Fall Fashion Blog Hop - Day 3 - Step in Line Gloves

Hi Everyone 

Welcome to Day 3 of the Fall Fashion Blog Hop! Today's  PDF is my very own Step in Line Gloves. 

EDIT: we have now hopped to the next blog, and my code has expired, but I'm keeping up the links. 

Need a quick recap - Click here to be taken to E'Claire Makery - and our wonderful Blog Hop Hostess has explained it all! 

The Step in Line Gloves are made 'amigurumi style' – as a spiral, with increases and invisible decreases. This could be a good introduction to these techniques for someone who wants to try amigurumi but has so far found it a bit daunting. Gloves are made in one piece, cuff up. They first appeared in Issue 44 of Crochet Now Magazine, and there are options for both US and UK terms, 

Missed a day, or maybe want to just grab all 32 patterns now? Click the image below to purchase them all now! 

Once again, thanks for being here and joining in the Hop!

Happy Crocheting,

Emma.

Fall Fashion Blog Hop

 I had so much fun participating in the Summer Blog Hop, that I've teamed up with some more great designers and taking part in the Fall Fashion Blog Hop.

The Fall Fashion blog hop is featuring 32 crochet designers, who will be sharing beautiful crochet fall fashion patterns. From garments to accessories, there are so many amazing designs that are a part of this event! During the event, each designer will be sharing a FREE PDF pattern! That’s right, there are 32 FREE PDF crochet patterns that you can get from this event! By the end of September, you’ll have so many amazing patterns to make each fall!

This time, there is one difference - and that you can purchase the entire collection of 32 patterns now. Price is in US dollars. 

To purchase, click this affilate link (which means I earn a small commission on each purchase)

This means you will have a PDF copy of every pattern to keep, without having to check back each day! 

If you do love to check back each day - the follow the Blog Hop - It's being hosted by Claire from E'Claire Bakery and you can find all the info here on her blog - with all the links and instructions. 

On my Day - I'll be updating this post with my free link! Remember each pattern link is only live for 24 hours! 

Thanks for dropping by, and Happy Crocheting!

Emma

If you missed the link: Click here to visit E'Claire Makery for the full Blog Hop

Standing Stitches (standing double crochet)

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Standing stitches are a neat way of starting a new colour without chaining. There are a few different chainless methods, and this is one of my favourites.

In my example I'm using standing stitches to change colour in the Good Old Granny Square (pattern here)

In this tutorial I'll show you how to make a (in US terms) standing double crochet, but it works for any height stitch. 

Step 1: YO hook twice (YO one more time than usual - 3 times for a treble, once for a sc) The first YO mimics the last st/ch that would be on the hook. 

Step 2: Insert hook in stitch or space - like the ch-2 corner space for this granny square

Step 3: Pull up loop. It now looks like a regular dc, but make sure to keep loops on hook! 

Step 4: YO, pull through 2 loops, twice (like a 'normal' stitch) 

Continue your work. The top loop may look a little loose, and it's OK to tighten it. Once you finish the round, sl st into the top of the standing st, and once the ends are woven in, it will be hard to know where you started! 

DO you like chainless starts? DO you have a favourite?

Thanks for reading,

Happy Crocheting,

Emma.

Sock Blank Update - how I dyed my wool

This is part of my Sock Blank blog series

If you missed the first post about Sock Blanks - click here.

In this blog post I tell you how I dyed my sock blank, but this method works for also dyeing wool and finished items. This method is easy, great for small batches and for those who like to experiment.

A few days ago I dyed my two sock blanks. I ended up using things I already had in the kitchen, which was food colouring, white vinegar, water and the microwave!

My long thin blank is a mixture of purples and greens:

The second blank I made wide, and did my best to keep one half a magenta, and the other half a rainbow mix. This one had a few dropped stitches in the middle, but I don't think it will present a problem. I have seen some other sock blank makers use dropped stitches to mark out the centre, which would be good for those who want to dye their blanks more precisely than I did. 

My process uses things you might already have in your kitchen, and if not; you'll be able to get easily at a grocery store.

You'll need, food colouring, white vinegar, a microwave safe dish, and a microwave. 

Vinegar works as the fixing agent. This method works for wool, and can work for acrylic/wool mixes. It's always good to try a small swatch first.

First step is to soaking the item in a mix of water and vinegar,  (1:1) Then I painted a mix of food colouring and vinegar on. 

If you don't want the colours to bleed into each other, miss the soaking step. I wanted the watercolour look, though. If you aren't painting the wool, try dipping or submerging the item in a bath of your dye mix. The best thing about this method is that it works well with experimenting.

I left the blanks for a while (I didn't time anything) then rinsed out excess colour. 

Then, in a microwave safe bowl, I microwaved for 1 minute, sat for a minute (about three times each) to help set the colour. Then I hung outside to dry, and I left overnight.

Next day, I gave each 2 more minutes in the microwave (they were still damp) If they were dry, I probably would have skipped this step. 

At this point, no colour has come off on my hands, but I will most likely rinse out once more before using. 

Each blank has 'waste' yarn on either end, but next time I may secure it better 

Hopefully next time I post, I'll have the start of some socks! 

Happy crocheting,

Emma

Good Old Granny Squares

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August 15th is Granny Square Day - and this year, I'm going back to basics. After trial and error, I now have my own preferred method - and I thought it would be good to write it down and share it with you today. 

Classic granny square, that can be used as an afghan block, component, extended into a large continuous blanket, or in any way you need a granny square!

Some fun ways to use the classic Granny Squares are to make Lovies - shown below is Kirra Lovey and Lambie and Llamie.

I have included an explanation why I do it the way I do. - but feel free to experiment and see what you like best. for example - I never turn my granny squares, but if it's something you like to try or something you already know you prefer, then please feel free to do so. Some people find it results in a straighter square.

Ok, lets get into it!

As usual, I use US terms. Photos use a 4.5 mm hook and dk weight yarn. This pattern works for any weight yarn, but make sure you use an appropriate hook. You can change colours after each round, or continue with the same yarn. Grab a paintbox 5 pack if you can't decide on colours 

I refer to '3dc' as a cluster in this tutorial.

So first step is to make a magic ring. You can follow this tutorial, or use your own preferred method. If you arent a fan of magic rings, a chain of 4, joined with a slip stitch will also work. The first row is all worked into the ring, then closed and secured at the end. 

R1: 3ch (counts as dc throughout) dc, ch 2, *3dc, ch 2, rep from *3 times; dc, sl st to 1^st st, sl st to 1^st ch-2 sp… (12 dc, 8ch)

• I like to put the 'first' dc at the end. Having the chain in the middle of the cluster hides it a bit better - it's less obvious that it's a chain. And it's as close to the corner as possible. 

• Why two slip stitches? I think it's a nicer join to sl st to the top of the first stitch (not the chain) and the second slip stitch means you are starting in the corner.

R2: (3ch, dc, ch 2, 3dc) in same ch-2 sp, *(ch, 3dc, 2ch, 3dc) in next ch-2 sp, rep from * 3 times; ch, dc in 1^st ch-2 sp,  sl st to 1^st st, sl st to 1^st ch-2 sp ….(24 dc, 12 ch)

R3: (3ch, dc, ch 2, 3dc) in same ch-2 sp, *(ch, 3dc) in next ch-1 sp, (ch, 3dc, 2ch, 3dc) in next ch-2 sp, rep from * 3 times, (ch, 3dc) in next ch-1 sp, ch, dc in 1^st ch-2 sp,  sl st to 1^st st, sl st to 1^st ch-2 sp… (36 tr, 16 ch)

• Having a chain space between the non-corner clusters is also a personal choice. I think for beginners it's a very good method - 2 chains is a corner, 1 chain is a regular space. 

• Strictly speaking - every round from now on will be the same as round three, but with the addition of an extra cluster on each side - 4 per round. 

• Every corner space (2 chains) will contain a corner cluster of ch, 3dc, 2ch, 3dc. Every ch-1 space will contain (ch, 3dc) 

Rows 4 and 5 will read like:

R4: (3ch, dc, ch 2, 3dc) in same ch-2 sp, *(ch, 3dc) in next ch-1 sp, twice, (ch, 3dc, 2ch, 3dc) in next ch-2 sp, rep from * 3 times, (ch, 3dc) in next ch-1 sp, twice, ch, dc in 1^st ch-2 sp,  sl st to 1^st st, sl st to 1^st ch-2 sp…(48 tr, 20 ch)

R5: (3ch, dc ch 2, 3dc) in same ch-2 sp, *(ch, 3dc) in next ch-1 sp, 3 times, (ch, 3dc, 2ch, 3dc) in next ch-2 sp, rep from * 3 times, (ch, 3dc) in next ch-1 sp, 3 times, ch, dc in 1^st ch-2 sp, sl st to 1^st st, sl st to 1^st ch-2 sp…(60 tr, 24 ch)

Continue your square as big as you like! Just follow the rule of the corner cluster in ch-2 sp, and every ch-1 sp contains a single cluster of stitches. 

I hope you enjoyed my pattern and explanation. 

If you would like to continue on to some Granny Square variations, here are some suggestions:

• Dahlia Pinnata 
• Big Circle Grannies
• Granny Heart

As usual: No restrictions are placed on finished items made with this pattern, however, the pattern may not be resold or copied in any form. Pictures remain the property of Emma Wilkinson Designs

Sock Blanks

Sock Blanks - something I've been interested in exploring for a while now. I recently acquired a knitting machine, and realised I could make my own from scratch! 

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Well, I'm not spinning my own yarn.. yet.. so I got a couple of skeins of undyed sock yarn from Bendigo Woollen Mills.

Hold up! But what are sock blanks? Sock Blanks are flat sheets of stockinette stitch, that can be dyed in many different ways, and then re knit into socks. They aren't limited to socks though - or just knitting. Have a look at Wamberal Waves - a crochet shawl pattern of mine that uses sock yarn that I dyed at home; not with sock blanks - but it certainly could be.

Sock blanks can be purchased, undyed, like these from Knit Picks and even pre dyed. Have a look at this dyed blank from Sweet Georgia Yarns  to see an example of a beautifully dyed gradient.

Dying a gradient, or self striping yarns at home can be tricky for a DIYer, so working from a flat piece of fabric can make things so much easier.

Now, the truth is, you don't need to machine knit to make the blanks, and you don't even need to knit. In my research I found a lot of crocheted blanks too.

So, back to my sock blanks! First, I have to wind them into cakes, then they are ready for the knitting machine. 

I'm still learning the ins and out of my machine. It's a Brother KX-350. 

I'm doing 46 sts and T-10 - with waste yarn on both ends... and done! There are just over 260 rows., so it's a long thin piece. 

So there you have my finished blanks. The dyeing will be for another blog post - becuase I haven't really decided what I'm doing just yet!  If you'd like to read more; I enjoyed this article by Louise Tilbrook

EDIT UPDATE: PART TWO CAN BE FOUND HERE

Thanks for reading!

Emma

Stash Busting Blanket Part 3

It's been a while since I last posted about my Stash Busting Blanket, truthfully I haven't worked on it much.

Need a reminder: Part 1 is here, Part 2 is here

While it's purpose was to reduce a lot of my DK Acrylic yarn, it is also intended as a stress free project, so putting it aside for a while isn't worrying me. 

At this stage I think I'll be doing seven colour blocks per strip, and 5 strips - but of course that's subject to change if the ratios don't work for me. 

I'm going to use a yarn needle and sew the strips together. If it's your preference, you could slip stitch them together with a crochet hook. 

Have you started busting your stash? Let me know! 

Happy Crocheting,

Emma.