RAINBOW BLANKET PROGRESS TO 10 MAY 2009

Details on the other blog: www.stitchingandhookingpassions.blogspot.com in the MAY posts , published on 13 May 2009.

This was the state of play on 10 May 2009, by 13 May 5 more colours had been added, it weighed 666 grammes and measures 112cm by 82 cm for 82 rows or 41 colours( as most colours get a 2 row stripe)

Rippling on: new stitch in the dip: 3htr/tog: tutorial

Hello well here I am a bit later on and as promised I have taken photos of the way I work the stitches in the ''dip'' of the ripple.
The pattern said: skip one , htr one and skip one BUT after working it that way for a few rows I decided I didn't really like it.
Soooooo after the burgundy row I started the ''new'' and '' my own'' method : click and close up on the Royal blue row after the burgundy one in a previous post to see?!!Or the next post which will also show the difference!

Here foloows a step by step tutorial in pictures of how I do it: for you experts it's a 3htrtog.

Having worked your ''downsloping'' 5 htrs in the usual way you identify the next 3 stitches: see the pins?
There's a T pin, a blue headed pin and a purple headed pin in the 3 stitches identified.
You don't need pins but I was trying to make it clear.


Yarn over and stick hook into the first stitch in the usual way.Pull yarn through: you now have 3 loops on the hook.

Yarn over and stick hook into the next stitch: pull yarn through that stitch only: you now have 5 loops on the hook.

Yarn over and stick the hook into the third stitch and pull yarn through only that stitch: you now have 7 loops on the hook.

See above: 7 loops on the hook all at once. Don't work it too tight or the next bit is too hard, but also don't work it too loose or it won't look so good- practice first? It really isn't hard with a bit of practice.

Yarn over and pull yarn through ALL 7 loops on the hook in ONE go.

One loop on the hook and it looks as the photo above?

Now you'll work the first of the next 5 normal htrs but control the yarn you don't want it too loose.... Here it is with the yarn over worked and am about to pull the yarn through. Now work the rest in the usual way until the next ''dip''.

If you have any problems: do let me know and I'll try to help.


HAVE A BEARK AND A CUP OF TEA OR A WALK IN THE GARDEN!!!!

And now for the edges: which you'll want to keep nice and straight: I have devised the following:

EDGE STITCHES TUTORIAL

You've worked most of the row and have worked 5 htrs since the last group of 3 in one stitch: ie since the last ''peak''.There's 2 stitches left: a ''proper'' htr and the 2 chain which you worked at the beginning of the previous row.

The above is your starting point, yes? It looks like this?


You are going to work a 2htrtog. or 2 htrs worked together, very similar to the 3htrtog above but not as big.

Yarn over and pull yarn through stitch( the htr below): 3 loops on hook.

Now identify the top of the 2 chain and you are going to put your hook through this and pull yarn through- the T pin is showing the place. There's 2 loops above and one loop below the hook when inserted.

So from 3 loops on the hook you go yarn over and put hook into top of 2 chain( the chain nearest to the previous htr) pull yarn through: 5 loops on hook.

As shown below.

Then yarn over and pull through all 5 loops in one go. One loop on hook as below.

Now you work the 2 chain stitches and turn the work.

I show you in turquoise and then have to redo it it in pale aqua as I have worked 2 rows turq already and I need to change colour- oops wait a moment.....

But before I go I'll just show you where the FIRST htr of a row is worked in the NEXT row after the 2 chain and AFTER turning: VOILA: the pin shows you the stitch to go into.

CLICK on the picture and it will go full screen and you can then enlarge even more at your leisure .

Now I'll return to my correct colour but actually this is NOT as easy to see so the above was useful after all!

I find the pale aqua does not show up well on the white ground, sorry. Clicking will help.

2 chain as before and then:

The first htr is about to be worked.

I do so hope this has been helpful. Please leave a comment if you have any queries or contact me on Ravelry if that is more convenient?

HAPPY HOOKING AND HAPPY EASTER-Y RIPPLING!!!!!!

First few rippling rows

First few rows of the ripple balnket to share with you...
Not going to say much today as I'm not feeling so well, more tomorrow or soon I promise.

The forst red row was on Tuesday last and it took a while to decide what to work after the burgundy row and then after the pink row too- various options were tried and frogged...

This is how thw wholw length looks: 15 repeats and now at approx 112 cm width.

Without a flash...

With flash on....

I changed the way I do the dips- after the purple row I think- can you see the difference? I'll explain and demo next time.

Not sure about the narrower rows either- kind of fun but not sure it ''works''....I think I'll continue to throw some in when I feel like it, to have all 2 row stripes is a little too regular for me...?????

RAINBOW - joy! Woolly colour goodness!!!

GOOD MORNING!!!! It's been simply the BEST kind of morning for me and I'm just grinning and jumping for joy. The above wool has just ARRIVED and I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE it, nay you could say - oooh I just cannot find the words?
Adore? Obsessed? Energised? very very VERY excited?! Better than sex? Maybe... Orgasmic? You bet!

A rainbow of wool : as ordered from YEOMAN YARNS last week, 15 FABULOUS bright colours in PURE 100% WOOL and at a price that ''won't break the bank''....oops I forgot our banks are already broken....Well then at only £2 a ball!!!

Above is my first rainbow- as advised my my kids as I forgot the proper order- It's red first they say and ends in bluey- purple....

It was too long in a line so I've looped it around....see?!

This one includes the pinks too- I don't think they feature in a ''proper'' rainbow....

And then I was playing with colur combos- red green sprang to mind- due to the grass I think.

Here's my perennial all time FAVOURITE: the blue- purples with a dash of green and a LOT of TURQUOISE.

And this is to leave you all warm and glowing- think sizzling hot, or crackling log fires ( without the pinks) or just loving goodness, tlc,passion, caring, zesty energy!

What will I make? Well I have ordered 2 balls of most, 1 of some and 4 of my most favourites and at the moment I'm thinking RIPPLE STITCH blanket. In even or uneven width stripes...

Order of colours not yet decided- will do a few samples to decide gauge , hook , stitch pattern etc.

OR you could do the hexagon thing! Pattern in 2 previous blogs: how to crochet 1 hexagon- date and how to join them as you go along- date for a pictorial tutorial....

OR maybe a granny squares one? Attic 24's flower squares? or a BABETTE afghan as per the interweave crochet website?!

Stripes are my all time fall-back favourite so I'm most likely to take the ripple stitch route.

But I may change my mind because D1 ( daughter number 1) has ''ordered'' a ripple stitch bedspread - single size I hope!- in the blues/ greens colourway.

What would YOU make?

Wool in those colours is in stock now . ( tel 0116 2404464) I'm NOT on commission and NOT selling but they HAVE ordered 20 balls in all those colours so I am ever so ever so grateful.

GOT TO GO! Lots of crochet to do as well as dog to walk and puppies to cuddle and feed their weaning mush.... 3 weeks old now.

see them at www.stitchingandhookingpassions.blogspot.com