The Photographer's Blanket

Good morning and a happy half term to you all!

Oh how wonderful it is to be sat in my sewing room

knowing that for the whole day I can work at The Patchwork Heart!

Sorry for my absence the last 2 weeks

 but once again school took over my life!

2 weeks ago I began the most exciting project . . . 

a blanket in subtle rainbow shades

 for a photographer to use as in childrens photographs!          

She chose the most beautiful shades of Stylecraft Special DK

copper

gold

camel

meadow

teal

denim

violet

grape

and

pale rose

and I chose 5 interesting blocks from

Jan Eatons 200 Crochet Blocks

they work out at 15cm square and take approx 30 mins each to make

Oh what fun I had playing with these colours

arranging the blanket made me so happy

working out all the possible arrangements of colours and patterns

I'm sure you will agree

 that the addition of 5 different blocks

 adds much to the plain patchwork blanket

using mocha for the join

I began with simple dc using wrong sides together

this creates a strong join which makes a nice ridge

and I like its simplicity allowing the blocks to take the glory!

I first work all the rows in 1 direction

then change and join in the other direction

so now it is time for the border

a deep lace border in mocha

I will be back in a few days to share the completed blanket!

Happy hookin

Heather

X X X

Colour choosing

Colour is the best part of my work

I love to start any new project

but especially when

 I have spent time discussing with my customer 

and helping her to choose

photos of furnishings and favourite ornaments sent by the customer

make it such a pleasure

 to choose yarn and coordinate a blanket for a special room

I have spent many happy hours

 working on this blanket 

which happens to be in my favourite colours

I love all shades of blue and green together

and it was a delight

 to work with these 10 different shades of Stylecraft Special DK

100 starburst flowers and no 2 the same

to be surrounded in the classy shade of parchment

I am so pleased the customer followed my advice

 and chose the parchment background

 instead of the white she originally ordered

it was such a pleasure

 to work closely with my customer

 and come up with a unique colour scheme for her home

to receive her comment

"Think I'm going to cry! 

This is now going to be my favourite thing in my house"

has made my day!

I hope you are all having a fabulous relaxing Bank Holiday

Happy Hookin!

Heather

x x x

Willow Blanket tadaa!

A few weeks ago

 I shared with you the delightful willow blocks I was making

Using the pattern from

200 Crochet Blocks by Jan Eaton

I set about making 49 of these 6 inch squares

in beautiful shades of Stylecraft Special DK

using a 3.5mm hook

I have used

Stylecraft Special DK

1 each of claret, copper, spice, gold, mocha,

 meadow, teal, plum, grape and raspberry

with 3 dark brown for joining

The pattern was easily memorised

 and soon I was making without the book!

Loving the lace pattern

 which shows so clearly when the blocks are made in a single colour

I decided on a very simple join ...

working in dark brown I used dc with wrong sides together

 as I wanted the join to be minimal allowing the blocks to shine!

then for the border I chose something deep and lacey

from Crochet Borders by Edie Eckman

which you can buy from Amazon

I am absolutely delighted with this plain blanket

which has been made as a wedding gift.

It was lovely to have the opportunity

 to create something new and different

 which I know will inspire future orders.

I hope you like it too!

happy hookin

Heather

x x x

Colour is everything

Oh how I love starting a new project

choosing the colours

is the best part!

this weeks delight has been a toddler snuggle blanket

in the most gorgeous bright shades

of saffron shrimp fondant magenta and spring green

Oh how I love Stylecraft Special DK!

my colour inspiration

 came from a colour palette by the wonderful

Design Seeds

and I have been delighted with the results

I have used a 4mm hook to make these starburst flowers

 using the Jane Brocket pattern from Mollie Makes issue 2

arranging these beauties is always such fun

as I ponder where they will sit

edging is always a favourite part as it makes the colours sing

I use the continuous join as you go method

 and love how fast the blanket comes together

with the bonus of no ends to sew in!

and finally

to complete this order

 is also a cute little matching dolls blanket!

 

To help those of you who are wanting to try this pattern

 I have made a collage

 showing the life cycle of a starburst flower

it uses 3 different stitches which makes it fun to make

... beware they are addictive!

I find the quickest way to make a blanket

 is to work in batches

 making all of round 1, then all of round 2

 and then round 3 ...

 this way your hand and brain remembers the stitch 

and I find that it gives me a better production rate

 and it is easier to plan equal amounts of colours too!

I hope that my work continues to inspire you!

Thank you to the many lovely ladies who write

happy hookin!

Heather

X X X

Willow love

Love is . . . . .

trying something new

discovering a new pattern

and

a sumptuous palette of rich earthy colour

this week I have had the lovely pleasure of beginning a wedding gift

this calls for something special

so after much discussion with the bride to be

we arrived at a plan

the lovely Willow block from 200 crochet blocks by Jan Eaton

and a gorgeous selection of Stylecraft Special DK

I am in love with the pattern that shows

 when working solid colour blocks

colour makes my heart sing

you cant imagine how happy this blanket is making me!

so this week I will be making 4 sets of the 12 shades

 plus 1 more

for a blanket of 49 squares

they will be joined with dark brown and a deep lace border

ooohhh I cant wait!

Come back next week for a progress update!

till then happy hookin

my crochet pals!

Heather

x x x

Spring is in the air

Spring is in the air have you noticed?

Oh the joys of the

 extra daylight

birds

bulbs

buds

and

 blossom

soooo exciting!

This weekend I have made a bunch of floral book marks

so so pretty

and such quick fun to make!

This week

 has been a pleasure of beautiful shades of blue and green

perfect for spring

and perfect for a fresh baby cot blanket

oh I love the joining

it is so exciting when the background makes the colours pop!

Just a little late post today

school has been hectic this week

 and left little hooky time

 so my offerings this week are few!

I will be back next week with hopefully more hooky delights to tempt you!

Heather

x x x

Community Crochet

Love in a blanket

A few months ago

 I had the privilege of organising

 a wonderful community crochet project

 with some of the wonderful ladies on Instagram.

 There is such a special family feel

between our crafty friends on Instagram

we chat daily

share our crochet love

swap tips

delight in each others projects 

and encourage.

Back in the winter

 when one of our friends was diagnosed with breast cancer

 two of us secretly

 set up a community crochet project to make her a blanket.

 The aim was to make a

 Blanket of Love

 to support her through the months of Chemotherapy she has to face.

So with much secret emailing

my friend did tons of organsing and

 I set up instructions for the crochet along

 choosing

 colours

 designs

 and yarn

and the project was launched

this was such a special time

receiving daily photos in my inbox

of luscious squares

from 100 ladies all around the world

I could see with great excitement

 the blanket unfolding before my eyes

we all made squares the same size

in a range of 6 colours

the design of each square being the choice of the maker

we had solids and grannies

hearts full of love

butterflies owls hedgehogs toadstools

buttons and charms

and the most amazing range of 3D flowers

what a priviledge I had

opening so much happy mail

day after day

we kept the postman busy

my job was to edge all the squares and to join them into

The Blanket of Love

oh what a pleasure it was

 to be piecing together such beautiful squares

 and finishing the blanket off with a deep border

I had arranged this specially to coincide with my half term holiday

 which gave me a week off school to do this

The blanket was a complete work of art

and far better than I had ever imagined

It is truly unique 

and I know it is now very loved

by our dear friend

So what a gap this has left!

The community spirit that was generated by this project

 was so very special

truly uplifting

 and something I hope to harness again.

I have plans brewing for more community blanket making

blankets with themes

to be raffled

raising money for charity

blankets for gifts

to be given to children and the elderley

plans for colours and patterns

all whizzing round my head!

So if you are a crochet fanatic

watch this space

and maybe you would like to be part of the next community blanket project!

Thank you again for all your lovely correspondence this week

it gives me much pleasure to know that the work I share

 is an encouragement to you

Heather

X X X

Crochet Therapy

This weekend I have hardly put my hook down

it has been a much needed dose of crochet therapy!

colour

shape

pattern

yarn

and

just holding my hook

all help to de stress and unwind after a busy week

lazy mornings with coffee in bed

working on an old wip

 I have been completing my 

African Flower Hexagonal blanket

this is my first attempt at these

and rather pleased I am!

Next week I will show you the full view

and its lovely shape

A new tea cosy smothered in roses

was on its way to a customer this week

and the pretty baby blanket was completed

ready to gift

Oh I like feeling rather smug

 thinking I have the blanket ready even before baby is born!

and finally this weekend I have been playing

making something new

I think it important occasionally to break away from orders

and try new ideas

to inspire customers in the future

so I set to work on a cheap plastic stool from a bargain shop

and transformed it with the addition of a crocheted cover

tadaa!

this was such fun and so fast to make

and is now a very pretty side table

I think all my family will be getting them for presents now!

Thank you all for your lovely correspondence again this week

it is my pleasure to share

and it pleases me so much to know that you enjoy!

Happy hookin

Heather

x x x