Novice crocheters and those who can help us, over here!

[purplepidjin]

For those who are/want to be involved in making a yarn blanket for EdgarAleNPie this is your crochet thread! I'll post patterns and advice, and hopefully so will other crocheters! Here's a basic Granny square:

1/ Ch2, 4tc in 2nd ch from hook. Slst to join.

2/ Ch2, 3tc ch1 in each st around, join w slst (12 sts)

3/ Ch2 turn, 3tc ch1 3tc in gaps (this makes a corner). Join w slst.

This gives you the square shape. As you increase, the number of gaps to crochet in between corners will increase. Keep increasing until it measures 6" or 15cm - think that's usually another 2 rows?

www.laughinghens.com/knitting-wool-yarn.asp?yarnid=402 and Get Knitted have been suggested on the knitting thread. I think the Rowan is slightly cheaper than the Debbie Bliss. If it's a struggle, PM PixieOnaLeaf and she'll arrange to have some sent to you from the donations pot

Thanks. I bought the Rowan yarn here in the end as they also stocked another yarn that I had been looking for to knit some gloves and they had free delivery on orders over £10.

you haven't sent me a PM, pixie!

(i did send you one, but I'll send again...)

Afternoon

Here is my pattern for a granny square with a flower in the centre. Be warned that the flower, whilst beautiful, will take a bit of wool. However the principle will work with any other flower pattern you may have, as long as it has either 4 or 8 chain spaces to start your granny quare in.

So:-

8 CH join with SS

Round 1: 5CH (= 1TR + 2CH) 1TR into ring, 2ST repeat until you have 8TR into the ring

Round 2: 1CH, then, in each ch space 1DC, 1CH, 3TR, 1DC (8 petals)

Round 3: 1CH 1DC worked from the wrong side (WS) around 1st TR from Round 1, 4CH repeat for each TR so that you have 8 CH spaces, end with 1SS in 1st DC at the beginning of the round.

Round 4: As Round 2 but with 5TR instead of 3TR. Fasten yarn.

Now you can start working the granny square part. I work mine starting around the inner most circle, but you could also start at the edge of the petals. I depends how lacy you want the square.

Change yarn if desired, Start around chain space at the centre of the flower.

Round 5: 4CH (= 1TR + 1CH) 3TR into next chain space, 1CH 3TR 2CH 3TR into next chain space, 1CH twice more. 3TR, 1CH into nect CH space. 1CH, 3TR, 2CH, 2TR into same CH space as start of round. SS into 3rd CH at beginning of the round.

Round 6: 3CH, 2TR into same CH space, 1CH 3TR into next CH space, 1CH, 3TR, 2CH, 3TR into next CH space. 1CH, 3TR into next CH space, 1CH 3TR into next CH space repeat twice more. 1CH, 3TR, 2CH, 3TR into next CH space, 1CH, SS into top of first 3-CH

Then it's just a straightforward granny square until it gets big enough.

Hope that makes sense.

Ordered my wool today, hoping it comes quickly as am itching to start.

Loving the hearts! A nice stitch if you want to do a plain square is to crochet in rows but only crochet in the back loop of the stitch. Makes a lovely tactile ribbing.

Bumper, I love that one. Have been doing tank tops for a mate's 3yo and using the backstich double technique for the waistband

I "accidentally" slipped a teal ball of cashmerino in my basket in JL earlier, so will try out the flower square shortly. I was also thinking of doing plain squares with motifs on...

Right I need to order my wool tonight as I really want to get started .

Thanks for all the links to patterns everyone has posted so far, do we need to stick to doing one square each as I can see me making a few of these

purple did they have the wool for this in JL? My local shop suggested that this maybe my only option locally but its just a case of getting there to have a look

Frazzled, I just replied to you on the other thread!

John Lewis in Southampton have both kinds and a lovely big selection. Also, Honora in Christchurch is listed as a stockist - but that depends on what side of Hants you are. I do Youth Work in Christchurch as I'm right on the border.

I have one more row to do of www.karpstyles.com/crochet/heart1.html this pattern then I'll probably hang fire until the squares start coming in - people have been so amazingly generous, it's going to be a big job

BornToFolk has suggested a yarn swap so we can use different colours, hopefully she'll start a thread and be the organiser

What colour combos are people getting? I only have enough money for two and love the purple colour, and thought about either 'mist' or 'blink' to go with it.

ok, I've bought 1 ball each of the following in Rowan Cashsoft- 508, 525 and 534.

I can make 1 square (or more), but am also happy to post wool on so someone else who needs wool can contribute.

BornToFolk suggested a yarn swap on the knitting thread, and i've asked her to start an organise a thread. She's not got back to me yet (well, in the last half hour or so! I sit on the sofa with the laptop and tv and crochet lol) so if anyone would like to take the task on, please do

Leftovers are welcome here for the stitching up, but swap them round first

Swap thread here thanks to BornToFolk

purple, I have just seen that Leo loved pink flowers. And I have some left-ove pink cashmerino from a previous project. Do you think it would be ok if I did one square with a pink flower in the middle?

I'm going to try the flowers one.
I'll try it with some spare wool first.
if i can't do it, I'll stick to the granny squares!

right, I'm getting annoyed now - I'm trying to confirm what a double crochet is, and al lthe sites on google are showing me what I have always known as a treble.
so then i looked for treble and it's showing me a double treble!
which is it???

a treble to me, is yoh, through the stitch, yoh, pull through, yoh through two loops, yoh through last two loops.

so a hald treble is wehre you skip the last yoh and pull it through 3 loops.
i thought a double was where you go through, yoh, pull back yoh and through the loops left.
and single is yoh then through, then through teh two chains.

am i wrong?
I know the stitches have different names in america?

it's alright, i've found a uk site that does it properly - I was right.
[phew]

Ah! I'll stick to the american then. For me a double is what you describe as a treble! (South African)

as long as you've got 6inches at the end, it doesn't matter i suppose!
your flowers might be a bit more flowery than mine, though.
(that might be a good thing)

and just for fun, for you to see the difference in UK "talk"

Just wanted to say hi and to add that this place www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/6in_squares.php
has some nice free square patterns (as well as other stuff too) :)