Nana Square Tutorial...

I am teaching my class this week

the Nana Square...

as I think it was a easy one to start beginners on...

After drawing the diagram and writing out the instruction

I thought I would share it all with you...

You will need to click on the images

and it will hopefully send you to flickr where you can

go to all sizes and print off one that you will be able to read...

I have never written and uploaded instructions like this before so I am unsure 

if it will all work...

Cross fingers...

and happy crocheting...

p.s....I almost forgot...
It is written in English crochet terms...
So for American terms...change all dc to sc
and all tr to dc...

I am here...I promise...

So many things have happened recently
but I assure you I am here...

I promise...

Just a short but unexpected hospital stay for

"my shadow"

A case of two lurgy bugs at the same time...

and a heart that just doesn't cope very well with it...

But we are home

and doing much better...

"Oldest and Dearest"

is unexpectedly home for a short break

and this time I have managed to teach him how to crochet...

He is on to his second wristwarmer...
and this is only day 2...
As you may note from the photo he has done nothing else but crochet...
"desperate need of a shave I am thinking"

Of course he wanted to be "unconventional"
and have them different colours...
I wonder where he gets that from...

This week I am starting some classes at the local primary school
so I will be teaching a class of about 9 local ladies
how to hook
like the rest of us..
and hopefully I will have them
loving
crochet as much as I do...

More Nana-er-ing...

The weather has turned cold...

The thick woolly tights are out

and all the kids have the lurgy...

A fine start to the season of Freeze...ing...

I really never mind pulling the warm and woolly clothes out of the wardrobe...

But I did note that not many"updates" have been made to the 

clothes "collection" in some time...

I do hope the thrifty store is stocked up soon...

I am in much need of some

second hand "Laura Ashley","Colorado"

and maybe the odd 

"Hammock and Vine"

well... one can dream!!!

Image for the Hammock and Vine website...

I don't usually "borrow" images but this is my favorite...

Little Nana Square cushion...

This cushion is a order for a lady in town...
I really love these little squares...they make the colours the focus...
and in pure wool it is so soft...

It wasn't too difficult to do these squares...

Just a couple of rows of tr(dc)'s and a outer row of dc(sc)

and hand stitched them together

with a simple whip stitch...

 

 I really shouldn't say this cushion is "little" thou...

It is about 45cm square...

Nice and Big...

I would look amazing on a plain couch

a real statement piece...

I have called this a Nana Square as I think it would be easily confused with

it's Granny Square counterpart...

Thing I Must Remember

To always....

always...

back up my computer...

My "new-secondhand" laptop...3 months old...

Blew the hard drive...

as a result...

Lots of

"Oh dears..."

and other words I care not to repeat...

I of course didn't take the advise given to me

and "back up" my work...

So lots of photo's now lost...

setting that I now can not remember...

Thanks to Kate...I have pdf copies of my last 3 patterns...Whew...

and I have had a lovely day out at the "Little Shop" up the street...

With lots of
Granny Goodness all round...

Flowers everywhere...

Lots of bright colours...

Someone to keep me company... "Rin Tin Tin"

and making everything look picture perfect for the day...

and what a glorious day it was...

I think it made up for the stress of losing my computers

bits and bobs...

Thank you all for begin so patient with me...

At the moment I can only recieve e-mails and can not send on the laptop...

another setting I can't remember...

So it will take me a bit longer to work that out...

and maybe a few other things...

Like buying a "thingy me jig"

to save my files onto...

short interuption

Due to computer problems...

Yes the "new" laptop...

I will be having...I hope... a "short" break...

and will be back...

SOON...

Cross fingers

xxx

Colours to warm...

After a freezing cold night(-2 degrees) and day(15 degrees) here at River Cottage...

I am enjoying working with some

bright yet warm colours...

My favorites...are...

these...

A bit blingy with the photo but

they are...

Mustard Yellow,

Dark Purple,

Green Teal and Tangerine Orange...

What colours are you loving...

Chunky Granny Flower Tutorial...

I am back again for another quick tutorial...

This time a very Chunky Flower...

Now you may like to do this design in something 

less bulky...

and you can...

This pattern works whatever yarn you want to use...

So give it a try...It's very quick

and so easy...

I used
20 ply yarn
7mm hook
and when I sewed it onto my scarf I added the button...

So lets begin...

Ch 6, join with a sl st to form a circle...
1 ch...

12 dc(sc) into circle.
Join with a sl st to first dc(sc).
Starting "PETAL"
2 ch...

In same stitch as the sl st you just joined into.
Do a tr(dc) till you only have two loops left on hook...
This means.
Yarn over hook,place hook into stitch,yarn over hook,pull through loop,
yarn over hook and pull through two loops...
You will have two loops left on hook...

In same stitch as the sl st you just joined into.
Do another tr(dc) till you only have three loops left on hook...
See "this means"...

With your three loops still on hook...
Yarn over hook and pull through all three loops...

3 ch,...

By using a sl st attach this 3 ch to the same space that all of your stitches have gone...
This is your first "PETAL"...

Sl St across next dc(sc)...
Continue around your circle...

By doing a "PETAL" in the next dc(sc)...then sl st across next dc(sc)...etc...
You will finish with a sl st.
and have 6 "PETALS" in total...

Trim and sew in ends...

Attach to all and everything without exception... admiring your handy work
and granny goodness...

Well Done!!!

Chunky Granny Scarf Tutorial...

I was thinking...

It has been ages since I did a tutorial...

And with Autumn here and Winter getting closer in the Southern Hemisphere...

It was just the right time for a warm and chunky Granny Scarf...

So here it is!!!

Oh... almost forgot...Written in English terms
with american term in brackets...

Get your extra large Crochet Hook out (Size 7)

and some very chunky wool (20 ply)

and we shall start...

Chain 165...

1 tr(dc) in 6 th ch from hook...

* Miss one ch.

1 tr(dc) in next ch...

1 ch...*

Repeat * - * to last tr(dc)...

1 tr(dc) in last tr(dc) at end.

4 ch...

Turn work over to wrong side.

* 1 tr(dc) in next tr(dc), 1 ch...*

Repeat * - * to last tr(dc)...

1 tr(dc) in last tr(dc)

4 ch...Turn work to right side...

3 tr(dc) in next tr(dc)...

*  1 ch, Miss next tr(dc)...

3 tr(dc) in next tr(dc)...*

Repeat * - *  till one tr(dc) remaining.

1 ch, 1 tr(dc) in last tr(dc)...

4 ch...

turn work over to wrong side...

The next part may be tricky for beginners so there are a few pictures...

* In top of next tr(dc) Start 1 tr(dc) but only until you have 2 loops on your hook left.

leave these 2 loops on your hook.

and work another tr(dc) in next tr (dc) until you have 3 loops left on hook...

leave these 3 loops on your hook.

and work another tr(dc) in next tr (dc) until you have 4 loops left on hook...

Yarn over hook and pull through all 4 loops.

3 ch...Miss 1 ch space *...  

Repeat  from * - *

to last tr(dc) group at end. Omitting the last 3 chs...

1 ch, 1 tr(dc) in last tr(dc)...

4 ch...turn work over to right side...

1 tr(dc) in top of tr(dc)group, 1 ch, 

1 tr(dc) in middle ch of 3 ch group from previous round...

* 1 ch, 1 tr(dc) in top of tr(dc) group, 1 ch, 

1 tr(dc) in middle ch of 3 ch group from previous round...*

Repeat * - * to last tr(dc) group.

1 tr(dc) in top of last tr(dc) group,

1 ch, 1 tr(dc) in last tr...

 4 ch...Turn work over to wrong side...

* 1 tr(dc) in next tr(dc), 1 ch *

Repeat * - * to last tr(dc).
1 tr(dc) in last tr(dc).

Fasten off and sew and trim in end...

Add some Granny Goodness...and your all rugged up for winter...

My next tutorial will be for the Chunky Granny Flower...

So stay turned...