Sunday 23 December 2018

Temperature Blankets - A guide to making them & free crochet pattern...

Inspired by all the amazing photos on Instagram and Pinterest, I had wanted to make a temperature blanket for some time.  So I thought I would share my blanket progress with you, including lots of tips and tricks.  If you would like to make one too, this is how you do it.  



The idea is simple.  Every day, use the local weather stations highest temperature of that day, to choose your crochet colours.  This will result in a gorgeous blanket by the end of the year.  You just allocate which colours you will use for a range of temperatures and crochet 1 row each day corresponding to that days temperature.  I used Stylecraft Special DK for my blanket, but you can use any yarn you like.  Depending on where you live you may need to adjust how many colours and what temperatures you will need...

For my blanket I chose 10 colours to represent the warmer days...


...and 10 colours to represent the cooler days.


It is so exciting to watch your blanket develope.  Many people choose to start on the 1st of January and continue until the end of the year.  You can of course start at any time, so if you miss January 1st, don't worry. Just start your blanket and continue for 365 days.  As of course there are so many days in a year, this could make for one humongous blanket, so I decided to go with a very simple linen stitch pattern. 


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Temperature Blanket


 Abbreviations

US Terms
sc - single crochet
sc3tog - single crochet 3 together
sl st - slip stitch
ch - chain
sp - space
sk - skip


Materials

DK yarn in chosen colours
4mm (G) hook
Darning needle
Scissors


Make your foundation chain as wide as you would like your blanket, in multiples of 2.

Row 1 Sc in 2nd ch from hook, [ch1, sk1, sc in next st] repeat to end, turn.




Row 2 Ch2, [sc in next sp, ch1] repeat to last sp, sc in last sp, turn.

Row 3 Repeat row 2 until you have completed 365 days




Changing colours:

Take either the highest or lowest temperature of the day to choose your colour and work 1 row each day.  You may have 2 or more days with the same colour, so you will just turn and start your next row.  If you are changing colour pull the new colour through as you finish the final stitch of previous row.




How to finish off your blanket without weaving in all those ends...


Adding a Fringe

Adding a fringe along the sides of your blanket is a great way to avoid sewing in all those ends.  Simply cut strands of yarn twice the length you would like your fringe.  Fold a strand of yarn in half to make a loop and then using a crochet hook, pull the loop through the end of one of your rows.  Gather any extra ends pulling them through the loop of yarn to make your fringe.  Check out this link to see Olives and Pickles fringed temperature blanket...

Blanket Fringing by Olives & Pickles



Bias Binding border


Another way to avoid the colossal task of weaving in all those ends, is to add a bias binding border.  If you are handy with a sewing machine this is a great option.  Check out the guide below, this is for quilts but the theory is the same for blankets.

Jaybird Quilts Perfect Binding Tutorial



Encapsulated Crochet Border


Another way to avoid all those ends is to crochet an edging that folds over, hiding your tails under the crochet.  This is the method that I will be using.  I have created a Linen Stitch encapsulated edging for this project.


Using chosen border colour, join with sl st to any sp at top or bottom of blanket

Round 1 Continue around your blanket in Linen Stitch, [sc, ch1] in each sp, in corners [sc, ch2, sc, ch1], join with sl st to sc, turn.

Round 2 [sc, ch1] in each sp, in corners [3sc, ch1], join with sl st to sc, turn.

Repeat round 2 until border is desired width.

If you were vigilant in weaving in all your ends as you went along you can fasten off here and weave in those last few ends.  If not then continue as follows...

Round 1 [sc, ch1] in each sp, in corners [sc3tog, ch1], join with sl st, turn.

Repeat round 1 until you have crocheted as many decrease rounds as you did increase rounds, fasten off.  Fold your border in half and trapping all those ends inside, using a darning needle and yarn in your border colour, sew the edging down to the back of the blanket.




Pin it for later...




Why not join my Facebook Group to share your progress.  I would love to see all your lovely pictures, or use the hashtag #lullabylodge on Instagram.  Don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out on any posts...

Happy hooking...
Catherine
x






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Tuesday 18 December 2018

Moss End Village Christmas Trail & Victorian Fair

Christmas is not Christmas without a trip to a village fair.  This year we went to Moss End Village to see what they had to offer.  The fair was situated on an old farm converted into shop suits, including a garden centre and lot's of craft shops.  


 The children were given a trail card and told to look out for 15 elves that were hiding around the site.  Our first stop was to write a letter to Santa and collect a stamp on the trail card.  The next stop on the trail was inside a glass blowing shop.  The children helped to decorate a glass Christmas tree and collected another stamp on their card.



The next mission on the trail was to feed Santa's reindeer.  The children were given a sprig of lichen, which the deer gobbled up.  I guess they only eat carrots on Christmas Eve...


As we walked around the trail there were lots of stalls, rides and games for the children to enjoy and the smell of roast chestnuts and freshly made donuts filled our nostrils, making us rather hungry...




Little T enjoyed the rides and playing all the games.



After collecting our final stamp it was time to see the big man himself...


We really did have a lovely day out and I hope you all have an amazing Christmas...

Catherine
x

Saturday 8 December 2018

Christmas Crochet Round Up! Decorate your home with these 10 free patterns...

What could be more festive than bedecking your halls with gorgeous handmade decorations.  I have scoured the web and found this selection of my favourite 10 free patterns.





Everyone loves a granny bauble and this Christmas Bauble by Carmen Heffernan is gorgeously bright and cheerful, perfect for any tree...




... and what tree would be complete without some pretty stars?  Why not try these Crochet Stars by One Dog Woof...



Trim your tree with the super cute Santa and Mrs Claus designed by Yarnhild




You can never have enough baubles on your tree and this free pattern from Hello Yellow Yarn is super cute!




Crochet a Christmas Gnome for your home, with this pattern from Simply Crochet Magazine.  




No Christmas is complete without pudding and this Crochet Pudding Decoration by Crafty Cruella is just the thing...




Make these festive Crochet Christmas Tree Ornaments, pattern by Salvabrani.




Santa wouldn't know what to do without his trusty reindeer and this Crochet Rudolph ornament is just adorable.  Pattern by Knots and Thoughts.




We don't always get the white Christmas we are dreaming of so why not make a flurry of Crochet Snowflakes with this simple 2 row pattern.




Finally this gorgeous granny star by my good friend Marjan.  You can find Myriads of Stars on her blog...


I hope you enjoyed my Christmas crochet round up and don't forget to share all your makes over on my Facebook Group page...

Happy Christmas Hooking
Catherine
x





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