Wednesday 23 November 2016

Knitted Chenille Shawl /Wrap





Materials

5mm knitting needles
Yarn – Seansheep Baby Chenille
2-3 balls Baby Chenille Gelati  Main colour (depending on tension or length desired)
 1 ball of Baby Chenille – Peppermint C1
1 ball of Baby Chenille – Lemon Pie  C2
1 ball of Baby Chenille – Rosey    C3




Method:-

Cast on 70 stitches with C1
C1
Work 10 rows in garter stitch change to C2
C 2
Work 10 rows in garter stitch change to C3
C 3
Work 10 rows in garter stitch change to main colour
Main colour
Continue in garter stitch to desired length repeat the contrast work at the end.
Change to contrast 3
C2
Work 10 rows of garter stitch change to C2
 C2
Work 10 rows of garter stitch change to C1
C1
Work 10 rows of garter stitch
Finish of neaten tuck in any ends.

Note:-  rather than knit into each beginning stitch of each row for a nicer edge slip the first stitch.


Tuesday 16 August 2016

Easy Crochet Scarf

Last week my grandsons asked me to make them a scarf.  So I asked what their favourite colours were & this is what I came up with. It is a very quick growing project. The first one in the photo is inspired by Pokemon because he liked  red & black....the other one just based on the colours requested.





The pattern is as follows:-

Materials

8 ply acrylic yarns in colours of choice

5mm crochet hook

Method UK (Aussie terms used)

For a child's scarf  start by chain 251 or Adult 301

Single crochet into 2nd chain from the hook single crochet to the end off the chains chain 2 & turn

Single crochet into 2nd chain from the hook 1 chain skip 1 chain single crochet into next stitch 1 chain repeat across the row.

This forms the pattern known as linen stitch tutorial can be found here:-

http://www.lookatwhatimade.net/crafts/yarn/crochet/crochet-tutorials/crochet-linen-stitch/

Continue rows to desired width for a child or adult. i did 22 rows for a child & 26 rows for an adult...however this is a matter of choice depending if you want a skinny or wide scarf.

The last row I did single crochet across the whole row...the same as the starting row.

Finish off weave in any ends.  I did a little edge by picking up a slip stitch evenly across then single crochet across to give a neater edge.  Making sure I did it on the same side each end.

I added some embellishments but not essential plently of free crochet patterns for these on the internet.

I am not very experienced at writing out patterns so I hope you can follow it any questions feel free to contact me email  chrissy.matthews@gmail.com


Friday 29 July 2016

Faux Chenille Yarn






In May this year I bought some yarn I had not used before.  Little Purler Faux Chenille yarn. It felt incredibly soft.  My plan was to crochet baby blankets with it but I soon changed my mind!!  I tried but found it too difficult to see where to insert the hook.  I was nearly going to take the 7 balls that I had not used back to the store however I thought I would see how it knitted and I am so glad I did it is great to knit with :)

The first item I made was a baby blanket.


My starting row had 140 stitches.  This was knitted in simple garter stitch. Alternating every two rows with the Faux chenille yarn & Patons Big Baby 4 ply. I did blocks of 40 rows then changing the colour of the 4 ply yarn as I did not have enough of any one colour for the whole project.  I added a crocheted border in linen stitch using each of the Patons Big Baby yarns I had used in the blanket.

My second project was a scarf when a family member asked for some one to make her a scarf in really soft yarn. Starting row was 30 stitches and worked in simple garter stitch using up the whole of one ball of yarn.



My third project was two baby jackets for a Facebook friend's twins. I was starting to like this yarn so I bought some more balls of Little Purler Faux Chenille in plain white.  Like the baby blanket I worked it in simple garter stitch alternating every two rows with the Faux chenille yarn & Patons Big Baby 4 ply. 
I used this pattern with a few changes of my own. http://www.lionbrand.com/knitting-pattern-glamour-babys-first-cardigan-1.html 




Fourth project was two girls scarves.   I wanted to use their favourite colours red & blue but I was unable to buy any faux chenille yarn in those colours.  So I made them in red & white & blue & white.  The challenge doing this was I wanted each side to be the same.  This was achieved by using double pointed knitting needles & knitting one row of each the white & red or white & blue but only turning on one row & sliding the stitches along on the next row. Starting row of 28 stitches knitted in simple garter stitch.






Fifth project was a scarf for the girls mum.  Similar to the previous adult scarf I made but using the chenille yarn and a 5 ply mauve acrylic yarn in the same method as the girls scarves changing yarn each row.



My sixth project start yesterday a scarf for my granddaughter who wanted a scarf made in yellow & purple.  So I purchase some Sean Sheep Baby Chenille Yarn - Lavender Mint from Big W yesterday & have started making the scarf.  This different brand yarn is thicker but still lovely and soft. Starting row 22 & working in simple garter stitch.


















Tuesday 26 April 2016

Chrissie's Lent Blanket Week 7

WEEK 7
Lent Day 35: The Anointing
Monday 21st March, 2016
Mark 14:3-9 (ESV)


Colour gold representing the ointment of pure nard, used by a woman to anoint Jesus as an act of worship.

Lent Day 36: The Cleansing
Tuesday 22nd  March, 2016
Mark 11:15-19 (ESV)


Colour dark red to represent anger. When Jesus saw what was happening at the temple He was angry — so angry that he overturned tables and placed an embargo on merchandise.

Lent Day 37: The Plot
Wednesday 23rd   March, 2016
Matthew 26:1-5, 14-25 (ESV)


Colour grey/silver to represent the 30 pieces of silver that Judas received for betraying Jesus.

Lent Day 38: The Washing
Thursday 24th  March, 2016
John 13:1-15 (ESV)




Colour white representing Jesus – his act of humility and  servanthood. Also representing cleansing being made clean. The humility expressed by His act with towel and basin foreshadowed His ultimate act of humility and love on the cross.

Lent Day 39: The Cross
Friday (Good Friday) 25th  March, 2016
John 19:1-37 (ESV)


Colour black representing the darkness after the death of Jesus that happened from noon to 3 p.m.—normally the brightest part of the day. Luke tells us that darkness fell “over the whole land” (23:44).

Lent Day 40: The Grave
Saturday 26th March, 2016
Matthew 27:57-66 (ESV)


Colour grey/brown representing the great stone to the entrance of the tomb.


Sunday  (Resurrection Sunday) 27th  March 2016




Colour white with glitter & silver thread representing the resurrection. How can I adequately represent such an awesome event!


Finished Blanket with Borders bottom border LENT top border EASTER  with the Words HE IS RISEN twice with a yellow cross in between on one side and the words GRACE LOVE FAITH HOPE PEACE on the other side.




    

Thursday 24 March 2016

Chrissie's Lent Blanket Week 6

WEEK 6
Lent Day 29: The Lamb
 Monday 14th  March, 2016

John 1:29-34 (ESV)




Colour white representing Jesus the Lamb that God provided to take away all sins.


Lent Day 30: The Fast
Tuesday 15th March, 2016
Matthew 4:1-11 (ESV)


Colour light brown representing the stones that Jesus was tempted to turn into bread.


Lent Day 31: The Leper
Wednesday 16th March, 2016
Mark 1:40-45 (ESV)



Colour off-white to represent the skin lesions caused by leprosy.


Lent Day 32: The Adulteress
Thursday 17th March, 2016
John 8:1-11 (ESV)


Colour pink representing the joy of forgiveness.

Lent Day 33: The Call
Friday 18th March, 2016
Luke 9:18-27 (ESV)


Colour black representing the words of Jesus to “Take up your cross and follow Me" Jesus was giving us a word picture of the concept of "death to self". The cross was an instrument of death. What Jesus is referring to is commitment to Him, even unto death—obedience to the extreme measure and willingness to die in pursuit of obedience.

Lent Day 34: The Prediction
Saturday 19th March, 2016
John 12:20-33 (ESV)


Colour red representing the suffering Jesus knew he would face but He chooses the cross.  He went open-eyed into his suffering so he could be "lifted up from the earth," able to "draw all people to himself" and be present to us all.

Sunday 20th  March 2016


Sunday representing the sun. Yellow is the brightest colour of all colours. It is bright to engage and draw us to it.

                                                   Progress Week 6


Thursday 17 March 2016

Chrissie's Lent Blanket Week 5

                                                WEEK 5


Lent Day 23: The Spirit
Monday 7th March, 2016
Isaiah 61:1-3 (ESV)
 This is a hope-giving passage about Spirit-led transformation. Colour green symbolizing the breaking of shackles, freedom from bondage. It represents bountifulness, hope and the victory of life over death.

Lent Day 24: The Branch
Tuesday 8th March, 2016
Jeremiah 33:14-18 (ESV).
Jesus is the righteous Branch who offers us his righteousness so that we never fear being rejected by God. Jesus  had divine Righteousness, came down from Heaven as symbolized by the colour blue.


Lent Day 25: The Good Shepherd
Wednesday 9th March, 2016
Ezekiel 34:23-31 (ESV)
Colour brown representing the shepherd’s staff.  The staff is used to bring the lamb into an intimate relationship with its ewe.  The staff is used to reach out and grab a lamb for close inspection. The staff is used in guiding the sheep as they are moving along, because sheep tend to wander off. They always think the pasture is greener somewhere else, and they start to wander away. The whole flock will be going one way, but there will be one that heads in her own direction. 


Lent Day 26: The Treasure of the Nations
Thursday 10th March, 2016
Haggai 2:6-9 (ESV)
‘Colours silver & gold representing treasures. Not only will the treasures of the nations be brought to the house of God in tribute, but there will also be One, the true treasure, who fills the house and is to be prized above all the wealth of the world.

Lent Day 27: The Coming King
Friday 11th March, 2016
Zechariah 9:9-10 (ESV)
Colour green representing the palm branches the crowd scattered in front of Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem. When a beloved king entered his own city he would ride in on a donkey as the benevolent king.


Lent Day 28: The Mourning
Saturday 12th March, 2016
Zechariah 12:10-14 (ESV)
Colour dark grey representing a time of great mourning.

Sunday 13th  March 2016
Sunday representing the sun. Yellow is the brightest colour of all colours. It is bright to engage and draw us to it.

Progress Week 5






Wednesday 9 March 2016

Chrissie's Lent Blanket Week 4

                                               WEEK 4



Lent Day 17: The Name
Monday 29th  February, 2016
Psalm 72: 12-19 (ESV)

Colour light purple representing a King – royalty. Prayers for the endurance of the king’s name were based on that expectant hope, that the king would fulfill his commitment to the weak, so prayers for him meant safety and happiness for all.


Lent Day 18: The Chosen Servant
Tuesday 1st  March, 2016
Isaiah 42: 1-9 (ESV)
Colour is variegated yarn with purple, white & gold representing Jesus Christ “the Chosen One.


Lent Day 19: The Servant Israel
Wednesday 2nd March, 2016
Isaiah 49:1-6 (ESV)
Colour is blue….representing the blue star of David on the Israeli flag.




Lent Day 20: The Sinless Servant
Thursday 3rd   March, 2016
Isaiah 50:4-9 (ESV)
Colour white representing the purity of Jesus Christ the sinless servant.




Lent Day 21: The Suffering Servant
Friday 4th   March, 2016
Isaiah 53:1-6 (ESV)
Colour red representing sin and suffering and also symbolizes the Blood of Christ, which was the payment for sin.



Lent Day 22: The Waters
Saturday 5th    March, 2016
Isaiah 55:1-7 (ESV)
Colour variegated blue representing water.



Sunday 6th March 2016
Sunday representing the sun. Yellow is the brightest colour of all colours. It is bright to engage and draw us to it.



Week 4 progress


Tuesday 1 March 2016

Chrissie's Lent Blanket Week 3

                                                WEEK 3

Lent Day 11: The Son
Monday 22nd  February, 2016
Psalm 2 (ESV)
Colours representing the Son (Jesus) White representing  Purity, Holiness, & Glory.

Also Gold representing the Eternal Deity, the Godhead, glory, purification, majesty, & righteousness.



Lent Day 12: The Stone
Tuesday 23rd February, 2016
Psalm 118:22-24 (ESV)

Colour grey/brown  representing “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”

Lent Day 13: The Scorn
Wednesday 24th February, 2016
Psalm 69:1-12 (ESV)
Colour purple representing the purple robe that was put on Jesus when the roman soldiers mocked and scorned Him Mark 15:17




Lent Day 14: The Appeal
Thursday 25th February, 2016
Psalm 109:21-31 (ESV)
Colour white representing Jesus came to cover our acts of injustice.  Isaiah 1:18



Lent Day 15: The Forsaken
Friday 26th February, 2016
Psalm 22:1-11, 29-31 (ESV)
Colour black representing the darkness when Jesus cried out “My God My God why have you forsaken me” Matthew 29:46 (NIV)



Lent Day 16: The Champion
Saturday 27th February, 2016
Psalm 68: 7-18 (ESV)
Colour gold representing the gold cup presented to a champion & representing Jesus the ultimate Champion.




Sunday 28th February 2016




Sunday representing the sun. Yellow is the brightest colour of all colours. It is bright to engage and draw us to it.




Week 3 progress