Flower Garden CAL Part 4

Welcome to part 4,

 the final part of the flower garden CAL

with Knitting Network.

This week you are going to join your squares

 and then make the border of the blanket.

If you are only just reading this CAL for the first time

you can find the previous posts here

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

You will find the pattern for part 4

HERE

I'm sure you have all been admiring your squares

 and trying them in lots of patterns, I know I did!

The layout is described in the pattern but it may help some of you to see it.

Its like a flower bed with the 4 flowers in the middle,

 surrounded by the circles and then again by the sunburst grannies.

To join the squares you are going to work in rows,

crocheting together from the front using UK dc through both loops.

This makes a strong join with a ridge on the front of the blanket.

If you are not familiar with this joining method

 I have a step by step tutorial that you may find helpful

HERE

Here is a view of the rows joined in the first direction only.

To complete the joining simply work along the rows in the opposite way.

You will notice here that I have numbers pinned on my rows,

 this helps me make sure I add them in the correct order!

Now your blanket is in 1 piece and ready for a border.

This is great fun using several of the colours

and then finished with a cream shell edging.

Tadaa!

Now you have your own beautiful flower garden blanket!

Make sure you remember to share photos in the

Facebook Group

so we can all enjoy each others creations!

Thank you for making this CAL such a happy experience,

I do hope you have had fun

Heather

x x x

Flower garden CAL part 2

 Welcome to part 2 of The Knitting Network CAL.

Last week you made the 4 centre squares of flowers.

This week you will make 12 squares with circles

 to surround the 4 flower squares.

If you missed week 1 you can find it

HERE

It contains all you need to get started.

The colour pairings I have used are the same as last week

lemon with meadow

magenta with plum

spice with lipstick

and fondant with pomegranate

You will find the 2nd installment of the pattern

HERE

You are going to make 3 squares in each colourway.

As always I prefer to work in batches,

 as your fingers and brain remember the pattern

 and this makes it quicker, easier and neater.

So begin with the circle

 and make 3 each of lemon, spice, magenta and fondant.

Sew the ends in when the circles are made.

You are now ready to use the 2nd colour and make them into squares.

lemon with meadow

spice with lipstick

magenta with plum

and fondant with pomegranate.

Sew the ends in to complete the squares.

When all 12 squares are made

 they are ready to be edged in cream.

Sew the ends in and

 there you have 12 circle squares

 ready to surround your 4 flowers.

It is going to look like this in the centre of the blanket.

I love the layout of this blanket.

 It reminds me of a formal garden,

 the type you see in a National Trust House,

 where there are beds of roses and box hedges.

So there you have completed week 2.

You have 4 flower squares

 and 12 circle squares all edged in cream.

Come back next Friday for week 3

 when we will make another batch of squares.

It's been so good to see you all having fun.

 Do keep sharing your photos in the 

Facebook group.

 It has really warmed my heart to see you all helping each other

 and the community developing.

keep up the good work ladies

 and have lots of colourful fun!

Heather

xxx

Flower Garden CAL Part 1

Welcome to The Knitting Network CAL

 to make this stunning flower garden blanket.

The pattern, written by Lynne Rowe,

 is being released in 4 weekly installments on

 The Knitting Network website.

You will find part 1

HERE

It contains the first installment of the pattern and a helpful how to video.

 The remainder of the pattern will be released weekly on the next 3 Fridays.

I'm so thrilled to have you join me

 along with hundreds of others all around the world!

Make sure you join the Facebook group

 and share pictures of your makes as you go!

 If you have any questions

 please ask them in the Facebook group

 where there will be lots of help available!

You will need

 8 balls of Stylecraft Special Aran

in spice lipstick magenta plum lemon meadow fondant and pomegranate

and 4 balls of cream and a 5mm hook.

(This is the recommended size on the ball band.

 However this can be adjusted to suit your tension.

 If you have tight stitches you may wish to try 5.5mm or 6mm

 or of you have loose stitches you can try 4.5 or 4mm)

The yarn pack can be purchased
here for UK residents
and
here for overseas residents

or if you are making this from your stash
 and just need a few colours to top up you can buy the Stylecraft Aran
 HERE

Don't worry if you haven't got your yarn yet, you will soon catch up.
 The first week has only a small amount of crochet to do!
So go ahead and order now!

These gorgeous colours were inspired by

 a hot summers day, in a beautiful garden.

The first week of the CAL is making the 4 Daisy Squares.

I like to work in a production line system.

 This makes it quicker as your brain and fingers remember the pattern.

 So I began by making the 4 flowers,

 using lemon fondant spice and magenta

 for the first round of the pattern.

When each flower is completed

 sew in the ends on the back of your work

 using  a darning needle.

The 4 flowers are then going to be

 surrounded by the next colour using rounds 2 & 3 as follows

spice - lipstick

lemon - meadow

magenta - plum

fondant - pomegranate 

These daisies are really quite easy to make and have a stunning 3D effect.

 The addition of rounds 2 & 3 makes them really stand out.

On completion of each square

sew in the ends on the back of your work using a darning needle.

(Train yourself into good habits! Its always best to do the ends

 as you go, to avoid a marathon task at the end!) 

Then your finished squares are ready for the cream border. 

Follow round 4 using cream on each square

then sew in these ends.

You have now completed week 1 of the CAL

 and have 4 daisy squares edged in cream.

 These will be the centre of the blanket.

Come back next week for part 2 of the pattern

 which will be released on Friday 19th May.

I look forward to seeing you again

Heather

xxx

CAL yarn packs

Have you got your yarn ready?

Its getting very exciting as the CAL

 organised by The Knitting Network starts in 2 days!

Have you got your yarn pack?

It would be lovely to know where in the world you are taking part!

I am so excited at the prospect of a crochet community

 all making the same blanket together all round the world!

 Its going to be huge fun and I'm really looking forward

 to chatting with you all in the

 Facebook group

 as we make.

Don't worry if you've only just heard about this,

 there is still plenty of time for you to get organised and join in.

Yarn packs are back in stock and are available

for

here for UK residents

and

here for Overseas residents

The first week is only a small amount of crochet

 so don't worry at all about getting started later as you will soon catch up!

I look forward to working on this with you all over the next 4 weeks

Heather

xxx

Flower Garden CAL

Good morning friends and a happy Friday to you all!

You may remember that over the past few months

 I was working on a secret project?

 Well at last the day has arrived

 and I am allowed to share with you what it is all about!

I am going to be leading the new Crochet Along (CAL)

 launched today by

 Knitting Network.

It is a beautiful blanket of flowers

made in my colour recipe called Flower garden,

using a pattern written by Lynne Rowe.

The pattern involves making 3 different types of squares, 

joining them and making a border.

 It is made in Stylecraft Special Aran

 with a 5mm hook, in beautiful colours.

The completed blanket is approximately 108cm square.

 It is suitable for anyone who has mastered the art of crochet

 and is ready for a fun project. The pattern is clearly written

 and will be released in 4 installments on the Knitting Network website.

 I will be helping you all along

 with photos being posted each week

 on my blog Facebook page and Instagram.

You can join the Facebook Group

 HERE

to take part in the fun.

You can follow me on Facebook HERE

and find my Instagram feed HERE

It starts on 12th May 2017, so you will need to get organised.

 Yarn packs can be purchased

 HERE

and you will need a 5mm hook.

I look forward to chatting with you all in the group

 and sharing the colourful fun!

happy hookin friends, hope you are as excited as I am!

Heather

x x x