Wattle Stitch Washcloth - CAL Central washcloth crochet along...

Hi everyone, I hope you are all enjoying the summer.  The school holidays have just started here and it's time to share week 5 of the CAL Central washcloth crochet along washcloths.  This week's pattern is called Wattle Stitch Washcloth and is designed by Erica Dietz from 5 Little Monsters blog.

This was another really quick and easy pattern, featuring the Wattle stitch which creates a lovey texture to the cloth.  Here is my version of Erica's Wattle Stitch Washcloth.

I used Scheepjes Cahlista cotton Aran yarn with a 5mm hook to make my washcloth, but the pattern actually calls for DK yarn with a 4mm hook.  I prefer to make mine using thicker yarn and I have many more colours to choose from in this yarn weight...

As usual I added one of my labels to give it a more professional look.  These are great if you are planning on gifting your cloths.  You can find these labels in my Etsy store...

Why not join in the fun, it's not too late to start.  CAL Central has a very active Facebook group where you can go and chat and share your photos and see what everyone else is making...

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Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to follow (in the sidebar) and subscribe for more posts like this...

See you soon

Catherine

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Meet Dumpling, a rescue cat story... & Free crochet blanket pattern

Meet Dumpling, she lives with Little T's dad and Little T absolutely adores her.  She was a rescue cat from Battersea Cats and Dogs home and not very much was known about her life before she was taken in.  She was found as a stray and taken care of by Battersea.  Little T's dad had previously had another cat "Marmite" who had died in a tragic accident and felt it was time to get another.  So we all went together to the cats home and it was decided that Dumpling would be the one to come home with us.

At first she was afraid to go outside and was very wary of us, but she soon settled in and over time has started to go outside.  She doesn't stray far though, always staying close by.  She likes to play with Little T, he always insists on buying her toys every time we go to the pet shop and he likes to give her "Dreamies" for treats.  When she first came home she had a lovely hand knitted blanket that someone had made and donated to the shelter, it's good for cats to have something familiar when they first go to their new home.

Cat and dog shelters are always on the lookout for hand knitted or crocheted blankets, so I thought it would be a nice idea to make some blankets myself to donate.  My local shelter prefers knitted blankets as kittens can sometimes get their paws stuck in the holes that crochet blankets often have.  So I thought I would design a blanket, with no holes for little kitties to get their tiny paws stuck.  This pattern is great for using up your stash and can be made with any yarn.  I had some giant 400g balls of "cheap" Aran yarn, that had been lying forgotten in a tub somewhere.  I bought it on a whim because it was a "bargain" and never used it because it wasn't very soft.  I'm sure you all have some of "that" yarn in your stash.  So go on dig it out and make a rescue cat or dog happy...

For more rescue cat and dog blanket ideas check out this post here...

Cat Blanket No.1

Materials

Aran / Worsted from your stash

Hook

6mm (J)

Size

Approx. 85 x 85cm (33 x 33 inches)

Ability

Intermediate

Abbreviations US Terms (UK Conversion)

ldc – linked double crochet (linked treble crochet)

dc –double crochet (treble crochet)

sc – single crochet (double crochet)

ch - chain

st(s) – stitch(es)

sl st – slip stitch

yo – yarn over

Special Stitches

Linkeddouble crochet: Insert hook into horizontal bar of previous st, yo and pull through loop, insert hook into next st, yo and pull up a loop, yo pull through 2 loops, yo pull through remaining 2 loops.

Other notes:  This pattern is designed with kittens in mind.  Linked double crochet creates a dense fabric, with no holes for little kitties to get their tiny paws stuck.  I used Aran / worsted yarn for mine with a 6mm (J) hook; but could just as easily be made with any gauge yarn.  Just use a hook size recommended on your yarn ball band.  Use as many colours as you like and change colours at will.  When changing colour, pull new colour through last st of row.

Blanket

Make a ch as long as you would like the width of your blanket to be (I chained 100 for mine).

Row 1 dc in 3^rd ch from hook, ldc in each ch across.  Turn.  (98ldc)

Row 2 ch2 (does not count as st), dc in 1^st st, ldc in each st across.  Turn.  (98ldc)

Repeat row 2 until you have completed 54 rows (or blanket is required length).  Fasten off.

Border

Round 1 Join with sl st to any st along top of blanket, ch1, sc in same st, sc in every st across top and bottom of blanket, 3sc in each corner, along sides sc evenly across (how many sc you work along the sides will depend on your tension.  I found for every 6 rows I needed 10sc.  If your sides start to pull in you don’t have enough sts and if your sides start to go wavy, you have too many).  Join with sl st to starting sc.

Round 2 ch1 sc in same st, sc in every sc, 3sc in every corner st, join with sl st to starting sc.  Fasten off and weave in ends.

If you would like a wider border you may repeat round 2 until you reach desired width.

You can purchase an add free pdf version of this pattern in my Etsy Store...

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I hope you enjoyed the pattern and if you would like to see more posts like this please follow (in the sidebar) and subscribe.  Do you make blankets for rescue cats or dogs?  I would love to hear about it, let me know in the comments below or head on over to my Facebook Group and share your photos.

Happy hooking!

Catherine

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Sweet Dreams Blanket Pattern

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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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Color Block Washcloth - CAL Central crochet along group...

Hello friends, it's week four of the CAL Central Washcloth crochet along and this week we have another colour block pattern.  This week's washcloth is designed by Carolyn from The Purple Poncho and features a two colour, colour block design with a pretty cluster stitch.

I really enjoyed this week's design.  It was so quick and easy to make, I just had to make two.  The pattern is very easy to follow and produces these visually stunning colour block cloths.  You can find the free pattern here...

I used Scheepjes Cahlista cotton Aran yarn with a 5mm hook.  I chained 30 and worked one row less on each end to keep the cloth the correct size, of seven inches square.  

I always like to add a pretty label to my cloths so they are ready to gift.

You can purchase a printable pdf for these labels in my Etsy Store, along with a selection of other labels.

Pin it for later...

Why not head over to the very busy Facebook page and see what everyone else has made.  If you like this post and would like to see more, along with loads of free patterns and tutorials, be sure to follow (in the sidebar) and subscribe...

See you all again very soon.

Catherine

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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

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Color Block Washcloth - CAL central crochet along group...

Hi everyone I hope you are all doing well.  It is week 3 of the CAL Central washcloth crochet along.  This week we have the fantastic Color Block Washcloth, design by Mary Beth Temple.  I was a little hesitant to join in with this one as I have a real aversion to intarsia colour work.  I have tried intarsia with knitting a few times and have always found it rather frustrating.  Crochet intarsia however, is so much easier and I am glad I gave it a go.

The pattern comes with a colour chart and to be honest I didn't even read the written pattern as I find charts easier to follow.  The pattern calls for DK yarn and a 3.5mm hook, again this week I chose to use aran weight instead.  I went with a 4mm hook and my finished size was actually slightly smaller than the pattern stated, at 7 and a half inches.

I used Scheepjes Cahlista yarn again, as it comes in so many gorgeous colours and added a gift label.

If you would like to use these labels for your own projects they are available in my Etsy Store, along with a selection of other printables...

Pin it for later...

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to follow (in the sidebar) and subscribe for more posts like this...

Catherine

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Quick and easy projects for you to crochet this summer - Free crochet patterns selected by Lullaby Lodge...

Summer is in full swing here now and the holidays will soon be upon us.  I often hear people say "it's too hot to crochet", well it is certainly too hot here for working on anything large like a blanket, so I thought I would find a nice selection of quick and easy projects that are perfect for summer.  Go and make a nice pitcher of iced tea and sit out in the garden with one of these lovely projects...

Quick & Easy Summer Crochet

I just love this boho style crochet necklace by Why I DIY?, you can find the free pattern over on her blog.

Vibrant Bohemian Necklace

While you are lounging in the sun, why not make a pretty case for your sunglasses.  The pattern is available at Crochet Happens blog and she even shows you how to make a pretty lining for your case.

Crochet Sunglasses Case

These flower hair clips are too cute for words and can be crocheted in no time at all.  You can find the pattern at Grace And Yarn.

Crochet Hair Clips

Barefoot sandals are perfect for summer and a great quick and easy project.  This pattern by Devine Debris is just gorgeous.

Kayla Barefoot Sandals

Here's one your kids will love.  Make a handy cosy for your ice pops.  Designed by Roar patterns and is available to download at Ravelry.

Eat Me Icy Holder

My final selection is these fruity pot holders.  They just look so bright and sunny.  The pattern is available at Heart Handmade.

Fruity Pot Holders

I hope you enjoyed my selections for this week.  Which was your favourite?  Let me know in the comments below.  I can't decide between the barefoot sandals or the pot holders.  

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If you would like to see more posts like this and loads of free tutorials and patterns then don't forget to follow (in the sidebar) and subscribe...

See you again soon

Catherine

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