Felted Crochet Bowl

Posted on 6th March 2020 by perfectly4med

Whilst teaching my improver’s crochet class over at Quorn Country Crafts last week, I was asked to look into making felted wool bowls. So, this week, I got hold of the wool, dusted off my 9mm crochet hook and got to working double crochets in ever-increasing circles. A quick hot wash in the washing machine with a couple of towels and the process was complete. I need to make a wider diameter bowl to start with, but I didn’t have enough wool on this occasion to go much bigger. I hope to have a class making them in the autumn programme.

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Trimcraft Maker: Spiin yarn colour-block scarf

Posted on 4th March 2020 by perfectly4med

As normal, when it goes quiet on here, it’s because I’ve been working away on a project behind the scenes. This time it’s a Tunisian Crochet Colour-block Scarf using Spiin yarn:

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Trimcraft Maker: Spiin yarn blanket

Posted on 19th February 2020 by perfectly4med

I’ve been away from the Studio for a few days. Not far away, in front of the TV in fact so that I can listen to daytime telly drivel while I have been beavering away. I’ve been making a baby blanket ready for a new arrival later this year.

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Trimcraft Maker: Spiin Yarn

Posted on 11th February 2020 by perfectly4med

My second goodie box from Trimcraft is a box of double knit Spiin yarn. Twenty 100g balls of it! The rainbow colours are impressive and with it being 100% acrylic, project will be washable. The 8ply construction means the yarn is relatively soft and in use resists splitting more than other yarns I have used. There is a downloadable project pattern book, which I will get to after I have finished my first project, a baby blanket.

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Fibre Art: Crocheted PomPom Blanket

Posted on 13th November 2017 by perfectly4med

For my fabric and yarn pieces, there is normally a reason for their creation – they take too much work to be just ‘playing’. So it was for this crocheted pompom blanket, finished just in time for a baby shower and the imminent arrival of ‘Pickle’. Following a pattern, I crocheted a ridiculous number of pompoms, joined them together one by one, row by row. Some might say mindnumbing, others meditative. I plump for labour of love 😉

I used acrylic baby knit yarn to ensure the blanket is washable. That said, I think I would still be washing in a net bag or pillowcase to avoid stretching the joins.

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No Needle Knitting

Posted on 9th October 2015 by perfectly4med

It’s no secret that I have never really learnt to knit properly. I can crochet, but something about two needles doesn’t work for me – it’s like aerobics: I can do arms, or legs, but not both at the same time. Then I came across loom knitting. No needles, just 18 pins and a hook. Here’s my first loom knitted project. It’s a cross between a shawl and a scarf – a sharf or a scawl? The Irish roses and leaves are crocheted from the same yarn [200 Crochet Flowers, Embellishments & Trims] and sew onto the completed knit. I’ve even sewn round the button hole.

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Crochet from scratch

Posted on 5th September 2015 by perfectly4med

I’ve been busy over the last couple of days doing some crochet. I’ve been asked to lead a couple of workshops for beginner crocheters by Quorn Country Crafts over in Loughborough (starts Sat 12th September). Not wanting to nick someone else’s pattern, I’ve started from scratch, designing two projects I hope to see the attendees complete over the sessions.

The first is a crochet sampler panel, introducing slip stitch, chain stitch, double crochet, treble crochet, half treble popcorns and double treble crochet, working in front and back loops. And if a second panel were to be completed and joined with the filet crochet panel and then fringed, a handy scarf will be complete. All I have to do is write the pattern down now. [Worked in Hayfield Chunky With Wool on 6.5mm hook].

And for those that whizz ahead and do their homework, I’ll also be teaching crochet in the round, designing this snowflake tree decoration for the lessons. [Worked in Sirdar Ella Summer Luxe Cotton on 4mm hook]

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There are still spaces available on the three courses (five sessions altogether) – book via the Quorn Country Crafts website, or give them a ring!

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Extreme Crochet Cushion

Posted on 28th December 2011 by perfectly4med

I had chance on Christmas Day to complete one of my presents – an extreme crochet cushion. For those unfamiliar with the concept, it’s not crochet in life-endangering situations. Instead, you use an outsize crochet hook (in this case a 1.5cm diameter) and several strands of yarn (6 for this project) of different styles. Mixed fibres seem to be more popular. I used trebles to make a suitable sized crocheted sheet (doubles might have given a denser fabric), double crocheted round the edges, added the tassels and here’s the result:

It’s 12 inches square, and more details on extreme crochet/knitting from www.racheljohn.co.uk from whence the kit came from. Tricky at first, but it doesn’t half knit up quick!