New Adventure

Well I took the plunge and started up a Facebook page with photos of my creations.  Some are for sale.  Being disappointing I have not had any sales having posted in Facebook groups, Gumtree & Ebay so hoping that this may work better.  I have had some interest in what I do & 'likes' but would prefer sales as I have stock piled too much & love doing what I am doing!!  I would be lost without a crochet hook in my hand.

https://www.facebook.com/chrissiecraftiecapers52/

Square Call The Midwife Blanket

I saw a photo of this blanket on this  Facebook group:- https://www.facebook.com/groups/CrochetGate
from a member  Daniela Peixoto.

Daniela Peixoto's Blanket

I was so inspired by it that with her permission  I made one myself using Red Heart Soft Baby Steps yarn & a 5.00 mm crochet hook. There is no pattern to follow as such. I looked at the photos & work it out.  Just started of with a basic solid granny square 4 rounds...then work in the Call the midwife pattern around allowing for extra trebles (Australian terms)  in the corners.

So happy with the result :)

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.

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

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.

Chrissie's Lent Blanket Week 7

WEEK 7

Lent Day 35: The Anointing

Monday 21^st 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 22^nd  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 23^rd   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 24^th  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) 25^th  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 26^th March, 2016

Matthew 27:57-66 (ESV)

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

Sunday  (Resurrection Sunday) 27^th  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.

    

Chrissie's Lent Blanket Week 6

WEEK 6

Lent Day 29: The Lamb

 Monday 14^th  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 15^th 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 16^th March, 2016

Mark 1:40-45 (ESV)

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

Lent Day 32: The Adulteress

Thursday 17^th March, 2016

John 8:1-11 (ESV)

Colour pink representing the joy of forgiveness.

Lent Day 33: The Call

Friday 18^th 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 19^th 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 20^th  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