Lovedotty Crochet

Friday, 17 April 2020

Pattern - Hanging Rainbow

As my previous post, I made my Rainbow Bunting to display in my window for passers by. I did warn this was just the start! And now I have made some little rainbows to hang along side it.

I'd love to share the pattern for this quick and easy make and hopefully it will cheer you and any passers by up during this strange isolation period

(if you are reading this after 2020, what a weird year that was!)

Pattern in UK Terminology

Hook - 3.5mm

Yarn
Cotton 4 ply Weight in rainbow colours - red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet with a different colour for joining and edging (I used pink)
I used Scheepjes Catona (this yarn is gorgeous if you have never used before!)

Construction
The rainbow will be made in a circle which will be folded over and the edges crocheted together. This means it can hang in a window and have the same finished look on both sides

With Violet, make a Magic Ring

Round 1 - ch3 (counts as a st throughout pattern), 13 tr into ring, join with a sl st in 3rd ch of beginning ch3 (14 sts)
Fasten off and change to Indigo

Round 2 - ch3, 1 tr in same st, 2 tr in each st around, join with a sl st in 3rd ch of beginning ch3 (28 sts)
Fasten off and change to Blue

Round 3 - ch3, 1 tr in same st, *1 tr in next st, 2 tr in next st*, repeat from * until end, join with a sl st in 3rd ch of beginning ch3 (42 sts)
Fasten off and change to Green

Round 4 - ch3, 1 tr in same st, *1 tr in next 2 sts, 2 tr in next st*, repeat from * until end, join with a sl st in 3rd ch of beginning ch3 (56 sts)
Fasten off and change to Yellow

Round 5 - ch3, 1 tr in same st, *1 tr in next 3 sts, 2 tr in next st*, repeat from * until end, join with a sl st in 3rd ch of beginning ch3 (70 sts)
Fasten off and change to Orange

Round 6 - ch3, 1 tr in same st, *1 tr in next 4 sts, 2 tr in next st*, repeat from * until end, join with a sl st in 3rd ch of beginning ch3 (84 sts)
Fasten off and change to Red

Round 7 - ch3, 1 tr in same st, *1 tr in next 5 sts, 2 tr in next st*, repeat from * until end, join with a sl st in 3rd ch of beginning ch3 (98 sts)
Fasten off

Joining
Folding the piece in half with the RS facing, join the pink yarn at the right hand corner, through sts on both sides of Round 7 joining them together (note - both sts would be next to each other if piece was opened flat).
All the sts in Round 8 will be worked through the top sts of both sides of the folded piece

Round 8 - ch1 (does not count as st), 1 dc in same st and next 23 sts around, sl st into the next st, ch20, join with a sl st into the same st, 1 dc in next st and next 23 sts around until the end (48 sts)

Fasten off and weave in ends

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

Monday, 30 March 2020

Pattern - Rainbow Granny Bunting

I have joined in the fun in displaying rainbows in my window to cheer passers by in these uncertain times.

First up was this Rainbow Granny Bunting and would love to share the pattern with you if you fancy hooking a set.

Pattern in UK Terminology

Hook - 4mm

Yarn
Cotton DK Weight in rainbow colours - red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet with a different colour for joining (I used pink)
I used a mixture of Stylecraft Classique cotton and Drops Muscat from my stash

Granny Triangles
Make 7

Make a magic loop
Round 1 - Ch3 (counts a st throughout pattern), 2 tr, *ch3, 3 tr, repeat from * once more, ch3, join with a sl st in top of beg ch3 (9 sts, 3 ch-3 sps)

Round 2 - Sl st into next 2 sts, sl st into next ch-3 sp, (ch3, 2 tr, ch3, 3 tr) in ch-3 sp, ch2, *(3 tr, ch3, 3 tr), ch2, repeat from * once more, join with a sl st in top of beg ch3 (18 sts, 3 ch-3 sps, 3 ch-2 sps)

Round 3 - Sl st into next 2 sts, sl st into next ch-3 sp, (ch3, 2 tr, ch3, 3 tr) in ch-3 sp, ch2, *3 tr in next ch2 sp, ch2, (3 tr, ch3, 3 tr), ch2, repeat from * once more, join with a sl st in top of beg ch3 (27 sts, 3 ch-3 sps, 6 ch-2 sps)

Round 4 - Sl st into next 2 sts, sl st into next ch-3 sp, (ch3, 2 tr, ch3, 3 tr) in ch-3 sp, ch2, *3 tr in next ch2 sp, ch2, 3tr in next ch2 sp, ch2, (3 tr, ch3, 3 tr), ch2, repeat from * once more, join with a sl st in top of beg ch3 (36 sts, 3 ch-3 sps, 9 ch-2 sps)

Fasten off
Join a contrasting colour in any ch3 corner sp

Round 5 - Ch1 (does not count as st), (1 dc, ch1, 1 dc) in corner sp, 1 dc in top of each st and 2 dc in each ch2 sp of previous round, working (1 dc, ch1, 1 dc) in each corner sp, join with a sl st into top of first dc of round (60 sts)

Fasten off a weave in ends

It is good idea to block your triangles before joining. I used the wet block method, pin the triangles flat and then spray with a water and leave to dry. You can use a blocking mat or a towel for example. I use a home-made blocking board made up of polystyrene and duct tape and the pieces held down with kebab skewers!

Joining
With a different coloured yarn (I used pink), ch20,
With 'violet' triangle on RS, sl st into any ch1 corner sp, the sl st in each dc in the top row of 'violet' triangle, sl into next ch1 corner sp, ch15, sl st into any ch1 corner sp of 'indigo' triangle, work the same as with the previous triangle, repeating for each colour, working ch20 at the end

Wednesday, 29 January 2020

Advent Yarn Project!

One of the things I was very excited about in the run up to Christmas 2019 was my advent yarn that I had purchased from Siobhan's Crafts! I've never had anything other than the usual choccy calendar, but I thought I was going to treat myself to something a little bit different! I had bought Siobhan's gorgeous hand dyed yarn before so when I saw she would be doing a 'mermaid and unicorn' themed yarn for this years advent yarn I couldn't wait. This was going to be a proper treat for me and quite frankly I ruddy deserved it!

So the box arrived in October which meant plenty of time to drive me mad while I wait to open them!

All the little packages were so prettily wrapped in their unicorn and mermaid paper so I strung them all up so we could look at them with excited faces until the 1st December.

By 'we', I meant me and the boy, my husband was strangely unexcited! He was even more unimpressed that I ate his chocolate advent calendar, but that is another story for another time! The dog was also excited but only because wrapping paper is currently one of his favourite meals.

So when it came to actually opening the packages, they really didn't disappoint and my son had the genuis idea to pin them back up once opened so we could admire them.

He is a protege in the making that one!

So what was I going to do with the yarn exactly?
For a yarn addict this really isn't important but I had a few ideas. I had originally planned to crochet something with them each day in the run up to Christmas, probably some squares to make into a throw, bunting or Christmas tree skirt. To be honest nothing was decided and I was enjoying just looking at them so that was that.

So then Christmas was over and then I had a plan. I've really been enjoying corner to corner crochet recently. It is such a simple stitch and can show off variegated yarn so beautifully. so I thought the yarn would look perfect crocheted into little C2C squares so I gave one a go..

The yarn was so delicious to work with. although, to be fair, I still had no actual clue what to do at the end but carried on making as I was enjoying it so much, after all isn't that what crochet is all about!

There wasn't enough for a blanket, a tree skirt meant I couldn't use it for another year. Bunting? Hmm, nowhere really big enough in my house to display it all together and it would be a crime to split them up.

So after staring at a blank piece of wall, wondering how dull my house looks with all my lovely Christmas decorations put away I decided I would make the most awesome, bright, clashing and completely mad wall hanging.

So the plan was to make the 24 little C2C squares 8 by 8, then sew them together 8 by 3 which makes quite a sizable wall hanging.

Here is a selection of the lovely little squares before I sewed them together..

I sent the husband off to look for a wooden dowel, put it all together and here we go!

I absolutely love it and it is such a talking point. I do love how you can create such unique pieces with crochet. And its it not like I ever thought I really need a brightly coloured wall hanging, it was just all organic off the back of 'what the heck can I do with these gorgeous mini skeins!'

So I am now looking forward to next Christmas's advent yarn offering, and in the meantime, I am going to order some skeins in my favourite colours, which at the moment is pretty much all of them!

If you want to view and order some of Siobhan's gorgeous yarns you can, via her website here

Happy Hooking!
Kelly@lovedotty

Sunday, 8 December 2019

Pattern - Christmas Star Bunting

I have whipped this Christmas Star Bunting for my fireplace for this year. We had a new lick of paint so I needed new bunting to compliment it, any excuse really!

There are really quick and easy to make so you could easily hook up a set for this Christmas, or maybe several? The addition of the sparkly tassels really gives it a luxury Christmas feel!

Pattern in UK Terminology

Hook - 3.5mm

Yarn
Yarn A - Cotton DK Weight in various colours that you wish (I used Stylecraft Cotton DK Classique in Shell Pink, Fondant, Sky Blue, Peppermint, Lavender, Mauve and Fuchsia)
Yarn B - Cotton DK Weight in White
Yarn C - DMC Lumina Metallic Thread in Silver

Special Stitches
tr2tog - treble crochet 2 stitches together
tr3tog - treble crochet 3 stitches together
dc-spike - spike stitch using dc, worked in row below current row being worked
Please see my stitch guide for a explanation on how to work these stitches if required

Star
Make 7,
With Yarn A make a magic ring and work first round into ring (alternatively you can make ch2 and then work into the 2nd chain)

Round 1 - Ch2, tr2tog (this counts as 1 st), *ch3, tr3tog*, repeat from * to * 3 times, ch3, join with a sl st to top of beginning tr2tog (5 sts)

Fasten off and join any Yarn B to any ch3 sp of previous round

Round 2 - Ch1 (does not count as a st), *1 dc into ch3 sp, 1 dc-spike, 1 dc in same sp, 1 dc into top of next tr3tog*, repeat from * to * 4 times and join with a sl st into top of first dc (20 sts)

Round 3 - sl st into next st (should be top of a dc-spike from previous round), *ch5, work 1 dc in second ch from hook, 1 htr in next ch, 1 tr in next ch, 1 dtr in last ch, sl st into top of next dc-spike*, repeat from * to * 4 times, join with a sl st in st where first ch5 was made (20 sts)

Fasten off and weave in ends

Tassels

Make 8,

Using Yarn A and Yarn C, make your tassels, using twice as much white as silver with the silver used last so it is on the top of the tassels

Making Up

With Yarn C ch40, 1 dc into the top of a tassel, ch20, dc into the top of any of the 5 points of a star, continue to with the rest of the stars and tassels, working ch40 at the end

Happy Hooking!

Kelly@lovedotty

Tuesday, 19 November 2019

Pattern - Mini Christmas Bauble Bunting

Here is a super quick and easy pattern for making Mini Christmas Bauble Bunting!
I made these last year in colours to match my kitchen and they looked so cute I wanted to keep them up all year!
I have also used the crochet bauble to embellish gift tags, there is probably loads of other uses, cards, hanging decorations etc..

Pattern in UK Terminology

Hook - 3.5mm

Yarn - Cotton DK Weight (I used Stylecraft Cotton DK Classique)
Yarn A - A selection of Sky Blue, Fondant, White, Poppy and Soft Lime
Yarn B - Sunflower

Bauble
Make 15, 3 in each colour
With Yarn A make a magic ring and work first round into ring (alternatively you can make ch2 and then work into the 2nd chain)
Round 1 - Ch3 (counts as st throughout pattern), 14 tr into the ring, join with a sl st into 3rd ch of starting ch3 (15 sts)
Round 2 - Ch3, 1 tr in same st, 2 tr in each st around to end, join with a sl st into 3rd ch of starting ch3 (30 sts)
Round 3 - Ch1 (does not count as st throughout pattern), 1 dc in same st and in each st around to end, join with a sl st into first dc (30 sts)
Fasten off and weave in ends

Top of Bauble
Join Yarn B to any dc from previous round on WS of bauble
Row 1 - Ch1, 1 dc in same st, 1 dc in next 3 sts, turn (4 sts)
Row 2 - Ch1, 1 dc in same st, 1 dc in next st, ch5, 1 dc in last 2 sts (4 sts)
Fasten off and weave in ends

Making Up
With Yarn B make Ch20, *work the next ch through the ch5 top on the top of the bauble, ch20* and repeat from * to * until you have connected all baubles ensuring you have worked another ch20 at the end.
Fasten off

Here is my bunting strung up on my kitchen shelves last Christmas. It will be there again, pride of place this year!

Happy Hooking (and Christmas!)
Kelly@lovedotty

Thursday, 24 October 2019

Misty Vintage Patch Blanket

Wow my Sunshine Vintage Patch Blanket has proven to be really popular!

Click here to see the original blog post and tutorial!

It is such a fun blanket to make and because of the repetitiveness works up relatively quickly, so with this in mind I decided to make another! My best friend was planning on moving into a new home so seemed like the perfect house warming gift and also a chance to to try the blanket in a whole new colour palette.

So first up was choosing a colour palette, and this is what I chose, all in Stylecraft Special DK again:-

Patches were made up of Lemon 1020, Raspberry 1023, Soft Peach 1240, Pale Rose 1080, Sherbert 1034, Wisteria 1432, Parma Violet 1724, Violet 1277 and 1708 Petrol.

Joining yarn was Silver 1203.

So I made all the patches using the same methods in my tutorial of making each round one at a time which ensures all colours are used evenly and no patch is the same! Don't they look yummy!

Once all the patches (99 in all, same as before), are made and blocked the fun bit of joining commences..

This is also the bit where you see whether you have picked the right joining colour or not! Turned out I was very happy with my choice. The patches are made up of very vibrant happy colours and the silver yarn accentuates that beautifully..