Seaside Winter Blanket: Scottburgh Square 2

Hello and welcome to Part 2 of our Seaside Winter Blanket CAL!

How wonderful to have so many crochet along friends from previous CAL's joining in.   A warm welcome to you and to those of you who are joining a Zooty Owl CAL for the first time!

It's is not too late to join in!   Patterns will remain on my Blog so that you can work at your own pace and make as many blankets as you like!

One of our lovely CAL friends sent me the following message:   "I googled crochet blanket photos for the perfect colours for my blanket.    Your point on colour placement is true.  Umzumbe got frogged about four times before I was happy.   It makes me irritated that all that work is for nothing.  Is there something you can teach me to avoid this?".

COLOUR PLACEMENT is very important and can make or break the visual effect you are trying to achieve.  I have not yet found a foolproof method to select which colour I will use for each round.     There is no right and wrong placement - what is visually pleasing to one may not be pleasing to another.   My colour placement is also sometimes not spot on first time around.   Feeling that I have wasted my time also drives me to distraction.    TIP:  when you purchase your yarn also buy a ball of each colour (or as close as possible) from a budget range.   The budget yarns are usually quite robust and make for great picnic / travel / charity blankets or yarn tote bags.   First try the placement you want with the budget yarn.    Instead of frogging the square if you are not entirely happy with the placement put it aside.   After a few projects you will have enough of these squares to make something worthwhile!

A special thank you to Ritha Vishwanath of HOOKS, NEEDLES & MORE  for skillfully and efficiently testing the Scottburgh Square!

 
SCOTTBURGH SQUARE PATTERN:

The Scottburgh Square will curl because we have used the overlay technique, and will have to be BLOCKED.  (This YouTube video is easy to follow and explains the blocking technique rather well.)   Google "blocking crochet" and a number of how-to's will pop up.    I recently purchased a wooden blocking board to block my work, but as you will see in the video there are items around the house that can be used for blocking.

Yarn requirements, hook size, blanket sizes and layouts and other useful CAL information are contained in these two posts: INTRODUCTION and YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW

Make 1 x Scottburgh Square for the Baby Blanket
Make 2 x Scottburgh Square for the Lapghan

PATTERN TERMS:   US

SPECIAL STITCHES:

2hdc tog = yoh 1, insert hook through stitch, pull through a loop but do not complete the stitch;  yoh 1, insert hook through stitch, pull through a loop and complete both stitches.

Crossover trc = Bring your working yarn to the front of your work as we will be working over stitches made in previous rounds, yoh2, insert hook into front loop of corresponding 3rd hdc in round 1, pull loop through and complete stitch,   yoh2, insert hook into front loop of corresponding 1st hdc in round 1, pull loop through and complete stitch.    If you have never done this before it may take a couple of tries before you get it right - it is very tricky on the fingers.   I find it easier if I fold the motif along the stitches I am working into.

(Note:  If you can't manage the Crossover trc stitch don't worry - work 1 trc into corresponding 1st hdc in round 1; and 1 trc into corresponding 3rd hdc in round 1 - the crossover is merely an added design feature and does not affect further rounds)

BPdc = BACK POST DOUBLE CROCHET

Foundation:   3ch, sl st into 1st ch to close OR make a magic circle

Round 1: 2ch, 11hdc into circle, sl st into top of start 2ch to close.  Break off yarn.

Round 2:  Working in back loops only join yarn in any hdc;  2ch (counts as 1hdc), 1hdc into each of next 2hdc, 9ch (1hdc into each of next 3hdc, 9ch) x3;   sl st into top of start 2ch to close.  Break of yarn.

Round 3:  Using the same colour as in Round 2, join yarn in any 9ch sp; [2ch (counts as 1hdc),  (2hdc, 1ch, 5dc, 2ch, 5dc, 1ch, 3hdc) into same 9ch sp;  [skip 1hdc, sl st into next hdc (3hdc, 1ch, 5dc, 2ch, 5dc, 1ch, 3hdc) into next 9ch sp] x3;  sl st into start sl st to close (four "petals");   break off yarn.

Round 4:  Using the same colour as in Round 1, join yarn in any 2ch sp (top of petal);  1ch, 1hdc (counts as 2hdc tog), 3ch, 2hdc tog in same sp;  5ch, 3hdc into 1ch sp;  1ch,  Crossover trc into front loop of  corresponding 3rd and 1st hdc in Round 1;  [1ch, 3hdc into next 1ch sp;  5ch,  (2hdc tog, 3ch, 2hdc tog into next 2ch), 5ch, 3hdc into next 1ch sp, 1ch, Crossover trc into front loop of corresponding 3rd and 1st hdc in Round 1] x3;  1ch, 3hdc into 1ch sp;  5ch, sl st into start 2hdc tog to close.   Break off yarn.

Round 5:  Join yarn in any 3ch sp (top of petal); [3ch (counts as 1dc), 2dc, 3trc, 3dc into same 3ch sp (corner grouping)]; {3ch, 1trc into each of next 2hdc, 1dtrc into each of next 2hdc;  1trc into each of next 2hdc;   3ch;  [3dc, 3trc, 3dc into next 3ch sp] (corner grouping)} x3;  3ch, 1trc into each of next 2hdc, 1dtrc into each of next 2hdc, 1trc into each of next 2dc, 3ch, sl st into top of start 3ch to close.   Break off yarn.

Round 6:  Join yarn in 2nd trc of any corner grouping;  6ch (counts as 1dc, 3ch), 1dc into same place as join;  1dc into each of next 4sts; [3dc into 3ch sp;  BPdc around each of next 6sts;  3dc into 3ch sp;  1dc into each of next 4sts, (1dc, 3ch, 1dc into next st);  1dc into each of next 4sts] x3;  3dc into 3ch sp;  BPdc around each of next 6sts;  3dc into 3ch sp;  1dc into each of next 4sts;  sl st into 3rd of start ch to close.   Break off yarn.

*Note: Round 6 of the pattern does require Bpdc around the 6 long stitches in the middle, and the photo tutorial does not show these. The Bpdc adds interest to the square but does not affect the square structurally as you can see from my tutorial square. (I really must apologize - I had a splitting migraine for the past few days and suffered a bit of "brain fog" because  of it.   I actually made 12 new No 2 squares with out the Bpdc in this round, whereas the "original" No 2 square does show the Bpdc. Since the Bpdc in this Round is just a feature I am not going to remake my squares.- to me they are equally as pretty with or without this added design feature)

 

 

 

Round 7:  Join yarn in any 3ch corner sp;  3ch (counts as 1dc) 1dc, 3ch, 2dc into same sp;  1dc into each of next 22dc;  [(2dc, 3ch, 2dc into next 3ch sp);  1dc into each of next 22dc] x3

BORDER ROUNDS:
Note:   Work the following two rounds on each completed square in your background / border colour.   Final stitch counts may differ from pattern to pattern, so adjustments must be allowed for when joining.

Border Round 1:   Join yarn in any 3ch corner sp,  3ch (counts as 1dc), 4dc into same sp,  1BPdc around each stitch to next 3ch corner;  (5dc into corner sp,  1BPdc around each stitch to next 3ch corner) x3,  sl st into 3rd of start chain to close.   Do not break off yarn.

Border Round 2:  3ch (counts as 1dc), 1dc into next dc, (2dc, 3ch, 2dc into next dc), 1dc into each st to corner;  [1dc into next 2dc, (2dc, 3ch, 2dc into next dc), 1dc into each st to corner] x3;  sl st into 3rd of start ch to close.   Break off yarn.

Block squares and join according to chosen layout.

PS:   The official CAL has ended but you can still join in at your leisure.  The links to all the patterns for the CAL can be found in the pinned post of our Seaside Winter Blanket Group

Seaside Winter Blanket CAL: In love with colour!

For as long as I can remember I have been in love with colour!

When my great granny taught me to crochet at age four, she and my nanna would give me all the scraps and leftovers from their projects.    I loved this!   Rather than having to decide on a set of colours, I had the pick of a complete jumble of colours!    This is probably why I still relish the challenge of turning a basket of scraps into something beautiful!

The  KALEIDOSCOPE BLANKET  was one of these projects!     Just reaching in to the basket and pulling out a handful of colours and making as many hexagons as I could before taking the next handful.     This is the best way to come up with new colour combinations - colours you never even thought of mixing before!

Just look at all those possibilities!!!!

The SEASIDE WINTER BLANKET is another one of those crazy colour opportunities.    Scraps and leftovers are the inevitable result of prolific crocheting, and I am sure many of you have a basketful of colourful bits and pieces.  Even if you do not want to go out and buy a set of colours, or dip into your stash you can still join in and put those scraps to colourful use!

I have been making MAGIC BLANKETS  to gift to the less fortunate and I have worked myself clean out of scraps and leftovers so I have had to dip into my stash for a few combinations.

Blanket 1 in Warm / Cool:   a mix of warm red and orange, and cool blue and greens, accented with neutral lemon white and beige:

Blanket 2 in cool purples, blues and greens, accented with a light grey and denim blue:

Blanket 3 in warm autumn shades of camel, ecru, banana and hibiscus and light grey against a white background

Blanket 4 two shades each of pink and purple bordered by a pretty lilac named "Crocus"

Colour placement is just as important as your colour choice.   The Umzumbe square looks completely different when the four colours used for Blanket 4 are arranged differently!

By simply changing the placement of  a limited number of colours (2 and 4) - I have eight totally different squares!!

These colour experiments are always put to good use.   Wait until you have a nice collection of squares, sort them into a pleasing arrangement and make a happyghan!   Always great to have one or two lapghan size happyghans to hand when you want to give someone special a thoughtful and useful gift!  (The centre panel is a one of the new patterns I am busy working on)

Please share your Seaside Winter Blanket progress shots on Facebook in our SEASIDE WINTER BLANKET CAL GROUP.   Photos posted to the group will be included in the weekly Gallery!

Have fun experimenting with colours and remember........the second square "Scottburgh" will be posted on Friday, 17 June 2016!

Seaside Winter Blanket CAL: Umzumbe Square 1

Hello and welcome!

After weeks and weeks of designing and frogging and preparing......... the big day has finally arrived!!!

Our Seaside Winter Blanket journey officially begins today with the "Umzumbe Square"!

Note:   The final two rounds on the above squares are border rounds and will be crocheted around each of the squares.   The pattern for these two rows will be provided with Square 2.
 
Please have a read through the INTRODUCTION and YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW posts where you will find the information necessary to prepare you for the CAL.

A special thank you goes out to Ritha Vishwanath, who tested the pattern for me.  

Ritha is a very skilled crocheter who pattern tests for a number of designers.    Have a look at her beautiful work on her Facebook page HOOKS, NEEDLES & MORE
 
UMZUMBE SQUARE PATTERN:

YARN:   DK /8ply / light worsted weight 100% Acrylic. 
(Worsted weight, Aran, Afghan, 10 ply yarn would also work very well, using a 5.00mm hook - you would need slightly more yarn, and of course your blankets will be a fair bit larger than the sizes given for DK)

YARN QUANTITIES:
Baby blanket:  2500 metres (2730 yards) - approximately 10 x 100g balls
Lapghan:  3750 metres (4101 yards) - approximately 15 x 100g balls

HOOK: 4.00mm

SIZES:
Lapghan - 150cm x 150cm
Baby Blanket -  94cm x 113cm 

PATTERN TERMS:   US

Baby Blanket:   Make 2 x "Umzumbe" square
Lapghan:    Make 2 x "Umzumbe" square
 
Foundation:    3ch, sl st into 1st chain to close or make a MAGIC CIRCLE

Round 1:  6ch (counts as 1dc, 3ch),   (3dc into circle, 3ch) x3;  2dc into circle, sl st into 3rd of start ch to close.   Break off yarn.

Elle Family Knit DK:  205 "Watermelon"

 
Round 2:  Join yarn in any 3ch sp;  3ch (counts as 1dc), 7dc into same sp, 1ch;  (8dc into next 3ch sp, 1ch) x 3;   sl st into 3rd of start ch to close.   Break off yarn.

Elle Family Knit DK:  042 "Shell Pink"

 
Round 3:  Join yarn in any 1ch sp;  3ch (counts as 1dc), 2dc, 3ch, 3dc into same sp;  skip 2dc, 1sc into each of next 4dc;  (skip 2dc, 3dc, 3ch, 3dc into next 1ch sp;   skip 2dc, 1sc into each of next 4dc);  skip 2dc, sl st into 3rd of start ch to close.   Break off yarn.

Elle Family Knit DK:   076 "Fuschia"

 
Round 4:  Join yarn in any 3ch sp;  3ch (counts as 1dc), 5dc into same sp, 1dc into each of next 3dc, 5ch;   (skip 4sc;   1dc into each of next 3dc;  6dc into 3ch sp;  1dc into each of next 3dc;  5ch) x3;  skip 4sc, 1dc into each of next 3dc, sl st into 3rd of start ch to close.   Break off yarn.

Elle Family Knit DK:  101 "Grape"

Round 5:  Join yarn in any 5ch sp;  3ch, 1trc into same sp (counts as 2trc tog);  2ch, 2trc tog, 3ch, 2trc tog, 2ch, 2trc tog;  [(skip 2dc, 1hdc into each of next 2dc, 4ch, skip 4dc; 1hdc into each of next 2dc,  skip 2dc);  (2trc tog, 2ch, 2trc tog, 3ch, 2trc tog, 2ch, 2trc tog)] x3;  skip 2dc, 1hdc into each of next 2dc, 4ch, skip 4dc, 1hdc into each of next 2dc, skip 2dc, sl st into 3rd of start 3ch to close.   Break off yarn.

Elle Pullskein:   046 "Apricot"

Round 6:  Join yarn in any 3ch sp;   3ch (counts as 1dc), 2dc, 3ch, 3dc in same sp;  3dc into next 2ch sp;  2dc into next sp;  5dc into next 4ch sp;  2dc into next sp;  3dc into next 2ch sp;  (3dc, 3ch, 3dc into next 3ch sp;  3dc into next 2ch sp;  2dc into next sp;  5dc into next 4ch sp;  2dc into next sp;  3dc into next 2ch sp), sl st into 3rd of start 3ch to close.   Break off yarn.

Elle Family Knit DK:  098 "Citrus"

Round 7:  Join yarn in any 3ch sp;  3ch (counts as 1dc), 1dc, 3ch, 2dc in same sp;  1dc into each dc to corner 3ch;   (2dc, 3ch, 2dc into 3ch sp,  1dc into each dc to next corner) x3;  sl st into 3rd of start 3ch to close.   Break off yarn.

Elle Family Knit DK:  048 "Stone"

Thank you for joining in.   Patterns will remain on my Blog so that you can work at your own pace and make as many blankets as you like!

PS:   The official CAL has ended but you can still join in at your leisure.  The links to all the patterns for the CAL can be found in the pinned post of our Seaside Winter Blanket Group

You might like to know: Seaside Winter Blanket CAL 2016

You might like to know............

I used the following Elle (Saprotex) colours while designing the blanket (from inner to outer circle on my "colour wheel")

169 Cherry Red (Family Knit DK) (100g)
046 Apricot (Pullskein) (100g)
148 Sunset (Charity) (100g)
222 Lemon White (Family Knit DK) (200g)
061 Soft Lime (Family Knit DK) (100g)
007 Jade (Family Knit DK) (200g)
239 Peacock (Family Knit DK) (200g)
025 Beige (Family Knit DK) (400g)
058 Saxe Blue (Family Knit DK) (100g)

A "colour wheel" will be provided with each tutorial so that you can match your colours should you wish to use the same colours as me.

A photo tutorial will be provided for each of the square patterns and the border.   The final stitch count may vary from square to square.   It is therefore advisable to use a "forgiving" joining method.  I have once again used my VISIBLE JOIN as this provides a flat, even finish regardless of the final stitch count.

There is a "Print Friendly" button at the top of the right hand side bar -  this enables you to save the document as a PDF file or to remove the images and print an ink-saving hard copy.
  
Where possible I will provide a link to online tutorials for any "special" stitches used throughout the project.

The squares may be inclined to pull a bit skew or pucker slightly due to the fact that I have used a fair amount of overlay / textured crochet.    A bit of gentle tugging to straighten the square is mostly sufficient, but I recently purchased a blocking station to block the squares before joining.   (For the South African crocheters - I bought the blocking station for R200 online from New Kayo Bazaar.)

The squares will each be named for a place along the KwaZulu Natal, South Coast in keeping with the Seaside Winter theme.

I hope that you will be joining me on Friday to crochet our first square.......... the "UMZUMBE"!!!!

PS:   Please also read through the  INTRODUCTION post.    These two posts contain all the information you will need to prepare for the CAL

Find the first square pattern HERE

Seaside Winter Blanket CAL: Introduction

Hello and welcome to the 4th Zooty Owl Blanket Crochet along - the Seaside Winter Blanket CAL!!!

The previous Blanket CAL's (BABY GROOVYGHAN;  HAPPY DAYS BLANKET; WADE'S BLANKET) have been so much fun, and I have had so many requests for another!

For the Seaside Winter Blanket CAL I will provide 10 brand new 15cm x 15cm square patterns and 2 brand new 34cm x 34cm square patterns.    The 15cm x 15cm squares' final measurement is 19cm x 19cm (once bordered and joined);   the 34cm x 34cm squares' final measurementis 38cm x 38cm (once bordered and joined).  The squares require more concentration than skill and they are thus easy enough for a novice crocheter.

There are 2 layouts to choose from:    A baby blanket (12 x 19cm x 19cm squares;  2 x 38cm x 38cm squares);

 and a 150cm x 150cm lapghan (20 x 19cm x 19cm squares;   4 x 38cm x 38cm squares)

You can choose as many colours and neutrals as you like - I have used a minimum of 6 colours (alternating dark / light or pastel / bright) and 2 neutrals.   BE INSPIRED BY COLOUR  if you need help choosing your colour palette.

A new square pattern will be posted every Friday for the next 12 weeks, starting 10 June 2016.  The border and edging will be posted in two parts at end of the 12 weeks.

I will be posting  "bonus patterns" periodically during the 12 week period.      There are three 15cm x 15cm bonus squares - this gives you more options in terms of your final layout!.     I will also be posting 2 mandala patterns (derived from the two 34cm x 34cm squares) and 1 coaster pattern - this is especially for readers who follow my blog but are not able to join in with this CAL.

YARN:  Quantities are calculated for DK (8ply / light worsted weight) 100% acrylic, using a 4.00mm hook.     I love our locally produced Elle yarns - and have used either Elle Pullskein and/or Elle Family for all the blankets I have made for this CAL.  Lion Brand and Red Heart have some beautiful light worsted weight yarns for our friends in the US;   Stylecraft Special is always a "go-to" yarn for our friends in the UK.    (Worsted weight, Aran, Afghan, 10 ply yarn would also work very well, using a 5.00mm hook - you would need slightly more yarn, and of course your blankets will be a fair bit larger than the sizes given for DK)

YARN QUANTITIES:
Baby blanket:  2500 metres (2730 yards) - approximately 10 x 100g balls
Lapghan:  3750 metres (4101 yards) - approximately 15 x 100g balls

HOOK: 4.00mm


PATTERN TERMS:   US (I will include a conversion chart with each pattern to make it easier for those using UK terms)

GUAGE:   I will provide guage swatch information with the first pattern.  Gauge is not all that important for this pattern unless you have an expectation in terms of the end measurement.    It is however, very important to maintain even tension throughout the project in order to obtain a neat finish! 

I hope that many of you will join in the fun and share your progress on my Zooty Owl Facebook page.

Until next week then......... happy yarnhunting!

PS:   YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW

Find the first square pattern HERE

Jumbo Owl Cushion

I have been finishing up the very last little bits of yarn from my mom's stash by making preemie blankets to donate.    

Having used up all the "nice" yarn, a heap of scrap yarn in a really yucky selection of colours was left over.     A good deal of this yarn is what was known waaaaaay back as "HUNKY" - a 24ply yarn!!   (In today's terms it is known as JUMBO yarn). 

I added extra strands to the thinner yarn to make everything 24ply.    My original idea was to make a blanket with a mix of stripes and squares - I thought I would work an owl square surrounded by a few granny squares, but it turned out HUGE!!

I had already worked a fair amount of the stripes and was not in the mood to frog them!    I was undecided whether to proceed with the blanket or to just make two owl cushions.    Most people liked the cushion idea.  

This was such a "silly" project that turned out to be such FUN!      I added some "eyelash" yarn for the "feathers", and two over the top ruffle flowers and leaves to fill in the open space at the bottom of the cushion.

For the back of the cushion I overlapped two rectangular stripe pieces and then did a buttonhole row to fasten the cushion.

The back and front are joined by a round of single crochet and then finished off with a block stitch edging.

Only one of the cushions is complete, the other is about halfway.      For the second a different colour selection will have to be used.

I am actually thinking of hosting a little CAL, breaking it up into manageable portions over a period of weeks (say over the 5 Fridays in October??).      Is it too late in the year???    How many people would join in??

Please leave me a comment so that I can decide whether to proceed now - or leave it until the new year!

Popcorn Photo Prop Blanket

A couple of months back my friend popped over and asked me to make a props blanket for her grandbaby's newborn photo shoot.     The little outfit was knitted with a pretty variegated DK yarn and she had 1 x 100g ball of Chunky in the same yarn for the props blanket.

I did a quick google to see what size the blanket should be - 60cm x 60cm seemed to be about the average.

100g of Chunky (12ply) does not stretch very far!     The only way I could figure to manage a 60cm square with 160m of yarn was to make a "mesh" using a huge hook.      A little swatch of this quickly showed that I was heading in the wrong direction.

Time was also a bit of a problem so I needed to make something that would work up super fast!

I decided to alternate rows of granny clusters in Chunky with rows of "popcorns" in DK and ended up with a lovely soft and "puffy" texture.     Add a simple border with a teeny little frill and Voila!!

Sunshine and Happiness

My son moved to Cape Town in March this year - 1399.6km as the Boeing flies.

Cape Town has really wet and windy winters so I thought I would make him an extra "warmie" for his bed or to keep him warm while watching telly or working on his computer.

In the evenings while he still lived at home he and I would make dinner together.   We would crank up the stereo up and listen to all sorts of good tunes (choonz - as we pronounce it here in SA).      One of our favourite "karaoke" songs was Rod Stewart's "Forever Young"

So this blanket is called "Sunshine and Happiness" (to surround you while you are far from home)!

I make heaps of odd granny squares during LOADSHEDDING and then join them together when we have power again.

For this blanket I made 48 squares - worked around 12 with "Bright Yellow";   12 with "Banana" and 24 with "Red".     I then joined them using the VISIBLE JOIN.

I then worked two rows of dc around each 4 x square block - "Dark Brown" around the yellow blocks and "Chocolate" around the red blocks.

The centre HAD to be special - a variation of my POPCORN OWL

The crochet "Sun" and granny hearts were appliqued on, and the eye feathers are "tassels".

I worked a few "patterned" rows around the Owl Square, and then joined the completed 4 x square blocks to the centre block.

I did not add a border; just a sweet little pompom edging - the same edging used for my POPCORN OWL CUSHION

Now all that remains is for me to box it up (with some other home treats) and have it couriered to my son!