Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a ... sea urchin?

For me, designing stuff is a process, a journey, an unparalleled opportunity to expand my capacity for swearing... LOL! I'm sure that there are fabulous designers out there, who have way more experience than I do (which is why I keep trying, maybe one day I'll be one of them) who just think of a design, start working and with only a few small "frogs" get the thing out there to the testers. As yet, I'm not "one of them". :P

I do get there in the end. Or, it goes into a deep dark drawer for six months while I look at something else. So, I thought I'd share a bit of the journey for this pattern, which is going to be two patterns, because one of my "failures" was so beloved in the group, I can't not let it get out I guess. ;)

My Sea-Urchin.

It all started with a hat. Yes, a hat. (I'm laughing so hard at the memory right now, that I've had to walk away from the keyboard and get a cup of tea).

Ok, yes, it all started with a fabulous hat. I'm going to call it the "Hot Cross Hat". I've not seen anything like it before or since. There was a chap on a documentary who wore it. I think he said his Nan made it for him. He wore it most of the time on the show. It was crochet, a kind of newsboy hat, but the cup part of the hat was a ripple and basically ended up being a cross. I'm going to have another go at making one.

It looked so easy. (They always do). At times, I can be over-confident. "I'll have a go at that." is more often than not where my design process starts, although it's usually preceded by either a dream, or a thought or idea that just won't leave me alone.

So, one evening, I start to make this hat. My best friend is online, and as I work up a round, I give it to her, and she makes it as well. We laugh and chat as we are working, clarifying what's being done and suggesting this or that. It's a pleasant evening that ends when I yawn so hard I think I've popped my jaw - it's nearly 2am. Oops. Ok. I end up frogging most of it and starting again, but it was a good start and there were some solid concepts there. For added understanding, I convince my eldest son to model it for me - he's very reluctant (I wonder why?).

Can you see all the strings hanging down to the right? I hadn't cut a single strand from the ball at this point, which allowed me to frog it without guilt (although with much vexation; giggle). I complete one more round and it's hopeless. It curls too much to sit on his head anymore, it's just useless.

I vent to my girl friend and she suggests making it into a ball if it curls that much. OOh! Ok. not the outcome I wanted, but hey, at least it isn't a waste of time, right? The yarn is super soft with lovely drape, so I set to work with pins to see how it looks (keeping in mind, I still haven't cut the yarn!).

It squishes fantastically in your hands - a great toy for a baby! Yay! Except it's a little squat, and I know that as I worked around, two of the petals had completely different stitch counts. So I know I've "done something" there. So, to be safe, I get out some cheap acrylic. Copy the conversation from facebook into a word document, and start sifting out the LOL's and the, "no wait, try it this way instead" things and I'm left with a rough idea of what to do. I begin hooking. Shortly after that, I begin muttering. Then swearing and hair pulling. After several lots of frogging, I have it. YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY. I eagerly sew it up and stuff it... only... well, plain acrylic is a lot less forgiving than soft acrylic - the ball is squat and square, and the four main petals kind of "dip" in the middle. The whole thing is crenelated. 

 So I had a wee vent on my group wall with a picture and I was VERY surprised by the response. Several people said it was a great looking sea-urchin, and many asked me for the pattern. I couldn't believe it! My failed hat, that turned into a failed ball, that has turned into a sea urchin!

Now, I'm as stubborn as all get-go, so don't think I've given up on the other ideas. I'm in the middle of writing up the urchin for the testers, but I've already begun working with another version to have a go at making the ball. Attempt number one has halted. I've done a bit more mathematics and physics studies, and have the concept for a better working one. So I've got something that would look like a tulip bud if sewn up lol, or a wacky starfish. Take your pick of humorous names.  ;) We might as well go with a sea theme though right? Maybe I can work it up into a star fish. :P

Tequila Sunrise Mandala

I love mandalas. I love how they twist and twirl and seem to dance before your eyes. I love how they draw you gently in to their depths, and then release you gradually to move on refreshed. Too mystical for you? Well, tough, lol, it's how they affect me. :P

So I thought I would have a try at making my own. I did some research and got some notes on some basic math, I'd already made at least half a dozen from patterns written by others (I'd even tested for a few) and I picked up a hook and some of my favourite yarn combination colours and just let loose. I took notes as I went (a few got scribbled out - and yes, ok, there may have been one page scrunched up and hurled as far as my puny arms could manage lol), and gradually started to pull something together. However, it wasn't until it went to the testers that the last row was added, as it was the marvellous Denise Brown who thought to add the final row of SC and it just "finished it off". So, I'm VERY grateful to her, and especially for her allowing me to use her image again. ;)

So, enough blether, here is my

"Tequila Sunrise Mandala"

This pattern is worked in US terms

Yarn: I used DK (8ply) Acrylic of various brands

Hook: 4.5mm

Depending upon your yarn and tension, you may need to block gently at the end of this project.

I also turn my work ¼ to the left so that each round starts in a different place.

Special Stitches:

V-stitch – DC, ch2, DC

Treble Stitch – yarn over hook 2 times, insert in next stitch, draw up a loop (4 loops on hook), yarn

over and draw through the first two loops, yarn over and draw through the next two loops, yarn

over and draw through the final two loops – one loop should be left on your hook

Double Treble Stitch – yarn over hook 3 times, insert in next stitch and draw up a loop (5 loops on

hook), yarn over and draw through the first two loops, yarn over and draw through the next two

loops, yarn over and draw through the next two lops, yarn over and draw through the final two

loops – one loop should be left on your hook

Small shell – 6DC into the indicated stitch

Large shell – 9 double trebles into the indicated stitch

Cluster – work the first part of a DC (= yarn over , draw up a loop, yarn over draw through the first

two loops – 2 loops left on hook),into the indicated stitch, repeat in the next three indicated stitches

– 5 loops on hook, yarn over and draw through all five loops.

Notes:

For starting rows, you may use a chain to the appropriate height of the stitch, or you may use a

standing stitch. I used the standing stitch method except for the very first round.

If you use chains to start a row, DC is 3ch and counts as a stitch, Treble is 4ch and Double Treble is

5ch.

Each round is tied off and each row is started by joining new yarn – colour distribution is at your own

discretion, however, I used the same colour for two rows at a time, over rows 5 and 6, rows 7 and 8,

and rows 9 and 10 for my first one.

Pattern:

Round 1: Starting with a magic circle, chain 4 (counts as a treble) work 15 more trebles. Join into the

fourth chain

Round 2: Start working at any point in the space BETWEEN the stitches of round 1, 1DC, ch2 in each

space around. Join to the top of the first DC (or equivalent chain)(48) (cut and tie yarn)

Round 3: Starting in any 2ch sp, work 2SC in each space, and 1SC into each DC of round 2. Slip stitch

into the first SC. (48) (cut and tie yarn)

Round 4: Counting the SC worked into the DC in the previous round as the third stitch, work 1 Vstitch

into the first SC of each repeat (it will look like the bottom of the V is directly above the DC of

round 2), join with a slip stitch into the first DC of the first V-stitch. (64) (16 Vstitches)

(cut and tie yarn)

Round 5: Starting at any V stitch in round 4, in the first DC of each V-stitch, work 3 trebles, ch2 slip

stitch into the top of the first treble (or the fourth chain) (80) (16 repeats) (cut and tie yarn)

Round 6: Starting in any chain space - SC in the chain space, work small shell in the middle treble of

each triplet from round 5 (112), end with a slip stitch into the first SC. (16 shells, 16 sc) (cut and tie

yarn)

OPTIONAL TO FINISH HERE

Round 7: Start in any SC. In each SC from round 6, work 4DC, chain 1. Work 1SC in 4th DC of the shell

in round 6, chain 1. Finish round with slip stitch into the top of the first DC. (112) (DO NOT cut and

tie yarn)

Round 8: Continuing from round 7, ch2 (counts as the first partial DC), work the first part of a DC in

the next three stitches as described in the cluster stitch above. Yarn over and draw through all four

loops. *CH10, skip the SC, work a cluster in the next four DC from round 7, repeat from * CH10, join

with slip stitch into the “eye” above the first cluster. (16 clusters, 16 ch10 loops) (cut and tie yarn)

Round 9: SC2 in any chain loop, ch3, work 1 treble in the top of the cluster, ch3. *3SC in loop from

round 8, ch3, 1treble in top of cluster from round 8, ch3. Repeat from * until you return to the

starting chain loop and work 1SC, and sl st in the first worked SC to join round. (16 trebles, 48 SC,

96CH) (cut and tie yarn)

Round 10: SC in second SC of any repeat in round 9. *Work 1 large shell in treble from round 9. SC in

next SC.** Repeat from * to ** until you return to the first SC – join with slip stitch. (16 large shells,

16 SC) (cut and tie yarn)

Round 11: Choosing any shell, start working *1SC in the second DC of the shell. Work two more,

then in the next (peak) work 2SC, work 1SC in the next 4 stitches. Decrease: draw up a loop in the

next two stitches, yarn over hook and draw through all three loops. **Repeat from * to ** until you

return to the first SC – slip stitch to join.

Healing Crochet

You know, there are many groups and pages out there dedicated to the healing power of crochet - for the participant, but sometimes I think we also forget the healing power for the recipient too.

I have a friend who is VERY exceptionally talented at amigurumi. So much so, that she made "Cartman" from "South Park" last week without batting an eyelid and without a pattern. It was seriously fabulous and much loved in the group that we are in. Now, I love South Park. It's a fabulously inappropriate show as far as I am concerned, so, I did it. I DOUBLE DARED her to make another character - Mr Hanky, The Christmas Poo! The challenge was accepted, the game was on, and stuff happened in my world that was yucky and I forgot completely about it. :/

So, imagine my joy and delight when my husband brings in the mail and dumps a small brown envelope on my desk (I guess they were out of white ones that day? ROFL). I couldn't make out the signature, but it was from the UK where the bulk of my family are, so I thought something from them. I eagerly ripped it open, and out fell a little brown turd... with a Santa hat... and tiny white gloves!!!! How precious. I was in such a dark place, and I just lost it. I laughed for a good twenty minutes. I had happy tears rolling down my face and a stitch in my side. I shared it in our group, and do you know what? The comments went bezerk! EVERYONE loved him too. Now poor Uljana isn't happy with him because she lost her small hook and made him with a larger one and she wasn't happy with how he turned out. I think he's blooming brilliant and she should take a bow. :P Not only did he bring me joy, through me he bought my family joy, and strangers from around the world! (Our group has over 35 thousand members from over 70 nations, so I'm not exaggerating here :P )

And now, I'm sharing him here with you to spread the joy (and not the stains or stench lol) further! <3

It's not just through humour and laughter that we can bring healing, but through love and kindness. I'm a part of a handful of groups, and in one there is a lady who is unwell. She is the epitome of kindness, always going out of her way to help others, and we all appreciate it, so we've banded together secretly to make her a blanket in her favourite colours. I posted these squares off today, along with a ball of black for the joining, and maybe a wee packet of smarties to keep the strength up for the lady doing all that joining lol.

I posted about a similar sort of project a month or so ago on my facebook page (Get Knotted Yarn Craft) and I'm privileged to be a part of this one. Imagine her surprise when she receives this beautiful blanket in her favourite colours, made by people all over the world that she knows - some of them better than others. Imagine that you were unwell or in pain or distress - now imagine being able to wrap yourself physically in the love of others. If that doesn't bring healing, then I don't know what does.

Now I'm not writing about this to big-note myself, but to share with you all the joy that crochet (or in fact any craft that we choose to do) can make not only for ourselves, but for others too.

I hope that you are happy. I hope that you are at peace. I hope that you have joy and love and hope. Most fervently, I hope that you have enough of these that you can share them with others. xoxo

Ravelry - Center Heart Square
Rock Solid Granny Square

Dotty about Dolly

I get my inspiration from the weirdest places. My son's building blocks, or a skirt, or a flower or in this case, a pair of pyjamas featured in a catalogue. ;) At first glance I thought they were pale blue with clouds on them, but closer inspection showed that they were just big white dots. Still, they gave me pause for thought.

A square with a circle in the center.

A square with a cloud in the center.

A square with a sheep in the center! I dropped what I was doing and picked up a pen and paper  and started sketching. The next time I had a few moments to spare, I started hooking, and the first part of my pattern was born - a circle within a square. Then after a bit of fiddling, I had the head. It took me a few goes to get the shape just so, and after that the legs seemed a bit of a doddle. I wasn't sure if anyone would like it, I mean, it is a rather random thing for a square, but I already had ideas for developing this into a themed blanket. The blocks for those will come down the track, but for the meantime, here is my wee Dolly, the sheep destined to be cloned again, and again, and again. ;)

(Dolly was the name of the first cloned sheep).

Dotty about Dolly

Materials:
I used a general 8ply Acrylic Yarn (Panda Carnival 100% Acrylic) and a 4mm hook.
Abbreviations:
This is written in US terms.
Sp – space
Ch – chain
DC – double crochet
TR – treble or triple crochet
Pattern:
I’m writing this as a basic pattern. I’ve used “chain 3” as the start of the first round and thereafter a
standing DC, they all count as a DC; however, you can use whatever starting method tickles your
fancy. You can make this in one continual piece, or you can tie it off each row. Just have fun with it.
;)

The “Rock Solid Circle In A Square” also found here:

http://getknottedyarncraft.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/rock-solid-circle-in-square.html

Round 1:
Make a magic circle (tutorial here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PmaQJbyVt0 )
Ch 3, DC 11 into the magic circle. Join and tie off. (12)

Round 2:
Ch 3, DC in same stitch. 2DC in each stitch around. Join and tie off. (24)

Round 3:
Ch 3, DC in same space, (1DC, 2DC) x 11. DC in last stitch, join and tie off. (36)

Converting to a square:

Choose any stitch to begin. Ch3. In next stitch work *(1DC, 2TR, 1DC), 1DC, 2HDC, 2SC,
2HDC, 1DC**

From * to ** forms one side. Repeat twice more. Repeat once more BUT leave off the last
1DC as this is the ch3 from the beginning of the round. Join and tie off. (48).

If you want the square larger, please go to round 4 of my square pattern found here:

http://getknottedyarncraft.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/rock-solid-granny-square.html

Please note, the stitch counts do not match perfectly between the two styles. The Rock Solid Circle
in a Square has 8 stitches between the corner stitches in the outer row – which is roughly
equivalent to row 3 in the Rock Solid Granny Square which has 7 stitches between the corner
stitches.
So row 4 in the Rock Solid Circle in a Square will have 11 stitches in-between, Row 5 will
have 14 stitches in-between and Row 6 will have 17 stitches.
Regardless of the slight difference, the patterns are worked in the same style; you will just
add one more stitch in the middle of the row between the corner sections. You still flip your
work over in Row 5.

Legs and Face:

FACE:
Make a magic circle and sc 3 in it, ch1, turn

1sc, 2sc, 1sc, ch1, turn (4sc)

1sc in each stich, ch 1, turn (4sc)

Work the next round through the face stitches, but also the outermost round of the inner
colour of the square. So on mine, it was through the outermost round of white. You may
place the head wherever it suits you. I liked it in the corner because I thought it was quirky.

1sc in each stitch (also passing through the stitch behind), ch 2, turn (4sc)

sc in first stitch, slip stitch 3, ch 3, sc in 4th stitch. Tie off.

LEGS:
Chain five, slip stitch onto where you want the top of the leg to go. I placed mine through the
top of a stitch from the second round.

SC into the second chain from the join and to the end. Tie off.

Use a darning needle to draw the final thread through the top of the first round of the second
colour (in my case, light blue) and to the back. Repeat for the beginning thread, but through
the next stitch. Tie the two ends together at the back and clip the left over yarn.

You may of course, devise your own way to affix the free end to the square.

BAAAAAAAAAAAA. You are done. ;)

Rock Solid Circle in a Square

Well, this might have been done before, very little in crochet is new. But this is my take on it, and I'm happy with that. I figured that once I had done my solid square, this really was the next step, so I sat down one afternoon and fiddled and it came much easier than the original square did. ;)
I have some ideas for making ones in different sizes down the track, but for now you get this six inch square. xoxo

Rock Solid Circle in a Square 

Materials:
I used a general 8ply Acrylic Yarn (Panda Carnival 100% Acrylic) and a 4mm hook.

Abbreviations:
This is written in US terms.
Sp – space
Ch – chain
DC – double crochet
TR – treble or triple crochet

Pattern:

I’m writing this as a basic pattern. I've used “chain 3” as the start of the first round and thereafter a
standing DC, they all count as a DC; however, you can use whatever starting method tickles your
fancy. You can make this in one continual piece, or you can tie it off each row. Just have fun with it.
;)

Round 1:
Make a magic circle (tutorial here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PmaQJbyVt0 )
Ch 3, DC 11 into the magic circle. Join and tie off. (12)

Round 2:
Ch 3, DC in same stitch. 2DC in each stitch around. Join and tie off. (24)

Round 3:
Ch 3, DC in same space, (1DC, 2DC) x 11. DC in last stitch, join and tie off. (36)
Converting to a square:
Choose any stitch to begin. Ch3. In next stitch work *(1DC, 2TR, 1DC), 1DC, 2HDC, 2SC, 2HDC, 1DC**
from * to ** forms one side. Repeat twice more. Repeat once more BUT leave off the last 1DC as
this is the ch3 from the beginning of the round. Join and tie off. (48).

If you want the square larger, please go to round 4 of my square pattern found here:
Rock Solid Granny Square

Please note, the stitch counts DO NOT match between the two styles. The Rock Solid Circle in a
Square has 8 stitches between the corner stitches in the outer row – which is roughly equivalent to
row 3 in the Rock Solid Granny Square which has 7 stitches between the corner stitches.
So row 4 in the Rock Solid Circle in a Square will have 11 stitches in-between, Row 5 will have 14
stitches in-between and Row 6 will have 17 stitches.
Regardless of the slight difference, the patterns are worked in the same style; you will just add one
more stitch in the middle of the row between the corner sections. You still flip your work over in
Row 5.

I hope you enjoy this and I can't wait to see what you make.

Happy Hooking
xoxo

Face Washer Edging

In a couple of days my husband will head of to the Solomon Islands as part of our parish's Mission Partnership with the parish of Jejevo. There was a mix-up in communication so with only a couple of days to go we found that he needed to take something small and light as gifts to give out. Face-washers (clooties/cloths, flannelettes) were highly recommended as they are a luxury item but can have so many uses.

So he came to me and asked if I could crochet about 20 in just under five days. Technically it was possible, however, we have two young children and we had a house guest for the weekend, so a compromise needed to be found. I suggested that he buy some face-washers and I would crochet an edging on them.

This is something that as far as I'm concerned has been around forever. However, when I posted a picture of this in a large crochet group today, it was met with a lot of surprise from people who had never seen it. It's not rocket science, and I'm not going to reinvent the wheel. There are plenty of edging patterns out there and you can work out what you want to do and your stitch counts based on that.

So the first thing I did was to do a blanket stitch around the edge. I'm not a sewer. I'll put my hand up for that, and I know Mrs Moxey our home ec. teacher would be soundly disappointed in my effort, however, it was THE BEST that I can possibly do. I used a basic blanket stitch, and because the material was thin and easily worked, I was able to do this with a blunt darning needle. If you have a thicker material to work with, you may want to consider either using a stitch-un-picker (see pic) or a specialised hole punch tool to pre-make the holes before you start out.

Then after that, I did a row of SC, and then I worked a shell border on top of that. Simple, but visually very effective.

Materials:
Patons 8ply Cotton Blend (50% cotton, 50% acrylic). Half of one 50g ball should do the average washer for this method.
3.5mm hook
US Terms used

To measure out how much yarn you might need for the basic blanket stitch, I loosely draped the cotton around the edge of the washer four times before cutting (I added an extra inch or two).

Basic pattern:
work sc along the side using the blanket stitch top as an anchor point. Work enough stitches to for a base that is a multiple of six plus seven. Eg, (9 x 6) + 7 = 61 SC for the side. Cut and tie yarn.

Starting in the first SC use a standing stitch *SC. Skip 2 stitches, DC5 in the next stitch, skip 2 stitches, **SC in the next stitch. Repeat from * to ** until you reach the corner. SC, ch2, SC then start the shells again. Continue until you return to the beginning. Join with a slip stitch. Cut and tie yarn and hide all the ends.

For mine, I made a few extra SC's and worked as many shells as I could to get a wavy softer effect (85 sc).

These sweet cloths make a simple gift and can be included in a bathroom gift pack for example, along with scrubbies and soap sacks.

Rock Solid Granny Square

I have 17 nieces and nephews. We don't live near any of them, but it doesn't diminish the love. So a while back when we were "up home" visiting, I offered to make the nephews in one family something knit or crochet. Now, these boys are just LOVELY, but the looks they gave of horror were priceless.

Undeterred, I dragged them through to their grandmother's computer, and we jumped on Ravelry to have a look. The eldest, we'll call him Nevvie 1, likes Minecraft. He's just on the cusp of becoming a teenager, and I think he couldn't reconcile the words "yarn" and "cool". LOL. When I typed in "minecraft" into the search, however, he quickly changed his mind. Oh, a diamond sword! Oh, a creeper hat! But when he saw the creeper bedspread, he became still and silent. BINGO. I told you they were lovely boys. I asked if he wanted to see it, and he said it was too big, but some of the other things looked cool. I love him. I opened the blanket pattern to have a closer look. He and Nevvie 2 exclaimed over it, and he looked at me with a pained expression. "No, Nevvie 1, it's not too much to ask, not if you like it. " A very reverent 'yes please' was the answer, and so we were away. What the other two boys asked for will have to wait for another post - because I haven't even started them.

Now the awesome example was knit, and I knew that that was going to drive me nuts, so I went looking for a solid granny square. I'm not keen on holes in the corners, and especially not for this project. Each square forms a very large pixel in the character face (as it does in the game) and the diagonal lines that corner spaces make would detract from that. I couldn't find one. So, I sat up until about 1.30am nutting this out, specifically for the purpose of this blanket. Now, since then I've found others, and they vary a little from mine. Take it or leave it, it's free, it suits me, and I love it. I especially love what some of my friends have done with it. If you're interested in seeing that, then you can check out the pattern projects on Ravelry here.
If you want to follow my blanket progress, you can do so here: Minecraft Creeper Blanket which has a link to the pattern where I found my original inspiration.

So, without further ado, here is my

Rock Solid Granny Square 6 inch square - adaptable for larger

For those of you who do not like the chain 3 look at the beginning of a row, feel free to substitute a
chainless starting double crochet as seen in Moogly’s link below:
http://www.mooglyblog.com/chainless-starting-double-crochet/

Notes:
In rows 3 and 5, when you reverse your work, you will need to place your first stitch of the row right
at the base of the chain three (or chainless starting double crochet). (If you were working it in the
other direction, you would be placing your final stitch there).

This pattern is in U.S. terms.

Using a 4.5mm hook and 8 ply yarn:

Make a magic circle (there are tons of tutorials on you-tube for this)
Row 1: Chain 3 (counts as DC), *2 treble, 3DC into the loop ** repeat from * to ** twice. 2tr, 2DC,
join with sl st into 3rd chain.

Row 2: Ch3 (counts as DC), DC into next st, in the second treble do (1DC, 2TR, 1DC), *DC in next 4 sts,
in the second treble work (1DC, 2TR, 1DC), ** Repeat from * twice. DC in next 2 sts, join with sl st

Row 3: Ch3 (counts as DC); flip your work over and work in the opposite direction, DC into next 3sts,
in the first treble work (1DC, 2TR, 1DC), *DC in next 7 sts, in the first treble work (1DC, 2TR, 1DC), **
Repeat from * twice. DC in next 3sts, join with sl st

Row 4: Ch3 (counts as DC); flip your work over and work in the opposite direction. DC into the next 4
sts, in the second treble work (1DC, 2TR, 1DC), *DC in next 10 sts, in the second treble work (1DC,
2TR, 1DC)** Repeat from * twice. DC in next 5 sts, join with sl st

Row 5: Ch3 (counts as DC); flip your work over and work in the opposite direction, DC into next 6sts,
in the first treble work (1DC, 2TR, 1DC), *DC in next 13 sts, in the first treble work (1DC, 2TR, 1DC),
** Repeat from * twice. DC in next 6sts, join with sl st

Row 6: Ch3 (counts as DC); flip your work over and work in the opposite direction. DC into the next 8
sts, in the second treble work (1DC, 2TR, 1DC), *DC in next 16 sts, in the second treble work (1DC,
2TR, 1DC)** Repeat from *3 times. DC in next 7 sts, join with sl st

If you want a larger square, just continue with this method remembering to reverse your work every second row, for example, the next row from here would be reversed.

Happy Hooking
xoxo