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Friday 27 November 2015

Lovedotty's Handy Stitch & Abbreviation Guide


Please see a handy stitch and abbreviation guide to help you get your head around those crafty Crochet patterns! 

All in UK terminology with references to US where different.


blo - Back Loop Only
Working into the back loop only of the stitch in the previous row/round

ch(s) - Chain(s)

With a loop on the hook, yarn over hook, draw yarn through loop on hook (1 loop on hook). Continue as required

ch-sp(s) - Chain Space(s)
The space made when working a chain or chains between stitches

dc - Double Crochet (US - sc Single Crochet)
Hook into stitch, yarn over hook, draw hook back through the stitch (2 loops on hook),yarn over hook, pull yarn through both loops on hook

dc2tog - Double Crochet 2 Together (US - sc2tog Single Crochet 2 Together)
Hook into stitch, yarn over hook, draw hook back through the stitch (2 loops on hook), hook into next stitch, yarn over hook, draw hook back through the stitch (3 loops on hook), yarn over hook, pull yarn through all loops on hook

dc-spike - Spike Stitch using dc
Working the st into rows below the current row being worked (as defined by pattern), hook into stitch, yarn over hook, draw hook back through the stitch (2 loops on hook),yarn over hook, pull yarn through both loops on hook. 


dtr - Double Treble Crochet (US - tr Treble Crochet)
Yarn over hook twice, hook into stitch, yarn over hook, draw hook back through the stitch (4 loops on hook), yarn over hook, pull yarn through first 2 loops, yarn over hook, pull yarn through next 2 loops on yarn, yarn over hook, pull yarn through remaining 2 loops on hook.

dtr2tog - Double Treble 2 Together (US - tr2tog Treble 2 Together)
Yarn over hook twice, hook into stitch, yarn over hook, draw hook back through the stitch (4 loops on hook), yarn over hook, pull yarn through first 2 loops, yarn over hook, pull yarn through next 2 loops on yarn, yarn over hook twice, hook into next stitch, yarn over hook, draw hook back through the stitch (5 loops on hook) yarn over hook, pull yarn through first 2 loops on hook, yarn over hook, pull yarn through next 2 loops, yarn over hook and pull through the remaining stitches on hook

flo - Front Loops only
Working into the front loop only of the stitch in the previous row/round

htr - Half Treble Crochet (US - hdc Half Double Crochet)
Yarn over hook, hook into stitch, yarn over hook, draw hook back through the stitch (3 loops on hook), yarn over hook, pull through all 3 loops on hook.

htr2tog - Half Treble 2 Together (US - hdc2tog Half Double 2 Together)
Yarn over hook, hook into stitch, yarn over hook, draw hook back through the stitch (3 loops on hook), yarn over hook, hook into next stitch, yarn over hook, draw hook back through the stitch (5 loops on hook), pull through all loops on hook.

pc - Popcorn Stitch
Work required number (pattern usually specifies) of stitches into stitch below, remove hook and insert into the top of the first stitch of the group, insert hook into top of last stitch of group, yarn over hook, pull yarn through both stitches.

pf - Puff Stitch

Yarn over hook, hook into stitch, yarn over hook, draw hook back through stitch (3 loops on hook), repeat procedure into the same stitch for the required number of times, when complete, yarn over hook and pull through all loops on hook

RS - Right Side
Work with the front side of your project facing you

sl - Slip Stitch
Hook into stitch, yarn over hook, draw hook back through the stitch (2 loops on hook), draw last loop through first loop

sp(s) - Space(s)
The gap between stitches, whether directly between or made up of chains

st(s) - Stitch(es)
All variations of crochet are referred to as stitches

tr - Treble Crochet (US - dc Double Crochet)
Yarn over hook, hook into stitch, yarn over hook, draw hook back through the stitch (3 loops on hook), yarn over hook, pull yarn through first 2 loops, yarn over hook, pull yarn through remaining 2 loops on hook

tr2tog - Treble 2 Together (US - dc2tog Double Crochet 2 Together)
Yarn over hook, hook into stitch, yarn over hook, draw hook back through the stitch (3 loops on hook), yarn over hook, pull yarn through first 2 loops, yarn over hook, hook into next stitch, yarn over hook, draw hook back through the stitch (4 loops on hook), pull yarn through first 2 loops, yarn over hook and pull yarn through remaining loops on hook

trtr - Triple Treble Crochet
Yarn over hook three times, hook into stitch, yarn over hook, draw hook back through the stitch (5 loops on hook), yarn over hook, pull yarn through first 2 loops, yarn over hook, pull yarn through next 2 loops on yarn, yarn over hook, pull yarn through next 2 loops on hook, yarn over hook, pull yarn through remaining loops on hook

WS - Wrong Side
Work with the back side of your project facing you

Pattern - Mini Christmas Stars


Pattern in UK Terminology

Hook - 3mm

Yarn - DK Weight. I used Sirdar Ella, a lovely sparkly cotton blend yarn





Make a magic ring

Round 1 - 1 ch (does not count as st), 10 dc into round, join with a sl st into first dc (10 sts)
Round 2 - 4 ch, 1 dc into 2nd ch from hook, 1 htr into next chain, 1 tr into next ch, skip 1 st, sl st into next st (1 arm of star formed), repeat until end and you should have 5 arms, join with a sl st into first st of previous round
Fasten off and sew in ends.





© 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

Saturday 21 November 2015

Feeling Festive

Anyone who knows me, knows how excited I get about Christmas. Because I get so excited you would think with over 25 years crochet experience I would have oodles of Christmassy crochet goodies adorning my home. Sadly I do not, again, anyone who knows me, knows how seriously disorganised I am! I spend most Christmasses in a state of crochet panic, with about 50 ideas swirling around my head and can never quite organise myself to get them done. I must start a different make everyday and then get distracted by another pattern idea. Just when I start to get my flow I remember all the gifts I had planned to make and the fact that I 'have' to make them otherwise we will have nothing to hand over when we see certain friend or relative the next day (or in the next hour)!

This doesn't mean I don't have anything, I have the odd make that was lucky enough to get finished, and a few are them are here, snowflake garland, stockings, table mat and my beautiful wreath which I love!


So for Christmas 2015 I am really trying to get more organised. For starters, I managed to make the majority of my gifts back in October, way before I felt too Christmassy to get swept away. I think this is a good tip for anyone like me! Also as I have a shelf this year in the Norwich Gift Emporium so the incentive was there to get some makes finished, otherwise I would have nothing to sell!

When planning what to make to sell, obviously decorations are always the first thing to think of, but I wanted to do something different, so thought if I buy some large plain gift tags I could decorate with motif's, and so my Christmas Tree Gift Labels were created!

I have had a few compliments about these and I absolutely love them!
The trees are made from Stylecraft Special Cotton DK and the stars from Sirdar Ella (cotton DK weight)
 


I found the pattern for the tree on Pinterest (http://theroyalsisters.blogspot.com.au/2009/11/grandma-tree-tutorial.html), and it was really easy to hook. It was quite refreshing to find a pattern that actually worked up well and didn't need blocking. Using the cotton yarn, meant it was easy to stretch into shape and stay there.

The star pattern was really quick and easy, as follows: -
Using 3mm hook, make a magic ring
Round 1 - 1 ch (does not count as st), 10 dc into round, join with a sl st into first dc (10 sts)
Round 2 - 4 ch, 1 dc into 2nd ch from hook, 1 htr into next chain, 1 tr into next ch, skip 1 st, sl st into next st (1 arm of star formed), repeat until end and you should have 5 arms, join with a sl st into first st of previous round
Fasten off and sew in ends.

These little stars are fab, you can make them into anything, a garland, decorate a wreath, make Christmas cards or even just as they are, tie a gingham ribbon to them and hang them on the tree!

Another Christmas make of mine was these Christmas Bauble coasters (yes, it is me, always a coaster on the go!). Again really quick and easy to make and you will find the pattern here on my blog.

I made 2 types, some sparkly sets hooked in Sirdar Ella
And then some bold designs in Stylecraft Special Cotton DK.


As they are cotton, the are machine washable and should hold their shape. Perfect for coasters!

So, a week on Sunday I will be sending the husband up to the loft to get the decorations down ready to put up! So no doubt it will spark some more Christmas madness for me and once again the disorganisation will start. Thank god I started early!

Happy Hooking
Kelly@lovedotty

© 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.

Saturday 7 November 2015

Christmas Pattern - Bauble Coasters


Pattern in UK Terminology

Hook - 3.5mm

Yarn - Cotton DK Weight.

I used Sirdar Ella, a lovely sparkly cotton blend in shade 0012 Bombshell and 009 Very Lilly


With Yarn A, make a magic ring
Round 1 - 3 ch (counts as 1 tr throughout pattern), 14 tr into the ring, join with a sl st into the third ch of first st (15 sts)
Round 2 - 3 ch, 1 tr in same st, 2 tr into next st and each st until end, join with a sl st into the third ch of the first st (30 sts)
Round 3 - 3 ch, 1 tr in same st, *1 tr into next st, 2 tr into next st*, repeat from * to * until last st, 1 tr into last st, join with a sl st into the third ch of the first st (45 sts)
Round 4 - 3 ch, 1 tr in same st, *1 tr into each of the next 2 sts, 2 tr into next st*, repeat from * to * until last 2 sts, 1 tr into each of the last 2 sts, join with a sl st into the third ch of the first st (60 sts)
Change yarn
You will now be working in rows
Row 1 - 1 ch (does not count as st), 1 dc in same st and following 8 sts, turn (9 sts)
Row 2 - Repeat Row 1
Row 3 - 1 ch, 1 dc2tog (working into same st and next st), 1 dc into each of next 5 sts, 1 dc2tog (working into last 2 sts, turn (7 sts)
Row 4 - sl st into each of first 3 sts, 10 ch into next st and join with a sl st into the bottom of the same st, sl st into each of the remaining 3 sts
Fasten off and sew in ends
© 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

Friday 6 November 2015

Happy 1st Birthday!

I just thought I would post a mention that it is a year now since I started this blog. I am loving putting my crochet thoughts, patterns and makes onto the world wide web and am chuffed to bits so many people have taken time to read my posts!

Happy Birthday to me and thanks everyone for your support!

Kelly@lovedotty