COLOURFUL CROCHET : a hexagon back pack

Here it is as a WIP but let me tell you I finally finished it yesterday!!!
I started it in June 2008 after being inspired by a picture in the May/June 08 issue of Crochet Today.

I decided to use cotton DK instead of the aran yarn so I had to adapt a bit, and a bit more and a bit more until it turned out A LOT DIFFERENT really.

I have been using stash yarns: cotton DK with approx 120 m on a 50 g ball:
a golden yellow, several dark terracotta browns, a light terracotta brown, a'' true'' red , an orangey red, a deep almost brown red, and at the end when I was running out : an orange from Rowan's handknit cotton range.
I also used some 4 ply cotton from Patons- used double -to keep going with the reds I liked.

You need a 4mm hook or 4.5mm if you like it a bit looser and use a lot of the almost aran type Rowan cotton.

I made 36 hexagons: 4 rows of 9, and 18 pentagons: 2 rows of 9 and another 10 hexagons for the optional closure flap.
Then added: a base as above and 2 straps, covered a large ball-bead with dc crochet as a button and a cord of chain stitch with a second row of slipstitch along it's length.

Hexagon: ( in UK terms: every dc is a sc and every treble a dc for USA readers)

Chain 4 and close with a slip st.,
Chain 3 and add 2 trbles into the ring,*chain1, treble3, repeat from * until you have 5 groups of 3 trebles and one group of a 3 ch and 2 tr. Slipst into the 3rd chain of the first group.

Change colour, chain3 into a chain space add 2 tr,ch1,tr3, into the same ch space, then * ch1 , tr3,ch1,tr3 into the next chain space, repeat from * until you have 6 groups of ''double petals'' , finish round by ch1 and slipstotch into the 3rd chain at the beginning of round.

( a petal is a group of 3 trebles)

Change colour: Fasten new colour into a chain space and if you hold the yarn end along the previous row you can crochet over it and avoid having to sew in the ends!!!

Now pay attention: you are going to crochet 2 groups of 3 trebles into the chain space between 2 petals and only 1 group of 3 trebles into the space between the groups of 2 petals: Comprendez?

Fasten into a ch sp between 2 groups of 2 petals, chain3 and add 2 tr, then mover to the next ch sp and work:* 3tr,1ch,3tr ,move to next ch sp and work 3tr then repeat from * until yoi are back at the firsy 3 chain and slip st onto the 3rd st of this. FINITO!

To convert the HEXAGON into a flat topped: PENTAGON you do the same for the first colour and then instead of working 6 groups of 2 petals for the second colour ; you work 5 groups of 2 petals and ONE group of just 3 trebles.
Then in the third colour: 4 sides are identical to the hexagon BUT the final side is: worked as a group of 3 trebles in each chain space across the flat edge after the corners have been worked as double petals. I can't seem to say this very clearly so have a look at the pictures and all will become clear!

Remember they are clickable so you can enlarge at really see ALL of the detail!!! It's alomost or actually as good as a diagram which I myselg always prefer to work from!!!

Later in the week I will try to make time to show in pictures how the hexagons are crocheted together in the final round: there's no sewing at all!!! I worked them in the round no side seams.

Base and straps to follow tomorrow as I have puppy duties to do!!!

For an update on the puppies: see the dachshund diaries on www.stitchingandhookingpassion.blogspot.com

The straps were lined in a polka dot cotton and then sewn on and the end were decorated with a duo of buttons: a large red one and a smaller yellow square one.

The yellow drawstring cord was finished with a pair of tassels and the bag is fully lined in a red cotton fabric. I have reinforced the base with a piece of plastic canvas.

I made a flap for security as in August 2008 I was robbed of my wallet while walking in Oxford and I felt a backpack is very open to such abuse as I do not have eyes in theback of my head- contrary to what my kids believe.......

So to cover the drawstring opening I have made a 10 hexagon flap and sewn this onto the bag.

More details to follow.

Copenhagen jacket progress update

Sorry about this but the photos are just so very tricky to take - the texture and relief is not easily seen on such a deep colour yarn....


I have now finished one of the side panels. The pattern is free on Ravelry: just search for Copenhagen jacket.

It calls for aran yarn but I am making it in a pure wool DK yarn called Merino Sport from Yeoman Yarns. It's a real bargain really at only £2 per ball: 100% wool, very soft and 120 m per 50 g ball.
The cables are going fabulously : you ''crossover'' every 3 rows and it has a soothing rythm to do, once you get the hang of it , it's suitable for chatty knitting/ stitching groups or radio listening but not quite so handy with tv, I find I miss whole sections of a show as I get a bit absorbed in the stitching.


Very satisfying to do! And I've had quite a lot of ''wow'' and ''that's not crochet is it?'' and '' it looks like knitting'' and '' Love the texture'' type comments when out and about.

The pictures are clickable if you wish to see the stitch details. I will be posting the details of how I'm adapting the pattern for the finer yarn and adding bust shaping and making it a bit longer- just give me a chance!

Those who have also chatted on Ravelry will see that I will be on ''puppy duties ''for the next 8 weeks at least: they were born on 28 February and after 7 sleepless nights I'm having a day off to catch up on sleep and here I am blogging....pffffff.....

I will do it soon, I promise.

The jacket consists of 2 side panels which go over the shoulder front to back, a shawl collar panel, 2 more body panels and 2 sleeves, and a central back panel. All feature cables.

I am planning a bit of shaping where the front panel attaches to the long side panels to accomodate the ''bustier'' types amongst us as I don't like a jacket to rise in the centre front and dip in the back.....

The original pattern is just a series of rectangles /triangles with no shaping.

January update: puppies, frost and resolutions!

Happy New Year, you can tell I've been so busy as I may have been on ravelry a little but no time to blog at all!

Firstly the beloved and gorgeous Pippa was mated on 27 December and we are very eagerly awaiting to see if she's pregnant or not....

She changed behaviour and from not really liking cuddles has instituted a new routine whereby she comes in our bed for a cuddle so hence the photo!

I rather think the sulky look is all about trying to wake JJ- by licking his ears usually- and not succeeding...

The next pictures are about my resolutions to make even more, be more creative and also learn entirely new skills such as touch typing, French and playing the piano .

The new piano came last week and my lessons start tomorrow!!!

It's reading music that I'm dreading the most as it all seems so incomprehensible.

On Nintendo DS- a much loved Prezzie from Santa- I like playing the piano on '' more braintraining'' BUT that is with the music notes designated with letters BOTH on the keys and on the music!

My French lessons for the Nintendo have only arrived today so more of that at a later date and the touch typing was amazing!

NO I'm not doing it yet as I'm much faster with 2 fingers and looking down BUT in 90 minutes- just like it says on the can- or in this case as stated on the packet of the software- I WAS and HAVE BEEN typing quite happily with ALL 8 fingers and the occasional thumb AND WITHOUT LOOKING DOWN AT ALL!

Now I just have to practice an awful lot.....

On the creative side this is what I made over X-mas as a present - slightly delayed- for Christmas for a baby ( BIG BABY more than 18 months old) of a friend...

It uses 6mm hook I think( or 6.4mm I'll have to check) and a very easy textured stitch.

It's in Marble Chunky and used 260 grammes of this.

( It comes in 200g balls)

If anyone would like it I can write out the pattern?!!!It's my own.

Then of course we had to see a bit of FROST as it was soooo pretty !!!

And Finally my ongoing major project which is the COPENHAGEN jacket I found on RAVELRY.

I am making it longer and putting darts in it as a lovely lady in NY warned me it was on the short side and I could see it rides ''up '' a bit in front as there's no shaping so that wouldn't do for my figure...

I am also making it in DK rather than aran which means I have to do so much more: more stitches, more rows and extra panels....

I have almost completed the first front far left panel: VOILA.

My version of the Copenhagen Jacket

Samples made in the long panel pattern from the free pattern on the naturally caron.com website.

Pattern name is: Copenhagen Jacket.

Also featured on Ravelry, a lady in NY, USA has made it in a bright red and it looked fantastic so I've been obsessing about making one to wear at work...

I have sampled 100 % baby llama and a cotton/wool mix both aran weights but the former was too soft hairy and''buttery'' in feel and the latter was too ''crisp''.

Now sampling both aran and dk wools as I fear the aran with crocheted cables AND a shawl collar will add too much bulk to my short and ''stout'' frame not to mention the added inches my bustline definately does NOT need.....

I'll be making scarves and hats in the baby llama though: it's a ''to die for'' SOFTNESS!!!!( from Mirasol )

The grey is cahmerino aran by Debbie Bliss, 5mm hook, the deep red a pure wool aran, the pink is a trial piece in dinamo pre wool dk- I WILL NOT be making it in pink, if I choose this it'll be in a grey or turquoise, royal blue or red....

And the blue is a very soft merino wool dk from James Brett and a 4,5mm hook.

Samples for gauge testing made as above:TO BE CONTINUED......