Lovedotty Crochet

Friday, 3 August 2018

The Numberblock Blanket & Number 1!

So this is something I have been working on for the last couple of months and now it is finally complete and ready to share...

In case you are wondering what the heck it is, it is a 'Numberblock' blanket for my son's room. Numberblocks being from a show on cbeebies on the BBC.

It has been a massive project I have had on the go since about April and I finally finished it last month. I am very proud of the outcome and I know it looks a bit rubbish in places, because I am not great at the fiddly detailed stuff, but that just makes it even more unique, I guess!

To give you a background, my son is obsessed with numbers, it all started when he watched Numberblocks on cbeebies for the first time. He was hooked and everything had to be about numbers or 'Numberblocks'. So for those that don't know 'Numberblocks' is a cartoon about the lives of 10 sets of blocks who are all friends. These blocks are all made up of individual blocks making 1 to 10, all different colours, cute faces etc.. My son desperately wanted some Numberblock 'things' that he can play / interact with. Unfortunately the BBC hasn't cashed in on this yet, so he has had a variety of homemade plastic actual Numberblocks before he finally got a set of 'real' ones on the front of a magazine. He was over the moon, but I knew I could do better than that and as a crocheter, I thought I would make him something rather special, just like him!

First up a blanket! Luckily the Numberblocks are all squares that fit together so it was a no brainer, I could make a patch blanket. I used Lily Sugar 'n Cream which is a lovely aran weight yarn....

I wanted a nice sturdy blanket that would stand the abuse only a four year old can inflict! I needed nine different colours plus a background colour. I wanted the squares to be a flat colour, no gaps or lacy bits, so just crocheted round in tr stitch.

So I crocheted...

blocked...

and sewed together...

Boom, that's the easy bit!

The tricky bit came with making the faces! I'm not great with fiddly crochet and I did struggle I must admit. It was very much a make it up as I went along, kinda of an unintentional first foray into free-form crochet! I used Scheepjes Catona (which is very much my go-to yarn of the moment!), this is 4 ply weight and worked great. Plus with my box of mini Catona's (see blog post Seeing Flowers) I had quite a pallet of colour choices!
Some faces I am chuffed with, others not so much, they look a bit startled (or bloodthirsty as my husband pointed out), but the boy is happy and so they are staying...

Good job really as I really don't fancy doing them again!

Next, I needed to jazz up the plain area of the blanket, so plumped for his name, numbers 1 to 10 and some stars. I completely winged it for the name and numbers but I think they look ok (ish).

For the stars, I used the mini star pattern which is available for free on my blog (Mini Stars)

Finally edged in leftover random colours using a dc stitch, which I think looks really effective...

So all done...

The aran cotton has made it a bit heavy and with this current ridiculously hot weather, my boy hasn't had a chance to really try it out with a good snuggle.

So the intention of the blanket was for his bed...

but has now been relegated to the end of his bed waiting for its moment!!

Next up, after my son mentioned that he didn't have a Numberblock toy he could cuddle in bed (oh he really knows how to melt my heart that one!) I made him a little 'Number 1' toy.

I still had some foam cubes left over from when I made my baby blocks (blog post Nursery Fun) so I covered one, again in Lily Sugar 'n Cream yarn in a DC stitch and then sewed them all together around the cube. Then I had to make another attempt at a realistic looking face with Scheepjes Catona, which I was actually quite pleased with this time, must be all the practice! And then little arms and legs, again in Catona in DC with a little bit of toy stuffing....

He is sooo cute...

However I should have known that my son is now asking when Number 2 to 10 will be arriving, 'will I get them for Christmas mum?' Hmmm, better get started....

So my son is very happy with his makes and I am relieved they are finally done. I actually had quite a bit of yarn left over for which I will share 2 free patterns on my blog, one for a stripy shopping bag and the other for some quick and easy colour pop coasters. Both of these are great stash busters! Keep a look out!

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, 30 June 2018

And another blanket! Geo-Squares!

A little delayed but here is a project I completed last year that I meant to share! Hot on the heels of my Vintage Patch blanket I started another. 2017 was definitely a vintage blanket year for me!

Cept for this one it wasn't for keeping unfortunately. The purpose, my brother was moving into a flat, and all family and friends whether they like it or not, get inflicted with a handmade crochet gift for such an event! And because I am the best sister, and the blanket was going to take sooo long, I made him this little cactus to keep him going..

Pattern (and kit) for this was from Simply Crochet magazine, sorry I forget which issue but it was last summer!!

I absolutely have a thing about clashing colours, in the right pattern it can look so effective and vibrant, the 'clashier' the better! And what better way to mix clashing colours in a simple geometric pattern offset with a muted grey. Makes it a bit more male friendly too! And another great thing about clashing colours is you can just attack your stash and use up all those odd colours you never though you would have a purpose for!

For the pattern I just used a simple treble crochet square, worked in rows, colour changing as you went along to create two diamonds. Colour changing projects can be so satisfying if you get it nice and neat. I made a stonking 120 of these and then sewed them together and edged with a simple treble stitch.

And tadah…

I think it looks really effective!

And it didn't even take that long, the simplicity of the pattern and variation of the colour change meant it was a really easy go-to project.

So yes my brother loved it and I struggled to let it go to be honest. I am definitely making another!

Happy Hooking!
Kelly@lovedotty

Thursday, 21 June 2018

Seeing Flowers!

I was a little spoilt for my recent birthday as I was given the Scheepjes Studio Pack, and in this is a box which contains all 109 different colours of Scheepjes Catona, in their little cutie pie 10g balls!

Amazingly this was gift was from my husband! Yes, the man who constantly tells me I have enough yarn, who fears his fate is succumbing under a mountain of the stuff when he opens the cupboard door. In addition to his yarn fears, he also glazes over whenever I am talking about yarn (which is quite a lot), so it really was a wonderful surprise!

Obviously yes I had been heavily hinting and leaving magazine pages open etc.. but hints don't really work with him, this is the man, who every year asks me on Christmas Eve what I want for the big day!

So anyway, yes he scored major brownie points and I was one happy bunny as you can see from this photo.

I even had to take a picture of my son with them for extra cuteness! And yes, I actually let him hold them, although he had to wash his hands first..

So then the big question is, do I just leave the cutie pie yarn balls as they are and admire them or do we use them to make something!
For a couple of weeks or so, I chose the first, thinking I couldn't bear to 'spoil' them and wanted to be able to look at them whenever I needed cheering up. But on the other hand I was desperate to use them.
I love Scheepjes Catona anyway, it is one of my favourite yarns to work. I recently finished the Sophie's Universe Stool Cover which was designed by the fab Dedri Uys of Lookatwhatimade

The stool is a all made in Scheepjes Catona and a thoroughly enjoyable project. The kit to make this was also a present, this time for Christmas from my parents! I have been very lucky!

So yes in the end, the urge to try all these little colours and make something was greater than keeping them, and I also wanted to get a good feel for all the colours and see what would be my favourites for future projects.
So what shall I make, I thought? Well I love Catona and I love flowers, so decided I would make 109 flowers out of each colour of Catona!
I used my mini flower pattern (available on my blog) and a 3mm hook and set to work. The pattern on my blog advises a 4.5mm hook, but these were hooked with Stylecraft Classique Cotton which is a DK weight. The Catona's are a 4ply, so a bit more delicate.

And ta-dah...

I decided each 109 different coloured flower would have a different colour middle, so it was quite a production line in the end making sure each colour was only used once.

And of course my Studio Pack came in handy...

..as I could use the swatches and magnetic board to keep track of which colours I had used so far..

And the best bit? You don't actually use much of the Catona so they still sit in their little jackets looking yummy so I have the best of both worlds.

And the flowers? Well I played with them for a while...

...and then decided to make some wall art with them!

I had a wall I needed cheering up, so I bought a canvas which the husband painted blue, he is proving quite useful lately! And then the plan is to attach the flowers to it I some sort of pattern. Keep it simple to really show the colours off

Next bit was having a play and deciding how I was going to position them. I decided to very roughly colour group them an then arrange them in a pattern.

I eventually decided on a heart design, well, because I ♥ Catona!

To attach them to the canvas I was going to use a hot glue gun. Now I have a little phobia of glue guns, they scare me a little, not great for a serial crafter! So with the husband on hand for any glue type emergency I set to work. Of course I survived the experience and ended up with a lovely heart of flowers, and here it is....

Don't they look lovely!

Its strange as looking at it. doesn't feel like there are 109 flowers, but there deifnately are, my four year old counted them for me!!

So not only do I have a lovely piece of wall art, I also have my very own personalised colour card for when choosing my future Catona projects!

And I still have a box of 109 cutie pies to admire. I will plan another project at some point to use them, but I think I will enjoy these little bundles of joy for a little bit longer!

Happy hooking
Kelly@lovedotty

Sunday, 18 March 2018

Bunny Egg Cosies

These little bunny egg cosies are a cute addition to your breakfast table, or even as little gifts to give at Easter..

Hook - 3.5mm

Yarn - Stylecraft Special DK in

Yarn A - Duck Egg

Yarn B - Fondant

Other Materials - A few strands of black embroidery floss

Pattern worked in UK terminology

Bunny Head

The bunny head will be worked in the amigurumi style, working continually round with no requirement to start a new round each time. Recommend you use a stitch marker in the last stitch of each round and move up as you go.

With yarn A make a magic ring and work first round into ring (alternatively you can make 2 chain and then work into the 2nd chain)

Round 1 - 1 ch (does not count as st), 6 dc into ring.

Round 2 - 2 dc in each st (12 sts)

Round 3 - 2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next st, repeat to end (18 sts)

Round 4 - 2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 2 sts, repeat to end (24 sts)

Round 5 - 2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 3 sts, repeat to end (30 sts)

Round 6 - 1 dc in each st to end (30 sts)

Round 7 - 2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 4 sts, repeat to end (36 sts)

Rounds 8 & 9 - 1 dc in each st to end (36 sts)

Round 10 - 1 dctog in next 2 sts, 1 dc in next 7 sts, repeat to end (32 sts)

Rounds 11 & 12 - 1 dc in each st to end (32 sts)

Change to yarn B

Round 13 - 1 dc in each st to end (32 sts)

Bunny Ears - Make 2

With Yarn B work 9 ch

Row 1 - 1 dc into the 2nd ch, 1 dc in each of next 2 chs, 1 htr into next 2 chs, 1 tr into next 2 chs, in last ch work 3 trs, 2 dtrs and 3 trs

Turn your piece so you are now crocheting into the opposite side of the 9 chs

Row 2 - 1 tr into each of the next 2 chs, 1 htr into next 2 chs, dc into last 3 chs

Fasten off yarn

With Yarn A work the same as above then ch 1 and turn

Holding the 2 pieces worked in yarn A and yarn B together you will now crochet into the corresponding sts of each piece, joining them together with yarn A

Row 3 - 1 dc into each of next 9 sts, 2 dc into next 4 sts, 1 dc in last 9 sts.

Cut yarn leaving a long tail for sewing.

Making Up

Sew ears to the top of the head.

Using the black embroidery floss, embroider the eyes onto the head using the picture as a guide.

Using yarn B, embroider a small nose

Sew in ends

Monday, 1 January 2018

2018 Temperature Blanket!

So new year, new ideas, new projects and new blankets!! This year I am going to be doing a temperature blanket! For those who are unaware of what these are, it is a blanket with a row crocheted every day for a year, with the colour based on the temperature it was for that day.

I know, every day does seem ambitious for even the most keenest of hookers, and I really do have the best intentions so I will give it my best shot!!

First things first, and this is the fun bit for me, is working out a colour palette to use for each temperature change.

I decided to use my go-to yarn of Stylecraft Special DK. This is because I love it, it is a great yarn to work with....and I already have shed-loads of it (and always will I must say, sorry husband). Plus I have my little pegs to work with!

I am working in Celsius, from dark blue to dark red, changing colour after every three degrees. I will take the highest temperate for that day for the area I live in. The scheme I have decided on is follows and I have put the Stylecraft yarn colour name also...

There are some fantastic guides and suggested colour pallets on Pinterest.

I live in Norfolk in the UK, so already I am guessing my blanket will be mainly greens and yellows, but hey, I like those colours!!

As for the pattern, there are also some fab ideas out there but I have decided I will stick to UK dc (US sc). I love working in dc, I love the look of the neat little stripes but I would never usually attempt a blanket in dc as it would take too long. This way as I am only doing a row each day, it shouldn't be too tedious. Plus you need to consider how big 365 rows are going to make your end blanket!!

So it is 1st January so I better get stuck in, wish me luck and I will keep you posted!!

Happy Hooking!
Kelly@lovedotty