31 Dec 2018

Ziggy Ziggy... the FREE pattern!

Evening!
As promised, tonight I'm going to share the pattern for my Ziggy Ziggy scarf.
It's a pattern that can be adjusted according to your preferred sizing. It's also very suitable for a novice hooker. More experienced hookers will find it a lovely relaxing TV project. 
Ingredients
Scheepjes Our Tribe yarn - 2 colours of your choice
(for the blue and green scarf I have used 974 The Curio Crafts Room and 970 Cypress Textiles - 2 of each colour way and for the red and blue scarf I've used 971 Jellina Creations and 969 Lilla Bjorn - 1 ball of each)
Size 4.5mm crochet hook
Scissors
Darning Needle to weave in ends
Blocking materials
How To
Written in UK English Terms
Starting chain is worked in multiples of 13 + 2
For the narrower scarf A I have started with a chain of 80 and scarf, which is a third wider, a starting chain of 119
It is entirely your choice! Make your starting chain using the first of your 2 chosen colours
Starting Row (Still using first colour) In second chain from hook 1dc *5dc, 3dc in next st, 5dc, skip 2 st. Repeat from * to last 2 sts, dc2tog. Turn.
Pattern Row 1ch (counts as 1 dc throughout) 1dc *5dc, 3dc in next st, 5dc, skip 2 st. Repeat from * to last 2 sts, dc2tog. Turn.
Join in your second colour after 2 rows have been worked. You will change colour every 2 rows. 
DO NOT BREAK THE YARN! Simply carry it loosely up the side of your work.
You can see on this photo how the yarn looks when carried up the side. I always bring the yarn I'm about to work with to the front and keep the yarn I've just finished with to the back. That way I won't forget and it'll keep everything nice and neat!
Continue working the pattern row and changing colours until your scarf is the desired length. 
Fasten off yarns, weave in ends and wet block!

Finished Sizes: My blue scarf measures 158cm x 35cm and took approx. 1.5 balls of each colour. The red scarf measures 148cm x 27cm and took a ball of each colour. 
Your scarf is finished and ready to wear!
NB Due to the nature of the zig zag pattern, it will concertina in a little. Tis all fine! 


I hope you all have a wonderful, happy and peaceful New Year.
Join me in 2019 for more hooky adventures!
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30 Dec 2018

Introducing... Ziggy Ziggy!

Evening!
I found a little time in this crazy month to take some photos of the finished scarves.... we went out and about on a country estate and snapped like crazy! Thankfully the weather was on our side.... no up a mountain shots this time but I do love the photos we managed to get.


Soooo.... as I mentioned in the last post, I made up the scarf in 2 colour ways.
Both using Scheepjes Our Tribe.
Each scarf uses 2 different colour ways... the one on the left is made with Jellina Creations and Lilla Bjorn....and the one on the right is made with Cypress Textiles and The Curio Crafts Room.
I'll share the free pattern tomorrow, but it's very easy to adjust the width and length of both scarves. Ok let's have a little look at each one more closely....












These 2 colour ways work beautifully together and give a nice subtle effect.....
For something a little more bold the second scarf packs a little more punch!








The photo above was taken as the light was more golden....hence the warmer effect!


Join me tomorrow when I'll share the free pattern! 
Til then x

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29 Dec 2018

Getting ziggy with it....

Hey! Welcome back for a little WIP update!
My Scheepjes Our Tribe project...
Let's just crack on and look at some photos eh?


I decided on a zig zag design....alternating yarns to give this lovely striped effect.
Stripy zig zags!!!
I love how the colours play with each other....


It's a very relaxing project... perfect for snuggling up in front of the TV with.
The colour changes keep the interest going..... 


Before I knew it, I had a lovely finished scarf....


Pinned out on the blocking board you can really appreciate how the two colours work together!

Next time I'll share pics of both the finished scarves together!
They've already done a good job of keeping us warm in the chilly weather.

Til next time x

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28 Dec 2018

Squeezing in something new.....

Hi!

Hope you've all been enjoying a wonderful and peaceful Christmas time!
It's been busy here..... lots of making and finishing up projects.
I always do this....leave it til the last minute!
So this is a speeded up last of year project for you all....

Over the next few days I shall share the process of my latest creation. And, of course, there will be grande finale with a free pattern.

If you remember back to THIS post.... I introduced Scheepjes Our Tribe.
A yarn with colour ways chosen by the Scheepjes Bloggers.



I knew I wanted to make something with it...but wasn't quite sure what....so I kept my samples stored safely to one side until inspiration hit!

I love the gentle colour changes in this yarn and decided I wanted to play with the colours a bit and showcase how they can contrast and work together!


I initially chose two colours, Cypress Textiles and The Curio Craft Room.
Both had colours I adore and I was certain they would complement each other nicely!

I did go on to choose another two....to make a second sample....but completely forgot to take photos before I started!!!!

So a bit more about the yarn....


It's mainly Merino Superwash but with some added polyamide to make it a little more hardwearing. It's a single (not plyed) so that can make it a little wiggly....but don't worry as that won't affect the finished item. It's also what I call a sticky yarn! Because it's a single with not a great deal of twist, it's not totally smooth and has some loose fibres that can make ripping back a little tricky....but not impossible with care. 

It's super soft and passes the next to neck test with flying colours....which is just as well...as this little lot is destined to be a funky scarf!

Join me tomorrow and I'll share some work in progress photographs....

Til then x

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19 Dec 2018

Funky Flower Lampshade How To.....

Evening!

Ok tonight I'm going attempt to give you instructions on how to make the lampshade.


If you remember....way back when....


It all started with a selection of Scheepjes Maxi Sweet Treat balls of yarn, some cream fabric and a lampshade kit....oh and some quiet optimism!

I ended up choosing some key colours that I thought would work well with the wallpaper in my bedroom and set to making little flowers!


I ended with a lovely selection!

Before I go on with the instructions, I just wanted to talk about the lampshade.
I made mine. I wasn't too tricky....just a bit fiddly and it definitely needs two pairs of hands!

I bought this kit from Amazon. It was £8.99 and contains everything you need apart from the fabric...I used a scrap from my fabric box. They come in a variety of sizes so you can make a one that will fit your desired lamp base. The instructions were easy to follow....I'd only add one top tip! Before  you cut your fabric to the sticky paper size....allow a 1cm border on one of the short edges, then neatly fold this over onto the sticky paper. Add a length of the double sided tape to secure when you roll the and secure to the metal rings. This will leave you with a nice neat join....unlike my messy one!!!!

Alternatively.....head to a bargain shop and just buy a plain lampshade to pimp up to your hearts content!!!! 

Right! Onto the gritty business of making the flower frenzy lampshade

You Will Need....

Lampshade kit/Plain Lampshade
Scheepjes Maxi Sweet Treat yarn in your chosen colour selection

I used : 
786 Fuchsia
128 Tyrian Purple
750 Bordeau
189 Royal Orange
208 Yellow Gold
400 Petron Blue
390 Poppy Rose
245 Green Yellow

1.5mm crochet hook
Scissors
Darning Needle to weave in those pesky ends!
Blocking board and pins
Ric Rac to decorate 
Fabric Glue (choose the dries clear variety!)

First off you need a heap of flowers. Probably more than you think!
I decided to make a wavy design around my lampshade....you can play with designs

For the flower designs I searched Pinterest for inspiration and was stunned at the array of free patterns available. 

I chose 3 main designs for my flowers....


The first can be found on here on Pink Mambo. It's the beautiful Taanvi's Flower. 
I made a few of these, varying the colour combinations. 


Next came this stunning design... the Japanese Flower. There's a step by step tutorial here on Revlie
Lots of bright colour combinations bring this to life!


This beauty provided a nice contrast to the more lacy designs.... nice and simple but very effective.
You can find the pattern here on Crochet 'n' Create

These 3 designs formed the basis of the flower wave but I also needed some cute little fill in flowers.

I made these very simply in a single colour by making a magic circle and then 10 double crochet into the circle, join with a slight stitch and close the circle. Next *chain 4, make 2 treble crochets into the next stitch, chain 4 and slip stitch into the next stitch. Repeat from * four more times to make 5 petals in total. Fasten off and weave in ends. 

I also made some smaller ones in exactly the same way but changing the chain 4 to chain 3 and trebles instead of double trebles. 

Once you have amassed enough flowers for your design give them a block.


This is important to ensure that they lie nice and flat when you're glueing them onto the lampshade. 

Now its time to stick everything down!
I added my rows of Ric Rac first. You could also use decorative ribbon or braid. I simply measure the length I need and glued it down. 
Once that was in place I could work out where my flowers were to go. 
I stuck them down temporarily using some double sided tape until I was happy with the placement then I glued them down. 

TA DAAA!!!
You have a funky lampshade to be proud of!


Til next time...I have a new project in the making!

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12 Dec 2018

Somehow, I have a finished lampshade!

It's finished!
Finally!!!!
Blimey this has been a real challenge. 
But it's done.
Da lampshade is all finished....
and I like it.
I like it a lot!
Wanna see?


*sorry about the plug socket*
Not ideal, but it is what it is!

I wanted the lampshade to work with the wild wallpaper that I have in the bedroom so added some co-ordinating ric-rac. It ties everything together...not literally! 

The colour selection in Scheepjes Maxi Sweet Treat is truly impressive. 

It looks lovely when switched on....


My lamp base is a little on the short side so I had to give it a booster seat with a couple of books until I get time to replace it with a taller model!


I love how it works with the white bed linen and the crazy wallpaper (only on the bedhead wall as not to induce hallucinogenic dreams!!!!)


Next time I'll show you how to make a funky flower lampshade of your own! 
Til then... x
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10 Dec 2018

Progress....

Hey!
Well this post is a little late....
Actually quite a bit late. 
Confession time.
I have found this project more than a bit challenging. Do you ever find this? You start off all guns blazing and then all enthusiasm fizzles?
Well that has been me with this lampshade. 
Oh my....it has challenged me!
To the point where I almost gave up and started something different.... but I'm no quitter!

If you remember from THIS post, I chose a bunch of colours in Scheepjes Maxi Sweet Treat. I also had a lampshade kit..... 

Well I made a whole heap of lovely crochet flowers....


Then blocked them....


Don't the colours look lovely?
Next I couldn't resist having a bit of fun laying them out to see how they looked all together...


Hmmm.... maybe group them in colours???!!!!....


Ok....now what?
Build the lampshade....that's what!
Oh lordy!!!!!

Join me in a couple of days to see if I managed 😉
Til next time x

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