Crochet with Cotton

 This week I have been playing with cotton

very pretty cotton

in my favourite Cath Kidston colours

 

Stylecraft Classique Cotton

Playing with prettiness is such a treat

and was real holiday therapy 

for my last week off school.

I have been working on a commission of table mats for

The Sugar Plum Tearoom

in Ruthin N Wales, 

where I am running some crochet workshops

The pattern I am using is from an old copy of

Simply Crochet Magazine issue 12

written by the very talented Wink.

(I have adapted it slightly to make it flat 

to be suitable for sitting under glass table tops)

I've had oodles of fun playing with colours

and it wasn't long before I had a pile of ten mats

but looking very sad and curly

 it has to be said!

However a day later

 after some pinning and spraying on my blocking mats

just look at the transformation!

I must admit that I rather love these 

and am going to find them very hard to part with

and it seems that many of you do too!

So I do have plans to make more to sell in my

 Etsy Shop

 soon

My Easter holidays have been and gone now

and for now I have to go back to school.

Last week I had an amazing time

 taking The Spring Flower Blanket our Instagram Community Project

on its travels

It is now in the safe hands of the winning maker

Crafternoon Treats.

Crafternoon Treats

Kath has very generously chosen to raise money for

 Marie Curie Cancer Care.

The charity raffle has reached an amazing £6300

 and is open till midnight on 23rd April.

 If you would like to donate and have a chance to win

 this beautiful blanket click

  HERE 

I will be back next week with the final story of the blanket,

 the total raised and the winner of the charity draw 

happy hookin friends

Heather

X X X

A week at The Patchwork Heart

Oh what an amazing week in the life of 

The Patchwork Heart!

As you know I am a teacher 

so

 half term is the best ...

 a chance to live my dream

 to be

 full time at The Patchwork Heart

 and this one was amazing!

I began with packing

not the usual kind

but packing blankets

blankets

 made from Stylecraft Special DK

where was I going I hear you say

well my first visit was to

Black Sheep Wools

in Warrington

They had been so very kind to make me their

 Blogger of the month

 and had featured a lovely interview with me on their blog

you can read it 

HERE

Black Sheep Wools

  is a craft barn in the countryside near Warrington

 close to the M62 and M6.

They have an enormous stock of yarn, cross stitch and fabric along

 with a lovely tea room!

They have recently become stockists of

 Stylecraft

so I took along some of my recent creations made in

 Stylecraft Special DK

 to share with them

the red edged flower blanket ~ Stylecraft pattern 9090

the rainbow ripple star ~ by Celeste Young

and the Circle of friends ~ Priscilla Hewitt

I am very pleased to say

 that they were delighted to see how well it makes up. 

They are now selling Special DK

 and I know being able to view and buy this yarn locally

 will now delight many!

As their Blogger of the Month

I was excited to choose this Sirdar Cotton Dk as my gift

and can already tell you

 that it is a dream to crochet with as it does not split!

I am making flowers for brooches, corsages and bookmarks

 for a little Mother's Day sale in my

 Etsy Shop

Unfortunately the shop is empty at present

 as everything sells so fast when I refill it!

 But do keep watching it will be restocked again soon!

so that was day 1 ... now for day 2!

A day in Yorkshire

 at the beautiful old Slaithwaite Mill

 Head Office to Stylecraft

 was something I could not have even dreamed of!

what a pleasure it was

 to spend a day with lovely people

 talking about colour and yarn and discussing blanket making!

such a treat to spend a day in a world of yarn

this is definitely what I should be doing full time!

As if my visit wasn't perfect enough already

 it was completed with a 

wonderful gift!

OOOOOhhhh

just look at this yummy new yarn!

Yarn Stories

is a new yarn available online only at present.

This is fine merino DK and is available in

 20 delicious shades

so now I have the lovely task

 of finding a special new blanket pattern to make this into!

Then there was day 3

a holiday is not complete without a treat in a tearoom

and a visit to

The Sugar Plum Tearoom 

at Homewood Bound in Ruthin is my favourite

I am very excited to be planning some

 crochet workshops 

here at The Sugar Plum Tearoom.

These will be taking place at Easter and May half term.

For details and how to book visit their

 Facebook Page

or view their contact details 

HERE

So I am now exhausted ... so much for a restful holiday!

 Definitely an inspiring holiday

and something I would like to become accustomed to!

I hope you have all had a great half term too,

 now we will count down to Easter! 

Enjoy the lighter days my friends and keep hookin!

Heather

X X X