Granny Wheel Squares

I love Attic24. Reading her colourful blog originally inspired me to learn to crochet and I'm now becoming braver with colour thanks to her bold combinations. I bought a lot Drops Muskat yarn in bright, primary shades from this fantastic shop, intending to make a ripple blanket. After several attempts I just wasn't feeling the colour changes and I ripped it back. I've tried a few patterns over the past 2 weeks like Hexagons, Flowers in the Snow and a Babette. Then I came across this inspiring post and decided that was the pattern I wanted to do, but Lucy hasn't published it yet. I was feeling impatient so I went back to her original post and tried to work out the pattern from a picture. Here is what I've been hooking this afternoon:

Do you like them? I really LOVE them. The colours in this photo are a little off but they still look awesome. I can't wait to get hooking some more. The pattern is so fun, easy and the colour changes look fantastic. I don't know how I'm going to join them - maybe slip stitching with the wrong sides together or a sc join in white or maybe denim blue. Any ideas?

So, just in case you feel like hooking up your own Granny Wheel Squares I've written down how I made them. I hope Lucy doesn't mind me writing her pattern out for you to use!

I'm using US terms here. Just to reiterate - this is not my pattern. 

Ch 4, join with ss to form a ring

Round 1 - Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc + 1ch) *1dc in ring, ch1* repeat 11 times, ss into 3rd ch and fasten off

Round 2 - Join new colour to any ch 1 space, ch 3 (counts as 1 dc) dc in same space, ch1, *2 dc in next ch1 space, ch 1* repeat 11 times, ss to 3rd chain and fasten off.

Round 3 - Join new colour to any ch 1 space, ch 3 (counts as 1 dc) 2dc in same space, ch1, *3 dc in next ch1 space, ch1* repeat 11 times, ss to 3rd chain and fasten off.

Round 4 - Join new colour to any ch 1 space, ch3 (counts as 1 dc) 3 dc in same space, ch 1, *4 dc in next ch1 space, ch1* repeat 11 times, ss to 3rd chain and fasten off.

Round 5 - Join new colour to any ch 1 space, ch3 (counts as 1 dc) 3 dc in same space, ch1, 4 dc in next ch1 space, ch1, [4 tr ch2 4 tr] in next ch 1 space, ch1, *4 dc in next ch1 space, ch1, 4dc in next ch1 space, ch1, [4 tr ch2 4 tr] in next ch 1 space ch1* repeat 3 times, ss into ch 3 and fasten off

I also added a round of sc in the same colour as Round 5.

Thanks for reading,

Em xxx

PS. I'm getting my camera soon so I'll be posting more often then. 

Cath Kidston Inspired Blanket

Hi everyone :)

When I saw Littlecottonrabbit's "me old china" blanket I just knew I had to have one! I love granny squares and the idea of being inspired by your china really appealed to me. I found two Cath Kidston mugs my mum gave my for christmas and thought the colours would make a brilliant blanket.

So off I went trawling the internet to find some wooly bargains and here is what I ended up with:

It's Sublime Extra Fine Merino 4 ply purchased from here and here for £2.49 - £3.15. 

Top Row: Redcurrant, Flapper, Grosgrain, Peeptoe

Bottom Row: Alabaster, Cloche, Glamour, Souffle

I have never crocheted with 100% wool before as I usually prefer acrylic, cotton or cotton blend yarns but the colours were too perfect not to order. It's also more expensive than I would usually buy but the quality of the yarn is brilliant. It's not smooth but its so soft, bouncy and warm. This will definitely be a winter blanket. I was unsure of including both Redcurrant and Peeptoe because they are both quite similar. I played around with the colours and decided to include both but not put them next to eachother.

Isn't it beautiful? I love the vintagey feel and the colours complement each other beautifully! Because I'm using 4 ply yarn on a 3.25mm hook the squares are quite small and I'll need 14 in each row to cover a double bed. I'm also using a join as you go method different to Lucy at Attic24 that I made up myself and haven't seen on the internet before so I'm working on a tutorial for that.

I've been a really naughty girl and haven't been weaving in my ends as I go. The photo above fills me with dread but I know all those hours of work will be worth it in the end.

Thanks for reading,

Em xxxx

Sneak Peek

Thanks to the wonderful people over in the We Love Lucy group on Ravelry I finally have a blog. I couldn't wait to get started last night but there's a problem - my camera is broken! I'm getting a new one soon but in the mean time I wanted to share some of my current WIPs with you all.

Ta daaaaah!

Sorry for the poor quality - I had to take it on my phone. In the top left corner is my Ripple blanket, top right is my Cath Kidston inspired granny square blanket, bottom left is my Blooming Flower cushion and in the middle are a few squares of my own design that will probably end up as a cushion.

I have lots of plans for this blog including yarn reviews and free tutorials. I have a few techniques I want to share with you such as the alternative JAYG (join as you go) method that creates a beautiful twisted seam for granny squares that you can see in the photo.

So if this has tickled your fancy, please follow me. I'm really grateful for all your support.

Love Em xxxxx

(PS I'd love to read your thoughts so go ahead and leave me a comment and I promise I'll read them!)