Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Rosebuds and Catherine Wheels

Just found this video on YouTube which you might find interesting. I haven't tried the pattern yet but it appears to be much easier than others I've seen. What do you think ?



While 'surfing' on YouTube, I came across this excellent tutorial by Theresa from The Art of Crochet, on how to do the Catherine Wheel stitch. In this tutorial she makes a swatch working in rows. Its rather long but well worth watching if you want to master this fantastic stitch.



If you'd like a written copy, here's the link.

I still prefer to work the Catherine Wheel stitch in the round, as in what I call my Honeycomb Afghan or the Reversible Hungarian Rug. Here's the pattern ....

REVERSIBLE HUNGARIAN RUG (Note: Australian terminology)
Make 6ch, join with a sl st in first ch to form a ring.

1st round: 1ch, 1dc in the ring, *4ch, leaving last loop of each dtr on the hook, make 4dtr in the ring, yoh and draw through all 5 loops on the hook, (4dtr cluster made) 4ch, 1dc in the ring, rep from * 3 times, omitting the dc at end of last rep, join with a sl st in first dc made. (there should be four clusters)

2nd round: 1ch, 1dc in same place as sl st, * 2ch, 12dtr in top of cluster, 2ch, 1dc in next dc, rep from * 3 times, omitting the dc at end of last rep, join with a sl st in first dc made, fasten off.

3rd round: Join next colour between the 8th and 9th dtr from the dc, 1ch, 1dc in same place as the join, *4ch, holding last loop of each dtr on the hook work around the stem of dtr (from back, across the front then through to back again) make a 8dtr, yoh and draw through all 9 loops on the hook, (8dtr cluster made) 4ch, 1dc between the 4th and 5th dtrs, 4ch, make a 4dtr cluster around the next 4dtr, 4ch, 1dc between the 8th and 9th dtr, rep from * to end, omitting the dc at end of last rep, join with a sl st in first dc.

4th round: 1ch, 1dc in same place as sl st, 2ch, *8dtr in top of the 8dtr cluster, 2ch, 1dc in next dc 2ch, 12dtr in top of the 4dtr cluster, 2ch, 1dc in next dc, 2ch, rep from * to end, omitting the dc at end of last rep, join with a sl st in first dc made, fasten off.

rep 3rd and 4th rounds, working one extra 8dtr on each side, the 4dtr cluster should be in each corner.
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Ah well, back to my scarf. Another thing I could add to my 2010 list is to finish each project before I start the next.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Another Year (almost) Over

Its been awhile since I've posted here and I hope you've had a very happy Christmas and looking forward to all the exciting things the new year may bring. I want to share with you something I received in an email from Debbie Macomber (the author) who said she looks at the empty pages in her new diary as a journey yet to be travelled, surprises yet to be revealed or an empty canvas awaiting the stroke of the artists brush. Debbie and her husband Wayne sit down every January and make a list of places they want to visit and people to see in the coming year. What a nice idea !!! I'm not one for making New Years resolutions (as such) but some of my plans (hopes) for 2010 include - go on a cruise, spend less time on the computer, support a charity every month (on the Knit4Charities internet group), sort out my craft room and maybe give away the pattern books I don't want, lose weight LOL, oh, and blog more often !

Haven't been doing much crochet or knitting lately. Guess I must have got caught up with all the things we do leading up to Christmas each year. I put my name down to contribute to one of the K4C December projects and will be sending this little jacket and maybe a few hats off for the Royal Womens Hospital in Melbourne.



I've had some Classic Bendigo Woolen Mills wool for awhile now and yesterday started a scarf which will either be given to a family member or used for another charity later in the year. I love working with this yarn and just wish all those tubs of acrylic lurking in my craft room would disappear so I can stock up with more from Bendigo. I started using a pattern from a website but didn't like the way it was curling inwards on opposite corners. I think it might have been something to do with the fact that there was a right and wrong side to the pattern. Anyway, I frogged it and decided on a very simple V stitch scarf which will be softer and will drape better. Here's a pic of the beginning and I'm going to write the pattern here so I'll remember where it is if I want to make more.



V STITCH SCARF
13cm wide (5 inches) x as long as desired.
Bendigo Woolen Mills 8ply Classic
5.00mm crochet hook

V stitch = 1tr, 1ch, 1tr (Aust. terminology)

Ch. 27
Row 1: Vst into 4th ch from hook, *miss 2ch, Vst in next ch* repeat from * to * to last 2 ch, 1tr into last ch, 3ch, turn

Row 2: Vs in 1ch space, repeat to last ch space, 1tr in last tr, 3ch, turn.

Repeat row 2 to desired length.
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Before I finish this post, here's what I bought myself for Christmas ..



Its full of hints and tips for crocheters of all levels and its a bit like a coffee table book - you can just pick it up, flip it open to any page and you'll find lots of interesting things to read. I don't know if its available in Australia however it is available for A$16.89 from the Book Depository in UK and they have free postage worldwide. Here's the link.