Baby Blanket Centre Squares

Baby Blanket Centre Squares

Pretty in Pink Baby Blanket

and Little Boy Blues Baby Blanket

I have been asked many times for the pattern for the squares in the centre of these baby blankets and have been very pleased to share via email upon request. I have had the pattern written up for ages so I thought why not create a post to share the joy that I had in making them.

I hope the pattern is clear but if you have any questions just let me know

Centre Square Pattern

1. Chain 6 slip stitch into the first stitch to make a ring.
2. Chain 1 (counts as first dc) c 15 into the ring, slip stitch into the first chain made, 16 sts.
3. 4 chain, 3trtog into same st to make the first petal cluster, 3ch, miss next dc,

*tr 4 tog, 3 ch, miss next dc**  repeat from * to ** 6 more times, 8 petal clusters formed.

4. Slip stitch into the next 3 ch space, 1ch, 1 dc in same space, * 2ch, (3htr, 3ch, 3htr0 into next 3 ch space, 2 ch, 1 dc in next 3ch space, rep from * 3 times more, omitting dc at the end of the last repeat, slip stitch into first dc.

The final round is trebles and I think you will be able to follow that from the images. Any questions please let me know and I will be happy to help if I can.

Baby Blanket for a Little Man

 

Baby Blanket for  a little boy.

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My lovely daughter called and asked if I could make a blanket for the Christening of her friends baby, “of course” said I “when is it”, “next week” says Miss A.

I said I would love to make something. But within a week? Although I would say that I am not one to be easily deterred from a woolly challenge it would be unlikely to be ready in time for the christening date. We agreed that that would be ok and I have to confess that I was delighted to be given a reason to start this pattern, I have been eyeing it up for quite a while and wasted no time in getting started.

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I wanted it to be bright and cheery so went for a mix of blues and turquoise with white to give the patches a lift, the soft teddy bearish brown added an nice earthy tone to pull it all together.

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I just love laying the squares out as you go to mark your progress deriving great pleasure from seeing them all laid out once complete and ready for joining.

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Just to give you a closer view of the different blocks used to create this baby blanket, the heart is made separately then stitched into place in the centre of this simple crochet square.

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The Catherine Wheel pattern is employed for the one of the rectangle squares. I love the motion you feel with this one.

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A simple extention to the heart square base using treble crochet stitches.

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The simple Shell pattern, the only single colour block used.

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The teddy bear brown surrounds and joins each block together and is also used to frame the simple trebble crochet border before the lacy edging is applied.

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And then, it’s finished. Ready to wrap itself around a special little man!

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I do so love making blankets and this was such a pleasure I have no hessitation in recommending the pattern from a book I have used many times, Baby Crochet by Lois Daykin.

ps. I am going to ask Mama if I can share the photo of the little chap laid on his new blanket, what this space!

Baby Jacket and Teddy Booties

These Teddy Booties are a favourite I have made before several times. Much as I have enjoyed doing the yarn bombing it has been so nice to have the time to make something just because I felt like it, no themes. I do so love these boots.

And this little wrap around style jacket is great for baby boys or girls. You can just imagine a chubby little babe cosily clad in this cute jacket and bootee set and ready for cuddles.

They are both from a book that I love Baby Crochet by Lois Daykin. It is full of toys, hats and bibs to make, even a long colourful snake. Take a peek and see what you think.

Amish Puzzle Ball and Crochet Boots Swap

I was reading through posts one day and came across some lovely crochet slippers made by Simply Hooked with an offer I could not resist. A swap request, offering a pair crochet slippers in exchange for an Amish Puzzle Ball, “well” I thought to myself “I have made these puzzle balls before and I would love those gorgeous slippers”. So here it is ready to be shipped off.

And here are the said gorgeous slippers!

We exchanged emails and Simply Hooked agreed to my swap offer and chose the colours for the Puzzle Ball. If you haven’t seen one before I will try to explain how it works. You make twelve triangular pouches and three rows of lids. Each row of lids is attached to four pouches stuffing each pouch before finally closing it off.

So you end up with these.

First you interlock 2 of the finished rounds.

Then the last round fits into the gaps to make a round ball.

I love this pattern so much, they are quite quick to make and there are animal versions too. I made an Elephant shown in a previous post here.

If you fancy making your own puzzle ball you can download the free pattern from Ravelry Amish Puzzle Ball Pattern, there is also a flower version which is delightful. These two  patterns are kindly available free thanks to Dedri Uys.

The Elephant Puzzle Ball pattern is available to purchase on Ravelry too. Dedri is obviously quite dedicated, I talked in my post about how struggled a little with the elephant head and Dedri was kind enough to contact me and advise that she had altered the pattern and asked if I made one again would I let her know if it was better. How kind was that?

Stripy Mouse All Finished

I am so happy to say “ta dah” the colourful stripy mouse is finished at last! I know you cannot tell from the images but inside his tummy, hands and feet are some bags of plastic beans so he is nicely weighted and sits really well.

He looks so sweet on his matching baby blanket.

I just popped off to replace the battery in my camera and when I came back he was helping himself to some cheese and crackers, with a few grapes on the side no less! Think I have created a rather sophisticated chap?Really happy with how he has turned out especially considering he was originally going to be a giraffe! See link below for more on that little mishap.

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• Crochet Stripy Mouse (thegrangerange.wordpress.com)

Agathi’s Handmade Crochet, Lace and Handcrafted Olive Wood – Kassiopi, Corfu

While we were in Corfu enjoying the friendly atmosphere wonderful food and of course, the sunshine, we visited Kassiopi which is bigger than San Stefanos where we were staying but still a relatively small place. The photo below, provided by Agathi as you can see was taken in 1963, this little place has definitely grown over the last 50 years.

I met Agathi in Kassiopi when we were here last year, she is such an inspiration with amazing talent and so many skills, crocheting, knitting, lace making, weaving, whatever I take to show her she can tell me more about it. Oh how I long to absorb all her knowledge.

I couldn’t wait to go back to her shop this year, it is a veritable treasure trove of wonderful things, they are literally everywhere………

……….hung are tablecloths in all shapes and sizes in featuring handmade lace and embroidery………

………more cloths, sheets, pillowcases and bedspreads are stashed and stacked on shelves along with the paintings by one of her sons………

………on hangers are napkins and smaller tablecloths………

………in bowls, on the counter in shelving.  A zillion things in this little shop, from carpets and rugs to baby shoes, bibs and Christmas Angels.

Shelves are piled high with hand embroidered sheets, table cloths of all sizes just waiting to be snatched up.

Crochet is very fashionable in Europe and Agathi makes a range of different clothing and accessories.

They are a talented family, Agathi’s other son creates with olive wood, his wonderful creations are also available in the shop.

There is an area dedicated to his work with the shelves bursting with options.

All these beauties are turned on the lathe he imported.

My favourite is this pestle and mortar but unfortunately it was too heavy to bring back, I will try to allow for the weight on the return flight next time.

For a small shop Agathi is amazingly busy. If you ever have the pleasure of going to Corfu I would definitely recommend a visit.

Tutorial for Stripy Cat Upper Body

Sorry if this post appears a bit unusual but I got a message from a fellow hooker who was having some problems with the Upper Body part of the Stripy Cat pattern from Lois Daykins Baby Crochet book.

I love my Stripy Cat so much I think the world should be full of them! Obviously I had to try to  help.

Row 1

Chain 7 and follow pattern to 4dc in last chain.

Work down the loops on the back of the chain.

You will now have an arch shape with the starting tail on the right hand side.

Before commencing row 2 you need to turn the work over so the tail is on the left.

Row 2

Work back around the arch following the pattern, the increases should all be at the top, rounded end of the arch shape. Note that having worked back around the arch the tail is now on the right again.

Turn the work over so the tail switches to the left hand side ready to start the next row.

Row 3

As Row 2 work back around the arch following the pattern, the increases should all be at the top, rounded end of the arch shape. Again you will note the tail is back on the right.

Once again turn the work over so the tail switches to the left hand side ready to start the next row.

Row 4

As above following the pattern.

Again remember to turn the work so the tail is back on the left before starting Row 5.

Row 5

There are no increases in Row 5 so you will see the work start to curve for the roundness at the top of the body.

Row 6

Continue following pattern remembering to turn work at the end of the row so the tail is on the left ready to start the next row.

Rows 7 to 16

Having formed the arch at the top of the body and started the curve shaping in Row 5, these 10 rows form the length of the body.

I have only gone up to Row 16 but will happily do the rest if required. I was guessing that it might be the ‘turn’ at the end of the rows that was confusing. Anyway I hope the tutorial makes it a bit clearer, if you need any more help please let me know.

I would love to see a photo of your Stripy Cat when you have finished it. I hope you love yours as much as I love mine. Happy hooking my friend!