Granny Square Tutorial

One of my best friends Clair (@clads26 on instagram) is learning to crochet and I promised her a granny square tutorial to help her along.  I've been crocheting for a few years now and can hook up granny squares on a whim, in fact I often do and I have an ever growing pile of the little things made from scraps of leftover yarn from other projects.  One day they will be made into a huge multi-coloured blanket of some kind...but that's a whole other post. 

So, want to learn how to make a simple granny square?  Alrighty...

I like to start with a magic ring, like this...



(Alternatively, you can just as easily chain 4 and join with a slip stitch into the first chain to make a circle.) 

Hold the magic ring steady...

Now insert your hook into the centre and pull through a loop, then chain 3. It can be a little tricky and that first chain might look a little unstable to begin with, but keep going, it will all work out in a minute...

Work two dcs into the magic ring (I am using American terms here, if you are working in UK terms you are working two tr into the ring.)  So now you have a ch3 (which counts as 1dc) and 2dc in the ring...

 Now ch2 and work 3 more dc into the ring (at this point I like to catch the tail of the magic circle into the stitches as I go to keep it secured out of the way)...

Now repeat this twice more - ch2, 3 dc, ch2, 3 dc, then do another ch2.  Then make a slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the first ch3 you did at the beginning of this round.  In the below picture I am halfway through making the slip stitch, I photographed this to show you where the slip stitch should go...

Here's my wonderful Pointy Arrows to help show you the dc's and the chains...

Give that little tail a pull to close the hole in the middle and make it all nice and neat.

Slip stitch in the next 2dc, then slip stitch into the ch2 space.  Ch5 (this counts as 1dc and ch2) and work 3dc into the same space.  It will look like this...

 Next - *ch1, then work 3dc, ch2, 3dc into the next ch2 space. Repeat from * 2 more times.

Here's some Pointy Arrows to show you how the pattern works...

Once you have worked your way around you will see that you still need to complete the first corner...

 

Ch1 and work 2dc into the ch2 space where you started.  These 2 dc's will slightly overlap your first ch3, don't worry though, you can pull them about a bit to make them sit a bit better. 

Now slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the first ch5 you made, see where the "ch3" Pointy Arrow shows you below...

Then make another slip stitch into the next ch2 space, X marks the spot...

Now ch5 (counts as 1dc, ch2) and work 3dc into the same ch2 space. *Ch1, work 3dc into the next ch1 space, ch1, work 3dc, ch2, 3dc into the next ch2 space.  Repeat from * 2 more times.  Ch1, 3dc into next ch1 space, ch1, 2dc into first ch2 space and join with a slip stitch into your original ch5. 

Here's some more Pointy Arrows to help show you the pattern you are working...

Now lets make it bigger! And while we're at it lets add some more colour!  Using your new colour make a slip knot on your hook...

Insert your hook into any ch2 corner space and make a slip stitch...

Ch5 (counts as 1dc, ch2)...

Work 3dc into the same space. Now work all the way around making 3dc, ch1 into each ch1 space and 3dc, ch2, 3dc, ch1 into each corner ch2 space. Finish with 2dc into the first ch2 space and a slip stich into the 3rd chain of your original ch5...

Voila! You have made a granny square!

It isn't until I just wrote that all down that I realise how complicated a granny square sounds, when really it's not complicated at all. After the first couple of rounds it is a simple repetitive and enjoyable thing to do.  And the best thing is you can either make a load of little squares to sew together and make blankets, scarfs, hats, bags, arm-warmers... Or you can just keep going - round and round - watching it get bigger and bigger, utter bliss :)

xxxx

Crochet Easter Basket Tutorial

I do love Easter, I guess I always associate this time of year with my April birthday and my mum's birthday too and general happy times.  And of course now that I am married to a March man and have a March daughter there is even more reason to celebrate!





We always have an Easter egg hunt on Easter Sunday, usually in my mum's garden (which is about ten times the size of our own!)  This year I wanted to make some cute little baskets for the girls to use to store their eggs in (the little ones that is, there's no way these baskets are going to hold the abundance of packaging that comes with the bigger eggs!)  At the same time I have been trying to think of projects to use up my leftover yarn - the result is a pattern which uses only a small amount of yarn and is very quick and easy to make! Enjoy!





Crochet Easter Egg Basket


You need:

• Chunky wool (I used left from the Li'l Monkey blanket)


• 6mm crochet hook


• Large yarn needle

Round 1 - Make a magic ring...





...Ch3 (counts as 1 dc) and make 11 more dcs into the ring (12 dc)

Round 2 - Ch3 (counts as 1 dc) – 1 dc in same dc, then 2 dcs in each dc around (24dc). Join with sl st in top of 3ch.

Round 3 - Ch3 (counts as dc), *2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, repeat from * around (36dc).  Join with sl st in top of 3ch.







You should now have a nice flat circle.

Round 4 - Ch3 (counts as dc), 1 dc in next dc and in each dc around (36), join with sl st in top of ch3. 

Round 5 - Repeat Rnd4 (If you want to change colour for this round, as I have done, just tie in your new colour as close to your work as possible before making the Ch3 at the beginning of the round)

Round 6 - Ch1 (does not count as sc), sc in same st, 1 sc in next 4, sc2tog,* 1sc in next 5, sc2tog, repeat from *around, sc in last st.

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sc2tog

 

Join with sl st in first sc. (31)

Round 7 - Ch1 and turn, sl st in each sc around finishing with sl st in beginning ch1, fasten off (this row helps the top edge sit nicely I find)

One cute little basket! You can leave it like this, or add a handle like I have for the grey one...

Handle:

(Leave a long tail for sewing)

Ch3, turn, 1 sc in 2^nd ch from hook and in next ch.

Ch1 and turn, sc in each sc across (2sc).  Repeat until you have the desired length of handle, fasten off leaving long tail for sewing.

Sew onto side of basket by sewing ends of handle into the tops of the sc row.

Voila!  Cute little chunky baskets ready for your easter egg hunt!  You could of course just display them prettily somewhere to hold jewellery or your keys or loose change. 


Have fun with this and do be sure to let me know how you get on, I would love to hear how you get on with my patterns and tutorials, feedback is incredibly useful!

Happy Easter!

Throw Cushion (or pillow) Tutorial

I wanted to share with you my instructions for making a small throw cushion (or pillow)...

Cute isn't it?  I have quite a stash of interesting fabric and this chicken one I bought over a year ago as a fat quarter on eBay.  I bought it with my sister in mind - she keeps ex-battery hens and is a bit of a sandal-wearing-animal-loving-vegan geek (except with fabulous shoes instead of sandals) so I knew she would love it....I just had to think of what to actually make with it.

Then I came across some dinky little cushion pads and I knew then that the chicken fabric would become a cushion!  I knew I wanted the print to be the central motif with a border around it in a kind of spiral.  It took me aaaaages to work out how to do this, I am sure there must be an easier more professional way out there, but the way I worked out is actually pretty simple.

This is a really simple little tutorial, even if you are new to sewing. It is small at only 30x30cm and there are no tricky zips or buttons to contend with :)

So, here we go...

Throw Cushion Tutorial

You will need:

• 1 cushion pad measuring 30cm x 30cm (mine is from Dunelm Mill)
• 1 piece of your feature fabric measuring 13cm x 13cm (mine is the chicken fabric)
• 4 pieces of your border fabric, each measuring 22cm x 10cm (mine is the blue gingham, which is organic cotton and bought here)
• 2 pieces of your backing fabric, one measuring 18cm x 31cm and the other measuring 23cm x 31cm (mine is the white fabric, also organic cotton from the same place as before)
• Thread, scissors, pins and sewing machine (or just a sewing needle of course!)

Start off by cutting out all your pieces and ironing them...

Just a note -  I wanted to make sure my chicken print was nice and central.  I did this by cutting out a 13cm x 13cm square from a clean sandwich bag.  I then placed this over the print so I could make sure it sat in the correct place, marked the corners then drew the lines with tailor's chalk before cutting out with a rotary cutter.  It worked for me!

So now let's assemble the front of the cushion. Your pieces will be laid out like this together...

I have numbered the pieces so you can see clearly which piece is which as we continue along.

Take Piece 1 and pin it (right sides together) to the right side of your feature piece...

Now sew from the top to about two thirds of the way down your feature piece...

You will want to have sewed about the same as I've marked below...

Now iron it all nice and flat...

Next take Piece 2 and pin it right sides together along the top of your feature piece and Piece 1...

Now sew it all the way along, then iron it nice and flat...

Make sure you give both sides a good flattening!

Take Piece 3 and pin it right sides together along the left side of your feature fabric and Piece 2...

Sew all the way along then...yup you've guessed it...give everything a really good iron...

Take Piece 4 and pin it right sides together along the bottom of your feature fabric and Piece 3.  Make sure you move the unsewn part of Piece 1 out the way while you do this...

Now sew all the way along as before making sure that unsewn bit of Piece 1 is out of the way.  Then give everything a good iron.

Your front piece now looks like this with all the parts sewn together apart from that one flappy bit that we left unsewn on Piece 1...

Now for the tricky bit!  Though to be honest it really isn't all that tricky:  Fold Piece 1 back over so it sits right sides together against your feature fabric and Piece 4.  Line up the edges and pin it all together.  Make sure it's all neat and flat...

Now start sewing from where you left off earlier and all the way to the end to fully attach Piece 1.  Then give everything one final good iron...

If you have managed to sew everything pretty accurately it should all have worked out rather nicely and look something like this!..

Trust me if I can do this anyone can, I am the least accurate seamstress EVER!  It does help of course that I am using gingham fabric as it does wonders for helping you to sew in straight lines :)

Ok. that's the hardest work done!  Time to whip up the two back pieces.  Take one piece and fold one long edge (the 31cm edge) over by 1cm and iron it down...

Then turn it over another 1cm (to hide the raw edge)...

Then iron like crazy!  Use steam if you can, you want to get a good crisp fold...

I usually pop a couple of hefty books on top after I've ironed and whilst the fabric is still warm, just for a few minutes, it helps the fold stay flat as it cools.

Now you need to sew the fold in place.  How you do this is up to you - I am using matching white thread to sew one long straight line, but you could use a contrasting thread and sew two parallel lines, or a wavy line even, if you want it to be more decorative...

Now to the same thing to the other back piece...

Now take one on your back pieces (doesn't really matter which one) and pin it right sides together on top of your completed front piece.  Line up the long raw edge with the bottom of the front piece...

Now take your second back piece and place it right side down on top of both the front piece and the back piece you already pinned.  Line up the long raw edge with the top of the front piece, the two back pieces should overlap...

Now sew all around on every side (no need to leave a gap for turning as we will use the envelope opening).  Then carefully snip little cuts into the seam allowance at the corners to reduce bulk...

Now turn it right side out through the envelope opening at the back...

Use your finger, or a blunt object like the end of a pencil, to push out the corners fully.  Then stuff your cushion pad in through the envelope opening...

Now give it all a good pooph about and a shake to get it all fitting into the corners and sitting nicely and...

Ta da!  Stand back and admire your hard work! How easy was that?  So easy in fact why not do what I did and make two!..

This really is a simple little cushion cover to make, you could do one in a couple of hours at most. Give it a try!

And now I will reveal how difficult it is to photograph the finished articles with a 1-year-old minibeast running about the place...

Particularly when that minibeast prefers to use the cushions as a bed for her baby doll...

Enjoy making your own cushion! And don't forget to let me know how you get on!

:)

xx