Granny Squares Happyghan

Just wanted to show you how my happy scrapping turned out.    I have decided to call it the Granny Squares Happyghan!

My son remarked that it was "interesting" - in THAT tone of voice - inclined to agree with him - but it still makes me happy!

It has already had a wash and tumbledry - so it smells lovely and is all soft and fluffy.    I have given it a home on my favourite couch in my craftroom.     Got my feet up on my ottoman with my Happyghan over my legs, cup of hot chocolate next to me - blogging away!     Yep - I AM HAPPY!!!

Finished up with a lot of projects and busy doing the patterns which I will post for you soon!

Have a super evening!!!

Hexagon Motif Pattern - Scrapbuster Hexagon Afghan

This Hexagon Motif Pattern is perfect for using up teeny tiny scraps - and the best part is that you do not have to add a main colour if you are planning on making a scrapbuster afghan.

Start; Round 1; Round 2 - follow the instructions for HEXAGON CROCHET MOTIF # 2
using 2 different colours (A & B)

Round 3:  

Using Colour C insert hook as shown into space between 2dc

3ch, 2dc;   *3dc into sp between 2dc* 11 times

ss to join (12 3dc clusters)

Round 4:

Continue with colour C

3ch, 1dc, 1ch into sp between 3dc

*2dc, 3ch, 2dc, 1ch into next sp;  2dc 1ch into following sp* repeat * to * 5 times

2dc, 3ch, 2dc, 1ch into last sp; ss to join

Use the join-as-you-go method described HERE to join your motifs

Once you start joining the hexagons you will be able to see a "line" try to keep to this line as you add on - it just makes it easier to keep form while you are making the blanket bigger.

I finished mine off with two rows of 2dc clusters following the shape of the hexagon

Inspiration!

Happy Friday!

Wonderful Wonderful Rain through the night!     Everything was so fresh and new this morning!!     Really looking forward to the summer now!

Missed my Wednesday post (again) - been busy with some "right-brain" work this week

Lately I have been suffering from a serious case of wool-envy (reading through my favourite UK blogs) - the ladies are using the loveliest pure wool and wool / acrylic blends.    Anyhow, you know how sometimes when the non crafty side of your brain is being exercised, strange things pop into your head?  I remembered a little habby I used to drive past on my way home from work a few years back.    Looked up their number - hooray they are still in business (have been there for longer than 25 years apparently!) -  the shop assistant was extremely helpful - they stock imported wool from Spain, Turkey, Portugal and England - and what fortuitous circumstance! - they are having a SALE!    I mentioned to hubby that I was going to take a drive there and maybe buy a skein or two - "no" says hubby "go and SPLURGE" - well who am I to argue with such wisdom?!    The SALE had been on for two weeks already so they were quite low on stock - I still managed to get quite a nice stash though!    The envy phase has passed - I am now in the reverence phase -  touching, feeling, admiring and pondering the perfect pattern (have to wait for this phase to pass before I actually hook a stitch!!)

I Found a few (really horrible) pictures of the afghan made for my sister's 40th (referred to it in my BLUE HUES afghan post).

I had just returned from a trip to the Victoria Falls (Zambia side) and was still feeling very "Zambian" and soo inspired by the vibrant colours, weaving and lovely beadwork as seen in this little collection of souvenirs picked up in Livingstone.

I made one more "Zambian" afghan in reds, greens, browns and beiges but for some reason never took a photo of it before it went to its new home.  

Busy sorting my photos - think my next inspirational phase was coastal - will blog about this at some stage!

Family has requested home made pizza tonight - sweet chilli chicken, bacon and pineapple, and meaty - so I will be at the oven for quite a while ........

Hope you all have an Inspirational weekend!!

Happy Scrappiness!!

At the time of my previous post I was deliriously happy and filled with gratitude for my lovely life.    Still filled with gratitude for my lovely life - but feeling a little on the down side.....

Early last year my dad had a heart attack.   He subsequently had a few episodes but he seemed to be doing well - he was walking every day and he was in good spirits.   In recent weeks, however, his health has deteriorated rather rapidly.    Thursday was a really bad day for him - I was left feeling a bit helpless and uncharacteristically freaked out!

Completed the Pink/Purple Groovyghan on Wednesday evening - it just needed a border - tried to crochet  this on Thursday evening but ended up frogging it a few times - just couldn't get my head around it.   I had started working on a "Babette" afghan on Thursday morning but ended up frogging that too.      The result of this was a pile of silly squares and a lot of yarn that couldn't be reused for to-be-sold work.   

Decided Friday morning to put everything aside and indulge in a bit of silliness.  Started playing around with a photo editor (Pic Monkey) - so easy and so much fun.    Have been promising myself to pay more attention to my blog - i.e.post more often and make it more Zooty.   

Laid out the silly squares and "froggy" yarn for a bit of photo fun!

Happy Scrappy Squares

This colourful collage made me think of a tablecloth we had painted when the children were little.    We used to love painting together.     I would take a big piece of calico, divide it into four sections and draw something (the same or a similar design) on each section.    Then we would each get a section to paint.     We would decide together what colours to use!    What fun - and a fabulous way to spend quality time together.

Photographing the tablecloth gave me a bit of inspiration for the squares.    There was way too much cerise - so I did a bit more frogging!!

Had some tea and a cappuccino muffin (baked by my son!).    By then it had warmed up a bit and I ventured out of my craft room to take more photos:

A Bit of  late winter (early spring??) colour

The Star Jasmine looks (and smells) amazing - covered in millions of those little purplish pink buds.     Quite a lot have already started to open:

Star Jasmine

In spite of the cold my Spanish Lavender is also a mass of frilly purple flowers - abuzz with bees!

Spanish Lavender

Spent the rest of the day beautifying old photos and reading other crafty blogs - crocheting in between!

By early this morning my Happy Scrappy Afghan was starting to take shape:

You can see from this photo that quite a lot of the original cerise has been removed.    Tweaking it as I go along - so far definitely a "happy scrappy"!

My daughter just sent me a picture of her Groovyghan on Whatsapp - also nearly finished (showing you a sneak peek - will get some proper photos once it is complete):

Danielle's Groovyghan

Phoned my mom and she says my dad is a bit better today - so I am ending the weekend on a calmer note!

Hope you have a happy week with plenty of time to craft!!

WIP's on Wednesday #4

Okay! - so today is not exactly Wednesday - but I have been crazy busy and the week just seemed to get away from me!

I am working with a feast of pinks and purples this week::

Pink/Cerise Baby Blanket;   Pinks / Purples Baby Blanket;    Little Princess Groovyghan

Sooo Girly!!

I completed my hexagon scrapghan (made it a bit smaller than originally intended but decided to rather make it "travel" size).  Still have to work in an endless number of ends (the only thing I do not like about crocheting) before it will be ready for a little photo shoot!

Hexagon wrap / scarf also "finished" - still toying with the idea of adding beaded tassles  - will share the pattern and photo's soon!

Also, as promised, a photo of the fabulous Groovyghan my daughter Dani made for her friend:

I think she did a superb job of it and I totally LOVE the colours - well done Dani!!

Off to raid my bead stash - maybe I find the inspiration I need to finish the hexagon wrap / scarf

Until next time ..... Happy Crafting!

WIP's on Wednesday #3

Sitting here trying to gather my thoughts.    I have a million things to do and am in need of a serious plan of action.

Yesterday I drove to the wool bazaar (a 90km round trip) - a fantastic little shop, but it is in a rather dismal CBD area - so I usually have to psyche myself up for about a week in order to actually make the trip!!     Sooooo glad that I did though - I am now surrounded by lots and lots and lots of lovely yarn - what could be more sublime??
 

Mine!  Mine!  ALL Mine!!!

As I said - trying to gather my thoughts.   I haven't been all that productive this week -too many other odds and ends demanding attention!

Works in progress this Wednesday:

Hexagon scrapghan - I only add to that when I have little bits of yarn left from my other projects
Groovyghan in blues, teal and neutrals
Set of three cushion covers
Hexagon scarf / wrap
Groovyghan in purples and pinks
Weaving in the ends on the gorgeous pink / orange groovyghan my daughter made for one of her friends (why does mom always end up doing this???)

All those yummy patterns

All those yummy colours

I hope to show you a photo of my daughter's lovely groovyghan as I think that will be finished by tomorrow!

Until then ...... Happy Crafting!!

Circle in a Square Granny Motif - Pattern & Tutorial

Ch 4, ss to join

Round 1
 3ch, 11 dc, ss to join

Round 2
 ch 1dc into sp between dc;  

*2dc into sp between dc* rep *to* 11 times

= 24dc

Round 3
 3ch. 1dc into sp between 2dc, 1dc into next sp

*2dc into next sp between 2dc, 1dc into next sp*

Rep *to* 11 times

36 stitches

Round 4
 Worked into spaces between 2dc

 3ch, 2dc, 1ch;
*3dc, 3ch;  in next sp; 3dc, 1ch in next 2 sp* rep *to* 3 times
3dc, 3ch in next sp;    3dc 1ch in next sp;  ss to join

 Round 5

 3ch, 2dc 1ch;  3dc 1ch into next sp
*3dc, 2ch, 3dc, 1ch into cnr (3ch sp), 3dc 1c into each of next 2 sp* rep *to* 3 times
3dc, 2ch, 3dc, 1ch into last corner, ss to join

Round 6

 3ch, 2dc 1ch;  3dc 1ch into next sp
*3dc, 3ch, 3dc, 1ch into cnr, 3dc 1c into each of next 2 sp* rep *to* 3 times
3dc, 3ch, 3dc, 1ch into last corner, ss to join

Play around with different colours for the first three rounds for different effects

Hexagon Crochet Motif # 2 - Pattern & Tutorial

Ch 4, ss to join

Round 1
3ch, 11 dc, ss to join

Round 2
 ch 1dc into sp between dc;  

*2dc into sp between dc* rep *to* 11 times

= 24dc

 Round 3

 3ch. 1dc into sp between 2dc, 1dc into next sp

*2dc into next sp between 2dc, 1dc into next sp*

Rep *to* 11 times

36 stitches

 Round 4
3ch, 1dc 1ch into sp between 2dc
*2dc, 3ch, 2dc, 1ch;  2dc 1c into each sp between 2dc*
Rep *to* 5 times
2dc, 3ch, 2dc, 1ch into last sp between 2dc
ss to join

Use the join-as-you-go method to join your crochet hexagon motifs

WIP's on Wednesday #1

Works In Progress this Wednesday:
 

Pruning the Roses

Daisy Babyghan

 

Top to Bottom:  Flower Granny Squares, Block Stitch Babyghan, Daisy Babyghan, Hexagon Scrapghan

Daisy Granny Squares - Pattern

Feeling a bit cold this morning - sitting in the sunniest spot in my craftroom with a hot cuppa and my laptop!    I have quite a few orders to fill but my fingers are too cold to get started!

One of the commissions I am busy with at the moment is a lilac, grey and cream baby blanket.   There is still quite a lot of work to be done on the blanket but I thought I might share the pattern for the squares I am making with you in the meantime....

Lovely Daisies

Still absolutely loving the daisy centres I found here - she has a brilliant tutorial on how to make them too.  I wanted my squares to be a bit more "open" so I did not follow her pattern for the subsequent rounds.

This is how I made mine:

First two rounds = the daisy

Third Round
Join new colour in space between two petals
3 Ch;  2dc; 1ch, *3dc, 1ch* in each next 11 spaces
Join with a ss

Fourth Round
Worked into spaces between clusters
3ch, 2dc, 1ch;
*3dc, 3ch;  in next sp; 3dc, 1ch in next 2 sp* rep *to* 3 times
3dc, 3ch in next sp;    3dc 1ch in next sp
ss to join

Lilac & Grey Granny Squares

Fifth Round
Join new colour into first sp after cnr
3ch, 2dc 1ch;  3dc 1ch into next sp
*3dc, 3ch, 3dc, 1ch into cnr, 3dc 1c into each of next 2 sp* rep *to* 3 times
3dc, 3ch, 3dc, 1ch into last corner, ss to join
  

Five rounds of the first "joining square"

Joining the squares - starting corner

Joining the squares

Joining the square onto already joined squares

For a more detailed explanation on "joining as you go" see my Hexagon #1 Tutorial HERE

I find it quite difficult to "write" a pattern - so if you find any errors or have any suggestions please leave me a comment!

These squares are such fun to make that I ended up making way too many of them - have set them aside to make another blanket when I have a bit of time.

Stay warm ...... and happy crafting!

Hexagon Crochet Motif #1 (Flower Hexagon) - Pattern & Tutorial

Here is the pattern for the motif used to make the HEXAGON #1 BLANKET

Ch 4, ss to join.   3ch, 11 dc, ss to join

 3ch, 2dc into sp between dc, 1ch;   

* miss next sp;  3dc into next sp, 1ch* repeat *to* 5 times

3ch, 2dc, 2ch, 3dc into 2ch sp; 

*3dc, 2ch, 3dc into next 2ch sp* repeat *to* 5 times

In sp next to corner 3ch, 2dc, 1ch:

*3dc, 3ch, 3dc, 1ch in cnr sp, 3dc 1ch*

rep *to* 5 times;  3dc, 3ch, 3dc, 1ch, ss to join

Start joining on a free corner - 3dc, 1ch into working hexagon

1 sc into cnr of completed "joining" hexagon

1ch, 3dc into working hexagon to complete cnr

1sc into next sp on "joining" hexagon

3dc into sp between cnrs on working hexagon

When you reach an "inside" corner where hexagons are already joined

3dc into corner of working hexagon, 1 ch

sc into first "joining" hexagon;   1 sc into second "joining"  hexagon

1ch, 3dc into working hexagon

The joined hexagons

 

A closer view - joining multiple crochet hexagons