Dreamy shabby chic.

Phew! The work is all finished. I'm very happy that all the workmen are now back in their own homes and I can, once again, get to my kitchen. 

My studio is coming along nicely. Just need a bookcase for all my craft books and job done! 

I think I mentioned, on my last post, that I would be shabby chic-ing some furniture, well I've managed to complete a very nice Welsh dresser and a phone chair. 

This is one of my wonderful nieces showing off the phone chair she picked out. 

And the finished shabby chic chair insitu, excuse the walls I've been too busy crafting to paint them :)

This is the Welsh dresser, I forgot to photograph it before taking the top off. 

And the finished piece :)

It was hard work but totally worth it, don't you think?

Sweet daydreams xxx

Daydreaming about crochet.

Well, I've been back at work for a month. I'm a full time nurse in my real, non daydreamy life. I'm lucky because I work all of my hours over 3 days, 7am till 8.30pm. It's been hard, I've  missed spending time with the little ones, craft mornings with Lala, giggles with the big guy. 

The work on the house started at the same time so that's made it even harder.

Everything is looking lovely but I'll be glad when the workmen pack up and go home. Another month I should think. 

Once the work has finished I can start on the exciting bit. Shabby chic-ing all my charity shop finds. I have a phone chair, Welsh dresser, table with 6 chairs and a side board to repaint. It's all very exciting and has kept my creative alter ego happy since all my crochet stuff has been put away.  

Speaking of crochet, I put all my hookie happiness away while the workmen have been here. All my WIP, all my lovely yarn stuffed into cardboard boxes where I can't see then, sob :( 

So I went down to Minerva and bought more yarn and made some tea cosies :) happy again! 

The button is absolutely gorgeous! My mum found them stuffed in an old icecream tub.  They belonged to my grandmother (the original Dolly). They are so very old. My mum has a photo of my grandmother, when she was young, wearing a coat with these same buttons, how amazing is that?!

And here is my other little lovely.

I'll pop links to the sites when I'm on my main computer, it may be some time as its in a box!

Well, it's taken 3 days to write this post, but I feel better now that I'm sending some crochet loveliness out into the world :)

Sweet dreams xxxxx

Daydreamers WIP's

We are having a bit of work done on the house at the moment so I've been forced to rummage through my studio and select the most important bits to keep whilst the rest gets packed away.

As far as I'm concerned its all important, I need it all with me or near me at all times, my husband rolls his eyes and disagrees.

As it turns out I have quite a few "works in progress" going on so I thought I would share them with you.

I started this one in January, at the beginning of my maternity leave.  It is a giant granny square using King Cole bamboo/cotton in Fuchsia, Grey & Cream.  It was intended for my sisters 40th (which was 4th July), sadly, it remains lap sized- this stays out :)

Now this gorgeous thing has to stay.  It is a vintage inspired cotton bag.  I use to have one when I was a little girl so when I saw the picture I had to recreate my own.  I'm using Style craft DK Cotton in cream and I've picked a  lovely polka dot cotton fabric for the lining. I'm very excited about this :)

This is a cowl I started in March.  We had freak snow storms so I thought I would get it done to keep me snug and warm.  The weather turned warm before I finished so I've popped it away till autumn.  I'm using King Cole bamboo/cotton in Rosé, Dusty pink, Grey, Pebble, Oyster and Saffron.  It's really soft and lovely.  It goes away :(

Now these two are definitely going away.  I'm happy with my decision.  The red and white was going to be a lap blanket for my red and white car.  The purple, pink and cream was for Amelia's dolls.  I'm bored of them so I'll pop them away and maybe turn them into pillow cases in the near future :)

Now, if I only finish one WIP this year it should be this.  I started this after I'd had Amelia. Yes that's about 2 1/2 years ago.  I made all the flowers in about a month then put them away and dint look at them again.  I'm not sure why, it's going to be a fantastic blanket when it's finish.  I only have about 10 flowers left to make! So what on earth is stopping me???!!?!?!!??? It stays out :)

And lastly.

Whilst going through all my WIP's I was inspired to start another one, oops! 

I'm using King Cole Smooth 100% acrylic (for the first time).  I've picked squares from Jan Eatons 200 crochet blocks book.  I have made one square, only 200 more to do- this stays out :)

The boy is awake and wanting feeding, I'll try and pop in before I go away :)

Sweet daydreams 

Em xxx

 

 

Daydreamers crochet block.

Hi there, 

 Just popping in for a quick post.  I'm under my quilt, on the ipad so excuse me if I drift off zzzzzzz

 I've had a bit of crochet block since the wipe out craft fair a couple of weeks back. 

 In an attempt to get my cro-jo back, I have rearranged my studio.

Here's my space. It use to be the dinning room, but who needs food!?

Before 'the little princess' got home....... After 'the little princess' got home.  :)

I do love to share this space with her.  I have often heard her talking to her self saying "look, I made it myself" can't think where she gets that from :)

Anyhow, it seemed to have worked and I managed to do a few bits and bobs.

Hex's and doilies for the crochet class I teach.  And flowers ............ Just because :)

I am normally a die hard natural fibres/cotton yarn gal.  Today, however, one of my students picked some lush acrylic yarn.  Really soft, lovely sheen and fab colours.  

I picked pebble, rose, white & spearmint.  I feel a blanket coming on :)

Well I'm off to sleep now, thanks for popping in

Sweet dreams

Em <3 xxx

Daydreamers weekend.

Well, that has been exhausting. Last weekend was the craft fair and this weekend a trip to Manchester to celebrate my sisters 40th. 

Phew! Back to normality :)

Anyway, I thought I would share some photos from the fair. 

 

This is my stall :)

A close up, what do you think of the heart confetti?

The other side. 

Unfortunately, the weather was horrid and that kept people at home, snuggled under a blanket. 

The brave few that did venture out didn't appear to like crochet, go figure! 

Anyway, we live and learn. I'll be hanging up my custom made venders apron for now. 

 

I'll be listing all these lovely things on my ETSY shop as soon as I have time :)

A sneaky look at a vintage pattern I picked up, now I just need to learn how to make clothes. 

I loooooove this dress, cool cotton, just a bit longer in the leg, beautiful :)

Well, now that the fair is done the stock is packed away and apron hidden, I can concentrate on lots of other yummy things (WIP blog to follow).

Here is a sneaky pic of me and my sisters in Manchester :)

Sweet daydreams xxxxxxxxx

Daydreamers beaded jug cover crochet pattern.

Hello fellow hookers, I've spend the day listening to Dr Hook and hooking some beaded jug covers.

I promised the pattern so I'll pop one on but I do keep changing my mind, hence the 5 different covers in the picture.  

I'm not sure which one is my favourite.  The pattern below is for the green cover over the cup.

Anyway here is the pattern, please remember that I have never written a pattern for other people to use so if you find any mistakes or ways to improve then do let me know.

Enjoy

Using a 5mm hook and dk cotton and in English terms.

Thread your beads onto the cotton yarn, I used 10 for this one.

1) chain 5& join with a slip stitch.

2) chain 3 (counts as the first treble) 19 trebles into the ring.

3) chain 5 and treble into the same stitch.  Miss one treble then *treble, chain 2, treble* into the next stitch, repeat from * to * join with a slip stitch into the initial chain 5.

4) chain 3 (counts as treble) treble into same space, chain 3.  In the next chain 2 space, * 2 trebles, chain 3*. Repeat from * to * into each chain 2 space.  Join with a slip stitch into initial chain 3. 2 slip stitches so that the next round starts in the chain 3 space.

5) chain 3 (counts as first treble) treble, chain 3, 2 trebles into same space.

Into next chain 3 space *2 trebles, chain 3, 2 trebles*

Repeat from * to * into each chain 3 space.  Slip stitch into initial chain 3.

6) * chain 8, double crochet into chain 3 space * repeat from * to * all the way round. At the end, double crochet into the first chain 8.

7) *chain 10, double crochet into the chain 8 space* repeat from * to * all the way round. At the end, double crochet into the first chain 10.

8) *chain 6 add a bead from your yarn, chain 6, double crochet into chain 10 from previous round*. Repeat all the way round.  Slip stitch into the final chain 10, fasten off and weave in the ends.  

Pour yourself a big drink and pop your lovely, hand crocheted cover over the top.

Sweet daydreams :) x

Dreamy beaded glass covers.

Well it's been another gloriously sunny day here in Darwen, Lancashire.  I have spent the day covered in factor 50 & playing in the garden with the children. Summer is finally here :)

I've been working on a pattern over the last few days and I have finally got it the way I want it.......................... Ta da!

I've crocheted this out of DK cotton and added glass beads to keep it over the glass.  Tonight I will be writing out the pattern to post here sometime this week.  

I've written loads of patterns in the 30 years I've been crocheting but they have always been in my own crochet shorthand, AKA unreadable to anyone else!  Would any of you lovely happy hookers like to try it out for me? I'd really appreciate any and all feedback :)

I better get down stairs and finish washing up, otherwise I'll never get my pattern done.

Sweet daydreams 

Em xxxx

 

Day dreamers crochet lesson No3

Hello happy hookers, today you will be learning the UK treble crochet stitch (tr). Grad some DK cotton (I'm using Wendy supreme in a lovely ice white) and a 4 mm hook.

I will be doing a 10 stitch swatch but, as I've previously said, to really get the action of the stitch in your head try doing a dish cloth.  The treble stitch is very good for floor cloths.

So to begin, chain 38 (35+3).  If you need to, have a quick look at lesson 1 to remind you how to do the slip stitch and chain.

To begin the treble stitch, identify the 4 th chain from the hook, marked with a needle.

 Yarn over hook 

Now insert the hook into that 4 th stitch.

Yarn over hook again

Pull the yarn through the 4th chain stitch, 3 on the hook.

Yarn over hook again

Pull yarn through 2.

Yarn over hook again................ Nearly there :)

And pull through final 2 stitches on the hook, you should have 1 left.

That's it, your first treble stitch, now for a recap

    

                                                  

And continue to the end.

When you get to the end, you need to chain 3

These are called turning chains, they keep you rows nice and even. 

Now turn your work and pause............... Identify the first stitch and ignore it.

Because treble is a tall stitch the 3 turning chains are classed as a stitch so if you were to work into the first stitch your work would keep getting wider and wider.

This is the stitch we will be working into

Right then, YOH and insert in to the stitch.

YOH, and pull yarn through

YOH

Pull through 2. YOH,

Pull yarn through final 2

Now, it may look like there is a space but trust me, it will straighten out as your work progresses.

So work a treble in each stitch and a 3 chain at the and, then turn your work.

You will be working across the rows, remember to miss that first stitch.

Now that we have that bit sorted, I'd like to take a moment to go through the last stitch.

Everyone misses this one when they are first starting out.  That's because it's a chain 3 'post' not a treble stitch. Can you see it? I've stuck a needle in it here.

So, the treble is the same, YOH.....poke.....YOH.......pull.......YOH.....pull2.....YOH.......pull2

And that is it :) if it helps to count your stitches then do.

Well done hookers.

Now don't forget to post your pic on my face book page, @dollydoultonscraftygoodness. (I'll stick a link in when I'm on my main computer)

Sweet daydreams 

Em xxxx