Twinkle in the Sunlight

Twinkle in the Sunlight
Originally uploaded by teacuplane-sandy

I just adore what
Teacuplane Sandy
has done with her
Grandma Twinkles...


They are just an amazing colour...
and have little buttons sewn on to the centers...
How cheery is that!!!
Just looking at this lovely
picture makes me want to crochet some more...
Oh how I love a twinkle...

If you too have some pretty pics of your
Grandma Twinkle Projects,
don't forget to add them to the flickr group...
The more Twinkles the merrier...

Well that's just Sweet!!!

My Dears...

Shall we get comfy...

Perhaps a cup of tea and chocolate biscuit,
or a hot Milo and a few marshmallows,
maybe a can of coke and a cigarette...(well I'm not here to judge)

have we our knee high stripy socks pulled up,
and mary-janes polished...
or maybe a super soft pair of Homy Peds
and knitted socks are more your thing...

Is your granny scarf tied tight
and your glasses nice and rosie...

Then hitch up your granny knickers and
re-align your slip
and we shall start the exciting whirl wind news...

We will need to go back some months earlier,
around the time of moving into River cottage...
I remember all too well the no-internetitus
I had been suffering from and was certain that I had
missed far too much to cope with...

but then fate showed me it's caring ways
the net was working and so was my e-mail...
And just in the nick of time
as there in my in-box was a most amazing request...

Notebook Magazine

wanted me to be in there June issue...
Yes I can't believe it either...
I even was silly enough to question them on the very subject...

"Ummmm ME... are you sure...really....
are you really quite sure you haven't go me mixed up with Someone else,
Someone that has talent and grace and doesn't show there slip in public...
Someone that does there make-up and hair every morning...
Someone that has all there clothes washed and ironed
so they can just pick straight out of there wardrobe
the right colour co-ordinated ensemble to wear,
Someone that is so organized that there children are never late for school,
Someone that isn't obsessed with granny goodness to the point of no return...
and still cuts there sandwiches in little triangles
just like her grandma did for her when she was little...
and really are you quiet sure you are wanting
the crocheter that has her rose coloured glasses on
and forgets to take them off,causing great kaos in thrifty shops
and garage sales...
You do ...well that's just sweet!!!"

I am now ever grateful to Notebook for having great faith in me
and my Granny loving ways...

So here I am dear friends,
some months later...
In total disarray
and crocheting so fast my hand will not even keep up...
so excited I think I will just burst...

So the next few weeks I will be making and packaging up some
Grandma Goodness to place in my little etsy shop...
and crossing fingers that you all like the
very first magazine article I am in and the
gorgeous pictures that the lovely stylist and photographer organized...

There will be a couple of crocheted Grandma Projects for you to make
and even a garland that I haven't showed you all yet...

So as the count down begins
thank you all,
for I do love that you have all been there for me
and followed my projects and left sweet comments...
That is the reason I have made it so far...

You my dear...

grandma's garden cushion by Kabeltrui!

grandma's garden cushion!
Originally uploaded by kabeltrui

I love seeing so many creative ladies out there....
And this sweetie is no exception...


I am still in amazement that my design is begin made all over the world...
Kabeltrui hails all the way from the Netherlands...
and after purchasing my PDF pattern has whipped up a
Grandma's Garden Cushion all of her own...
Thank you my dear for adding it to the flickr group for all to see...
and I think it is just lovely...great colours...stunning crocheting...
you have made me smile so much...Thank you...

If you are looking for a project do try out the pattern,and I would love to see it in the flickr group or drop me a line with a pic...So I can share it for everyone to see...

A whirl wind is coming...

Making pretty labels this week...
It's all about the packaging and so much more...
For you see dear friend I have something to tell...
Very soon, that is...I can tease at times!!!
But for now let me reassure you I have been very busy crocheting
as fast as my little hands can...
and will be adding much, much more stock to my shop...
For I feel the need to take that scary step forward...
to make what I do that bit more professional...
I know you are all there with me holding my hand...
And that is a great comfort...

So starting sometime in May...
I will reveal all
and hopefully I can cope with the excitement till then...
Taking things to a new level is something that has been hard to do...
You see I have always set myself a "level" in my head...
The one where I usual think Hmmmm
this isn't quiet good enough...
and then I run!!!
I know it's strange but it's just the way it is...
But I do know that this is different,
you see I have reached that level and now
overtaken it...
and jumping higher than I thought I ever could...
And it is all thanks to you...
It may sound silly but it's very true...
For you my dears are there with me
pushing me every step of the way...
I often wonder if I would have stretched myself
like this if I hadn't started a blog...

The answer to that is unknown,but it is probably true
to say that I think not...
You see I look forward to creating my projects and taking my pics
for all, it gives me purpose and for that I know I am thankful...

So hold on to your knee high socks
and granny knickers as a whirl wind is on it's way...

Grandma's Loopy...Love

Grandma's Loopy...Love
PDF is now in the shop...
Congrats to two winners
For their help with the names...
Miss Muggins
and
Victoria...
A pdf is coming your way...
I decided to add the Love to the end of the name
if another pattern in chains pop's into my head I can
just add another ending...

I would love to see any finished projects
so please pop them into the flickr group

Apart from all the Grandma Loopyness going on in my home..
I have started another project for "my shadow"...
It was a pattern I found at a garage sale...
And I know he is over the moon about it...
For you see "my shadow" is like most 13 year old boys
and loves all things American...
America for him means...movies, games, y-tube
and well "cool"...
So a flag blanket it is...
to give him creative dreams and warm his toes
on what I think will be a chilly winter ahead...

So for now form me
I am back to the hook and yarn
and will see you all my dears very soon...

Grandma hmmmmm

Hmmmmm
I need some help with this new project...
Can you help?
I need a name...
Something Grandma...
Something just lovely...
If you have a fab idea please leave a comment...
and go into my draw to win a copy of what will be my next PDF...
That's right I will be adding this pdf pattern to my shop
later in the week...
Just some writing to finish,
and of course a name...

I love the fact that this "paper chain"
is just so versatile...


It could be used as a garland...

Maybe a scarf...

Or necklace...

and something just plain PRETTY
to decorate the house...

So looking forward to hearing from you all...
and will be announcing a winner by mid week...
Good luck my dears...
EDIT: A name has been picked!!!
Thank you all for your lovely creative ideas...
I do believe there could be a first and second thou...
Will let everyone know on my next post...

Grandma All Square Tutorial

Grandma All Square...

This tutorial is using a favorite of mine
The Grandma All Round pattern...
I have used the first 3 rounds and added 2 rows
as a boarder to make it into a square...
It is a perfect way to use as many scraps of wool you have
and I haven't really thought about following any colour combo
apart from the white boarder...
Do try to buy your boarder wool in one go though
as I was stuck with a wrong dye lot which was totally out of whack
with the one I had and only managed to get back to the shop
and find 2 balls that were the same...
I will remember this in future!!!

Here is the Tutorial...

8 ply
and size 3.5 hook...
English crochet terms used throughout,
America abbreviations are in brackets...

Starting round 1...

I have taken a few extra shots for this colour change
just to help those of you who are new to it...

Starting round 2...

Starting round 3...

Starting round 4...

Starting round 5...

Now that your first motif is finished...
All the other motifs will be added as you go to this and others...
I have taken pictures of the joining process below...
and will try to explain as I go...

Below is the first picture showing joining a motif to two sides...
You motifs will be joined either to one side or two sides
depending on where the placement is...
but these pictures should give you the general idea...

You will start your last row as normal until you get to the second corner...
Instead of doing 3 chain...
you will do 1 chain, 1 dc(sc) into the corner on the motif you are attaching to
1 chain...and continue on with you 3 trebles(dc) as normal...

You will not do the next 1 chain
but 1 dc(sc) in the next space of your attaching motif...

Continue with you 3 trebles(dc) in next "normal "space...
and miss the 1 chain...and 1 dc(sc) in next attaching motif space...

Continue in this way till the next corner...
do the 3 trebles(dc) into the "normal"space...
miss the 3 chain and 1 chain, 1 dc(sc) in attaching corner,1 chain instead...
and continue finishing the 3 trebles(dc) as normal...

I do hope the pictures are helping!!!

Continue in this way...

Attach last corner the same as the others above...

As you finish the attaching follow the pattern as normal...
Now including the 1 chain in between...

Join to end with a slip stitch...
Cut and sew in ends...

Now you have the making of your Grandma All Square rug...
A work in progress for many a quiet night...

If you are feeling like sharing please add your pictures to the flickr group...
Or drop me a line with you post details etc...
And remember my tutorial are free to use as you like...
and that included selling your finished items...
I can only imagine what you can come up with using this pattern...
Grandma pillow, throws, scarfs and ha even curtains...
Happy crocheting my dears...