one. Good Luck for the Draw tomorrow!!!!

Happy hooking and enjoy the weekend!!! Especially a happy Mothers' Day too if that applies to you.

Free KISSES fingerless gloves pattern in CROCHET

Fingerless Gloves Crochet Pattern

November 2009 Susan Koffler

In this pattern UK crochet terms are being used.
If you are used to USA terms please refer to the conversion table at the end of the pattern.

YARNS USED:

DK pure wool 2 balls of 50 g and 120m per 50 g. USA Weight: category: #3 Light Worsted
Sock yarn: category #1 Super Fine: alpaca 186m per 50 g.

Actual yarns used in the photographed sample:
1 ball Artesano Hummingbird 4 ply in the blues variegated colourway

2 balls Mondial Merino Sport by Yeoman Yarns in colour # 1
This is a machine washable pure merino wool.

Crochet Hook: 4.5mm.( US #7)

Difficulty: Intermediate or confident beginner.

The pattern is for a small adult or teenage girl’s sized hand, there are guidance notes to adjust the pattern at the end of the pattern.


Size:
18 cm around cuff, cuff length: 6.5 cm.
Overall length from cuff edge to fingers: 19 cm.
Palm width 20 cm in circumference, 10 cm across.


Gauge:
4 crossed treble stitches to 5 cm ( 2’’)
4 rows of crossed trebles to 5 cm ( 2’’)

Stitches Used:
Crossed trebles XTR
Front post treble: FPTR
Back post treble: BPTR
2TRTOG: standard decrease by working 2 trebles together as one.
Sl st= slip stitch
Dc= Double crochet ( SC in USA)


Pattern Notes:

The pattern is worked in the round from the wrist to the first knuckles of the fingers and then a ribbed cuff is added later and worked to the desired length.
In this pattern all fingers are separated by a stitch but this may be omitted if the wearer prefers the fingers to share one opening.
The 2 yarns are held and worked together as one throughout.
This gives it more body, softness and a tweedy effect.And boy: IT'S REALLY WARM!!!

PATTERN:

Chain 36 loosely or in a hook a few sizes larger than a 4.5mm, close with a sl st.
R1: Ch3 work 35 trebles in the chains. Close with a sl st.
R2 : Ch3 then work a tr in the stitch to the right of the 3ch.( first crossed tr made),
Continue to work in crossed tr by skipping the next tr and working a tr in the 2nd stitch after the 3 ch. Then work the next tr by stitching it into the skipped stitch
( second XTR made) , continue round for a further 16 XTR. Close row with a sl st into the top of the 3ch.
R3,4 as row 2: 18 XTR in the round.
Divide for thumb:
R5: CH 3 and a tr in the previous stitch, then work 6 more XTR, skip the next 8 sts and work 7 XTR to end the row with a slst to the top of the 3ch.
The hand is now 14 XTR and the thumb: 4 XTR.
In the next row R6: work 2 XTR in the first stitch above the thumb divide: 15 XTR in total.
R7, 8,9Continue the hand first: work 3 more rows XTR as before- 15 XTR.
R10:Ch1 , work a dc in each top of a treble for 5 sts then work 2 dc in the top of the 6th treble, repeat to the end.You should now have 35 sts. Sl st to close.
R11: Ch1, work 3 dc : 1 in each stitch below, then work a dc in the double layer by working it across the top of the glove opening: push the hook through 2 sts one from each side ( front and back) of the glove. It should be 3 sts in from the side at the back as well as the front.
Work 4dc and work another dc across the 2 layers at the same point front and back: so you are now 9 sts in from the right hand edge of the glove.( working stitches from right to left)
Work 4 dc and repeat the one dc across 2 layers: you are now 14 sts in from the right hand edge of this glove’s top opening and 4 sts from it’s left hand edge.
Now work 7 dc round the top moving from the front side( the side facing you) to the back side of the glove, after 3 sts of these 7 turn the work.
Work the remaining 4 dcs and this should take you to the first finger separation line.
Work 1 dc across 2 layers.
Work 4dc and work 1 dc across 2 layers.
Work 4dc and work 1 dc across 2 layers.
You should now be back at the opening for the first or smallest finger.
Work 3 dc and fasten off.

You should have 4 finger openings with the one for the smallest finger being 6dcs and the one nearest the thumb being 7 dcs.

Finish Thumb:
Work 10 dc in the top of the trebles of the thumb hole.
Work 1 or more rows like this depending on size of thumb.
Fasten off. Sew in ends neatly.

Ribbed Cuff:

Fasten yarn back onto the starting chain near the thumb end of the glove.
If you want a tight ribbing you can go down a hook size to 4mm or smaller.
R1 : Ch 3 then work 2tr, then work one 2TRTOG,* work 3 tr then 1 2TRTOG: repeat from * to end and sl st to close. You should have 26 sts.
R2: 3 Ch then *FPTR,BPTR repeat from * to end and close with a sl st.
This forms the ribbing, the 3 ch is effectively a BPTR.
Work 7 more rows of ribbing and fasten off.

If you would like a longer cuff: work more rows.

Work the other glove the same way but reverse the spacings at the top or turn it around to suit. Left and Right hand are worked the same way.


Size Adjustments:
For larger sizes add stitches in increments of 2 to fit personal palm/wrist size.
And/ or use a 5mm hook or larger.
M: I suggest 40 sts ie 20 XTR
L : 44 sts: ie 22 XTR

When you get to the top of the palm divide the stitches you have by 4 to give the spacings.

If you need to use a 5.5mm hook: use another strand of the sock yarn or the fabric will be too loose and less warm.

Conversion Stitches:UK dc = USA sc
UK treble= USA dc
Every type of treble mentioned is a type of dc.

Please note this pattern is the copyright of Susan Merry King Designs and can be used freely for personal use only.

If you link to this pattern please credit it to me and PLEASE do not use it to make gloves to sell.

I will be having some finished items like this to sell in my Etsy and MISI shops real soon I hope.