Pattern - Rainbow Wheels Baby Blanket

Pattern in UK Terminology

Hook - 4.5mm

Measures 68cm x 68cm or 28.5in x 28.5in

Yarn A - Hayfield Bonus Buzz in Whiz,
Yarn B - Stylecraft Special DK in  Aster
Yarn C - Stylecraft Special DK in Citron
Yarn D - Stylecraft Special DK in Shrimp
Plus Stylecraft Special DK in Raspberry, Bluebell and Turquoise,





Squares
Make 36 square patches for a 6 x 6 blanket: -

2 in Raspberry,
4 in Bluebell,
6 in Turquoise,
6 in Aster,
8 in Shrimp,
10 in Citron.





With Yarn A, make a magic loop
Round 1 - 3 ch (counts as 1 tr throughout pattern), 11 tr into loop, join with a sl st in top of starting 3 ch (12 sts)
Round 2 - 3 ch, 1 tr into same st, 2tr into next st, repeat to end, join with a sl st in top of starting 3 ch (24 sts)
Round 3 - 3 ch, 1 tr into same st, *1 tr into next st, 2tr into next st*, repeat from * to * until end, join with a sl st in top of starting 3 ch (36 sts)
Change yarn
Round 4 - 3 ch, 1tr, 2 ch, 2 tr into same st, *1tr into next st, 1 htr into next 2 sts, 1 dc into next 2 sts, 1 htr into next 2sts, 1 tr into next st, 2 tr, 2 ch, 2 tr into next st*, repeat from * to * 2 more times, 1tr into next st, 1 htr into next 2 sts, 1 dc into next 2 sts, 1 htr into next 2sts, 1 tr into next st, join with a sl st into top of starting 3 ch
Round 5 - 3 ch, work 1 tr into the top of every st from previous round, working 2tr, 2 ch, 2 tr into each 2 ch sp.
Fasten off

Joining
Sew patches together from the back using a yarn needle and the following chart as a colour guide: -

Edging
Join Yarn A into any 2 ch corner sp
Round 1 - 1 ch (does not count as st throughout pattern), 2 dc, 2 ch, 2 dc into corner sp, work 1 dc into each st of previous round, working 2 dc, 2 ch, 2 dc into each corner sp, join with a sl st into first dc, fasten off
Join Yarn B into any 2 ch corner sp
Round 2 - 3 ch, 1 tr, 2 ch, 2 tr into corner sp, work 1 tr into each st of previous round, working 2 tr, 2 ch, 2 tr into each corner sp, join with a sl st into first tr
Round 3 - Repeat Round 2, fasten off
Join Yarn C into any 2 ch corner sp
Round 4 to 5 - Repeat Round 2, fasten off

Join Yarn D into any 2 ch corner sp

Round 6 - 1 ch, 1 dc, 2 ch, 1 dc into corner sp, miss 2 st, 5 tr in next st, miss 2 st, 1 dc in next st, continue this pattern until end working 1 dc, 2 ch, 1 dc in each corner sp and adjusting to fit where required, join with a sl st into first dc.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Although not essential, the blanket would benefit from blocking. Either wet block, with a water spray and leave to dry in a warm place or use a steam iron on a cool setting, hold the iron 1 inch above the blanket and steam leaving the blanket out flat overnight to dry.

© All images belong to Kelly of lovedotty unless otherwise stated. Please link to pictures, content or DIY's if used on your own website. Crochet patterns are written by Kelly of lovedotty unless otherwise stated, please link to original post if used on your own website. Feel free to sell the finished product that has been created from the pattern, if sold via a website, please link to lovedotty blogspot. However please do not publish patterns in full or as your own, unless agreed by Kelly of lovedotty

New Year Resolutions

So I don't normally make new year resolutions, well not ones I have any intention of sticking to, but this year I really want to be more organised, so I have done some which are crochet based only and thought I would share: -

1) Try something new
Last year I attempted Tunisian Crochet and to be honest I didn't find it as enjoyable as normal crochet but glad I had a go and added that string to my bow. So this year I want to do the same again. At the moment I am thinking either Broomstick Crochet or Hairpin Lace (I already have the loom) or 'what the heck' both of them!

2) Use up yarn scraps before investing in new
This is one resolution I make with great reluctance as I love nothing more than buying new yarn, even when I have absolutley no idea what to use it for I just think it looks pretty (sorry husband). However, my yarn stash is overflowing to the point where my husband is convinced he is going to come home one day and find me trapped under it. So now I need to plan some projects to use it up. I have already started making some hot water bottle covers

and some patches to sew togther for baby blankets

I have some more ideas up my sleeve too, just not enough hours in the day!

3) Do more craft fairs
This was a plan for 2015 but never happened but I did rent a shelf in a local shop so almost there. I have already booked up a fair at Easter time, so hopefully more to follow. They are great fun just to be a part of even if you don't sell much

4) Blog more
I will try to blog at least once a month, promise!

5) Publish more patterns
The one thing I love most about crochet is planning my own projects and publishing the pattern. The icing on that cake is just one person making it and getting joy from my idea so I am definitely going to try and do that more this year. I have loads bubbling around in my head and written on scraps of paper so must try and get them typed up

There we go, 5 is enough isn't it? Better get hooking then.....

...oh hang on, just one more......

No brainer!!

Happy hooking
Kelly@lovedotty

2015 Crochet Review

2015 was my first full year of blogging, so thought I would have a review back over my makes during that time. I am only mentioning the things I have actually finished, there are a few WIP's that are lingering in a cupboard but my resolution this year is to get them finished also!

January

I started the year with a challenge, I wanted to make something I have never done before. I have tried filet crochet on a small scale but never a big project. I made this gorgeous runner in DMC Petra and it is still one of my most favourite pieces. I am very proud of it!

I was starting to get the coaster bug so made some sets of these lovely Leaf Coasters (pattern from Inside Crochet Magazine) to sell in my Etsy shop. I have made some sets as Christmas 2014 presents and really enjoyed how quick and easy they were to hook. Made in Stylecraft Cotton DK

February

The Coaster bug continued into February and I designed my first set of coasters in a cupcake design

This is the first coaster pattern I wrote up on my blog and have enjoyed hooking these in lots of different colour palette's. These went for sale on my Etsy page and are made in Stylecraft Cotton DK.

Another coaster pattern then followed, this time in a vintage doily design, again in Stylecraft Cotton DK. These are a real pleasure to hook

March

More coasters, this time I designed a simple doily design but then used the colour pallet's of my favourite flowers to create several different designs. Again pattern for free on my blog and hooked in Stylecraft Cotton DK

In March I hired a shelf in the Norwich Gift Emporium so this month was busy making products to sell. First up were these daisy pin cushions which I used a pattern by Nikki Trench and hooked in (yes, you guessed it) Stylecraft Cotton DK.

As it was Easter, I whipped up these Egg Cosies, another pattern from Nikki Trench. I must say they were very popular so must make some more for this year. Hooked in Stylecraft Special DK

I also made some Tablet Cases using star stitch in Stylecraft Special DK. I have been meaning to write the pattern up on my blog so must get round to that this year!

In addition to tHings to sell, I did make a couple of things for the home this month, firstly my Sunny Cushion Cover in Stylecraft Special DK which is now living in my son's bedroom

And a lovely Mandala for my kitchen table for my vases of daffodils, made in Cotton DK

May

Myself and my mum bought new mobile phones, so I made us matching phone cases to keep them in. This is another pattern I will hopefully write up for my blog. Hooked in Stylecraft Special DK and Cotton DK

June

June saw the creation of this lovely little fella. Made for my son from a pattern in Kintting & Crochet magazine in Stylecraft Special DK, I think he is scrummy which is why he has found himself to be my Facebook profile picture!

I never shared a photo of this completed tea cosy which I started this month, but here it is and looking lovely on my teapot shelf. Pattern from Inside Crochet magazine, hooked in Stylecraft Cotton DK

July

In July came my Flower Wreath, I had wanted to do a Summer wreath for some time and was really pleased with the result. I was going to take it down in Winter but it is still on my wall. You will find the tutorial for the wreath on my blog.

My neice / goddaughter turned 3 this month and I made her this lovely little pony as she is obsessed with horses! Pattern was from Knitting & Crochet magazine, was for a unicorn so I adapted to suit. Made in Stylecraft Special DK

August

My Rainbow Baby blanket was completed this month. It was started several months previously and then stashed as a WIP when I got bored. So glad I finished it as it looks lovely. It was made for my little boy in beautiful star stitch using Stylecraft Special DK

September

This month I completed my biggest project of the year which was my Granny Square Patch Blanket

I had started this several months previously and planned the colours to match my living room. It took a lot of time to make and is absolutely huge! I was really pleased with the finished result but might be a while before I attempt another large project again!

This month I also made these slippers for my mum. Pattern from Simply Crochet magazine and hooked using Women's Institute chunky yarn

October

I was mega organised this year and in October I started planning my Christmas presents. First came the Stripy Hot Water Bottle Cosy

You will find the free patten for this on my blog and is one of the larger patterns I have written. Hooked in Stylecraft Special DK. Several water bottles followed this one!

November

I made these sparkly bauble coaster for my shelf in the NGE. Hooked in Sirdar Ella which is a lovely cotton mix. The pattern is here for free on my blog

Also for my shelf, I made these macaron and Strawberry keyring / bag charms, which were hooked in Stylecraft Cotton DK. These sold out so must make some more!

December

I had started these blankets a few months earlier but finally finished them off in December. They were hooked using the corner to corner method and are baby blanket sized. Not sure what to do with them, I just enjoyed putting the colours together! Hooked in Stylecraft Special DK

Another Christmas presents were these hot water bottles I made for a couple of my friends with their names on. I used the letter pattern from my baby blocks. Hooked in Stylecraft Special DK

Obviously Christmas decorations were on the to-do list also! I made this Bell Bunting for my kitchen shelf. Hooked in Stylecraft Cotton DK, pattern from Simply Crochet magazine

And lastly I made this holly heart wreath for my mum, I bought a cheap heart wreath and then hooked berries in Sirdar Ella and leaves in Stylecraft Cotton DK with a bit of gingham to finish it off!

I hoped you enjoyed following my projects in 2015, loads more to come in 2016. Happy New Year everyone!
© All images belong to Kelly of lovedotty unless otherwise stated. Please link to pictures, content or DIY's if used on your own website. Crochet patterns are written by Kelly of lovedotty unless otherwise stated, please link to original post if used on your own website. Feel free to sell the finished product that has been created from the pattern, if sold via a website, please link to lovedotty blogspot. However please do not publish patterns in full or as your own, unless agreed by Kelly of lovedotty